28 WHO KNEW HE COULD COOK THIS WELL?

Whenever he woke up from this horrifying dreams, he would feel empty... Like a part of him had left him, departed from him... Abandoned him to suffer it all alone. This nightmare was real! Like some crazy childhood nightmare. He searched around for water and drank a cupful of it. This is a secret he kept from everyone, everyone else but his family. How long can he keep this up? He looked at his bedside alarm and saw the time on it, 04:39am the day has started.

*****

It was the dawn of the day, in the bustling city, people honked their horns as they drove past, forming a cacophony.

Xueyan and Qingran made a beeline to the bus station, giving her mother and sister details on how to move their luggages to the free apartment at the hotel. When Xueyan was finally out of sight, Yuxi sighed. "Sister Xueyan is truly lucky! Shihuan has now gotten to the finals and would be moving to Shanghai, wow, such wonderful news... I'm so happy for them both." She sobs.

"But father isn't in support of that... I also want to live here in Shanghai."

Wak! Mrs Bai smacked her head, "Move the luggages and stop sulking."

"Mother..." She said indignantly.

"Be good now, OK?" Mrs Bai grinned at her. "Mother you're so unfair to me alone,"

"You graduated about six months ago but you are home lazying around. Now come... Come here my child, come sit on your mother's lap and suck her..."

"Mother!"

"Hahahaha. You do not want to? Then go move the luggages out of the room and call for a taxi."

Yuxi shrugged and left to do as her mother had said.

Bai Zhangjing, could be considered the happiest woman right since the day Xueyan got a job, her son, Shihuan making it to the finals. Her granddaughter finally in school was also a great piece of news.

That's all she had ever asked for, for her children to be happy. Now her prayers will be for Yuxi to also find a job. If truly her husband doesn't agree on leaving City B then she had another work to do aside from praying for her family's well-being.

If they all moved to Shanghai then they could be whole and hearty. Live together in bliss, harmony and joy.

"Mother, you've been standing there dazed... Aren't we leaving anymore."

"Be quiet! You're speaking to your mother and not your mate."

Oh no. She looks terrible when angered. "Alright, alright. I won't speak to you like that ever! Never ever! OK? Now let's go sweet mom."

Zhangjing was totally coaxed by her daughter's little word, 'sweet mom' she lifted her chin and walked toward the door with poise. Oh lord. Yuxi shook her head and followed suit.

*****

After the news and celebration of his team getting to the finals, Shihuan had called his mother, informing her about it. He was in the kitchen, humming a song and preparing breakfast.

Mr Bai, walked out of his room and was dumbfounded at the scene he saw. Is that Shihuan? No I'm probably mistaking! How could it be that spoilt brat? He should still be sleeping right now. I think I didn't watch my eyes properly this morning as I'm seeing things. I have to get glasses for my eyes, two wouldn't be enough, I'm sure.

My little Xiao Shi can't probably be awake by now, could he? Haha. No way. He turned around and went back to his room. This time he left the door ajar to watch the figure in the kitchen move about. Is this for real? He doesn't even know how to cook! What is he making? Oh! He must be making tea or coffee... Wait, he can't even make any of them.

Shihuan...

As if the figure heard his inner mind, Shihuan turned and saw him at the door, "Father.. You're up. Come I prepared something for breakfast. Have you washed up yet? Go do that and come eat. I will also help you out at the office today!"

The man's eyes broadened. So he really made breakfast? Wait, what's that about helping me in the office? Did he have a nightmare? Did the angels call him a bad son or did he wake up from the wrong side of the bed?

"Father?" Shihuan called. "What are you thinking? Go, go wash up and come have your breakfast."

"I'm..." The man's throat was dry, "I... I... I..."

"Why are you stuttering? Did anything bad happen?" Shihuan took large strides toward his father. He pushed himself in through the little space, "What is wrong dad? Let me in."

He observed Shihuan then touched his face and neck to feel his body temperature. "Hehe... You're truly OK. I thought you had some..."

"Some what?" Shihuan eyed his father. "Do I look abnormal? Now come eat, OK?"

The man stood rooted on the spot.

Did he really cook? He might have ordered for it since he had just been paid double of his earnings. Shihuan turned to see his father still standing at the same spot, he dragged the man forward to the kitchen. Is this the breakfast? It's just egg, bread and tea... I knew he couldn't do anything!

"Are you disappointed?"

"Hehe, no I'm not."

"Your expression says it all."

Mr Bai saw his pained expression and felt bad. "Truly I'm not disappointed! I'm truly not!"

"I also prepared lunch, do you mind having that?"

"What!? Who has lunch by now?"

"Me! And made it for two, I even prepared you a box to take along to the office."

"I'd rather have this instead."

"Are you sure? I prepared something really delicious."

Delicious you say? Only the heavens knows what it tastes and looks like.

"You must be criticizing my food in your head... Here take a look." He brought out several dishes(plates) and opened them. Shredded porks, steamed pork belly, glutinous rice, red braised pork belly, bonbon chicken, fish maw soup, rice with matsutake shreds, rice noodles and fried mashi.

"Make sure to eat to your heart content!"

What? Did he really prepare all this? We don't even have the ingredients here at home and he can't even go to the market! Is it possible...My son now has a girlfriend? Yes he does. Now everything makes sense.

"Hehehe... Let me have a bite then."

"Sure." Ring, ring. Shihuan phone rang. He sneaked a peek, 'maybe she's calling to find out whether I liked it's but then he saw a male's name Zou Xi.

"Hello,"

"Hello!" The voice at the other end was very loud. "Did you cook it all? Did your father like them all? I didn't know you could cook, make sure to spare me some."

"Hmm."

"Oh my... Did you really agree? I will be heading over soon."

"OK." Mr Bai had heard everything. So he really cooked it? Hahaha! My son isn't the same little brat anymore... He's now grown. Hahaha. Shihuan pushed the breakfast to the side and dished out the meals.

"Father I know I haven't also been the best son just like you said you haven't been the best father, but I think it's now time we spoiled the women of this house more! They deserve the best from us!"

"Yes, yes." He smiled at his son. Shihuan passed him the ebony chopsticks and he dug in. Mhmm. This is really delicious! Who knew he could cook this well, he wasn't so useless.