TASTE OF LABOR

"IN A TIGER'S MATE LAIR,"

The young man flushed and felt embarrassed after being caught in this manner.

"R-right. I'll be g-going then," Lianhua stuttering, his eyes apologetic and shy towards Hao Mingyu, leading his elder brother to believe that something was going on between him and the man standing beside him. Strange, why would you react that way? This... Please don't tell me. His gaze was now fixed on the person who was watching his younger brother's every move. Huh? Why would this man...

As his younger brother vanished from view. Hao Mingyu eyes turned serious towards Hei Bao, raising his right brow, like a strict parents.

Hei Bao continued to stare at the door Lianhua had just entered, unaware of the other's observant and dissatisfied stares.

They stood there for a minute, making the other person's feet stiff and sore. What is this idiot thinking? Is this man really interested in my brother? Oh, not in my time! Hao Mingyu, who couldn't stand the man's presence inside his store for long, cleared his throat and broke the silence.

"Ehem!".

Hei Bao finally turned to face him after hearing a sound beside him and seeing him stare at him with the same raised brow.

"What?" Hei Bao questioned, smirking.

"Are you seriously asking me that?" Hao Mingyu scoffs, shocked and offended by the other person's response to him.

Hei Bao just stared at him blankly for a moment before asking him.

"How come you're staring at me?"

'Wha...?' Lianhua brother was taken aback. Did he think I couldn't read his eyes and expression? Did you think I was a fucking idiot? Ha!

"Are you flirting with my beloved younger brother?" Hao Mingyu asked directly, his patience intact.

"Hmm.." Hei Bao pretended to think as Lianhua elder brother waited impatiently for his response.

"Perhaps," he replied with the same smirk, thinking to tease the man beside him a little.

"Who knows," he added.

So his prediction was correct! Ha! Who knows my a$$!

Hao Mingyu was about to respond to Hei Bao's words when the man cut him off before he could even broaden them.

"Are you going to ask again what I ordered? I suppose you hadn't heard it earlier," Hei Bao asked as Hao Mingyu, who was currently showing a calm expression, could only grit his teeth and act like a professional, while inside his blood was starting to boil from feeling pissed by this man's attitude.

"Then, dear customer, please repeat what you ordered," he says, firmly smiling.

Lianhua's older brother held his pen and note with shaking hands as he kept his cool in front of this costumer who fancies his little younger cute brother.

'Ha! There's no way! I will not allow this... this... Hmp!' He can't think of any other words to describe the other person anymore. Let's just remain silent for the time being and see if I can come up with another way to insult this man.

Hei Bao looked at Hao Mingyu and thought it was amuse, he kind of want to keep teasing this man further, it was veyr entertaining. As a result, he kept doing it.

"Forget it. I don't want to order anything," Hei Bao replied.

Snap! Hao Mingyu's already-full imaginary glass of patience cracked. His pen cracked in his hand. He crumpled the note he was holding. He made a fist with both of his hands. That's it, this man has to go! He maintained his forced smile and said.

"Hahaha, Is that so? Then please... Get the fuck outta my sight!" He finally burst out, staring dagger at the person who still stood by his side with no care, face satisfied and smirk, Hei Bao did not budge at his place. You! This impolite... tsk!

Just then, the kitchen door opened, revealing Lianhua once more. Hao Mingyu and Hei Bao exchanged glances, then look straight at the person who walk out at the kitchen door. He was carrying a tray with brewed coffee and a strawberry pie on it. it was Hei Bao order.

"I heard you, Ge," Lianhua replied.

He placed the tray on the counter and looked over at his older brother.

"You're being rude to our customers, Ge," Lianhua said sternly to his brother, his face solemn.

Hao Mingyu was stunned and needed a few moments to recover. Hearing his younger brother say that directly to his face enraged him even more. You call it impolite? Why are you asking that, that. Hemp!

Hei Bao secretly smiled at the scene between these two brothers.

"Are you reprimanding me, my dear brother?" Hao Mingyu inquired, his tone tinged with force, patience, and consideration.

"Nope, just saying," Lianhua replied, still unaware of his elder brother's state, who suddenly sighed, fell silent, and stood there, unconcerned about the two people in front of him.

It's pointless to be angry for too long; this is my territory; I could just pull this man out and... no, I don't want to hurt Lianhua's feelings; let's just observe them. Right, yeah, let's do that.

Lianhua smiled sweetly as she turned to face Hei Bao.

"I'm sorry about that, Mr. Bao. Here's your order, and thank you for your patience," Lianhua said again to Hei Bao.

"Thank you," Hei Bao replied, smiling back, making Lianhua blush once more, while Mingyu just stared at them, cursing the other person in his mind. Tsk!

"I'll be leaving now," Lianhua said, to which Hei Bao replied with a nod, and Lianhua turned to leave.

But before leaving, he raised his index and middle fingers to his own eyes, then to Mingyu. He then kept walking through the door.

"You've got such a lovely brother in there," Hei Bao said, staring at Lianhua's back. Hao Mingyu rolled his eyes at him and said.

"Shut up and leave already."

"Makes me want to eat him up-" Hei Bao joked, but was cut off by Mingyu's harsh remark.

"You dare! I will certainly kill you without hesitation," he warns, his eyes stern.

"I heard that!!" They both heard Lianhua's shout and then the kitchen door closing. Hao Mingyu scoffs and retorts at the person who hasn't left yet.

"Tsk! You're fortunate today,"

"Thank you," Hei Bao proudly admits his words that enraged the other person.

Hei Bao took the tray and turned around, not caring about the other death glare at him, not after smiling sheepishly on Hao Mingyu, who had just whispered 'fuck you' on him.

To be continued.