"Are you getting out or…" In the parking lot of the small apartment building Lee owned, Xiao Yi was holding up a taxi driver by not getting
"Are you getting out or…"
In the parking lot of the small apartment building Lee owned, Xiao Yi was holding up a taxi driver by not getting out of the taxi.
He stared at the building in front of him as if it was part of an old memory that he wanted to keep watching, but the taxi driver's words made him come back to reality. He smiled awkwardly and slid over a larger tip than he had originally planned before getting out of the car.
As soon as his door was closed, the taxi driver sped off, on his way to his next location most likely, while Xiao Yi just stood in the parking lot silently.
It was odd. He hadn't paid much attention to the building when he lived there, he didn't even remember that there were a few grey bricks scattered amongst the red ones, nor did he notice that the number above the door looked as if it were coated in gold, but he still felt a weight lift off his shoulder as he stood amongst a few cars he didn't recognize.
Most of his memories were inside the apartment, he could count the amount of times he'd left that apartment in the last four, nearly five years.
He finally decided to move when he heard a car door slam, it's sound echoing through the night, his finger tapping against his thigh as he approached the building.
The first thing he noticed when he entered the lobby was the fact that the elevator appeared to be working. The second, well, it was a bit chilly inside. Was Lee running out of money to heat the place?
Either way, he slowly made his way toward the elevator.
By the time the elevator door peeled open, he'd invented an entirely new song on his thigh. He folded his arms to stop himself and approached his apartment.
Since he'd told his brother he was coming, he was likely home.
Was he ready to grovel in front of his brother?
No.
Well, even if he wasn't ready, he couldn't exactly turn around.
He shifted on his feet before he turned the handle, the door already unlocked.
The door was swung open, along with his hand that was still gripping the handle, and Xiao Yi fell forward and into a pair of arms.
His older brother's voice cracked as he was squeezed into a hug. "You're finally home."
Xiao Yi tried to move, but his Xiao Qiu's grip was too tight. He could only pat his back and say. "I'm back, I'm back."
"You missed so much."
Xiao Yi hummed in agreement. "Did I?"
Xiao Qiu's grip loosened for just a moment, and he was pulled into another pair of arms. Xiao Yi's lip twitched at the scene, wondering if he was about to be passed around to everyone.
Chen Qiang's voice was calm, unlike his tight grip, as if he was scared Xiao Yi would disappear with the wind. "I'm poor."
"…"
Silence stretched over the room, and Xiao Yi fought back laughter as he patted his back.
Then, he replied. "I'm not."
"I know."
Lee's voice came from behind Xiao Yi. "You guys are living here for free, why are you poor? Don't make him feel bad."