Chapter Fifteen: The Beginning of a New Life

I slept until eight thirty the next morning, and as I stretched lazily, I felt remarkably refreshed. Ever since I began working at the bar, I couldn’t even recall the last time I’d felt so spirited. Quickly, I started dressing and washing up, ready to carry out the grand cleaning plan I had drafted in just five minutes the night before.

Gazing at my chaotic little room, a sense of defeat washed over me. Normally, I didn’t care much, so I never thought it was a problem, but upon closer inspection, the entire place was so messy I didn’t even know where to begin.

Dirty clothes and pants were tossed carelessly over the chair, scraps of paper and cigarette butts littered the floor beneath the table, and two instant noodle containers lay abandoned in the corner.

“This is what I get for neglecting things,” I sighed inwardly, preparing to tackle the mess.

Then it hit me—an enormous problem—I didn’t have any cleaning tools! Not a broom, not a mop, nothing!

Resigned, I sank back onto my bed, truly amazed at myself. After more than half a year living here, I realized I’d never properly cleaned the place. When the room got dirty, I’d just pick up the trash and toss it in the bin by the door, or wipe the floor with a damp cloth if it looked grimy.

As I pondered my cleaning dilemma, I remembered that there was an older sister next door.

I stepped out of my room and paused at Zhao Ke Wen’s door, hesitating to knock. I felt guilty; I had just borrowed five hundred yuan from her, and now here I was, ready to bother her over something so trivial.

While I was wavering, the door suddenly opened. Zhao Ke Wen appeared before me in her pajamas, beautiful and charming, her eyes filled with curiosity.

“What are you doing loitering outside my door early in the morning instead of taking care of business?” she yawned and stepped aside, signaling me to come in.

I scratched my head in embarrassment and entered her spotless, tidy apartment, feeling even more self-conscious.

“What’s wrong, little brother, did someone beat you up again?” she teased.

“Um… no, Ke Wen, do you have a broom and a mop? Could you lend them to me for a bit?”

“Hm? You don’t have any of those things at home?” she asked, eyes twinkling, smiling slyly.

I knew she was deliberately teasing me, so the awkwardness eased a little, and I replied with a laugh, “They’re not cooperating—they’re on strike.”

“If you said they all ran away from home, maybe I’d believe you,” she said, pointing toward the bathroom.

“Ke Wen, in a few days, invite your boyfriend and let me treat you both to dinner,” I said, following her gesture and spotting the green broom and duster, along with a blue-handled mop standing nearby.

She nodded without a word, and I quickly went in to grab the tools.

“Do you think you can actually clean the place yourself?”

“Oh, don’t underestimate me! I have a natural talent for this!” I joked as I headed out with the tools.

“Ha, you talk big, but it’s all empty words… I’d better help you. Go on, thank your sister,” she sighed and shook her head, following me out the door.

I looked at her in surprise. She wore oversized pajamas and her hair was messy, her eyes still sleepy—what was this? She hadn’t even tidied herself up, yet she was here to help me clean?

“What are you staring at, you little rascal? I never imagined you’d turn out this way!” Zhao Ke Wen pretended to be angry, hands on her hips, mocking me.

I had to admit, she was quite the character. I quickly apologized: “I know I was wrong, thank you, sister. I appreciate it, I really do!”

“That’s more like it!” She strode into my unlocked room ahead of me.

“Damn… It wasn’t long ago I visited, right? At least last time it looked like a dog’s den, but now… how did you manage to turn it into this disaster?”

“Alright, enough, sister. If you keep going, I’ll wish I were dead,” I quickly interrupted her tirade. I knew her tongue was sharp—she wouldn’t stop until I was silently bleeding inside.

Zhao Ke Wen glanced at me, smiling, “So, you’re scared now? Then keep the place tidy from now on, understand?”

“Yes, yes,” I agreed readily, though I felt helpless. With the endless gloom of my daily life, who really has the energy to clean?

“I’ll sweep. You wash the mop,” she said, nodding as she assigned tasks.

…

Finally, just before ten o’clock, my entire room was transformed! As I looked at the clean, orderly space, my mood soared. Ke Wen, wiping sweat from her brow, smiled at me.

“Ke Wen, if you didn’t have a boyfriend, I’d definitely give you a hug! Thank you!” I smiled, handing her two tissues from the cabinet.

“Shouldn’t you be the one taking advantage here? Why do you sound like you’re rewarding me?” she muttered as she accepted the tissues, wiping her sweat.

I gave her a goofy smile and blew her a kiss.

“Silly boy!” Zhao Ke Wen shook her head. “Getting so happy over cleaning your room—such a child!”

“By the way, Ke Wen, do you have a computer? I’d like to borrow it…” I suddenly remembered my unemployed status—finding a job was urgent.

“I do. What do you need it for? You’re not planning anything shady, are you? I’ll have you know there’s nothing indecent on my computer!”

I broke out in a cold sweat—what on earth was going on in her head?

“No, I just want to look for a job online.”

“Oh, what kind of job are you looking for? Any salary requirements?” she asked, thinking aloud.

“I don’t have any requirements—just something to cover food and rent, and enough to treat you to dinner.”

“Hm, your ambitions are simple enough,” she said, apparently satisfied. “What credentials do you have? Any special skills? Accounting or technician certificates?”

“None…”

“Any management experience? Work experience?”

“No…”

“Then what kind of job are you looking for? Might as well stay home and wait for the end!” Zhao Ke Wen seemed quite exasperated by my answers.

“Sis, I just want a short-term job right now, anything—I can do odd jobs, hard work, whatever. I’ll settle on a proper job later; this is just a transition,” I explained, hoping to calm her down.

“I have a friend in the east part of the city who owns a supermarket. She needs someone to help out—a general helper. Why not try that first? It shouldn’t be too exhausting,” Zhao Ke Wen said thoughtfully, stroking her fair chin.

“Sis, you’re truly my savior! That’s perfect!” I replied almost without hesitation.