Outrun The World

Chapter 17

"You're taking so long."

"Why don't you stay the night here?" Rico suggested and Daniella who overheard from the kitchen, supported her husband's invitation. "Come on, we'll catch some chicken for dinner. You help me."

"If you insist. . ." He Tian trailed, glancing at Mo Guan Shan's downturned head.

"I insist. We like having you guys around, that's for sure. Old people get bored too, you know. We seldom have people around for dinner and you know how your Auntie Dang loves to cook."

Mo Guan Shan lifted his head and stared at the bunch of grazing chickens all over the wide, grass carpeted lawn. It's a different kind of grass, needle-like and fuzzy, obviously well-tended. Even he could identify that it's Bermuda grass.

Rico made a weird sound and the chickens came flocking just below the front porch, anticipating food thrown their way.

"He Tian, they're killing chickens for us. Let's go home," he whispered but He Tian only pushed him gently on the bamboo chair.

"These chickens have better life than those chicken we had in fastfood restaurants," he said, cupping the red-head's cheeks with both palms so he looked like a duck. "It's the way of the world."

"Poor chickens."

"What, you don't like chicken now?"

"Hell no. It's just different when you see them around like this, and then the next moment they're on your plate."

"They. . ." He Tian shifted his eyes for a moment before flashing him a bright smile. "They did their best for us, so the least we can do is respect and enjoy the food."

He Tian left him as he joined Rico outside to catch their potential dinner. Mo Guan Shan rested his chin and his arms on the veranda's wooden railing and with his hands hanging down in front of him, watched intently as the pair zone out their targets.

Rico made the "kurrrrok" sound again and a surprising number of chickens crowded all around him and He Tian. The old man threw milled corn around and the chickens pecked the ground, unaware of their impending doom. Mo Guan Shan stared at He Tian, his every move and his behavior towards things.

Obviously, he's richer than anyone he ever knew, but Mo Guan Shan have never heard him complain when it comes to farm activities like this. Whatever the old folks asks him to do, he immediately switches on his focus and it's mesmerizing to watch. He would listen to directions, nod and get things done.

It made him smile. The sight of He Tian seriously pursuing good results, it's like looking at a tiger patiently waiting to pounce.

Wherever he went, he fully integrated himself, and it made Mo Guan Shan jealous somehow. He wanted to become like that. He wanted to be inside that world but he's too full of doubts to take a step forward. He's always thinking of things like, "I'll just get in the way" or, "They don't need my help. The can handle it. I'll just wait for the time when they actually need my services."

He's so sick of that side of him. Nothing is going to change if he remains an observer forever.

"I want to join too!" Mo Guan Shan blurted out before he could stop himself.

He Tian looked up to the veranda and flashed him a smile. He almost shielded his eyes. 

"Uncle Rico, he thinks we're too pathetic that we'd need a drunk person's help," He Tian said, grinning and panting. They had been chasing the other chicken around and it kept on slipping away.

Mo Guan Shan blushed but at least he's more clear headed now.

"Stop making up things, He Tian! I just need to do stuff too! I need experiences!" he called out and staggered down the wooden stairs. He's dizzy but he'll sweat it out once he starts chasing chickens around.