Gilded Rust - YiZhan

Chapter 10 - Empty Spaces

Call me if you need anything.

And buy yourself a treat for once!

See you soon (but not too soon!)

Kim Yeji

Yibo's hand shook, and his feeling of impending doom returned. He couldn't take the money. He hadn't done anything to deserve it. He just wanted to be left alone. Was it too much to ask?

With a sigh, he took Caihong's note and Mrs. Kim's envelope and stored them in the top drawer of his work desk. He would have to refund the money, but he didn't want to think about it at the moment. He continued undressing.

In his underwear, he folded his dirty clothes and placed them in his sports bag before putting away whatever could still be worn. After this, he entered the ensuite, and rather than facing himself again, he turned around to inspect his injury. His shoulder blade appeared to be back to normal, which confused him because he'd assumed the pain would decrease as the swelling disappeared, but there had been no change. Maybe it needed more time.

Yibo then shifted his gaze to the bruises on his leg and buttocks. Although still off-putting, they were healing well, if slowly. Having seen a tube of ointment while searching for the painkillers, he resolved to dress the puffy, red gash on his shin after his shower.

Yibo took a moment to figure out how everything worked. The thermostat was relatively simple, but the shower itself was equipped with a rain shower head above and another regular head on the wall at an angle. Playing with the different levers, he shocked himself with a rainshower of icy cold water falling on his head twice before the water reached the right temperature and flow. In his haste, he'd forgotten to take his soap, but like the vanity, the shower was well stocked. He washed his hair and body meticulously yet quickly and was ready to get out when he realized he didn't have to rush. Running out of water was unlikely, he didn't have to be anywhere or do anything anytime soon, and short of a miracle, nobody would walk in on him. On purpose this time, Yibo switched to the rain shower head and stood still, enjoying the warmth as his tense muscles relaxed. Within moments, his thrifty brain revolted at what it perceived as a waste of precious hot water, but he decided to ignore it; Mr. Xiao had said it himself earlier: "What was the point of being rich?" True, this had been regarding sushi, but it no doubt applied to hot water as well.

The thought of Mr. Xiao brought back in his mind's eye the man's change of demeanour once they'd entered the house. His emotions had fluctuated at such a pace he'd hardly been able to keep track. Yibo sighed, then reminded himself he had to be firm. He was the man's cook, not his therapist, and definitely not his friend. This didn't concern him. And yet, even as he rationalized everything, part of him wondered if he should have listened anyway.

Once he had ended his unnecessary long shower, Yibo wrapped himself in the large fluffy towel and stood still, embracing the dizziness the change in temperature brought. He resolved to take as many showers as he could while staying here.

After dressing his wound, Yibo turned off the lights and returned to the bedroom, where he slipped on clean boxers and a t-shirt. He fiddled with the blinds for a moment but soon stopped trying when they refused to budge; even open, they let in less light than Caihong's night light produced.

For a while, he sat on the edge of the bed at the limit of the pool of light and cleared his mind as he enjoyed the coolness of the air against his warm skin. For the first time in his life, he had nothing to do and nowhere to be. He doubted he would fall asleep at this hour, but although Mr. Xiao had told him he could enjoy the solarium, the thought of spending time outside the bedroom made him uneasy. This wasn't his house; it was his workplace.