Zhou insisted on leaving, and no matter how Jiang Wei tried to keep him there, she couldn't make him stay.
The next morning, when Zhou was leaving, he held Jiang Wei's hand and said to her, "Yesterday, Yi Ming asked me how he could quickly and effectively clog the toilet so it wouldn't drain for a while. I think that kid is planning something, so you better keep an eye out."
After Zhou left, it wasn't long before Jiang Wei realized what Yi Ming's "plan" was that she had mentioned.
When she was out walking the dog and came back home, someone shamelessly wedged themselves through the door crack and sprawled out on the couch refusing to leave.
"The toilet next door is clogged again. I called the landlord but he refused to pay to get it fixed no matter what, and said how come only my toilet gets clogged and told me to go see a proctologist. How could I tolerate that with my hot temper? I immediately transferred 500 yuan to his account - I'm not renting this place anymore!"
Jiang Wei stood there with her arms folded, looking at him with a faint smile: "So what now? If I may ask, does this gentleman plan on moving back to his apartment?"
Yi Ming bounced up from the couch, flashing his pearly whites in a bright smile: "No way, the rent here is so cheap! I plan on renting out my apartment instead, so I can earn a bit extra. Go on, praise me for being so clever."
"Well then, may I ask if this gentleman has received permission from me to take him in?"
"I know you don't have the heart to refuse."
"And why wouldn't I have the heart? I have plenty of heart for it."
"Jiang Xiaowei, have you forgotten again how I stole your first kiss back in kindergarten?"
"Yi Xiaohai! If you bring up that incident one more time, I'll kick you right back next door!"
"Ow ow, so does that mean you've agreed?"
Yi Ming happily stood up from the couch, looking at her with upturned eyes. Jiang Wei didn't respond - what could she do? She couldn't exactly sweep him out the door to unclog the neighbor's toilet.
The two joked around, and a ray of sunlight shone in through the window, falling on both their faces and warming up the entire room.
And little Shi, who had witnessed it all, calmly lay in the bedroom doorway, his shiny little eyes glancing between the two, blinking away.
If dogs could speak, little Shi must have been thinking in that moment:
Young man, did you think paradise had arrived just because Zhou sister left?
Hehe, you're still too young!
With Jiang Wei's approval, Yi Ming swiftly moved into her room without stopping.
"Hey, couldn't you wait until tomorrow to move in?"
Jiang Wei stood in her room doorway, brows slightly furrowed as she looked at Yi Ming. "There are several households with elderly residents upstairs and downstairs. Making such a racket this late, you might get a knock on the head from their canes."
Yi Ming strode past her with arms full of boxes, not even turning his head: "Don't worry, that won't happen."
"And why's that?"
Jiang Wei thought he was being presumptuous.
As Yi Ming passed the dining room at the corner, he smiled and glanced back: "Because this afternoon I gave gifts to all the grandpas and grandmas in the building, and told them my ability to successfully pursue my wife depends on their help."
Jiang Wei: "..."
"So what did you give the grandparents?"
Jiang Wei's mouth curled up slightly, curious.
"Was there any need to think about it?" Yi Ming raised a brow, smiling. "I gave the grandpas good wine - there's nothing a drink between men can't settle, and if it can't, then two drinks will do. As for the grandmas... I gave them the latest square dancing DJ mix CD, guaranteed to make them the hottest chicks on the block... Ahem, I mean grannies!"
Jiang Wei pressed her lips together. "Hm, seems you know their tastes quite well."
"Of course."
"What about me then?"
Jiang Wei looked at the messy living room Yi Ming had left. "Tomorrow when you go to class, it'll probably take me two hours to clean all this up. Don't I deserve a gift too?"
"What are you saying, who doesn't need our Jiang Wei?"
Yi Ming stood up straight, eyes bright as stars.
"So what's my gift?"
"Me."
The shameless guy pounced over, pursed his thin lips, heehee'd and said, "One handsome and debonair stud, whaddaya think, thrilled?"
Jiang Wei: "..."
Enough nonsense.
Might as well wash up and sleep.
