It was past dinner time and only two tables were occupied in the family restaurant when they came in. The ringing bell on the door attracted the cashier’s attention who snapped her gaze up from her phone. Her eyes instantly lit up when she caught sight of He Juan. "Welcome to Happy Hour Diner! Table for one..." her eyes finally dropped to Mu Yuze, who was dwarfed by He Juan’s jacket with bruises all over his face, and her smile faltered. "You are..."

Self-conscious, Mu Yuze hung his head low and subtly retreated to the door, only to be blocked by He Juan’s broad palm on the back of his head. Sensing the boy going rigid in surprise, He Juan took back his hand and offered a smile to the cashier girl. "Don’t worry, he’s with me."

"O–Oh!" The girl blinked a few times, her cheeks flushing red. "I... I apologize, Sir!"

He Juan nodded politely and led Mu Yuze to a table in the corner where it was slightly hidden by the partition screen. He assumed that the boy would be more comfortable this way. He Juan took a seat, only to find that the boy was still standing while chewing on his bottom lip, his gaze flickering to the front counter once in a while.

"What’s wrong?" He Juan pretended not to notice the boy’s predicament and gestured to the empty space in front of him. "Take a seat so we can order soon."

"I..." Mu Yuze hung his head, a scowl forming on his face. "I think I will just go—"

"Xiao Ze."

Mu Yuze snapped his head up in surprise, still not accustomed to the intimate nickname. He Juan resisted a smile and tried to put on a solemn look that he hoped would not be too scary. "Don’t worry, Xiao Ze. Whatever you’re thinking of will not happen. As long as I’m here, you will be fine."

Mu Yuze was startled, his black-blue eyes wide and bewildered. "Y–You know?"

This time, He Juan was unable to resist a chuckle. How could he not know if the boy’s thoughts were clearly plastered to his face? Compared to the treacherous people around him who would not bat an eyelid when stabbing others behind their backs, Mu Yuze was literally an open book, pure and transparent. He found the boy’s insecurity and high self-esteem endearing yet heartbreaking at the same time.

Instead of replying, He Juan tugged the boy into the seat and gently pressed his shoulders down.

After making sure that the boy was seated, He Juan took the menu on the table and gave it a once-over while asking in the most natural tone as possible, "Has something like this happened to you before?"

He Juan was looking over the porridge and salad section when he heard Mu Yuze hum lightly. "I... I wanted to see if I could get a job, but they thought..." his words trailed off, but He Juan could fill in the blanks just fine.

Of course, with his bruised appearance and shabby clothes, Mu Yuze would easily be taken as a beggar. He Juan did not doubt that the boy would be chased out again this time had he not been here. Once again, he felt a spark of anger toward the boy’s father. What kind of man could bear to see their child growing up this way? Clearly malnourished, always hungry and even wanted to seek a job when he was merely fourteen years old...

He Juan might not have a child yet, but he was the one who had raised his little brother since their parents passed away more than a decade ago. He knew the joy and sorrow of taking care of a child and thus, it made him loathe someone like Mu Yuze’s father even more.

He Juan’s brows ticked and he took a deep breath to stabilize his emotions. Calm down, He Juan... it’s not like you can teach that man a lesson anymore! 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Throwing the unpleasant topic to the back of his mind, He Juan handed the menu over to Mu Yuze with a gentle smile on his face. "See if you like something? Don’t hesitate to order more. It’s my treat." He had decided, he would let Mu Yuze eat as much as he wanted today!

Mu Yuze held the menu as if it was a hot potato, a tiny furrow forming between his brows. "Why..."

He Juan urged gently, "Hmm?"

Mu Yuze’s eyes flicked up to him for a second before he hastily lowered them to the menu again. Then he murmured under his breath, "Why are you so kind to me."

Ah, there it was again. The insecurity that was not supposed to exist in children like him. He Juan supported his chin with a palm and sighed helplessly, "Do I need a reason to?" When Mu Yuze gave him a look of surprise, He Juan raised a brow and asked, "What? I’m kind to you because I want to. Can’t I?

Again, Mu Yuze stared at him as if he had grown two heads. He Juan had started to learn what this look meant – it’s the ’I have no idea whether you’re telling the truth or not but I clearly don’t believe you’ look. He Juan moved his palm to cover his smiling lips. Oh God... if the boy was not injured, He Juan really wanted to pinch his cheeks just to see his annoyed and grumpy look. At least, it would be better than the dejected and miserable state he was showing right now.

A wistful sigh escaped his lips. "Xiao Ze ah, Xiao Ze..."

Mu Yuze frowned. "Stop calling me that."

Of course, He Juan ignored it. Not only did he ignore it, he even stretched out a hand to flick Mu Yuze on the forehead, making sure that he did not bump into any bruises. He grinned gleefully when Mu Yuze shot him a glare. "Why are you thinking so much? Children should just play around and have fun every single day."

"I am not a child!" He spat out in zeal.

"Sure, sure, our Xiao Ze has grown up." He Juan laughed and played along, earning him a furious scowl from the other. "So esteemed Mr. Mu, do you know what to order yet? May I call the waiter here?"

Mu Yuze cast him a dirty look before sweeping his gaze over the menu. In the end, he merely tossed it aside and said, "I will have the same thing as you."

"Hmm?" He Juan blinked. "Are you sure? Find nothing you like?"

"I am not a picky eater," he huffed.

"Alright then." He Juan did not think too much about it, assuming that Mu Yuze was only hesitant to order because it was his first time being treated. In the end, He Juan summoned the waiter and ordered five dishes in one breath. He turned to find Mu Yuze gawking at him with his eyes stretched wide, utterly dumbfounded.

"What’s wrong?" He Juan let out a deep and smooth laugh. "You told me to choose, didn’t you?"