Wei Ying did not hear from Lan Zhan over the next couple of days. This was somewhat disappointing (though he couldn't fathom why), but he couldn't say that he was surprised. He knew that he had to be busy with his job, as well as his life outside of it. He decided not to bother him; he knew that Lan Zhan would contact him when he was able.

He didn't have much time to think about this, however. He himself was still occupied with finding another place to work. As much as it sucked having to quit his two former jobs, he didn't miss them. Both of previous managers were not the kindest people in the world, so a new job would be refreshing. As long as it was a good one this time.

Miss Kang, the lady who promised to take care of A-Yuan once he started working, looked after him while he went job hunting. Wei Ying only stayed out for a few hours at the most. The last thing he wanted to do was intrude on her time.

He decided to check out the stores and markets near the shelter first. It would be easy for him to get a job at one since he had plenty of experience in retail. Not only that, but he could also save money by walking instead of using public transportation. He may even receive enough for the online classes he hoped to take in the future.

There were other businesses that offered job training, so he looked into those as well. A few of them interested him enough to put in an application while the others didn't. Learning a new trade would help his prospects more.

Wei Ying waited until he scraped up some more money to search for work farther away. He doubted that he would actually take a job where he had to travel to anytime soon, however. He would have to wait until he had enough to pay for public transportation first.

It was a few more days before Mister Xia, the owner from the store he met Lan Zhan at, called him for an interview. He was interested in hiring him and was willing to give him the Monday to Friday morning shifts he had asked for in his application if he did. Since he had other employees for nights and weekends, it would not any trouble.

Wei Ying had no problem with scheduling the interview. He had only heard back from a couple people, but they were unable to take him on anytime soon. However, they assured him that they would call him as soon as a position was open. He doubted this; he had been told this several times in the past. But he would still keep an eye out for them just in case.

"That sounds good. When would you like me to be there, please?" he asked.

"Monday morning at ten o'clock. Will you be able to make it that day? If not, you can come either Tuesday or Wednesday at that same time," Mister Xia remarked.

Wei Ying smiled to himself. "Yes, sir. I can be there on Monday. Thank you for taking the time to consider me."

Mister Xia chuckled. "You are very welcome. I will see you, then. Have a good afternoon, Mister Wei."

"Thank you. You too, sir."

Mister Xia hung up after that.

A-Yuan was giggling when Wei Ying put his phone away, causing him to smirk.

"What?" the latter inquired as he raised an eyebrow.

"You always sound funny with your pro'fess'nal voice, A-Die," he noted.

"Oh, hush up," Wei Ying said before tickling him. A-Yuan shrieked with laughter.

The former's high spirits increased later that night, when he was putting A-Yuan to bed. He had just covered him up when his cell phone rang.

He kissed him on the forehead before answering it without checking to see who it calling him. "Hello?" he said.

"Good evening, Wei Ying. How are you?" Lan Zhan's soft voice greeted him.

He was so taken aback and startled that he nearly dropped the phone. But he recovered after a moment and smiled.

"Hi. Um...I'm fine. What about you?"

"I am well, thank you. I apologize for not calling the last several days. I have been quite preoccupied."

"No worries, Lan Zhan..."

A-Yuan gasped at the mention of his name.

"...I know your job must keep you busy, and that you have stuff to do after work. That is why I haven't called either. Sorry."

"Mn. It does. And do not be sorry. I understand. I know you must have a lot of your plate as well."

"Yeah."

A-Yuan sat up. "A-Die, is that Youjian-gege on the phone?" he asked in excitement.

"Yes, baby. It's him," Wei Ying replied.

"May I talk to him? Just for a minute? Please? I'll go right to sleep after. I promise!"

Lan Zhan chuckled gently, having heard him. "Putting your son to bed?"

Wei Ying laughed. "Yeah. You called me just after I said good night to him. Do you mind if I put it on speaker so that he can say hello?"

"Of course not. You may."

He did just that and held the phone in front of his son. "Go ahead, baby."

A-Yuan beamed. "Hi Youjian-gege!" he said ecstatically.

"Hello, A-Yuan. How have you been?" Lan Zhan inquired.

"Good! Are you okay?"

"Yes, I am fine. Are you behaving for your a-die?"

He nodded. "I am, Youjian-gege. I'm being good."

With another chuckle, Lan Zhan remarked, "Excellent. I will finish speaking to your a-die now. But I hope to see you both soon."

"Okay. Me too! I miss you!"

"I admit that I miss you too."

"Awww!"

They said good-bye to each other then, and Wei Ying took the phone off of speaker.

"So, Lan Zhan. What's up? Did you have something to talk to me about?" the latter queried.

"Mn. I wanted to know if you would like to go shopping tomorrow or Monday like we planned? I don't have to work tomorrow, and I have nothing to do after work on Monday," he stated.

Wei Ying grinned. "Tomorrow would be the best day. I actually have things that I need to buy. I don't know about Monday. I have a job interview at the store where we met."

"Oh? Well, I wish you luck and hope you are successful. You have a good head on your shoulders, so you likely will."

Lan Zhan sounded like he truly meant that.

"Thanks. I hope so. A job would help me a lot. Plus, the rent is more affordable here if you have to pay it."

"That is good."

"Yeah. Oh, by the way, I meant to ask you kind of work you do. I've always wondered. But you don't have to tell me if you don't want to," Wei Ying added that last statement after a brief silence.

"I do not mind," Lan Zhan reassured him. "It is just rare when people ask me anything about myself. Only my family does. And I am an accountant. I work down the street from the outdoor market you and A-Yuan were at on Tuesday."

He nodded thoughtfully. "So, that's why you were in a suit those two times I saw you."

Lan Zhan had on a long-sleeved, white shirt with a black tie and black dress pants when they first met. On Tuesday, he had the same color shirt, but with a sky-blue tie and white pants. He had looked quite handsome.

"Mn. We are required to wear one," he said.

"Ohhh. I only had a uniform for my second job at another store I worked at before I had to quit. I didn't like the color of the shirt, though."

"What was it?"

"Green. I had to wear black pants with it, and I do like black, but I couldn't stand wearing green!"

Lan Zhan gave a small huff of laughter. "I am sure that you still looked fine. Regardless of the color. You are good-looking."

Wei Ying found himself blushing at the compliment. "I'm glad you think so because I didn't like how it looked on me," he mumbled.

"You should not judge yourself so harshly. I doubt that anyone paid attention to what you were wearing. Not as long as you treated them with respect. Your coworkers and customers alike. And as I mentioned before, I am sure that you looked good."

"Okay, okay. I'll take your word for it."

"Mn."

They were quiet for a moment, then Wei Ying sighed.

"Well, I suppose I will get going for now. I need to make sure A-Yuan falls sleep on time, and I have stuff to do before I go to bed myself," he remarked.

"Mn. I need to get ready to do the same as well," Lan Zhan stated.

Wei Ying blinked. "Do you really sleep this early?"

"At nine o'clock, yes. I always have since I was about ten years old. Before that, my older brother and I went to bed at seven. Our uncle insisted on it."

Frowning, Wei Ying inquired, "Your uncle? Why him?"

"My mother and father passed away when I was six years old. My uncle took us in after. He was the only relative who lived near us. And my parents had it in their will that they wanted my brother and I to live with him should anything happen to them."

"I'm sorry to hear that. And I know how you feel. My own parents died before I turned seven."

"Mmm. I am equally sorry. I know that must have been just as hard for you."

"Yeah. But a friend of my mother's took me in after finding me on the street, so it wasn't so bad after that."

"Why were you on the street?" Lan Zhan queried in concern.

Wei Ying gave a humorless chuckle. "I ran away from the orphanage I was sent to. It sucked there."

"Mn. I see. We can discuss it further another time."

He must have sensed that he did not want to talk about it at the moment. Not in front of A-Yuan, at least.

"Yeah. But I will let you go now. It's almost nine," Wei Ying observed as he glanced at the clock.

"Mn. And call me if you are unable to do the shopping trip. We can find another day to do it."

"Okay, but I should be able to. See you then!"

"Good night again, Youjian-gege! See you!" A-Yuan piped up.

Wei Ying laughed. "You're supposed to be asleep, silly!" he pointed out.

Lan Zhan chuckled. "Tell him I said good-night again too. I hope to see you both tomorrow."

"So do we, Lan Zhan. Good night."

"Good night, Wei Ying."

And he ended the call.

Wei Ying put his phone away before turning to A-Yuan. "He said good-night again too, little one. But let's get some rest. You won't be too tired when we go shopping."

"Okay. I'll go to sleep now!"

He kissed him on the forehead. "Good night, baby. I love you."

"I love you too, A-Die. Good night!"

Author's Note: I am sorry for not posting anything for so long. It's been a crazy, stressful three months. My dear aunt passed away on 8/28, plus I was in and out of work afterwards and busy with other things in my personal life. I will try to post more this month.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter, though. Let me know what you think. Until next time!