Chapter 7 007 Strange Warmth of Family (1)

The residential area has one elevator and four households. The Zhong family lives in 904. Ryan just found the entrance to 904 and was about to reach out to enter the password when the door clicked open from inside, and a middle-aged man with a tired appearance walked out.

He looked older than what Ashley had described, although his features still vaguely showed his former handsomeness. However, time and life had left too many traces on him, making him blend into the crowd. Because he often stayed in the kitchen, there was always a smell of cooking oil on him.

He is Ashley's father - Ashley's dad who has been a chef for over thirty years and is currently working as head chef at a Chinese banquet hall.

They locked eyes for a moment before both being stunned simultaneously.

Ashley mentioned that her dad was silent and not good at communication; he could be described as having social anxiety nowadays. He didn't even have much to say to his own family members.

Ryan thought this was fine; he also didn't want too much interaction. He originally wanted to greet first, but that word "dad" kept flipping in his throat, unable to come out no matter how hard he tried.

It had been twenty years since he last said that word.

On the other hand, Ashley's dad regained his senses first: "You're back?" He took the bag of high heels from her hand: "Have you eaten breakfast?"

Ryan said: "No."

Ashley's dad took off the shoes he already put on again and turned back into the house: "Then I'll make you some noodles before going to work."

Ryan followed him into the house. The three-bedroom two-living room house was just enough for a family of four. Last night Ashley had shown him photos so he knew its layout well; he went straight towards "his" bedroom when suddenly the children's room door pushed open, and a little girl with messy hair jumped out and hugged his leg: "Sister!"

She was wearing a dress with bare legs, while the child was in pajamas with bare arms. Their skin touched, and Ryan, who hadn't had physical contact with people for years, felt like he had been electrocuted; goosebumps appeared all over his body.

He stiffened his body just as he pushed the child away, but she clung back to him again like a monkey, hooking her feet around his leg and rubbing her head against it: "Sister, Yoyo misses you so much! Miss you miss you! Kiss! kiss! mua~"

Although Ashley warned him that her younger sister at home was very clingy to her, seeing it reach this extent still gave Ryan a headache.

After she had rubbed enough on her own from his leg and got down from it herself, Ryan finally breathed a sigh of relief. However, before he could completely relax himself from that tension, Yoyo grabbed his hand again and pulled him into her small room mysteriously saying: "Sister, I have a new friend. I'll only introduce them to you."

The princess-themed room was decorated very delicately; one could tell that Ashley cherished this four-year-old sister very much. On top of the white-pink desk sat an upside-down bowl; Yoyo brought him over carefully and opened up a gap: "My new friend is inside here..."

A cricket crawled out from the bottom of the bowl. Standing close by next to the table with their arm touching it lightly caused panic in the cricket's escape route as it quickly climbed up their arm.

If it were really Ashley standing here today instead of Ryan...Yoyo would definitely receive quite some beating.

Ryan expressionlessly caught hold of the cricket which had already reached their collarbone level and stuffed it back into the bowl, then took out a book to press it down at the bottom: "Take care of your new friend."

Yoyo looked at him with admiration in her eyes: "Mhmm!"

It had taken her and the kids downstairs quite a long time yesterday just to catch this little bug! But Sister caught it so easily; she really was the most amazing sister in the world!

While Yoyo played with the cricket, Ryan returned to his bedroom and changed into a loose casual outfit. Ashley's room was also pink; it seemed that both sisters had princess hearts. The small walk-in closet was neatly organized, clothes were hung up by category making them easy to find, and there were also several high-end bags and jewelry pieces. However, for a female celebrity like Ashley, they were obviously too shabby.

Ryan picked out a black hair tie from the vanity box and walked into the bathroom.

The curly hair that is both black and long is too troublesome. He tried hard for a long time but couldn't successfully tie it up, with his eyebrows and eyes tightly furrowed. Yoyo held her pink bunny on the side, tilting her head and looking at him for a while before calling out to him: "Sister."

The little girl ran over quickly: "Can't you tie your hair? Let Yoyo help you!"

Ryan silently squatted down and handed her the hairband.

Yoyo was much more skilled than him, quickly tying up a secure ponytail. After finishing, she ran back to the room and brought back a pink butterfly clip to put on top of it, clapping in satisfaction: "Done!"

Ryan resisted the urge to take it off.

When they walked into the living room, they found two steaming bowls of braised noodles placed on the dining table. Mr. Zhong had already left for work without them noticing.