4 Chapter Four

Jayden took a deep breath in, determined to make his new barber shop a success.

He began by clearing out the dust and cobwebs and sweeping away decades of neglect.

From decaying ceilings to cracked tile floors.

As he worked tirelessly to clean the shop, Jayden discovered a lot of hidden treasures beneath layers of grime and dust.

Vintage barber chairs that could be easily restored, classic shaving tools that could be polished, and old photographs of what he presumed to be the previous owner of the shop.

"This stuff could easily go for thousands of dollars if restored...I wonder what happened to the previous owner to abandon it." Jayden commented in thought while looking through all the photos.

After hours of tirelessly cleaning and airing out the place, it was already nine o'clock at night. Jayden had managed to clear most of the dust on the first floor but there were still three more floors he had to cover.

He sighed heavily while stretching his back with a groan." That hit the spot, well this is as good progress as any, it'll take me a few days to clean up the other three floors...but I think ill hire a cleaning company to do that for me tommorow.

And after they're done the renovation team should be coming a few days later, it will take them around 6 weeks to renovate everything." Jayden said while taking out his phone and searching for something.

" There's a Chinese restaurant not too far from here so maybe I'll eat my dinner there before crashing on one of these couches." Jayden confirmed this plan with himself before picking up his hoodie and locking up.

....

(Uptown, Gotham)

As he walked through the streets of Gotham he couldn't help but think of how similar it was to New York. High Skyscrapers, unique graffiti on every wall and Alleyway, even the people who weren't together minded their own business.

Despite being described as one of the worst places to live in America one couldn't help but admire the nightlife around.

*Shhhhhhh*

Jayden suddenly noticed something way into the distance, Gotham was over 600 sq miles long, it was a big city so most wouldn't notice it from so far away but Jayden could.

*Whistle*

Jayden blew a long-lasting whistle while taking out his phone, and pressing the camera option. On the screen what appeared was a light shining in the sky with a signal all of Gotham has come to know and some( Mostly criminals) have come to fear.

" The bat signal...this is definitely going in the scrapbook." Jayden said while taking a few photos of the iconic light that signals one of the greatest heroes in fiction.

" Well in some realities anyway." Jayden thought remembering a certain bat who laughed.

After taking a few photos he put his phone away and continued his stroll through the streets of Gotham before pausing at an alleyway.

He walked into it before stopping at a sign that read" Wok and Roll".

" Haha, that's a pretty smart sign, wonder who came up with that name." Jayden admired the sign for a couple of more seconds before making his way inside.

As he did the bell on the door chimed signalling to the chef and clerk of his arrival.

As he pushed open the creaky door, a delightful aroma wafted through the air, welcoming him into a cosy space filled with tables adorned with red tablecloths and paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling.

" Ahhhh~ Customer, come come." The old Chinese lady behind the counter looked ecstatic that someone had actually come to their restaurant. But looking around he could see why, there was no one there besides the woman the chef and now himself.

" Hey, I saw you on Google Maps and I just wanted to try some of your food out...do you take out orders or only dine in."

" Dine in, food out we do all honey." The lady said in a chipper tone while handing Jayden their menu. Everything looked good but Jayden always had a go-to when ordering Chinese.

" Could I have the duck fried Rice, with wonton soup, a side of sweet and sour pork, and a side of orange chicken...oh and a side of mapo tofu with chilli sauce."

" Ohhhh~ so much food will be okay or are there more." She asked wondering if Jayden would be able to finish all that food.

" Haha, yes it's just for me, and don't worry I feel like I could eat a cow right now." Jayden joked and she nodded while turning around.

Immediately the atmosphere switched and her cutey old lady attitude changed to one of burning fake wasabi as she shouted at her lazy husband to start cooking the food in Chinese.

Jayden couldn't help but gulp inwardly. He didn't expect that from this sweet old lady, but then again it was never good to judge a book by its cover.

" So, how is your stay so far, you like Gotham and its fumes." The old lady suddenly asked.

" Huh! How did you know I wasn't from Gotham." Jayden asked curiously, maybe he didn't dress as they did.

" Eyes, you do not have our eyes, honey..." She said mysteriously but the next thing she said had ruined that mystery.

" Pluss grannies on the street inform me of your arrival today." Jayden chuckled hearing that, so it was just neighbourhood gossip and apparently he was the topic of the day.

But damn word spread fast. I've only even been here less than 12 hours.

" You guessed it, the names Jayden, it's nice to meet you." He said while shaking her hand.

" It's nice to meet you too, welcome, I hope you like your stay, so why have you moved here." She asked while keeping an eye on the kitchen to make sure her husband wasn't slacking.

" Well it was nothing major, I just wanted to start living out my dream and Gotham just seemed like the best place to start." He answered while also salivating at the smell that was coming from the kitchen.

" You, you not criminal are you." She suddenly asked doubtfully as who in their right mind moves to Gotham to live out their dreams?

" What! nonono I'm not a criminal, I'm a barber, I bought the old barber shop there and I'll be re-opening it in a few weeks."

" Ohhhh you are a barber, that's so good. your so young but already going for big things, keep going then, when open I'll bring Ài ren for cut. To long his hair, he like boy bands and grow like them but I want it cut, he looks more handsome cut."

" Haha, I see well if you can convince him to come get a cut I'll see what I can do."

The two then started conversing about themselves and whatever She brought into the conversation like the community, tips for living here and so on and so forth.

By the time their conversation had ended, the food was ready to take out.

" Here you go Jayden, that is 63.55 dollars."

Jayden nodded before handing her a 100-dollar bill." Thanks for the food, oh and keep the change as the tip, it was nice meeting you and you too Ài ren."

The woman suddenly chuckled while the man in the kitchen gave Jayden a weird look." I no into men, boy."

" Huh??"

"* Fufu* Ài ren is not his name, Ài ren means beloved in English. His name is Aiguo Lei Jie, I am Xue Lei Jie."

"..." Jaydens looked apologetically to Aigou before bowing to Mrs Xue." Sorry about that, well it was nice to meet you both, have a good night and I'll send you the invite to my opening." Jayden said before walking out of the restaurant.

Meanwhile still inside the restaurant Mrs Xue turned to her husband and said in Chinese." I like that boy, his eyes were dark but so clear, I hope Gotham doesn't snuff out that light."

" Who knows, I don't really care." Aigou responded while cleaning up the grill.

" Oh by the way, when Jayden opens up I'm going to take you, that skunk on your head, I have tolerated for far too long."

" What skunk, this hair is hip with the youth of today, just look at Jon Bon Jovi and Bill Ray Cyrus..."

" No they look handsome with hair, you...you look like skunk."

" No, I will not cut..."

*Crack*

Suddenly from out of nowhere, Mrs Xue conjured a ladle and Mr Aigou who was about to argue with his wife immediately shut his mouth.

" I...I think a haircut is good too." He said nervously. The death stare his wife had been giving him earlier was replaced by a happy smile as she ran up to him and kissed him on the cheek.

" Thank you Ài ren." Aigou could only nod reluctantly while grabbing his scruffy long hair.

He and his wife have been married for 35 years, and in that time he's learned when to pick his battles, lest he wants to end up on the coach.