Page 41 of He Is My Bride
“Hanjun, drop us here,” Li Ying said. “I’m going shopping with Anne. I’ll come home later.”
Hanjun looked at him with a worried frown. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah, don’t worry, I just want to look around the city with Anne.”
“…Alright.” Hanjun parked at the next possible spot, and Li Ying and Anne got out of the car.
Before Li Ying closed the door, Hanjun said, “Take care, call me if you need a ride.”
“I’m a big girl, Hanjun!” Li Ying winked at him before shutting the door.
Li Ying and Anne located the eastern end of the famous Nanjing Road, lined with shops, department stores, and restaurants, as well as Yule market-style food and souvenir stalls, erected for the season. Neon lights and Christmas trees and other decorations lit up at dusk,creating a colorful ocean of light. People were coming and going in masses, locals and tourists alike. Li Ying and Anne walked about, just looking around without buying anything, while Li Ying described how Wu Yiheng had led him into his trap.
“That’s so mean!”
“Just don’t tell Hanjun, okay?” Li Ying said. “Neither he nor anybody else seemed to get it, and I don’t want to cause drama.”
“This isn’t good, Mister Wu seems very opposed to the idea of Sir Hanjun marrying you.” Anne fretted. “I don’t think there’s much I can do just by lengthening the hems of your skirts…”
“I don’t think it’s something you can help, so don’t worry about it. You’ve done your part, the rest is up to me.”
“So, what will you do next?”
Li Ying smiled, confident. “Hanjun’s cousin seems to really be on our side, and Auntie Wang invited me to her place and seemed more favorable overall. It’s big to be invited to someone’s home, right, and this being Mister Wu’s own mother, I’d say the invitation is a big tactical win for us. She could be vital in persuading her son to change his attitude towards me.”
“I guess you’re right. So, you will keep fighting.”
“Of course! When have I ever been a quitter?”
They kept walking West, window shopping and taking pictures of Anne, until they spotted a specialty tea and teaware store. Li Ying thought of Hanjun’s collection and walked in on a whim.
When he came out with his purchase in a paper bag, he noticed it had begun snowing. Small flecks of white danced down upon the people who stood awestruck, pointing to the sky and exclaiming in joy. Li Ying looked up, then at Anne, and smiled. Somehow, despite the challenges, he was full of hope.
—
Hanjun looked at that same snowfall from the tall windows of his living room. He had put a fire in the electric fireplace and brewed teafor himself. Two bunny tea pets sat side-by-side on the tray. He worried if Li Ying would be cold. His legs had been so bare in that skirt. He worried about other things too.
Hanjun wanted to call his uncle and urge him to bless the marriage, but he knew he would not attain his goal in this way, by whining and begging. It had never worked with Wu Yiheng, and Hanjun had learned that early. Eventually he sat down, opened a book, and got lost in it.
When Hanjun heard the doorbell, he hurried to open.
Li Ying was smiling at him from the door. “I’m home.”
“Welcome home.” Hanjun noted the paper bag. “Found something you like?”
“Never you mind that,” Li Ying said, winking, and hid the bag behind his back as he stepped past Hanjun and into the hallway.
Hanjun let his boyfriend keep his secrets and hide the bag from him while he sat back in the living room. Li Ying joined him, having removed his makeup and bra to get comfortable. He took a short spurt and leapt on Hanjun on the couch, tackling him down.
Hanjun grunted as he fell on his back. “What is it with you now?”
