Page 126 of He Is My Bride
Chapter 26: A Peacock’s Proposal
On his way out to the balcony, Li Ying left his empty glass on a table and attacked a tray of canapés a waiter was carrying. He took one in each hand and ate them in two bites, not caring if it was unladylike, because he was hangry.
He knew Hanjun had meant well and not to come off as condescending, but Li Ying was already frustrated and it didn’t help him to try to rationalize. He just needed a moment alone before his temper would go off and sour their whole night.
Li Ying headed over to the balcony, which boasted a sweeping view of the Pudong skyline. The city lights danced across Huangpu, the river’s surface criss-crossed here and there by river cruisers and yachts. The tables outside were covered by canopies of hanging silk flowers and glowing lanterns.
It was chilly, and Li Ying wrapped the fur shawl tighter around himself while walking to a quieter corner of the terrace, where he might have a moment to himself without having to pretend he was as posh as everyone else.
On the way, he was looking for someone to bum a cigarette from. He approached a small group of gentlemen who instantly locked their eyes on him. Li Ying saw those eyes flash to the diamond on his fingeras it glinted in the dim light. Li Ying lifted two fingers to wag back and forth by his mouth.
“Can I ask you gents for a cigarette?”
All the guys started digging their pockets at the same time, but then Li Ying was intercepted from the left field by a hand, holding out an open packet of slim Nanjings.
“Allow me,” said Lin Yong.
Well.Li Ying turned to him.You caught me. Now what?Hetook out a ciggy from the packet and put it into his mouth without breaking eye contact.
Lin Yong met his gaze. There was something oddly intense about it.
“You got light?” Li Ying asked, the ciggy wiggling at the corner of his mouth.
Lin Yong took out a gold-plated, custom-engraved lighter and clicked it open. Li Ying humored him, leaning in to light his cigarette on the flame. He drew his first smoke in several months, knowing it set him back to square one. Hanjun had been right, as usual.
I’m sorry Hanjun, for being such a sucker.
Li Ying grabbed the ciggy delicately between his fore and middle finger and blew a cloud of smoke, while Lin Yong took one for himself and put the packet away.
“Mind if I join you?” Lin Yong asked.
Li Ying shrugged.
“Good. I need to talk to you.”
You really don’t.
Lin Yong led Li Ying aside, corralling him with his hand but not touching. Once they were away from everyone else, Li Ying leaned his back against the railing and crossed an arm over his chest. He kept smoking, waiting for Lin Yong to state his business.
The man was wearing a dark teal paisley suit with a black shirt and a golden tie, looking like a peacock, although he was shiftingawkwardly in his feathers. He seemed to make up his mind about something, and sounded determined when he spoke up:
“I wanted to apologize.” When Li Ying said nothing, just stood there staring him down, Lin Yong blinked and averted his gaze, his resolution faltering. He took a last good smoke to settle his nerves before stubbing the half-finished cig and looking back at Li Ying.
“I should have stepped in sooner when Wang Hao and those women bullied you back at the club.”
“What about you, then?” Li Ying gave the man no mercy. “Don’t think I missed your subtle insinuations about the nature of mine and Hanjun’s relationship.”
Lin Yong blushed.
“You may apologize for that, too.”
Li Ying drew smoke in turn and tapped the cig over the railing, to shed off the ashes while not removing his gaze from Lin Yong. The man was squirming quite delightfully, Li Ying thought. The Lin heir lowered his gaze in shame.
“…I apologize, I was wrong.” Lin Yong raised his gaze back to Li Ying’s eyes.
It wasn’t the power trip it could have been for Li Ying, having one of the wealthiest and most influential young men of Shanghai crawling before him for forgiveness, but he only thought it fair and just that the man admit his mistakes and apologize properly.
“But Li Ying,” Lin Yong said, “I recognize your position, and I believe I could offer you more.”
