Page 18 of He Is My Bride
The lady gave him a full skin analysis and went on to recommend a bunch of treatments to him.
“I have to stop you right there,” Li Ying said. “What would be the price for all of this?”
“For you, dear, everything is already being covered, including the analysis.”
“By whom?”
“I was told your boyfriend is covering? Oh no, I hope I didn’t just ruin a surprise?”
Li Ying stared blankly. Hanjun was paying for all of this? No doubt hecouldpay it, but Li Ying thought it was a bit much, so he fought to pin down what treatments would benefit him the most, and settled on booking a simple facial, to the great disappointment of the cosmetologist.
Believing it all had to have a purpose, Li Ying bought whatever products the lady pushed on him. He was to use some of them daily, some every three days, and so on. Why was this so complicated, Li Ying thought.
He started using the products anyway, finding that he spent way more time in the bathroom. As much as Hanjun, in fact. They syncedup their routines, and now Li Ying fully appreciated the concept of the double vanity.
Li Ying had thought Hanjun’s obsession with skincare was just him keeping up an image, but maybe it truly was the secret to his criminally good looks, he wondered. The guy looked like an idol with his perfect skin, striking jawline, and chiseled cheekbones. It was unfair.
Not that Li Ying thought himself bad-looking. Li Ying had been told enough times he was a looker to not have to worry, but someone like Hanjun was hard to match. Li Ying’s features were softer, though by no means could he be mistaken for a woman without the aid of cosmetics.
It also helped to trick the eye that Li Ying had grown out his hair, not having cut it since his teenage goth phase. Unlike Li Ying, Hanjun kept his hair neatly and professionally cut. The man was always clean-shaven, always smelled good, and got his shirts ironed and his collars starched. Li Ying liked to wear sweatpants and tees. How’d he score like this?
It’s love!
—
Next time Li Ying saw Anne face-to-face, she had told him to meet her at her office in downtown Brooklyn.
“It’s like I really have a real personal stylist!” Li Ying enthused while making liberal use of the coffeemaker in the small but chic office.
“Iama real personal stylist,” Anne grumbled and sat in the other red Panton chair facing Li Ying.
“I know, but you know I was just asking for a friendly favor. Ahugefavor, I know, but aren’t I paying you?”
“You aren’t, actually.”
“…Oh. Damn, I’m sorry, I meant to bring that up last Saturday: I would of course compensate for your time, but you know I’m on a budget, so could you consider giving me a discount?”
Anne quirked her brow. “Li Ying, you’re so full of it. Sit down.”
Once Li Ying had sat down with his caramel macchiato, Anne continued:
“Wu Hanjun is paying for everything. And aren’t you living in his house? A very nice house…”
“Anne,” Li Ying spoke in a quiet, deceptively sweet tone, “what are you implying?”
She got flustered and hurried to assure him, “Nothing! But do you mean to tell me you live together with that man and you don’tknow?”
“Know what? I know he’s loaded, and if you’re accusing me of being his sugar baby, I don’t appreciate that. I didn’t even know he was paying you, that’s why I offered.”
“I’m not accusing you of that! I just can’t fathom the level of cluelessness going on here. Do you know who your boyfriend is?”
Li Ying blinked. “He’s my Junjun!”
Anne sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose. “He gave me his card, and I did a search on him. Okay, you know where he works at least, right?”
“He’s been doing a secondment in Measumed.”
“Which is an affiliate company of…?” Anne led on, peering at Li Ying’s face: nothing. Just an empty stare and an innocent blink.
