Page 25 of He Is My Bride
“How did they look at you?”
Li Ying shrugged. “How do men look at chicks? How would I know? Not super creepy or anything, just like they wanted to talk to me, I guess?”
“I think that’s good. How does this all make you feel?”
Li Ying thought about it. “It’s been fun dressing up as a girl, actually. I feel like I’m finding new ways to express myself.”
“It doesn’t bother you that you would have to keep living as a woman if you stay in Shanghai?”
“I’m still me, though, you know?” Li Ying said. “I guess I’m still a man inside, but now that I think about it, I’ve never really cared when I was teased for being ‘girly’ as a kid. Amy and I used to play dress-up, and sometimes someone made fun of me for that, but it never bothered me. I don’t think I care whether the world sees me as a man or a woman.”
What mattered to Li Ying was that Hanjun still saw him for who he was, regardless of how he dressed, and loved him for that. Li Ying needed to marry that man, no matter the cost. If the cost was to pretend he was a woman, that was nothing to him. Save for the stress over this whole plan working out—and the blisters.
However, Li Ying couldn’t help but be sad that he couldn’t tell his family anything about this, least of all the truth about his relationship with Hanjun. It would be worth it though, to be able to marry the one man who had ever made Li Ying feel truly loved. It had to be worth it, Li Ying thought. Still, he would have to figure out what to tell the Qians.
“Looks like I don’t have to worry too much about letting you out there on your own,” Anne said. “That choker is really nice with that outfit, by the way. Good choice.”
“Thanks,girl!”
Li Ying tapped his nail on the table. He wished he had longer nails to do so with. Some gel tips would be very good for tapping. “When do we go to the salon?” he asked.
“‘We?’ I gave you the name of the place, just book an appointment. I’ve let them know you’re my customer and who to bill.”
“We could go together. I could treat you.”
Anne was quiet, fidgeting with her spoon. The waiter brought Li Ying his coffee and toast, giving him his best customer service smile, but as Li Ying smiled up at him, something changed in the man’s eyes, and his pupils dilated.
“Thanks,” Li Ying spoke, still in his feminine voice but in a lower, breathy, velvety purr.
Anne stared, amazed. Once the waiter had gone again, she said, “You haven’t changed at all. You have gone through a complete transformation, but you’re still the same shameless flirt inside. You have just gained more weapons in your arsenal.”
Li Ying winked at her and sipped his coffee. “No one’s safe anymore.”
Anne sighed. She stirred her latte. “Li Ying, you are my customer now, but do you think we are still friends as well? We have known each other for a long time…”
“Don’t be silly, of course we are friends! And I’m going to treat you as a friend to some nails, if you want.”
Anne’s lips spread into a smile. “Okay, let’s go together.”
They sat in comfortable silence for the moment.
“What are your plans for Christmas, by the way?” Li Ying asked after a while.
“Spending it with family, as usual,” Anne said. “Why?”
“I understand Christmas with family is more important than work, so feel free to turn this down, but how would you feel about coming to Shanghai with us?”
Anne looked at him firmly. “On what terms?”
“Work. I talked with Hanjun about it. I’d just feel more secure having someone who’s in the know with me, to help me out, because I can’t… Anne, I can’t botch this, okay, and I need your help.” Li Ying reached across the table and took Anne’s hand. “I’m asking as a friend, but Hanjun will pay you whatever you two would agree on, including accommodation, meals, everything. And you would fly in with us on a private jet.”
Li Ying couldn’t believe he was saying something like that so casually. As if it were just his normal life, to fly around in jets.
“I turned Hanjun down on his offer to send us back on a jet though, so we would be flying back in first class.” Oh woe.
It wasn’t the first or the second time Anne had had that dumbfounded expression on her face during these past weeks. “Is this all settled on?” she asked.
“As long as the whole plan doesn’t fold: yes. Hanjun still hasn’t told his family he would be bringing his ‘girlfriend’ over, but since theplan seems to be coming together pretty well if I do say so myself, I think we can break the news to them soon.”
