Page 35 of He Is My Bride
“Thank you, Wu Hanrong.” Anne then addressed Li Ying, “We should receive our luggage soon, I’ll sort everything out for you then. Call me if you need anything, I’ll be just down the road.”
“Thank you, Anne.” Li Ying smiled, happy that he didn’t need to pretend to treat her rudely, the stewardess having let him know rich people could also afford courtesy.
Li Ying followed Hanjun inside the lobby, which in its marble-floored, chandeliered opulence could have been the reception of a luxury hotel. There Hanjun picked up his keys from the concierge.
“Welcome home, Mister Wu.”
Li Ying noted that the lady behind the desk actually bowed to him from the waist.
Hanjun lived on one of the upper floors. Inside his apartment the decor was modern, but it wasn’t cold; warm gray and taupe tones and layered lighting created a cozy ambiance. There were abstract art pieces in calm, earthy tones, and housekeeping had brought a fresh arrangement of orchids. A small fountain burbled on the hallway side table next to them.
“Wow, Hanjun, your feng shui is impeccable.” Li Ying jested, but he knew that the man took that stuff seriously, and Li Ying had to admit: while money could buy the design and the professional to tastefully put it all in place, Hanjun’s place exuded a particular warmth. Something Li Ying could only call good energy, and he immediately felt at home, even if it was the fanciest private home he’d ever been in. He felt safe, like this was his stronghold.
“Welcome,” Hanjun said, closing the door behind them, and kissed Li Ying’s temple. “Are you hungry?”
“Yeah!”
“Let’s cook together?” Hanjun thought it would be something familiar to do together to make themselves feel at home.
The pantry had been stocked with essentials, and they made vegetable dumpling soup. It was the first time they had cooked together in a while, either of them always at work or school. With Hanjun having not made much use of the kitchen before, they were both fumbling around looking for things, but they were having fun.
They decided not to go anywhere that day, so while the soup was coming along Li Ying went to take off his breast tape.
After sorting himself out, Li Ying sat at the small dining area, separated from the kitchen by sliding glass panels. There Li Ying noticed something on the illuminated shelves on the other side of the table: there were rows upon rows of Chinese teaware, different kinds of clay and porcelain cups and pots, trays and tea scoops, and peculiar little clay figurines, some taking the shape of characters like a happy Buddha, mythical creatures, and rabbits.
“Hanjun, what are your little friends over here?”
“They are tea pets,” Hanjun answered while stirring the soup.
“Tea-what?”
“While making tea, you pour some on them and they bring good fortune.”
“Oh, now I get it; Hanjun’s zodiac animal is the rabbit!” Li Ying took two of the rabbits: small and round, stylized little critters in unglazed reddish clay. “So cute!” He made them smooch. “Does this one like this one?” he held them up.
Hanjun stared, not knowing what to say to that.
“Like this?” Li Ying asked.
“…No!”
Li Ying had put the other rabbit on top of the other and gently clinked their tail ends together, and for some reason this totally threw Hanjun off: the man dropped the soup ladle and strode towards Li Ying, who dodged around the oval table, snickering and continuing to make the clay bunnies bump uglies.
“They don’t do that!” Hanjun protested.
“Yes, they do! They’re rabbits, they do it all the time!” Li Ying kept running from Hanjun as they chased each other around the table, until Hanjun really made a dash for it and Li Ying finally let himself be captured. He was laughing hysterically while Hanjun grabbed his hands and brought the clay bunnies apart.
Hanjun was blushing from his ears down to his cheeks. He was shocked to see his first-ever pair of tea pets, which he’d carefully nourished with respectful, solemn ceremonies, doing something likethat.Sure, he had a ravenous sexual appetite when it came to Li Ying, but some things were supposed to remain sacred.
Li Ying didn’t get what the fuss was about. “Why are you embarrassed? You know well what happens when a bunny likes another bunny very much and gives him a special hug.”
Hanjun’s hands were still gripping Li Ying’s arms. Hanjun could be so thin-faced sometimes, but Li Ying understood these things must have had a special meaning for him to get so worked up, so he apologized:
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have played with—” He got silenced by a kiss. Hanjun’s breath quivered against him as the man keenly explored his lips and beyond them, lapping at his mouth with his tongue.
This tastes like our first kiss.Li Ying closed his eyes and opened his mouth, moaning weakly as Hanjun’s teeth gently sank into his lower lip.
The house phone rang. Hanjun finished the kiss with a wet, smooching sound and left Li Ying and the tea bunnies standing there in a sweet stupor as he picked up.
