Page 6 of He Is My Bride
“I guess there aren’t many open positions for a criminal pathologist in a small town,” Li Ying said, “but maybe I could think of something else at some point. But wouldn’t you like to move out of the city sometime in the future?”
Hanjun regarded Li Ying, who looked at him with those adorable brown eyes and a coy smile. Hanjun suspected he knew what Li Ying had meant when he’d spoken of ‘the future.’ Right now, Hanjun wasn’t sure what ‘future’ meant for himself, but he wished it could bethat.
“And what would I do in a small town?”
“You can be my househusband!” Li Ying grinned.
Li Ying noticed something tugged at the corner of Hanjun’s mouth again, something he found amusing.
Househusband? Hanjun couldn’t imagine, but he knew Li Ying was, at most, only half-serious.
Li Ying sighed. “But no, my husband has to hustle.” He kissed Hanjun’s collarbone. “I understand work is important to you, and I’m not asking you to move if you’re not ready to change that picture. But we have been together for almost two years now…”
Li Ying shifted nervously, but finally came out with it, “When will it be ‘Mr. and Mr. Wu?’”
Hanjun said nothing at first. He kissed Li Ying’s forehead.
“Let’s think about it.”Hanjun settled his head back on the pillow and closed his eyes.
“Hey!” Li Ying was not done. “I’ve already taken you to meet my family, too! Foster family as they might be, the Qians are still myonlyfamily. When will I meet your uncle and your cousins, and the rest?” Li Ying rolled over Hanjun, pawing at his toned chest.
“It would take some planning to go to Shanghai. Also, you introduced us to the Qians as ‘roommates.’”
Hanjun understood the need for keeping secrets more than well, but it still had hurt to hear Li Ying call him a ‘friend.’ Hanjun had wondered whether Li Ying held hesitations about their relationship, but now there was no doubt he was serious about them.
“I didn’t think they were ready for the real news yet,” Li Ying admitted. “But! You’vemetthem!” He gently poked Hanjun’s chest. “Why don’t we plan a trip to Shanghai over Christmas break?”
“Let’s see.”
“Don’t youwantto introduce me to your family?”
Hanjun frowned. Li Ying had noticed how quiet his boyfriend always got when discussing family. Something troubled him, Li Ying knew, something he wasn’t ready to share.
Hanjun sighed. “It’s not that I don’t want to.”
“Then what is it with you hesitating? We can’t hide our relationship from our families forever, Hanjun!”
Hanjun stared at the ceiling. “Why not?” he asked quietly.
Li Ying looked at Hanjun like he had just been hit. He rolled off him and huddled with his blanket to the far edge of the bed.
“Li Ying.” Hanjun put his hand on the soft, angry blanket roll.
The roll tensed and spoke, “I want a wedding and I want a life together, Hanjun!”
Hanjun’s heart ached.Me too, Li Ying, me too.
“We could have all that,” Li Ying said. “And we shouldn’t be ashamed of our relationship!”
“I’m not ashamed!” Hanjun took the blanket off Li Ying and pulled him back to his arms. “I love you. I amnotashamed of that.”
“Then let’s do it!” Li Ying turned back to face him. “Let’s ask for our families’ blessings and get married!”
But then Li Ying saw it again: that hesitation in Hanjun’s eyes.
“There is… more to consider.” Hanjun weighed his words carefully, “Your family is immigrant; they might accept us, but my family in Shanghai is very traditional concerning certain things, and I’m afraid of you getting hurt.”
“You can’t know for sure they will reject me just because I’m a man. But if they do, then let them. As long as you’re there for me, we’ll be happy. Unless,” Li Ying hesitated, “you wouldn’t…?”
