Page 55 of He Is My Bride
“Wu Hanjun.” Xinyu turned around. “Were you looking for me? I’m sorry.”
“No need.”
Xinyu had always been a little afraid of his older cousin. The sons and grandsons of great-grand uncle Wu were not fondly mentioned among the Wangs, and whenever Xinyu had seen Wu Hanjun at family functions, his cousin had been quiet, somehow distant, cold. He would always frown at the younger family members at the slightest ruckus, sending chills down Xinyu’s spine. He had thought Hanjun was even scarier than his grandfather. But once Xinyu had begun his internship at Wu Pharma together with Yiyi, Yiyi had assured him that while Hanjun was indeed strict, just like his uncle, he wasn’t so bad. Then again, Yiyi was a Wu; of course Hanjun wouldn’t be so bad to him.
Xinyu noticed the watch on Hanjun’s wrist was the very same as the one on display behind the window, the one he’d been looking at: a sleek piece with a navy blue leather strap.
“Oh, it’s Wu Hanjun’s watch.” Xinyu pointed at the window. “It’s very cool.”
Hanjun tilted his head. “Do you likeit?”
“Well, it’s nice, but uh—Huh?” Xinyu stared after the man, who was now headed inside the shop. No way, Xinyu thought and went in after him. Hanjun was showing his watch to the salesperson.
“For the young man.”
“W-Wu Hanjun, I can’t—” Xinyu froze under his cousin’s expressionless gaze. He was still very scary, even when doing something like buying a gift. “I must refuse, I can’t accept this gift!” the boy insisted.
“You are a future young professional, you may look the part,” Hanjun said.
“Please, it’s way more than I can accept, it’s too much!” Xinyu determinedly kept refusing, though he knew by now there was no saying ‘no’ to Wu Hanjun.
“It’s not too much. You are family of the Wus, you should present yourself accordingly.”
Xinyu fell quiet. Defeated, he bowed from the waist before Hanjun, who received his gesture gracefully, unfazed.
The watch was gift-wrapped and Hanjun handed it to Xinyu, who accepted it with both hands.
“This is a Christmas present, so open it tomorrow morning as Li Ying has said is customary,” Hanjun said.
“Understood.”
They exited the horologist’s. Meanwhile, Li Ying and Anne had found Yiyi and were waiting outside with him. Li Ying had been watching Hanjun and Xinyu from behind the window. He smiled at Hanjun and pressed a kiss to his cheek.
“We should get A-Yi a gift next,” Li Ying said.
“There is no need, big sister!” Yiyi politely refused, but he was way more ready to accept a gift than Xinyu had been, so they went and got him a fresh pair of kicks after minimal pretense at modesty.
After they were all shopped out, they headed to the cocktail bar in the Waldorf-Astoria hotel on the Bund at Hanjun’s suggestion. Anne rode with the interns, with all of Li Ying’s shopping. The boys hadagreed to ride her over to Hanjun’s place afterwards so that she could drop everything at the concierge.
They sat down in the stylish bar, where Anne gifted Li Ying and Hanjun Belgian chocolate truffles, and Li Ying shot down her apologies over how it was too humble a gift.
They ordered aperitifs, and while Yiyi was by car and Xinyu couldn’t legally drink for a few more weeks yet, they went for craft mocktails. Li Ying thought the boys were cute when they looked up to Hanjun and sought to replicate his faultless posture and restrained movements as they sipped their drinks.
After a while, a man in a suit came over to their table. He was wearing a name tag with a title: hospitality manager.
“Excuse me, Mister Wu?”
“Yes?”
“I’m happy to let you know that a table for two has just become available at the Pelham. Shall I make a reservation for you at once, as you had earlier requested?”
Hanjun nodded. “Please. Thank you.”
After the manager had left, Li Ying asked Hanjun, “Didn’t you have a reservation?”
Hanjun had taken out his phone and was dialing. “I had tried here at first, but they were fully booked. I will cancel the other reservation now.”
“So you just show up anyway, and people scurry to make arrangements for you?” Li Ying grinned.
