Page 5 of He Is My Bride
“I’m right here.” Hanjun kept his voice steady while Li Ying’s rose.
They had been going steady for a while, but Hanjun knew Li Ying would have appreciated more special attention and grand gestures. Hanjun’s own idea of romance was one of peaceful coexistence. But hadn’t it been Hanjun who had asked Li Ying to come live with him, knowing their personalities were like night and day?
Although their relationship had started in awkward circumstances, after giving Li Ying a chance, Hanjun had learned to enjoy the way the lively man filled his silence. Hanjun thought he should remember it was the reason he had fallen in love in the first place.
“We can talk now.” Hanjun squeezed Li Ying’s hands. “How are your studies?”
“Hmmh.” Li Ying pouted, now feeling like he was being a nuisance even if he got what he wanted. “I’ve started looking where I could do my elective rotations next year.”
“Do you think you’ll be finished with your coursework by then?”
Li Ying tilted his head, his ponytail swaying. “Don’t you trust me?”
“I think you should be realistic.”
“I know I’ve not been the best student before, but what else can I do except work hard when my boyfriend isn’t here to distract me properly?” Li Ying pulled that cheeky face he had whenever he had a specific thing in mind.
“Do you want to be distracted?” A tiny smile lurked in the corner of Hanjun’s mouth. He could tease Li Ying right back when he wanted.
A distraction would be welcome to Hanjun, too; his personal phone felt like it was staring at him demandingly.
Li Ying grinned and wiggled in his chair. “Yeah?” He batted his lashes.
Hanjun’s eyes twinkled dangerously. “You’re about to get it, young mister.”
Li Ying trusted that.
—
Li Ying was leaning out of the bedroom window, smoking a cigarette.
“Sometimes I’m tired of this city,” he said.
Out of the window, the incessant sound of traffic and sirens could be heard. The city lights reflected off Li Ying’s pale, naked form. The man was shorter than Hanjun and slight of build, not as muscular as his boyfriend since, unlike Hanjun, he found going to the gym a dull business.
“When will we elope and move to the countryside?”
Hanjun was lying on the bed. “Don’t smoke inside,” he admonished.
“This is technically outside?” Li Ying turned to Hanjun, his cigarette-holding hand extended out of the window.
Hanjun simply glared at him, so Li Ying took a final good smoke, stubbed the cigarette, and stored it in an empty matchbox.
Li Ying slipped back under the covers and cuddled against Hanjun.
“Would you really be happier in a small town?” Hanjun asked, holding Li Ying against him.
Li Ying grinned. “You’ve totally tamed me, I’m almost ready for a quiet family life.”
Hanjun seemed doubtful. Li Ying chuckled.
“Yeah, I guess I would miss it, but imagine: a house and a yard just for us, and… Is it too early to think about kids?” Li Ying thought Hanjun seemed awkward, so he skirted the subject, “Anyway, we’ve been together long enough that we could start thinking about the future.”
“Mm. What about job opportunities?”
“That’ssonot what I meant.”
Could Hanjun not take a hint, Li Ying wondered, or was he simply reluctant to what he was hinting at?
