Page 62 of He Is My Bride
Hanjun remained quiet, his own thoughts and feelings just out of his reach:whywas he feeling like Li Ying’s tears were somehow his fault?
Li Ying thought out loud:
“I wonder if I could tell the Qians I have found someone and just not tell them who it is? I don’t want them to think that it’s someone weird, like, I don’t know, a mafia guy. Or to make them feel like I don’t trust them enough to tell them about my life, like I don’t think they deserve to know. But maybe I could make them understand it’s a secret I must keep?”
“I trust you to do what’s for the best, but we should not risk the plan,” Hanjun said. But whatwouldhave been for the best in Li Ying’s situation, Hanjun asked himself, but feared the answer.
“Oh, Hanjun, they would like you, I think! Well, theydidlike you, Amy thought you’re nice and handsome, and Uncle Qian said you’re a ‘very polite young man.’” Li Ying cuddled against Hanjun,smiling faintly as he recalled the time he had invited his ‘friend’ over for dinner.
“Your family are good people.”
“Mm. You are my family now.”
“Yes.” Hanjun kissed his forehead. “And the Qians are too. Uncle Qian and your foster sister and brother care about you. Don’t write yourself out.”
Li Ying was quiet, but Hanjun’s words comforted him. He wanted the Qians to be his family, but not being able to share a major milestone and a large part of his life with them didn’t help Li Ying bring them closer, and thatsaddened him.
Chapter 13: Money Shot
Hanjun stood before Wu Yiheng in his office the next morning.
“Hanjun,” Wu Yiheng’s voice was grave and his face like a brewing storm, “why is your discretionary account empty, your card at its limit?!”
“Those are my personal funds, I’m free to use them as I wish,” Hanjun said, cool as ice.
Wu Yiheng scoffed, looking like his nephew had just spat in his tea. “If I didn’t suspect something else, I would have thought you were a victim of fraud. Perhaps you are.”
“No,” Hanjun stated. “I authorized those transactions. On my own initiative.”
“I doubt that.”
”‘One must accept the things he cannot change.’”
“What?” The storm was ready to break.
“I cannot change your opinion, so I will accept it.” Hanjun kept calm, his face expressionless.
Wu Yiheng drew a deep breath. “More importantly, why didn’t you show up at work yesterday?”
“I apologize for neglecting my duties. There is no excuse.” Hanjun bowed from the waist, and Wu Yiheng let him stay there for a while.
“Stand up,” Wu Yiheng said finally. “Let it not be repeated.” After Hanjun stood up straight, Wu Yiheng sighed heavily. “When did you become so unruly… I shouldn’t have sent you to America.”
Hanjun still said nothing.
“Get back to work,” Wu Yiheng dismissed him, “and stop letting that hen peck at your assets, you’re making a fool of yourself.”
Hanjun bowed and left the office. He felt proud for having stood up to his uncle, but the mission was not accomplished yet.
—
That day, Anne and Li Ying had agreed to meet up to explore the French Concession.
The interns picked Li Ying up from Hanjun’s place, Yiyi having been tasked by Hanjun to continue as Li Ying’s and Anne’s driver and guide for as long as they stayed in Shanghai. Xinyu had taken a break from work to join them as well.
“Good afternoon, Big Sister Li!” Yiyi greeted, while Li Ying got in the backseat of the black company BMW.
“Hi boys!” Li Ying noticed Xinyu’s eyes blowing wide and realized he was staring at his ring. Yiyi, however, was oblivious:
