Page 79 of He Is My Bride
“It’s rude to whisper while there are others present, Huang Xiang,” said Wang Hao. He came around the couch to sit on Li Ying’s left side. Li Ying’s skin crawled again and he resisted the urge to move away.
“Everybody wants to get to know you better, sweetheart,” Wang Hao said, “tell us more about yourself.” He smiled in a way that made Li Ying not want to look at his face, so instead he looked where the lavish Lin Yong was seated opposite them.
Lin Yong either came to Li Ying’s rescue, or jumped at the opportunity to inquire about him without making it seem like he was too invested:
“Are your family doctors as well? How much do they make?” he asked.
Everyone looked once again at Li Ying, eager to learn his estimated net worth. Despite Lin Yong’s lazy tone, as if he were only asking outof politeness, Li Ying noticed the man was looking at him keenly over his glass—and despite already having a pretty young dame by his side. She was also glaring at Li Ying as if he’d personally offended her.
I’m not after your man, sheesh! What can I do if he likes what he sees.“No, my family is in IT and finance,” Li Ying answered Lin Yong’s question, “but I decided to follow my passion.” He looked at Huang Xiang and gave him a smile. He wanted this man on his side, even if he wasn’t projecting the same authority as the yuppies, but Huang Xiang had the kind of savvy an underdog needed to stay relevant in these circles.
Huang Xiang responded neutrally, “I admire Miss Li’s courage.”
“A doctor can earn a decent living with their work,” Lin Yong said, “but if Sir Xiang wants to follow his passion as a designer, he should find himselfa sponsor as well.”
Li Ying picked up the insinuation in Lin Yong’s comment.Are you looking at me like you want some, and thensuggestingI’m a kept woman?“The only ‘sponsoring’ a true professional needs is the word of mouth that follows talent and hard work,” Li Ying said.
“Is Miss Li saying that hard work is all that’s needed for success?” asked Lin Yong, smirking behind his glass while his dame smiled in schadenfreude.
“‘It just takes hard work to grind an iron pestle into a needle.’” Li Ying retained his nonchalant tone.
“How quaint—and so very American! But‘nobody can accomplish anything without the necessary means.’”
This guy…Li Ying still smiled cheekily, meeting Lin Yong’s gaze head-on.
“Don’t let Lin Yong tease you, sweetheart!” said Wang Hao.
I don’t need that from someone like you, ugh.Li Ying’s shoulders unavoidably tensed when Wang Hao put his arm across the backrest behind him. Lin Yong himself looked at the display conflicted, apparently undecided if Li Ying deserved to be bullied by the sleazy Wang, if it amused him, or if he wanted to save him.
“You are in my seat,” said a quiet, freezing voice from behind Li Ying and Wang Hao.
“Hanjun!” Li Ying sighed gratefully. He turned and saw his man standing there perfectly still, staring down at Wang Hao with such a cold stare that it seemed to sap the warmth from all around them.
Wang Hao tensed, but didn’t budge. “Huang Xiang, move, make space for Wu Hanjun.”
“No.” Hanjun seemed like only a thin layer of ice was keeping him from, what? Wu Hanjun, snapping at someone? Unthinkable. “Youshould move.” And yet, it didn’t seem at all impossible that he might get physical next. People around them were getting nervous.
“Just move, Wang Hao, it was Wu Hanjun’s seat,” said Lin Yong in his ever lazy tone, but he too eyed Hanjun warily.
“Tch.” Wang Hao stood up, stalling on purpose. “It’s not like the seats are assigned, but whatever.” He moved to a free seat well away from them.
Hanjun sat back down next to Li Ying, putting down his cup and a freshly brewed pot of tea. Li Ying hurried to pour him a cup, leaning close to him in search of comfort. He got it when Hanjun put his hand on the small of his back and leaned in to smell his hair. Li Ying felt his breath against his ear and how it trembled ever so slightly, as if Hanjun was barely containing his emotions.
Yes, Hanjun, I’m yours! Claim me!
Of course public displays of affection like this were not such a taboo among the younger generation, but coming from a Wu, known for their decorum, it was still unexpected.
With the tension resolved, conversation resumed. Li Ying talked with Huang Xiang and asked if he could see some of his designs.
“My stylist and friend, Anne Lü, studied at an acclaimed fashion school in New York.” Li Ying told Huang Xiang while looking through his portfolio. “She probably has connections, I could ask her if she knows someone you could show your designs to? I mean, I think these have potential.” Li Ying didn’t know if that would lead toanything, but he wanted to hype up the young man. Huang Xian wasn’t awkward one-on-one at all, not like he’d been with the group, but Li Ying was still feeling sympathetic towards him.
“That would be very kind of you,” Huang Xiang said. “If it’s not too much trouble, I don’t see why you couldn’t ask.” He didn’t have any expectations for Li Ying’s offer either. It was just polite lip service back and forth to build the friendship that had begun to bud between them, but as such, it was appreciated.
Huang Xiang praised Li Ying’s outfit and they talked more fashion. Li Ying cunningly said he was used to his stylist dressing him and that he didn’t really know much beyond the most mainstream designers. It served them both to have Huang Xiang educate him on the goings-on of the fashion world; Huang Xiang got to feel like his expertise was finally appreciated by someone, and Li Ying got to sponge all the knowledge. This could help him look like a fashion guru if he ever needed to impress other people.
Some others, mostly girls who hadn’t already decided he was a threat, sought Li Ying’s attention as well. He talked jovially with them about current restaurant hot spots and spinning classes, power yoga, and the latest health fads. Aside from such topics, the girls mostly talked—humble bragged—about what their men had been up to, their work, and their real estate. None of it was particularly profound, and Li Ying was getting bored.
The girls asked Li Ying about the United States and what it was like living there. Li Ying tried to be as vague as possible, to avoid revealing justhowmiddle-class he actually was.
