Page 108 of He Is My Bride

The Wus conversed politely and the atmosphere was altogether too somber to Li Ying’s liking, making him think of a funeral. He found himself once again hoping he had been home at the Qians instead, but there was hope yet for Li Ying’s inner party animal: he recalled the New Year’s party invitation on Hanjun’s console.

There was definitely some tension detectable between the Wangs and the Wus, but the atmosphere was familial and courteous enough. The Wus drank in moderation, but Madam Wang drank plenty of baijiu and got even louder than usual. Soon she was telling everyone about how Li Ying had been jumped by her dogs on their first meeting, and how ‘the poor girl’ had had to be saved by Grandmother Linming’s maid. Madam Wang’s exaggerated version made it sound like Li Ying had been some damsel in distress, and that garnered him sympathetic laughter from the others. Except from Wang Hao, who had drunk a lot himself and laughed too loud and for too long.

“You got scared of those runts?” Wang Hao mocked. “Weren’t you supposed to be the tough American girl?”

“Scared? Of course not.” Li Ying decided he was going to be unprovokable today. “And thank you.”

Wang Hao blinked in confusion. “For what?”

“Why, the compliment! Toughness is a very good quality to have, after all.”

“That’s just what people were saying.”

“‘People?’ ‘Saying?’”

Wang Hao smirked. “Among other things.”

Li Ying chuckled charmingly, covering his mouth and playing coy. “Wang Hao is too modest! Surely he’s not just repeating the words of others. After all, it’s unbecoming of a man to listen to idle rumors.”

Wang Hao’s smirk dropped and looked like he had accidentally bit into the suckling’s gallbladder.

“Haohao is a good boy!” declared Madam Wang from the other table. “He’s certainly not listening to any rumors.”

Wang Hao was visibly embarrassed, and Wang Jian closed his eyes like he hated to suffer his little brother’s existence right then.

“Do you like animals, Li Ying? Have any pets?” Yiyi’s and Hanrong’s mother intercepted, seeking to steer the conversation to safer waters.

“Of course, I like many kinds of animals. Chicken, ducks…” Li Ying reached to pick up another piece of duck from the serving tray. “Pigs, and all kinds of animals that are good to eat!” He earned a couple of sensible chuckles from the second-line Wu men, and the boys cackled, and the discussion turned safely to food.

Hanjun glanced his uncle’s way, catching him staring at Li Ying, stroking his chin. Wu Yiheng noticed his son’s gaze, only regarding him briefly before looking ahead again, lowering his hand to the foot of his glass. See, Hanjun wanted to tell his uncle: everyone else likes Li Ying, why can’t you?

The banquet proceeded to desserts, and petit fours-style assortments of glutinous rice and taro balls, almond cookies and egg tarts were served with baijiu and some cognac, which seemed to be a Wang thing as Wang Guosheng asked to see the bottle first and appraised it before giving his approval. The waiter then poured drinks for everyone.

“Would you like some cognac as well, Missy Li?” Wang Guosheng offered.

“Yes, please.” Li Ying wouldn’t say no to booze. He was more of a whiskey kind of guy, but the stuff Wang Guosheng fancied was probably top-shelf stuff, and where else would Li Ying ever try it?

“Pour for the young man as well,” Wang Guosheng told the waiter as he passed Xinyu. “It’s time you learn to drink like a man, Xinyu.”

Xinyu looked nervous but also excited. Yiyi looked on jealously as his friend’s glass was filled. Yiyi even looked pleadingly at his fatherover his glass of lower-proof baijiu, but before he could even ask, the man had shaken his head firmly.

Wang Guosheng signalled for her and the waitress left the bottle.

“A toast then, for prosperity,” Wu Yiheng proposed, and the Wus raised their cups of baijiu and the Wangs and Li Ying raised their cognacs.

“Ganbei!”

The cognac was smooth like liquid velvet in the mouth, with a deep taste, and it warmed Li Ying all the way down to his belly as he emptied his glass.

Pretty nice,he thought.

“Ugh!” Xinyu scrunched up his face, looking like he had just forced himself to swallow poison. His father and his uncle chuckled at him, as did Li Ying. Yiyi hadn’t done much better with his low-proof baijiu, grimacing as the drink burned his inexperienced throat.

A member of the staff returned, carrying something surprising: a music stand. The man assembled it before the two tables. When his job was done, Hanjun nodded at him in thanks, and the man returned the gesture and left, leaving everyone wondering what this was about.

“Everyone,” Hanjun spoke, standing up, “Li Ying has something she would like to perform for our pleasure. Please lend her your attention for a moment.”

“Oh, did you bring it?” Grandmother Linming asked Li Ying.