Page 116 of He Is My Bride

“You know, a girl would need more time to prepare for a themed party,” Li Ying saids “so even if you asked me yesterday, it would have been too late. Now I have to overwork Anne. Oh well, at least you’re the one who pays her hours.”

“I will apologize to Miss Lü,” Hanjun said, adequately humbled.

Hanrong laughed. “Miss Li is a very convincingShanghai-lady.”

Li Ying blinked and turned to Hanjun. “Am I nagging at you? I’m not nagging, am I?”

Hanjun blushed. His voice was soft: “No.”

“I was nagging, wasn’t I?” Li Ying said apologetically.

“Mm.” Hanjun looked down and his blush deepened. Maybe hewasa whipped Shanghai husband—and maybe he liked it.

Hanronglaughed.

Chapter 23: Shanghai Husband

The next day was the party day, and traditionally also the day when married daughters went to visit their parents. Modernly, husbands would come to visit their in-laws on this day as well.

But Li Ying and Hanjun were being homebodies again, Li Ying having dragged himself from bed by the time Hanjun was back from his morning qi gong session in the park. Not that Li Ying had managed to dress up or anything, hanging out draped only in his briefs and his blanket in the kitchen, eating pudding for breakfast, and negotiating his dress with Anne over the phone.

“Don’t worry too much about the theme, it’s not a costume party,” Anne advised when Li Ying asked her about the twenties theme. “It’s enough if your dress is simply inspired. You should actually wear the qipao again. We can pay homage to the twenties’ Shanghai instead of going full Hollywood. Subvert people’s expectations, you know.”

“Right, because no one else except the Wus and the Wangs have seen it on me?”

“Exactly, so it’s not like you would be seen by the wider audience in the same dress on consecutive functions, which would obviously bea no-no. Also, this is the perfect chance to show off mine and Huang Xiang’s first collaboration to what I assume will be the biggest fashion spenders in Shanghai. If you care.”

“Of course I care! I will tell everyone there who made and designed it and make you two many future clients!”

“Thank you. If you could promote us a little, that would go a long way.”

“It shall be my main mission tonight!”

“As for styling, let me think… Can I call you back later?”

Li Ying was now getting distracted, looking at Hanjun, who was shaking up a protein smoothie in the kitchen. He had been to the apartment complex’s private gym after doing qi gong it seemed: his lean muscles were pumped and had a low sheen from sweat. He was wearing a tight gray t-shirt, a sweat towel hung over his shoulders, navy sweatpants, and he wasbanging.

“Li Ying?”

“…Sorry, my husband is being sexy.”

Hanjun sent him a look as if he were going to chide him for being ridiculous. Li Ying smacked little kisses his way, and he rolled his eyes and drank his shake.

Anne sighed. “I’ll call you back, then.”

“Thanks,sista’.” Li Ying hung up and waddled over to Hanjun, hugging him and wrapping him inside his blanket too.

“Don’t. I’m sweaty.”

“Then let’s shower together.”

After showering they hung out on the couch in their bathrobes, seeing no reason to dress up before they would have to get ready for the night.

“You know, I think we could tell Amy about us.” Li Ying put forth while laying idly on top of Hanjun.

“Do you think she already might suspect we have a relationship?”Hanjun asked.

“Maybe. I mean, she asked if I had someone right after asking whether you knew about me dressing up as a girl. She had some kind of thought process there, she’s smart.”