Page 127 of He Is My Bride

“My‘position?’”What the fuck, Lin Yong, didn’t you just admit you were wrong about mine and Hanjun’s relationship being transactional! …Wait a moment!You what?!

But Lin Yong didn’t seem to think there was anything wrong with what he had just said. He looked insistently at Li Ying, who stood shocked at the audacity, and the realization that Lin Yong was…

No way!

“After all, a man like Wu Hanjun must be very cold,” Lin Yong said. “I would treat you right.”

“Lin Yong, what thefuckare you talking about?” Li Ying asked when he had recovered from his shock.

“A woman whose blood runs as hot as yours deserves a man who can match her energy. To be honest, Li Ying…” Lin Yong stepped closer—too close, and Li Ying leaned back over the railing to escape him. “I was smitten with you the moment I saw you.”

Li Ying burst into laughter. What else could he do, Li Ying thought, the situation was ridiculous!

Lin Yong’s face dropped. He seemed mortified. They drew gazes from where people were standing around socializing, getting curious as to what the two of them were up to.

“You’re so full of shit, Lin Yong!” Li Ying may have still laughed, but in fact he was annoyed at the man’s attitude. “You’re telling me that you liked me from the start, yet you insulted me in front of everyone, and you said nothing, did nothing, when shit was going down, andstillyou assume I’m some kind of a… What exactly do you take me for, huh, Lin Yong?” Li Ying straightened himself, and to his satisfaction Lin Yong startled back.

“I—”

“Wu Hanjun and I are marrying for love! And just so you know…” Li Ying finished his cigarette in one big inhale and blew his smoke out in a great billow while he stubbed on the railing. “He can more than match my energy.”

Li Ying stepped past the man and was going to head back inside, but Lin Yong grabbed his arm.

“Li Ying please, wait!” His hold was gentle enough that Li Ying could have pulled away, but he stopped to look back at him with a frown; couldn’t the man take a hint?

“How do you know what you have is true love?” Lin Yong seemed desperate, and Li Ying looked at the man almost with pity.

“I just know. And you will know too, when you fall in love with someone, Lin Yong.”

“But I—”

“No, you don’t!” Li Ying didn’t let him finish that sentence. “You don’t know me.”You really, really don’t!“I accept your apology, but whatever you’re feeling, I’m sorry, but I can’t reciprocate it. Goodbye.” Li Ying left, and this time Lin Yong let him go.

Turned down for the first time in his life, Lin Yong was left out in the cold.

Li Ying went back in to find Hanjun. He wandered the crowd like a lost child, returning every smile politely but not stopping to talk to anyone, until he saw a glimpse of a white suit, hoping, and yes:

“Hanjun!” Li Ying hastened to him, heels clapping, and just as Hanjun turned to see his wayward beloved returning, Li Ying was already hugging his arm.

“Are you okay?” Hanjun asked, concerned.

“Yeah. Missed you.” Li Ying kissed his shoulder, then looked up at him with kitten eyes. “I’m sorry. For earlier.”

Hanjun hadn’t been angry. Dejected, maybe, but everything had already been forgiven. They could both be stubborn sometimes, Hanjun figured. “It’s okay,” he said and gently rubbed the small of Li Ying’s back.

“You won’t believe what just happened—” Li Ying was about to spill the tea, but then someone called out to them:

“Wu Hanjun, Li Ying, come!” Huang Xiang was walking towards them with two tall, model-looking ladies in tow.

“Huang Xiang!” Li Ying still had that adrenaline going and automatically threw open his arms until he remembered himself. “Uh, hug?”

Huang Xiang had already prepared to receive it, although he seemed surprised by the gesture. “For my American friend: of course!”Huang Xiang saved them both face and hugged Li Ying, even if it was a little exotic.

“Should we kiss each other’s cheeks like the French?” Li Ying grinned as they separated.

“I would slap you.” Huang Xiang smiled.

“And we haven’t even taken any shots yet!”