Page 13 of He Is My Bride

Somehow, Li Ying had completed his rotations and passed his exams successfully amidst everything else by Christmas break. The coming trip to Shanghai didn’t exactly feel like it was going to be a holiday though, more like another test.

Li Ying visited the Qian household on the eve of his departure.

“What time is your flight? Do you need a ride to the airport?” Uncle Qian offered as they sat in the living room for tea. The Qian’s place was a typical Brooklyn Heights townhouse with a brownstone exterior and modern European-style classic interiors.

“Thanks, but we already arranged a taxi, we’re good.”

“So, your roommate is moving back to Shanghai?”

“Yeah.”

“He’s selling the house? Will you move out?”

“Eventually. It’s, um, a bit expensive for me, but he said it’s possible for me to stay a month or so, until I can find a new place.” Li Ying felt bad for telling even a little white lie to Uncle Qian.

They were yet to discuss the condo with Hanjun, who could of course afford to let Li Ying live in it for as long as he liked, but Li Ying couldn’t possibly accept that .

For now, Li Ying would settle for doing the whole long-distance thing until he graduated. He wasn’t looking forward to it, but he felt like he owed his foster family to complete the degree they had paid for.

“Shouldn’t you be house hunting then?” Mrs. Qian commented from the kitchen where she’d been getting coffee. “Not traveling? You should know what the New York housing market is like.” She sipped her java while staring Li Ying down.

“I know, but I thought I should take the opportunity to visit the mainland over Christmas since Hanjun offered me to stay at his place and all.”

“You could have afforded to stay at a hotel instead of couch surfing in other people’s homes.”

Ouch. Li Ying shrugged, smiling.

Qian Hong stirred his tea, the chink of silver against porcelain chiming in the silence.

Li Ying’s foster sister Amy turned to him, breaking the silence, “I hope you have fun in Shanghai, A-Ying ii . Bring us souvenirs!”

Li Ying returned her smile. “I’ll get you something as late Christmas presents.”

“Don’t feel too pressured,” said Kai, Li Ying’s foster brother. “It’s the thought that counts.”

“Come on, of course I’ll get you something!”

After chatting with his family for a while, Li Ying had to be on his way: he had an appointment for waxing and getting his brows and nails done before the big day.

“Let us walk you to the subway.” Amy stood up and urged Kai to join them, and off they went.

Once the youths were gone, Qian Hong said to his wife:

“I don’t think Li Ying will be sleeping on a couch.”

“Still assuming his friend could be the Wu Pharma Wu Hanjun? I doubt it; imagine someone like him having a roommate , ridiculous. Or did you find out something?”

“Not really. I couldn’t reliably match Li Ying’s friend to any photos of Wu Hanjun online. But you have a good point.”

“I didn’t ask for your validation.”

Qian Hong finished his tea.

—

On the morning of the twenty-first of December, Li Ying dolled up for the journey to Shanghai.

They were picked up by a taxi, the driver having picked up Anne from her place in Brooklyn prior.

Anne had collected all the clothes and accessories from Li Ying’s and Hanjun’s place, saying she would take care of Li Ying’s entire wardrobe and packing.

“Let me help you with that,” Li Ying said to Hanjun and grabbed the handle of his large Rimowa luggage while opening the trunk. The driver hurried to the back, horrified that his customer should be handling their own luggage, but Li Ying was stuck staring at the contents of the trunk.

“Anne, have you hidden an entire dismembered body here or what?”

“What? The pink one is mine, and the rest are yours.”

Anne had hauled three pieces of luggage for Li Ying’s things alone.

“Well, holy shit.” Li Ying hadn’t failed to use his feminine voice, but his sense of humor was still the same.

Li Ying himself only had to pack his personal hygiene, makeup, and hair products, seeing as Anne had seen to the rest. Since all Li Ying’s personal things had fit into his keepall, he’d figured he could help Hanjun with his luggage.

Instead of accepting help however, his boyfriend gently ushered him into the car, giving him a firm look .

Their charter departed from a private airport only half an hour’s drive away from the condo.

No going through security, only getting their luggage checked with no lines, and then they were already being escorted across the runway to their private jet.

He felt absurd walking up to the aircraft and having the three-man crew greet him as if he were supposed to be there:

“Welcome aboard, Mr. Wu, Miss Li, Miss Lü.”

No, wait: he was .

Getting seated on the luxuriously spacious seats upholstered in cream leather, Li Ying and Anne looked at each other with stupid grins and tried not to act obnoxious, but it got harder the longer they looked at each other until they were giggling.

The corner of Hanjun’s mouth tugged as he opened the provided issue of China Daily. There were fresh flowers on the tables, and after takeoff, champagne was popped.

Li Ying and Anne didn’t bother pretending this was their everyday fare, so they asked the stewardess to give them a tour and openly gawked at everything: there was a full kitchen where their meals were prepared, a stateroom at the back with a full-sized bed, and an entertainment suite with a large TV and sound system.

Anne took selfies galore, but Li Ying knew he couldn’t flex on anyone, so he didn’t bother. He was happy for Anne though, helping her take photos to send to her family and friends, all of whom congratulated her on the job.

With Anne stuck on social media, Li Ying went to take a look at the cockpit with Hanjun.

To Li Ying, that was the coolest thing yet.

He listened with interest as the captain, an older gentleman, explained everything…

to Hanjun. He seemed to assume the one with the pants was also the one interested in the technical things.

“Can I sit on the chair and hold the yoke?” Li Ying asked the captain. “It’s on autopilot, right, so is that okay?”

The captain looked at this ‘young lady,’ surprised for a fraction of a second until his professionalism caught up with him. He smiled at Li Ying with amusement apparent on his face. Li Ying thought it was a weird, kind of condescending smile.

“That would be against the regulations, miss, but if we all agree you won’t push or pull on anything, I suppose we can let you ‘cruise’ a little.” The captain looked at Hanjun as if seeking his permission, and Li Ying couldn’t help but feel like a child while being talked over.

Hanjun nodded.

“Alright then, miss, here.” The captain stood up to let him sit in the seat.

Li Ying forgot about being irked and sat down—forgetting to smooth over his black tweed skirt as he did. The skirt frumpled up at his hip, coming to reveal way more thigh than was appropriate.

Li Ying became aware of his rookie mistake when he felt the seat’s rough fabric touch his nearly bare bum.

He knew nothing critical would be on display, so he pretended not to notice.

Li Ying took hold of the handles, and watching his fingers with their freshly manicured nails—nude polish with white, rounded gel extensions—grab around those two rods, Li Ying couldn’t help getting highly inappropriate thoughts.

He became extremely aware that there were three men in the room, looking at him. He giggled, even more high-pitched because now he was nervous, and called for the name that gave him most reassurance:

“Hanjun look! I’m flying!”

“Where are you taking us?” Hanjun responded in Mandarin.

“Shanghai! Or…” Li Ying looked at him over his shoulder. “Where does Hanjun want to go?”

Hanjun looked him directly in the eyes. “ Bedroom. ”

Li Ying blushed. The captain and pilot probably didn’t understand him just now, but for Hanjun to say something saucy like that in front of others was surprising .

You’re being naughty, Hanjun ! “Thank you,” Li Ying said to the captain and sat up, mindful of his hem and taking care to smooth it down as he got up from the tight space and gave up the seat.

Hanjun took his hand and walked him out of the cockpit, and Li Ying knew what would happen next.

“We’ll be a while!” Li Ying called to Anne as they passed her in the seating section.

Coming to the stateroom at the back of the plane, Hanjun slid the door shut and grabbed Li Ying’s hips, pulling him against himself and straight into a kiss.

“Ha-Hanjun!” Li Ying laughed between his claiming kisses. “What is this?”

“You…” Hanjun’s voice was desperate. “Too hot.” Hanjun moved to kiss Li Ying’s neck and started opening his blouse.

“Were they checking me out?” Li Ying opened Hanjun’s belt.

“Hmm.”

Figures, he got jealous! Li Ying gasped when Hanjun bit his neck. “Hanjun, no! I’m supposed to meet your family soon, you can’t leave marks on me.”

“Mmh.” Hanjun grunted and licked down an inch before continuing to kiss, suck and bite Li Ying at another spot.

“No, don’t! My clothes, they show so much skin!”

“Mm. Naughty wife-husband.”

“What? I am naughty? No! You’re the one being naughty right now, I’m a good wife!” Li Ying thought it was hot to keep saying ‘wife,’ even if he’d intended it as a joke before.

But Li Ying couldn’t have hickeys when he met Hanjun’s family, at least not when trying to make a good first impression.

To escape Hanjun’s teeth, Li Ying dropped to his knees, with his blouse now open and his black lace bra showing.

Li Ying bit his lower lip while opening Hanjun’s pants, grinning mischievously as he looked up at the man .

His boyfriend was surprised at this sudden turn of events, but not displeased.

“Good wife,” he agreed.