Page 143 of He Is My Bride

“Before such an enemy, the Wu family needs intelligence and strength, and to remain united.”

Li Ying’s heart was pounding in his chest.

“You are both intelligent and strong. I could see it already during the reunion dinner from how you handled the Wangs. Now that I’ve learned that you and Hanjun have been fighting Wang Guosheng behind my back ever since, I’m convinced you just might have what it takes to stand with the Wus. Do you?” Wu Yiheng asked firmly.

“I’m not daunted by anything Wang Guosheng has thrown my way so far.” Li Ying still smiled, his tone nonchalant.

Wu Yiheng nodded in approval. “You have now seen what it can be like here at the top. It’s often an ugly game, and let neither of us fool ourselves: you were not born for it. Butmaybeyou are learning to play. If you wish to marry Hanjun, you will have to. And you must be ready to face much more public scrutiny as a foreigner nobody. Yes, you are a foreigner nobody! You will be held to an unfair standard, and you will face more challenges than a society girl from Puxi would, such as I hoped Hanjun would have chosen. You must understand that before you say you are ready to be committed to him.”

Li Ying knew Wu Yiheng was right. He had not wanted to think about it too much, but now he was faced with the fact that if he wanted to marry Hanjun and stay with him, his everyday would be fighting against discrimination. He would find little camaraderie here, only polite little smiles and polite empty words.

Perhaps it would get easier with time, but he would always be an outsider here, Li Ying had begun to realize. This may have been a global metropolis, but this was not New York; this was Shanghai, and here the history of the local families ran deep, and its inner circles were not open to just anyone. Even if he managed to look the part.

Worst of all, Li Ying would be far from his own family, forced to keep secrets from the Qians, secrets that would continue to estrange them, even as he had always yearned to belong with them. Li Ying had never wanted anything more in his life than to belong somewhere. With someone.

And then there was the double life: a lifetime spent at the edge of a knife, always at a risk of exposure. Hiding.

Even from our…

Doubt awoke in Li Ying, and Wu Yiheng saw it right away.

“You seem to understand your position.”

“Oh, I understand it, sir, without a doubt.”I belong with Hanjun! I love him more than anything in this life or the next!Li Ying faced Wu Yiheng with new determination, “But I will do anything to marry Hanjun.” There was no doubt in his eyes.

Wu Yiheng eyed him for a moment before speaking, “Hanjun has his father’s foolish heart, and it has set itself on you. I cannot change this, even if I very much wanted to. But like I said, the Wus have to remain united. If I should shun Hanjun for marrying you, things would play out exactly as Wang Guosheng wants. Therefore, I shall bless your union and embrace you as my daughter-in-law, so that we may be strong together.”

Li Ying felt light-headed. He noticed himself shaking, so he carefully put his tea down again.

“Thank you, Mister Wu.”

“I have considered not only your many weaknesses…”

Wow, uncle still cuts me no slack, huh?

“but also your strengths: as a future doctor with an undergraduate in biochemistry, you understand something about our field. Althoughsome might disagree that an educated woman makes a good wife, I think it’s certainly a boon in addition to your wit. You also speak English natively and come in part from Western culture, which may prove useful to Wu Pharma as we deal with our foreign subsidiaries and seek to expand into the global market. If you were willing to engage in business studies, you could join our marketing team.”

I really don’t want to.Working in marketing was probably the last thing Li Ying wanted. He just wanted to be a pathologist, study dead people to help solve crimes. Or at least, help the living, if he couldn’t pursue his original dream career. But Li Ying only nodded sheepishly at Wu Yiheng.

“So, I believe the Wu family can still use you,” Wu Yiheng said. “We can’t afford to have freeloaders in the family, so if you don’t bring investment or business allies to the table, you will make yourself useful in other, more subtle ways. And of course, by giving Hanjun a child, preferably a son.”

“That would be up to the chromosome in Hanjun’s sperm to determine, as I’m sure the chairman of a pharmaceutical company must know.”

“…Of course.” Wu Yiheng wisely dropped the subject. “Aside from this obvious threat to his family, which he understands, I believe Wang Guosheng’s underestimation of your person will work to our advantage. I need you to cooperate with me, Li Ying, from here on to ensure we make the right moves.”

“I understand.”

“Good.”

Wu Yiheng finished his tea. Li Ying followed suit, wanting to get out of the office, but Wu Yiheng had one more thing to say:

“When can you two be wedded?”

“I will graduate next year’s spring and after that I could move to Shanghai permanently. Hanjun thought it prudent to wait until then.”

“Hmm, indeed, that sounds wise. A little over a year to plan the wedding should be just about enough for the caliber of event this needs to be.” He stroked his chin thoughtfully, serious as if he were considering an important business move rather than a joyous family occasion. “It’s not the custom of the Wus to show off, but we have to send a message: that you are fully accepted into the family and have our support, that your status is no issue for us, and that the whole Shanghai society must also accept you therefore. We can’t act out of shame. It’s troublesome that you have no family at all to attend. This will call for some adjustments to the ceremonies, and it’s a scandal in and of itself, but we will manage.”

I have a family! They love me and would very much like to be there, if only I could tell them that I’m marrying someone…