Page 99 of He Is My Bride

“Well?” Wu Yiheng didn’t sound happy. “Explain yourself!”

“About what happened last weekend?”

“Drinking, fighting in public? Shameful! Look at what that Li Ying has done to you! To the Wus! I had to bribe the press just to keep this scandal under wraps so that we wouldn’t lose face in front of all of Shanghai!”

Of course that hadn’t kept the rumors of the Antai alumni party from spreading like wildfire on social media.

“Li Ying didn’t make me drink. Or hit Wang Hao.” Not exactly, Hanjun thought, but even if he did, so what?

“She’s a bad influence on you, that girl.”

“No.”

“‘No?!’” Wu Yiheng’s voice was trembling in anger.

“I admit I shouldn’t have drunk so much, but that’s not something I owe an explanation or apology for. But Wang Haoinsulted my fiancée, so I would have hit him regardless if I was drunk or not, and I’m not going to apologize for that either. Because I would do it again.”

Wu Yiheng was silent.

“Li Ying will be coming to the reunion dinner, please add one more person to the reservation.”

“Is that why you have called me?” Now Wu Yiheng sounded defeated.

“Yes. And to tell you…”I don’t need to apologize constantly.“That I hope you didn’t worry so much, it’s not good for your heart.”

“Then help me, Hanjun!”

“How?”

“Stop this foolishness!” Wu Yiheng sounded like he was begging more than anything. “Find someone else!”

“There is no one else. Won’t be.”

Another silence. A long silence.

“I will call to modify the reservation.”

“Thank you, Uncle. Hanging up now.”

Wu Yiheng hung up first.

—

After one night spent at the Qian’s, Li Ying figured the loneliness of his and Hanjun’s old place was still better than the haunted atmosphere of his childhood home, where he knew not everyone welcomed him.

Li Ying slept at home from then on until Hanjun called him with news: he had discussed a showing of some apartments in Manhattan, urging Li Ying to contact the broker to arrange the time.

The apartments were all conveniently located studios that were not cramped, but didn’t feel too big for Li Ying either. Modern kitchens with all new appliances, and the places could be rented furnished.

Li Ying happily settled on a studio near the Northeastern corner of Central Park, and after telling the broker he would take it, she told him that she would arrange everything with Mister Wu. Li Ying could just pick up his keys at the end of the week. Li Ying never saw a single bill for that apartment. To the Qians he lied that he was moving into a dormitory and firmly refused help with moving.

School resumed for Li Ying. He was busy between starting a new clinical rotation and exams, and although one might think his days would fly by faster with something to do, they just wouldn’t pass fast enough.

Even if Li Ying and Hanjun called each other every day just to hear the other’s voice, it had begun to feel like forever since they had been together, and another forever until they could meet again. In the evenings, Li Ying was lonely in bed and sometimes, especially in the beginning, he cried.

One night he simply couldn’t sleep, so he called Hanjun. Hanjun picked up swiftly when he saw who was calling.

“Hey,” Li Ying cooed into the phone. “I can’t sleep. Are you at work?”