Jing Li realized for the first time just how bad he was at turning people down.
Especially if that person was Ji Yunzhang.
“Wait for me a moment.” Jing Li stepped aside to let Ji Yunzhang through the door. “The meat in the pot still needs to simmer for half an hour, and I need to take a shower.”
He had spent the morning wandering around and the afternoon busy with preparations. He couldn’t possibly show up to meet Ji Yunzhang’s family looking like this—it wouldn’t be respectful or proper.
Ji Yunzhang didn’t rush him. “No hurry. Take your time.”
As Jing Li turned away, he spotted Custard Bun right behind him. The little mongrel had completely forgotten Ji Yunzhang and now saw him as a stranger invading its territory, brimming with suspicion.
“Woof—” It barked at Ji Yunzhang several times.
“Good boy, he’s Daddy’s friend.” Jing Li crouched down and rubbed Custard Bun’s alert, perked-up ears, then gently stroked its face and belly. The dog gradually relaxed, its tail wagging contentedly from side to side.
Jing Li smiled and gave its paw a pinch before straightening up and turning back to Ji Yunzhang. “Teacher Ji, I’ll go shower first. Could you keep an eye on the stove for me and feed Custard Bun? The canned food and kibble are in that drawer.” He pointed to the one beneath the TV cabinet.
A faint smile played at the corners of Ji Yunzhang’s mouth as he nodded. His gaze slid past Jing Li to the mongrel, which had gone from standing at attention to a relaxed squat.
Once its dad headed off, Custard Bun started to follow but got shooed back. Ji Yunzhang located the canned food and kibble, dangling them in front of the persistent tail-wagger to lure it back to its bed.
Before stepping into the bedroom, Jing Li glanced over his shoulder. Seeing Ji Yunzhang and Custard Bun getting along just fine, he headed off to shower without a worry.
After washing up and blow-drying his hair, he changed into fresh clothes. When he emerged from the bedroom, Custard Bun was sprawled on its back, belly exposed for Ji Yunzhang to rub, letting out soft, wheedling barks.
Jing Li walked over and squatted down beside Ji Yunzhang, resting his hands on his knees, a smile crinkling the corners of his eyes. “Teacher Ji, isn’t Custard Bun adorable?”
Ji Yunzhang withdrew his fingers from the dog’s belly. “Yeah, very cute.”
He turned his head. Fresh from the shower, Jing Li’s cheeks still held a steamy pink flush, and he carried the mingled scents of milky body wash and citrus shampoo. The combination wasn’t overpowering at all. Ji Yunzhang inhaled subtly and found he quite liked it.
Suddenly, something wet enveloped his fingers. He glanced down into Custard Bun’s black-gem eyes as it lolled out its tongue for another lick.
The corner of his mouth quirked up, and he gave the dog’s head a good rub.
“Ready?” He stood and asked Jing Li.
“Almost. I’ll just tidy the kitchen.” Jing Li bolted toward the kitchen, only to discover that the chaos from his earlier prep work had been transformed into spotless order.
A fluffy head poked out from the kitchen doorway. Jing Li clung to the frame, his eyes sparkling as he looked at Ji Yunzhang. “Teacher Ji, are you a house brownie?”
Ji Yunzhang’s gaze lingered on his face, his lips curving. “So, does that mean you’ll like me?”
The teasing tone was unmistakable, but Jing Li still felt a feather-light brush against his heart. His ears grew warm as he ducked his head back inside. “I like you a ton already, Teacher Ji. You’re my idol.”
~~~
Jing Li had prepared gifts long in advance for Ji Huahong, Qin Zhiyun, Jiang Mengshan, Ji Mingyi, and even Ji Yunzhang’s nephew and niece. He hadn’t skimped on new year’s presents for Grandpa Ji and Grandma Ji either, despite the ones they’d already received last time.
Once everything was loaded into the car, Ji Yunzhang’s expression softened. “That was thoughtful of you.”
Jing Li beamed and waved it off. “It’s the least I could do.”
How could he possibly meet the family empty-handed? He was taking this seriously!
In the car, Jing Li finally voiced the question nagging at him. “How did you know I didn’t go traveling?”
“Someone sent me a photo—you with some girl.” Ji Yunzhang glanced over, amusement lacing his words. “Claimed you’d cucked me.”
Jing Li: “???”
What on earth? It made no sense.
Bewilderment flooded his face. “Teacher Ji, I want to see that photo.”
“I deleted it.”
“…” Jing Li protested, “You should’ve let me see it first. Now I’m totally in the dark.”
Ji Yunzhang let out a soft chuckle, keeping one hand on the wheel. “No point. It was just meaningless nonsense.”
Jing Li: “…”
But he was dying to know!
“Where’d you go shopping this morning?” Ji Yunzhang asked.
The subject change was abrupt. Jing Li blinked and named the place before adding, “Picking up new year’s goods.”
He leaned back comfortably, propping his cheek on his hand. “You’ve got to have a little ritual to it, you know? New Year’s is a big deal.”
Wait, how did Ji Yunzhang know he had gone shopping that morning? Was the photo of him out shopping? Then the only girl who could possibly be in the frame with him was the one who had asked for his contact information.
“Teacher Ji, is the girl in the photo the one with short hair, wearing a beret and a white coat?” He recalled her outfit and described its distinctive features.
Ji Yunzhang shot him a sidelong glance and arched an eyebrow. “So you were on a date?”
“Definitely not! Who’s spreading such a lame rumor? And with a picture to prove it—like something out of an elementary school essay.” After venting, he explained, “She just came up asking for my number, and I didn’t give it to her.”
Ji Yunzhang chuckled. “You really are popular.”
“Of course I am.” Jing Li puffed out his chest and lifted his chin, looking proud and utterly confident. “I’m this good-looking!”
With everyone home for the holidays, the downtown roads that were usually jammed solid at this hour flowed freely today. They arrived at the Ji Residence without a hitch before seven.
In the gathering dusk, the entire villa estate glowed with lights, bright as day.
Ji Yunzhang handed the keys to Uncle Wang, who drove off to park the car, and passed the gifts to the housekeeper. Recalling Jing Li’s nervousness from his last visit, he asked with a smile, “Need me to hold your hand this time?”
Jing Li shook his head and tilted his face up with a grin. “No need. I’m not nervous anymore.”
Ji Yunzhang drew his hand back. “Then let’s head in.”
Jing Li nodded. “Okay.”
They walked in together, hand in hand.
At the entryway, Jing Li spotted Jiang Mengshan. She held a child by each hand—the boy slightly older than the girl—and all three had striking good looks.
Well aware of his sister-in-law’s weakness for handsome faces and her nosy streak, Ji Yunzhang sighed helplessly. “Sister-in-Law, what are you doing standing here?”
“Welcoming Jing Li, of course.” She beamed at him. “Hello, Jing Li.”
As soon as she spoke, the little boy chimed in: “Hello, Auntie.”
“Hello, Auntie,” the little girl echoed.
Jing Li: “…”
The terms weren’t technically wrong, but they sure felt off.
Ji Yunzhang caught the conflicted look on Jing Li’s face—the kind where he was too polite to object—and cleared his throat lightly, a smile playing at his lips. He corrected the two little ones: “Call him Uncle.”
The children both adored Ji Yunzhang and always listened to him. Though puzzled as to why their uncle’s partner couldn’t be an auntie, they dutifully switched. “Hello, Uncle.”
Jing Li crouched down, his voice softening instinctively. “Hello, you two.”
The little girl had inherited her mother’s eye for beauty and thought Jing Li was drop-dead gorgeous. Clutching the hem of her dress, her cheeks flushing pink, she said, “I’m Mianmian, Uncle.”
Jing Li smiled warmly. “Mianmian.”
“My brother’s An An.”
He turned to the little boy. “An An.”
“I brought gifts for you both.” He selected the ones meant for the children from the housekeeper’s load, but they were too bulky for the kids to carry themselves, so he held them up for a look first. “I hope you like them.”
Jiang Mengshan patted their heads fondly. “You can open them after dinner.”
Qin Zhiyun emerged just then, eyeing them all with amusement. “Why is everyone loitering in the entryway? Come on in.”
They filed inside.
The entire Ji Family was gathered in the living room. The TV was on, with the New Year’s gala yet to begin; instead, it droned on about holiday traditions, filling the air with festive cheer.
Jing Li had only met Su Manzhi and Grandpa Ji before, so Ji Yunzhang made the introductions.
Ji Huahong extended a hand. “Welcome.”
Jing Li shook it lightly. “Hello, Uncle.” He was perfectly at ease, neither stiff nor overly familiar.
Ji Huahong nodded in approval. He liked young people like this—poised and confident in any company, never obsequious or arrogant.
Ji Mingyi gave a slight nod. “Treat it like your own home.”
With a hand resting on her husband’s shoulder, Jiang Mengshan grinned at Jing Li and chimed in. “Exactly. This is family now—we’re about to be one big happy one, aren’t we?”
Jing Li turned instinctively toward Ji Yunzhang and met his gaze, softened to an unusual tenderness in the warm lamplight, a smile blooming in his eyes. “Yes.”
Grandpa Ji and Su Manzhi, hands clasped, smiled too.
