Chapter 7

Led by the hand by Ji Yunzhang, Jing Li gradually grew accustomed to it. His heart settled into calm waters, and a dozen seconds later, he had transformed into a consummate professional actor.

Ji Yunzhang noticed the shift in his emotions. Reaching the entrance to the small living room, he released his hand and asked warmly, “All good?”

His fingers, so recently warmed, curled instinctively at the sudden loss of contact. Jing Li blinked, then looked up with a bright smile. “All good.”

He added softly, “Thank you.”

“Don’t be so polite,” Ji Yunzhang told him.

Too much politeness only created distance between them.

Jing Li nodded obediently. “Okay.”

They stood just outside the small living room, murmuring to each other, but the two elders had spotted them long ago.

When Ji Yunzhang had first announced he was in love, Grandpa Ji hadn’t believed a word of it. He’d assumed his grandson was just placating him, sparing him any regrets in his final days. But now, seeing the pair so openly affectionate with his own eyes, he finally set his worries to rest.

Su Manzhi patted the back of her husband’s hand. Grandpa Ji turned to her, and they exchanged a knowing smile.

When the young couple still didn’t come in, Grandpa Ji couldn’t hold back any longer. “How long are you two going to stand there mooning over each other?”

His voice still boomed with vigor, though his words came out a touch slurred.

The sudden sound startled Jing Li. From where he stood, the wall blocked his view, so he had no idea the elders inside could see them perfectly well.

He gathered himself, met Ji Yunzhang’s gaze, and took a step forward—only for his arm to be caught again.

“?” He tilted his head. “Teacher Ji?”

“Your collar’s a bit rumpled.” Jing Li had worn a scarf on the way over and only removed it after they arrived.

Jing Li let out a soft “Ah” and glanced down, about to fix it himself, when Ji Yunzhang’s hand reached over. He froze in place.

Though a little unaccustomed to the attention, Jing Li kept his composure. To distract himself, he studied Ji Yunzhang’s face, tracing every feature with care. The more he looked, the more he realized just how strikingly handsome the man was.

The words slipped out unbidden. “Teacher Ji, you’re really so handsome.”

Ji Yunzhang paused, lifting his eyes to meet Jing Li’s.

Mortified by his own fangirl gush, Jing Li curled his toes in embarrassment. He slapped a hand over his face and turned away. “Teacher Ji, don’t look at me yet.”

Amused despite himself, Ji Yunzhang chuckled. “All right, I won’t.”

They lingered a moment longer before finally stepping into the small living room.

Grandpa Ji was thin but had a healthy flush to his cheeks and plenty of spirit. Su Manzhi sat beside him in a simple long skirt draped with a purple shawl, her presence elegant and serene.

The moment they entered, Grandpa Ji grumbled, “All that lovey-dovey nonsense—hurts my eyes.”

Even so, his delight was plain as day.

“Grandpa, you scared Jing Li,” Ji Yunzhang said.

With his good looks and neatly put-together outfit, Jing Li appeared every bit the picture of youthful propriety standing beside Ji Yunzhang. It was obvious he was the younger one. Had he truly been frightened? Grandpa Ji eyed him, a flicker of guilt crossing his face.

His every thought was written large across his features. Unable to help himself, Jing Li laughed and jumped in smoothly. “Teacher Ji’s just teasing you, Grandpa. I’m not that easily spooked.”

He stood there with easy grace, his smile radiant like sunlight piercing the clouds—bright, dazzling, and utterly disarming.

Grandpa Ji took to him immediately and couldn’t have been more pleased.

Ji Yunzhang made the formal introductions. “Grandpa, Grandma, this is Jing Li—my partner.”

Then, to Jing Li: “These are my grandparents. Feel free to call them Grandpa and Grandma.”

Without a hint of awkwardness, Jing Li’s eyes crinkled in a warm smile as he called out, “Grandpa, Grandma.”

He handed over the gifts he’d been carrying.

Once unwrapped, Grandpa Ji cradled the White Jade Go Set like a treasure, unable to set it down. Su Manzhi admired the vase and silk scarf as well. She draped the scarf around her neck right then and there, asking Grandpa Ji, “How does it look?”

He gazed at her, his affection as clear as ever in his eyes. “Beautiful. It suits you perfectly.”

Su Manzhi touched the silk lightly. “Jing Li has excellent taste.”

She looked up at him with a gentle, loving smile. “We adore the gifts.”

Jing Li’s mouth curved upward. “I’m just glad you like them.”

After fiddling with the Go set for a bit, Grandpa Ji’s chess bug bit hard. Eagerly, he turned to Jing Li. “Do you play?”

Ji Yunzhang had no idea Jing Li knew the game. He set the tea and fruit plate the housekeeper had brought in front of Jing Li and offered, “I’ll play with you, Grandpa.”

Remembering he’d never beaten his grandson since the boy turned ten, Grandpa Ji shot him a glare. “Don’t want you.”

His eyes shifted back to Jing Li, awaiting his reply.

“I only know the basics,” Jing Li said.

Grandpa Ji beamed and waved a hand. “Doesn’t matter—as long as you can play.”

Jing Li glanced at Ji Yunzhang, whose face held an uncharacteristic touch of helplessness. Leaning close, Ji Yunzhang whispered in his ear, “My grandpa’s not much of a player.”

“How bad?” Jing Li whispered back, mirroring him.

“After I turned ten, he never beat me again,” he added. “I’d only been seriously studying Go for three months back then.”

“…”

Jing Li nodded solemnly, getting the picture.

He rolled up his sleeves and sat down across from Grandpa Ji, beaming. “Grandpa, please go easy on me. Don’t let me lose too badly, or I won’t dare to play with you next time.”

Grandpa Ji chuckled happily. “Alright.”

Alzheimer’s Disease was a neurodegenerative disorder, and Grandpa Ji’s condition had progressed noticeably, worsening day by day. When Jing Li played Go with him, his reactions were agonizingly slow—not because he wanted them to be, but because his memory, logical thinking, analytical skills, and executive function had all deteriorated.

Ji Yunzhang watched for a bit from the side before Su Manzhi called him over. “Come with Grandma to the greenhouse to pick some flowers.”

The two of them put on their coats and headed out the back door, strolling slowly along the Bluestone Path. Suddenly, Su Manzhi asked, “Yunzhang, is Jing Li really your lover?”

“Yes,” Ji Yunzhang replied, supporting her arm. “You know I wouldn’t joke about my feelings.”

“Grandma knows that. But Grandma also knows you realize Grandpa can’t stop worrying about you. He’s always afraid you’ll end up alone for the rest of your life. You wanted to put his mind at ease.”

“I did think that way once, but fate arrived at just the right moment,” Ji Yunzhang said, his gaze softening tenderly. “Jing Li really is my lover. We’re planning to get our marriage certificate right after the New Year.”

Ji Yunzhang was an exceptionally skilled actor, effortlessly putting on a display of deep affection that even his family couldn’t see through. Su Manzhi quietly studied him for a moment before finally breaking into a genuine smile. “As long as it’s true.”

~~~

Jing Li was actually quite good at Go. His childhood and teenage years had been packed with all sorts of classes on top of school—Go being one of them.

But he didn’t show it. Instead, he skillfully lost to the old man, dropping several games in a row and leaving the elder grinning from ear to ear, his laughter carrying all the way outside.

Ji Yunzhang and Su Manzhi had just finished picking flowers and hadn’t even reached the door when they heard the laughter. It had been a long time since Su Manzhi had seen her husband laugh so joyfully after his Alzheimer’s diagnosis. After a brief daze, she smiled and said, “You’ve found a wonderful young man.”

“I know.” Ji Yunzhang smiled.

Su Manzhi continued, “Cherish him well. Jing Li is younger than you, so be more tolerant and take good care of him.”

“I understand, Grandma.”

Back inside, Su Manzhi took the flowers from Ji Yunzhang’s arms and grabbed the vase Jing Li had brought, heading aside to arrange them.

Ji Yunzhang returned to the small living room and saw they were still playing. Grandpa Ji looked triumphant, his face lit up with smiles, while Jing Li wore a bitter melon face—a long face, seemingly deep in thought. He quietly asked the housekeeper, who told him that Jing Li had kept asking the old man for advice, then lost three more times while praising how impressive he was.

Ji Yunzhang finally understood why Grandpa Ji was so delighted.

Grandpa Ji had no other hobbies besides Go, but his skills had been consistently poor for the past decade. Everyone in the family could beat him easily, but he was too proud to accept intentional losses—he’d even get upset. So he’d go out to find opponents, only to come back in a foul mood every time, since hardly anyone was willing to lose to him.

It was rare to have someone like Jing Li, who let him win to his heart’s content and sincerely praised his prowess, making him laugh. Naturally, his mood was through the roof.

Grandpa Ji smirked. “That’s the wrong move! You can’t place it there—you’re going to lose again.”

Jing Li pressed his hands together in plea. “Can I take it back just once? Look, I’ve lost so many times already, and you’re the senior here.”

“No, no, no cheating allowed.”

“You’re the best.”

Grandpa Ji’s smirk grew wider and wider until he magnanimously waved a hand. “Fine, fine, just once—this time only.”

Listening to Jing Li’s practiced way of coaxing the old man into high spirits, Ji Yunzhang didn’t interrupt. He sat down nearby, his gaze settling on Jing Li. A natural smile curved his lips, his eyes brimming with amusement that threatened to spill over.

His stare felt almost warm, and Jing Li sensed it. He turned, instantly falling into those gentle eyes filled with laughter.

“…”

After a few seconds of silence, Jing Li snapped out of it and quickly winked at him.

Turning back to the board, Jing Li pondered for a moment before deliberately making another wrong move. He feigned annoyance and begged shamelessly, drawing another burst of laughter from the old man.

“Another win?” Su Manzhi asked with a grin as she walked in, flowers arranged.

“Yep.” Grandpa Ji sounded a touch proud.

“Had your fill? Time to rest,” Su Manzhi said, calling to Jing Li. “Good boy, come have something to eat. What kind of cake do you like—chocolate mille-feuille or mousse?”

Having sat for so long, Jing Li stood and stretched his limbs. “Mousse.”

Su Manzhi instructed Uncle Wang to fetch it.

After enjoying their afternoon tea, they moved from the small living room to the larger one.

Su Manzhi turned on the television and switched it to the movie channel. The Border, the film starring Ji Yunzhang, was playing. Grandpa Ji watched intently and beckoned Jing Li to join him.

“Have you seen this movie?” Grandpa Ji asked.

“Yes,” Jing Li replied. He glanced at Ji Yunzhang, who was seated on the sofa across the room, then whispered to Grandpa Ji, “I’m Teacher Ji’s fan. I’ve admired him for years.”

He added, “It’s a secret. You have to keep it for me, okay?”

Grandpa Ji lit up even more at those words. He had two grandsons, but Ji Yunzhang was the one he doted on most. Learning that Jing Li was his grandson’s fan made him prouder than ever.

With utmost seriousness, he extended his hand and hooked pinkies with Jing Li, vowing that he would never breathe a word of it.

~~~

They stayed until nine o’clock that evening. Only when the two elders were ready to retire did Jing Li and Ji Yunzhang take their leave.

Before they departed, Su Manzhi presented Jing Li with a return gift: an ink landscape painting worth ten million. Once they were in the car, Jing Li handed the painting back to Ji Yunzhang.

It was far too valuable for him to accept.

Ji Yunzhang didn’t press the issue. Instead, he asked Jing Li to wait in the car for a moment, then stepped out.

When he returned, he was holding a bouquet of flowers.

He offered the bouquet to Jing Li, gazing deep into his eyes, which shimmered like they were filled with stars. His voice was as light and gentle as a midsummer night’s breeze. “Would you accept this thank-you gift?”