Dinner unfolded even more beautifully than Ji Xia had imagined. Under warm golden light, the dishes gave off an inviting steam.
Jiang Yanqin took a bottle of red wine from the cabinet. It had an elegant shape and an old-fashioned label. He opened it with practiced ease and let it breathe before pouring only a shallow amount into her glass.
Taste this. It should go well with the meal, he said. His voice was calm and pleasant.
Ji Xia looked at the red liquid and hesitated. I am not very good with alcohol, she admitted quietly.
He glanced at her, a faint curve appearing at his lips. It is fine. Just a little to mark the occasion. You will not get drunk.
His words were reassuring. She lifted her glass as if in a gentle ritual and looked straight at him with sincere bright eyes. Happy New Year Uncle Jiang. Thank you for looking after me. I wish you everything good in the year ahead.
Jiang Yanqin met her gaze and raised his glass, clinking it lightly against hers. Happy New Year Ji Xia. Thank you for making this dinner.
The wine tasted slightly sharp at first then softened into a sweet afterglow. She took only a careful sip and turned her attention to the food. The atmosphere was warm and relaxing and perhaps helped by the small amount of wine she began to talk more, chattering happily about school and her daily life.
Jiang Yanqin mostly listened quietly, responding with a word or a soft smile now and then. He did not check his phone or attend to business. All his focus seemed to rest entirely on her and every word she spoke. Being heard so fully made her feel safe and accepted.
Feeling warm and relaxed, she grew bolder and even asked him things like whether he had dreaded final exams when he was her age.
Halfway through the meal, Jiang Yanqin peeled a prawn and placed it on her plate. Thank you Uncle Jiang, she said.
I should thank you. The food is delicious, he replied. His genuine praise made her glow.
Then as he reached for his chopsticks, his fingers brushed against his wine glass. The movement was slight but a few drops of red wine spilled onto the cuff of his expensive shirt, leaving a dark stain.
Are you all right? Ji Xia quickly offered him a tissue.
It is fine, he said, dabbing lightly at the mark. I will go change. Please keep eating.
He walked toward the stairs. Ji Xia noticed the bedroom door closing behind him but not quite fully shut. A narrow gap remained.
Time passed slowly. The soup grew cooler yet he had not returned. Was he struggling to find something to wear? Or was the stain harder to remove than expected?
Warm concern and the light pleasant feeling from the wine gave her courage. She stood and made her way upstairs.
Uncle Jiang? Are you ready? She called softly at the door. There was no answer. The door stood slightly ajar.
The soup will get cold, she said.
Then everything stopped. Through the gap, the room was lit only by a bedside lamp casting soft dim light. Jiang Yanqin stood with his back toward her, his shirt removed. Broad well-defined shoulders and a strong sculpted back were revealed fully to her eyes.
Ji Xia’s mind went blank and her face burned instantly.
As she instinctively looked away, he turned around naturally and her breath caught. A long jagged scar stretched across his left side climbing upward. Even from a distance and long after it had healed, the severity of what had happened was unmistakable. It ran like an ugly mark across firm skin, a stark contrast to his strength and presence.
Flustered embarrassment melted into deep aching sorrow. Her father’s words came back to her with painful clarity. He was hurt deeply. He barely survived.
It was true. It had been this serious.
Is something wrong? He had dressed and opened the door.
Ji Xia stepped back trembling, overwhelmed by guilt and confusion. I am so sorry. I did not mean to look, she stammered and hurried away.
Jiang Yanqin watched her go. He looked down at the scar now covered again by his clothes. A dark knowing look settled in his eyes.
Perfect. She had seen it. Just as he had hoped, she was shocked and she felt for him.
Back in the dining room a quiet stillness hung between them. Ji Xia ate slowly, keeping her gaze lowered. The sight of that scar stayed with her vividly. Every time she glanced toward him, her heart ached all over again. How much pain he must have endured.
She took a steadying breath and found her voice. Uncle Jiang, is the soup to your liking?
He met her eyes calmly as though nothing had happened. It is excellent, he said simply.
His composure steadied her. She twisted her fingers nervously in her lap and spoke in a rush. I have something for you. A New Year gift.
Oh? He set down his spoon with faint interest. What is it?
She hurried to retrieve the deep blue velvet box and held it out to him with both hands. Cufflinks. I hope you like them. It is just a small way of saying thank you for everything.
He looked at her earnest face for a moment before taking the box. His fingers brushed hers lightly and she pulled back quickly as if feeling a gentle spark.
He untied the ribbon and opened the lid. The pair of sleek platinum cufflinks lay quietly against the velvet. Simple refined and solid.
He stared at them in silence for three long seconds then lifted his gaze to meet hers. His voice was deeper than usual. Why these?
I thought they would suit you, she answered honestly. And it is a New Year gift.
He closed the box and ran his thumb gently over the soft surface. Were they expensive?
Not really! She said quickly, knowing they had cost her nearly all her savings. It is just a token. You need not like them if you do not.
He placed the box carefully into his pocket as if it were something precious beyond measure. His tone returned to its usual quiet warmth.
I accept your kind thought. Thank you.
It was not overly effusive or politely exaggerated. It felt genuine and comfortable.
I am so glad if you like them, she beamed.
Jiang Yanqin watched her bright smile with quiet satisfaction and lifted his soup bowl to hide the faint deeply satisfied curve of his mouth.
He did like them. More than she could possibly know. These were the very first gift his little one had ever given him. And they meant everything.