“Cousin Xiaohe?” Yin Li waved her hand in front of Li Xiaohe’s eyes.
Li Xiaohe snapped back to reality. Zhao Xiujie had already moved on to greet Li Tianbao and his wife.
The two families sat down to eat together. The house wasn’t large, but it felt warm and cozy.
Yin Li didn’t mind the crowd at all. She was just happy to have so many people celebrating her birthday. The only downside was that her father had tired himself out cooking so many dishes.
Aunt Li had even sent Zhao Xiujie out to buy some cold dishes, filling the table completely.
Yin Jianguo was in high spirits too. He even joined Li Tianbao for a few drinks, though he wasn’t much of a drinker. After just a couple of small cups, his face turned red.
“Sis, Brother-in-law, you have to treat my sister well. She’s had a hard life all these years… hic…” Li Tianbao belched as he spoke, drunk and slurring. “Marrying her… how… how lucky you are. How many years of struggle did you skip?”
Yin Jianguo sobered up slightly. Yu Meifeng quietly tugged at her husband’s sleeve. “Drink a little less. We still need to head back later.”
Li Tianbao glanced at his wife, downed another gulp of liquor, and set down his cup.
“Don’t rush off. Stay the night here. I’ll make arrangements for Xiaohe, and then you can leave,” Li Wenyue said disapprovingly.
“Whatever you say, Sis.”
To help sober them up, Yin Li went to make tea and opened all the windows to air out the room.
She couldn’t stand the smell of alcohol. Standing on the balcony, she looked down and spotted someone standing under the locust tree below.
When she looked down, the person seemed to sense her gaze. He stepped out from under the tree and looked up.
She quickly waved, signaling Li Hanting to wait. Then she carried the tea inside. Seeing that everyone was chatting happily, she leaned over to the clear-headed Li Wenyue and whispered a few words.
“Since he’s here, invite him up to eat with us,” Li Wenyue said.
Yin Li thought for a moment. “Okay. I’ll ask him. He might be shy.”
“Go on, go on.”
Zhao Xiujie was holding a teacup. He glanced at her but said nothing.
“Clatter—”
“S-Sorry, I didn’t hold it steady.” Li Xiaohe quickly lowered her head, her face turning red instantly. The spilled tea was flowing toward Zhao Xiujie.
Zhao Xiujie snapped out of his thoughts and smiled gently. “It’s fine. It’s a bit hot anyway.”
“Mmm… I’ll clean it up.”
“Never mind. You eat. I haven’t seen you eat much. I’ll wipe it up.” Zhao Xiujie stood up. His habitual gentlemanly manners made him consistently polite and gracious.
It was precisely this refined demeanor, so different from the other young people around, that made Li Tianbao and his wife even more respectful toward him. Studying abroad was something beyond their imagination.
Li Xiaohe gave a soft “mm” and lowered her head, picking at the rice in her bowl.
Li Tianbao didn’t notice anything. But Yu Meifeng took a few careful looks at her daughter, then quietly observed Zhao Xiujie.
·
They lived on the third floor. Yin Li hurried down the stairs in a few quick steps.
“Why are you here?” Yin Li clasped her hands behind her back and looked at Li Hanting.
It was still hot outside. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, revealing the smooth lines of his forearms, evenly muscled. The outline of his firm chest was faintly visible at his collar.
A vintage brown leather belt cinched his lean waist.
Seeing him like this, Yin Li felt a little embarrassed for some reason.
“I told you. It’s your birthday. Of course I’d come.” Li Hanting’s expression didn’t seem affected by the sweltering heat. There was a slight coolness in his eyes, yet the corners of his eyes tilted upward slightly as he smiled at her.
“Then did you bring me a gift?” Since both her father and Aunt Li had given her presents today, Yin Li confidently held out her hand.
Looking at her outstretched hand, Li Hanting smiled and shook the bag in his hand. “Of course.”
“Teehee,” Yin Li took the bag from him. “You haven’t eaten yet, have you? Want to come try my dad’s cooking? I’ll tell you, you still have a lot to learn from him.”
Seeing her invite him so naturally, Li Hanting’s eyes flickered. “Would that be alright?”
“What’s there to worry about? Come on. This opportunity doesn’t come often.” Yin Li hadn’t actually expected him to come back. Driving trucks like he did, there was never any set schedule.
Besides, she had mentioned Li Hanting to her father and Aunt Li before. They seemed to have heard of him and said he was a withdrawn child.
Li Hanting didn’t say anything more and followed her upstairs.
Back at the apartment, Yin Jianguo reheated the food and tidied up a bit, not wanting to be rude.
It wasn’t Li Hanting’s first time here, but he showed no awkwardness. His expression was calm, with a faint smile, and he greeted everyone very politely.
Though young, he carried a powerful presence that made people forget his age.
Standing side by side, the two of them looked a bit like a young bride bringing her new husband back to her family home.
Yin Jianguo was sharp. He watched them for a moment, and his intoxication faded completely. “You haven’t eaten yet, have you? Coming all this way in this heat.”
“It’s not too hot. Thank you, Uncle.”
Watching her father chat with him, Yin Li felt something was a bit strange, but she couldn’t put her finger on it.
Sitting to the side as everyone talked, Li Xiaohe said quietly, “I didn’t know it was your birthday. I’ll make it up to you next time with a gift.”
Yin Li patted her. “Getting to know you is the best gift. Besides, this is your first time visiting. I should be the one giving you a gift.”
Li Xiaohe froze, then a small smile tugged at her lips.
“Sis, you should smile more often. You look pretty when you smile.”
“Pretty…?” Li Xiaohe was a bit embarrassed, but her gaze fell on Yin Li’s exceptionally fair, soft face and her hands with their shallow dimples.
This was the look of someone completely carefree, doted on, never having done hard, rough labor.
“Pretty!” Yin Li’s smile was radiant. She genuinely meant it. Once Xiaohe started working here, they could spend more time together.
“Li Li, aren’t you going to open your gifts?” Zhao Xiujie hooked a gift bag with his finger.
According to Western customs, it was fine to open gifts in front of the giver—Yin Li had read that in a book.
Seeing that the adults were still chatting, Yin Li was eager to see what gifts they had given her. She was most curious about what Aunt Li had gotten her.
As for Zhao Xiujie’s gift, Yin Li showed great interest in that too.
Li Hanting didn’t come over. Somehow, he had started talking with her father and Aunt Li, and they seemed quite engaged.
The three young people sat on a cooler sofa nearby. Under Zhao Xiujie’s gaze, Yin Li pulled a beautifully crafted box out of the gift bag.
Seeing the box, Yin Li knew this wasn’t good. The more expensive the gift, the prettier the packaging.
But since she had already opened it this far, she steeled herself and took the box out.
The box had some weight to it and wasn’t very large.
Yin Li removed the wrapping paper, carefully opened the box, and saw what was inside. She was astonished.
Beside her, Li Xiaohe gasped out loud, drawing everyone’s attention.