When the two finally made it downstairs to the dining room, the dinner table had long been set. Lao Yezi was at his seat, while beside him sat a middle-aged man and a beautiful, dignified looking woman. Han Yang guessed they must have been HeLian Qing's parents.
Sure enough, without delay, he heard HeLian Qing call out to them, "Dad, Mom."
Han Yang followed along beside him, and just as it was before with Lao Yezi, there he went again with that feeling of awkward reservation.
"Oh, you came down? Come, sit over here." Mo Suya said, beckoning them, her gaze lingering on Han Yang's body. The look was in no way a malicious one though, she wore quite a pleased smile. Regardless of this, Han Yang still felt a wee bit awkward. It seemed he felt no matter what status he had as he appeared in that place, it would all come off as a joke.
HeLian Qing with Han Yang beside him, made their way over, simply for the task of mutual introductions.
The awkward boy went on to say, "Hello Uncle, hello Aunty. I am Han Yang."
"Have a seat." HeLian Cheng, motioned.
"Come on now, hurry up an sit. Stop standing around." Mo Suya instructed with a smile.
Both Han Yang and HeLian Qing took a seat just as Mo Suya spoke, "Han Yang, you don't have to be so nervous, since you and A-Qing will be married just think of us as your own family, alright." Even though she said those words, Han Yang just couldn't do so. He was only able to do his best to maintain a smile.
[T/n: A-Qing, is HeLian Qing. 'A' is prefix used in names of children, or people who are younger with those they're close too.]
The dinner was fairly peaceful. Unexpectedly, it was not just Lao Yezi who was very much unbothered about his grandson's marriage to a man. HeLian Cheng and Mo Suya were both also unconcerned about the matter, they were even asking about the wedding plans.
"So Xiao Yang, are you twenty yet? When are you two planning on registering the marriage?" Mo Suya probed. With same-sex marriages now being legal, the legal age for marriage was revised as well.
[T/n: the legal age for marriage in China is 20 for women and 22 for men.]
"He's already twenty, and I'm going to the Department of Civil Affairs next week." HeLian Qing stated.
Hearing what he said the chopsticks in Han Yang's hand froze, his lips drew together lightly, sealing themselves without a word.
"When's the wedding going to be? Do you have any ideas?" Mo Suya prodded, "Is there going to be a banquet, or are you two planning on traveling overseas to get married?"
"It doesn't matter to me, ask him." It was true, HeLian Qing really did not care about those things, it would all be left up to Han Yang's personal preferences.
This sentence of course prompted Mo Suya to turn her attention towards Han Yang, "So do you have any ideas Han Yang? You don't have to be so nervous, whatever suggestions you have you can just tell us."
"I......" he felt his throat become hoarse, "I will."
He would, because he lacks the power to not do so.
After he accepted, he was left in a bit of a daze, one which HeLian Qing also noticed. Not long after they had finished with their meal, he took Han Yang and left.
On their way back to HeLian Qing's apartment, Han Yang gradually relaxed. Even though that place also made him quite uncomfortable, compared to the HeLian's family home, it was much better. In that flat, he would only have to face that man, but there, he would have to come face-to-face with that man's entire family.
It wasn't that he was afraid of them, just that he did not know how he should face those elders while they were in front of him, discussing and consulting him, about the wedding since he did not wish to be married. That he, infact, wanted his own life, and no matter how friendly they were during this situation, they still were not his kin. His only relative was back in that tiny village, the old man he called, Grandpa.
.........
Han Yang placed the two cases in front of HeLian Qing. The man's parents, and grandfather, of course, gave him those gifts. One, was a pair of Jade pendants, while the other, was a Patek Philippe wrist watch.
[T/n: Patek Philippe watches are listed as some of the most expensive watches in the world. Starting a prices is around a few thousand USD, one of the priciest sold for £2.98 MILLION. ]
Those were indeed expensive gifts. Not to mention, how many people desired such things, yet in his heart there was no sense of excitement, not even the tiniest sliver of joy.
As HeLian Qing sat on the sofa, undoing his cufflinks, the younger man's current actions made him pause. Now standing before him, looking down at him, Han Yang's posture told him they were about to have a talk.
"I can't accept these gifts." Han Yang stated softly. In that man's family, maybe things like that were insignificant, but for him it was just too valuable.
HeLian Qing had no response for the words just said to him. He only wanted to laugh but didn't, so the corners of his mouth twitched, then rose, lifting and lowering his chin in favour of the other man continuing with his speech.
"I don't want an undeserved reward, these are too precious. If I took them it'll be inappropriate. Also......" Han Yang hesitated, "Also, you said today that next week you're going to do the registration. Why didn't I get to know of this?"
"Don't you know about it now?" HeLian Qing arched his brow.
"But you should've told me ahead of time and we could've discussed it. Don't go unilaterally deciding these things all on your own......"
"Why can't I?" HeLian Qing suddenly interrupted Han Yang's speech, slowly rising to his feet, then made his way towards Han Yang. His one hundred and ninety metre physique brought with it the distinct feeling of oppression, his mein unlike how it was before was now relatively colder, "You have quite a lot of complaints, don't you."
[T/n: 意见: yì jiàn, translated as complaints also means idea or suggestion, but since it's coming from Mr. Tsundere here, the meanest word seems the most fitting.]
"I was only......" Han Yang became a fraction more frantic after HeLian Qing's abrupt approach, he retreated by half a step. He wanted, at all costs, to maintain his calm demeanor but the tightening grip of his hands made it clear, he was quite nervous.
HeLian Qing stretched out his hand, resting it atop the nervous boy's crown, his fingers ran themselves through those soft black strands--gently. The soft, tender caress seemed like one that came from a lover. But the words that accompanied them, nevertheless, sounded cold, causing a feeling of apprehension, "Han Yang."
That was the first time that man called his name. Those two characters of his name, were spat out from the man's thin lips, frigidly bringing with them a sentiment that would make anyone puzzled, yet it only made Han Yang's heart grow cold.
"Could it be that you think you can actually change how things are right now? The last two weeks were so you could adjust to the drastic change, do you still fail to realise the situation you're now in?" HeLian Qing's lingering fingers held a few strands between them.
"But we don't have deep feelings for one another, do we? How are two people supposed to stay together for a lifetime without those kind of feelings? Don't you think that the way we've been getting along so far is a problem?" Han Yang emotions were stirred as he voiced his retort. His hand rose to brush away the other's lingering fingers, only to have the limb caught instead.
HeLian Qing's tight grip on wrist made it clear just how much slimmer his own were, as the man somewhat ruthlessly, said, "So what of it? Why do you want me to say it over and over again? You don't have the power to oppose."
Han Yang, "......"
"The two were locked in a stalemate. After a while, Han Yang laughed out at himself until his smile fell, then whispered, "......I understand."
Yes, from the beginning, ever since he signed that contract with HeLian Qing he did not have the right to discuss conditions.
It was just, he did not sufficiently realize that was the reality of the situation. Those two weeks HeLian Qing conceded to accommodate him, made him believe there could still be room for discussion.
Seeing the clear dispondent look reflected within Han Yang's eyes, and that obstinate mouth of his crinkle, HeLian Qing lips twitched to say something, but Han Yang instead broke free of his grasp, leaving one sentence behind him, "I'm going to take a bath." then left the room.
HeLian Qing's stared at his own palm, uttered a groan before heading to his study.
After HeLian Qing was done with his business, he returned to the room where he found Han Yang already fast asleep.
When he finished with his shower he came out to find Han Yang still in the same position as he was before, laying on his side at the edge of the bed, facing the window.
If I push him with my finger, he'll probably fall. HeLian Qing thought.
Lightly, He laid on the bed, thinking of wanting to pull Han Yang closer to himself, but at the same time, he did not want to wake him. After thinking it over a few times he ultimately chose to move closer to the sleeping man, fastening his own arm around the other's waist.
His motion was very light, so the sleeping Han Yang did not show a trace of awareness.
With Han Yang's back stuck to his stomach, this kind of posture made it look as if he was embracing Han Yang within his bosom. That sort of posture also allowed him to attain a small amount of relief from the bad mood he was currently feeling.
Seeing Han Yang's face, HeLian Qing muttered, "Right now, being like this isn't so bad, is it? So troublesome."
Watching him for while, HeLian Qing was completely satisfied embracing this man, and soon fell asleep.
.............................................
T/n: remember folks he is an EXTREME Tsundere.(and a bit of a Donkey :/)