The Stars In Your Eyes - Chapter 138

Bai Yutang felt like he was someone who did not belong here. He tried to calm himself, but the thousands of butterflies in his stomach kept stirring his nerves. Bai Yutang felt like the soft cushion he sat right now was like a thousand needles pricking his skin, as if he was not sitting upon a big soft leather sofa.

He knew his lover was handsome, exceptional. He already expected that his lover’s family was also giving the same vibe. Even among his lover’s friend, no one looked ordinary.

He expects that much when he decides to brave himself and show up here, introduced to his lover’s family. But he didn’t expect that all of them looked like they popped up from a television drama. He was already pressured by Auntie Zhou’s aura when he first stepped foot in this house. Not mentioning the others’ appearance that was out of his expectation.

Bai Yutang saw his lover’s mother, which looked exactly like his lover. They exude the same warm hearted yet aloof aura.. It was like looking at the royalty. Make people want to get closer to them, but also feel a distinct line separating them from the ordinary commoners around them. He was glad at least his lover’s mom didn’t pressure him with the strong aura like auntie Zhou.

But then he felt like a young child among adults when he saw Wu Yajun, followed by his lover’s brother and sister in law. They arrived not long after and went inside the kitchen too right after Wu Yajun shook his hand.

Bai Yutang startled when he heard a cheerful tone from his back, coming from a small delicate lady wearing a dark red dress. Her dark brown short hair framing her small face. Her features belong to the cute category, but somehow she gave the same strong aura. Bai Yutang could not understand how every woman in this room looked like someone who held high authority in daily life.

“Jian Ge, you already here? Hello Yajun.”

Jian Kang Lu introduces his brother and sister in law to Bai Yutang, who is standing there. Jian Kang Lu’s brother was different from what Bai Yutang imagined. He looked distant and cold, unlike his warm lover. This only made Bai Yutang getting nervous and tense. He felt those pairs of cold eyes of his lover’s brother looking at him with a disdainful look.

Jian Kang Lu’s mother took all of them out from the kitchen to let Auntie Ming work in peace. She told all of them to sit on the big sofa in the living room while calling for her husband from the backside yard.

“Uncle Jiaann..” A chubby little boy ran towards Jian Kang Lu and jumped into his lap immediately. Bai Yutang could see how Jian Kang Lu dotted this little boy from the gaze in his eyes.

Bai Yutang was glad that Jian Kang Lu put him in this two seater sofa and sat beside him, along with his nephew who also stared at Bai Yutang. He didn’t think he could still expanding his lung to breathe if he had to sit beside someone else in this living room.

“Uncle Jian, who is this?”

“This is my friend, Ah Ming. You can call him uncle Bai.”

“Hello uncle Bai. Are you a doctor too like uncle Jian?”

Bai Yutang didn’t know that his interrogation started with this little bun’s question. He tried his best to answer. “Hello Ah Ming. I’m not a doctor. I’m still studying.”

“Ah, like me? Why are you still studying? How old are you? Aren’t you too old to study?”

Jian Kang Lu could see that his kitten was not exactly a person who could be at ease in this situation. He pretended not to notice, but he knew his whole family was staring at his nervous kitten. He pinched Jian Ming’s round cheek to divert this little devil’s attention.

“Why does Ah Ming want to know? Don’t you know that you have introduced yourselves first before asking? It was not polite.”

“Ouch, i’ll pinch you back, uncle Jian! Don’t pinch me, i’m not a little kid anymore!”

“Jian Ge, why are you so cruel to our little bun? By the way i could see TangTang still studying from his cute face. How old are you? 20? 24? What do you study, TangTang?”

The voice of Wu Yajun coming from the left. She was sitting on the long sofa along with her mother and Jian Kang Lu’s mother. Her posture shows that she was very comfortable being here, shown that she was part of this family too.

Bai Yutang could feel his shirt damped from his sweat. But he knew he could not avoid these questions from Wu Yajun. He could see all pairs of eyes in this living room was focused on him. He tried to answer firmly.

“I’m 23 years old. I’m still studying architecture in T university, Ms. Wu.”

Bai Yutang didn’t know which part of his answer sounded funny, since all the women in this living room were chuckling and softly laughing. He really wants to ask his lover to send him home. It seems coming here today was a bad idea.

“You can call me Wu Jie. I’m way older than you.”

“Call me Fan Jie too. So you’re Zhen Ge’s junior ah? Where do you come from TangTang? I can call you TangTang too, right?”

Bai Yutang didn’t know what he could answer. He could only nod his head towards Jian Kang Lu’s sister in law. Both of these women looked still young. The only thing that given their mature age is their strong aura. If based on their looks alone, they will still pass as university students. Bai Yutang felt the people around Jian Kang Lu blessed with their good look and young appearance.

“Don’t tease him so much, you cruel girls.” Bai Yutang heard his lover’s voice back to save him while chatting with his nephew.

“Are you from B city too? Where do you live, Yutang?”

Bai Yutang knew he had to answer this politely, since this time it was Jian Kang Lu’s mother who was asking him. But his lover answered before him. He was glad, since he was sure that his voice would shake if he answered that.

“TangTang comes from W city, mom. He stays with me right now. He didn’t have time to go back to W city, that’s why i invited him to spend mid-autumn festival with us together.”

“Is that so? Ah, where is my manner? What do you want to drink, TangTang? I’ll get some for you. Hot tea? Coffee?”

How could Bai Yutang let his future mother in law serve drinks for him? He hurriedly answered, “No need, auntie. I’m not thirsty.”

Bai Yutang wanted to kill himself when he heard his own voice crack and squeaked like a squirrel. He could hear the soft laughter coming from these women once again. He saw Jian Kang Lu’s sister in law standing and spoke to him.

“I’ll get you some chamomile tea, is that okay? I also need to help auntie Ming cook. Do you have any allergies, TangTang?”

“TangTang didn’t have allergies. Could you make some for me too?” Jian Kang Lu answered his sister in law’s question. His sister in law nodded and walked towards the kitchen.

Bai Yutang felt that he really needed to embrace this situation, not letting his lover’s family think that he was an embarrassment for Jian Kang Lu. He abruptly stood, “Let me help you, Fan Jie.”

Bai Yutang followed Fan Mingle to the kitchen. He was the youngest person here before Jian Kang Lu’s nephew. Even though he was a guest here, how could he let his future in laws serve him?

“Ah, let me help auntie Ming too!” Bai Yutang could hear the light steps from Wu Yajun’s small feet behind him.

Once in the kitchen, Bai Yutang politely asked, “Where is the tea pot and cups, Fan Jie? Let me brew it for you.”

Fan Mingle smiled and showed him where to get the tea pot, cups, and the tea. She also asked auntie Ming what to help.

“Can you make it, TangTang? You are the guest here, no need to be shy. It’s our duty to serve the guest.”

Somehow Bai Yutang felt those polite sentences prick him. He doesn’t want to be a guest in this house. He wants to be acknowledged as a part of the family in the future.

“It’s okay, Fan Jie. I often brew it for Jian Ge.”

Bai Yutang almost jumped when he heard Wu Yajun’s voice, very near to his ear. He didn’t realise she was leaning in the kitchen counter right next to him. Somehow he felt intimidated by this tall woman who looked at him with an intense gaze. Disturbed to see that red lips slightly curved when she talked to him.

“Ah, is that so? How long have you stayed with Jian Ge? Where do you meet each other?”

“I-I.. I have some financial problems. Jian Ge was just being kind, offering me a place to stay, Wu Jie. I-I stayed with Jian Ge for almost two years now.”

Fan Mingle was helping auntie Ming cooking the lotus root. “Wow, two years? Why you never come to our Sunday lunch? Next time please come too. Or are you too busy?”

Wu Yajun was just standing beside Bai Yutang, looking at him brewing the tea. “Architecture students must be busy, right?”

“How does it feel to live with Jian Ge? He was so busy, right? Don’t you get bored being alone in the apartment?”

“Aye, Jian ge didn’t even have time to play with us. So, what are you doing in your free time, TangTang?”

“23 years old. So young. Is this your last semester? When will you graduate?”

Bai Yutang didn’t know how to answer these questions thrown at him. He could only stutter and try to answer each question. He didn’t even remember what he answered if his lover asked him what they talked about in the kitchen.

“I-I’m done with the t-tea, Fan Jie. I’ll bring it to the living room.”

Bai Yutang tried not to stumble when he brought the tea out. He makes two pots of tea and brings multiple cups to serve the elders too. When he arranged and poured the tea into the cups, he almost choked when he heard Jian Kang Lu’s mother asking him.

“I heard you’re the one responsible to fatten my son. Did you really cook for him?”

What on earth his lover told his mother about him? Bai Yutang wants to give death glare to his lover. But he could only lower his head, not showing his embarrassing face in front of the elders.

“I-I can only cook simple dishes, auntie. Nothing fancy.”

Bai Yutang almost got a heart attack when Jian Kang Lu’s mother grabbed his hand. “Then let me watch your ability in the kitchen. Come, let us help auntie Ming. You can learn how to cook Osmanthus duck, too. Ah Lu loves it so much.”

“Mom..” Jian Kang Lu tried to save Bai Yutang. But he stopped and didn’t say anything more when he saw his kitten give him a warning look. He could only sit on the sofa with Jian Ming when he saw his kitten obediently standing and following his mother’s step.

“Yes auntie. P-please let me help. I-I’d love to learn how to cook it.”