The Stars In Your Eyes - Chapter 140

“Thank you for having me, auntie, uncle..”

“Please come to our family lunch too. I’ll be very happy if you could come.”

Bai Yutang could only lower his head hearing Jian Kang Lu’s mother’s words, and say that he will attend the family lunch next time.

Family lunch.

To hear those words makes Bai Yutang happy. He hoped he was doing well today, hoped he could be accepted here in his lover’s family. Bai Yutang knew that his lover’s parents might say those words because they thought Bai Yutang was only a young man Jian Kang Lu took pity and took care of.

Bai Yutang also knew that his lover’s parents might hate and despise him once they knew that Bai Yutang was the man their son was having a relationship with.. In this country, which parents could happily accept a man as their son’s partner? Especially a son as exceptional as Jian Kang Lu.

Will they feel Bai Yutang betrayed them if they knew someday? Will they regret they took care and fed him today? Will they shout at him and curse him? Bai Yutang could only hope he gained more and more points to let his lover’s family accept him one day.

The night was late, and the stars were hiding in the city’s light. The artificial neon lights outshine the stars separated by light years away. Sometimes humans only need the things convenient for them, even though it means hiding the beauty within.

“Are you tired, baby? Why don’t you get some sleep?”

Bai Yutang saw the lights from the street lamp outside gave the constant changing shadows in his lover’s prominent nose. His eyes still as gentle as ever though he concentrated on the road ahead, driving the car back home.

“I’m fine, gege. Did I do well today? I want your family to like me too..”

Bai Yutang could feel the hand of his lover caressing his cheek, and his soft voice filled his ear.

“They love you. I told you that you’re adorable, but you never believe me.”

“Like you said to Ah Ming, your opinion is biased. I can’t trust your words, gege.”

Even though Bai Yutang said that, Jian Kang Lu smiled when he felt his hands wrapped in his kitten’s hand, and felt the soft lips of his kitten fall upon his palm.

“One day you’ll believe me. Thank you, TangTang, for coming with me. I love you more and more, my handsome man.”

Bai Yutang closed his eyes, he’s tired. But his lips curved to form a smile comes from his happiness.

‘You’re blind, gege. But I hope your eyes never recovered, and love me more. Just like I fell in love with you more and more each day.’

Since then, Bai Yutang often comes to his lover’s family lunch. He was not good at handling children, but he mingled well with Ah Ming. He felt he was doing exercise worth running 40 laps of the track field when he played with that energetic jumping little ball. Now he knew why his lover’s body was sculpted well. His lover seems to have extra energy handling Ah Ming, running around playing basketball or football with him.

Fan Mingle, Jian Kang Lu’s sister in law laughing to see Jian Kang Lu play the airplane with Ah Ming. She and Bai Yutang walk back to the kitchen, continuing cooking for lunch. Bai Yutang was responsible for finishing cooking the oxtail soup prepared by auntie Ming before in the kitchen.

“This is why i diligently attend Sunday lunch, i could throw Ah Ming at Jian Ge and i’ll be freed for one day.”

“Ah, I missed the time when you lived here when Ah Ming was just born.” Jian Kang Lu’s mother was entering and sitting in the kitchen’s corner, watching them.

Fan Mingle only smiled to hear her mother in law. “Yes, thank you for taking care of me, mother. Maybe I’ll burden you again when we have Ah Ming’s little brother or sister.”

Bai Yutang is stirring the soup, and he can’t help to ask, “Do you plan for a second child, Fan Jie?”

Fan Mingle was helping auntie Ming frying the salted egg shrimp. “Yes we do, maybe next year or next two year. How about you, TangTang? Do you have any girlfriend?”

Bai Yutang didn’t know what to answer. Should he answer he had a girlfriend to avoid the suspicion of his lover’s family? Or should he say that he was single?

“Of course a man as handsome and as smart as TangTang must have a girlfriend. Is she an architect too?”

Bai Yutang didn’t dare to look at Jian Kang Lu’s mother when he finally answered. “I don’t have a girlfriend, auntie..”

Jian Kang Lu’s mother clicked her tongue and her voice sounded concerned to reply to him. “You should try to look for a girlfriend from now on. Later if you’re too busy working like Ah Lu, you won’t have time to look for a girlfriend again, and you’ll be single like Ah Lu.”

The kitchen was filled with the sound of fire burning the pan and pots, the sizzling sounds from the oil met the shrimps and eggs. Bai Yutang’s heart was heavy from the guilt. He felt like a con artist scamming his lover’s family.

The silence was cracked with Fan Mingle’s voice. “Well, if TangTang stayed single until he was old, maybe he could accompany Jian Ge and become a pair of single men together.”

The tone of Fan Mingle’s voice was the usual cheerful tone she used to tease him. Bai Yutang could only let dry laughter slip from his throat.

“Yes it is, I think that was not a bad idea.” Jian Kang Lu’s mother responded to Fan Mingle’s words.

Bai Yutang wanted to wrap this oxtail soup as fast as he could and wanted to run away from the kitchen. His lover’s mother uses a light tone, as if she is amused by the idea. But Bai Yutang felt something was not right from both of their tones.

“How’s your school, TangTang?”

Bai Yutang glad Fan Mingle diverted the topic. “It’s fine, Fan Jie. I almost finished with the proposal and soon will start working in the studio.”

“How long will it take to finish your project?”

“Mmm.. After the proposal is accepted, I need to finish it within 3 to 4 months in the studio. I try to secure my place in the studio first. Many students are fighting for the spot there. Luckily for me, the final project was prioritised to book a spot in the studio.”

“I want to see your design once you work on it. I hope you won’t be too busy to come here often. I felt Sunday lunch now was missing something if you didn’t come.”

Bai Yutang laughed, “You only need me to help you babysit Ah Ming and cooking, Fan Jie.”

“Smart boy! I like young men like you who fast to catch.”

Bai Yutang turned off the fire and poured the oxtail soup to the bowl. He was startled by Jian Kang Lu’s mother who walked and stood next to him.

“Architects could do interior design too, right? A friend of mine was redecorating her shop. I told her about you and she wanted to ask for your opinion. Can you help her, TangTang? It was not urgent, your study still comes first.”

“Yes auntie, but my design and ability was just average. If your friend doesn’t mind my suggestion, i’d love to help.”

Jian Kang Lu’s mother gave him a smile, a smile who was not as warm as his lover, but still gave the sense of familiarity to him.

“Then can auntie have your phone number?”

Bai Yutang still input his phone number to Jian Kang Lu’s mother phone when Fan Mingle finished her cooking, and helped auntie Ming with the steamed haukau. The glistening transparent skin of the shrimp dumpling looked marvellous and perfect to enjoy as appetizers or snacks between the meal.

“By the way, Jian Ge’s birthday was in another three week. Do you have any idea what to give him, TangTang?”

Bai Yutang felt his headache was back once he heard Fan Mingle’s question. He was already thinking hard about what to gift since one month ago. He had his savings, and was thinking of giving his lover a new belt. But last week his lover bought a matching belt for them when they went to the mall for their monthly grocery shopping.

“Mmm.. I am also confused, Fan Jie.. I was thinking of buying a gunpla or belt.. But Jian Ge’s collection of gunpla was out of my budget. And Jian Ge also bought a new belt already. I was thinking of seeking advice from you.”

“I was the one who wanted to ask you. You live with him, don’t you have any idea what he wants? What he needs lately? Kang Se used to give him concert tickets or travelling vouchers. But we already gave him that for more than 5 years. I was thinking of giving him something different this year.”

Bai Yutang felt his stomach ulcer coming back right at this moment. He already has sharp pain in his stomach lately, the result of wrapping his proposal as soon as he could, and also busy investigating what his lover wants to have this year.

Unfortunately his lover was not helping him at all. All his lover ever told him that his lover wants him. Especially when his lover suddenly groping him in the middle of the night and begging him to have a quick love making session.

Bai Yutang sighed. What should he buy for a perfect boyfriend who seems to have it all?