The Stars In Your Eyes - Chapter 170

Jian Kang Lu raised his eyebrow to see her mother hugged his kitten tight once she saw them walking to the living room. He then frowned when his kitten stammered, calling her ‘mother’.

He didn’t get the meaning of her mother’s expression when she stared at him. Why does he feel there is something between his kitten and his mother? Something that he doesn’t know.

He didn’t deny that he’s happy to see this warming scene, but he was also restless when he realised his mother kept throwing that look at him. An expression like she was waiting for something from him.

Auntie Zhou’s family soon arrived. This led to Jian Kang Lu guarding his kitten again from the devil queen. He really can’t let this Wu Yajun to be together in one room with his kitten. How could he stand to look at this woman keep whispering something to his kitten while they were standing together in the kitchen.

“Jian Ge, just get out from here.. Why do you stick your ass in the kitchen? Do you realise this kitchen is cramped with your presence here?” Wu Yajun harshly threw chicken bone to him.

Jian Kang Lu dodge swiftly, “And what are you doing here? I know you just want to harass TangTang. You just want to take advantage of him when his hands are busy cooking.”

“I help him cook! I’m a woman, and the kitchen is my place. You, get out.” Wu Yajun threw another bone.

Jian Kang Lu sneer, “Oh please. At least I can still make sandwiches and boil water for instant noodles. Do I have to mention how you broke Auntie Zhou pot so many times just from boiling noodles?”

Auntie Ming as the queen and sole ruler of the kitchen really can’t stand these two useless tall people bickering in the kitchen. She turns her body around to stare at these two useless adults. Bai Yutang could feel auntie Ming was not happy, so he opened his mouth.

“Why don’t both of you wait outside. Here, me and auntie Ming are enough. I’ll fry this and deliver you snacks in a moment.”

Both of them didn’t say anything but also didn’t move out from the kitchen. Bai Yutang sighed, at least he can drive one of them away from here.

“Gege..”

Jian Kang Lu is still trying to stick to himself here, “Why do you only drive me out? Mom also doing nothing here in the kitchen? Are you girls gossiping about me, that’s why I can’t be here?”

Lin Caihong is still buffering her nails and satisfied to look at those shiny healthy nails of her. “I’m the one who pays Auntie Ming’s salary, pays for the food, and pays for this kitchen. Of course I have the right to be here. And don’t think of yourself too high. Why would we gossip about you?”

Bai Yutang turned his body and looked at Jian Kang Lu. Under that gaze, Jian Kang Lu raised his white flag, but he didn’t forget to drag Wu Yajun out from there also.

Bai Yutang skilfully fry the dumplings for the snacks. Lin Caihong’s voice drifted from the table. “So, have you done your homework?”

Bai Yutang’s hand was still doing his job although his mind was frozen for a moment. “I haven’t mom.. Sorry.. I didn’t know how to talk about this to Jian Ge..”

“It’s okay. He’s not that dumb. He should ask you later when you guys are going back home.”

Bai Yutang looked at Auntie Ming from the corner of his eyes. He didn’t know what this woman thought. As a cook in this house who works here since his lover’s still a little kid, won’t she think their relationship is bad? Why does his mother in law openly talk like this, as if this is only a natural thing for them? Not a single trace of shame from Lin Caihong’s tone to him.

At first, Bai Yutang thought Lin Caihong didn’t mind them opening up in front of the family. But maybe as someone who had been together with them for so long, Auntie Ming could be considered as a family member. After all, if Lin Caihong and Jian Shen agree with Bai Yutang together with her son, no other person could oppose them in this family.

When Bai Yutang delivered the snacks to the living room, he saw Wu Yajun talking with Jian Kang Se and Fan Mingle, while his lover played outside with Jian Ming. He put the tray and asked them whether they wanted to have suanmeitang or sour plum drink.

Suanmeitang is a traditional Chinese drink made from smoked Chinese plums. The recipe developed in the Qing dynasty. At that time, the drink was only served in the Imperial courts. Nowadays, it become one of the most popular summer drink in the communities. It was packed with intensely sweet and sour flavours, plus a tint of salty and smoky aftertastes. It soothes the throat, relieves the heat, and also improves appetite and digestion.

The three of them nod their head vigorously. Bai Yutang smiled and wanted to walk back to the kitchen. Fan Mingle grabbed his hand and asked him, “Are you sure you can help auntie Ming alone in the kitchen? Need me to help?”

How could Bai Yutang have the heart to tell Fan Mingle that Auntie Ming told him that except him, the other will only hinder her and didn’t really make progress when helping her in the kitchen? The most these ladies could do is only chop the vegetables or rinse the meat.

So he just nodded his head, “It’s okay, Fan Jie. But this will be my first time making Suanmeitang, please don’t criticise me if the taste is different from what Auntie Ming usually makes.”

“Are you sure? You don’t need to help in the kitchen if you’re tired. You’re part of our family, you don’t need to always stay in the kitchen every time you come here.” Fan Mingle hands still wrap Bai Yutang’s wrist.

From her words, it seems only his lover who still has no idea what happened two days ago. Bai Yutang sighed inside, it seems he can’t delay this matter anymore. He needs to tell his lover tonight.

He smiled and put his hand on top of Fan Mingle hand, “It’s really okay. I like to see my family enjoy what I make with my hands.”

Jian Kang Se who rarely talks suddenly snorts, “Don’t let my gege bully you. Don’t pamper him too much.”

Wu Yajun sneered at him, “Are you jealous with your gege having a young and virtuous wife?”

“Don’t you say you need your loan approved this month for your security business to start next month?” Jian Kang Se retorted back. It seems Wu Yajun applied for the loan in the bank Jian Kang Se worked on.

“If your bank didn’t approve it this month, I’ll just apply the loan in Mingle’s bank.” Wu Yajun took one of the fried dumplings and threw her smug face back at Jian Kang Se.

With these two starting the argument again, Fan Mingle released her hands and let Bai Yutang go back to the kitchen. She is actually happy there are younger daughters in law in this family. She didn’t need to help in the kitchen anymore since Auntie Ming declared that Bai Yutang alone was enough to help her.

Bai Yutang actually didn’t like to be called ‘wife’. He is clearly a man, better to be called husband.. But it was no use to protests regarding this small matter. It doesn’t matter for him as long as these people are willing to accept him being together with Jian Kang Lu.

When he prepared the ingredients for the suanmeitang, Lin Caihong asked him about his work. When she heard that Bai Yutang already adapted well and didn’t need to work on Saturday anymore with the project he handled now near to wrapped up, she suddenly walked and stood near Bai Yutang.

“I receive this invitation on Saturday, two weeks from now. I hate to come alone, Qunfei and JunJun can’t make time. Can you accompany me?” She points at her handphone screen showing the invitation.

Bai Yutang peeked at the invitation on the screen. It seems he didn’t have anything to do on that day. So he nodded and promised he could accompany her. “Do you need Jian Ge to come also, mother?”

Lin Caihong shook her head. “No need, just leave that brat at home. He didn’t really like this kind of event. Remember i brought him one day, thought he enjoyed it but later told me he was bored to death and said to never invite him again for this kind of event.”

Bai Yutang could only nod and soothe his mother in law, promising her he would accompany her. “Do i need to pick you up, mother? But i can’t drive..” At this moment Bai Yutang really considers taking driving lessons again. He once got his driver license years ago. But because he never drove for so long, he was not sure with his skills.

“No need, I’ll pick you up.” Lin Caihong patted his back again. Bai Yutang knew that his lover’s family had two drivers in this house. One for Jian Shen, and one for Lin Caihong. The only one who didn’t have a driver in this house is only his lover and Fan Mingle. Jian Kang Se drives himself in his private life, but for work, the bank provides him with a company car and driver.

The Sunday dinner went well, and his lover even praised him for the suanmeitang he made. It was actually not hard to make. Only put ingredients to the pressure cook, then after filter the ingredient he only needs to boil it again with the brown sugar, then chilled in the fridge. The recipe is using auntie Ming’s recipe, it was using orange peel, osmanthus and hibiscus flower on top of the initial ingredient.

When they drove home, his lover still didn’t ask him about him calling his lover’s parents with ‘mother’ and ‘father’. Once they reach the apartment and want to take a bath, Bai Yutang holds his lover’s hand and brings him to the bed.

“Gege, i need to talk to you..”