The Stars In Your Eyes

Bai Yutang looked at the calendar and felt his headache coming. His mom asked him and his sister to accompany her to stay at their grandparents house this Friday. The problem is his lover will come again on Saturday and it means Bai Yutang only stays in his grandparents house only for one day.

Bai Yutang himself felt uncomfortable. His lover had bought the ticket and planned this visit even before Bai Yutang stepped foot into W city soil this year. On the other side, Bai Yutang hasn't stayed in his grandparent's house this holiday, since his mother now works at the restaurant.

Next week his lover will come again, but Bai Yutang will come back to B city with him. He has no other time rather than this weekend. Of course Bai Yutang can stay in his grandparents house on the weekdays, but his mom will be alone at their house.

He called his lover, asking for his opinion. Bai Yutang wants to meet his lover, but he also wants to spend his time with his grandparents. After all, he will be going back to B city in less than 2 weeks..

"Mmm.. Then, can I have a free meal at your grandparents house?" His lover's voice didn't sound mad at all for this sudden plan change. Bai Yutang smiled and felt relieved.

"Yes you can, gege. I'll ask grandma to cook her sun flower tofu. You'll like it. But.. I can't stay out with you, gege. I'm sorry." Bai Yutang laid his back to the bed and hugged his pillow. He felt bad for his lover. If not because his grandparents' house don't have extra room, he will gladly ask his lover to stay with him.

"It doesn't matter, baby. By the way, are you sure i can come?" Jian Kang Lu was happy with all circumstances as long as he could meet his kitten. But what will his kitten's big family think of him? An old guy who comes out of nowhere and leeches for dinner on them. He was happy his kitten didn't mind introducing him, but he was also afraid if his kitten's big family noticed something wrong about them and demand Bai Yutang to leave him.

"Um, i'm sure. Just come, gege."

And so like that, Friday has arrived. His lover had booked another hotel near his grandparents house. When he told his mother and his sister before they arrived in their grandparents house, his mother just conveyed her worries that Jian Kang Lu might find the house was too crowded and small, while his sister excitedly listed all the things she hoped Jian Kang Lu would bring from B city.

His lover told him to buy something for his big family, and Bai Yutang bought Steamed Wuchang Fish for their dinner before they arrived in his grandparents house. This fish was steamed with mushrooms, bamboo shoots, ham, ginger, and chicken soup. The soup colour was red orange clear soup with fresh fish and the taste was light. It was one of the top dishes in this city.

His grandpa was overjoyed with this dish, and Bai Yutang gave him a bigger portion, reducing his own portion, saying that he liked his aunt pork ribs soup and lotus root more. While they enjoyed the dinner, suddenly his grandma asked him.

"TangTang, have you decided where you want to work? Are you really looking for a job in B city?"

Bai Yutang swallows his lotus root with difficulty before he calmly answers, "Yes, grandma. All my friends also got a job there. It was easier for us to look for a job there with recommendation from our teachers." Bai Yutang thought this question would pop up on New Year's, but turned out this question was halted until now.

"But working here is also good, and you can accompany your mother. Don't you feel pity for her?"

Before he answered, his mother's voice was heard from the other side. "It doesn't matter, mom. TangTang knows the best. It was me who told him to look for a better job. If he could find a better job there, so be it."

Bai Yutang was surprised to hear his mom defend him. They never talk about this, and surely his mother will prefer her only son to live near her. But her mother stands with him. He felt his eyes warm.

Just like that, his grandparents ganged to attack his mother, but she stood for her son. Lu Hua might be a simple woman who was sheltered by her husband for half of her life. But what's more important in her life is for her son to freely choose what he wants. It would be a lie if she said she was okay with her son working in a faraway city. But she can't deny she felt helpless and regretted that her skinny son shielded her, even to the point her son agreed with her unreasonable request for paying her nephew's tuition.

For her relief, her little brother and her sister in law were silent and didn't attack her son. If they stand with her parents, she will smack his head and point at the car in front of this house which should belong to her son but now used by her little brother's family.

When Jian Kang Lu arrived at Bai Yutang's grandparents house the next day, the sun was already down. This house was not small, but of course as a house filled with four adults, one teenager, one baby, along with his kitten's family, will be crowded.

Jian Kang Lu brings so many things from B city to his kitten's big family. He was confident with his ability to charm his kitten's grandparents and uncle, but he was still worried about what they thought of him.

He got mixed feelings when his kitten's family introduced him as their benefactor, especially when he heard his future mother in law introduce him to her big family.

"This is Doctor Jian, he is our benefactor. He helped TangTang so much. He also helped RenRen and inspired her to become a doctor, and also helped us when Haoran hospitalised."

Jian Kang Lu felt happy to regard that high, but also felt guilty because he knew he lusted for her son, and also sad because he was not a woman who can be openly introduced as someone who loved her son the most in this world.

Jian Kang Lu politely smiled and answered every question. He also avoids to look at his kitten, afraid if they will notice he missed his kitten so much. He praised the sun flower tofu cooked by his kitten's grandmother. It was mainly made of Chinese tofu but shaped like a sunflower. The dishes contain egg, ham, sunflower seeds, prawns and green vegetables. The taste of the dish is very light and he enjoys the soft texture and the fresh taste.

His kitten also told his grandfather and his uncle, that Jian Kang Lu was the one who got him the realtor who will sell his grandparents house. With a realtor, it will make their job easier and make sure the legal transfer is smooth.

His kitten's uncle and aunt didn't say much to him. Only one time he had to think about what he had to answer when his kitten's uncle asked him whether Bai Yutang stay in his apartment for free.

"Yes, since I lived alone and spent more than 12 hours in the hospital, my apartment is basically empty. So I am grateful when TangTang stays there with me and helps me a lot."

Jian Kang Lu can't guess why his kitten's uncle asked him that, but then he heard his kitten's grandma asked him.

"I heard TangTang will stay and work in B city. I told him to come back here, for he didn't burden you anymore. If he stays here, I am afraid he will just bother you further more. We feel bad for it."

Jian Kang Lu felt chilled running to his spine. He knew his kitten planned to look for a job in B city and he was overjoyed when he heard that. But now, it seems his kitten's family prefers him to go back. How if his kitten really agreed with that? Can he go back to live alone in his apartment? Met his kitten only for 2 times per month? 

"I don't mind, auntie. If TangTang lives in B city, it will save him some money if he lives with me. I also save money since he helps me to take care of my apartment. But I respect all his decisions."

"I heard you live alone, without a wife. Why haven't you married yet? My son is only 4 years older than you but his son is almost going to college now."

Bai Yutang is upset to see his lover attacked like this. He knows even his lover's family never talk like this to him. 

Jian Kang Lu smiled, he heard this question million times before. "Yes, I guess I was unlucky. I almost got married once but it was not working out. I was busy and then forgot about it. But I got used to it. So it doesn't matter for me, auntie."

Now Bai Yutang was the one who was surprised. His lover almost got married? When? With who? Why his lover never told him that.

Jian Kang Lu didn't realise his kitten's face turned ashen and looked at him resentfully. He kept talking to his kitten's grandparents and skilfully turned the conversation about health and business opportunities for Bai Yutang's uncle. 

Bai Yuren was also surprised to hear Jian Kang Lu's statement, and amused to see his brother's face. This fool can't even mask his feelings and show a jealous wife's expression toward her future brother in law. 

She nudged her brother's arms and whispered in an innocent tone, "Why does your face look like you almost swallowed a thousand needle? Something's wrong?"

Bai Yutang startled and tried to manage his mood. "No, I'm okay. Just feel a little bloated."

Bai Yuren decided to save her future brother in law and asked him a lot about medical terms and problems to solve in medical school. She will spend one more semester for basic medical and next autumn-winter semester she will start her clinical medical lectures and practice before internship.

With that, time flew and Jian Kang Lu excused himself when the time showed it was 10 minutes past 9. He thanked his kitten's big family for the hospitality and invited them for lunch before he went back to B city tomorrow.

When he was in the car, he was amused to see his kitten's message.

[Gege, why didn't I know that you're almost married once.]

Even from the text, he could smell vinegar from his kitten. He chuckled to see his jealous kitten.

[I didn't. It was just smooth talking. Are you jealous, baby?]

Bai Yutang even felt more resentful to read this message. He decided not to answer any more messages from his lover. Why did his lover have to lie like that? His lover could lie with a flat face, making him believe. What if his lover lied to him before about many things? He will never know.

When Jian Kang Lu checked into this small hotel and didn't receive any more messages from his kitten, he started to feel afraid.

[Are you angry, baby? I just checked in. Let me take a bath first. Can i call you later?]

Until he finished his shower, his kitten didn't reply to his message.