WHIF- Chapter 29

This is the 2nd chapter for today. 1 more is coming up.

Hope you enjoy reading!

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Ch. 29 Your ears are so red, wife

    After the start of summer, Tongcheng’s temperature climbed rapidly and Ji Xiang began stocking up on ‘refrigerator essentials’.

    Back when he lived alone, his fridge would be packed with all kinds of frozen treats during summer. Moving into Yang Chaosheng’s place didn’t change that habit. He even went to Yang Chaogheng’s study to ask if he could clear out a section in the freezer for his popsicles.

    “You can. But will that be enough space?”

    Yang Chaosheng was working from home today. He was still in their matching couple pajamas, wearing his usual rimless glasses. With his soft hair falling over his forehead, he looked a lot gentler than his usual sharp, workday self.

    “I remember there’s still a lot of stuff at the bottom. If there’s not enough space, I’ll just order you a mini freezer.”

    Ji Xiang was flattered, “No, no, that’s not necessary. If it’s too full, I’ll just squeeze them in wherever there’s room.”

    Yang Chaosheng thought for a moment, then took off his glasses and stood up. “I’ll help you sort it out.”

    “Oh… okay. Otherwise, in a few days we won’t be able to find anything again,” Ji Xiang muttered, following behind, a bit sheepish as something seemed to occur to him.

    Even though he helped with cleaning and organizing, the truth was that a lot of things still ended up needing Yang Chaosheng to finish up properly. After sorting things out, Ji Xiang rarely categorized them carefully, and would just place them randomly. By the next day, he would forget where he’d put things and end up turning the whole place upside down looking for them.

    Yang Chaosheng, therefore, had become the resident expert at finding things Ji Xiang had ‘misplaced’ in every nook and cranny, and at keeping things organized and memorable for both of them.

    As he moved a bag of dumplings from the bottom shelf, Yang Chaosheng suddenly spotted a mysterious orange solid.

    “What’s this?”

    He flipped it over. The label read: Pineapple Jelly Cubes.

    “Ah! How did that end up with the dumplings?” Ji Xiang smacked his thigh. “I knew it! I stuffed three flavors of jelly into the freezer last time, but I only found two. I thought you’d eaten the last one!”

    Yang Chaosheng couldn’t help but laugh. This, right here, was exactly why he needed to help organize.

    “You’re not supposed to freeze jelly.”

    Ji Xiang took it and tapped on the jelly—it was rock hard and frosty. “It tastes better this way, especially in the summer.”

    He ripped open the puffed-up packaging and handed it to Yang Chaosheng. “Want to try it? I bought a whole bag. If it’s good, I’ll freeze more.”

    Yang Chaosheng had never tried jelly this way. He’d had regular jelly before, of course, but at this point, it was mostly the crying-age kids in his family who liked it. Under Ji Xiang’s eager gaze, he took a bite.

    “Well?” Ji Xiang asked.

    “…It’s okay,” Yang Chaosheng said after a long pause, “just a little hard on the teeth.”

    Ji Xiang burst out laughing, eyeing the large bite mark. “Your teeth are really something, just pulled it out of the freezer and you already bit off a chunk.”

    Yang Chaosheng muttered to himself, ‘If an alpha had bad teeth, that’d be the real surprise.’

    Ji Xiang dragged over the grocery bag he brought back from the supermarket—stuffed with various brands of popsicles, ice cream, and jelly bowls the size of his palm.

    Once Yang Chaosheng finished clearing up space for Ji Xiang to unleash his creativity, his phone rang. He stepped out onto the balcony to take the call. When he returned, Ji Xiang was already done.

    “The bridal shop said the dress from last time has been altered,” Yang Chaosheng said. “You free this afternoon?”

    Ji Xiang nodded his head. “Yeah, I’m free.”

    “Then let’s go try it on. If it fits, we can just take the wedding photos today?”

    “Huh? So sudden?” Ji Xiang jumped up, holding his head. “But I haven’t washed my hair!”

    “It’s okay—”

    Before Yang Chaosheng could finish, Ji Xiang cut him off.

    “No, it’s not! I’m going to wash it right now!”

    Yang Chaosheng watched Ji Xiang rush off like a storm, chuckling. “Take your time. No need to panic.”

    Once Ji Xiang was ready and Yang Chaosheng had finished his work, they had lunch before heading to the bridal shop.

    The outfits had all been selected by Yang Chaosheng. Ji Xiang only had to pick and approve the designs. They’d finally decided that for their wedding photos, Ji Xiang would wear a pure white tuxedo embroidered with white magnolias along the hem.

    Ji Xiang changed into the suit in the fitting room. When he pulled back the curtain, he saw Yang Chaosheng already waiting, cuffs neatly buttoned.

    Last time, only Ji Xiang had tried on his outfit. This was the first time he saw Yang Chaosheng in his wedding suit—a pristine white French tux, symbolic of purity and sacredness.

    “Mr. Ji, you forgot your boutonnière,” the stylist called, handing over the orchid he’d left behind in the locker.

    Snapping out of his daze, Ji Xiang took his eyes off Yang Chaosheng. “Thanks.”

    “Would you like help pinning it?”

    Just as Ji Xiang was about to shake his head and do it himself, Yang Chaosheng stepped forward and gently took the boutonnière from the stylist. “I’ll do it. Thanks.”

    The stylist raised her eyebrows subtly and stepped aside with a knowing smile.

    Yang Chaosheng carefully pinned the flower to Ji Xiang’s left lapel. The spring orchid leaves brushed against his fingertips. He was meticulous, so much that even his breathing slowed as he worked.

    Ji Xiang snuck a glance at him but quickly looked away, instead fixating on the soft satin half-bowtie on Yang Chaosheng’s accordion-pleated shirt. He noticed something embroidered on the hidden collar tip.

    —’JX’.

    It matched the floral initials on his own shirt collar. Back then, he hadn’t thought much of the ‘CS’ and assumed it was a brand detail. Now he realized, it must stand for Chaosheng.

    “All done,” Yang Chaosheng said, smoothing out the collar and stepping back. He didn’t hold back his praise. “You look amazing. Even better than I imagined.”

    Ji Xiang smiled, returning the compliment with just as much warmth. “You’re more handsome than I pictured too.”

    As he studied Yang Chaosheng’s suit—which matched his own—he suddenly spotted something. Pointing to the hem, he asked, “Wait, why doesn’t your suit have the white magnolia embroidery?”

    “You recognized it as a white magnolia?” Yang Chaosheng sounded surprised—and genuinely pleased.

    Ji Xiang pointed toward the stylist. “Nina told me last time.”

    “Oh.” Yang Chaosheng nodded, then explained, “That design was made especially for your outfit.”

    “Mr. Yang, Mr. Ji—are you two ready?”

    Since today’s photoshoot was indoors, the setup was simple. The photography team was just waiting on the couple to get started.

    “Almost,” Yang Chaosheng replied.

    As soon as Ji Xiang heard that they were about to start, he borrowed a mirror from Nina to check whether changing clothes had messed up his hair.

    Yang Chaosheng noticed a little tuft at the back that had popped up. Without saying anything, he smoothed it down.

    When the photographer came over to ask again, Yang Chaosheng and Ji Xiang exchanged a glance and silently confirmed they were ready. Yang Chaosheng then raised a hand. “Okay.”

    He reached out, intending to take Ji Xiang’s hand, but Ji Xiang, thinking the photographer was getting impatient, ran ahead without noticing and called back:

    “Hurry up, Yang Chaosheng!”

    Yang Chaosheng smiled, amused. “Coming.”

    They’d already taken their couple ID photos together, so this time they weren’t as stiff. But after a few test shots, Yang Chaosheng still seemed unable to fully relax.

    Even the photographer chuckled in disbelief. “You two look like complete strangers on camera. Let’s warm up. Mr. Yang, what do you usually call Mr. Ji?”

    Yang Chaosheng paused, showing a rare moment of hesitation. “…Ji Xiang.”

    “And Mr. Ji, how do you address Mr. Yang?”

    “Uh… Lawyer Yang. Or Yang Chaosheng.”

    The photographer sighed dramatically. “That won’t do. Let’s take a break. From now on, during the shoot, Mr. Ji, please call your partner ‘husband,’ and Mr. Yang, you call him ‘wife’—or ‘darling,’ ‘babe,’ whatever you’re comfortable with. Just loosen up a bit, okay?”

    The two exchanged a look and nodded in unison. “Okay.”

    But neither spoke first.

    In the end, the photographer realized they were too shy to do it on their own, so he hovered nearby. He pestered Ji Xiang first, saying Yang Chaosheng couldn’t get into character. Ji Xiang finally turned red and stammered out the first “Husband.”

    That opened the floodgates. Every time one of them froze up, the photographer would push the other to use increasingly affectionate nicknames, until they were so embarrassed that they almost wanted to huddle together, finally starting looking like a real couple.

    “Mr. Yang, don’t purse your lips. Let your arm hang more naturally while holding hands.”

    “Good, now just move a bit closer.”

    Ji Xiang took a step towards Yang Chaosheng and lightly rested his hand on Yang Chaosheng’s stiff arm, leaning in so close that his breath tickled Yang Chaosheng’s ear.

    His ears burned under the warmth, and he gripped Ji Xiang’s hand just a little tighter.

    The photographer loved the natural chemistry, gave a thumbs-up, and rapidly took several shots.

    “Okay! Let’s swap props and change up the pose.”

    Ji Xiang went to pick up a bouquet of blue hydrangeas, only to see the photographer sneakily hand Yang Chaosheng a veil.

    “A wedding shoot without a veil? Impossible!”

    Ji Xiang and Yang Chaosheng stared at each other—clearly thinking the same thing.

    Who was going to wear it?

    The photographer grinned, like he’d read their minds. “Both of you will wear it. Mr. Yang, you go first—put it on Mr. Ji.”

    The veil was very light, almost fluttering in the air. Yang Chaosheng hesitated for a moment, then gently draped it over Ji Xiang’s head.

    Ji Xiang, still holding the bouquet, hadn’t yet processed what was happening when everything went hazy in front of him. Then he heard the photographer say:

    “Now lift half the veil, Mr. Yang—and kiss him.”

    “Wait… kiss?”

    Ji Xiang had anticipated this might come up, but it still felt too sudden. He wasn’t ready.

    “Don’t worry,” Yang Chaosheng whispered as he lifted the veil. “I’ll kiss your forehead. Is that okay?”

    Ji Xiang’s mind went momentarily blank. He didn’t object. The next second, he closed his eyes.

 Yang Chaosheng kissed the space between his eyebrows. The kiss was soft, delicate and fleeting.

    Ji Xiang couldn’t see it, but he could feel it.

    Like a dragonfly skimming the water, barely there.

    “That one was perfect! The vibe is amazing! Though… I was hoping for a kiss somewhere else…”

    Ji Xiang didn’t catch the rest of the photographer’s mumbling. All he remembered was Yang Chaosheng’s kiss on his forehead, followed by a gentle pinch to his earlobe, and a soft whisper:

    “Your ears are so red, wife.”

    As if answering the countless ‘husbands’ Ji Xiang had called him just moments before.