Chapter One Hundred: Lend Me Your Brother-in-Law for a While

“Big sister, you seem a little off today!” Little Jade leapt up on Snow Tan’s bed barefoot, tugged up the blanket, and wormed in beside her, her tiny face tilted as she stared at her sister.

“Hm? Off? Don’t talk nonsense.” Snow had been a bit dazed and hadn’t noticed her sister arriving. She pinched a handful of Little Jade’s cheek.

“Not at all.” Little Jade sat up. “Look at you—always spaced out, then smiling to yourself, and your cheeks all red. Is it because you’ve started something with brother-in-law? One of my classmates says people in love are always like this—silly-eyed and dreamy. I can totally tell with you.”

“At your age you should be studying instead of thinking about this all day. Go back to sleep.” Snow’s face hardened for a moment, and she sent her sister off without another word.

“Come on, tomorrow’s the weekend. I’m not going to sleep early. I want to stay and sleep with you.” Little Jade wrapped her arms around Snow and wouldn’t let go, burying her head in her chest. Then she suddenly looked up and giggled, “Your chest is so big… No wonder Sister Lan envies you. Teehee. Let me touch it...” she said, and her little hand reached toward Snow’s bosom.

“Hush, don’t… it tickles.” Snow hugged the mischievous child and swatted playfully, turning the whole scene into chaos, and in a way saving herself from the awkward question Little Jade had just raised.

Chu Dong had been up since early. He had grown used to the villa, and it was far nicer than that huge room at Feipeng Hotel. He drove his silver-gray Audi through Shandong Road for porridge, then to Xinggong Street for buns, and after a quick round of errands he arrived at Snow’s building just as dawn was breaking. He parked, picked up the breakfast, and rang the bell.

The housemaid opened the door. The two of Snow’s sisters had stayed up very late the night before and were still asleep. After going upstairs, Chu Dong told the maid to warm the breakfast and went himself to wake the two lazy girls.

He pushed open Little Jade’s door with a swift jerk, ready for a prank, but found the bed perfectly neat. There was no sign that anyone had slept there at all. It was obvious the child had run to her sister’s room.

Then, tiptoeing, he gently cracked open Snow’s door and peered inside. As expected, the two sisters lay intertwined on the same bed, their forms woven together. Their blanket had long since vanished somewhere. Little Jade’s sleeping posture was indecorous: she was hugging Snow’s waist, resting her head on her arm; a clear bead of saliva had slipped from the corner of her mouth and dampened Snow’s nightdress.

Snow was no better—her nightdress no longer concealed her long, pale, tender legs. The fresh morning light gave her skin a sheen like polished jade, and Little Jade’s hold around her waist pressed and lifted her already full bosom into even greater prominence.

The two sisters had the same warm, delicate blush in their faces. Chu Dong felt his throat go a little dry. He had planned a teasing scare, but now he hesitated. He shut the door softly and retreated to the sitting room.

The maid had seen his whole little scene, but the old matriarch of the house, knowing Chu Dong was the Tan family’s future son-in-law, merely smiled when she caught sight of it. She had no intention of interrupting.

Chu Dong did not wake them himself. Instead he turned on the stereo, then raised the volume until a frustrated cry came out from Snow’s room, “Ah! Aunt Zhou…”

“Your Aunt Zhou is heating breakfast. If you don’t get up, there’ll be nothing to eat.” He turned down the volume and replied.

“Brother-in-law.” It was Little Jade’s voice. She sprang from bed and ran out, leaping onto Chu Dong’s lap on the sofa and planting a quick kiss. “I’m coming out with you today. It’s the weekend, and I’m not staying in home.”

Chu Dong wiped the moisture from her face with his hand and gave her a light tap on the bottom. “Go wash up first. No proper breakfast, no outing.”

“Yessir!” she cheered, then dashed off to wash her face, her bare little feet making bright, crackling sounds on the floor like she was skipping in joy.

This little girl was far more lively than her sister. Though her figure still looked a bit fresh and inexperienced beside Snow’s, it was still striking—such that Chu Dong had all but lost control for a moment in the sudden burst of fragrance and warmth around her.

Snow too had gotten up, lifting her long hair with a black ribbon, yawning gently with a flirtatious softness as she reached the edge of her lips. She came out holding a plush bear and stood by Chu Dong, giving him a graceful smile.

Chu Dong was stunned. Her slight figure, seductive smile, elegant carriage—everything was captivating. Just as he driftled into fascination, Snow suddenly narrowed her eyes, seized him, and with the stuffed bear in her hand gave him a rapid, unruly flurry of taps.

“I told you to put on music. I told you to put on music!”

After waiting for the sisters to finish washing and dressing, Chu Dong smoothed his hair, which had been knocked about in the scuffle, and sat by the breakfast tray Aunt Zhou had brought. He was already hungry. He started to rise to eat, then froze when Snow gave him a look. So he silently watched them eat at their own slow, graceful pace, swallowing his own saliva in secret.

“Jade, you stay home today. I have some business to handle with him.” Snow said once she was nearly done, carefully dabbing at the oil on her fingers with a wet tissue as she spoke.

“What business? You two aren’t married yet, so don’t do anything improper,” Little Jade declared like a little lady, clearly upset that she was to be left behind.

“Thinking of excuses already?” Snow tapped Little Jade’s head with her chopsticks. “We’re just going to take some photos and mail them to my foster mother. You wouldn’t enjoy it anyway.”

“There’s a camera at home. Why must we go out? Even if we go out, I want photos too. Aunt Chu will miss me. How can there be no picture of me?” Little Jade dug in her heels. She was determined and near tears.

“Fine, let her come. Otherwise she’ll be stuck at home on her day off…” Chu Dong spoke from the side, but he got only a long stare from Snow and stopped mid-sentence.

“You can go, if you behave. If you don’t, I’ll send you right back home. Understand?” Snow said, then softened when she saw Little Jade’s pleading face, eyes filling.

“Yay!” Little Jade had not worn shoes since the previous night and was still barefoot. As soon as Snow relented, she swallowed the rest of her half bun in one bite and bolted back to her room to change.

While Snow was changing too, Chu Dong wolfed down the rest of their buns and porridge. Aunt Zhou watched him with a smile, and he didn’t feel embarrassed at all.

People describe beauty with stock phrases: icy skin and waxen bones, a lotus-like face, skin like cream. Yet when Chu Dong saw the two sisters step out of the room, he felt none of those expressions could fully capture them. From their small, delicate ankles to their long shins, graceful thighs, softly swaying waists, tender scallion-like fingers, rounded shoulders, fine collarbones, pale necks, flowing hair, even their exquisite earlobes, eyes like clear autumn pools, and lips soft as sakura petals—he found no adequate language enough.

And they were his.

If she were another man’s wife, he thought, he could trace back through eighteen generations and ask what blessing had favored a man with such fortune.

“Are we really going or not?” both sisters were already wearing their shoes when they found Chu Dong still sitting on the sofa, dazed.

Having no choice, he quickly gathered himself and drove them to a wedding-photography studio near Qingniwa Bridge. When he pulled up at the storefront, however, he suddenly seemed to remember something and turned the car around.

“Where are we going now? Why aren’t we going in?” Snow asked.

“You’ll know soon,” Chu Dong answered mysteriously.

“Whoa—wedding photos! Ha! Glad I came along, otherwise I’d never know when you all had reached this stage.” Little Jade came alive the moment she saw the destination.

“Don’t talk nonsense. These are for my foster mother. And no, you’re not going to photograph him, okay?” Snow pressed a hand over her sister’s mouth, not caring that Little Jade kicked with both legs like a little colt, and shot her a sharp glance. “If you’re bad, do I send you home?”

At once Little Jade grew quiet, nodding rapidly, her big eyes flickering with earnest obedience.

The place they were heading to was not far. At Zhongshan Square’s Friendship Mall, Chu Dong pulled over, shut off the engine, got out, and told Snow and her sister to wait.

Before long he came out again, breathing hard, arms full of several bags, another tucked under his arm, even one clear plastic bag between his teeth.

Both sisters were in the back seat; the front passenger side was piled high. He spent some time unloading into the trunk and then climbed back into the car.

“What mess are you making now?” Snow asked. She saw the bags were all black and could not tell what was inside; she hadn’t noticed what was in the clear one.

“Evening gowns and wedding gowns. Their stuff isn’t always flattering, and besides, who knows how many people have tried them on. I ordered several new sets a few days ago.” Chu Dong laughed softly.

“So you had everything arranged ahead of time? Looks like I really fell into your setup,” Snow said, her bright face clouding.

“It’s not me,” he replied with a sly shrug. “Ask your foster mother. I’m only her pawn. I didn’t have the strength to refuse. Your move.”

“Excuses. Wait and see—if I find this is your trap, you’ll be miserable for a long time.” She clenched her little fist and tapped him again.

Chu Dong just grinned and didn’t dodge; it was only a teasing pinch, nothing he minded.

They returned once more to that same photography studio. Snow led Little Jade inside, who was peering everywhere with restless curiosity. Chu Dong followed behind like a comic victory dash, wobbling under the weight of dozens of wedding gowns and formal dresses.

“Welcome. Are you here for a photo session?” a young girl came forward to receive the sisters, apparently not noticing the man behind them carrying so many bundles.

“We’re here for a bridal portrait. Bridal portraits. Can someone help me with this?” Chu Dong cut in before Snow could answer, calling out for assistance.

“Of course, sir—just a moment,” she said, and then she helped unload and set the garments in order.

Little Jade, all sly mischief, walked about the studio from side to side. Seeing the large finished samples, she sighed with envy, hooked her arm through her sister’s, and gave it a lively shake. “Sister, no wonder people love wedding portraits. They look this beautiful. Borrow brother-in-law for me too. Let me take a few too, okay?”