Chapter 79 - 74: Cut Sleeve!

At the same time, across the Sea of China---

An old woman and old man sat on a splendid chair that was adorned with a dragon frame and White Lion's skin carpet at their feet. The rare lavish western antiques enhanced the residence's elegance.

The two old people held a superior presence and by only a glance, one could know how dignified they were. Even though their clothing looked simple, it held much depth and fit perfectly with their poise. While sipping on warm tea and gazing at the gorgeous garden that was far bigger than 100ft x 200ft in size, the two engaged in a tranquil conversation about their daily life.

Suddenly a big commotion surged from the upper floors of the luxurious house disrupting their serene moments.

"Grandmother!! Grandfather!!!! See this!! Someone sent this to me from Cousin-Lei's company!! Cousin-Lei... He is... He is…!"

Hearing Wang Li Lei's name being mentioned, the old woman, Wang Yan Zhe quickly turned her face towards the young woman who came running towards them.

"What happened with Ah Lei, Shi Ning?", Wang Yan Zhe grew worried, hearing the urgency in Wang Shi Ning's voice.

The old man beside Wang Yan Zhe, who was the leader of Wang Family, Wang Yongyi, also turned his stern face towards Wang Shi Ning while warning her for her unfitting behavior.

"Don't run and shout, it's improper for your age", Wang Yongyi firmly reprimanded her.

Hearing her grandfather's cold voice, Wang Shi Ning's voice grew meeker as she nodded.

Wang Yan Zhe couldn't care less about anyone's behavior whenever Wang Li Lei's name was mentioned and hurried to Wang Shi Ning, "Aiya, forget about that, quick, tell me what happened to Ah Lei!"

Although Wang Yongyi's stern face still looked fierce as ever, his eyes were also clouded with worry and subconsciously lent his ears toward Wang Shi Ning.

"Cousin-Lei... H-... He...", not knowing how to say this to her grandparents and afraid of them getting a heart attack from the news, Wang Shi Ning bit her lower lips in contemplation.

Noticing how hesitant Wang Shi Ning was, both Wang Yan Zhe and Wang Yongyi's expression darkened with concern.

"Quick!! Tell us!! What is it!!", Wang Yan Zhe hurried.

"Er...", Wang Shi Ning's eyes rolled away from her grandmother's eyes and looked at her phone.

Wang Yongyi also grew impatient and hurried his granddaughter with a rigid tone, "Don't hesitate every time you talk, hurry and answer your grandmother!"

Wang Shi Ning parted her lips but closed it once again before answering, "Today, my friend who works in Wang Corporation sent me this..."

Wang Shi Ning pulled her phone and showed a picture of Wang Li Lei smiling affectionately towards a handsome young man. Although the picture was a bit unfocused, the beautiful smile painted on Wang Li Lei's face was clearly captured.

Wang Yan Zhe's eyes widened in surprise, and likewise, Wang Yongyi's did too. Wang Yan Zhe rubbed her eyes before taking her granddaughter's phone and examined the picture closer, in doubt.

It wasn't an illusion, Wang Li Lei was truly smiling!! How?!

Since Wang Li Lei was young, he was a very mature and quiet young boy who had surpassed many other children of his age, leaving everyone speechless by his achievements.

Because of how perfect Wang Li Lei was, no one could ever have an objection towards him, when they named him as the heir of Wang Family. That included his grandparents Wang Yan Zhi and Wang Yongyi too. However, his perfectness also made them grow worried over him.

Wang Li Lei would never show a flaw or a single expression on his face. Like a bad habit, Wang Li Lei always kept his thoughts and worries to himself. There was only once when Wang Li Lei had a request to his grandparents, and that was when he said that he wanted to take the daughter of Yu Family as his fiancee.

Although at first, they had thought that Wang Li Lei could have many other candidates better than Yu Xiao Yun, after hearing Wang Li Lei's first-ever request, Wang Yan Zhi and Wang Yongyi had quickly agreed to his request.

"What? Only this? Isn't this good, Ah Lei having a good friend?" Wang Yan Zhi took her teacup elegantly and sipped the warm jasmine tea with a satisfied smile.

Wang Yongyi gave a disappointed sigh toward Wang Shi Ning for having raised a false alarm and flipped his newspaper before continuing to read.

Wang Shi Ning shook her head at her grandparents who still couldn't understand her words.

"N-No... Cousin-Lei... H-He and this young man are... In a relationship!!!", Wang Shi Ning's high-pitched tone reverberated through the empty magnanimous living room, giving it an echo as she finished.

Wang Yongyi's face darkened like the sky before a storm, still finding it difficult to apprehend Wang Shi Ning's words.

Almost as if he was deaf, Wang Yongyi asked Wang Shi Ning once again, "W-Wh...What did you say...?"

Wang Shi Ning pursed her lips tighter, "I don't know whether it's true or not but..."

Wang Yongyi, "I warned you not to hesitate every time you talk!!"

Forced to answer by his grandfather, Wang Shi Ning, in a high pitched voice almost like a shout, answered "Cousin-Lei... H- He is a cut-sleeve1!!!!"

Wang Shi Ning's voice echoed through Wang Yan Zhi and Wang Yongyi's mind like a broken record for a few minutes.

After finally understanding the meaning behind Wang Shi Ning's words, their faces turned blank.

Wang Shi Ning looked down unable to look up toward her grandparents in fear. In her heart, she quickly regretted the words that came out of her mouth spontaneously and prayed, 'Please God!! Buddha!! Please don't let Cousin-Lei know that I'm the one who exposed the news to grandma and grandpa!!'

If Wang Li Lei knew that she was the one who disclosed the news, the next time Wang Shi Ning met Wang Li Lei, her head would definitely be chopped off her body!!

Wang Yan Zhi patted her husband's arm and worriedly asked, "X-Xiao- Lei... Is he really? Really a-...", Wang Yan Zhi was unable to say the other word in shock.

Since young, Wang Li Lei had never had an interest in the opposite gender. So the possibility of him bending that way seemed legitimate in their heart.

Wang Yongyi thought for a moment to gather his composure and calmed down Wang Yan Zhi. "What are you saying?! Of course that isn't! It's probably just some gossip without any base!!"

"But what should we do if that news is true?", Wang Yan Zhi added.

"How could you believe that unethical news?!! Xiao-Lei already has a fiancee!", Wang Yongyi lowered his head toward his wife and answered with a low tone, not wanting Wang Shi Ning to overhear his words.

Even after her husband's explanation, Wang Yan Zhi still held some doubts and raised her objections. "How could you know that for sure? Everyone around Xiao-Lei is men! Especially that one!! The secretary that always sticks to Xiao-Lei 24/7! What was his name again? Jan Hin? Jun Hun? Jjangmyeon1?"

"T- That..." Wang Yongyi couldn't find an answer. Deep in his heart, he also believed in the possibility that his precious first-born grandson could have possibly strayed from the straight road.

"That is also not possible!! Xiao-Lei has never taken an interest in girls, but he also had never had an interest in boys or even anyone he loved! Don't you remember just how deeply attached Xiao-Lei is to that girl, the daughter of Yu Family?" Wang Yongyi answered with a frown after mentioning "Yu Family".

Wang Yan Zhi nodded silently, "That's true...But er... I'm still worried about this news".

Wang Yongyi gave a long sigh and thought of a way to assure his wife's worries. "Don't be worried. For now, we need to ask someone who has always stayed beside Xiao-Lei to reveal the young man's identity... Er...Ah! Like the one that you mentioned! That secretary!"

Wang Yan Zhi immediately nodded in agreement with Wang Yongyi's bright solution,"You're right!"

Meanwhile, the little lass who has been fidgeting in the corner of the couch while watching her grandparents whispering to each other, asked, "Grandma, grandpa... Have you two finished discussing with each other?"

Wang Yan Zhi nodded, "Yes, why?"

Wang Shi Ning kept on fidgeting while fiddling with her fingers before answering, "Er... I don't know how to say this but... Er...Just take this as a slip from a wise man!"

"A slip of a wise man?" Wang Yan Zhi lifted her brow curiously.

"Yes! 9 cows and 1 strand of cow hair*!" Wang Shi Ning proudly answered.

(A Chinese idiom, closely related to the saying 'a drop in the ocean' It is used to signify a small amount or how little an impact something has made or will make. It doesn't make sense in her context because Wang Li Lei becoming homos.e.x.u.a.l had a big impact on them.)

"..." Wang Yongyi turned speechless.

Wang Yan Zhi looked toward the proud Wang Shi Ning while giving herself a facepalm in bafflement.

They knew that Wang Shi Ning was never that much of a bright girl...

But they just didn't know that there wasn't any end to her foolishness.

---------------------- The Chinese language has a special term to express homos.e.x.u.a.l love. The term duan Xiu, or 'cutting sleeves', first appeared in the Han dynasty and is widely used today as a euphemism for a gay relationship.

T.M.I (Too much information):

The emperor slept with his lover side by side. However, when he was called to attend a meeting, the emperor noticed that his lover was sleeping on top of his sleeve. And cut his sleeve instead of waking his lover from sleep.Jajangmyeon or jjajangmyeon is a Korean-style Chinese noodle dish topped with a thick sauce made of chunjang, diced pork, and vegetables.

For a picture reference, search in google! :-)

P.S. Grandma... I think you watched too many K-Drama, lol