“How’s your Mandarin going?” Mr. Huang asked as they finished their rare family dinner.

“Good, it’s only five months but I think I could do basic conversation” Xiu Min answered politely.

“Don’t you have trouble with your study, Xiu Min?” this time Mrs. Huang asked.

“I have a friend who speak Korean fluently, he translate the lecturer for me and I could borrow his notes”

“You should bring him home sometimes, we need to thank him properly”

“I could?” Xiu Min widened his eyes.

“Well, of course, dear. This is also your house. You’re free to take your friends here”

Xiu Min was taken aback with his stepmother words, they hardly spoke to each other and it was only a few months since they met, but the lady always been so kind to him.

“I think you should come with us to Lena’s father anniversary this Friday” Mr. Huang put down his coffee.

Xiu Min could hear Tao’s gasped from where he sat. He glanced at Mrs. Huang who sat in front of him who gave him a nervous smile.

“I don’t see why I have to be there, I mean... I’m not a relative”

“Don’t be silly, Xiu Min” Mrs. Huang cut him “We’re family now, don’t say words that could hurt like that”

“I...”

“Xiu Min ge is right, Mom, Dad. I don’t think it’s right to bring him in our family affairs” Tao suddenly spoke. He hardly says anything before unless he was asked so this was interesting.

“Tao, don’t be harsh on your brother” her mother wrenched her eyebrows.

“I’m not” the boy replied “I’m just saying that the whole problem had nothing to do with him”

“You know... I don’t mind...” Xiu Min tried to say something but the two of them were arguing so he turned to his father “I don’t mind being left home, I mean, Tao’s right. I’m not part of the family”

His father who only listened nodded and touched his wife’s hand, telling her to stop. And the two of them stop saying anything, they turned to the man of the house whose going to speak.

“I’m not saying that Xiu Min is going to be involved in our family affairs, but he’s part of our little family now. And the main house need to know that” Mr. Huang said in his calm tone as usual.

“It’s just a simple greeting, they don’t have to welcome him or anything. At least we already did our obligation”

Tao sighed, he knew when his father made up his mind, nothing could change it. So he nodded when his father look at him.

“Good, it’s settled then. I’ll have a tailor come over to measure you, Xiu Min” Mrs. Huang said excitedly.

“Erm.. well.. Okay” Xiu Min was dumbfounded, he never see this side of his father. As much as he wanted to hate the man, since the first day they met he couldn’t bring him self to it. Sure he left his mother and him alone, but he had reasons. And even though he was a busy man, he still talked and asked his sons every time he could.

It was early in the morning when Xiu Min walked down the stairs, today he decided to take the bus earlier so he wouldn’t have to run again.

“You’re not leaving yet?” he asked his younger brother who was having breakfast alone.

“I’m waiting for Chen ge” he answered without lifting his head.

“You guys took business together?”

He only nodded and Xiu Min sat in front of him, it was a thick awkward silence and Xiu Min think hard how to break it.

“Tonight...” Suddenly Tao said something so Xiu Min turned his gaze excitedly, but the boy in front of him keeping his cold eyes straight to him “Try not to wander away from me” he said again.

Xiu Min pursed his lips “Wae?”

“Tao, are you ready yet?” suddenly Chen break in the dining room with a smile on his face “Xiu Min ge! Are you going with us?”

“No, he’s not” Tao answered for him as he grabbed his bag and dragged his friend.

“Hey, at least let me had a word with him” Chen’s complain could be heard as they walked away.

“You still want to have a ride today?” Lu Han asked as the end of the class ended.

“Nope, I’m having a family gathering” Xiu Min shook his head “My step mom’s family, how awkward was it?”

“That’s great, Bao Zi” Lu Han is the only one who heard Xiu Min’s story and how he struggle to find where he belong to “What’s your brother say?”

“He didn’t like it at first, but this morning he said not to wander too far from him at the party”

“Sounds like he’s worried for you” Lu Han rested his chin on his elbow.

“You think so?” Xiu Min raised his eyebrows “It’s just his grand father’s birthday party”

“I’m not sure either, but you have to tell me every detail tomorrow”

They parted their ways, Lu Han to the parking lot while Xiu Min to the main gate, when his shoulder bumped to someone.

“Sorry” Xiu Min turned around to apologize to the other person “It’s you again” he chuckled.

The other one’s expression were soften “Huang Xiu Min, you should stop bumping on people”

“Yi Xing, right?”

“Yes, going home?” Yi Xing asked the cute boy.

“Yes, you still have class? What are you studying anyway?”

“I’m studying art and I was about to see my cousin, we usually went home together” Yi Xing walked with Xiu Min along “How’s Beijing? You like it so far?”

“I’m still adjusting, thankfully I made a new friend here”

“Emm, yes... About that” Yi Xing stopped his track.

“What?” Xiu Min turned to him.

“It’s all over the campus, you know” Yi Xing seemed hesitant to continue, but Xiu Min tilted his head and motioned him to go on “About Lu Han”

“What about him?” Xiu Min now curious.

“Most people avoided him” the younger boy turned his gaze somewhere else, avoiding the older one.

“Yes, I noticed that too, I wonder why”

“You don’t know?” Yi Xing’s mouth slightly opened, but Xiu Min’s expression was sincere “Because, he’s an open gay”

Xiu Min stayed silent for awhile “And everybody else were secretly gay?” he wiggled his eyebrows in amusement.

Yi Xing was confused but then he laughed “You’re a straight forward guy, aren’t you?”

Xiu Min smiled “Sorry, I wasn’t mad at you. But Lu Han is my friend and I’m going to defend him especially since it’s not his fault for being gay. Besides, I need to hear it from him before I listened to other people”

Yi Xing nodded “Fair enough. Oh, I need to return you this” he reached his bag and took Xiu Min’s card “Sorry I didn’t return it earlier”

“Don’t worry, I didn’t even notice that this was gone” Xiu Min took it and put it in his wallet “I’ll be leaving then, see you later”

“Yes, Xiu Min ge, I’ll see you soon” Yi Xing smiled with a meaning.

More of Xiu Min... I'm sorry, but I loved him so much TT^TT