A while later, he heard the man’s voice.
“Do you want to go out?”
Jing Mian was taken aback, realizing Mr. Ren meant leaving the banquet. He whispered, “It’s not over yet, is it okay to leave?”
Ren Xingwan said, “It’s fine.”
He led Jing Mian away from the table.
Jing Mian was led up the stairs. He wasn’t familiar with the hotel’s layout, but he wanted to ask, if they were going out, shouldn’t they go down the stairs? Why were they going higher?
But soon, he understood.
Mr. Ren had brought him to the rooftop.
The night sky was dotted with stars, and a gentle breeze blew, not cold at all.
They walked to the edge of the railing, from where they could overlook the entire city of Lincheng.
The magnificent and beautiful night view, combined with the cool breeze brushing past his face, made Jing Mian feel that the earlier discomfort had vanished.
They stood in silence, enjoying the view. Suddenly, the man turned and said softly, “Do you want to meet someone?”
Leaving the banquet directly was impractical, and the person they wanted to meet had already been present at the gathering. Jing Mian couldn’t think of who Mr. Ren meant.
But he nodded obediently.
The next moment, the man took out his phone.
Jing Mian: “?”
Jing Mian watched as he entered a screen, paused, and then dialed a number.
Soon, the screen showed a waiting screen, and Jing Mian realized the man wanted to make a video call.
“MianMian,” Mr. Ren said, glancing at him, “this is the real meeting with the parents.”
Before Jing Mian could understand, the screen showed an elderly person’s face.
In the high-definition screen, Jing Mian was clearly taken aback.
It was an elderly woman with white hair, wearing a hospital gown, and she looked very thin. She was in a bed, but her smile was warm and kind, waving at the camera.
Jing Mian reacted quickly and waved back.
Ren Xingwan said softly, “Grandma.”
Jing Mian finally understood.
Mr. Ren’s “meeting the parents” was a video call with his grandmother.
Jing Mian immediately became serious and a bit nervous. He nodded slightly at the camera, speaking politely and obediently.
“Grandma, hello.”
“My name is Jing Mian.”
“I am Ren Xingwan’s…”
At this point, Jing Mian hesitated.
How should he introduce himself to Grandma?
Had Ren Xingwan mentioned that they were already married?
Did she know about their relationship?
If she knew, how should he introduce himself?
Grandma, I am your grandson’s husband?
His… contractual marriage partner?
No matter how he put it, it felt embarrassing and strange.
Jing Mian’s brain was working overtime, almost overheating. Various titles flashed through his mind, but none seemed appropriate.
Same-sex marriage had only been legalized in recent years and gradually accepted by the public, but many elders still couldn’t accept it. Traditional views were hard to change, and Jing Mian understood.
Just as he was at a loss for words, he heard Mr. Ren’s voice.
“Partner.”
“…”
Jing Mian’s breath caught, and his cheeks flushed.
Seeing the elderly woman on the screen looking at him with a puzzled expression, waiting for him to speak, Jing Mian hesitated, his throat moving involuntarily. Finally, he relented, and his soft voice came out.
Jing Mian: “…his partner.”
…
After saying it, Jing Mian could hear his heart pounding uncontrollably. Although it was the truth, they were not in that kind of relationship.
But after he said it, the grandmother’s expression didn’t change; she nodded and smiled even more warmly.
She waved at Jing Mian again, and the kindness and warmth were palpable even through the screen.
Jing Mian smiled back at her.
The grandmother suddenly asked, “What’s this little one’s name?”
“…”
Jing Mian remembered introducing himself to the grandmother just now.
So, he repeated it, speaking more slowly and clearly this time.
The elderly woman nodded.
A moment later, she asked again, “What’s this pretty little one’s name?”
“…”
This time, Jing Mian was stunned.
Then, he heard the man explain in his ear:
“Alzheimer’s.”
Jing Mian was taken aback, suddenly understanding.
That’s why Ren Xingwan’s grandmother wasn’t present at the gathering; she was ill and wearing a hospital gown.
This must be the person Mr. Ren cared about the most.
Perhaps today’s gathering didn’t include the person Mr. Ren wanted him to meet, so the man found another way to introduce him to his grandmother, even though they were separated by an unimaginable distance.
This was the real… meeting the parents.
The conversation lasted only a few minutes before the grandmother had to be fed by a caregiver, and the video call ended.
Jing Mian had something to say but didn’t know where to start.
Before he could speak, the man handed him a drink, a deep purple liquid that looked like mulberry-flavored.
Jing Mian took it, a bit surprised. “Thank you.”
He suddenly remembered that during the gathering, he hadn’t eaten much but had enjoyed the mulberry-flavored juice, which Jing Luo, who didn’t like sweet and sour flavors, had quietly passed to his brother.
Jing Mian took a few sips, finding it unexpectedly refreshing.
He hadn’t expected Mr. Ren to notice such a detail.
After finishing the drink, Jing Mian inevitably had to use the restroom.
Mr. Ren returned to the banquet.
Soon after, a small figure slipped next to Ren Xingwan, reaching up as high as possible… but only touching the man’s arm.
Ren Xingwan: “…”
He glanced over.
It was Jing Mian’s half-brother, Jing Luo, who had received a lot of attention from Jing Mian during the meal.
The man’s expression didn’t change, even appearing a bit cold.
However, the little boy swallowed, a mix of fear and annoyance in his eyes, looking at the man with a proud expression, as if he had a purpose.