Weijun’s head turned so fast in Liwu’s direction, that he almost broke his neck. "I can explain..." the words fell out of his mouth so fast.
Liwu put a hand over her mouth and gasped. "What? Weijun!" She stepped back, gasping dramatically.
Old Tai rolled his eyes and Old lady Tai chuckled. "Liwu we raised you. We know when you are acting," she said gently.
It was Weijun’s turn to be shocked. "What?" He stumbled backwards, eyes as wide as those of a cat on the hunt. "Does he an you knew my identity already?"
Liwu shrugged and started walking to the living room. She sat down beside her great great grandmother and laid her head down on the old woman’s shoulder. Naturally, the old woman stretched her hand and patted Liwu’s head gently just like she had done when Liwu was a child.
Weijun followed her to the living room and chose the furthest seat away from Old Tai. "Did you know?" he asked again.
Old Tai chuckled, the sound like waves crashing against rocks. "Secrets are like tides. They always co out. My granddaughter had a drone watching your family since we all agreed on the marriage alliance. She knew about the swap."
Weijun’s mouth gaped.
Mada Xu dropped the tea cup she was delivering to Old madam Tai.
Old Tai leaned back, eyes twinkling with mischief. "But my Liwu was not aware, not back then anyway. How could you keep such an important secret from her?"
He snapped his fingers. A waved surged from nowhere, sweeping across the parlor. Weijun was lifted off his feet and deposited back again, soaked to the bone. His dignity evaporated.
"Great great grandfather!" Liwu protested, though her lips twitched with amusent. "You are not allowed to do water tricks inside, you are going to flood the house."
Weijun tried to stand, but another splash knocked him back down. "Stop!" he sputtered. "I’m the city master."
"Master of puddles, maybe," Old Tai said, conjuring a miniature whirlpool that spun Weijun’s tie like a propeller.
Mada Xu pressed her fingers to her temples. She had sched a day of romance but what she got in return was an ex and her son being water-boarded by his great great grandfather-in-law.
"Great great grandpa, stop now." Liwu said softly, without the steel of soone that ant what she was saying. "I am actually glad that I married him not the real Weifeng. Do you know how many ex-girlfriends Shen Weifeng has? I am willing to bet that even one or two maids in this family have engaged in flings with him."
Old Tai stopped. "Is he that ssy?"
Liwu nodded vigorously. She held out three fingers. "I have t three of them and two were clearly still interested." She looked at her husband. "I am willing to look beyond the husband swap because I was a swapped bride too."
"You are!" Old madam Tai exclaid.
"You are!" Mada Xu also exclaid.
"You are!" Weijun exclaid.
More voices rose from corners, with the similar reaction. Apparently, more Shen’s were hiding in the house. They had co over to witness the drama.
Liwu blinked. "Will everyone stop it. What did you think I was going to do when I found out?"
"Break his jaw"
"Divorce."
"Put a bad luck curse on all of us."
"Send your dragon mother to eat us in our sleep."
"Or burn us to death."
"Arrest us for fraud."
Liwu frowned. Why had no one anticipated a good reaction?
"You have to admit," Old madam Tai said cautiously, "You hate Shen Weijun."
Liwu looked at Weijun. "He has badmouthed to the dia twelve tis in six years. Can I be blad?"
Weijun grimaced.
Old Tai’s miniature whirlpool returned. "Yes, you bad mouthed my Liwu. You are fair ga. I am in the pursuit of justice."
Liwu laughed. He was not pursuing justice, he was just having fun. The servants tried to mop up, but every ti they approached, Old Tai summoned another splash. One maid slipped and landed in a bucket. Another was chased by a rogue fish that flopped out of nowhere.
Weijun attempted to retreat upstairs, but Old Tai raised his hand, a wave nudged him back down the staircase like a stubborn child. "No running from the tide!"
Liwu leaned against the banister, laughing so hard she nearly cried. "Grandfather, you are going to drown my husband."
"Bah," Old Tai said. "A little seawater never killed anyone. Builds character."
Weijun muttered, "I already have character. What I need is a towel."
Eventually, the water subsided, leaving Weijun dripping and sulking. Old Tai sat back, satisfied. "Now that the punishnt is complete. let us speak plainly. Liwu you married the older brother, so you are the wife of the city master. This puts you in a bigger position of power than you thought. This fact needs to be corrected to the world as soon as possible. No more mix-ups. No more swaps."
Liwu nodded thoughtfully. "I have no plans to wield any authority or position in City hall. I am happy with my current job and being an occasional date on so of Weijun’s parties and dinners."
Weijun was satisfied with her answer.
Old Tai sighed. "Elder Zhang does not know yet, but I am sure he will know before this night ends. He will assu and expect things."
Liwu chuckled. "He has never managed to make do as he wished. What makes you think this will start now?"
Old Tai chuckled. "Good. I raised you with a spine, so don’t lose it. As for what people say when the news about your crazy marital situation breaks, pay no attention. Be like the sea. The sea doesn’t care what people think. It washes away gossip as easily as footprints."
Weijun dried off and they all had dinner together. After, the old couple left and the Shen’s dispersed.
As she got ready for bed, Liwu realized that the sll of seawater had not yet faded. It would probably last for a few days.
The bathroom door was opened and Weijun stepped out. He had one towel wrapped from under his armpits, like the way won wore towels often. On his head was another towel, one of her dumpling pattern towels! His face was a painted scroll of a permanent scroll.
Liwu chuckled.
"You just watched and laughed." He accused.
She shrugged. "What did you expect from ? I am not the one that hid his identity from my wife for a month?"
He crossed his arms on his chest. "It was complicated, and I planned to tell you the truth sooner or later. I just wanted to find the right mont."
She pulled back the duvet and climbed into the bed. "Weijun, I am a detective. Ninety five percent of the cases I work on are homicides. Whenever I visit the morgue, I see dead bodies all the ti. Children that dread of being pilots soday. Teenagers who had never been on a first date. Won who planned to have children the following year or maybe travel. n that were planning to buy houses, or a gold bracelet for their wife or mother."
Weijun sat down on the opposite side.
Liwu added. "Life is not predictable, not even when system hosts that predict the future exist. You say sooner or later, I hear never. I guess you and your brother planned to swap places again soday in the future. Right?"
User Comments
0 comments from readers