Chapter 45: This is... (1):

Author:

Merry Christmas everyone! Enjoy the festive season

Back to the story:

Because of how many people were in the living room many were seated on chairs brought from the dining room whereas some people were sitting on the sofa. "Qi Yan, shouldn't you introduce your fiancé to your relatives?" Qi Yu asked whilst smirking. Qi Yan looked at his grandfather and muttered, "Sure," whilst gritting his teeth. Qi Yan turned towards his right and began explaining "Sitting on the sofa opposite us is my father, my half-siblings Qi Jiang and Qi Hu and their mother. Sitting next to you is Qi Xing Xia my Jie*(1) you might've heard her name before because she is a well-known pianist in this country. Sitting next to Qi Xing Xia is her brother Qi Xing Yue my second di*(2). He is also a well-known violinist. They both attend the Central Conservatory of Music university in Beijing studying music production. They're my Shu Shu's*(3) children. My Shen Shen*(4) and Shu Shu are sitting behind us," explained Qi Yan as I waved them a hello. These two cousins were nice to me in my last life because we studied the same major. Xing Xia looked at me and said, "Just call me Jie just like Qi Yan,". I nodded at her words and started a conversation with her, "Hi, tang Jie, I study music production as well. What's your favourite topic?" I asked. She looked at me in surprise and replied "I think it would be western music as I prefer producing music meant for an orchestra. What about you?". I fell silent for a moment and at this moment, Qi Jiang spoke up saying "Aiyo is it that Miss Fu doesn't study music?". "Qi Jiang, where are your manners?" Qi Yan asked speaking up. I placed my hand on his shoulder as if to say it's fine, I can fight my own battles. "Uh I'm sorry but who are you?" I asked knowing full well who she is. Qi Yan laughed out loud whilst Xing Xua and Xing Yue struggled to keep their laughter in. Qi Jiang stood up furiously whilst Grandpa Qi barked for her to sit down. Qi Jiang gritted her teeth but sat down unwillingly. I smirked a little as it was quite funny to watch the internal conflicts.

"Yan'er please continue," Grandpa Qi ordered as Qi Yan nodded. "Sitting next to my grandfather is my grandmother," Qi Yan began "Sitting on her left is my Gu Gu*(5)'s family. Next to Gugu is gu zhang*(6) sitting beside them are their children, my second tang Jie and my third tang Jie. Lu Lang Ying is my company's lawyer. If you've any legal trouble or questions you can always ask her. Lu Lang Wei is a cardiology doctor. She followed in her father's footsteps,". I already knew all of this information, so it was quite boring for me to pretend to not know them. These two cousins neither hated nor like me. Which didn't bother me much however, this time I wish to be friends with the right people. When I and Qi Yan were having a divorce, Lu Lang Ying dealt with the procedures, and I remember her looking at me with those pitiful eyes. As for her sister, she was even more useful later on, Fang Feng would get into trouble with her heart, and I'd like to request her father to do that surgery. In my last life, I failed to help Fang Feng leading all of my friends to hate me because I could've saved her, but I didn't mainly because I was angry with what she remarked about me still keeping a relationship with Luo Wen Ning even when I was married to Qi Yan. But this time it will be different. Fang Feng cannot die, nor will she. The two elders looked at me and handed me a red packet*(7) as a blessing. I quickly thanked them and muttered that I had brought some sweet food for them to try. Qi Yan looked at his aunt and asked "Gugu, where's my red packet?". His Gu Zhang looked at Qi Yan and asked, "You get a red packet every new year," turning towards me he smiled kindly and said, "Hui Qing, please do call me gu zhang like Qi Yan. And do tell me if Qi Yan ever dares to bully you. I'll roast him up like a burnt pig,". I laughed along with them and agreed. If I remember correctly, Qi Yan has a really good relationship with his gugu in comparison to all his other relatives. Their two daughters turned towards me and muttered "nice to meet you, please call me bie mei*(8) like Qi Yan

Glossary:

1. Most of the time in Chinese culture, if your cousins have the same surname as you, you'll often refer to them directly as brother or sister instead of cousins because you share the same surname.

2. Same circumstance as number 1.

3. Shu Shu in mandarin is how you address your father's younger brother- your paternal uncle.

4. Shen Shen is how you address your father's younger sister-in-law.

5. Gu Gu is how you address your father's elder sister.

6. Gu Zhang is how you address your paternal aunt's husband.

7. Red packets are seen as a blessing given to you by your relatives in China.

8. Bie mei is how you address your paternal younger sister's cousin who doesn't shares the same surname as you.