37: husband

The new week went very smoothly. Yan Zhuohua successfully took over the preliminary project at Monday's routine meeting. On Friday evening, he finished his work early again and went upstairs to wait for Yan Qinghe to return to the main residence together.

At dinner, their mother, Jiang Fuyue, reminded them that next weekend would be their birthday, which was also the day the Yan Family would officially announce the change of the Head of the Family.

There would be a cocktail party that day. The related decorations were almost finished, and the invitations had been sent out. They only needed to confirm the schedule once more in advance. There was also the matter of picking out formal wear.

Choosing formal wear and matching accessories was usually a task for the hostess—the Wife of the Head of the Family. However, Yan Zhuohua hadn't even considered this until his mother mentioned it today. Only then did he realize he hadn't looked into the duties of the Wife of the Head of the Family in detail.

"These matters will fall into your hands sooner or later. For now, I can still help you, but once I retire, you'll have to rely on yourself." Jiang Fuyue said to Yan Zhuohua seriously, "It's not about making you manage household chores every day like a housewife, but someone has to do these things eventually. Choosing formal wear is a minor thing; certain arrangements within the family are even more important."

Yan Zhuohua had never really thought that being the Wife of the Head of the Family involved so many tasks, because he never expected that he, an heir, would now become the Mistress of the House. Coupled with Yan Qinghe's indulgence, he paid even less attention to these things.

"I'm telling you this today so you can adjust your attitudes. Don't look down on women who manage household affairs; these are essential tasks for maintaining a family, and there's no difference in status between them and what you do outside. If you don't earn money, the family has no income, but if you can't even manage the home, you won't be able to live." Jiang Fuyue pointed her finger at all the men present. "And you two, when you get married in the future, you must respect those who handle the household. These are all sacrifices; don't think they're inferior. It's because Qingman and I have worried too much for you that you've been spoiled into not knowing how to maintain a home. From today on, all of you learn well."

The children sat upright, receiving their lecture.

Their well-behaved and obedient appearance pleased Jiang Fuyue. Her tone softened. "The Head and the Mistress simply have different divisions of labor. Essentially, both are arranging matters for the clan and their own small family. You're about to officially announce your succession, so you must know how to handle these things. Qinghe, Zhuohua, what do you think?"

Yan Qinghe was about to say he could handle both, but Yan Zhuohua poked him directly, signaling him to shut up.

"I have no problem, Mom. I can start learning tomorrow." Zhuohua was well-behaved and sensible.

Jiang Fuyue nodded with a smile. "Then wake up early tomorrow. I'll take you to familiarize yourself with the venue and then pick out the outfits."

Yan Zhuohua nodded cooperatively.

Jiang Fuyue was even more satisfied. She was about to continue eating when she suddenly remembered something: "Qinghe, you're not allowed to bother Zhuohua tonight. He has to get up early tomorrow!"

Yan Zhuohua's smile froze instantly. He glanced at his mother in disbelief, then stiffly lowered his head to eat, his face gradually turning red. 'Yan Qinghe! It's all your fault, all your fault! Look at how much face I have left in front of Mom now. Ahhh!'

Under the table, Yan Zhuohua stomped hard on Yan Qinghe's foot.

Yan Qinghe's expression contorted for a moment, but he didn't dare make a sound.

His second brother's laughter came from across the table.

Returning to their room at night, Yan Qinghe, having lost his right to tonight's happy activities, was a bit dejected. He followed closely behind Yan Zhuohua, not saying a word, pretending to be his shadow.

Yan Zhuohua endured it for a while before turning around helplessly. "Unhappy? Tomorrow—tomorrow night, I'll make it up to you."

Yan Qinghe's eyes lit up immediately.

"Alright, I've promised you. Stop following me, okay? Go take a shower and come rest with me early. I have to get up early tomorrow." Yan Zhuohua raised his hand and stroked his face soothingly, urging him to go wash up.

Just as Yan Zhuohua was about to fall asleep in his arms, Yan Qinghe suddenly spoke: "Do you mind being called 'Mistress' or 'Madam'?"

"?" Yan Zhuohua woke up instantly. "What are you thinking? I don't mind. You don't still have some prejudice against women, do you?"

Yan Qinghe didn't know how this related to prejudice and was a bit bewildered. "I don't have any prejudice. What does this have to do with prejudice?"

"Then it's fine. You think those titles are specifically for women, but to me, it's different. I just see it as a title for someone's other half. It's only because most people in this position are women that you think these titles might make me uncomfortable, or that feminine words applied to a man are an insult. But I don't mind at all."

Yan Qinghe seemed to understand.

Just as adjectives for personality aren't gendered, gender is just one of your characteristics. You don't have to do things just to fit that characteristic. Stereotypes shouldn't bind your life. Your gender remains the same, but your soul is free.

"Then can you call me 'husband' once?" Yan Qinghe was expectant!

"...Shut up and go to sleep!"

Today was a sunny weekend, inversely proportional to Yan Zhuohua's mood.

He had been dragged by his mother to pick flowers for the cocktail party for half the morning. Going back and forth, he felt like he was about to lose his sense of smell.

Dazed by the mixed floral scents, Yan Zhuohua's mind was filled with the desire to take back last night's words about gender. 'I can't do this; let's just stick to stereotypes when we should.'

Finally, just as he was about to lose the ability to analyze scents from the torture, his mother finally decided on the final plan—matching the party's theme colors of blue and white, choosing all blue and white flowers for the bouquets.

Yan Zhuohua had lost his mind: "Mom, since it's going to be decided by color in the end, why did you make me smell them for so long?"

"Oh, I just remembered that other people's noses aren't as sharp as yours. They won't be able to tell what the scents are anyway, so we'll go by color." Jiang Fuyue's answer was very logical.

Fine.

A busy day passed. By the time Yan Zhuohua lay in bed, he was physically and mentally exhausted, almost delirious. Beside him, Yan Qinghe crawled over aggrievedly; it seemed he was destined to be stood up tonight.

Yan Zhuohua rolled over, burrowed into Yan Qinghe's arms, and said softly, "Are you still willing to do what the Yan Family's Mistress should do for me? Husband?"

!!!!!

"What did you call me?"

"Husband," Yan Zhuohua said, cute and sweet. "Husband, are you willing?"

Yan Qinghe's voice was full of courage and determination.

"I am not willing."