Grace Li glanced again at his leg. The scrape on his knee stood out sharply against his pale skin. Turning away, she restarted the car. Eventually, she decided their destination would be her apartment in Brooklyn.
Aiden Thompson sank into the worn-but-comfy sofa in Grace's living room. It was his second time here, and the place had that unmistakable Brooklyn charm—a mix of modern and lived-in. Grace came out of the kitchen with a bottle of water, twisting the cap open before handing it to him. That's when she noticed his hand was scraped too. Clearly, he'd braced himself when he faked the fall—his foot didn't look all that injured.
Aiden took a sip, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "So, what's the deal? You keeping me hostage here now?"
Grace chuckled as she walked over with a first-aid kit and sat beside him. "Nah. But I gotta patch you up first. Can't let your resale value drop, you know? Brooklyn buyers are picky."
Aiden laughed. "You're ruthless, Grace. I like it."
Unscrewing the bottle of hydrogen peroxide, she said, "Alright, let me clean this up. Give me your hand."
Aiden extended his palm, revealing a scrape near his pinky with faint bruising around it. Grace tore off a piece of cotton, doused it in the disinfectant, and gently held his hand as she dabbed the wound.
Aiden watched her closely. The way her brow furrowed as she focused on cleaning the scrape—it was... something.
"You heading to your folks' place soon?" he asked.
Grace shook her head slightly, still focused on his hand. "Tomorrow morning. I'm flying to San Diego."
"Long flight," Aiden said, leaning back. "You dreading it?"
"It's fine. The town they live in is peaceful—it's worth the trip. I'll probably take the train out there once I land."
"Small town vibes, huh?" Aiden smiled. "You're a long way from Brooklyn."
"Tell me about it." Grace gave a wry grin. "But they love it there. My dad keeps chickens now, if you can believe it."
"No kidding?"
"Yeah. It's actually kind of adorable. He names them after old movie stars."
Aiden chuckled. "That's wholesome. Who's the favorite chicken?"
"Probably Audrey Henburn." Grace couldn't help but laugh at how ridiculous it sounded.
After finishing with his hand, Grace knelt down to check the scrape on his knee. His skin was ridiculously smooth and pale—practically glowing in the soft light of her apartment.
"Jesus," she muttered under her breath, more to herself than him. "You really don't do scrapes often, do you? Your skin's like... porcelain."
Aiden grinned. "I'm fragile. Handle with care."
Grace's cheeks warmed as she realized her thoughts had slipped out. Standing abruptly, she muttered, "Alright, all done. Go change before you catch a chill."
"Where?"
Grace pointed toward the bathroom. "Down the hall. First door on the left."
"Got it." Aiden grabbed his bag of clothes and disappeared into the bathroom.
As Grace tidied up the first-aid kit, her phone buzzed. The caller ID said Daniel Chou. What the hell did he want?
"Hey, Daniel," she said, trying to keep her tone neutral. "What's up?"
"Grace, how's your boyfriend doing?"
She paused. "Aiden? Just a ligament strain. Nothing major."
"Good to hear," Daniel replied.
Grace frowned. "What about John Lewis?"
"He went to the hospital for X-rays. Minor hip fracture."
Grace's jaw tightened. "Seriously?"
"It's not that bad," Daniel reassured her. "He'll be fine in a few weeks."
"Still, that's rough." She sighed. "Look, I just hope John doesn't try to start something over this."
"Relax, Grace. It's basketball. Stuff happens. I know your guy didn't mean to hurt him."
"I appreciate that, Daniel," she said, softening slightly. "Thanks for smoothing things over. I really don't want this turning into some petty drama."
"No worries. I'll talk to John. He's not the type to hold a grudge."
"Thanks. You're a lifesaver."
Grace hung up and turned to see Aiden, now dressed in a fresh T-shirt and joggers, leaning casually against the doorway.
"Who was that?" he asked.
"Daniel Chou," she replied.
"You still talking to that guy?"
Grace shrugged. "Why not? Blocking him would just make me look like I care. And I don't."
Aiden stepped closer, his gaze locking on hers. "So you really don't care about him, huh?"
Grace's heart skipped a beat. Looking away, she muttered, "We were never a thing. There's nothing to care about."
He seemed satisfied with her answer, a slow grin spreading across his face. "Alright. What's the plan for dinner?"
Grace raised an eyebrow. "You're the injured one. You tell me."
"I'm good with anything. Even pizza from that bodega down the block."
She rolled her eyes. "You're not getting bodega pizza. I've got stuff in the fridge. How about I cook?"
Aiden's smile widened. "A home-cooked meal? Now we're talking. You need help?"
"Not from you, limpy," she teased. "Just sit tight and let me work."
"Fair enough." He sank back onto the couch with a grin. "You're a real New Yorker, Grace—bossy as hell, but I like it."
Grace Li stepped into her cozy kitchen, ready to prepare dinner. The fridge didn't offer much, but she decided on three simple dishes: tomato and egg stir-fry, cucumber salad, and braised pork ribs with potatoes.
Soon, the aroma of home-cooked food filled the room. Aiden Thompson, sitting at the dining table, looked at the spread and said, "This looks amazing. You must be a great cook."
Grace Li handed him a bowl of rice
Aiden pi
"Eat as much as you like," Grace said, watching him enjoy her cooking. A warm feeling crept into her heart, and for a fleeting moment, she imagined them as an ordinary married couple sharing a quiet dinner at home.
As they ate, Aiden said, "I watched the latest episode of that popular sitcom last night. It was hilarious. Have you seen it?"
"No, I haven't had the time lately. What's it about?" Grace asked.
The conversation flowed easily until Grace asked, "Are you going home for New Year's?"
"Nah, I'm not big on family gatherings," Aiden replied, shrugging. "I might just check out some New Year's Eve parties around the city. What about you?"
"I'm heading to my parents' place tomorrow to celebrate with them," Grace said.
The thought of him spending New Year's alone tugged at her heart. Hesitating, she asked gently, "Are things still strained with your family?"
"Yeah," Aiden admitted between bites. "But honestly, I'm fine with how things are. I like my life now."
Grace didn't press further, sensing the topic was sensitive.
After dinner, she walked Aiden to the apartment complex gate. The streetlights cast a warm glow, and festive decorations adorned the houses, creating a cozy atmosphere. Aiden called for a ride, which was five minutes away.
The wind picked up, ruffling Grace's long hair. Aiden turned to her and said, "You should head back inside. It's cold out here."
"Text me when you get home," Grace said, hands tucked into her coat pockets.
"Will do."
Before she left, she reminded him, "Don't forget to keep your wound dry if you shower. Just wipe yourself down instead."
Aiden chuckled. "Got it, mom."
Feeling a bit embarrassed by her nagging, Grace said, "Alright, I'm heading back."
As she turned, Aiden called out, "Grace."
She looked back. "Yeah?"
"Dinner was amazing. It reminded me of home."
The wind carried his words to her, and for a moment, Grace stood still, her heart stirred by the unexpected sentiment.
Aiden added, "Think I could get another meal like that sometime?"
"Of course," Grace said with a sincere smile. "I'm glad it made you feel that way. Next time, I'll make something even better with proper ingredients."
"I'm looking forward to it," Aiden replied.
The next morning, Grace boarded an early flight from New York to San Diego. She had booked a rental car near the airport and drove through the countryside toward her parents' home in a quiet town. The sprawling fields and charming small-town scenery rolled by as she navigated the familiar route.
When she arrived, her younger brother William Li showed up around the same time. Their mother, Huiyun Liang, had prepared a feast of traditional Chinese dishes, filling the house with mouthwatering aromas.
As the family gathered around the table, their father, Shichen Li, sipped some wine and launched into one of his signature life lessons. Grace and William, accustomed to these monologues, listened politely, nodding occasionally.
Inevitably, the conversation turned to Grace's marital status.
"Grace, you're 30 now. You shouldn't wait too long. Don't set your standards too high—find someone suitable and settle down," Shichen said firmly.
Grace continued eating and replied calmly, "Dad, I know what I'm doing."
"If you did, you wouldn't still be single at 30," he retorted. "Look at your younger cousins—they're all married or engaged. You're the eldest, but you're still single."
Her mother chimed in, "What about that boy you mentioned in Europe? What's happening with him?"
Grace hesitated. She couldn't bring herself to admit that Daniel Chou, the man she had once hoped for, was now married. Instead, she said vaguely, "Nothing's happening."
Huiyun sighed. "If he's not serious, you shouldn't wait for him. It's not worth it."
"I'm not waiting for him anymore," Grace said firmly.
William suddenly suggested, "Why don't you give me his number? I'll find out what he's really thinking."
"No need," Grace replied, cutting him off. "Let's focus on the meal and stop talking about him."
Changing the subject, Huiyun said, "By the way, your cousin Joseph is getting married soon."
"Joseph?" Grace asked in surprise. "Isn't he just barely old enough to marry?"
"He's 21," Shichen replied. "Not everyone stays single into their 30s like you."
Grace rolled her eyes. "Dad, can we not make this about me?"
William, curious, asked, "How did Joseph end up getting married so suddenly?"
Huiyun explained, "He got his girlfriend pregnant. Your uncle told us a few days ago. Now both families are arranging the wedding."
Grace frowned. "How old is the girl?"
"Nineteen," Huiyun said.
"At nineteen, they can't even get a marriage license yet, can they?" Grace asked.
Shichen interrupted, "That doesn't matter. The baby is already on the way, and it's a boy—our family's next generation. Your uncle only has Joseph, so this child is too important to give up."
Grace knew her father's views on family legacy were deeply rooted and unchangeable. She decided not to push further, choosing instead to focus on her meal.