77 EIGHTH RAINBOW

"I never thought of it like that," remarked Xiao Zhan. "When I brought Jason home…my parents… they're the kind of parents who would accept who makes me happy. And they were happy with him."

"You said they treated him well, like their son," said Yibo, peering into the steamer. "How many buns do you want?"

"Just one of each."

"Aunty, three pork buns and three egg custard buns, please." He forked over the money, as Xiao

Zhan's thumb drew circles in the flesh of his palm.

"Have you ever been in a serious relationship to meet their parents before?" Xiao Zhan asked. "No. I've never been in a proper relationship before. I've liked someone and had sex with them,

sex a few times, but it's never led to a relationship. After that I stopped, knowing that I couldn't be in a relationship unless I genuinely and truly loved that person. Was Jason the only one for you?"