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    Chapter 111: Momโ€™s Wedding (Part 2)
    Extra 2

    The car they bought for Mom had arrived.

    Fan Jun hid it in the empty lot behind Sister Xiao Yiโ€™s milk shop, waiting to use it as the lead car on the wedding day.

    Even though Mom said there was no need for a whole wedding convoy, Zou Yang insisted. Even if it was just a short loop around Nanzhoupingโ€”since theyโ€™d chosen to have a wedding, everything should be done properly.

    Looking at the photo Fan Jun sent, Zou Yang felt a bit emotional.

    A small open space among old buildings waiting to be demolished. Piles of discarded furnitureโ€”tables, chairs, sofasโ€”left out by residents, now shared by elderly neighbors who used them to sit, chat, or play chess.

    Around them were foam boxes and flowerpots, filled with half-dead plantsโ€”mostly roses, and half-dead vegetablesโ€”mostly scallions and garlic.

    And in the middle of this worn, cluttered scene sat a white car, decorated with pink ribbons, a large pink-and-white heart-shaped bouquet on the hood.

    It looked almost dreamlike.

    Life blooming out of decay.

    Because of the car arrangements, Fan Jun wouldnโ€™t be back until the afternoon.

    After finishing his own lesson plan and fixing Liu Wenruiโ€™s, Zou Yang went to the cafรฉ to wait.

    The shop renovation was done, the smell had mostly dissipated, and they had started a soft opening. Business wasnโ€™t huge yet, but there were plenty of visitors.

    โ€œChunliโ€ (Spring Within).

    The name He Chuan chose.

    Spring wind, spring flowers, spring sunlight, spring rainโ€ฆ spring within.

    The calligraphy was written by Zou Yangโ€”not because He Chuan thought his handwriting was amazing, but because it was free.

    Coffee wasnโ€™t the main businessโ€”just a small section with a few tables and sofas. The main focus was still He Chuanโ€™s original trade.

    Some items were from his own collection; others were brought by Zou Yangโ€”antique bottles and paintings from his father.

    Surprisingly, these traditional Chinese pieces blended perfectly into the modern dรฉcor, creating a pleasing harmony.

    Wonder what Dad would sayโ€ฆ probably call it messy and improper.

    Zou Yang sat under a parasol outside the shop, sunlight warming his back. The breeze made everything feel comfortable.

    The shopโ€™s only employeeโ€”barista Xiao Yangโ€”brought him a coffee.

    He Chuan hadnโ€™t wanted to hire anyone, but none of them knew how to make coffee, so he reluctantly hired one.

    To make it โ€œworth it,โ€ Xiao Yang also had to handle customers browsing antiques.

    โ€œHeโ€™s a college student too, studying ancient history,โ€ He Chuan had said proudly. โ€œPerfect fit.โ€

    Every time Zou Yang thought about that, he questioned their entire dormโ€™s career prospects.

    Still, Xiao Yang seemed to enjoy itโ€”making himself coffee during slow hours, sitting by the window reading old books.

    Zou Yang took a sip and watched people passing by.

    A hand appeared from behind him, placing a pink flower next to his coffee.

    It had a faint fragranceโ€”but before he could notice it, the smell of sauerkraut pork overpowered everything.

    Zou Yang laughed, turning to see Fan Jun.

    โ€œGetting romantic now?โ€ he said, taking the food box.

    โ€œLeftover from decorating the wedding car,โ€ Fan Jun sat beside him. โ€œIt smells nice, right?โ€

    โ€œAll I smell is sauerkraut pork,โ€ Zou Yang said, opening the containersโ€”rice and steamed dumplings.

    โ€œHungry?โ€ Fan Jun asked.

    โ€œStarving,โ€ Zou Yang stuffed a dumpling into his mouth. โ€œEverything ready over there?โ€

    โ€œYeah. Liu Wenrui and the others are supervising the setup. Thereโ€™s an issue with the sound systemโ€”theyโ€™re fixing it.โ€

    Zou Yang nodded and started eating.

    โ€œTaste good?โ€

    โ€œYeah. Same old tasteโ€ฆ once this place gets demolished, itโ€™ll all disappear, right?โ€

    โ€œSome shops will relocate, some will just close,โ€ Fan Jun said. โ€œTheyโ€™ve been around for decadesโ€”some might just retire.โ€

    โ€œUncle Lu can retire too,โ€ Zou Yang said.

    โ€œHe wonโ€™t,โ€ Fan Jun smiled. โ€œHeโ€™ll definitely go help Lu Ze.โ€

    And Mom would go with him.

    That meantโ€ฆ everyone would leave Nanzhouping.

    Thatโ€™s probably why they wanted to hold the wedding here.

    For Mom, it wasnโ€™t about a place.

    But for Uncle Luโ€”it was.

    These streets, neighbors, marketsโ€ฆ once demolished, theyโ€™d only exist in memory.

    Zou Yang glanced at Fan Jun.

    It felt strangeโ€”this old district heโ€™d never cared about before now held someone like Fan Jun.

    A whole part of his life.

    Even his momโ€™s wedding.


    โ€œNot doing full makeup, just fixing your hairโ€”youโ€™re wearing suits, you canโ€™t keep your usual hairstyle!โ€ Rongrong held a spray bottle.

    โ€œOkay.โ€ Fan Jun sat down.

    โ€œHey, weโ€™re wearing suits too,โ€ Liu Wenrui protested.

    โ€œIโ€™ll do all of you, relax,โ€ Rongrong said. โ€œBut wowโ€”you guys look so different. I barely recognized you.โ€

    โ€œRight?โ€ Zhang Chuanlong flicked his hair.

    Their suits werenโ€™t custom, but Zou Yang paid for them, and Liu Wenrui carefully picked themโ€”high-end but low-key.

    As long as they didnโ€™t speak, they actually looked decent.

    Rongrong styled Fan Junโ€™s hair upward, shaping it carefully.

    โ€œDamn,โ€ Liu Wenrui stared. โ€œYou look kinda cool, Brother Fan.โ€

    โ€œโ€ฆYeah,โ€ Fan Jun replied.

    โ€œNext!โ€ Rongrong waved. โ€œZou Yang.โ€

    Zou Yang sat down. She immediately pushed his hair back.

    โ€œHuh?โ€ He froze, instinctively trying to dodge.

    โ€œHolyโ€”โ€ Liu Wenrui stared again.

    โ€œSo handsome,โ€ Li Zhiyue said. โ€œDid you get those thin-frame glasses for this look?โ€

    โ€œIโ€™ve had them for a while,โ€ Zou Yang said.

    โ€œFeels weird?โ€ Rongrong asked.

    โ€œYeah,โ€ Zou Yang admitted. He usually only styled his hair like this after showeringโ€”it made him feel like a villain.

    โ€œTrust me, it looks good,โ€ Rongrong said, glancing at Fan Jun.

    โ€œYeah,โ€ Fan Jun nodded.

    With his forehead fully exposed, Zou Yangโ€™s sharp, bold features stood out completely.

    Fan Jun quietly took out his phone.

    Zou Yang glanced at him and smirked.

    Click click click.

    โ€œWhereโ€™s the champion?โ€ Liu Wenrui asked. โ€œShouldnโ€™t he get styled too? Heโ€™s the biological son.โ€

    โ€œShut up,โ€ Zhang Chuanlong said.

    โ€œThis is the only one whoโ€™s not the biological son,โ€ Fan Jun joked.

    They immediately started arguing.

    Fan Jun didnโ€™t mind.

    Heโ€™d always known he wasnโ€™t a biological sonโ€”but the care he received was no less.

    If anything, moments like thisโ€”everyone joking freelyโ€”felt more comfortable.

    Zou Yang leaned in and whispered, โ€œTheyโ€™re just like thatโ€ฆโ€

    โ€œI know,โ€ Fan Jun said softly.

    โ€œBesides,โ€ Zou Yang added, โ€œyouโ€™ve got me.โ€

    Fan Jun raised an eyebrow. โ€œWhat, planning to become your uncleโ€™s dad?โ€

    Zou Yang frozeโ€”then burst out laughing.


    โ€œLetโ€™s go!โ€ Liu Wenrui shouted.

    They stepped out like a squad.

    The cars were ready.

    After picking up Uncle Lu, theyโ€™d go get Mom, loop around the neighborhood, then head to the hotel.

    The courtyard was packed with neighbors and kidsโ€”noise everywhere.

    Zou Yang felt overwhelmed.

    Fan Jun, however, calmly organized everythingโ€”assigning people to cars, coordinating smoothly.

    Then he snapped his fingers in front of Zou Yang.

    โ€œGet in.โ€

    Zou Yang snapped out of it and laughed.


    After picking up Mom, they switched driversโ€”Zou Yang drove, Mom sat in front.

    She wore a soft pink qipao with light blue embroidery.

    โ€œLooks beautiful,โ€ Zou Yang said.

    โ€œIt does, right?โ€ she smiled. โ€œI was worried itโ€™d look too young.โ€

    โ€œAs long as you like itโ€”even at eighty, itโ€™d still suit you,โ€ Uncle Lu said.

    โ€œFlatterer,โ€ she laughed.

    โ€œMom,โ€ Zou Yang tapped the wheel, โ€œhowโ€™s the car?โ€

    โ€œItโ€™s niceโ€ฆ roomyโ€ฆ wait, are you buying one like this?โ€

    โ€œI already did,โ€ Zou Yang smiled.

    โ€œโ€ฆWhat?โ€ She turned around.

    โ€œFor you.โ€

    Silence.

    Thenโ€”

    โ€œPaper, quick!โ€ Lu Ze panicked. โ€œYour makeupโ€”โ€

    Zou Yang glanced over.

    His momโ€™s eyes were already red, filled with tears.

    โ€œDonโ€™t cry yet,โ€ Uncle Lu pressed tissues to her eyes. โ€œYouโ€™ll need a touch-up laterโ€ฆโ€

    โ€œMm.โ€ She nodded.

    Zou Yang suddenly felt his own nose sting.

    He swallowed it down.


    At the venue, everything was ready.

    When Mom walked down the aisle, steady and gracefulโ€”

    Zou Yangโ€™s tears came anyway.

    Fan Jun squeezed his hand.

    He squeezed back.

    Thenโ€”

    โ€œNow, our angel Xiao Bai will bring the rings!โ€

    โ€œDog! Dog!โ€ Zou Yang panicked.

    Fan Jun quickly sent Xiao Bai down the aisle.

    The dog walked proudly, delivering the rings.

    As the rings were exchanged, Zou Yang leaned against Fan Jun.

    โ€œIt feels strange,โ€ he said softly. โ€œFrom now onโ€ฆ my mom and Uncle Lu are a family.โ€

    โ€œI know,โ€ Fan Jun wrapped an arm around him. โ€œItโ€™s okay. From now on, you and I are a family too.โ€

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