FF CH111
by DewdropTLChapter 111: Momโs Wedding (Part 2)
Extra 2
The car they bought for Mom had arrived.
Fan Jun hid it in the empty lot behind Sister Xiao Yiโs 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 Nanzhoupingโsince theyโd 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 furnitureโtables, chairs, sofasโleft 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 plantsโmostly roses, and half-dead vegetablesโmostly 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 wouldnโt be back until the afternoon.
After finishing his own lesson plan and fixing Liu Wenruiโs, 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 wasnโt huge yet, but there were plenty of visitors.
โChunliโ (Spring Within).
The name He Chuan chose.
Spring wind, spring flowers, spring sunlight, spring rainโฆ spring within.
The calligraphy was written by Zou Yangโnot because He Chuan thought his handwriting was amazing, but because it was free.
Coffee wasnโt the main businessโjust a small section with a few tables and sofas. The main focus was still He Chuanโs original trade.
Some items were from his own collection; others were brought by Zou Yangโantique 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 sayโฆ 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 shopโs only employeeโbarista Xiao Yangโbrought him a coffee.
He Chuan hadnโt wanted to hire anyone, but none of them knew how to make coffee, so he reluctantly hired one.
To make it โworth it,โ Xiao Yang also had to handle customers browsing antiques.
โHeโs a college student too, studying ancient history,โ He Chuan had said proudly. โPerfect fit.โ
Every time Zou Yang thought about that, he questioned their entire dormโs career prospects.
Still, Xiao Yang seemed to enjoy itโmaking 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 fragranceโbut before he could notice it, the smell of sauerkraut pork overpowered everything.
Zou Yang laughed, turning to see Fan Jun.
โGetting romantic now?โ he said, taking the food box.
โLeftover from decorating the wedding car,โ Fan Jun sat beside him. โIt smells nice, right?โ
โAll I smell is sauerkraut pork,โ Zou Yang said, opening the containersโrice and steamed dumplings.
โHungry?โ Fan Jun asked.
โStarving,โ Zou Yang stuffed a dumpling into his mouth. โEverything ready over there?โ
โYeah. Liu Wenrui and the others are supervising the setup. Thereโs an issue with the sound systemโtheyโre fixing it.โ
Zou Yang nodded and started eating.
โTaste good?โ
โYeah. Same old tasteโฆ once this place gets demolished, itโll all disappear, right?โ
โSome shops will relocate, some will just close,โ Fan Jun said. โTheyโve been around for decadesโsome might just retire.โ
โUncle Lu can retire too,โ Zou Yang said.
โHe wonโt,โ Fan Jun smiled. โHeโll definitely go help Lu Ze.โ
And Mom would go with him.
That meantโฆ everyone would leave Nanzhouping.
Thatโs probably why they wanted to hold the wedding here.
For Mom, it wasnโt about a place.
But for Uncle Luโit was.
These streets, neighbors, marketsโฆ once demolished, theyโd only exist in memory.
Zou Yang glanced at Fan Jun.
It felt strangeโthis old district heโd never cared about before now held someone like Fan Jun.
A whole part of his life.
Even his momโs wedding.
โNot doing full makeup, just fixing your hairโyouโre wearing suits, you canโt keep your usual hairstyle!โ Rongrong held a spray bottle.
โOkay.โ Fan Jun sat down.
โHey, weโre wearing suits too,โ Liu Wenrui protested.
โIโll do all of you, relax,โ Rongrong said. โBut wowโyou guys look so different. I barely recognized you.โ
โRight?โ Zhang Chuanlong flicked his hair.
Their suits werenโt custom, but Zou Yang paid for them, and Liu Wenrui carefully picked themโhigh-end but low-key.
As long as they didnโt speak, they actually looked decent.
Rongrong styled Fan Junโs hair upward, shaping it carefully.
โDamn,โ Liu Wenrui stared. โYou look kinda cool, Brother Fan.โ
โโฆYeah,โ Fan Jun replied.
โNext!โ Rongrong waved. โZou Yang.โ
Zou Yang sat down. She immediately pushed his hair back.
โHuh?โ He froze, instinctively trying to dodge.
โHolyโโ Liu Wenrui stared again.
โSo handsome,โ Li Zhiyue said. โDid you get those thin-frame glasses for this look?โ
โIโve had them for a while,โ Zou Yang said.
โFeels weird?โ Rongrong asked.
โYeah,โ Zou Yang admitted. He usually only styled his hair like this after showeringโit made him feel like a villain.
โTrust me, it looks good,โ Rongrong said, glancing at Fan Jun.
โYeah,โ Fan Jun nodded.
With his forehead fully exposed, Zou Yangโs sharp, bold features stood out completely.
Fan Jun quietly took out his phone.
Zou Yang glanced at him and smirked.
Click click click.
โWhereโs the champion?โ Liu Wenrui asked. โShouldnโt he get styled too? Heโs the biological son.โ
โShut up,โ Zhang Chuanlong said.
โThis is the only one whoโs not the biological son,โ Fan Jun joked.
They immediately started arguing.
Fan Jun didnโt mind.
Heโd always known he wasnโt a biological sonโbut the care he received was no less.
If anything, moments like thisโeveryone joking freelyโfelt more comfortable.
Zou Yang leaned in and whispered, โTheyโre just like thatโฆโ
โI know,โ Fan Jun said softly.
โBesides,โ Zou Yang added, โyouโve got me.โ
Fan Jun raised an eyebrow. โWhat, planning to become your uncleโs dad?โ
Zou Yang frozeโthen burst out laughing.
โLetโs go!โ Liu Wenrui shouted.
They stepped out like a squad.
The cars were ready.
After picking up Uncle Lu, theyโd go get Mom, loop around the neighborhood, then head to the hotel.
The courtyard was packed with neighbors and kidsโnoise everywhere.
Zou Yang felt overwhelmed.
Fan Jun, however, calmly organized everythingโassigning people to cars, coordinating smoothly.
Then he snapped his fingers in front of Zou Yang.
โGet in.โ
Zou Yang snapped out of it and laughed.
After picking up Mom, they switched driversโZou Yang drove, Mom sat in front.
She wore a soft pink qipao with light blue embroidery.
โLooks beautiful,โ Zou Yang said.
โIt does, right?โ she smiled. โI was worried itโd look too young.โ
โAs long as you like itโeven at eighty, itโd still suit you,โ Uncle Lu said.
โFlatterer,โ she laughed.
โMom,โ Zou Yang tapped the wheel, โhowโs the car?โ
โItโs niceโฆ roomyโฆ wait, are you buying one like this?โ
โI already did,โ Zou Yang smiled.
โโฆWhat?โ She turned around.
โFor you.โ
Silence.
Thenโ
โPaper, quick!โ Lu Ze panicked. โYour makeupโโ
Zou Yang glanced over.
His momโs eyes were already red, filled with tears.
โDonโt cry yet,โ Uncle Lu pressed tissues to her eyes. โYouโll need a touch-up laterโฆโ
โMm.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 Yangโs tears came anyway.
Fan Jun squeezed his hand.
He squeezed back.
Thenโ
โNow, our angel Xiao Bai will bring the rings!โ
โDog! 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.
โIt feels strange,โ he said softly. โFrom now onโฆ my mom and Uncle Lu are a family.โ
โI know,โ Fan Jun wrapped an arm around him. โItโs okay. From now on, you and I are a family too.โ

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