Sit Softly On Your Shoulder

Chapter 33: The Big Day

There's a bell ringing somewhere close by, and Wei Ying's hand is flung outside of the blanket to switch the infernal noise off so he can go back to sleep. But as soon as one unholy racket stops, another begins, and this time, it's his phone. Unfortunately, it's the ringtone he's saved for Lan Zhan, another favorite song called Spotlight.

But it's definitely too upbeat for the first thing in the morning.

However, Wei Ying cannot ignore the person calling him.

He picks up on the fourth ring.

"'Lo?" Wei Ying's free hand wipes at his crusty eyes, yawning.

"Wei Ying." There's that lovely deep voice in his ear as Wei Ying struggles to pull himself out of the comforting bliss of slumber.

"Hm?" He yawns again.

"A-Ying, it's time to wake up," Lan Zhan tells him, fond amusement in his voice.

"Five more minutes."

"Wei Ying, today is an important day. You cannot be late."

Wei Ying sits up suddenly, and realisation crashes into his conscious brain with the impact of a shattering glacier. "Lan Zhan!" he shouts, "We're getting married today!"

There's a small huff of laughter on the other end. "Mn."

***************

Wen Qing has graciously run him a bath with express instructions not to take too long, and not to wash his hair properly. (When he asked why, she said freshly washed hair is harder to style, being much more slippery to deal with.) Thirty minutes later, Wei Ying is opening his front door, dressed in a fluffy red bathrobe, to Mianmian, who gives him a warm hug.

But she's not alone.

The makeup team is just behind her, followed by yesterday's assistants from the couture place, and behind them, there's a long, long line of red and gold uniformed staff bearing gifts.

"Come on, you've got more important things to do than gawk at them," Mianmian warns him, and pushes him inwards as Wen Popo replaces Wei Ying at the door.

"What the fuck?" Wei Ying tries to pick his jaw up from the floor, and Mianmian just laughs, shoving him up the stairs.

"No time, A-Ying! But people, bystanders really, have already started live streaming the event online. I'm following one of them, and when you're ready, I'll show you."

Everyone begins to organise themselves in the spare room; several of the staff begin setting up the dresser with the mirror and the portable lights, another few start setting up pins, brushes, and makeup bottles and containers, while the people from the couture house lay out the familiar-looking white boxes that Wei Ying saw yesterday, on the bed.

Wei Ying is pushed into the wheelie chair and many hands begin their task for today. Only when Mianmian thinks she won't get in her way does she put her phone in front of Wei Ying.

"What are you doing here, anyway?" he asks her as he tries to make sense of what he's being made to watch.

"Guo Da Li. Uncle Qiren expresses his regret for the delay, but hopes you understand." Mianmian smirks, winking at him.

Today, she's wearing a deep forest green lace dress with see-through sleeves, the fabric flowers cut out contrasting with her pale skin. Her makeup is on point as she leans towards him, and that's when Wei Ying notices the pine tree painted next to her left eye.

"Couldn't resist, huh?" He smirks at her, lamenting her extraordinary quirky taste.

"Listen, I'm an artist!" She exclaims, grinning back. "Congratulations for today, A-Ying. And to answer your question, I went to meet with the Lans first. The bridal gift procession was just leaving the Lan manor so I came with. I got invites from both sides and so I'm shamelessly going to take advantage of that." Her eyes widened at the numbers on the side leaping into triple and then quadruple figures. "Wow, A-Ying! I didn't think you were that popular!"