Sit Softly On Your Shoulder

Chapter 42: Second Wedding

Guests and family arrive in Yiling, ready to celebrate the second wedding by the first week in October. Lan Qiren takes a look around at the Wen house, the flat above the shop and the surrounding area for a suitable hotel and ends up buying a whole new house.

"Consider it a wedding present," he gruffly tells Lan Zhan and Wei Ying, after he's signed the contract. "After the wedding, we will go back home. But the flat above the shop is not suitable for my grandson to thrive in. Little children need a garden to run around in, pets to play with. You can move in after your honeymoon."

"Shufu," Lan Zhan glances at Wei Ying, who has pushed him forward. "We cannot ask Mianmian, I mean, Luo QingYang, to step in again. There will be no honeymoon this time."

"Last time, you chose to make your honeymoon into a fabric buying event. This time, XiChen and his husbands-to-be will stand in for both of you. It will be fine!" He glowers at them over his glasses. "I cannot believe that old bat beat me to it, paying for the wedding just like that! Flowers? Paid for! Catering? Sorted! Guest list? Organised! So we are doing this! And when she comes over, just see if I let her beat me again at Go! I've been practicing!" He stomps off as if this is the end of the conversation.

Wei Ying wraps his arms around Lan Zhan's waist, hooking his chin over his shoulder.

"Your family sure knows how to go over the top," Wei Ying muses.

They're standing in front of a townhouse, and just from here, Wei Ying can count at least five bedrooms from the front windows.

"Dare we let them loose on our poor unsuspecting customers?" He snickers.

"Mn." Lan Zhan thinks about that day last month when he was tested for patience. "It will teach them to appreciate us."

Wei Ying stares at him for a few seconds before dissolving into giggles. "Let's go see inside our new home, then."

They get to the door and Wei Ying yelps when Lan Zhan suddenly picks him up, carrying him over the threshold like a princess.

"It's tradition," Lan Zhan tells him unrepentantly, smirking at his open mouthed shock. Of course, they spend valuable time christening other surfaces too, just because.

This time, they're going to get married exactly how they want to. Shufu might have given them a circus of an event, but in their minds, this wedding will be their real one.

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

A beautiful crisp morning awaits them on the Sunday of their wedding. Lan Zhan flatly refused to part from Wei Ying, even though everyone wanted them to meet at the temple. They are wearing their wedding robes from Suzhou, but both have elected to keep only the inner four robes on and not wear the overly elaborate top layers.

However, Wei Ying makes Lan Zhan wear a simple cotton hanfu layer underneath so they still have five layers, four being inauspicious. As for himself, he has a special gift prepared that he's wearing on the inside, waiting for Lan Zhan to unwrap for himself. This idea came about when Lan Zhan refused to tell him what his chosen wedding gift was going to be, so Wei Ying decided to make it a secret as well.

"After the wedding, before the feast, I would like to go somewhere. Will Wei Ying come with me?"

"Of course, my love." Wei Ying moves towards him, sliding into Lan Zhan's arms straight away.

This place, Lan Zhan thinks, has always been meant for him. His arms tighten as he buries his nose in Wei Ying's neck, planting the first of many kisses in that sensitive spot and relishing the way it makes his husband tremble. He loves the way they fit together as one, the way the soft but firm skin of Wei Ying's waist feels under his hands, and he wonders if, were he to stretch his fingers if they would span right around his slimness?