Sit Softly On Your Shoulder

Chapter 43: Private Surprise

The wedding feast goes exactly as planned except for one surprise; Lan Qiren has managed to find a distant relative who happens to live nearby, and so an invitation to the wedding feast was extended and replied to with an affirmation. Lan Wofeng and his wife, Chen Yi arrive with their three year old son, Lan JingYi. He immediately makes a beeline for A-Yuan and the two little boys begin babbling together as if they'd known each other for ages.

“A-Xian, you'll have to drink for me,” Jiang YanLi insists, when she and Jin ZiXuan make their rounds.

Wei Ying accepts her offer and glares at her husband even as he's making space on the chair next to him for his sister to take the weight off her feet. “How are you feeling, Jie-Jie?” Wei Ying takes her hand, looking into her amethyst eyes. Jiang Cheng saunters up to them, awkwardly standing next to her.

“I'm just starting to show properly,” she says proudly, taking their joined hands and placing them on her tummy.

“Hello, little one,” Wei Ying says, looking down at it fondly, and then gasping when he feels a sudden pressure.

“He's kicking,” Jiang YanLi tells him, her eyes shining with delight.

“I'm not surprised,” Jiang Cheng blurts out but doesn't finish his sentence, and yet because Wei Ying knows exactly what he means, he laughs, the sound surprised out of his mouth. Jiang Cheng looks pleased though his scowl stays the same.

“A-Xian, we have some more news,” Jiang YanLi confides in him. “Back home, well, A-Xuan asked for a London transfer. It's been approved and we're signing off on a house not too far from here. That means–”

“Oh My God! Jie-Jie! You're staying???” Wei Ying throws his arms around her and pulls her into a strong hug, both of them unable to contain their delight. It's impossible not to feel happy just looking at both of them together.

Lan Zhan watches the way Jin ZiXuan smiles and then hides his expression by looking away, while Jiang Cheng discreetly wipes his eyes as if he's angry about them betraying his feelings out in the open. He's happy too, because he knows that Wei Ying has always missed his siblings, but the opportunity to meet with them had been forever shadowed under the rule of Madam Yu and her homophobia. If Jiang YanLi and her family stay in the UK, then Wei Ying will have many occasions to visit his sister, Lan Zhan will make sure of it.

Too soon it feels like, and then it's time for the newlyweds to leave.

The monks have given them an archway decorated with white peonies to walk through, and then their well wishers serenade the grooms with white and silver star confetti and rice for good luck as they run towards the white Rolls Royce that will take them to Heathrow airport. Lan Zhan has made sure their luggage is already in the boot of the car. Cheers and laughter fade away, muffled by the closing of the car door and then they're on their way.

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

It's a tour of Europe, and Lan Zhan has pushed for two weeks to spend on their honeymoon, agreed to by Lan Qiren on behalf of three young men eager to marry each other (and who have no retail service industry experience whatsoever). That next wedding will take place in the following spring, back in Suzhou.

For now, Wei Ying looks out across Paris, yellow lights glistening in a carpet of gold and red below them, his excited face pressed up against the cold glass window staring at the Eiffel Tower in the distance. Behind him, Lan Zhan is seeing the bell boy out after he's helped with their suitcases.

“Husband,” Lan Zhan’s firm hard chest meets his back as his arms wrap around Wei Ying’s waist, pulling him closer. “Do you want to go out to eat?” His hot breath next to Wei Ying’s ear makes him tremble.