DLRAS Chapter 151

Chapter 151: Do you like the seaside?

During their casual chat, the topic drifted to Chen and Huo’s plans to hold another wedding ceremony within the country.

Yu Shanding emerged from the back after temporarily changing into a pair of trousers. Those trousers had been fashioned by Grandma Zhou from a piece of cloth she cut herself; they were as baggy as a sack. Yet, he paid no mind to his image. Tugging at the elastic waistband, he enthusiastically offered his counsel: “I’m familiar with this; I’ve got experience. When is the wedding date?”

Chen Wengang smiled with a touch of embarrassment. “We haven’t decided… Actually, we haven’t thought that far ahead yet.”

“You have to figure that out early!” Yu Shanding counted on his fingers. “Let me break it down for you to see what needs to be prepared. First of all, setting a budget is essential—” He glanced at Huo Niansheng. “Of course, for Boss Huo, budget isn’t an issue, so we can maximize every single detail to achieve absolute perfection. Also, you need to scout venues in advance; looking into the environment, audio systems, and lighting six months to a year ahead isn’t considered early at all. Speaking of booking a venue, you first have to find a master to calculate an auspicious date, not to mention drawing up the guest list and deciding how many banquet tables to set…”

Grandma Zhou slapped her grandson on the back of his head. “Look at you, rattling on and on. Why do you have such a loose tongue?”

Cradling his head, Yu Shanding still felt wronged. “Old lady, look outside. Which family doesn’t do it this way when organizing a wedding?”

Everyone burst into laughter again.

Grandma Zhou massaged her waist and sat down. “In our time, it was nothing more than a blind marriage arranged by matchmakers. It felt like we just listened to whatever others arranged. Once you reached the right age, it was time to leave the house. You’d take two feet of red silk cloth to sew a bridal gown, and the moment it was finished, you were carried across the threshold. From then on, you raised children, and an entire lifetime passed just like that.” Her tone shifted as she launched a sudden assault on Yu Shanding, “Why don’t you think about yourself? When are you going to bring back a granddaughter-in-law for me?”

Chen Wengang smiled as well, lowering his head to sip a spoonful of sweet soup.

Huo Niansheng, who had originally been playing with his phone, tapped it a few times before suddenly placing it in front of Chen Wengang, the screen illuminated: “Take a look. Which one do you like?”

Surprised, Chen Wengang extended a finger to swipe through it a few times. “You’ve already researched this?”

Resting his head on one hand, Huo Niansheng raised an eyebrow slightly. He teasingly chucked Chen Wengang under the chin and nudged the phone forward a bit more.

Holding the spoon in his mouth, Chen Wengang paid no heed to Huo Niansheng’s dog-coaxing gesture, his attention entirely captivated by the screen.

Displayed inside were various wedding themes. The styles devised by modern wedding planning teams could truly be described as multifaceted and diverse—romantic themes, traditional themes, forest themes, and rustic themes. Driven by curiosity, Lu Chenlong leaned over to look along with them: “So many? I can’t even take them all in.”

Chen Wengang also seemed dazed by the dazzling array, his eyes darting back and forth in hesitation.

Huo Niansheng placed a hand on the back of Chen Wengang’s neck. “Take your time picking, there’s no rush.”

On their way back after finishing the sweet soup, the night sky was thoroughly dark. The streetlamps extended forward one by one, causing the shadows beneath their feet to continuously shorten and lengthen. Across from them was a night market; with a sizzling sound, someone was tossing a wok, and the air was laced with a smoky aroma blended from various fragrances of bustling life.

Chen Wengang held Huo Niansheng’s hand while Huo Niansheng held Harley’s leash. They bid farewell to their friends and neighbors one by one, finally arriving at their own home to tidy up their things and draw water for a bath.

After blowing his hair dry, Chen Wengang lay prone at the head of the bed. Having changed into his pajamas, he was still studying Huo Niansheng’s phone.

Compared to the previous ceremony, which had been put together in a muddle, he was finally experiencing the anxieties of fretting over his own marriage, and this was merely the beginning. The romantic theme was currently the most popular, featuring fresh and elegant decorations; however, the primary color palette consisted mostly of macaron tones—either pink, aqua blue, or purple—which felt a bit too dreamlike. The traditional theme was suited for couples fond of traditional culture; the gold-and-red textures along with dragon, phoenix, flower, and bird motifs were sufficiently magnificent, solemn, and grand, but the phoenix coronet and ceremonial robes were truly too extravagant, so he decided against it. As for the forest theme and the rustic theme, one returned to nature while the other sang a pastoral idyll; the green color aligned with nature, simple yet vibrant, so they could be placed into the category for consideration…

Leaning beside him, Huo Niansheng was instead flipping through the old photo album from Chen Wengang’s family.

This album contained quite a few photographs from Chen Wengang’s childhood. He had already looked through them many times. Flipping from the back to the front, the time grew more remote and the age grew smaller. Chen Wengang in primary school, in kindergarten, at his one-month celebration banquet, in swaddling clothes… Further back, there was even a picture from when he was still inside his mother’s belly. Huo Niansheng looked at the pregnant woman dressed in loose clothing and smiled; her expression was soft and gentle, indicating she must have been a good mother.

Chen Wengang turned his head to glance at what he was doing but didn’t pay it much mind.

During his parents’ era, most photographs were taken using film, leaving behind very few images, the majority of which were preserved here. On the second page of the album, there was also a photograph printed with the words “Commemoration of Marriage Registration.” The groom was clad in a smart suit, while the bride didn’t wear a wedding dress but instead wore a white dress, her young face beautiful and tender. They were posing for a photo on a breakwater, with the boundless sea stretching out behind them.

The frame was adorned with a few small sailing boats and a lighthouse painted in red and white. The photograph was old, and the white portions had already faded into yellow.

He didn’t know where they had gone that day after completing their registration—whether they had found a place to enjoy a grand meal or had other recreational arrangements.

Meanwhile, Chen Wengang finally paused at a theme titled “Sea Mist Love Letter.” He stared at it for a moment and let out a yawn, yet he delayed swiping to the next image. Huo Niansheng closed the photo album, leaning his head over to join him: “This one looks quite good.”

Chen Wengang tilted his head up to ask him, “You like holding the ceremony by the sea?”

Huo Niansheng smiled and said, “As long as it’s romantic enough, I’ll like it. Let’s go with this one then.”

With almost no procrastination or hesitation, the wedding theme was decided early on.

Huo Niansheng’s assistant, Amanda, was highly efficient. The very next day, she contacted a well-known wedding planner who managed their own professional team and catered exclusively to high-net-worth clients. This planner had orchestrated numerous weddings for the city’s top-tier wealthy individuals, where money was burned by the minute, and the visual records left behind were exceedingly brilliant. They held a meeting, and the planner proved to be professional and thorough, readily agreeing to all of the clients’ requests without a single objection. They even stated that if the clients changed their minds during the preparation period, anything from the theme style to the wedding schedule could be replaced at any time.

Two days later, Chen Wengang accompanied Huo Niansheng back to the old Huo family residence.

Huo Zhenfei was wearing casual loungewear, having just woken up from a catch-up sleep after working overtime through the night.

He plonked himself down onto a high stool in front of the bar counter, sinking into silent contemplation. Huo Niansheng sat opposite him, pouring him a glass of wine.

Huo Zhenfei seemed to finally snap awake, casting a glance at him.

This glance felt as though time were flowing backward, returning to the days when the two cousins used to drink together, except there was an additional person beside them now.

Huo Niansheng poured wine into Chen Wengang’s glass as well. Chen Wengang smiled faintly and raised his glass in a gesture toward Huo Zhenfei.

His profile was reflected on the adjacent glass panel. Huo Zhenfei studied Chen Wengang’s reflection; when this man looked down, his eyes were lowered and his expression meek, appearing perfectly compliant, but the moment he raised his eyes, his resolve was absolute—it was hard to tell who held the upper hand between him and Huo Niansheng.

The three of them drank together. Once they had finished two glasses, Huo Zhenfei finally redirected his gaze to Huo Niansheng: “Thank you for still remembering to inform me.”

Huo Niansheng smiled in his usual cynical manner. “It’s only right, don’t mention it.”

Huo Zhenfei set his glass down hard on the counter and took a breath. “No matter how you mess around or act willfully abroad, that’s your own business. Within the country, countless pairs of eyes are trained on you; you must carefully consider the impact of your every action. So why go through the trouble of organizing a wedding?”

Huo Niansheng laughed. “Why, are you worried it will be too shabby, and others will think I’ve failed to secure a share of the family estate?”

Huo Zhenfei glared at him. “Don’t talk nonsense. Are you actually serious, or did you just run over here to tease me?”

Huo Niansheng maintained his playful grin. “Serious, of course I’m serious.” He continued, “It won’t be organized shabbily, nor will it be overly grand, and it won’t be held publicly. Happy now? If you have any other requirements, voice them all at once.”

Just as Huo Zhenfei brought the glass to his lips, a loud clatter echoed from the living room, causing a mouthful of wine to almost choke his windpipe.

Turning his head to look, the culprit was his precious son—Huo Yuxiang had grown significantly taller, his small face had lost its baby fat, and he had developed a rebellious streak. Incensed over some dispute with his parent, he slammed his scooter onto the floor upon entering the house.

Huo Zhenfei reprimanded him, “Just because I said a few words about your homework, what are you throwing a tantrum for?”

Huo Yuxiang shrank his neck, his courage to resist instantly halving.

Huo Niansheng smiled and waved at him: “Hey there, little handsome guy, come over.”

Taking advantage of the guests’ presence, Huo Yuxiang ran over, placing both hands on the bar counter as he hopped onto a high stool.

He tilted his head up to look at the three adults, apparently finding the sensation of joining in highly novel, and demanded something to drink as well.

Regardless of Huo Zhenfei’s expression, Huo Niansheng gestured, and a helper quickly approached to pour a glass of cola for Huo Yuxiang.

He looked up to ask his uncle, “You’re getting married? At my age, can I still be a page boy?”

Huo Niansheng gestured with a smile toward his father’s direction. “Don’t ask me, I’m still seeking permission myself.”

Huo Zhenfei pinched his brow. “The adults are speaking, what are you joining in the mischief for?”

Huo Yuxiang actually admired Huo Niansheng quite a bit, and even spoke up on his behalf: “Are you trying to stop Uncle from getting married?”

He suddenly realized something and asked Chen Wengang in surprise, “You guys aren’t married yet? I thought you were already a family long ago!”

Huo Zhenfei knit his brows. “Who is stopping him? With you lot, which one of you can I actually control? Do whatever you want.”

The atmosphere became somewhat stiff for a moment. Huo Niansheng was never one to fear chaos and never worried about his cousin’s blood pressure rising. Huo Yuxiang, on the other hand, was slightly worried about facing a reckoning later. Fortunately, Chen Wengang cracked a couple of jokes to bail him out, allowing the tension to ease somewhat.

Huo Zhenfei pinched the bridge of his nose and brought up a couple of matters regarding the company and the family, before finally settling the focus on Huo Yuxiang’s studies. Huo Yuxiang’s schoolwork was actually decent; he just hadn’t secured the absolute top positions. Ultimately, it was his father who was too tightly wound. Although Huo Yuxiang flashed a defiant look, he was also discerning of the situation, stopping his provocation right there. He finished his cola and dragged Chen Wengang to the garden to play.

As the summer break neared its end, Chen Wengang’s doctoral supervisor was scheduled to return from abroad to stay for a brief period and guide the newly recruited batch of students.

Just as he was preparing for the start of the academic term, he received a phone call from his two nephews, Chen Guangzong and Chen Yaozu. They mentioned that the Mid-Autumn Festival was fast approaching and that their parents had prepared delicious food, inviting him over to their home as a guest. Naturally, it was obvious at first listen that these words had been rehearsed under their parents’ instruction.

Chen Wengang had kept his uncle and aunt at arm’s length for a period, paying them no mind. Chen Xiangling was far away abroad, and whenever her phone was switched off, her excuse was always a poor signal, leaving her parents unable to reach her no matter how much they tried. After turning it over in their minds, they realized the sole breakthrough point was tied to Chen Wengang.

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