"Elder De. Few years before we decided to do something. Does it still stand?!" Elder Zan asked.
Both of them talking over phone.
"Yes. It does." Elder De answered.
"Mm... Then my granddaughter will be back tomorrow."
"Okay. Then we will meet the very next day she comes."
"Mm.... Okay. Then will meet."
Both of them hung up the call.
Elder De called them called De Longjun....
***
Zan Guiying looked in the mirror. The yellow cheongsam hung to her body, showing her small waist. The pearl earrings also suited her. Is he wants to take a family photo? But the cheongsam suits me very well!! She blew a kiss and wore the new sandals gifted by her grandfather.
When she reached outside, everyone is waiting for her.
"I knew it. Our Yingying will look good in everything." Elder Zan came and hugged her.
"Thanks grandpa. But where are we going?!" She asked. 'You look good.' She mouthed to her siblings.
They both smiled.
"Where we are going... Its a surprise." Grandpa Zan put his hands on her shoulder and slowly pushed her.
She looked at her parents.
They also shook their head. Even we doesn't know.....
All of them sat in the car. The car drove off outside the the villa.
***
Hotel Indigo.
De Longjun read the board. He was wearing a yellow changshan. The dress was given to him in the morning. With an instruction to wear it. Who is I am going to see today? Is he arranging a blind date for me? De Longjun already smelled some part of it. But it was the first time his grandfather told him to come to a meeting. So he had to.
He walked inside. There was no other customers in the restaurant. The whole restaurant is pre booked..... But he didn't think he would meet his family there.
"Brother Longjun." De Genji called him.
They all are wearing traditional dress.
"Brother. Do you know what is happening?!" De Hua asked.
"No." He answered.
"Come and sit here." Grandpa Zan instructed.
De Longjun sat down. "Grandpa. Its the first time you called me for something like this. Next time, I won't be coming."
"Who said there would be next time?!" Grandpa De asked. He looked at his watch. "Oh they will be here now!!"
The staff opened the room's door. Everyone looked at the door. Elder Zan was the first one to enter the room.
De Longjun looked at the door intently. All of the family members slowly walked inside. With them, at last..... The person entered.... The person he missed every night and day.... A person who he wanted to hug.... Bury his nose inside her hair... Zan Guiying....
Yingying.... You are back.....
Zan Guiying looked up. Inside the room was the person she longed to see the most.... In those group of people, Zan Guiying's eyes only saw the person she tried hard to forget....
De Longjun.....
Big brother Jun....
Time stopped.... Both of them looked at each other.... Their eyes locked.... Stuck in the moment....
"Welcome..... In-laws..." Elder De stood up and smiled.
In-laws?
All of them looked at each other....
Zan Guiying and De Longjun broke their eye contact and looked at their respective grandparents.
"Little Yingying.... You and De Longjun..... Do you agree for the marriage?!" Elder De asked.
"WHAT?! MARRIAGE?!" Shocked, Zan Guiying looked at De Longjun...
"Yes. Marriage." Elder De smiled.
"Please sit down. We will talk about it during the lunch."
"Father!! What is this?!" Zan Tengfei and De Yating whispered.
But they all sat down.
"Tell me Yingying. You both are in age to get married. What do you think about De Longjun?!" Grandpa De asked.
Marriage? Suddenly? But why? Zan Guiying looked at her hands then at De Longjun. What is he thinking?
"Answer me dear."
"Grandpa De.... This..... I... But..... But it's so sudden.... I..... I don't know how to answer...." She mumbled.
"Father. When did you both decide this? Yingying only reached in our country yesterday. Without even discussing how could you make that decision?!" Zan Tengfei asked.
"We made this decision years ago."
"But you didn't ask us."
"Father..." De Yating looked at elder De.
"Son. You know we are indebted to elder Zan. Not only he saved my life, years before, elder Zan's wife died while trying to save your mother....."
The whole family looked at both the elders.
"But..... Mother died during..." De Yating got confused.
"Yes..... Because of Zan Guiying's grandmother's sacrifice, you and your children enjoyed the time with my wife. But what about Zan family..." He paused and looked at them. "Past can't be changed..... That is why we doesn't usually talk about them... It will try to make us remember the memories we try to forget....."
"Is it grandpa?!" Zan Guiying turned and pressed grandpa Zan's hand.
He nodded.
"So for everything they had done to us..... Its time for repay their kindness..... And not only that..... Yingying is a good child. She is sensible and responsible. She will be the best partner for our Long Jun."
De Yating looked at Zan Tengfei. He looked at De Longjun and Zan Guiying. "I agree with father. She is a nice girl. She would be the best match for our son."
"But....." Xi Fang suddenly spoke. But her hands were grabbed by De Yating. No. He shook his head.
She stopped and smiled.
Bo Ehuang looked at her husband. The kids are already on their way to protest. She eyes them to not talk anything.
Zan Tengfei smiled. "I agree too. We have a long relationship with the De family. It would be good if we even become families. But....." He looked at his daughter and slowly pressed her hand.
Zan Guiying looked at her father.
"The decision lies with our children.... If they don't agree to it, we can continue this as a small lunch." Tell me without any fear Yingying.... I am giving you all opportunities here....
"Daddy..... Grandpa...." Zan Guiying spoke decisively. "The meeting and the talk about marriage it too sudden. I never knew this meeting was intended for all these things. So.... Please give me some time..... Can I tell my decision tomorrow?!" Please.... I need to clear up my mind....
"Ha! Ha! Okay! Okay! You can. But we promise you, even if your answer is no. It won't be affecting our existing relationship." Elder De smiled.
Their lunch also arrived on time.
After eating, the family decided to talk some more time.
"De Longjun.... Why don't you show the new fish pond installed in the hotel to Zan Guiying?! After all, it's been three years since she left....." Elder Zan nudged.
"As you wish elder Zan...." De Longjun stood up, followed by Zan Guiying.
They walked silently towards the pond.
"Mr. De...." Zan Guiying looked at him.
De Longjun turned and slowly walked towards her..... .