Director of Photography Department of Huayu

Chapter 729 Engagement: Everything was just right.
December 16th, Guangzhou, early morning.

Winter in the South is always tinged with a lingering dampness.

A thin mist, like a veil, enveloped the ancient city, and the air was filled with the faint aroma of water vapor wafting from the cobblestone streets and morning tea shops.

However, Baiyun Airport is bustling with people coming and going.

Ning Hao pulled Xing Aina along, pulled his baseball cap down low, and looked left and right, looking just like an underground worker preparing to make a rendezvous.

"What are you doing? Like you're doing something thief?" Xing Aina couldn't stand it anymore and slapped him in annoyance.

"Shh!" Ning Hao said seriously, "I'm checking to see if anyone has spotted us. Wu Chen said we have to keep this a secret today."

Xing Aina rolled her eyes, utterly speechless.

"Come on, nobody's watching you. Besides, we're here for an engagement party, not to do anything shady. Keeping it a secret means not publicizing it to the media, not making you act like a thief!"
"Hurry up, Wu Chen's car arrived a while ago."

When Xing Aina brought up the matter again, she was already in a quiet and elegant ancient Lingnan-style garden.

This was a place that Wu Chen specifically chose, taking into account privacy, style, and the regional characteristics of Foshan.

In his view, this has much more human touch and a sense of story than a cold, impersonal five-star hotel banquet hall.

"Hahaha……"

In the main hall of the garden, Shu Chang, Zhang Liangying, Zhou Yang, Wang Jia, and others laughed heartily after listening to Xing Aina's vivid description of Ning Hao's exploits at the airport.

Wu Chen couldn't help but chuckle.

"Senior brother, it's not that serious, it really isn't," Guo Fan and Lu Yang joked from the side.

“Wu Chen didn’t explain it clearly.” Ning Hao stuck out his neck and shook his thick gold chain with an innocent look. “I thought it was like keeping a state secret.”

You wouldn't believe it, I'm quite famous now, and I get a lot of attention.

Upon hearing this, everyone burst into laughter again.

Sunlight streamed through the colorful Manchurian windows in the hall, casting dappled shadows on the heavy rosewood floor, making even the dust motes dancing in the air seem to be tinged with warmth.

Wu Chen smiled and shook his head, then picked up his phone and made a call.

"Are we almost there?"

"Almost there! No rush, the banquet is still a long way off!" Jiang Wen's signature loud voice came from the other end of the phone.

"Just asking..." Wu Chen muttered to himself before hanging up the phone.

On the other side, Xing Aina was chatting quietly with Liu Yifei and a few other girls.

"Xixi, you look absolutely stunning in that cheongsam today!" Xing Aina exclaimed sincerely.

Liu Yifei wore a light pink, modernized cheongsam today.

The fabric is top-quality silk with a soft sheen.

The collar and cuffs are embroidered with several white magnolia buds in silver thread, exquisite yet understated.

The cheongsam's cut perfectly accentuated her slender figure, possessing both classical charm and modern dynamism.

She simply sat there quietly, like a living, breathing lady in a painting.

“Right, I think so too!” Shu Chang nodded repeatedly from the side.

Just then, Wu Chen's phone vibrated. He glanced at the message, then pulled Liu Yifei to her feet.

Mu Deyuan and Wang Jinsong have arrived.

"Teacher, this way please."

"Haha, your outfits today are very Cantonese! Very distinctive, and they suit you both very well!" Mu Deyuan looked at his proud students and couldn't stop smiling.

Today, Wu Chen wore a modified black Xiangyun yarn Tang suit jacket, paired with a simple white shirt, which echoed Liu Yifei's Chinese style and made him look calm and upright.

"Xiang Zhuo and Song Ri have arrived, haven't they?"

"We've been here for a while, just waiting for you to scold them," Wu Chen joked, while Wang Jinsong, who was standing next to him, also asked Liu Yifei with a smile.

"Yifei, I've been waiting for your engagement party for a long time."

"Teacher, are you worried about waiting too long for the red envelope?" Liu Yifei replied playfully, making the two of them burst into laughter.

Jiang Wen arrived a little later.

As soon as he got out of the car, his eyes lit up when he saw the private garden hidden in a deep alley.

"Tsk tsk, Wu Chen really knows how to pick a location."

"It's quite beautiful." Zhou Yun, who was standing next to her, nodded in agreement.

The two walked hand in hand into the garden, passed through a winding corridor adorned with palace lanterns, and circled around a rockery. Suddenly, a clear pond and a few withered lotus leaves opened up before them, creating a unique winter scene.

Han Sanping has also arrived.

Among the CEOs of film and television companies, Wu Chen only invited him this time.

"This place is quite private, not bad." As soon as Han Sanping came in, he put his hands behind his back like an old cadre and looked around. He sighed, "You know, when I retire, coming to a place like this to live out my days would be a good choice."

"Chairman Han, that's not right. Aren't you going to continue contributing to Chinese cinema? Thinking about retirement so early?" Wu Chen joked with a smile.

"Hey, I'd love to work a few more years, what a pity..." Han Sanping sighed meaningfully, and said no more.

……

The guests arrived one after another, and the ceremony was about to begin.

Liu Yifei stood by the window in the main hall, looking at the few wet banana leaves in the courtyard;
In the sky, fine rain began to fall, like smoke and mist, weaving a hazy net among the green bricks and gray tiles of the Lingnan gardens.

Normally, this would be a breathtakingly beautiful sight.

"Why is it raining..."

She murmured softly, her tone carrying a hint of regret.

After all, this was one of the most important days of her life.

Is it not good that it's raining?

"what happened?"

Shu Chang, Zhou Yang, Wang Jia, and Zhang Liangying were chatting happily when they heard her whisper and immediately looked over, looking at her with a hint of doubt.

"nothing……"

Liu Yifei smiled, concealing the slight disappointment in her heart, and her eyes rekindled with anticipation.

Let it rain. Today is a special day for him and Wu Chen. The rain might make today even more memorable in the future.

As her best friend, Shu Chang is naturally sensitive to people's thoughts.

She followed Liu Yifei's gaze to the window and immediately understood.

She simply lacked the vocabulary, and after racking her brains for a long time, she finally managed to squeeze out a sentence:
"Sisi, rainy days and... and engagements go even better together!" Zhang Liangying and Zhou Yang were a little speechless, but they couldn't think of any better ideas for the time being, so they could only nod in agreement.

Just then, Wu Chen walked over.

The ceremony was about to begin, and he needed to take Liu Yifei with him to prepare.

Following Liu Yifei's gaze, he also saw the woven raindrops falling into the pond, creating ripples.

He walked beside her, standing shoulder to shoulder, gazing at the rain outside the window, and softly sighed:
"It seems even God wanted a share of the celebration, but was afraid of disturbing us, so He quietly sent His gift from heaven."

Liu Yifei turned around abruptly and stared at him blankly.

Should I...give a gift as a parting gift?

She was taken aback at first, and then a smile that was even more captivating than the ripples outside the window instantly spread across her clear eyes.

The rain pattered softly, yet his eyes seemed to be filled with the warm sunshine of the entire southern land.

The slight gloom that had crept into her heart because of the rain was instantly dispelled by those words, leaving only an overflowing, cloyingly sweet happiness.

"Let's go." Wu Chen took Liu Yifei's hand.

The latter nodded obediently, letting him lead her, feeling the warmth of his palm through her fingertips, warm and reassuring.

She walked beside him, the happy smile on her lips impossible to hide.

Shu Chang and the others remained rooted to the spot, exchanging bewildered glances.

"I feel so uncultured..." Shu Chang muttered to herself, "Is...is this even allowed to be said like that?"

“Me too!” Zhang Liangying nodded in deep agreement.

"Same as above!"

"."

While the group was still marveling at the scene, Wu Chen and Liu Yifei had already arrived at an elegant tea room.

The parents of both sides are currently engaged in the most important part of the ceremony: exchanging gifts.

Because Wu Chen and Liu Yifei disliked the complicated process of traditional engagements, the ceremony was simplified considerably, retaining only its core sense of ritual.

"Sisi, our family doesn't have any complicated rules." Yuan Xiaoqin held Liu Yifei's hand, her eyes full of affection.

She took out a set of jade jewelry from an antique velvet box.

It was a set consisting of a necklace, earrings, and a bracelet. The jade was of excellent quality, a clear glassy variety with a lustrous sheen.

The design is simple and elegant, with only the joints inlaid with small diamonds to form a cloud pattern.

"This is a set of jade jewelry, symbolizing a 'perfect match,' and I hope you two will live happily ever after."

"Thank you, Auntie." Liu Yifei's cheeks flushed slightly as she finished speaking, and she quickly corrected herself, "Thank you, Mom! Thank you, Dad!"

Yuan Xiaoqin and Wu Yangming immediately beamed with joy, then looked at Wu Chen in unison and said, "Get married soon!"

At this moment, Wu Chen walked up to Liu Xiaoli.

Liu Xiaoli took a watch out of the box and handed it to Wu Chen.

It was a Patek Philippe 5140G, with a classic white gold case and a simple off-white dial, understated yet elegant.

"You and Sisi, cherish every minute and second of the future."

"Thank you, Mom, I know." Wu Chen solemnly accepted the watch and changed his address accordingly.

"Hmm." Liu Xiaoli nodded in satisfaction.

She turned her head and looked at her daughter.

At that moment, her eyes reddened slightly.

There was reluctance, there was relief, but more than anything, there was a sense of peace and security that came from finally handing his daughter over to the person he could entrust his life to.

The guzheng music that had been playing in the background gradually stopped.

There weren't many guests, and most of them were acquaintances, so the atmosphere was exceptionally relaxed.

Zhang Liangying, holding her guitar, walked to the small stage that had been temporarily set up in front of the main hall.

"Today is my best friend's engagement day," she said with a smile to the crowd below the stage. "I don't have anything to give as a gift."

I can only sing the song Wu Chen gave to Xixi here for them.

"This song comes from the movie they co-starred in, 'The Warmest Thirty Days of My Life.' The song title is 'How Long Will I Love You,' and it's an original composition by Wu Chen."

Zhang Liangying also made a special mention of it.

As soon as she finished speaking, Shu Chang and the others in the audience exclaimed in envy, followed by applause.

Married men, on the other hand, collectively felt an invisible pressure.

Ning Hao could already feel the "death stare" coming from Xing Aina beside him, and could only keep whispering, "Mine! Mine!!"

Although Jiang Wen was stubborn, he felt a little embarrassed when he saw Zhou Yun's envious eyes.

Damn it, Wu Chen, how come he has so many tricks up his sleeve?
In that case, "The Warmest Thirty Days of My Life" must have a special meaning.
The melodious sound of a guitar began.

Zhang Liangying's clear and emotional voice flowed out slowly.
“I think Liangying sings better than when she recorded the song.” Wu Chen chuckled and turned his head to look at Liu Yifei.

The latter nodded slightly.

"Yeah, I think so too."

"We're on the same wavelength."

"whee."

The singing was slow, but the ceremony proceeded quickly.

Wu Chen and Liu Yifei exchanged wedding rings in front of everyone.

The ring was just the right size, not too big or too small.

With the ceremony concluded, the banquet began.

One after another, top-quality Cantonese dishes with auspicious meanings were served.

Crispy roasted pigeons flying side by side, steamed grouper symbolizing abundance year after year, and crab roe baked prawns filling the hall with golden treasures...

The garden was brightly lit.

The rain outside the window had stopped sometime ago.

Moonlight pierced through the clouds, spilling onto the freshly washed flagstones and the surface of the pond, creating shimmering ripples.

The sound of the guzheng rose again, mingling with the laughter and chatter of the guests.

Everything is just right.
(End of this chapter)