Chapter 55 Exclusive Release: Chapter 55 Mother's Wedding...
“But Elias refused.” Theodora gently swirled the last bit of Barolo in her glass, the liquid leaving slow streaks along the rim. “Not with youthful rebellion, but with a twelve-page analysis based on data and a model of family interests. He proved that a marriage alliance with the Winthrop family ‘could not produce the possibility of synergistic innovation.’”
Yuan Ning could almost picture the scene.
“He said that if marriage is just an accumulation of assets and a display of etiquette, then the Van der Berg family already has enough.” Her gaze fell on Yuan Ning’s face. “For a long time, it wasn’t you who took advantage of him, but that he needed you.”
In Theodora, Elias's mother's presence, Yuan Ning felt a strange sense of pride.
"Perhaps he no longer needs a wife who has been raised to be a lady; Elias has been raised too 'correctly' by his father and this family."
Not long after Parsons' graduation ceremony, the scent of the white calla lilies still seemed to linger, and Yuan Ning's life had already embarked on a new track at an astonishing speed.
Red Ferraris speed through the streets of New York every day.
Chanel: Assistant Director of Global VIC Relations and Special Projects
This job is much more than just a glamorous title.
The office area on the top floor of the flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York is as quiet as a library, with the air filled with the scents of high-end leather and rare fragrances.
Yuan Ning's direct supervisor, Director Alison Du Bois, is a French-American woman nearing fifty. Her silver hair is meticulously styled into a low bun, and her demeanor exudes both the reserve of old-fashioned aristocracy and the efficiency of the internet age.
Her evaluation period for Yuan Ning lasted three months, and was harsh to the point of being cruel.
From ensuring the wording of an email perfectly matches the brand's image to choosing a birthday gift for a temperamental old-fashioned European duchess, the exact memory of the breed of her deceased beloved dog must be that it was the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel given to her by her third husband, not the one given by her second husband.
She not only remembered the incredibly diverse preferences of those VIP clients, but also displayed a level of caution and shrewdness beyond her years.
After a lunch, Alison Dubois, unusually, did not talk about work, but looked at Yuan Ning and said, "Wynne, you have a very precious quality."
Shortly after, she bought a high-rise studio apartment in a modern apartment building in Midtown West, near the Hudson River.
It's not large, but it offers excellent views overlooking the river and the lights of New Jersey on the other side.
Elias remained noncommittal about her apartment, clearly thinking it was too small, but expressed respect for her choice.
The area is indeed not large, with an open layout, and the boundaries between the living room, bedroom, and work area are subtly separated only by furniture and lighting.
But the entire wall of floor-to-ceiling windows is the core of its entire value. Outside the window, there is no obstruction; the Hudson River flows slowly like a wide, dark ribbon, and the lights of New Jersey on the opposite bank form a dazzling yet quiet sea of light at night. Further away, there is the blurry outline of Staten Island and the occasional airplane signal light streaking across the night sky.
On a clear day, you can even see the Statue of Liberty.
On the day of signing the contract and transferring ownership, Yuan Ning intended to complete all the procedures by herself, but she did not expect Elias to come over after finishing work.
He carried a bottle of Dom Pérignon champagne and, after scanning the entire space, finally commented, "Nice view."
"Thank you." Yuan Ning took the champagne from him and went to the kitchen area to find a corkscrew.
He raised his glass and gently touched it to hers: "Congratulations."
That night, they sat on the carpet by the window, since Yuan Ning hadn't bought a chair yet, and finished the bottle of champagne while enjoying the city's night view, chatting about some trivial matters.
Elias offered no opinion on her decorating style or furniture choices, nor did he offer to give her anything to fill the space. He respected her complete ownership of the space.
“It smells like you,” he said.
"What does it smell like?" Yuan Ning asked, leaning against the window.
"Freedom, and a touch of gunpowder."
The "Long-Term Strategic Investment and Cooperation Framework Agreement" signed by the two defined a crucial part of their relationship.
During Percival Capital's quarterly earnings call, Elias's phone vibrated silently under the table. It wasn't an urgent email, but a short message from Yuan Ning: "What's for dinner?"
He would continue listening to the CFO's report without changing his expression, but his finger would lightly tap the edge of the screen to reply: "You decide."
[Eating hot pot.]
After a long time, the other party replied: 【Okay.】
They would still argue about certain points, but sometimes the arguments would mysteriously disappear in the midst of passionate kisses.
Intense ideological conflict inexplicably collapsed into more primitive body language.
When the two separated, catching their breath, the core issue they had just been arguing about seemed to have become blurry and distant.
A few days later, one evening, Yuan Ning had just finished her second video conference with people in Paris when a short message popped up on her phone screen from her mother, Qiao Yiya. It contained only one sentence:
[Nini, next month on the 8th, Mom and Jianzhou are having a small ceremony in Nancheng. Do you have time? Would you like to come back?]
Although she had expected this day to come, Yuan Ning still didn't expect it to come so soon.
She replied to her mother: "A little ceremony? Mom, are you sure we'll have a marriage certificate this time?"
The next second, Qiao Yiya simply sent over a photo of their marriage certificate: 【It's already been obtained, so don't worry. Your mother is quite old, and this is her first marriage. The Jiang family just wanted to keep it low-key, so it's just a small ceremony.】
Yuan Ning looked at the red-background photos side by side on the screen. Qiao Yiya was wearing an elegant white shirt, and her smile was a bright and relaxed one that had truly blossomed after weathering the storm. Mr. Jiang was wearing the same shirt, his expression calm, but his eyes revealed a sense of steadiness.
The official seal of the Civil Affairs Bureau is clearly visible in the corner of the photo.
Looking at the photo, Yuan Ning finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Yes, in a legal sense and in the eyes of society, her mother, Qiao Yiya, who was beautiful and proud but had been burdened with the stigma of being a "mistress" for half her life, finally has a legitimate marriage of her own today.
She sniffed and quickly typed: [Congratulations, Mom! I'll definitely come back! I'll be your flower girl when I get back!]
About a minute later, a new message popped up: "[Nini, Mommy feels very at ease now. I'll wait for you to come back.]"
A surge of hot tears rushed to her eyes, but she forced them back, transforming them into a wide, radiant smile that stretched almost to her ears.
She stared at the marriage certificate photo again and again, as if trying to etch that red color and her mother's smile into her mind.
Yuan Ning didn't hesitate and dialed Elias's number directly. It was answered after two rings.
"What are you doing?"
There was a second of silence on the other end of the phone, then Elias's voice came through: "Just finished a meeting, what's up?"
Yuan Ning, holding her phone, hopped a couple of times on the clean floor of the apartment, her bare feet making soft "pat-pat" sounds.
"I wanted to say good evening to you, Mr. van der Berg." Yuan Ning deliberately made her voice sound cloyingly sweet, with a hint of deliberate lightness. "Are you busy with some important matter that will save the world economy?"
There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone, clearly someone hadn't expected her to start.
"Just finished a conference on the Eastern European energy market. So, Ms. Wynne, you're in the mood to care about the global economy? Or... has your project encountered some problem that requires global capital to solve?"
“A little bit more important than that.” Yuan Ning suppressed a laugh, walked to the window, and unconsciously ran her fingers across the cold glass. “Guess?”
"Did you win the lottery?" he guessed playfully.
"It's a million times better than winning the lottery!" Yuan Ning announced, her excitement finally bursting forth like champagne bubbles. "My mom! She got married! She got her marriage certificate today! It's bright red, with the official seal!"
She finished speaking in one breath, held her breath, and waited for the other side's reaction.
There was a two-second silence on the phone. She could imagine Elias raising an eyebrow slightly. Then his voice came through, warmer than before: "Congratulations. This is a big deal for Ms. Joe."
He paused, then asked, "Should I arrange for someone to send a congratulatory gift? Or do you have any ideas?"
“Of course I’ll send a gift, but…” Yuan Ning paused, then turned and leaned against the glass, “I have to go back to be a flower girl for my mother. It’s on the 8th of next month in Nancheng.”
This time, Elias remained silent for a longer period.
Yuan Ning knew he was checking his schedule.
"The 8th of next month," he repeated, his tone now shifting to deployment mode. "The timing can be coordinated."
"So you'll come back with me to the wedding?"
“Wynne,” he called her name, his voice low and clear, “when you ask me this in that tone, I think I only have one choice.”
Yuan Ning couldn't help but chuckle out loud: "So?"
“So,” Elias’s voice held an even stronger hint of amusement, “I think I need to clear my schedule on the 8th of next month and go to the South City.”
"Great!" she exclaimed, no longer caring about maintaining a ladylike image. "Let's make a plan! What to wear, what gift to bring, and..."
Listening to her excited chatter on the other end of the phone, Elias leaned back in his large leather chair, his icy blue eyes gazing at the deep night outside the window, the smile on his lips lingering for a long time.
The two spent the entire night on the phone discussing their itinerary.
Yuan Ning said she would take him back to meet his maternal grandparents and friends from his hometown.
Actually, she didn't have many friends back in her hometown anymore, only two or three playmates from elementary school, with whom she still kept in touch during holidays.
As they continued talking, Yuan Ning suddenly jumped up from the sofa in surprise: "Why don't we meet in person to talk? What are we talking about all the time on the phone?"
Elias chuckled and told her, "I'm downstairs, come down."
*
The plane landed smoothly at Nancheng International Airport as dusk was just beginning to fall.
As soon as I stepped off the plane, I was greeted by humid and warm air, a stark contrast to New York City.
Yuan Ning walked ahead, her steps light and quick, almost as if she were jumping down the gangway.
She changed into a simple light apricot linen dress, her long hair loosely draped over her shoulders, wearing only a small pair of pearl earrings, her face radiant with an undisguised blend of homecoming and anticipation.
This time, her feelings about returning to China were completely different from the last time. She no longer had to be afraid of anything, and she no longer felt like she didn't have a home.
Elias followed half a step behind her, carrying only a lightweight carry-on suitcase. He wore a light gray cotton shirt and off-white trousers, an extremely casual outfit, but the tailoring and fabric still exuded sophistication.
After Yuan Ning stopped being his dress consultant, Richard hired a new one for him. The new consultant was still very professional and took care of all his outfits for the trip.
Her blonde hair appeared somewhat soft under the bright airport lights, and her icy blue eyes calmly swept over the slightly noisy crowd in the arrival hall, finally settling on the jubilant figure in front of her, her lips twitching almost imperceptibly.
Qiao Yiya and Jiang Jianzhou were already waiting in the arrival hall.
Qiao Yiya spotted her daughter immediately, as well as the tall, distinguished blond man behind her.
Her eyes lit up, and she immediately came to greet her.
"Nini!" Qiao Yiya hugged her daughter, patted her back hard, then let go, turned her gaze to Elias, and smiled politely, "Mr. Van der Berg, welcome, you must be tired from your journey!"
"Ms. Qiao, Mr. Jiang, good evening." Elias nodded slightly and extended his hand to shake hands with Qiao Yiya and Jiang Jianzhou in turn. His Chinese pronunciation was better than when he was at Parsons.
Jiang Jianzhou grasped his hand firmly, his gaze sincere: "Welcome to Nancheng, Mr. Van der Berg. Your accommodations have been arranged; they're by the river, quite quiet."
"Thank you for your help," Elias said.
During this time, Elias has been learning Chinese and even hired a Chinese teacher for it.
He is very smart and was proficient in multiple languages during his secondary school years, so learning another one now is not a difficult task.
During the pleasantries, Yuan Ning took her mother's arm and leaned closer to ask in a low voice, "Mom, are you nervous?"
Qiao Yiya playfully slapped her: "What's there to be nervous about? But you," she glanced at Elias, who was having a brief conversation with Jiang Jianzhou, and lowered her voice even further, "brought him back so you could formally meet his parents?"
Yuan Ning's smile remained unchanged, but a sly glint flashed in her eyes: "He asked to come on his own initiative. It would be good for him to meet my grandparents."
Qiao Yiya tapped her forehead, not asking any more questions, but the smile in her eyes deepened.
As the car entered the city, neon lights flickered, and tall banyan trees lining both sides of the street drooped their aerial roots, swaying gently in the night breeze.
Unlike the modern and austere New York City, the night in the South City is warm and full of life.
Jiang Jianzhou arranged for them to stay not in a hotel, but in a boutique inn converted from a private residence on the riverbank in the old town. With white walls and gray tiles, a secluded courtyard, it offered tranquility amidst the bustling city. The innkeeper, a friend of Jiang Jianzhou, had already cleared the premises to serve only them.
“This used to be the residence of a silk merchant. It was abandoned and was only restored a few years ago.” Jiang Jianzhou led them through the moon gate and along the corridor to the reserved courtyard. “The conditions are simple, but it’s quiet and convenient.”
The courtyard is small, but exquisite. An old osmanthus tree stands tall and spreading its canopy, beneath which sits a stone table and benches, and a clump of bamboo grows in the corner. The main house is a two-story building, with a bedroom on each floor, each with its own bathroom and a small living room.
“Nini will stay in the upstairs room, which has a better view. Mr. Van der Berg will stay in the downstairs room, which is more convenient,” Qiao Yiya arranged, her tone natural, as if it were just a very ordinary room assignment.
Yuan Ning glanced at her mother, then looked at Elias. Elias's face showed no particular expression; he simply nodded to Qiao Yiya, "Very good, thank you."
After Qiao Yiya and Jiang Jianzhou left, and she told them to rest early and see each other again tomorrow, only Yuan Ning and Elias remained in the courtyard. The fragrance of osmanthus blossoms wafted in the air, and the faint sound of the river could be heard in the distance.
Yuan Ning kicked off her shoes and stepped barefoot onto the cool stone slabs.
Elias reluctantly picked up her shoes: "Although it's very hot here in September, you should still put your shoes on."
“I don’t want to. I’ve always been like this since I was a child. Back then, my dad… Meng Qianyue was still starting his business, and my mom and I often lived in my grandparents’ courtyard. We would walk barefoot on the ground like that, and there was nothing wrong with it.”
He paused, then looked at her: "You seem very happy."
"Of course I'm happy." Yuan Ning turned around, leaned against the rough tree trunk, and looked up at him.
“Mom is starting anew. And,” she winked, “I’m bringing you to see where I grew up, though… I didn’t actually spend much time here.”
“But this is a part of you,” Elias said, stating his position.
"Mmm." Yuan Ning nodded, reaching out to tug at his shirt cuff, her fingertips caressing the delicate mother-of-pearl button. "Tomorrow you'll meet my grandparents and other relatives, you..."
“I will behave properly,” Elias replied, taking her fingers in his hand and squeezing them. “Don’t worry, Wynne.”
“That’s not what I meant. I meant that you don’t have to be so proper.”
Elias looked down at her. She was barefoot, standing on tiptoe, her whole body enveloped in his shadow. He held her hand tightly, his thumb unconsciously stroking the delicate skin between her thumb and forefinger.
"For example?" he asked, his voice devoid of emotion.
“For example…” Yuan Ning’s eyes darted around, as if she was thinking seriously, “For example, tomorrow my second aunt might drag you around asking all sorts of questions, from stocks to horoscopes, and from European royal gossip to which health supplements are the most effective.”
Elias remained silent for a few seconds, seemingly processing the implications of the suggestion.
"You need to fit in as much as possible, otherwise they'll look at you like you're a monkey."
In 2001, Nancheng was not very developed, and not all of Yuanning's relatives were wealthy and powerful business owners.
"Also, if they ask about our relationship, don't say that you are my carefully selected strategic investor and business partner. Just say that you are my boyfriend."
Elias looked at her. She stood under the tree, barefoot, with osmanthus blossoms in her hair, her expression calm and relaxed, even carrying a hint of anticipation that he might embarrass himself.
He bent down, picked up the shoe she had carelessly kicked aside, and placed it at her feet.
The next day was a sunny and beautiful day. The wedding ceremony was scheduled for the afternoon on the lawn of a private clubhouse by the river. Only close relatives and friends were invited. It was a small event, but it was meticulously planned in every detail.
Qiao Yiya wore a modified Chinese cheongsam dress, not bright red, but a more elegant champagne gold, embroidered with the same color subtle patterns. Her hair was tied up and adorned with a fresh magnolia flower, making her look dignified and radiant.
Jiang Jianzhou, dressed in a dark blue Zhongshan suit, stood tall and straight. When he looked at Qiao Yiya, the composure in his eyes turned into a clear tenderness.
The ceremony was simple yet solemn, with the exchange of rings and speeches witnessed by relatives and friends. Yuan Ning, as the daughter, stood beside her mother, her eyes slightly red, but the corners of her mouth remained upturned.
Jiang Jianzhou also prepared a rather generous red envelope for her. Yuan Ning wiped away her tears while thinking to herself that she had suddenly gained a stepfather who was only a few years older than Elias.
Clutching the rather thick red envelope, she thought, "Oh well, I might as well call him that. I don't have a father anyway." So she called out boldly, "Dad!"
Their seniority is what matters.
She saw her grandparents secretly wiping away tears, saw her aunt smiling through tears, and saw the elders of the Jiang family nodding and smiling.
As Qiao Yiya and Jiang Jianzhou embraced gently amidst applause, Yuan Ning felt her hand being held by a warm, large hand.
The banquet following the ceremony was a traditional Chinese round table affair, and the atmosphere was much more relaxed. Yuan Ning led Elias to meet the elders and relatives one by one.
The grandparents looked at Elias with a hint of restraint, but more so with kind curiosity, and slowly asked in heavily accented Mandarin, "Are you used to it?" and "Do you like the food?"
Elias listened attentively and answered in slightly slower but clear Chinese. Occasionally, when he encountered a word he didn't understand, he would look at Yuan Ning, who would then smile and translate or explain it.
The turning point came with Yuan Ning's overly enthusiastic second aunt.
"Oh my, so this is the boyfriend Nini found from abroad?" Auntie's voice was loud and clear as she looked Elias up and down, her eyes gleaming with gossip. "The young man is really handsome! I heard from Nini's mother that you're in...investment? Is it like in the movies, where money just flows out with a flick of the finger?"
The other relatives at the table also looked over curiously.
"Could you show my second aunt what stocks I should buy right now?"
Yuan Ning's scalp tightened. Elias, however, remained unfazed: "I can recommend a few directions for you to consider."
Yuan Ning quietly kicked Elias under the table, and Elias finally shut up, giving a slightly apologetic smile: "Actually, this information is all in the newspapers. If you're interested in stocks, you can read the Financial Times."
My aunt thought it was pointless: "It's in the newspaper, everyone knows that, right? How could I possibly make money off it?"
Elias maintained a slight smile, while Yuan Ning smoothed things over, saying, "Alright, alright, the food is all served, Auntie, please eat."
One after another, exquisite and authentic southern dishes were served. Just as Elias picked up his chopsticks, he heard Yuan Ning's grandfather ask, "So what do you usually eat over there? Do you like our food here?"
Before Elias could answer, his second aunt spoke up: "I heard that pork abroad is rotten, and the cooking is not as refined and meticulous as ours. Didn't you see how much weight Nini has lost over there?"
As she spoke, she picked up a piece of roast goose and said, "Try this! The roast goose from our southern city isn't something you can just find anywhere. This goose has to be a free-range black-brown goose from the Kaiping area, raised on grains, so that the meat is chewy yet tender. After slaughtering, the skin has to be coated in decades-old brine and air-dried for eight hours to remove the moisture, so that the skin can be roasted to this glassy crispness."
A piece of roast goose was lying in Elias's bowl.
At this point, Yuan Ning's grandfather also got excited, gesturing for Elias to look at the cross-section of the roast goose skin: "Look at this skin, it's as thin as paper. When you bite into it, there's a satisfying crunch. The fat inside is roasted to perfection, melting without being greasy, and it all seeps into the meat. The roasting process is all about gentle heat first, then strong heat. First, use a gentle fire of lychee wood to roast the goose thoroughly, locking in the juices. Finally, use a strong fire to brown the skin until it's crispy and golden brown. The dipping sauce is also important. It can't just be plum sauce; it has to be a special sauce made in our local workshop, with a sour taste and a hint of sweetness, which is perfect for cutting through the richness and enhancing the flavor."
Grandpa recounted the details with great familiarity, displaying the air of a true gourmet. The other relatives at the table watched with smiles; this was a unique way for people from our hometown to show their pride.
Yuan Ning was surprised and stared at him with wide eyes: "Then you should try it quickly."
Elias did not disappoint the expectant gazes of the table.
A very slight crackling sound erupted between his teeth, followed by the rich sensation of the fat melting on his tongue. His brow twitched almost imperceptibly, as if he were somewhat surprised by the exquisite balance of textures.
He put down his chopsticks, picked up a napkin, and dabbed at the corner of his mouth.
"It's very delicious." His Chinese is quite good; he pronounces each word clearly.
When the foreigners said it was delicious, the atmosphere at the table became lively.
The group of people at the table talked about the intricacies of various ingredients and the secrets of cooking time and temperature. People from the south of the city always have a lot to say about these things.
Elias didn't understand some of the words, so Yuan Ning translated them for him.
Yuan Ning's grandfather picked up a spoon and served Elias a small bowl of the milky white fish head and tofu soup that was simmering next to him: "Have some more soup, Shunshun. This soup is made with bighead carp that was caught this morning. It was pan-fried thoroughly and then boiled in boiling water over high heat. There is no fishy smell at all, it's very fresh."
Elias thanked him again, took the small bowl with both hands, and lowered his head to drink the soup. The piping hot and delicious soup warmed him as it went down his throat.
When he put down the soup spoon, he found Yuan Ning looking at him with her chin resting on her hand, her eyes sparkling and a smile she couldn't suppress playing on her lips.
“Wynne, you’re making fun of me.”
Yuan Ning smiled even more: "I didn't. Just eat whatever your elders tell you to eat."
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