Chinese Bride
Part IV

Morning just come. And I had been awake since let night. Thinking of what will happen next. His words still echoing in my ears. At six as usual I come down to have breakfast with my parents. 

"Can I have family meeting today?" Replacing my usual greetings I ask. "Actually I want both of you to skip working today, if there is nothing important." Of course both of them are shock hearing that. Never in my life I asked something like that. Not even when I have to be rushed to hospital for breaking my left arms. I continue saying the reason, and almost begging to tears rejecting the whole family to come. Only my parents. 

"If he wants to come, let him come. Your dacie and gege also have to come as well." My father vetoed my rejection. Soon my mom calling her secretary and my father rush to text his assistant. Skipping works for their youngest daughter. I send message to his phone, and hoping that he will be prepared for the upcoming situation. He will come after lunch when we talked last night. And asked me to go with him for somewhere around ten. 

He asks me where to go to buy jewelry. He wants to buy something. I opt for shop my friend owned. A small jewelry boutique. Not really expensive, but the designs they offer is more to my liking. Simple and elegant. He chooses one pair of white plaited gold bands. Set with medium size chain. Asks me to choose my own engagement ring. I chose one pair I like. One for me paid by him. And the other one is my purchase. We still put those rings inside the boxes. Waiting until our parents will say okay for our purpose. I show him the Starlight. Have lunch there, and telling him about the plans I have for it. At two, my mom calls. Everybody are waiting. I drive the car to my house. Slowly. Dreading the time we will face my family. He starts to loosen his earrings. I stop him. 

"Let them know who you are 100%. I never care of appearance."  I don't want him to loose his identity. I love him just the way he is. When we stop in front of my house, he just looking at me sternly.

"I love you and let me do the talk with them." 

I bring him in front of my parents. Introducing his name only. Then I move aside. He starts to explain who he is. And the purpose he is coming to meet my parents. My sister sit next to me, holding my hands for support. His bold actions saying the marriage proposal for me to my parents make me realize that he is really the one. 

"My mother already fell in love with Lian few months ago. When they first met during that matchmaking event. She is the one who urge me to know your daughter. And she is right. I love your daughter with intention to marry her. And  I am asking for your blessing." He present my parents with the necklace. "This is not formal proposal, as my parents will do it on later dates. It is only for Lian and I to start our relationship." By doing that, all he asks is for my parents to give me permission to become his girlfriend. 

"Lian." My father calls. I step in front of him. Then my father taking my left hand and put it into Kun Ge right hand. "I give you my daughter. Be good to her as I am good to her." Then he embrace the man I love. Gun Ge put the necklace around my neck. Formally, in front of my family I am his. 

My family pour all of those questions like heavy rains. They want to know who he is. When my brother knows that he likes motorbike, they start to talk endlessly about tire and piston. One thing that  

strange is when my two dogs lean on his legs. My previous boyfriends always got bitten or even peed when they have their first encounter. Maybe they know that this man is really love me. I am feeling content that my parents accept him. Even my brother in law like him. 

"Finally someone can conquer your heart." My sister in law tease me. I pat her belly gently and wish that next year I will have my own baby bump. In the midst of everything, Gun Ge hand me over his cellphone. Mama, he says. I talk to her for about five minutes, promise her that I will meet her in Beijing. Gun Ge pulling my ear and say that his mother is in his hometown. Not Beijing. I forgot that his parents are still in Baotou, Nei  Menggu. 

That night after family dinner I am going to send him back to his hotel. I stop the car in one of the park nearby. I give him the ring I had chosen. And he give me my ring. I make a vow inside my heart. To love him and care for him. I ask his mother number. When he asks what for, I just say that I'm going to call her sometimes. She is the one I need to connect if I want to win his heart furthermore. And besides, she is the one actually who made us being a couple. And I also believe that I have  to start paying her attention she has to have from her future daughter in law. We separated in front of his hotel door. When he tries to bring me inside, I shrug my shoulder and let him know that I will do when we are in Beijing. This is the hotel I placed my restaurant, so I have to follow the rules of not being seen with the guest inside the room. I wave him good bye with promise to send him to the airport tomorrow at ten thirty.

Continuing in Part V