The village had transformed overnight.
Nana stood in her childhood home—now decorated with flowers, lanterns, and streamers that the neighborhood aunties had insisted on hanging everywhere—feeling like she was living in a dream.
An engagement party. Her engagement party.
To Zayne.
It still didn't feel real.
"Stop fidgeting!" Mina swatted her hand away from the dress hem. "You look perfect! Absolutely perfect!"
"I'm nervous," Nana admitted, smoothing down the dress Zayne had chosen for today—a beautiful champagne-colored gown with long lace sleeves and a flowing skirt that reached her ankles. Modest but elegant, exactly his style for her.
"You're allowed to be nervous," Jisu said, adjusting Nana's hair. "You're about to officially become engaged to the most eligible bachelor in Linkon's medical community. That's nerve-wracking."
"He just Zayne," Nana protested. "He's not—"
"Girl, he bought you sixteen dresses because he got jealous." Mina raised an eyebrow. "He's absolutely that. But he's also yours. So own it."
The house was already filling with people.
Nana's siblings rushed around in their new outfits—Zayne had insisted on buying proper clothes for everyone, claiming he wanted the family to "look their best for photos." Lili wore a princess dress (of course), the twins were in matching outfits they secretly loved, Meimei looked elegant and mature, and even Xiaohua had set aside her usual shyness to wear something special.
"Is everyone here?" Nana asked, peeking out toward the yard where tables had been set up.
"Almost everyone," her mother said, coming in to adjust Nana's necklace—a simple piece, but one Zayne had gifted her last week.
"The neighborhood is here. Your friends. And Dr. Li's cousins arrived an hour ago."
"Zayne cousins?"
"Oh yes." Mina grinned. "And they're GORGEOUS. The aunties are having a field day."
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The chaos reigned in the best possible way.
The neighborhood aunties had taken over all food preparation, insisting that
"Nana's engagement deserves a feast!" They'd been cooking since dawn, and the smells were incredible.
Zayne's three cousins had indeed arrived—Caleb, Xavier, and Rafayel—all around his age, all somehow equally attractive in completely different ways.
The village had never seen so many handsome men in one place.
"Are you SINGLE?" Auntie Chen had cornered Rafayel, who looked equal parts amused and terrified. "Because I have a daughter! Very pretty! Good cook!"
"I'm—I'm focused on my art career right now—"
"ART! You're an artist! My daughter loves art!"
Caleb and Xavier were having similar experiences with other aunties, trying to politely deflect while being bombarded with potential matches.
"This is hilarious," Caleb muttered to Xavier. "Zayne warned us, but I didn't believe him."
"The village matchmaking network is aggressive," Xavier agreed, narrowly avoiding another auntie with a photo of her niece. "How did Zayne survive this?"
"He had Nana protecting him," Rafayel said, finally escaping Auntie Chen.
"Speaking of which—where is our stoic cousin? I've never seen him this nervous."
They found Zayne in the small room that used to be Grandpa Li's, staring at his reflection in the mirror like he didn't recognize himself.
He wore a tailored suit—nothing unusual there. His hair was perfectly styled—also normal. But his hands were shaking slightly as he adjusted his tie for the fifth time.
"You're going to strangle yourself if you keep tightening that," Caleb observed, leaning in the doorway.
Zayne's hands dropped. "I'm fine."
"You're terrified," Xavier corrected, but not unkindly. "Which is actually kind of nice to see. Proof you're human."
"I'm not terrified. I'm—" Zayne paused. "What if I mess this up? What if I say the wrong thing? What if—"
"Zayne." Rafayel moved closer. "You're not messing anything up. You're marrying the love of your life. That's not something you can mess up."
"She deserves perfect," Zayne said quietly.
"She deserves everything perfect. And I'm—I'm not good at emotions. I'm not good at expressing—"
"She knows you love her," Caleb interrupted firmly. "Trust me. Everyone here knows you love her. You bought her sixteen dresses because you got jealous. You drove three hours every weekend for months. You're having your engagement party in a village instead of some fancy city venue because this is where her family is. She knows."
Zayne took a shaky breath. "My parents aren't coming."
The room went silent.
"They were invited," Zayne continued, voice flat but pain bleeding through. "I sent the invitation personally. Called. Left messages. They—they didn't respond. They're not coming. Again. For another important moment in my life. They're just—not coming."
"Then they're idiots," Xavier said bluntly.
"And it's their loss."
"Today is still perfect," Rafayel added. "Look around. This whole village is here celebrating you. Nana's family. Her friends. Us. The people who actually matter. Blood doesn't make family. Love does."
"He's right," a small voice said from the doorway.
They turned to see Lili, looking like a tiny princess in her sparkly dress. She walked in solemnly, looked up at Zayne with big, serious eyes.
"Your mama and papa aren't here?" she asked.
"No," Zayne admitted, crouching down to her level. "They're not."
"That's okay." Lili threw her small arms around his neck. "You can have my mama. And Nana. And all of us. We love you lots. So you're not alone. You're never alone. You have us now."
Zayne eyes burned. He pulled Lili close, this tiny girl who'd claimed him as family from the first moment they met, and let himself feel it—the ache of his parents' absence, yes, but also the overwhelming warmth of being chosen by this family. By these people who had no obligation to love him but did anyway.
"Thank you," he whispered to Lili. "That means everything."
"Now come ON!" Lili pulled back, suddenly energetic again. "Everyone's waiting! And Nana looks SO PRETTY! Like a real princess! You have to see!"
The ceremony was simple, held in the backyard under a canopy of flowers the aunties had spent days arranging. Nothing fancy. Nothing elaborate. Just real.
When Nana walked out, Zayne forgot how to breathe.
She was ethereal. The champagne dress caught the afternoon light, making her seem to glow. Her hair was styled beautifully but simply. She wore minimal makeup—she didn't need more. And her smile, that bright, nervous, joy-filled smile—
She was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen.
"You okay?" Caleb whispered. "You're staring. Like, more than usual."
"I'm going to marry her," Zayne said, barely aware he'd spoken aloud. "I'm actually going to marry her."
"Yeah, that's generally what engagement parties lead to," Xavier muttered, amused.
But Zayne wasn't listening. He was watching Nana walk toward him, flanked by her siblings, her mother beaming with pride, the whole village watching with affectionate approval.
When she reached him, she looked up with those eyes that had seen through every defense he'd ever built, and whispered:
"Hi."
"Hi," he managed. "You're—you look—"
"You look pretty good yourself," she said, smiling.
The village elder—Mr. Chen from the store—officiated the simple ceremony. Nothing legally binding, just a formal announcement of their intention to marry. Traditional vows. Promises spoken in front of community and family.
"Do you, Zayne Li, promise to love and cherish Angelina Wang, to stand by her in joy and hardship, to build a life together built on respect and devotion?"
"Yes.I do" His voice was steady, clear, certain. "I promise to love her with everything I am. To protect her, support her, believe in her always. To choose her, every single day, for the rest of my life."
Nana's eyes filled with tears.
"And do you, Angelina Wang, promise to love and cherish Zayne Li, to stand by him in joy and hardship, to build a life together built on respect and devotion?"
"I do," Nana said, voice shaking with emotion. "I promise to love him with my whole heart. To stand beside him always. To remind him he's worthy of love, every day, forever."
Zayne's throat tightened. How did she know? How did she always know exactly what he needed to hear?
"Then, before this community, I declare you engaged to be wed." Mr. Chen smiled. "You may seal this promise with a kiss."
The village erupted in cheers before they even moved.
Zayne cupped Nana's face gently, thumbs brushing away her tears, and kissed her softly, sweetly, in front of everyone who mattered.
When they pulled apart, the noise was deafening.
"CONGRATULATIONS!"
"ABOUT TIME!"
"WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS!"
Mina and Jisu were screaming the loudest, jumping up and down, clutching each other. Lili was crying happy tears. The twins were cheering. Meimei was taking photos. Nana's mother was sobbing openly.
The neighborhood aunties were already discussing wedding plans.
Zayne's cousins were clapping, genuine happiness on their faces.
And in the middle of it all, Zayne held Nana close and thought:
This. This is family. This is home.the cold formality of his parents' world. Not achievement or prestige or maintaining reputation.
This—people who showed up. Who celebrated. Who loved unconditionally. Who claimed you as one of their own not because of blood but because they chose to.
"You okay?" Nana whispered, noticing his expression.
"I'm—" He looked around at the chaos, the love, the pure joy. "I'm overwhelmed. In the best way. Your family—everyone here—they're so—"
"They're your family too now," she corrected gently. "You're one of us. Whether your parents are here or not. You belong here."
That's what did it. That's what finally broke through the last of his composure.
Zayne pulled Nana close, buried his face in her hair, and let himself feel it—the grief of his parents' absence mixing with the overwhelming gratitude for this new family who'd claimed him completely.
"I love you," he said. "So much. Thank you. For this. For them. For—for seeing me as worthy of this."
"Always," she promised, holding him tight even as people called for photos, for toasts, for celebration.
"You're always worthy. And you're always home. Right here. With us."
The party lasted well into the evening.
The aunties fed everyone until they couldn't move. Mina and Jisu gave embarrassing speeches about how they "knew from day one" this would happen. His cousins shared stories about Zayne's awkward teenage years that made everyone laugh.
Lili insisted on dancing with Zayne, standing on his feet while he waltzed her around to the music someone had set up.
The twins taught him a village game that made no sense but was hilarious anyway.
Nana's mother pulled him aside, hugged him tight, and whispered:
"Thank you for loving my daughter. For seeing her value. For being the kind of man who deserves her."
Now when things had quieted down and people were mingling, Rafayel found Zayne standing alone for a moment, looking at everything with an expression of wonder.
"You good?" Rafayel asked.
"I spent my whole life," Zayne said slowly, "thinking family was obligation. Duty. Something you were born into and had to maintain appearances for. Something that hurt when it failed you."
He looked at Nana, laughing with her siblings. At the aunties arguing over who made the best dumplings. At Mina and Jisu being dramatic about something. At Lili showing his cousins her princess dress. At all of it—this chaotic, loving, imperfect mess of community.
"But this—" His voice caught. "This is what family actually is. People who choose to show up. Who celebrate your joy. Who love you not because they have to but because they want to. Who make you feel like you matter, like you belong, like you're home."
"Yeah" Rafayel agreed quietly. "That's exactly what it is."
"I have a family," Zayne said, like he was testing the words. "I actually have a family now."
"You always did," Rafayel corrected. "You just found the right one."
Later, much later, when the party had wound down and most guests had left, Zayne and Nana sat together on the porch, her in his arms, both exhausted but happy.
"Your parents really didn't come," she said softly. Not a question.
"No. They didn't."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be." He kissed the top of her head. "Today was perfect. Because of you. Because of them." He gestured toward the house where her family was cleaning up.
"Because this—this is real family. And I'm grateful for it. For all of it."
"Are you sure?" She looked up at him, concerned. "You're not—you're not sad?"
"I'm sad they're missing this," he admitted. "Missing you. Missing seeing their son actually happy. But I'm not sad about today. Today was—" He searched for words. "—today was one of the best days of my life."
"Just wait until the wedding," she teased.
"If you think this was overwhelming—"
"Can't wait." He pulled her closer. "As long as it's with you, with them, with this family we've built—I can't wait for all of it."
They sat in comfortable silence, watching stars appear in the clear village sky—so much brighter here than in the city, just like everything else about this place.
And Zayne understood finally, completely, what Grandpa Li had wanted him to find:
Not just a wife. Not just love.home. A family. A place where he belonged not because of achievement or success or living up to expectations—
But because he was simply, perfectly, enough exactly as he was.
And that—that was worth everything.
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To be continued __