It usually took 25 minutes to drive from Hong Kong to Shenzhen. However, it was late Saturday afternoon, so the driver said that the GPS estimated it would take thrice that long for them to get home. Ms. Lu thanked the driver for his patience.

Once she and Tong Yao settled back in the car's soft leather seats for a long trip, she unlocked her phone and saw that she had a missed text from her husband.

Papa Lu: Our daughter is very clever.

Mama Lu: Of course, she is.

Papa Lu: She caught the eye of H. Nielson.

Mama Lu: Problem?!

Papa Lu: IDK. So far so good.

Ms. Lu affectionately looked at the dozing girl beside her before continuing to text.

Mama Lu: You know, with our son's memory and genius for the law, and with her penchant for strategy, she and Si Cheng could become the power couple of Chinese Telecom.

Papa Lu: I know. I'm so happy.

Mama Lu: Me too, love. Me too.

When the women arrived home, they found that dinner was ready. All they had to do was sit down and enjoy it.

"So Ni'ar," said Mr. Lu, "When will we meet your parents?"

Yao looked at Si Cheng before replying. He nodded his approval. "Next weekend if that's okay with you and Lu-ma."

Next weekend arrived, and the meeting of the Lus and the Tongs went even better than their children had wished. Her parents were, as expected, stunned by the wealth of the Lu family, however they recovered quickly. The Tongs spoke about their careers and the Lus were genuinely interested in what they had to say. Before long, both families were interacting like they were old, dear friends.

At last, the conversation turned to their children's wedding.

"Between the eSports crowd, your friends and ours, I'm thinking that the invite list will be between 1000-1500 people," said Ms. Lu excitedly.

"Or we could just have a simple wedding at the Bureau of Civil Affairs," countered Lu Si Cheng.

"If you do dare do that, I'll have your balls mounted above my desk," she replied firmly. "Don't worry," she said as he looked aghast. "I'll make sure to have some semen preserved so I can still get grandchildren."

Lu Yue shuddered in fear while Lu Si Cheng, wisely, kept his mouth shut. The possibility of a "smaller, more informal" wedding was never raised again.

"We'll pay for the venue and the meal," volunteered Yao's father. "We've been saving up since Yao Yao was born."

The conversation about venues, attire, and many types of other wedding related details continued in an amiable manner until close to midnight.

Later, in the privacy of the Lu library, Lu Hue Ye and his eldest son relaxed and enjoyed some quiet time together. At length, Mr. Lu spoke. "Are you sure that your father-in-law has enough money to cover those expenses?" he asked. "The cost of the venue that we'll need, the number and social status of the guests we're expecting, are going to be extremely expensive."

"I asked Tong Yao and she admitted that it's highly unlikely he has enough funds even though he has been saving. The reality is he never thought his daughter would marry this high, and he was saving in anticipation of a significantly less lavish wedding." Si Cheng paused then said, "He'll probably mortgage their home to pay the difference."

"Hmm..."

"But please don't try to talk him out of it," pleaded Si Cheng.

"I wouldn't dare. He knows that I could pay for the entire thing, but he wants to show that he isn't a freeloader...that he can contribute to this family's future; I appreciate that." He looked compassionately into his son's eyes. "This concerns a person's pride and honor. A person's pride and honor must be preserved and respected."

Around 1am, Lu Si Cheng left his father to join his lover in his bedroom where they assumed their normal position of holding each other while in bed.

Lu Si Cheng looked down into his soon-to-be wife's eyes as he asked, "Is your mother concerned about your father's offer and solution?"

"No, I think she probably sensed that something drastic would be needed the moment they arrived in the driveway."

"Well, let him know that he doesn't have to worry about paying back the mortgage because he can go ahead and sell that property if he wishes."

"Huh?"

"The Lu mansion is part of a compound with multiple residences. My paternal grandparents died when I was eleven, and their home has remained empty. I'm sure my parents would love for it to be occupied again and filled with joy."

She couldn't and wouldn't disguise her affection for him. "I love you," she said, and she knew exactly the way that she wanted to show her love at this moment.

She sat up, pushed him onto his back, straddled him, and moved her hands possessively over his hard pecs and abs before lowering her face closer to his. She nibbled his bottom lip to open his mouth and then pushed her tongue deeply inside. He moaned low and deep before breaking their kiss.

He stared intently at her before saying, "You make me whole. You and you alone are the one."

She responded by resuming their passionate kiss. Several seconds later, she moved her mouth to the sensitive spot between his neck and ear. She teased that area with her teeth before she soothed the burn by sucking and lapping at it with her tongue. As she repeated this over and over, she moved one of her hands lower, down towards his thighs, to grasp him as she timed the rhythm of her hand with the rhythm of her mouth on his neck.

She reveled in her newfound power over him, and she was merciless until he was writhing in aching desire beneath her...until both of their breathing had become ragged. Just before she joined herself to him, she looked deep into his eyes so he could see that even as she was the only one for him, he was the same for her.