The decoration alone made Isla envious of how blessed Jazzlyn was, but she knew in life, you cannot have all the good things all the time. Even if she envied her luck in marriage while she lamented on her own typical white English church wedding in western style, and now a widow, she knew Jazzlyn would envy how loved Isla was before her parents passed on from old age and left her a fortune to inherit as the only child. She would envy her more for inheriting from Lex, too.

  Isla knew very well that there was nothing for anyone to envy in the end. With her inheritance, she could do anything, anywhere she wanted. That was also part of the reason she ended up teaching English. A part of her was always curious about having kids, and she was not prepared to have any in the future. Back then, Lex was not firm, so they just let nature take its course. Life just has its uniqueness to lead oneself to experience things differently.

  Elly nudged her to stop daydreaming. “Come back to earth… You’re wandering too far away…” Elly whispered as they watched Jazzlyn and Ethan kneel in front of Uncle Loong before presenting him with a cup of tea each at their traditional tea ceremony.

  Jazzlyn’s elegant maroon cheongsam, borrowed from Su Lan, was a perfect fit for her, while Ethan was dressed in his traditional hanfu. Jazzlyn noticed the exquisite tea set, which Isla had brought earlier, was used during the ceremony when Su Huang passed her the cup of tea.

  She grinned to herself, but when her gaze met with Uncle Loong, it made Jazzlyn tear up, to finally be able to call someone father again.

  “Pa…” She lifted the blue and white porcelain teacup with both hands to Uncle Loong.

  “Please drink tea…” Her voice cracked as Uncle Loong’s eyes reddened, knowing how much Jazzlyn must have missed her family. He quickly laughed heartily to keep the mood lively.

  “Good daughter!” He said before taking a sip, and passed it to Su Huang.

  “Wei Wei, from now onwards, you will always be a part of the Wongs’ family till death. No one would ever deny that. Everyone present today is your witness.” Uncle Loong said solemnly, which made Jazzlyn cry while nodding.

  Uncle Loong was very delighted when Ethan presented his cup of tea to him. “Finally, you rascal! Doing something right for once!” Uncle Loong praised as he took a sip and quickly presented the red packets that Hilbert had prepared to the couple.

  “Now, here’s a small token. Quickly get me a grandchild or grandchildren, alright?” Uncle Loong laughed with everyone as the couple smiled shyly while Ethan helped Jazzlyn to dry her face.

  Su Huang was the master of ceremonies as she announced for Isla and Elly to get into the chairs. Isla shook her head.

  “Su Lan should go first!” Isla announced.

  “Aren't you the mother and sister representative? Come, come!” Su Huang announced, as everyone laughed. Isla and Elly had no choice but to take their seat, embarrassed.

  “The paternal side should go first always…” Isla reprimanded. “Wow, someone did some research.” Su Huang teased. “It’s alright, let the parents first.” Su Qing teased from afar as everyone chuckled, and Isla had to settle for the arrangement.

  The moment Isla met with Jazzlyn’s gaze, which was welling with tears, Isla’s eyes reddened and reminded her of her own wedding. She finally knew how it felt when both her friends married her off to Lex.

  Su Huang then passed to Jazzlyn another cup of tea, which Jazzlyn carefully retrieved. Their gaze met again and made Jazzlyn tear up even more.

  “Don’t you dare cry before serving me tea!” Isla purposely reprimanded her as Ellie smiled, knowing it was Isla’s way of comforting Jazzlyn.

  “Mother, please drink tea…” Jazzlyn presented as they all laughed from the sombre mood. Isla quickly took a sip before Jazzlyn presented another cup to Ellie.

  “Big sister, please drink tea…” Ellie chuckled as she nodded and took from Jazzlyn and took a sip.

  “Thank you, thank you…” Ellie proudly said in return.

  Then it was Ethan’s turn to present them both with his cup of tea. “Big sister in law, please drink tea.” Ethan greeted Isla.

  Isla was surprised as she laughed. “Smart! I approve!” Isla laughed heartily as she drank from the cup.

  “Small sister in law, please drink tea.” Ethan greeted Ellie, who giggled. “Good boy…” Ellie teased as everyone laughed.

  Isla began to give her red packets. She purposely wrapped Jazzlyn’s in a smaller packet.

  “Seeing that your husband is smarter, he gets a bigger red packet than you…” Isla said jokingly with dissatisfaction.

  Jazzlyn pouted playfully. “His money is still my money.” Jazzlyn put out her tongue.

  “It’s only right for your husband to dote on you. No longer your “mother”.” Isla retaliated as they turned their attention to Ellie’s red packet.

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  “There, there, no need to fight. Both also get big red packets, alright?” Ellie passed to them, but Jazzlyn refused to take.

  “No, you need it more than me.” Jazzlyn refused the red packet.

  “Hey! It’s bad luck to reject! Just take!” Ellie forced it on Jazzlyn, who rolled her eyes.

  “I will return the money to you later. Only yours. She is rich, we don’t have to worry.” Jazzlyn said playfully to Ellie as Isla rolled her eyes, and everyone laughed.

  “Next, Hilbert Ge* and Su Lan Jie*!” Su Huang announced.

  Hilbert pushed Su Lan’s wheelchair over as Su Huang and Su Qing took away one chair.

  Su Lan sighed at how pretty Jazzlyn was as she smiled, admiring her cheongsam on Jazzlyn. “Big sister in law, please drink tea.” Su Lan gave her a stern look.

  “Big sister.” She corrected as Jazzlyn was touched and took a moment to find her voice again before blinking her tears away.

  “Big sister, please drink tea,” Jazzlyn said, and Su Lan nodded, satisfied as she took a sip with a touched smile.

  “Big…” Before Jazzlyn could finish her greetings, Hilbert spoke first. “Big brother…”

  Jazzlyn smiled. “Big brother, please drink tea,” Jazzlyn said as Su Lan discreetly wiped her right eye’s tear away from the side, but Ethan had been watching her.

  Ethan knew since young, life was tough for her since their mother passed on. It got tougher worrying about him and then her accident. Ethan felt bad for not treating her well enough all this time.

  “Thank you, little sister!” Hilbert tried to liven up the mood as Jazzlyn and Su Lan shared a smile.

  Su Huang nudged Ethan to take a cup for Su Lan. Ethan obediently obliged. When his gaze met with Su Lan’s lively gaze, their gazes instantly turned sombre with many unspoken words.

  “Jie*, please drink tea.” Ethan broke the silence as Su Lan nodded with reddening eyes. She took it from him and paused for a second to stare at the tea before taking a sip.

  Everyone knew Su Lan was honouring Ethan’s respect in her ways. The siblings had always had their quiet ways of honouring each other since young, and when their gaze met this time, they both smiled.

  Su Lan urged him by using her chin to present Hilbert with his tea. “Big brother-in-law, please drink tea.” Ethan greeted, and Hilbert laughed heartily. “Tsk, just big brother!” He said before taking a sip.

  “Finally! Finally! Welcome to the league, little brother!” Hilbert cheered and quickly passed them both red packets on behalf of himself and Su Lan.

  “Come bearing grandchildren quickly!” Hilbert added as the couple thanked them.

  “Welcome to the family, Wei Wei.” Su Lan said before Hilbert pushed her wheelchair away.

  Jazzlyn instantly hugged her with tears welling again. Jazzlyn vowed to never forget the warmth of this family ever. “Thank you,” Jazzlyn whispered as the ladies shared a smile.

  “Alright, alright, enough of this sombre mood! Now is my turn! I want my tea!” Su Huang demanded as she carried back a chair with Su Qing, who giggled.

  “Alright, let me help out with the master of ceremonies.” Isla volunteered as she went over to take the tray of tea.

  “We now invite Su Qing Jie* and Su Huang Jie* to take their seats.” Isla imitated Su Huang’s formal voice, which made everyone chuckle as the two sisters sat.

  Isla passed Jazzlyn with the tea as Jazzlyn met with Su Qing’s eager gaze. “Second sister in law, please drink tea.” Jazzlyn was not sure if she should skip the “in-laws”, so she went with her gut.

  “Tsk, Su Lan Jie* said sister. So stick with “sister”. We are not drinking if you greet us as “in-laws”.” Su Qing reprimanded with her finger. “Yes, sister! Don’t forget that!” Su Huang reminded her as everyone chuckled.

  “Second sister, please drink tea,” Jazzlyn said as Su Qing satisfiedly smiled and drank the tea.

  “Wow, what a refreshing cup of tea!” Su Qing praised as everyone laughed, knowing it was her who made the red dates, longan and lotus seeds tea.

  “Are you sure it’s not because you’re thirsty?” Su Huang teased as Su Qing hushed her.

  “Today’s tea is so sweet!” Su Qing praised again as everyone laughed.

  “Really? My turn, my turn! Let me try!” Su Huang urged Jazzlyn.

  “Third sister, please drink tea.” Jazzlyn smiled as Su Huang chuckled. “Alright, thank you, little sister. Let me try, try…” Su Huang took a sip.

  “Hmm, so sweet that if we drink more we might get diabetes!” Su Huang joked as everyone laughed.

  “Er Jie*, please drink tea.” Ethan greeted as Su Qing excitedly took from him. “Good boy!” She praised before finishing the tea.

  “Come, another cup! My turn!” Su Huang urged impatiently as Ethan quickly took another cup of tea.

  “San Jie*, please drink tea.” Ethan greeted, and Su Huang gladly took it from him.

  “Only because you’re my baby brother will I allow myself to indulge in sweet today!” Su Huang said as she finished the cup.

  “Wow, so satisfying! Alright lah*! Here, big red packets for you both from us. May you two grow old together through thick and thin.” Su Huang said as she handed the couple the red packets. Before the couple could thank her, Su Qing handed hers.

  “May you both prosper and grow well, leaning on each other always!” Su Qing wished as the couple thanked them.

  “Alright, everyone, come gather for tea from the Hui Li* we received!” Su Qing announced as everyone dig in on the Xi Bing* pastries and oranges.

  Glossaries:

  * Ge - Brother in Chinese

  * Lah - used to add emphasis after an expression or a statement. Mainly used in Asian countries

  * Jie - Sister in Chinese

  * Er Jie - Second sister in Chinese

  * San Jie - Third sister in Chinese

  * Hui Li - return of gifts in Chinese, and is done by the bride’s family to reciprocate with the Groom’s side's generosity and signifies the acceptance of the couple’s marriage

  * Xi Bing - Traditional pastries symbolising the groom's gratitude to the bride's parents for having raised and taken care of her over the years.