Dragon Raja: Lu Mingfei finds a Freylian

As Caesar listened to these symbolic rituals, his original plan, naturally, was to hold a grand Western-style wedding in Italy, in accordance with the Gattuso family traditions.

But at this moment, listening to Lin Fenglong's description, a brand new idea sprouted in his mind.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do; should we hold a traditional Chinese wedding?

Imagine, not in an ancient church in Italy, but in a historic courtyard house in Beijing, or even in a place that suits Nono's taste, not so conventional but with a strong Chinese style.

He was dressed in a traditional Chinese groom's suit, perhaps a dark robe embroidered with dragon patterns? He watched as Nuonuo, in her phoenix coronet and embroidered robe, stepped over the brazier and joined him in the wedding ceremony.

The scene seemed somewhat incongruous, but it touched him.

This will undoubtedly shock the entire Gattuso family council of elders, but so what?

When does Cesare Gattuso need to completely follow the wishes of those old fogies?

Moreover, this is for Nuonuo's sake.

He wanted to give her a unique wedding that she would never forget, a wedding that would blend their different cultural backgrounds.

“Mr. Lin,” Caesar began, “if a foreigner wanted to hold a ceremony according to a more traditional Chinese wedding procedure, what do you think of the feasibility? What difficulties might they encounter?”

Upon hearing this, Lin Fenglong carefully examined Caesar, seemingly trying to confirm whether he was joking.

But in those icy blue eyes, he saw only sincerity and contemplation.

The old man laughed. “Mr. Gattuso, you are indeed extraordinary. As for feasibility, it’s certainly possible if you put your mind to it. There are teams in the capital that specialize in organizing traditional weddings. Although there aren’t many people who truly understand all the old customs, they can still recreate about 70-80% of the charm. The difficulties are simply the complicated process and the numerous items that need to be prepared.”

He paused, then said with a hint of teasing, "Moreover, the betrothal gifts are quite particular. According to ancient customs, they must include real wild geese, silk, gold, jewelry, pastries, and so on, to show sincerity. You'd better prepare something substantial."

Caesar smiled slightly, "Gifts are not a problem."

For him, problems that can be solved with money and resources are never problems; what matters is the sentiment.

"As for the rest," Lin Fenglong stroked his non-existent beard, "such as finding a highly respected master of ceremonies, selecting an auspicious day and time, and arranging a suitable venue. If needed, I might be able to help with these trivial matters, as I know a few old friends who are still doing these traditional trades."

"Then thank you very much, Mr. Lin," Caesar said sincerely. Although this was just a sudden idea, its realization was still a long way off.

The two chatted for a while about the differences in wedding customs in different regions, and the atmosphere was relaxed.

Caesar rose to take his leave; this time, he was truly leaving.

Before leaving, he glanced one last time at the gorgeous wedding dress in the shop window next door.

Perhaps this really is a good idea. A surprise for his equally unconventional girl.

Watching Caesar's departing figure, Lin Fenglong shook his head and chuckled, "What an interesting young man. The heir of the Gattuso family is going to have a Chinese-style wedding. If this news gets out, I wonder how many people will be shocked."

He picked up the now-cold tea, took a sip, and murmured to himself, "It's so good to be young."

Chapter 147 Toys in the Palm of Your Hand

Caesar Gattuso disappeared into the bustling crowds of Liulichang, and the old wooden door gently closed, shutting out the noise from the outside world once again.

Fenglong Hall returned to silence, with only dust continuing its slow dance in the afternoon sunlight.

The amiable, slightly wistful smile on Lin Fenglong's face gradually faded, disappearing without a trace like the receding tide.

He walked to the counter, picked up the slightly cool cloth, and continued wiping the Ming Dynasty blue and white porcelain vase, as if the conversation about wedding customs had never happened.

The only sound in the shop was the soft rustling of cloth rubbing against the surface of porcelain.

A few minutes later, the door to the inner storage room was silently pushed open.

A person walked out, dressed in a well-fitting white suit, with elegant manners, like a silent cat.

Passy Gattuso, the secretary of the Gattuso family.

He walked to Lin Fenglong's side, said nothing, and simply stood quietly, his gaze fixed on the porcelain vase in Lin Fenglong's hand, admiring the work of art.

Lin Fenglong didn't turn around, continuing to wipe the surface with focused concentration, as if he had known all along that Lin Fenglong was there.

"Did you hear everything?" Lin Fenglong asked, his voice flat and devoid of emotion.

“Yes, Mr. Lin,” Percy said with a slight bow. “Young Master’s idea for a Chinese-style wedding is very creative.”

Lin Fenglong chuckled softly, his laughter devoid of any warmth, instead carrying a hint of sarcasm. "Yes, very creative. Romantic, unique, and perfectly suited to his feelings for that red-haired girl. Everything seems so natural, so genuine, doesn't it?"

Percy remained silent and did not answer.

Lin Fenglong put down the porcelain bottle, turned around, and looked at Percy's misty eyes. "From the moment he became interested in Miss Chen Motong, to gradually guiding him to acknowledge this relationship, and now, he's even starting to conceive of the style and format of their future wedding. Your Gattuso family, you really have a grand scheme and a brilliant plan."

Percy maintained his humble and gentle expression as he slowly pulled a black card from his suit pocket.

The card is made of a special material and has no bank logos, only a set of raised lines, numbers and patterns.

He gently placed the card on the counter and pushed it toward Lin Fenglong.

“This is a small token of the family’s appreciation. Thank you for your explanation and advice to the young master earlier,” Percy’s voice remained gentle. “The amount is fifty million US dollars. You can withdraw it at any time without any record.”

Lin Fenglong didn't even glance at the black card that could drive countless people crazy. He just stared at Percy and asked, "Tunguska, Wanggongchang, these long-forgotten secrets are worth fifty million? Or does this include advance payments for certain traditional etiquette matters that I, this old BJ, may need to provide in the future?"

Percy smiled slightly, a flawless smile devoid of warmth. "The family believes that maintaining a good relationship with a learned man like yourself, who possesses abundant resources, is a valuable investment. As for how to use it, you can decide for yourself."

Lin Fenglong finally picked up the black card, toying with it between his fingers, looking at it with a complicated expression, as if he were looking at an object that was both precious and repulsive.

“What a terrible family,” he murmured, as if talking to himself, or perhaps to Percy.

“Even the heir’s love and marriage can become part of the plan, a tool to guide, shape, and even control him. You have paved every path for him, whether it is the journey to slay dragons or the red carpet of the wedding. And he may never even realize how many of the seemingly autonomous choices in his life are pre-programmed.”

He raised his eyes, his gaze piercing as he looked at Percy. "He might even think that falling in love with that girl, and this sudden romantic idea about a Chinese wedding today, are his own unique expressions of true feelings. Little does he know, perhaps it's just some kind of preference you've subtly instilled in him? Or perhaps it's the best solution you've chosen for him?"

Percy's smile remained unchanged, neither confirming nor denying, as he simply said gently, "Everything the family does is for Young Master Caesar to grow up better and shoulder his future responsibilities. Love and marriage are also important parts of his life, and the family naturally hopes he can find happiness."

"What a wonderful happiness!" Lin Fenglong scoffed, casually tossing the black card onto the counter.

"Happiness woven with enormous sums of money and an invisible hand? Caesar Gattuso is truly the most exquisite, yet most pitiful, toy in your hands. From the moment he was born, his life trajectory was probably calculated down to every single step, wasn't it? Including how many children he would have in the future, and what their names would be—wasn't that also on your to-do list?"

Percy bowed slightly. "The continuation and prosperity of a family requires long-term planning and careful arrangements. Young Master Caesar is the future of the family, and his happiness is inextricably linked to the family's fate. We are merely clearing obstacles for him and providing the best options."

Lin Fenglong looked at Percy for a long time, then finally shook his head, a look of weariness on his face. "Forget it, forget it. What does the Gattuso family's business have to do with me? I'll take the money. As for the future..."

He paused, his tone turning cold and distant, "If you need another learned old Beijinger to assist with the performance, the price will be different. But I suggest you don't overdo the show, and don't let the plot run too long. Those who play with fire will eventually get burned. Don't forget the lesson of Wanggongchang."

“Thank you for your advice, we will keep it in mind.” Percy bowed gracefully again, as if the other party had only offered a simple blessing. “Then, we will not disturb you any longer, sir.”

He turned around and, just as he had come, silently walked into the inner room and disappeared behind the door.

Once again, only Lin Fenglong remained inside Fenglong Hall.

He looked down at the black card on the counter, which gleamed coldly in the dim light.

Fifty million dollars, just for a conversation and the possibility of the future.

The Gattuso family's work is truly astonishing.

He recalled Caesar's icy blue eyes, shining with sincerity as he spoke of wedding dresses and ceremonies, and also Percy's perfect yet empty gaze.

"Toys, toys, toys," Lin Fenglong repeated the word in a low voice, a complex emotion flashing across his aged face, like pity or mockery.

He eventually picked up the black card, but instead of putting it in his wallet, he casually tossed it into a ceramic jar full of loose change and odds and ends in the corner of the counter, as if it were just an insignificant piece of waste paper.

Then, he picked up the rag again and continued wiping his antiques slowly, thoroughly removing all the dust and odors that didn't belong there.

Chapter 148 Autumn

The autumn sun has shed the scorching heat of summer, becoming warm and bright, like a golden veil covering the gray walls, black tiles, and alleyways of Beijing.

The crisp, desolate autumn air, belonging to the North, was so thick it seemed impossible to dispel.

Cesare Gattuso did not stay in his hotel suite dealing with the seemingly endless family affairs or intelligence analysis.

He changed out of his bespoke suit and put on a dark blue Chinese-style jacket with frog buttons, loose black silk trousers, and a pair of handmade cloth shoes with multi-layered soles.

They even managed to acquire an exquisite purple bamboo birdcage from somewhere, inside which lived a spirited thrush with glossy feathers.

With a birdcage in one hand and two smooth, ornamental walnuts in the other, he strolled into a hutong area behind the hotel like a true Beijing old-timer.

His outfit created a strange mix with his dazzling blond hair and European features, attracting frequent glances from some old men sitting in the doorway sunbathing, who muttered to themselves, "This foreign lad really knows our old Beijing style."

Caesar, however, was completely unaware, or rather, utterly indifferent.

He savored this rare moment of leisure, enjoying the soft crunch of his footsteps on the fallen leaves and the warmth of the autumn sun on his skin.

The thrush in the birdcage occasionally let out a few clear chirps.

Caesar walked to a stone bench in a small park and sat down, hanging the birdcage on a nearby tree branch. Watching the little creature hopping around in the cage, his thoughts drifted away.

He thought of Nono.

He recalled that in the autumn two years ago at Kassel College, Nono, wearing a red trench coat, burst into his sight like a leaping flame.

She dragged him to skip class and ran to the oak forest behind the college. Their laughter, as clear as wind chimes, echoed through the thick layer of fallen leaves.

Sunlight filtered through the golden leaves and fell on her face. She squinted and said, "Caesar, look, autumn has turned everything golden, even the air is golden."

I was reminded of our estate in Italy last autumn, when we rode horses across the hillsides covered in grapevines.

Nono's riding skills were astonishingly wild; her red hair flew in the wind. She turned back to him and shouted, "Caesar, let's have a race! The loser has to bake pizzas tonight!"

That night, the kitchen was almost flooded with flour and tomato sauce from their pizza making, and the head chef ended up cleaning up the mess with a mix of amusement and exasperation.

I also remembered that at the end of last year, when they came to China for tourism, they sneaked out of the hotel and shared a string of candied hawthorns in an unknown alley.

She bit off the biggest hawthorn on top, her face contorting from the sourness, but then stuffed the rest of the bunch into his mouth, her eyes sparkling as she asked, "Is it sweet?"

Every autumn memory of Nono is like amber soaked in sunlight, warm and bright, with the sweet fragrance of fruit and a heart-stirring tartness.

"Autumn is so beautiful," Caesar murmured, a gentle smile on his face.

This season always seems to be closely associated with Nono, full of color, vitality, and unexpected surprises.

The idea of ​​a traditional Chinese wedding came back to mind.

If, in an autumn like this, in BJ's courtyard, we could hold a wedding like that for her.

Golden fallen leaves covered the blue bricks, and she, dressed in a bright red wedding gown, walked step by step toward him.

Just imagining that scene stirred an uncontrollable wave of emotion in his eyes.

He even began to seriously consider the tedious etiquette that Lin Fenglong had mentioned.

betrothal, asking the name...

Although it's troublesome, everything becomes interesting when it's for her.