In recent years, Nuo's family has not fully accepted his relationship with Yu, yet they have not continued to oppose it either. When the two decided to get married and hold a wedding, Nuo made a call to his family. Upon hearing the news of his son getting married, there was silence on the other end for a while before the call ended.
It was also on International Women's Day that Nuo received a call from his mother. Seeing the incoming call, Nuo's hand trembled uncontrollably. This was the first time his mother had called him since he came out to his family.
"Nuonuo..." It had been too long since she called him by that name, her voice slightly hoarse. "NuoNuo" was his childhood nickname, the name his family used until he came out. It had been five or six years since he last heard his family call him that. Mixed emotions of sourness and sweetness flooded his heart, making it hard to distinguish which feeling was stronger.
"Mom."
"I have received your gift and invitation." She spoke again, her voice tinged with a hint of a nasal tone, and Nuo could imagine how his mother was controlling her emotions on the other end of the phone line. Her eyes must have been red with tears.
"Child, your father and I will be there next week." Suddenly, Nuo's eyes welled up with tears. "Dad and I miss you very much." That year, he hesitated several times but ultimately chose to live for himself. Throughout these years of breaking free from his family, he never returned home for holidays or special occasions, while everyone else's gifts arrived on time. The memories of his youth were all in that home. That experience was too profound, and he dared not, even feared to go back.
God did not define the limits of love, but society has classified love into different categories. "Okay," Nuo choked up, grabbing Yu's hand beside him.
After hanging up the phone, Nuo finally allowed himself to release all his emotions. "Ayue," their intertwined hands now locked fingers, Nuo looked at Yu, "We are blessed."
What kind of relationship could be considered as blessed? This was a question without a standard answer, but one thing was certain - having both sets of parents attend the wedding was a blessing. The rings on their fingers were still the same ones they had chosen in the library, the silver gradually fading to reveal the gold inside, just like their relationship that had withstood countless trials and tribulations.
Yu had never told Nuo that many years ago, his parents had gone to visit Nuo's parents. They had maintained a subtle connection over the years. He never delved into what both sets of parents had discussed, only knowing that when he and Nuo returned home, his mother would send some photos of Nuo at home to his parents. Yu accidentally discovered this a few years ago, and Jing treated it as ordinary family gossip, advising Yu not to tell Nuo yet and to give his parents some time.
Some time had passed, and now they were here.
The wedding of the "YunNuo couple" was set for March 14th, rumoured to be on "White Day." Nuo's parents arrived in Qianlin on March 12th.
When the couple went to the high-speed rail station to pick them up, Nuo's palms were sweating profusely. Strangely, when he saw his parents at the exit, his palms no longer sweated. Yu let go of Nuo's hand, letting him step forward and talk to his parents, with Yu standing behind him. "Dad, Mom." "Dad, Mom." Yu slightly bowed, greeting the two elders. Before Yu spoke, Nuo had not realized that it was time for Yu to change how he addressed his parents.
Nuo's parents seemed surprised too, that Yu could naturally call them "Dad and Mom." They looked at Nuo, then at Yu, before awkwardly responding with a "Hmm."
That evening, both families had a lively dinner together, sharing stories over drinks. Several adult men drank quite a bit, while Jing kept Nuo's mother, Gong Ping, engaged in conversation. Meanwhile, Nuo listened to Ze complaining about how his brother had "bullied" him since childhood, and about the eccentricity of their high school teachers. As he listened to Ze's grievances, Nuo observed the scene on the table - something he had never dared to imagine before.
Upon returning their parents to the hotel, Gong Ping handed Nuo and Yu a photo album and a key. " Yu will want to see how you have grown up," she said. "Make sure to visit home more often when you have the chance." Standing at nearly 1.8 meters tall, Nuo embraced his mother, saying, "Mom, thank you. I miss you so much." Thank you for everything, for the final fulfilment.