Zhan dreams of having a big wedding party and meeting all the wonderful residents of Monte Vista.
But he knows that his wife-to-be doesn't feel comfortable in crowds...
In the end, his subconscious mind decides that he'll be happy just getting married, big party or no.
I clamber out of bed slowly, trying not to wake the sleeping Zhan.
Today is a regular work day, after all and I need to get ready to go to the hospital.
With a gasp, I realize how disgustingly grimy the shower looks. Did Zhan see this?! What kind of impression am I making on my husband-to-be?
The kitchen isn't looking much better. Preston the crocodile and Charlie the seahorse have been holding on to life for a long time, considering that I only ever fed them once. That was the other day, right after returning from China. And now they're dead.
Come to think of it - could there be a cause-effect relationship between me finally feeding them and their demise?
I have no time to fret over my dead pets. It's not like I ever wanted them in the first place. The car pool is waiting.
It's an uneventful day at work. In fact, I am so sleepy that I spend most of my time napping in the ready room. Hey, that's what that room is meant for!
Zhan wakes up smiling and eager to begin his new life. He wants to make a friend and get a job at the local police station and travel to China to tell his brother about his engagement and...
But first, breakfast.
Zhan expertly uses chopsticks to eat his salad.
Even though the foul smell makes him wrinkle his nose, Zhan sets out to clean all the dirty dishes his fiancé has left around the lot.
He washes them in the bathroom sink because it's just so much nicer than the one in the kitchen.
Zhan isn't quite sure if the creatures in the fish bowls are supposed to be floating belly-up and stinking...
... but in the end, he helpfully disposes of them anyway.
Zhan may not be a superstitious person, but still it is tradition in Shang Simla to have one's fortune told before making life-altering decisions.
He feels like his life has already changed tremendously in the past twenty-four hours, and so he makes his way to the lone caravan in the outskirts of town.
The ancient fortune teller takes a look at Zhan's tea leaves and tells him many things... which directly contradict the last fortune cookie he read. How can this be?
For a mere 11§, however, the fortune teller agrees to gather more information before making her final prediction.
Zhan tells her about his recent dreams and the old woman nods sagely, but says that everything is still too vague to make a clear prophecy.
Zhan happily shells out another 19§.
The crystal ball is hazy, but images begin to form. The fortune teller is sure they are on the right track now and for a mere 28§, she agrees to turn to her cards for answers.
Things are coming together slowly. Another 36§ should ensure that all the gathered information will be thoroughly double-checked.
The charts say that the stars smile favorably on Zhan, but he wants to be sure. Another 44§ won't hurt...
Finally, the old woman traces her bony finger over the lines on Zhan's palm. She is sure now and can make a most certainly, 100% certified true prediction.
"... so remember to avoid all penguins and you should be ok," the fortune teller impresses on Zhan once more before he finally leaves.
Wow. That was incredible. Zhan is amazed at the obvious professionalism of the fortune tellers here in Monte Vista. This most certainly was not a rip-off in any way. He is glad he got his fortune told.
With a renewed sense of purpose, he dashes off.
Monte Vista does look pretty in the snow. Zhan only hopes he won't run into any penguins...
Strange how things work, he thinks. Yesterday at this time I was eating a pre-packed, vacuum-sealed meal on a plane from Shang Simla and today I'm engaged and living in Monte Vista.
The Last Venue of Amore looks as magnificent in the fading afternoon light as it did last night under the stars.
It never gets this cold in Shang Simla, so a frozen pond is a new sight for Zhan. He has some time to kill, so he gives ice skating a try.
When Zhan makes his way over to the Last Venue of Amore, he runs into Giovanna Costa.
"It's nice to meet you, Zhan," she says as he bows to her. "Are you on vacation here in Monte Vista? It's been a while since I've last seen a tourist here."
"Actually," Zhan informs her, "I live here now! And I'm about to marry a local. Gloria Dutiel - do you know her?"
"Know her?" Giovanna practically squeals, "We're, like, this tight!"
"Seriously, Zhan, congratulations," she says and pats him on the shoulder.
"My, that silk shirt is pretty thin! Aren't you cold?" she worries.
"I'll be fine," he assures her. "I got some new clothes today when I picked up my tuxedo for the wedding."
Giovanna seems like a nice person and Zhan would love to become friends with her - in fact, his greatest wish in life is to befriend a total of 20 people! However, he needs to get ready, so he excuses himself and walks off.
Good thing the Last Venue of Amore has all the amenities one could ask for!
It's time. My shift has finally ended and I make my way to the most romantic place in all of Monte Vista.
I gaze at the beautiful stained glass window above me as I inhale deeply to steady my nerves. This is it.
I feel like I have been waiting for this moment my entire life.
I pass through the tall, heavy doors and notice how Zhan's eyes widen when he sees me.
The tall ceilings of the cathedral are so imposing.
Slowly, I walk up the aisle.
Zhan smiles serenely. The sight of him sends my heart aflutter and calms my nerves all at once.
Step by careful step I approach the man I will spend the rest of my life with.
We are the only people in the large cathedral.
Not like either one of us would have noticed anyway - we only have eyes for each other.
A few moments pass by...
When we get ready to recite our vows, people begin trickling in.
A very small crowd of people gathers around - only three - but Zhan is impressed nonetheless. The people of Monte Vista are so kind to attend a complete stranger's wedding!
Even though Zhan and I have only known each other for a few days, it feels like a lifetime to us. And we are ready to spend yet another lifetime together.
Jalissa Rivers and the two starving boys gush at the romantic ceremony.
We exchange rings...
... and vows.
And then, finally...
... we are...
... husband and wife.
And they lived happily ever after.
Or so we hope!
We spontaneously decide to hyphenate our names and are now Mr and Mrs Su-Dutiel.
Jalissa Rivers finds something to throw in celebration - let's hope it's just rice - and I feel like Zhan is practically reaching into my chest and squeezing my heart.
I just love him so much.
I think it's about time to take this somewhere more private.
Definitely.
We leave the last Venue of Amore behind and head to our little home.
Someone texts me to let me know that I missed their party. Sorry, but I had much more important things on my mind today!
Finally, the newlyweds arrive in their bedroom. And now follows what is traditional for every wedding night...
... in Monte Vista.
Zhan takes my surprise attack well and immediately grabs a pillow of his own.
Whack!
Is this how other couples spend their wedding nights?
Well, Zhan and I don't care.
Finally though, exhaustion ends our battle.
I slip into my nightgown and into bed, waiting for Zhan to join me.
He has some urgend business to attend to first, however. Zhan heads downstairs to the bathroom and is pleased to see that the washing maching, dryer and laundry basket he wanted have arrived.
He notices that he is more hungry than sleepy right now, so he sets out to prepare something to eat.
He makes enough waffles so his new wife can have some too. What a good guy!
In the meantime, his bride has given up on waiting for him and is fast asleep. Apparently she is hungry too, because she dreams of the wedding cake they didn't have.
Zhan silently enters the room and tries not to wake her as he gets into bed.
After all, there is no rush. They can sleep tonight. A lifetime together is still ahead of them.
