pjbooks Chapter 499 Wedding Preparations
Chapter 499 Wedding Preparations
The large conference room at TUTU Technology's Shanghai headquarters has been more full than ever in recent months.
Almost all the chairs on both sides of the long table were occupied, and even the folding chairs against the wall had several project assistants taking notes.
Sunlight streamed through the blinds, casting parallel bands of light across the tabletop.
Lu Ran sat at one end of the long table, with a weekly report spread out in front of him.
The weekly report was thin, only four pages long, listing the activities of TUTU and Tencent on various fronts over the past week.
He read the weekly report from beginning to end, then closed it and pushed it aside.
"Let me tell you about our situation first," he began, his voice neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for the person sitting furthest away to hear clearly. "The hundred people we recruited from campuses completed their onboarding training last week and have been assigned to six project teams. Zhao Yiming, how's the feedback from your side?"
Zhao Yiming sat by the window, twirling a pen in his hand.
He put down his pen and pushed his notebook forward: "This group of new recruits is getting up to speed faster than expected. In the first week after the training, most of them were already able to independently complete some simple feature development and testing. A few with particularly strong foundations have already started participating in the code maintenance of core modules. At this rate, in another two or three months, they will be able to take on independent project tasks."
Zhou Mingzhe added, "Then we won't be afraid of Tencent poaching us anymore. We'll continue to poach Tencent's mid-to-senior level talent, while simultaneously cultivating our own new personnel. We'll work on both fronts without neglecting either."
Lu Ran nodded, then turned to Chen Mo: "What about Tencent? Any new developments lately?"
Chen Mo leaned back in his chair, holding a cup of tea that had gone mostly cold.
He took a sip and put down his glass: "Tencent's actions haven't stopped. The acquisitions of those small and medium-sized companies are finalized, and due diligence for the remaining investments is underway. The strategic cooperation with Hello is almost complete; it's reportedly in the final stages of confirming the terms. The cooperation with NIO is also going through the process, and news of the two companies jointly developing a connected car system has already spread throughout the industry."
"And what about internally? How's their morale?"
Chen Mo thought for a moment, carefully choosing his words before speaking: "Morale is lower than we expected. Although Tencent hasn't officially responded to the Zhang Weiming incident, its internal impact is greater than they anticipated. Especially in the Intelligent Mobility Business Unit, the number of internal transfer applications in the past month has almost doubled compared to last month. Several people have proactively contacted our headhunters before the process even started, saying they wanted to come and have a chat."
He paused for a moment after speaking, then added, "However, Tencent is a large company after all, and their core business remains unshaken. Their core business lines, management team, and financial reserves are still top-tier in the industry. They won't experience a catastrophic decline in the short term; they're just not as invincible as before."
After listening, Lu Ran picked up the weekly report on the table again, glanced at it, and then put it down again.
He didn't immediately express his opinion, but sat quietly for a few seconds, as if he were making a complete comparison of the two situations in his mind.
Tencent holds the largest social and payment ecosystem in China, boasts an unfathomably deep user base, hundreds of billions of yuan in cash reserves, an experienced management team, ample reserves of mid-level talent, and smoother official communication channels than any other internet company.
They don't need to win, they just need to avoid losing. As long as they don't make any major strategic mistakes, Tencent will never exit this industry.
What TUTU has is different from what Tencent has.
TUTU's advantages are concentrated in two directions: one is its rapidly iterating AI engine, whose technological barriers are so high that other companies cannot catch up in the short term; the other is its already established alliance network, with JD.com, Ele.me, and Kuaishou each providing support in their respective fields, forming a traffic channel covering the three core scenarios of shopping, food delivery, and entertainment.
TUTU doesn't need to be good at everything; it just needs to maintain its leading position in AI and ensure the stability of its network of allies.
Both sides have their strengths and weaknesses.
Tencent cannot break through TUTU's technological barriers, and TUTU cannot break through Tencent's user ecosystem.
Neither side can completely defeat the other in the short term; it's a matter of who can last longer and make fewer mistakes.
Lu Ran summarized: "The current situation is—we can't kill Tencent, and Tencent can't kill us. For the next few months, even a year, both sides will continue to wear each other down. Tencent has a financial advantage, while we have a technological advantage. Whoever can't hold on first, whoever makes the first mistake, will lose."
The meeting lasted for about twenty more minutes.
Several specific execution nodes were discussed, including the next version iteration cycle of the AI engine, the project initiation schedule for new games, and further expansion plans in overseas markets.
There were no disputes; everyone had a clear division of labor and milestones, as if they were following a pre-drawn roadmap.
As the meeting adjourned, people gradually stood up and left. The sounds of chairs being dragged, materials being packed away, and hushed conversations mingled together, echoing in the meeting room for a few seconds before dispersing.
Lu Ran remained seated until everyone had left before standing up and standing by the window for a while.
The June weather in Shanghai outside the window is already hot. The plane tree leaves on both sides of the street downstairs are a deep, glossy green, and pedestrians are walking briskly across the zebra crossing with their parasols.
The glass curtain walls of the office buildings in the distance reflected the bright sunlight.
He looked at the street scene outside the window for a while, and a thought crossed his mind.
The thought had been swirling in his mind for weeks, initially only occasionally, but becoming more and more frequent in recent days—the wedding he had promised Shen Yuege had been delayed for far too long.
The two have been legally married for almost a year and have publicly announced their relationship, but they still lack a formal wedding ceremony for everyone.
Shen Yuege never urged him, not even once.
But Lu Ran knew in his heart that this matter could not be delayed any longer.
Shen Yuege is now more than four months pregnant.
Her morning sickness has mostly passed, her appetite has returned to normal, and her physical condition is stable.
Her belly isn't very noticeable yet, and if she wears slightly loose clothing, no one can tell she's pregnant.
But if we delay any longer, in another month or two, my belly will start to get noticeably bigger, and then it will be more troublesome to wear a dress or go on a ceremony.
If we don't do it now, we'll have to wait until after the baby is born.
That will happen a year from now.
Lu Ran walked back to his desk and sat down. He picked up his phone and scrolled through his contacts, finding a contact he had saved before.
It was a high-end wedding planning company based in Shanghai with a good reputation in the industry. Lu Ran had seen photos of several weddings they had planned online, and the quality was indeed top-notch.
He didn't call first, but sent a message: "Hello, this is Lu Ran from TUTU Technology. I'd like to inquire about their wedding planning services. Could we schedule a time to meet in person if it's convenient?"
The other party replied very quickly, much faster than Lu Ran had expected.
The person who replied claimed to be the founder of the company, surnamed Lin, and said that he was honored to receive Lu Ran's consultation. He said that they could meet tomorrow afternoon, and the time and place would be determined by Lu Ran.
Lu Ran replied that he would come to the TUTU office building at 2 PM tomorrow, and someone at the front desk would greet him.
At 2 p.m. the next day, the front desk called to say that the guests had arrived.
Lu Ran asked the receptionist to take the person to the reception room, and then put down his work and went over there.
The reception room wasn't large, but it was well-lit, with the south-facing windows letting in the afternoon sunlight.
When Lu Ran pushed the door open, a woman in her early forties stood up from the sofa.
She wore a crisp white shirt and dark gray suit pants, her hair was neatly styled, and she looked both capable and gentle.
"Hello, Mr. Lu, I'm Lin Wei." She extended her hand, shaking it with a firm but appropriate grip. "Thank you for giving us this opportunity."
"Mr. Lin, you're too kind." Lu Ran sat down opposite her. "I invited you here today to discuss the wedding arrangements."
Lin Wei took out a thin booklet and a pen from her bag, opened it to a blank page, and assumed a note-taking posture: "Mr. Lu, please speak, and I'll jot down your basic thoughts."
Lu Ran thought for a moment and then stated her first requirement: "The venue must be outdoors. I don't want a banquet hall-style wedding; I feel it's too formal and the atmosphere isn't relaxed enough. Ideally, it should be in a place with a lawn, next to a lake or waterway, so it will look good in photos on a clear day. Shanghai or the surrounding area is fine, not too far away."
Lin Wei glanced down and jotted down a few notes: "Outdoor lawn wedding, with water features, any venue around Shanghai is fine. We've done this a few times; there are a few suitable venues in the western suburbs of Shanghai and Suzhou. I can compile a list for you later."
"Secondly, the scale shouldn't be too large. I don't want to invite too many people. Besides family members and very close friends, I don't need to invite those who are just there for social occasions. A few dozen people is fine, no more than a hundred."
Lin Wei made another note in the booklet, then looked up to confirm: "Small wedding, under a hundred people. I understand that too. As for the ceremony's details, do you have any preferences?"
Lu Ran leaned back on the sofa and thought for a few seconds.
He doesn't usually like to express his feelings in public, but this wedding is different; it's something he owes Shen Yuege.
Moreover, some things that are difficult to say in ordinary times feel natural to say at a wedding.
"The ceremony shouldn't be too long or too emotional. The emcee's remarks should be concise, so it doesn't feel like a variety show. But I'd like to include a segment in the middle—I want to sing a song for her myself."
Lin Wei paused for a moment, holding the pen in her hand.
She looked up at Lu Ran, her professionalism softening slightly: "You'll sing it yourself?"
"Yes. I'm writing a new song, and I'll sing it live. Please schedule a suitable time for me, so it doesn't clash with other segments."
Lin Wei lowered her head again to jot down a few notes, her tone carrying a subtle hint of emotion: "Mr. Lu, in all my years as a wedding planner, you're the first person I've had whose groom personally wrote and sang a song."
Lu Ran said, "That's perfect, the first one is more interesting than the tenth," and then continued, "The floral arrangements should be of good quality, not too plain, nor too bright. You can decide on the color scheme; I trust your aesthetic sense. The same goes for the food; since there aren't many guests, each dish needs to be exquisite."
He thought for a moment, then added two more points: "Also, don't turn the wedding into a large-scale performance. No need for light shows, smoke machines, or special effects. Just keep it quiet and clean, so everyone feels that this wedding is serious."
"Also, you can recommend partners for the bride's wedding dress and makeup, but the final decision rests with her."
Lin Wei finished noting down the last point, closed her notebook, and looked more relaxed than when she had entered: "Mr. Lu, I roughly understand your ideas. Outdoor venue, small scale, a self-singing segment for the newlyweds, exquisite food and floral arrangements, and minimal packaging. I'll need about a week to compile a list of venues and a preliminary plan, which I'll send to you for review. After your confirmation, we'll move on to the next step."
"Okay. Let's proceed at this pace."
Lu Ran escorted Lin Wei to the elevator.
Before the elevator doors closed, Lin Wei turned back, her tone even softer than before: "Mr. Lu, your wife will surely love this wedding."
"I hope so."
The elevator doors closed, and the numbers started to drop.
When Lu Ran returned home that evening, Shen Yuege was sitting on the living room sofa flipping through a magazine.
She wore a loose white short-sleeved shirt and light gray lounge pants, with cotton slippers on her feet, and her hair was casually tied in a low ponytail.
On the coffee table was a plate of sliced watermelon and a pot of iced tea. The TV was on, but the volume was very low, like a rerun of some variety show.
Priscilla Chan was tidying up the stove in the kitchen when the tap ran for a while and then stopped.
Shen Zhiwei sat on another single sofa, with his phone and teacup in front of him, looking down at some news.
Lu Ran changed his shoes and walked over, sitting down next to Shen Yuege.
She turned her head to look at him, a slight smile playing on her lips: "Why are you back so early today?"
"Nothing urgent happened today, so I came back early."
Shen Yuege closed the magazine and placed it on the coffee table, then took a slice of watermelon from the fruit plate and handed it to him.
Lu Ran took the watermelon and took a bite. The watermelon was very sweet and juicy.
After he finished chewing and swallowing, he placed the melon rind on the edge of the coffee table and said, "Yuege, I have something to tell you."
Shen Yuege looked at him, waiting for him to continue.
"Regarding the wedding. I talked to a planning company today, and we've roughly decided on the venue, scale, and process. We're choosing an outdoor lawn as the venue, and the number of people will be kept under 100 to avoid it being too noisy."
Shen Yuege did not respond immediately after hearing this.
She paused for two seconds, then asked, "When did you find him?"
"This afternoon. The other party is a professional planning company with a good reputation, and I think they are reliable."
Shen Yuege put her legs down and sat up straighter.
Her expression didn't change much, but her lips pursed slightly—a very subtle movement that was almost unnoticeable unless you looked closely.
"Are you going to sing?" she asked.
"The event planning company said you have to sing a song at the ceremony."
Lu Ran paused for a moment, then chuckled.
He knew Shen Yuege must have heard it from Lu Ran. After Lu Ran finished talking with Lin Wei, he must have told Shen Yuege's mother about it.
Then Priscilla Chan told Shen Yuege.
"Yes. I plan to write a new song and sing it for you at the ceremony."
Shen Yuege looked at him for two seconds, then lowered her head, picked up a piece of watermelon, took a bite, and chewed very slowly.
She swallowed the watermelon before raising her head again, her voice calmer than before: "Then you need to write it down in advance."
"It's already being written."
Shen Yuege did not press the matter further.
She leaned back on the sofa, put her feet back on the edge of the coffee table, picked up her iced tea, took a sip, then put down the cup, picked up the remote, and turned the TV volume up a bit.
The TV was showing a replay of a talent show, and a female singer was standing on stage singing a slow song.
Priscilla Chan came out of the kitchen, carrying a plate of sliced mangoes, and placed it on the coffee table.
She glanced at Shen Yuege's expression, then at Lu Ran, and finally her gaze lingered on Shen Yuege's face before she asked, "Yuege, were you laughing just now?"
"I don't."
"I clearly saw the corner of your mouth twitch slightly."
"That's because the watermelon is too sweet."
Priscilla Chan chuckled and didn't press further, turning back to the kitchen. The tap started running again.
Lu Ran sat down next to Shen Yuege and pushed the fruit plate towards her.
Shen Yuege took a watermelon from inside and put it in her mouth without looking at him. But Lu Ran noticed that the tips of her ears were slightly red.
The color was very light, almost invisible under the warm yellow light in the living room, but he saw it.
That night, after the two went upstairs, Shen Yuege lay on the bed for a long time without saying a word.
Lu Ran turned off the light and lay in the dark, assuming she was already asleep.
About ten minutes later, her voice suddenly came from the side. It wasn't loud, as if she had been preparing for a long time before deciding to speak.
"For my wedding dress, I'd like to wear a white one."
"Okay. Have the event planning company recommend a few shops, and you can choose one yourself."
"I don't want skirts with really big hems; they're inconvenient to walk in."
"OK."
"The veil shouldn't be too long, just down to the shoulders is fine."
"Okay. Anything else you require?"
Shen Yuege was quiet for a moment, then her voice was even softer than before: "The weather must be sunny that day. It shouldn't rain."
Lu Ran reached out in the darkness and took her hand.
Her palms were warm, her fingertips slightly cool. Lu Ran said, "I'll check the weather forecast every day. If it's predicted to rain, I'll have someone disperse the clouds."
Shen Yuege chuckled in his palm: "Where are you going to find someone to fight Yun?"
"Just pay up. Someone'll always take the job."
She didn't say anything more, but she didn't pull her hand back.
She lay there quietly, her palm against his.
The streetlights outside shone through the gaps in the curtains, casting a dim, yellowish light on the ceiling.
A few car sounds occasionally drifted from afar, then silence returned.
The first thing Lu Ran did upon arriving at the company the next day was to contact Lin Wei.
He sat in his office chair and sent a short message to the wedding planning company: "I have one more request—during the ceremony on the wedding day, please arrange a segment where I can go on stage and sing a song in its entirety. It should be about five minutes long. You can decide on the specific equipment, sound system, and stage location, but the time slot must be ample."
Lin Wei replied quickly: "Received. We will reserve enough time to ensure the on-site equipment supports the entire performance. We will coordinate the specific technical details with your team later."
After sending the message, Lu Ran put his phone on the table and opened his computer to create a new document.
The document's title consisted of only a few words—"A Song for Shen Yuege." He stared at those five words for a long time, his fingers remaining motionless on the keyboard.
He wanted to sing a song that she would remember for a lifetime.
This song has been sitting in the system's music library for a long time.
When he found the song, a short note popped up on the screen: "Wedding Special, Applicable to: Unforgettable Moments." He listened to the full version, and his throat tightened halfway through, but he didn't stop and listened to the whole thing. After listening, he exported the song from the system and saved it to his computer.
With the lyrics, melody, and arrangement all in place, he needed to make some minor adjustments based on his own voice.
This job isn't strenuous; it can be completed in a few days.
But he didn't rush to get started. He closed the document first, then leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling for a while.
He was thinking about that day.
The sun should be shining brightly, the lawn should be green, and Shen Yuege, dressed in a white wedding gown, stood under the flower stand, watching him walk over, watching him pick up the microphone, and watching him begin to sing that song.
He sat up straight, reopened the document, and began typing out the lyrics line by line.
Sunlight streamed in through the gaps in the blinds, casting long, thin strips of light across the desk.
The light bars moved slowly over time, from the left side of the table to the center, then from the center to the right, and then gradually dimmed.
By the time Lu Ran finalized the lyrics and sheet music, it was almost dark outside the window.
He saved the document, turned off the computer, and stood up to stretch his stiff neck.
This song is actually an improved version of a song from a previous life.
Even without modifications, this song is already quite suitable for use at weddings.
Lu Ran remembered that in his previous life he had attended the wedding of an online novelist named "Fanta Chicken Wings," and the groom had sung this song at the wedding.
However, Lu Ran is a top-notch music producer, and he can further refine the lyrics, composition, and arrangement of this song.
Lu Ran checked the time; it was already quite late.
Tomorrow I'm taking Shen Yuege to have her wedding photos taken.
Makeup, changing clothes, changing locations, posing – things that an ordinary person can do in a day, are split into two days for a pregnant woman.
He has already communicated with the photographer to ensure that the shooting does not exceed one hour continuously and that sufficient rest time is allowed in between.
When he picked up his coat and walked out of the office, most of the lights in the corridor were already on.
The light in the tea room was still on, and people were talking inside. Their voices weren't loud, and it was hard to hear what they were saying through the door.
As he passed by, he heard laughter coming from inside, as if someone was saying something interesting.
As he stood at the elevator entrance waiting for the elevator, something else was on his mind—would Shen Yuege think his smile was too stiff when they took photos tomorrow?
The elevator arrived, and he stepped inside. Before the door closed, he glanced one last time at the light that was on at the end of the corridor.
Let's deal with tomorrow's problems tomorrow. Let's get all the chores done today.
The rest of the time is spent waiting.
...