The Morning Reminder

Shan's phone buzzed against the mahogany desk. He glanced at the screen while signing contracts. Another reminder about the family gathering.

"Sir, your grandfather called three times this morning," his assistant Chen said, appearing in the doorway.

Shan's jaw tightened. "I'm in meetings all day."

"He said it's about your cousin Wei's wedding next week. Something about a tradition?"

The pen stopped moving across the paper. Grandfather never called about weddings unless it was important. Very important.

"What tradition?" Shan asked.

Chen shifted uncomfortably. "He wouldn't tell me. Just said you need to come home tonight. He mentioned something about a gift that's been waiting for you."

Shan stared out the floor-to-ceiling windows at Margona's skyline. The old man's traditions were always mysterious. And always non-negotiable.

"Cancel my dinner meeting," he said finally.

Chen nodded and disappeared. Shan's phone buzzed again. This time it was a text from Grandfather: "Some gifts change everything, my boy."

The Unexpected Introduction

Shan's car pulled into the courtyard of his grandfather's villa. The old stone house sat quietly among bamboo trees. His phone rang twice during the drive, but he let it go to voicemail.

The front door opened before he could knock. Grandfather stood there, shorter than Shan remembered, wearing his usual brown jacket.

"You came," the old man said. His eyes crinkled with something that looked like mischief.

"You said it was important."

Grandfather stepped aside. "Come. There's someone you need to meet."

They walked through the familiar hallways lined with family photos. Shan expected to see relatives gathered for wedding planning. Instead, a woman sat at the kitchen table, sorting through colorful fabric samples. She had short black hair and wore simple jeans and a white sweater.

"This is Lin," Grandfather said. "She's a shoemaker."

Lin looked up and smiled. "Your grandfather hired me to make special wedding shoes for your cousin's ceremony. But he says there's an old tradition about unmarried men in the family."

Shan's stomach dropped. "What tradition?"

Grandfather's grin widened. "The one where they must find their own bride before the family wedding ends."