Saturday morning arrives and I'm not going anywhere.
At least, not to the Wuchen estate.
By 7:30 AM, I'm standing in a small tailor shop a few blocks from the house. The kind of place that does alterations for wedding guests, fixes hems, nothing fancy.
It's the first time I've left my room in four days, and the morning air feels strange against my skin. Too bright, too real.
The beta behind the counter looks half-asleep. "Bit early."
"I need measurements for a suit."
He yawns and pulls out a measuring tape. "Wedding?"
"Groomsman."
"Ah." He gestures for me to stand properly. "Arms out."
The whole thing takes less than ten minutes. Chest, waist, inseam, sleeve length. He writes everything down on a slip of paper in neat handwriting and hands it to me.
"That'll be fifteen yuan."
I pay and leave.
Outside, I photograph the measurements and send them to Bael.
*Me: My measurements. I'm not coming to the estate.*
I'm halfway down the block when my phone buzzes.
