THEWEDDINGPLAN, Chapter 1:
The most frustrating thing for service workers is overly picky customers… about anything and everything.
After coming to terms with the fact that the eye-candy guy he’d been ogling for a full five minutes was soon to be a groom, Namnuea summoned his professionalism, plastered on a business smile, and led the team—along with Sis Eim—into the meeting room. He suppressed his envy toward the lucky bride who managed to snag such a stunning groom in an era when straight men were as rare as a pinky finger.
“As we discussed over the phone, the wedding is set for three months from now, right, Ms. Yiwa?”
“Yes,” the bride-to-be replied with a cute smile. No wonder she could win over a handsome guy like that.
“That’s a pretty tight timeline,” he noted.
Typically, couples planning a wedding would consult at least five months in advance to ensure everything is perfect. Three months wasn’t too chaotic, though. They’d handled a two-week rush job before… in cases where, well, you know.
The kid couldn’t wait for their parents to tie the knot, so they forced the issue by getting pregnant first. “Is it not doable?” Pause.
The listener’s brows furrowed instantly as the groom-to-be interjected. Namnuea’s big eyes met his, only to find the guy raising an eyebrow in a… condescending way.
What, is he all looks and no substance?
“It’s not that it can’t be done. But preparing in three months means you, Khun Sailom, and Ms. Yiwa will have less time to plan, and the bride and groom will end up the most exhausted.” “Isn’t that why we’re here? Everyone says your slogan is, ‘You dream it, we make it happen.’ That’s why I agreed to come here—because I expect you to organize the best wedding in three months, something we couldn’t pull off ourselves.” Oh, he’s picking a fight now. I was just explaining, damn it! Namnuea felt the corner of his mouth twitch, but having dealt with customers like this before, he managed a soothing smile. “I didn’t mean it’s impossible. My apologies, Sailom.” At first, he thought the guy’s name sounded nice, but now he wondered if this jerk was about to blow a gasket.
“Mmhh.”
Sailom, the impeccably dressed, sharp-featured man from McDonald’s—the one who said he wouldn’t let go if he caught someone—turned out to be a completely different story. After less than ten minutes of talking, Namnuea wanted to take back his initial impression immediately. This guy seemed more like a troublemaker than his polite appearance suggested.
“Hehe, Phii Lom, don’t tease Nuea,” Sister Eim said, almost jumping into the conversation. The situation felt tense, but the bride-to-be let out a laugh and playfully poked her groom’s arm with a cute gesture.
“I didn’t do anything, Wa!” Sailom protested.
“Everyone saw it! That’s not nice, you know,” she teased.
Got you there, huh?
Nuea laughed inwardly, though he kept a straight face, until he froze.
“Well, I noticed Nuea couldn’t take his eyes off my fiancée, so I just…” Sailom shrugged, making the now-stiff Namnuea widen his eyes slightly.
“Hey! I didn’t…”
In this lifetime, he’d never stared at a woman. So why would he be ogling the bride-to-be? Unless… Oh, right. Earlier.
“I didn’t mean it like that,” Namnuea clarified. “I was just thinking that Yiwa must look stunning in a wedding dress.” Earlier, when he was staring at the bride, it was purely out of envy—envy that she got to have such a good-looking guy. But now, honestly, that envy had vanished, replaced by irritation at this man’s ridiculous behavior. See, Wa? Where did I go wrong? Ugh, jealous much? Go take it out on the building’s foundation or something!
He wanted to snap back, but Sister Eim’s warning glance made him swallow his words and force a dry smile. He looked at the team leader, who skillfully changed the subject.
“So, about the wedding venue—have you thought about where you’d like to hold it?” Sister Eim asked.
“Hmm…” The beautiful young woman tilted her head slightly and gave a sweet smile. “I’m fine with whatever Phii Lom decides.”
Strange. They say brides are usually the ones with endless requests for their wedding—well, maybe second to the bride’s mother. But this bride was fully deferring to the groom.
“And you, Phii Lom?” Sister Eim turned to him.
“I haven’t decided yet,” Sailom replied.
“Hmm, have the elders specified anything? I’m just warning you from personal experience—dealing with relatives is the toughest part,” Sister Eim said. Though her question was likely aimed at getting answers to start planning quickly, her friendly tone and playful, conspiratorial whispering seemed to put the bride and groom at ease, encouraging them to open up. “I can assure you that our family won’t meddle, because Yiwa has already sworn that if they want Phii Lom and Phii Yiwa to get married quickly, they’re not allowed to interfere, except for handling the guest list.”
And they agreed to that?
Namnuea couldn’t help but wonder, because from direct experience, as Sister Eim would say, parents are the real troublemakers. They might not even be planning a wedding for their kids—more like for themselves. This has to be how they want it, that has to be as the mom sees fit. And there really won’t be any issues, as they claim?
“No need to worry. If I say it’s okay, no matter what the family says, just trust my word,” the groom-to-be interjected, seemingly noticing the questioning look in Namnuea’s eyes. He spoke with a faint smile, as if to reassure.
A smile that… made his heart skip a beat.
“And the rough number of guests?”
“How many, Phii Lom?” Yiwa turned to ask the man beside her, who was quietly thinking. “About five hundred, I guess.” Better add more to that.
Namnuea chuckled inwardly, because when the couple says this number, just wait until they talk to the family. Friends of friends of the brother of the aunt of the mom will show up from who-knows-where, along with a long list of family members. The number will definitely balloon if the couple says five hundred already includes friends and relatives…
Sister Eim knew this too, as she exchanged a knowing glance before steering the conversation to the main point.
“For this event, have you, Khun Sailom and Ms. Yiwa, set a rough budget yet? We’ll plan everything to stay within budget and ensure it’s at a satisfactory level,” she asked, her question laced with a persuasive pitch. Yiwa turned to the groom-to-be as if posing a question.
They haven’t discussed anything beforehand, have they?
Namnuea couldn’t help but be surprised.
“No limit,” Sailom said.
Huh!?
The listeners flinched, looking at him as if to confirm, and the man in front of them stated clearly…
“There’s no budget limit for this. Just make sure the event turns out the best it can be.”
Sister Eim’s eyes were sparkling, her smile so sweet it was almost terrifying, while Namnuea couldn’t help but feel a slight shiver… not because of the smile of the man in front of him. The customer is king, but a customer with a fat wallet is like the creator of the world. So, Nuea could already sense the chaotic fate awaiting him in the next three months.
“Ugh, are they really getting married or what, Sister Eim?!” “Don’t complain. The customer is king. Start drafting the plan!”
Namnuea was on the verge of losing it, thinking back to the soon-to-be bride and groom who seemed perfectly matched, like a golden branch and jade leaf, from yesterday. Since the other party said the budget was unlimited, he thought the job would be easier than expected. No matter how picky they were, money could make anything happen. But, of course, it wasn’t that simple.
“Do you want a Chinese banquet-style event or a cocktail party?”
“I’m fine with whatever Phii Lom decides.”
“I’m good with anything.”
When asked about the event style, the bride deferred to the groom. And the groom? Even worse—anything goes.
“Are you set on a specific hotel? Like, does it need to be in the city center, have a certain vibe, or be in a particular area?”
“I’m fine with whatever Phii Lom wants.”
“I haven’t thought about it. I’m good with anything. Just suggest something.”
When asked about the venue, the bride smiled sweetly, and the groom just shrugged. Even when it came to…
“What about the engagement ceremony? Will it be on the same day, morning and afternoon, or separate days? And roughly how many guests for the engagement?”
“Uh, the engagement… I haven’t thought about it. Can we skip the engagement and just do the wedding in the evening?
What do you think, Phii Lom?”
“I told you, I’m good with anything. It’s all up to you.” ‘Ughhhhh! If only the phrase ‘anything goes’ didn’t exist in this world!!!’
Thinking back to yesterday, Namnuea wanted to scream loud enough to shake the earth. Ask the bride anything, and it’s “I don’t know,” “Haven’t thought about it,” “Whatever Phii Lom wants.” And the groom? Even worse—anything goes.
What does anything goes even look like? Show it to Nuea!
“Come on, it’s better than them being nitpicky.”
“I’d rather they be nitpicky. At least then I’d have some idea of what they want. This is a blank slate, Sister Eim. My head’s got nothing to work with. I don’t even know where to start. I’m about to just recycle an old plan and shove it in!” The one tasked with drafting the plan was practically clutching his temples. Meanwhile, the beautiful Sister Eim, sipping her coffee with arms crossed, let out a throaty laugh that sounded oddly chilling. “I don’t care, you figure out how to make Sailom happy with this plan. I’m going to take the plan and budget and shove it in that curly-haired pot-scrubber’s face to my heart’s content.”
The “curly-haired pot-scrubber” refers to the curly-haired woman in the finance department who constantly clashes with Sister Eim. That side is all about cutting costs, while this side is determined to satisfy the client to the fullest. Naturally, they’ve butted heads plenty of times. This time, with an unlimited budget, Sister Eim is probably secretly thrilled… or maybe openly thrilled.
“So what am I supposed to do? I’ve got nothing in my head, Sis,” Namnuea could only sigh deeply, at a loss, while fiddling with the business card he’d just received.
He knew the guy seemed rich, but to be the manager of a manufacturing company at just twenty-eight? He must be seriously capable.
“If you’ve got nothing, go find something.”
“Where?” he echoed, dragging out the word. The listener pointed.
“In your hand.” Swish.
“What, you want me to go talk to Blowhard Sailom, Sis?” “His name is Sailom. Don’t get used to calling clients weird names, or you’ll get in trouble. And yes, you need to go talk to Sailom. Or what, are you going to talk to Ms. Yiwa, Nuea? He already said to follow Sailom’s lead. Whatever the groom wants, you do. So even if you go to Ms. Yiwa, she’ll just tell you to talk to Sailom. What’s so hard to understand about needing to consult Sailom further?” The listener wanted to argue that the issue wasn’t not knowing to talk to Sailom, but rather—
“Why does it have to be me? Do you think everyone else is just sitting around?”
“What about you, Sis?” He pointed right at her.
“I’m already dealing with a headache from the product launch party. You want to trade with me?” When Sis snapped back about that, the listener cringed, shaking his head. Just thinking about the client for that event… ugh, the pickiness and nonsense were beyond description.
That job was better left to handling logistics—ordering supplies, talking to the chef, setting up the venue. As for coordinating with the client, Sister Eim was the better fit.
“I’ll handle the wedding myself,” he finally conceded. “About time you got it,” Sis said smugly. He playfully stuck out his tongue at her, but… Smack.
“Go find Khun Lom and meet him already… Stop slacking off. You’re hired to work, not to sit around breathing all day!” If it weren’t for the fact that the boss lady was the company owner’s girlfriend, Nuea would’ve snapped back by now. But, fearing he’d lose his job and means of survival, he just rubbed his face—where a rolled-up paper had lightly smacked him— grabbed the business card, returned to his desk, and let out a long sigh.
The boss lady doesn’t get me at all. No matter how much she annoyed him, Nuea still couldn’t help but want a guy like that.
He sighed heavily again, lost in thought.
He’s about to be a groom, Nuea. No wonder this groom-to-be is such a mess.
“I’m not free.”
“B-But Khun Sailom said I could meet him today!”
“Sorry, something urgent came up.” How can he talk so rudely like that?
Right now, Namnuea was barely holding back the urge to smash the vase on the table over the head of the man in front of him. He’d gone out of his way, traveling from the city center to a factory on the outskirts—almost two hours—just to meet someone who had scheduled this appointment yesterday.
When he tried to ask for more details over the phone, the response was…
[“I don’t like discussing important matters over the phone, especially something as big as a wedding. If you have questions, just come meet me.”]
“Where would be convenient for you, Khun Sailom?”
“I work on weekdays. Can you come to my office?”] Though he wanted to scream to the heavens that it was ridiculously far, Namnuea still responded with an enthusiastic tone, even if his face looked like he’d swallowed bitter medicine.
“Sure, what time works best?”
[“Tomorrow around noon. I’ll have some time.”]
That’s what the man said, and Namnuea showed up as agreed,
only to be greeted with, “I’m not free.”
Not free? Then why the hell did you make me come all the way out here?!
At this moment, the service-minded (?) Namnuea had to flash a fake professional smile, grit his teeth, and say with a forced grin—while his eyebrow twitched, “No problem, I understand.
It’s an urgent matter, right?”
“Let’s talk another time then,” Khun Sailom replied.
Ugh.
Saying he understood was one thing, but the way the other guy stood up, practically shooing him away, was a whole different story.
Namnuea still clung to Sailom’s desk, his large round eyes looking up to meet his gaze, asking in a professional tone. “So, when would be convenient for you, Khun Sailom? I can arrange to meet you again.”
“Well, during work hours isn’t very convenient.” Then why did you ask me to come here?
He wanted to ask that, but seeing the handsome groom-to-be with his arms crossed, deep in thought, made his body flush with heat. Especially when his eyes accidentally drifted down to the fitted shirt that showcased a chiseled chest. Honestly, he had to struggle to suppress his baser desires.
And that face… the closer he looked, the more he noticed the sharp, striking features typical of a Thai man, likely without any Chinese ancestry, and incredibly good-looking. Plus, today there was a faint stubble, the kind from someone who doesn’t shave every day…
I’m practically drooling, Sister Eim.
“After work hours would be fine. How about the evening?” “Wouldn’t that disturb you? After work hours for me is after work hours for you too,” Sailom raised an eyebrow slightly, his sharp eyes glinting with curiosity. The listener flashed a professional smile.
Oh, please. Before every event, Nuea practically lives at the venue. Talking business after hours? Piece of cake.
“No problem at all. My work hours are pretty flexible. Just name a time, Khun Sailom…” “How about 10 p.m.?” What!?
Before Nuea could even finish, the handsome man shot back instantly, shattering his professional composure. He could only widen his eyes, staring at the guy who spoke without a shred of courtesy.
Who schedules a work meeting at 10 p.m., seriously? Are you even thinking straight?!
“Didn’t you say I could pick any time?” Tch, that smug grin again!
The listener wanted to throw a punch. Better yet, he wanted to whip a crocodile tail at that sturdy neck of his.
As he gaped, the other raised an eyebrow, crossed his arms, leaned his hip against the desk, and spoke in a tone… that sounded way too amused.
Trying to challenge me, huh? Bring it on!
He clenched his fist and replied in a firm voice.
“Ten p.m. works. Where would you like to meet, Khun
Sailom?”
The man in front of him paused for a moment before bursting into laughter.
His laugh made his sharp, handsome face even more captivating. His piercing eyes sparkled, and his perfectly shaped lips curved into a smile, making the young organizer’s heart pound. Namnuea had to mentally chant to himself… He’s about to have a wife. He’s about to have a wife. He’s about to have… a wife.
“Just kidding, Khun Nuea.”
Don’t call my name in that soft voice with that charming smile!
Namnuea desperately wanted to look away from those sharp eyes, but he forced himself to hold the gaze, noticing they weren’t pure black but more like a tea-colored hue, tempting him to lean in closer.
Stop it, Nuea! Stop thinking about it, damn it!
“Don’t tease me like that,” Namnuea said, trying not to let his voice sound whiny. The other man smirked, then steered the conversation back to the topic at hand.
“But I’m not free today after work. I have somewhere to be.”
“What about tomorrow?”
“Same.”
“The day after?”
“Hmm, same.”
Are you even getting married?!
After a brief moment of being charmed, Namnuea took a deep breath, summoning his professionalism. He’d dealt with all kinds of grooms before, and a lack of cooperation wasn’t going to faze him. “Khun Sailom, I don’t mean to be rude, but this is quite urgent. We only have three months, and we don’t even have a wedding plan yet. If we let time slip away, things will get even more chaotic, especially in the final month. So, I’m asking for just an hour—no, even half an hour would do. Our slogan is ‘You dream it, we make it happen,’ but if you don’t have any dreams to share, how can we make it happen?” He was holding back his frustration as much as he could, wondering if this job might end up with the client canceling on them.
If the groom got upset and went to another planner, Sister Eim would definitely kill Nuea!
He could only manage a strained smile, looking at the man who had stopped smiling and was now rubbing his chin thoughtfully. That calm expression made Namnuea wish he could rewind time.
You said something he didn’t like, didn’t you, Nuea?
“Uh, I…”
“What you said makes sense.” Phew.
The person about to apologize let out a huge sigh, looking at the one who finally agreed, nodding with a glimmer of hope that the project would move forward.
“Honestly, for my wedding, I’m fine with anything. Just propose a plan, and I’ll review it later…”
Goddamn it, he totally didn’t get what I was saying!
Namnuea nearly snapped back, but the other guy raised a hand to stop him first. “But that’s not ideal, right? You’re genuinely trying to make sure my wedding with Yiwa is the best it can be. I’ve heard that if you want a wedding done right, go to Wiwa Square. You guys don’t do things half-assed. That’s good.” The listener quieted down, taking it as a compliment, unable to help but curve his lips into a smile.
The young man in front of him nodded to himself again. “Alright, how about this? Come with me this evening, but…” Sailom started.
“I’ve got plans this evening, but having two people tag along won’t be an issue,” he said. Namnuea smiled with relief, finally standing up from his seat. “Thank you. What time this evening, then?”
The other party set a time and place, which the listener confirmed, before saying, “I’ll take my leave then, Sailom. See you this evening.”
No matter how much his heart was racing, Nuea still kept it professional.
Proud of himself, he gathered his briefcase filled with wedding details and documents, turned, and started to step out of the room.
“Oh, one more thing.”
Please, let me go. My stomach acid’s already working overtime from the stress.
“Yes?” But he turned to meet the other’s gaze, flashing a smile, only to… feel his vision blur.
Because the man in front of him was giving a charming smile.
And not just that—the voice that came out… was so smooth and pleasant.
“You don’t have to call me Sailom. Just Lom is fine.” Freeze.
Using a nickname wasn’t unusual, but hearing him say it like that made it feel… a little closer. “Alright, Lom.” Blush.
Namnuea hadn’t felt his face heat up for anyone in a long time, but the moment he said the nickname, the smile from the other side widened even more. Those sharp eyes sparkled with charm, making his heart pound wildly, sending blood rushing to his cheeks until they burned. All he could do was give a slight nod as a farewell and hurry out of the office before he accidentally said something he shouldn’t.
It wasn’t until he stepped outside that Namnuea clutched his chest with both hands.
Oh no, oh no, oh no! He’s getting married, Namnuea. He’s getting married!
“Don’t you dare, man. You don’t want to be known as the guy crushing on the groom, do you?”
This job was already a mess, but nothing was scarier than this—figuring out how to finish the job without falling for the ridiculously charming groom.
What?! What is this place? “Uh, Khun Lom, this is…”
“A gym.”
I know it’s a gym, but why did you bring me to a gym? The meeting spot the groom-to-be had chosen was a shopping mall. At first, Nuea thought they’d be discussing work at some café or restaurant, but instead, the other man led him upstairs and straight to a place with a familiar logo. People passing by were carrying huge bags, likely stuffed with clothes for changing, leaving the young organizer completely stunned. “I come to the gym about four or five times a week, except for weekends. If you want to talk about work, this is the place,” Sailom said matter-of-factly. The tall, muscular man—whose fit physique Namnuea now understood—swiped his membership card and started heading inside, leaving the bewildered Namnuea scrambling to catch up.
“Khun Lom, how am I supposed to get in?!”
And wait a second—four or five times a week? Doesn’t that mean every weekday?!
But Sailom merely turned back and raised an eyebrow slightly.
“That’s your problem. I’ve already wasted enough time.
Excuse me.”
“Hey!!!”
Yelling loudly didn’t make the other man care. The groom-tobe—who, just earlier at noon, had acknowledged how urgent this job was—disappeared inside without a backward glance.
Namnuea stood frozen in place, itching to throw something after him.
Give me back the good feelings I had for you at noon! “Hello, sir. Are you here with Khun Lom?” a staff member at the counter suddenly approached, catching him off guard. He stared at the woman smiling sweetly at him as she launched into her pitch.
“If you’re with a member, we can let you try out the gym for free. Would you like to give it a go with us?”
“Uh… no thanks,” Nuea quickly cut off the female employee, likely a salesperson, before she could start pitching services. Giving up on chasing after his client, he hurriedly took long strides to exit the health-conscious environment as fast as possible.
A food lover like him was allergic to gyms… didn’t they know that?
“Got played, huh? And you said you understood!” Nuea could only grumble to himself. He’d gone through the trouble of battling evening traffic to get here, only to come up empty-handed. He reaffirmed to himself:
If he had to choose between a nitpicky client and one who says “anything goes,” he’d take anyone but that Khun Sailom guy!
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