Chapter 73

Chapter 73

Ning Yuyi's lips parted and closed, his eyelashes quivering as he murmured an agreement.

Fan Zhongchuan tenderly pecked Ning Yuyi's lips, his eyes radiating warmth as he softly hummed an unrecognizable tune.

The deep, rich sound, reminiscent of a cello, circled around Ning Yuyi's ears, and with a hint of a smile on his lips, he gradually drifted into a dream.

He slept incredibly comfortably that night.

The next day, Ning Yuyi woke up early, the IV drip from his hand already removed.

As Fan Zhongchuan freshened up in the en suite bathroom, Ning Yuyi changed into his own clothes, eating the plain congee that Xie Yezhou had bought for him.

Zhuang Rong made a call.

"Sister Zhuang Rong," Ning Yuyi swallowed the last spoonful of congee and took a quick sip of water.

"Ning Ning, I've sent you the entire script for the movie. The production team is all set here. When you return to Haiming City, try to meet the director."

Only then did Ning Yuyi notice the file received on WeChat.

"Alright, Sister Zhuang Rong, I'll call you when I arrive in Haiming City."

"Sure, I'll arrange the place then." Zhuang Rong said, sitting on her home balcony, looking out over a snow-covered scene.

"Thank you, Sister Zhuang Rong."

"Do you really need to be formal with me?"

"After all the help Sister Zhuang Rong has given me, it's only right to show gratitude."

"Alright, alright. I'll hang up now and not keep you any longer."

"Were you talking to Sister Zhuang Rong?" Xie Yezhou leaned against the doorframe, waiting for the call to end before speaking.

"Yes, about that film." Ning Yuyi cast a hesitant glance towards the bathroom.

After meeting with the director, if everything goes well, he'd join a film crew in the mountains and shoot scenes for three months.

When Fan Zhongchuan emerged from the bathroom, he noticed Ning Yuyi stealing glances at him, each time looking as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

While Xie Yezhou was handling the discharge paperwork, Fan Zhongchuan gently took Ning Yuyi's hand and pulled him into a secluded corner.

"What's going on?" Fan Zhongchuan casually blocked Ning Yuyi's only exit with his arm.

"What do you mean, 'what's going on'?" Ning Yuyi mumbled, looking somewhat guilty.

"From the room to here, you've given me a dozen looks," Fan Zhongchuan teased with a smirk.

Ning Yuyi's voice rose slightly in defensiveness, "I did not look at you that many times!"

"Oh?"

Avoiding eye contact, Ning Yuyi stuttered, searching for the right words, "It's nothing."

Fan Zhongchuan gazed silently into Ning Yuyi's eyes, leaning in to gently breathe near his ear.

Ning Yuyi's ears turned red, and he stammered out, "Well, after the third day of the Lunar New Year, I might be joining the crew."

……

After completing the paperwork, Xie Yezhou turned around only to find Ning Yuyi missing. Walking forward a few steps, he saw Ning Yuyi and Fan Zhongchuan emerging from a corner.

Spotting Ning Yuyi's slightly swollen lips, Xie Yezhou had a good guess about what had transpired.

However, knowing his younger brother's sensitivity, he chose to pretend he didn't notice.

"We're heading back to Haiming City immediately." A certain coldness in Xie Yezhou's eyes made Ning Yuyi's gaze falter, "Ruan Lezhi just called saying they can't contact Ruan Xiaohui."

Ning Yuyi's brow furrowed, "Did Xu Yingzhe have a hand in this?"

"Most likely." Xie Yezhou quickly sent instructions on his phone, "I've already arranged for a flight path. Once at the airport, we'll head straight through."

"Alright."

Upon their return to Haiming City, Xie Yezhou, feeling uneasy about leaving Ning Yuyi alone in Qing'an, took the initiative to send him to Xie Tower with Lin Yiyue, explaining the situation to them.

For safety, Fan Zhongchuan stayed by Ning Yuyi's side.

Only the next morning did a weary-looking Xie Yiezhou and Xie Yinan return.

Dressed in pajamas, Xie Lou sat on the sofa and asked, "How did it go?"

"We found the person; they're safe. But due to extreme stress, she gave birth prematurely and might have to stay in the hospital for a while," Xie Yiezhou responded tiredly, massaging his temples, "Is Ning Ning asleep?"

"He just fell asleep a while ago, and Fan is with him," Lin Yiyue replied, relieved that everything was fine, "You both should rest. I'll have the maid bring you something to eat soon."

"Alright, Mom, Dad, we're heading up," Xie Yinan and Xie Yiezhou said in unison as they went upstairs.

As they left, Lin Yiyue shook her head and sighed while settling on the sofa, "The Ruan family always complained to me about their daughter's poor choice in partners. I didn't believe them back then."

"At least everything's sorted now, and no one's hurt. Consider it a lesson learned," Xie Lou wrapped an arm around her, offering comfort.

"This heartbreak from love, I fear it might take some time to mend."

"Sigh."

When Ning Yuyi woke up, the news of Xu Yingzhe's arrest had already made headlines.

Not wanting to offend the Ruan Corporation, every news outlet reported the truth, including Xu Yingzhe's infidelity after marriage, supporting a mistress, kidnapping his heavily pregnant wife, and causing her premature labor.

The Ruan family also gave interviews, vowing to pursue legal action against Xu Yingzhe until he faces long-term imprisonment.

Ning Yuyi, resting in Fan Zhongchuan's embrace, mused, "They say marriage is the tomb of love. Is this a prime example?"

Fan Zhongchuan, without any change in his demeanor, leaned in and kissed Ning Yuyi before replying, "She simply chose a dog as a partner. Can a union with a dog even be called a marriage?"

Ning Yuyi blinked innocently in agreement.

Fan Zhongchuan caressed Ning Yuyi's hair, whispering, "Our marriage, Ning Ning, will only be our paradise."

Ning Yuyi paused, his smile slowly spreading across his face.

Indeed, whether marriage is a tomb or not depends on the person you marry.

Whether they truly love you.

……

Xu Yingzhe's case ultimately ended with him behind bars. Ning Yuyi learned that Ruan Xiaohui gave birth to a daughter, and once the child was stable, the family moved abroad.

Following the Xu Yingzhe incident, Ning Yuyi found time to meet with Zhuang Rong and the film's director.

The director was a woman in her forties, dressed elegantly.

As the project was a low-budget art film aimed at international film festival awards, its controversial theme meant it might not get a domestic release. Even the remuneration wouldn't be substantial.

"That's fine," Ning Yuyi said with a smile. "If I were in this for the money, I wouldn't still be in the entertainment industry."

The director nodded understandingly, and they signed the contract.

After the New Year, Ning Yuyi bid farewell to Fan Zhongchuan to shoot the film in the mountains.

The chosen location was a small village deep in the mountains, where the living conditions were tough, and heating came only from traditional kang beds and portable heaters.

Three months later, a six-pound lighter Ning Yuyi returned to Haimarket, earning Lin Yiyue's long-winded concerns.

After having dinner at the Xie residence, Ning Yuyi declined Lin Yiyue's offer to stay the night and drove back to Qing'an.

Walking along the familiar path, noticing the budding roses in the villa's yard, he gently touched a bud before entering.

The moment he opened the door, he was thinking about tonight's menu.

He had only informed the Xie family of his return and had not divulged a single detail to Fan Zhongchuan.

He was carrying gifts brought back, planning to surprise Jin Zhongchuan nicely tonight.

The pitch dark living room opened up before Ning Yuyi along with the unlocking door sound. Ning Yuyi found the light switch by memory and flicked it on.

In a flash, the room lit up. Along with the illumination, Ning Yuyi also saw the room's furnishings.

All the original furniture had been removed, replaced by balloons in light blue and white filling the floor, along with mood lights.

Ning Yuyi even wondered if he had entered the wrong door, double checking the password he had just entered.

Right, this was it.

He carefully maneuvered through the balloons to the living room center. His sharp eyes caught Sweetie scampering down the stairs amidst the balloons.

Dressed by someone in a little white tulle dress, Sweetie didn't seem to mind, trotting over to lie by Ning Yuyi's feet, rolling over to reveal her belly while gazing at Ning Yuyi.

As if saying, why aren't you rubbing my tummy?

Ning Yuyi smiled helplessly and squatted to rub Sweetie's belly.

While stroking her back, Ning Yuyi felt something different.

Ning Yuyi's heart thumped as he flipped Sweetie over, finding a completely black leather box in her clothes.

The box was only a quarter the size of his palm. A strange premonition flashed through Ning Yuyi's mind, his heart clenching tight.

Ning Yuyi suppressed the churning emotions and slowly opened the box.

A silver ring lay quietly inside. Ning Yuyi simultaneously felt unsurprised yet also shocked.

He picked up the ring and placed it in his palm.

The silver-white ring was unmistakably a men's ring. Ning Yuyi observed a long series of cursive letters engraved on its inner band.

——je t\'ai-nyy

Having visited Paris, Ning Yuyi naturally knew that "je t'ai" means "I love you" in French. He stood frozen in place, feeling a sharp thud in his heart.

"Boom."

Outside the floor-to-ceiling window, blue and white fireworks lit up again, mirroring the last time. As the fireworks reached their zenith, they would form words.

Ning Yuyi approached the window, resting his hand on the glass, watching the fireworks spell out "je t'ai" and his own name, letter by letter.

The final firework ascended to its peak, astonishingly transforming into a picture of Ning Yuyi.

Ning Yuyi recognized it—it was the photo taken when he was by the Greek seaside, snapped by Zhou Er.

Now, could Ning Yuyi be in any doubt about the significance of this scene?

Clutching his chest, he felt a palpable flutter in a corner of his heart, deeply touching his soul.

Footsteps echoed from behind. Without turning around, Ning Yuyi let himself be enveloped in a familiar embrace.

Fan Zhongchuan pulled Ning Yuyi into his arms, whispering to him.

"Will you marry me?"

"I am willing to give my all to love you."

Moisture gathered in the corners of Ning Yuyi's eyes, turning them slightly red.

With quivering lips and eyes cast downward, a tearful smile appeared. He handed the ring to Fan Zhongchuan.

Then, he extended his right hand.

"Will you put this ring on me?"

"My—fiancé."