Chapter 119

Chapter 119

The radiant golden light fell upon Fu Yunzhen's face, adding a touch of gentleness to his austere features.

Mustering the courage to propose to the one he loved felt even more exhilarating than winning ten thousand battles.

Fu Yunzhen was down on one knee, declaring his victory to Yu He.

He looked up at Yu He, his voice more melodious than a stringed instrument: "I'm sorry, I promised you I wouldn't kneel when proposing, but I’ve gone back on my word.”

Yu He took a half step back, his blood rushing to his head, feeling a wave of heat in his brain, and his chest heaving violently.

Yu He repeated, “Propose? You’re proposing to me?”

Fu Yunzhen’s eyes reflected the orange sunset: “Yes, please forgive my long-premeditated plans.”

Long-premeditated?

Yu He was extremely surprised. Could it be that Fu Yunzhen had been planning to propose for a long time and he hadn’t noticed a thing?

Yu He asked, “How long have you been planning this?”

Fu Yunzhen did not answer directly, but simply said, “This suit I’m wearing is the one I wore to the Mingdu Charity Gala.”

Yu He: “!!!!!!!!”

Fu Yunzhen was actually recreating the scene of their first meeting!

Fu Yunzhen’s gaze was tender as he gazed into Yu He's eyes: "Yu He, I’ve missed you twice in this life. On the night we first met, I didn't have the courage to chase after you. Later, when we met again, I was still just as timid. You always say that I’m too reserved, and that’s my mistake. I hope you can give me a chance to make amends."

A buzzing noise filled Yu He’s ears as he unconsciously widened his eyes, taking in everything before him.

The blue sky, the lush grass, the majestic horse, and the setting sun—all of it paled in comparison to Fu Yunzhen standing right in front of him.

Fu Yunzhen paused ever so slightly, his thumb unconsciously gripping the neck of the violin tightly.

He said to Yu He, “Please allow me the honor of proposing to you.”

Yu He felt as if he were in a dream.

A mogul in the world of finance, the president of the Fu Corporation, a global young philanthropic leader...

Fu Yunzhen had too many dazzling titles to his name, and Yu He had never imagined that a man of such stature and position would one day kneel before him and say—

“Please allow me the honor of proposing to you.”

Yu He held his breath.

This was bad; he couldn’t tell if this was a dream or reality again.

Yu He pinched his own thigh, forcing himself to calm down.

-Now is not the time for you to lose it. Fu Yunzhen is proposing to you. This is the most important moment of your life. Stay calm, bro.

-Ahhhhhhh! Fu Yunzhen is proposing to me!!!

-Stay cool! Stay cool! Lots of people get proposed to; it’s no big deal. You need to act more composed and indifferent. Please put away that dumb, inexperienced look.

-Ahhhhhhh! Fu Yunzhen is proposing to me!!!

Yu He stood there, utterly dazed and lost in his thoughts.

He thought: If I go mad because of this, then I must be the happiest madman in the world.

Fu Yunzhen remained kneeling on the ground, appearing calm and collected.

Only the white-knuckled grip on the neck of the violin gave away his nervousness.

For a moment, Yu He didn’t know what to say. Suddenly, he took a half step back and also went down on one knee before Fu Yunzhen. This move was so unexpected that even Fu Yunzhen nearly lost control of his expression.

Sharing the same height as Fu Yunzhen, Yu He’s malfunctioning brain rebooted, allowing his sharp intellect to regain control and finally easing his nerves.

Fu Yunzhen asked, “What are you doing? Trying to become sworn brothers with me?”

Yu He cleared his throat, “Why didn’t you say we’re paying respects to Heaven and Earth instead?”

Fu Yunzhen’s eyes crinkled with amusement, “Fine, do you want to pay respects to Heaven and Earth with me then?”

Leaning forward, Yu He planted a kiss on Fu Yunzhen’s cheek and whispered in his ear,

“I do.”

Fu Yunzhen straightened his clothes and looked back at Yu He with deep seriousness, asking once again, “Little Crane, are you willing to be my lifelong partner?”

Yu He placed his hand on Fu Yunzhen’s knee, “That’s not how you asked just now.”

Unable to hold back a laugh, Fu Yunzhen inquired, “And how did I ask?”

Yu He replied, “You asked if I was willing to be your husband.”

Fu Yunzhen’s eyes curved into a sly smile as he answered slowly, “Of course, I am willing.”

Yu He: “......”

Why do people keep playing dumb with the same question over and over again?!

When it came to calling each other ‘husband,’ Fu Yunzhen had tricked Yu He thousands of times, always with a simple ‘how did I put it?’

And yet, Yu He fell for it every single time.

Even during a proposal!

Yu He exploded, “Fu Yunzhen! You are bullying me again!”

Fu Yunzhen quickly grabbed Yu He’s hand and asked once more, “Little Crane, are you willing to be my husband?”

Yu He immediately responded, “I am willing.”

Fu Yunzhen felt a surge of happiness, thinking that Yu He was so easy to fool, and couldn’t help but laugh lightly, his fist pressed against his lips.

While Yu He was fixated on the argument about ‘who is the husband’ with Fu Yunzhen, he completely forgot that rejecting a proposal was also an option.

The cunning Fu Yunzhen finally received the affirmative answer he had been longing for.

Initially, Yu He was oblivious to why Fu Yunzhen was laughing, but after a moment, he realized and, in a fit of anger, leaped up, tackling Fu Yunzhen into the dense bushes.

Pressing down on Fu Yunzhen’s shoulders, Yu He glared at the man beneath him, “Why are you playing tricks even during your proposal?”

Fu Yunzhen looked up at Yu He, “I was afraid you’d say no.”

Yu He retorted, “Nonsense, you just find it fun to tease me.”

Fu Yunzhen propped himself up on his arms, “Whatever you say, husband.”

Yu He was taken aback, his mouth agape as he froze in place.

After a long while, he finally lowered his head, their foreheads touching, “Fu Yunzhen, from now on, I really will be your husband. I’ll protect you just like you protect me.”

Fu Yunzhen turned his face to the side, staring at the grass by his ear, and whispered softly, “Okay.”

Yu He looked around and lowered his voice, “You said this place has been cleared, does that mean we can...”

A cold glint flashed through Fu Yunzhen’s eyes as he firmly rejected the idea, “Absolutely not.”

Disappointed, Yu He settled for less, “Then a kiss should be fine, right?”

Fu Yunzhen lifted his head, planting a kiss on Yu He’s lips.

The magnificent twilight sky was adorned with resplendent clouds, as the sun bestowed its last rays, granting the prairie an eternal brilliance.

They kissed amidst this stunning backdrop.

Side by side, they lay in the soft grass, surrounded by the faint scent of vegetation.

Gazing at the sunset, Yu He softly said, “Happy Birthday, Boss Fu. May you have a ‘Yu He’ every year, and may each year be as special as today.”

The sun was about to set.

Yu He plucked a blade of grass and placed it in his mouth, “Why do you keep looking at me?”

Fu Yunzhen calmed his emotions, “Because you are beautiful.”

Yu He was over the moon, though she really didn’t have much to say. Nevertheless, she made conversation: “Fu Yunzheng, what if I become unattractive one day? Would you still love me?”

Fu Yunzheng turned his body to look at Yu He, “I will love and protect you forever. By the vast expanse of the Chölö Plains, I swear upon the Eternal Heaven.”

He held Yu He’s hand tightly: “Xiao He, I know you’ve always been carefree and unrestrained, and marrying me might, in some sense, make you feel confined. But I assure you, nothing will change. You will remain your own complete individual, not defined by me or by the Fu family. Just be yourself.”

Yu He understood that Fu Yunzheng was concerned about her feeling pressured.

The Fu family was a colossal clan, and their businesses were spread across the globe. As the partner of the head of the Fu family, even unintentional acts could be interpreted with ulterior motives by others.

Being careful and cautious was already challenging enough, and Yu He had long been indulged by Fu Yunzheng to the point of being utterly unruly and arrogant.

Since the incident with re-taking the exam at Feng Da University, Yu He seemed to have found another way to surf the internet.

Yu He now took pleasure in directly confronting and challenging those who questioned her, flaunting her achievements in their faces with utmost arrogance and asking if they had any better opinions.

After repeatedly debunking the skeptics, marketing accounts with millions of followers were cowed by Yu He, labeling her as ‘tough’, ‘with a deep background’, and ‘not to be trifled with’.

Indeed, she was not to be trifled with. Looking back over the years, who among those who had crossed Yu He ended up well?

Many people even lost their online presence, silently disappearing from the internet.

In contrast, Yu He had risen from a mediocre fitness blogger in a specific category to the top live streamer in the entire industry.

After achieving some success in medicine, she often reviewed medical images live on stream. If something was unclear, she would directly call her senior brother for live help.

As a direct disciple of Shen Han, which one of her senior brothers wasn’t a chief physician at a top-tier hospital? The kind that you can't get an appointment with even after months of trying!

Many people said that this was practically charity!

Now, who dares to criticize Yu He online?

If they made Yu He so upset that she didn’t live stream for a few days, those people waiting in line to see a doctor would be the first to object.

Last night, when Shen Han video-called Yu He, he called her ‘incredibly clever’.

Shen Han asked Yu He: “Is this how you travel after I asked you to go out and see the world? Hanging out with the young Fu family member during the day, and sparing just two hours in the evening for live streaming and consultations?”

Yu He, indignant but spirited, responded: “Master, it’s the 21st century. Medical consultation methods have to progress with the times. I’m using new media to promote traditional Chinese medicine, blazing a new trail that no one has walked before. If you won’t praise me, that’s fine, but why criticize me?”

Shen Han had a lot of affection for this junior disciple of his, and even when she talked back to him, he wasn’t annoyed. He only said: “I’ve barely said a word, and you have a hundred ready in response. Am I the master, or are you?”

Yu He hurriedly affirmed, "You are, you definitely are."

Shen Han chuckled, "It was your senior brothers who reported this to me. I heard you have their duty rosters and you only bother those who are off duty. Moreover, you've got several phones and even organize group meetings online?"

Yu He cleared her throat, "I learned this from Boss Fu. It’s about utilizing the resources at hand for maximum efficiency... Ugh."

As Yu He was spouting nonsense, a hand with distinct knuckles covered her mouth.

Immediately after, Fu Yunzheng’s face appeared on the camera.

Fu Yunzheng nodded to Shen Han, "Elder Shen, I assure you, this was not my idea. This kid is just lawless now. Please wait a moment; I need to educate her."

After speaking, amidst Shen Han's hearty laughter, Fu Yunzheng ended the video call.

In any case, Yu He being spoiled to this extent, Fu Yunzheng played an indispensable role.

Thinking of this, Fu Yunzheng couldn’t help but worry that if Yu He left the Fu family, she might get hoodwinked by others outside.

*

Under the glow of the setting sun, the orange twilight, like oil paints depicting deities in a mural, fell upon Yu He’s face, making her appear mysterious and powerful.

The sound of her own heartbeat filled Yu He's ears, and in this peculiar rhythm, she looked at Fu Yunzheng.

Fu Yunzheng said, “Xiao He, I don’t want love to be a restraint for you. If you feel that Guanyun Mountain is too small for you, I am willing to help you reach new heights and explore new worlds.”

Yu He understood what Fu Yunzheng really meant.

Fu Yunzheng always compared him to a crane, saying that a crane must soar high, leave Guanyun Mountain, and fly to another world.

But Yu He is not a crane; he is a kite.

No matter how high or far he flies, the string must be held by Fu Yunzheng for him to feel at ease.

Yu He wrapped a blade of grass around Fu Yunzheng’s ring finger: "Fu Yunzheng, you are not my restraint; you are my way home."

Though the grass ring was exceedingly simple, Fu Yunzheng curled his finger, securing the grass loop firmly in his palm.

Fu Yunzheng’s gaze fell upon the touch of green on his finger: "I didn’t prepare a ring because I didn’t want to bind you. Remember, you are free at any time."

Yu He interlocked her fingers with Fu Yunzheng’s, “Mr. Fu, you really know how to do business.”

Fu Yunzheng raised his eyebrows slightly, “I’m all ears.”

Yu He tightened her grip on Fu Yunzheng’s hand, “You know full well that I’ve been utterly captivated by you, and yet you’re too stingy to even give me a ring.”

Fu Yunzheng’s eyes shimmered, “How have I captivated you?”

The sun set in the west, its last rays disappearing over the horizon, casting a dim grey-blue veil over the earth.

Yu He spoke in the hushed tones of the approaching night, “If one day you let go of me, I wouldn’t know where to go.”

Emotion filled Fu Yunzheng’s eyes, and his voice trembled slightly, “Xiao He...”

Yu He said, “Fu Yunzheng, I accepted your proposal because I love you, and for no other reason. There’s no reluctance, so stop overthinking.”

Fu Yunzheng closed his eyes, sighing softly, finally revealing his deep-seated worries, “I turned thirty-six today, and you’re still so young.”

Despite his emotional intelligence, Fu Yunzheng could only hide so much of his feelings.

This sentence had likely circled around in Fu Yunzheng’s mind countless times before he spoke.

The age difference between them had always been a thorn in Fu Yunzheng’s side.

Faced with this objective fact, Yu He could not deny it.

But Yu He never saw age as an issue. In fact, it was precisely Fu Yunzheng’s maturity that brought her such a strong sense of security and belonging.

She loved everything about Fu Yunzheng.

Perhaps because she herself was quite attractive, she never found aging to be a terrifying prospect.

Yu He planted a gentle kiss on the corner of Fu Yunzheng’s eye, “Does Mr. Fu also get anxious about getting older?”

Fu Yunzheng couldn’t help but close his eyes, “Being with someone as handsome as Young Master Yu, it’s hard not to feel inferior.”

Yu He stretched out her hand, gently caressing Fu Yunzheng’s well-defined face, “Beauty may fade, but my love for you is everlasting.”

Even as the years take their toll, they will forever remain as they were when they first met amidst the fluttering willow catkins.

Fu Yunzheng’s gaze was deep and profound, filled with endless love, as if he had a myriad of things he wished to tell Yu He.

But in the end, Fu Yunzheng only said eight words.

He said, “I am flattered and overjoyed by your regard.”