Chapter 137 – Proposal

Chapter 137 - Proposal

Tang Rufeng matured earlier than his peers. Ever since he could remember, poverty and sorrow had clung to him like shadows, filling the cramped rented room. His sick mother lay in bed every day, either writhing in pain through sleepless nights or so still she seemed dead.

When Tang Rufeng was still young, he would reach out every night to check her breathing, fearing she might have silently passed away.

He tasted bitterness before sweetness; he understood the meaning of death before he knew how to live.

Tang Rufeng hated autumn, despising every rainy day of the season, as if in a past life he died on such a drenched night, the damp rain soaking his body, the chill of death creeping into his heart, decaying until he felt like dust piled in a corner.

That night on the rooftop, Tang Rufeng had a dream. Everything in it was similar yet different from reality. He dreamed that Lu Yan was about to marry Duan Jiyang, going so far as to donate a kidney for the sake of being with him.

What was the point?

Didn't he know that losing a kidney would bring endless suffering?

Tang Rufeng couldn't understand. He rushed to stop Lu Yan but was warned not to meddle. The man's cold gaze and mocking tone were unrecognizable from before, each word cutting like a dull knife:

"Tang Rufeng, you're just my kept lover. Don't forget your place. My marriage to Duan Jiyang is a match made in heaven. Even if I don't end up with him, it will never be your turn!"

Drenched by the rain, Tang Rufeng's face was pale, trembling as he gripped Lu Yan's hand. "Then you can't donate your kidney, Lu Yan. You absolutely cannot! If you do, your life will be ruined!"

Lu Yan treated him as an intruder, shoving him to the ground. "My business is none of yours! Get lost!"

Driven mad by his desire to marry Duan Jiyang, Tang Rufeng was similarly driven to madness. He lay on the cold ground, his eyes turning bloodshot, whispering, "Lu Yan, you lied to me..."

You lied...

A liar deserves ten thousand needles piercing their throat.

But Lu Yan ignored him, slamming the door shut. He worried that Tang Rufeng might continue his crazed pursuit, but after a few minutes, checking through the peephole, he saw that Tang Rufeng had left.

The heavy rain outside blurred the path ahead, obscuring the future. Tang Rufeng never imagined that one day he would die with Lu Yan, falling from the rooftop the night before their wedding, their bodies smashed and bloody.

It hurt so much...

But they kept their promise, ensuring they could be together forever.

He met his end calmly, his heart consumed by madness.

Yet soon, that icy pain was replaced by a soft warmth. Tang Rufeng opened his eyes groggily. Above him hung an exquisite French crystal chandelier, the surroundings familiar, like Lu Yan's newly purchased duplex.

A warm body pressed against his back, the man sleeping with his head buried in his shoulder, his breath tickling his neck.

"..."

Tang Rufeng stiffly turned around, meeting Lu Yan's stunning face, which could infuriate the heavens. His eyes were tightly closed, clearly deep in slumber. He remembered that yesterday, after leaving the hospital, he had run into Lu Yan who was there to pick him up, and they returned home together.

Tang Rufeng subtly sighed in relief, his heart, frightened by the nightmare, finally settling. Yet a wave of unease washed over him. Was that dream real?

He reached out to pinch Lu Yan's face, feeling the warmth and reality of it. He thought it must be false. Even if it were true, Duan Jiyang wouldn't dare try to snatch him away now.

With someone messing with his face early in the morning, even the deepest sleeper like Lu Yan would wake up. He closed his eyes, pressing down on Tang Rufeng's hand, his voice groggy and hoarse. "It's still early. Why not go back to sleep?"

Tang Rufeng stared at him. "I can't sleep."

After a pause, he suddenly whispered, "Lu Yan, if you ever marry someone else, I'll die with you. Did you hear that?"

Saying such things first thing in the morning was unsettling. Lu Yan subconsciously opened his eyes, only to see Tang Rufeng staring at him motionlessly, his expression serious.

Lu Yan chuckled. "Can't you say something auspicious?"

Tang Rufeng buried his face in his chest, his voice faint. "There's no good news, so I can't say anything auspicious."

Lu Yan, recalling something, got out of bed, pulling Tang Rufeng out from under the covers. "Come on, let's wash up. I have something to show you."

Tang Rufeng, exhausted from the previous night, was reluctant to move, but seeing Lu Yan's determination to get up, he followed him to wash up. As they went downstairs, Lu Yan suddenly covered his eyes, his deep voice sounding mysterious from beside his ear. "Don't open your eyes yet. I'll guide you down."

Tang Rufeng was puzzled, the dim light making him feel insecure. "Why?"

Lu Yan: "Don't ask, just walk."

As Tang Rufeng felt his way down the stairs, he suspiciously asked, "You're not planning to push me down the stairs, are you?"

Lu Yan was speechless. "If I were to push you, I'd wait until we're married. Otherwise, I won't get any of the inheritance."

Mentioning the word "marriage," he seemed sensitive, quickly glossing over it and urging, "Come on, I'll support you."

Tang Rufeng had no choice but to feel his way down the stairs. Halfway down, he suddenly caught a faint scent of roses. As he approached, the fragrance grew clearer. At that moment, Lu Yan's hand covering his eyes slowly fell away. "Open your eyes."

His eyes, closed for too long, struggled to adjust to the light when he opened them. Tang Rufeng was momentarily dazed before he could clearly see the scene before him. In the living room downstairs, a rose-constructed Christmas tree, more than a person tall, had appeared out of nowhere. They were all top-grade varieties air-freighted from France, the color fading from pale pink at the top to a vibrant romantic red at the bottom.

On the floor of the living room, a path was laid out with rose petals, leading straight to the base of the flower tree. There, dozens of exquisitely wrapped gift boxes were placed, corresponding to Tang Rufeng's age.

Lu Yan stood behind him, gently pushing him forward. "Go open the gifts. I wrapped them all myself."

Tang Rufeng was somewhat stunned. He looked back at Lu Yan before slowly walking towards the base of the flower tree, half-sitting on the ground to open the gifts.

The first gift box contained a delicate jade safety pendant. On the greeting card, written in elegant script, was a message full of blessings:

Rufeng, you are one year old this year. May you grow up safely and have a happy life every year.

The second gift box contained a fairy tale storybook. The third box held a figurine model... The tenth box contained a basketball autographed by a famous basketball star...

Tang Rufeng opened the gifts slowly, cherishing each one, carefully folding the wrapping paper. The gift for his twenty-second year was a couple's watch. The gift for his twenty-third year was a silver ring. When the twenty-fourth gift box was opened, inside lay Lu Yan's household registration book and ID card.

Tang Rufeng froze for a moment, only to feel his cheek unexpectedly stolen with a kiss. Lu Yan had somehow moved next to him, his eyes twinkling as he smiled at him. "I found my household registration book. When shall we go to register our marriage?"

The watch on his wrist was worn and slightly old, one that Tang Rufeng had gritted his teeth and bought with his scholarship money. He had never replaced it for so long. Lu Yan specially found the same model and placed it in the gift box for that year.

Their meeting was too late, and the beginning of their story wasn't beautiful. Lu Yan wanted to fill in all the gaps in between—sneakers, toys, skateboards that a boy should have, and roses that almost everyone receives when they enter the throes of love.

Tang Rufeng plunged into Lu Yan's arms without a word, with such force that the latter fell straight onto the ground. Clutching the silver ring tightly, his eyes red-rimmed, he asked hoarsely, "Is this your proposal?"

Sitting on the ground, one hand supporting him from behind and the other catching Tang Rufeng as he lunged forward, Lu Yan replied, "If you think it doesn't count, I'll buy you a bigger one. How about that?"

Tang Rufeng closed his eyes and held him tighter, obstinately saying, "No, I want this one."

Lu Yan had to struggle a bit to retrieve the ring from Tang Rufeng's grip. Under his watchful gaze, he slowly slipped it onto his ring finger, smiling as he wiggled his fingers. "It's settled then. What do you say, we go get our marriage license tomorrow?"

Tang Rufeng's usually somber eyes suddenly lit up. "Today?"

Lu Yan raised an eyebrow slightly, surprised by Tang Rufeng's eagerness. "Don't you need to go back for your household registration book?"

But Tang Rufeng said, "I brought it with me. It's in the car."

Lu Yan was speechless.

Who carries their household registration book around? Lu Yan didn't know, but he did know that Tang Rufeng's behavior was certainly somewhat inhumane. Happily, the Civil Affairs Bureau opened at nine in the morning, so they got themselves dolled up and drove straight there to get their marriage license.

They submitted documents, filled out forms, took photos, and after completing all the procedures, two little red books were in their hands.

As Lu Yan and Tang Rufeng walked out of the Civil Affairs Bureau hall, looking at their marriage certificates, they felt an inexplicable sense of unreality. "We're married now?"

Tang Rufeng didn't speak. He held up the red booklet, examining it under the sunlight again and again. Perhaps he felt the same sense of unreality. Just last night, in his nightmare, he and Lu Yan had plummeted from the rooftop, dying in a bloody mess. Now, turning his head, he found himself getting a marriage license with the other party. Softly, he said, "Yes, we're married."

The road ahead didn't seem so terrible anymore. There would be someone to accompany him through the bright spring days, the family gatherings, and even the bleak autumn winds would become gentle, blowing the world of dreams upside down.

The trace of murderous intent in Tang Rufeng's heart finally began to fade, like ice melting under the sun, leaving no trace behind. Only now was Lu Yan's danger truly over.

A black heart quietly floated into the sky, its body blackish-purple with streaks of crimson, looking somewhat strange under the sunlight. Fine electric currents crackled around it:

"Ding! Congratulations, host, you've successfully survived. This realm is about to end. Wishing you a pleasant journey!"

This world could at best be considered a vacation, one that the system had worked hard to snatch away. After all, the real danger lay in the next realm. Lu Yan needed to keep one chance of rebirth as his final trump card.

Hearing the system's notification sound, Lu Yan paused in his steps, subconsciously looking up at the sky. "What do you mean, the realm is ending?"

The system's body bobbed up and down, its tone meaningful. "You'll understand when the time comes."

Now that Lu Yan and Tang Rufeng had gotten their marriage license, they were likely to stay in this world. Duan Jiayang was already at the end of his rope. If the nanny turned against him in the future, he might face imprisonment. After all, human nature is the most vulnerable to tests.

And Lu Yan would witness countless seasons with Tang Rufeng, until their hair turned white with age and life reached its final moment.

The nightmares of his past life would remain just that—nightmares. Like the white smoke that rises from a lit cigarette, a gust of wind could easily disperse it, leaving behind only a half-burnt stub. But there would always be someone who loved your scars and rust.

"Whew..."

A sudden gust of autumn wind blew, covering them in fallen leaves.