Chapter 83: March in Spring (Part 2/2)
The CP fans’ worldview was repeatedly shattered and rebuilt during this live stream, it was chaotic, After Xi Leng finally managed to close the tipping function, things finally calmed down.
The two didn’t say anything directly during the live stream, but they didn’t deny anything either, which in the entertainment industry, was practically equivalent to confirming their relationship. CP fans celebrated, their all-night revelry.
And the two involved, being in different cities, could only video call before bed.
Min Zhi first asked why Xi Leng opened a live stream and revealed his scar.
Xi Leng thought for a moment and said, “It’s a part of me, always hiding it, it feels like I’m ashamed of it.”
“Hm? Some things should definitely be kept hidden.” Min Zhi, his arm as a pillow, his dark eyes fixed on Xi Leng, appearing quite serious, then suddenly smiled, “Can’t be shown to others, only to me.”
This person truly was becoming more and more shameless.
Xi Leng, his speechless expression once again admired, composed himself, and said seriously, “I thought if I kept avoiding it, it would mean I was still afraid of him, hating myself, unable to face the past… I initially thought showing the scar to my fans would be very uncomfortable, but it was actually fine, They care about me, and I’m happy.”
He looked at the person on the screen seriously, being thousands of miles apart made saying these sentimental words a little easier, he said sincerely, “It’s because of you that I dared to do it.”
Min Zhi suddenly said “wait a moment,” sitting up with his phone, a glint in his eyes, probably searching for something on his phone.
Then, suppressing his urgency, he said calmly: “I’ll be home tomorrow at noon at the earliest.”
Xi Leng smiled.
“Then you have to wake up very early, go to bed early, good night.”
“Good night.”
Even after ending the video call, neither of them could sleep.
Xi Leng opened the chat window again.
Leng: 【Thank you】
Min Zhi, as expected, wasn’t asleep yet, replying immediately,
A1: 【Can you please stop saying ‘thank you’, it makes us seem so distant】
Seeing this, Xi Leng couldn’t help but tease him.
Leng: 【Thank you [/Happy]？】
A1: 【…】
A1: 【[/Happy]？】
Then…
Leng: 【Thank you, baby】
A1: 【I take back what I said earlier】
Xi Leng couldn’t help but smile, staring at the screen until it turned off, the dark screen turning into a mirror, reflecting his uncontrollable smile.
He turned on the screen again, his finger tracing the letters “A1.”
This person, in his barren life, had poured in love, bit by bit, until it became an ocean, washing away all the pain of the past.
Since they would be meeting tomorrow, and Min Zhi had to wake up early, Xi Leng thought tonight’s conversation would end here.
However, suddenly, unexpectedly,
A1: 【I want to marry you】
Leng: 【…】
Leng: 【Can we not talk about this before bed next time?】
He would lose sleep again.
A1: 【Then set a date?】
They even had to schedule a time to discuss this? Xi Leng frowned, his fingers just touching the screen when—
Another message from A1 popped up, just five characters,
【The wedding date】
A man driven by a strong sense of purpose, Xi Leng should have known that the tattoo on his neck, besides pleasing himself, must have other uses.
Min Zhi, who always accused him of being lovesick, seemed to have lost all reason, or rather, Min Zhi’s goal had always been clear—to be with him, always.
In Min Zhi’s world, choosing someone was for life, so marriage, naturally, the sooner the better, he practically wanted to go to the Civil Affairs Bureau first thing tomorrow morning.
Xi Leng’s feelings were a bit complicated.
Leng: 【I can’t sleep now】
A1: 【It’s fine, you can think about it tonight, I’ll come back tomorrow and we can sleep in together】
Xi Leng sighed softly.
His own decision was also unwavering, besides Min Zhi, there was no other option, no plan B.
It was just that, having lived alone for two lifetimes, he was used to a free and unrestrained life. Although he now felt a strong attachment to this person, that attachment was completely different from the legal binding of a marriage certificate.
The two marriages he witnessed as a child were all terrifying, tragic, and disastrous.
Even though he knew Min Zhi was definitely worth spending a lifetime with, wasn’t this a bit too fast? He really wasn’t ready.
“A1” poked you.
A1: 【Okay?】
His tone unusually gentle and coaxing.
Two simple words, turning Xi Leng’s heart into a puddle of warmth.
Perhaps realizing the ambiguity in his words, Min Zhi quickly added,
A1: 【I’m asking if you can consider it, not asking for an answer right now, I would never propose online】
Xi Leng smiled.
Leng: 【Okay】
You poked “A1.”
For the next few days, Xi Leng observed his sometimes childish and willful, sometimes serious and mature boyfriend.
He was naturally sensitive, easily noticing others’ kindness towards him, and also good at empathizing with their emotions, understanding their actions.
Those few extra years of age did make a difference. Min Zhi seemed to know him inside and out, as if having dissected every cell of his being,
Understanding Min Zhi, however, was much more difficult.
After some thought, perhaps part of Min Zhi’s strong desire for marriage came from his parents, whom he had missed out on. He held a beautiful fantasy about marriage, the Jiang family couldn’t give him a sense of belonging, so he desperately wanted to create a family of his own.
Min Zhi also needed a sense of security.
Min Zhi didn’t need verbal expressions of love, but other forms of affirmation.
Like marriage.
From a simpler perspective, it was easy to understand, Min Zhi wanted to show off, to brag, especially in front of that certain famous celebrity couple,
Time flew by, and March arrived, Xi Leng’s 22nd birthday approaching, March 3rd.
He had been busy preparing his personal art website recently and was about to go home after finishing his work.
Spring had arrived in Beijing, yet the sun was still high in the sky at five o’clock in the afternoon. A clear sky, beautiful weather.
He sent a message to Min Zhi, 【Dinner out tonight?】
A1: 【Finished with work? Hurry home, I want to eat your cooking】
Such a niche hobby.
He typed “Don’t you know it’s my birthday today?”, then deleted it, it sounded like he was accusing Min Zhi, and also a bit… whiny.
Xi Leng thought for a moment.
Leng: 【I’ll buy a cake on my way back】
A subtle hint.
A1: 【Don’t, hurry up and come home】
…Something felt off.
On his way back, Xi Leng kept thinking, Min Zhi must have prepared a birthday surprise.
He just hoped Min Zhi didn’t search online for “how to prepare a birthday surprise” or ask his friend, Qiao Yusen, for advice. Please don’t let it be one of those fancy-looking but disgusting fondant cakes, or confetti and champagne, or rose petals all over the floor.
Finally celebrating his birthday with his lover, only to have to clean up afterwards.
“Happy birthday, you didn’t think I forgot, did you?”
Upon opening the door, he was met by a creamy, unidentified object.
Xi Leng froze in the doorway.
After Xi Leng changed his shoes, Min Zhi offered the unidentified object again, continuing smugly, “I made it myself, I’ve already tried it, it’s delicious, even better than those fancy shops.”
Xi Leng was speechless: “…”
Min Zhi anticipated his reaction: “You’re not allowed to say it’s ugly.”
Not forgetting to emphasize his efforts, “I never said your cooking was awful.”
The two sat down at the table, Xi Leng curious about Min Zhi’s cake-making skills, while Min Zhi seemed anxious, urging him repeatedly, Perhaps aware of the cake’s unappetizing appearance, he couldn’t wait to prove himself with its taste.
Xi Leng dutifully blew out the candles and cut two slices, one for each of them.
Neither slice reached the center of the cake, a fleeting look of disappointment flashing across Min Zhi’s face.
Xi Leng, oblivious, focused on tasting the cake, his movements slow and elegant.
“It is delicious.”
Min Zhi was anxious, “That’s not important.”
“…” Xi Leng paused. “Didn’t you make it?”
“If it’s delicious, have more, cut a bigger slice.”
Xi Leng understood.
He picked up the knife and carefully cut along the diagonal, his movements slowing down towards the bottom, to avoid damaging the surprise Min Zhi had prepared.
As expected, the knife hit something hard, He used the side of the knife to remove the cake and frosting above, revealing a black box carefully wrapped in plastic wrap,
The shape of that box… Xi Leng’s heart skipped a beat.
His movements slowed down even further, and the impatient Min Zhi took over, taking out the clean, small box from the plastic wrap.
Pushing his chair back, Min Zhi pulled Xi Leng to an open space and knelt down on one knee, holding the box.
The current situation was self-evident.
He opened the box, revealing a beautiful silver and white diamond ring.
“Will you marry me?”
It was an expected question, yet Xi Leng still froze, speechless.
“You know I’m not a low-key person, for such an important event, I naturally want to do it publicly, with a huge crowd, putting you on the spot, forcing you to say yes,” Min Zhi said, then his tone softening slightly, “I did this privately because I’m afraid you’ll be unhappy.”
Then reverting back to his usual self, “I’ve already done this much for you, it wouldn’t be appropriate to refuse now, would it?”
Xi Leng chuckled, “So you still want to put me on the spot?”
Min Zhi pretended to be confused, looking around, “Where? What spot? I don’t see anything.”
Xi Leng chuckled, then sighed softly, “Why are you in such a hurry?”
Min Zhi: “Hm?”
“I was planning to wait until summer, when it’s warmer.” Xi Leng said. “Your birthday, I won’t miss it this time.”
So, Xi Leng was also thinking about proposing on his birthday.
Min Zhi was in a great mood, smiling, “But I prefer spring.”
March in spring, the ice melting.
Just like the young man before him, his bright smile only for him.
As if possessed by a child, Xi Leng, his smile radiant, still didn’t answer the proposal directly, even teasing him, “But I prefer summer, what do we do?”
Min Zhi stood up, suppressing his slightly fierce expression, pinching the tip of his ear that peeked out from his hair, gently rubbing the matching earring on his right ear, then the smooth earlobe on the other side, his grip tightening.
“Will you or not, answer me.”
“If you don’t, I’ll give you another ear piercing.”
Xi Leng couldn’t help but laugh.
“I love you.”
Min Zhi, however, didn’t even raise an eyebrow, his expression as if saying, Isn’t that obvious?
“This isn’t the time for sentimental confessions, we’ll talk about that tonight, don’t even think about getting out of bed without saying it a hundred times.” Min Zhi was unusually persistent, “Now answer me.”
Xi Leng’s eyes curved into crescents as he smiled.
Min Zhi was completely sober now, not swayed by beauty, unrelenting, “Answer me, that’s not what I want to hear.”
Xi Leng’s smile faded slightly as he looked into Min Zhi’s eyes.
Dark and gentle, like the finest ink stone, a tenderness only for him.
He mirrored Min Zhi’s earlier actions, his fingers tracing the ear adorned with earrings, then leaning his forehead against Min Zhi’s, gently nuzzling for a moment before softly saying,
“I do.”
Min Zhi hurriedly put the ring on his finger, missing the first time.
“Min Zhi,” Xi Leng called out to the slightly flustered person, asking him, “Will you marry me?”
Min Zhi didn’t hesitate, humming in agreement twice, trying again, the ring finally sliding onto his ring finger, a perfect fit.
Xi Leng uncomfortably rubbed the metal band on his finger, then said, “There’s a huge gap between us, financially, so I think a prenuptial agreement is still—”
Necessary.
He couldn’t finish his sentence.
Interrupted by a passionate kiss.
Xi Leng let out a muffled protest, struggling weakly, then giving up, wrapping his arms around the warm body, returning the kiss.
Those painful memories echoed in his empty heart, like being trapped in an endless rainy season, his once vibrant body gradually turning cold and numb.
Thankfully, he never gave up, bravely facing his pain, confronting himself,
And finally, someone came, through the heavy rain, finding his struggling soul within his broken shell, in his desolate world.
The right person never needed to be chased, or worshipped like a god.
He appeared when you were most vulnerable and helpless, held your hand when you were most exhausted, never urging you, only whispering gently,
Let’s go together.
Slowly.
Preferably, stretching every day into a lifetime.
Through rain or shine, hand in hand.
This was each other’s salvation.
—End of Main Story—
