Chapter 75
This topic seemed to catch them both off guard.
After the question, neither of them knew how to respond.
Xia Wansheng had initially thought it was just a joke to lighten the mood, but he couldn’t deny the flicker of hope, so he couldn’t bring himself to laugh.
But Yu Congyan showed no sign of explaining, clearly not joking.
As the clock ticked, Xia Wansheng realized Yu Congyan must have accidentally spoken his true feelings.
He had to consider his response carefully.
“I haven’t decided yet.”
He was being honest. He had never been very clear about his own emotions, and now, feeling like he had forgotten something important, he definitely wouldn’t agree to a proposal.
Although, setting aside all that, he did desire that title.
It would be a reassurance, a confirmation that someone in this world cared about him.
Being cared for while sick was a rare experience for Xia Wansheng.
Whether it was a high fever or a broken bone, he had always handled it alone, never considering relying on others.
But at some point, things had changed.
Xia Wansheng, holding the bowl, thought, at least at this moment, he wanted to rely on Yu Congyan, and his request was met with kindness.
“It’s alright, tell me when you’ve decided, I’ll be here.”
Yu Congyan had also accidentally revealed his true feelings. He hadn’t expected Xia Wansheng to agree now.
Thankfully, things were still progressing reasonably.
He looked at Xia Wansheng obediently taking his medicine, the band-aid he had applied still on his ring finger.
The subtle gesture somehow eased his anxiety.
At least Xia Wansheng was still willing to be with him, willing to communicate, even seeking his company. He had changed so much since the beginning.
The rain continued its gentle patter, the droplets clinging to the leaves outside the balcony window.
At Xiang Haichao and Qin Yu’s wedding,
Colorful ribbons streamed across the sky, a flock of doves taking flight, their wings beating rhythmically.
Xia Wansheng woke up early, his head still a bit foggy.
Although he was technically just here to catch the bouquet, he still had to go through the motions.
Yu Congyan and Xiang Haichao were huddled in a corner, discussing something.
“So you want me to sound out Xia Wansheng’s views on marriage?” Xiang Haichao summarized.
Seeing his friend’s secretive demeanor, he had assumed it was some important business matter, even calculating his current assets.
Could Yu Congyan be dissatisfied with his company’s current scale and planning another expansion?
But then Yu Congyan, with the seriousness of someone about to negotiate a billion-dollar deal, asked him to subtly inquire about Xia Wansheng’s views on marriage.
“He said he hasn’t decided yet, I’m worried he has some concerns he can’t tell me directly.” Yu Congyan replied.
Although he couldn’t imagine what difficulties Xia Wansheng might be facing, it was better to address them immediately.
“Alright, I’ll ask him, but I can’t guarantee he’ll tell me the truth.” Xiang Haichao, having run a legal aid office, knew people often lied for various reasons.
Mostly because they thought they were doing what was best for the other person, often with disastrous results.
However… if Xia Wansheng wanted to refuse but was afraid of hurting Yu Congyan, then he probably wouldn’t be able to get the truth out of him.
“You two haven’t been together for very long, why are you thinking so far ahead?” Xiang Haichao asked after some thought.
“I don’t know either.” Yu Congyan sighed.
He hadn’t intended to rush things.
But as time passed, their relationship evolved, and seeing Xia Wansheng’s injuries, his desire to protect him had become instinctive.
“Perhaps it’s just fate.” He said with a sigh.
“…” Love truly makes people blind.
The wedding ceremony continued, the outdoor venue filled with an atmosphere of joy and happiness.
Xia Wansheng, having woken up early, was looking for a quiet corner to rest when he saw a familiar figure, someone he had met during the filming of the variety show.
Xiang Haichao had mentioned there would be media present.
Chu You was adjusting his camera tripod.
He had finally become a full-time employee last month and was here with his seniors to cover the wedding, tasked with writing a few articles.
He had spotted a familiar name on the guest list at the entrance.
Xia Wansheng? Why was he here?
Chu You remembered the hint from his team leader, that Yu Congyan might not actually care about Xia Wansheng, otherwise he wouldn’t have let those rumors spread.
Although they had later clarified the rumors to improve the company’s image, Xia Wansheng had also unexpectedly announced his retirement.
The internet was abuzz, but those who knew him all expressed their support and regret, no one suspecting anything else.
Chu You, with his insider information, knowing Xia Wansheng had been hospitalized several times, couldn’t help but overthink.
This was just speculation, he had only heard snippets from his team leader, he couldn’t jump to conclusions.
But he was still worried about their relationship.
Having been in the entertainment industry for a while, he understood the dynamics between celebrities and their sponsors. If neither party was emotionally invested, it was just a business arrangement, but judging by their previous interactions, Xia Wansheng seemed to have genuine feelings.
As he adjusted his camera towards the sunlight, Xia Wansheng walked into the frame.
Chu You looked up in surprise, confirming several times before believing it was really him.
He was surprised by the change in him.
He remembered Xia Wansheng seemed indifferent to everything, just fulfilling the program’s requirements, nothing truly capturing his attention.
But now, Chu You sensed a newfound genuineness in him.
As if he truly intended to live a good life in this world, no longer detached and ready to leave at any moment.
The previous Xia Wansheng was like someone trapped in a bubble, going through the motions but not truly invested, always with an underlying “I don’t care, I can always die” attitude.
It wasn’t necessarily bad, but Chu You, a seasoned media professional, instinctively felt something was off.
“Mr. Xia, what are you doing here?!” He approached him, “I was an intern on your variety show, I’m here to write an article.”
He introduced himself, worried Xia Wansheng wouldn’t remember him.
“About your retirement…” Chu You didn’t want to bring up painful memories, but he was still concerned.
If it was because of Yu Congyan that Xia Wansheng was shelved, perhaps he could use his connections in the industry to help.
Even if he couldn’t pressure the company, he could at least expose the truth.
“Ah…retirement was my own choice,” Xia Wansheng, seeing his concern, gestured for him to sit down, “Don’t worry about me.”
This was a good opportunity to clarify a few things.
“It’s complicated, but you can just assume it was my decision, no one forced me.” He emphasized,
“And the rumors about being shelved are just speculation.”
Chu You nodded, he had investigated this and knew he was telling the truth.
And Xia Wansheng’s current state was much better than before, perhaps retirement truly was a good thing for him.
“Then how are things between you and CEO Yu?” Chu You asked, still a bit worried.
He had realized their relationship wasn’t as simple as it appeared, thanks to his team leader’s hint that Yu Corp had never bothered to clarify any rumors about Yu Congyan.
Although Yu Congyan seemed overly concerned and even possessive, the loneliness in Xia Wansheng’s eyes couldn’t be faked.
Chu You had a feeling that, if it weren’t for something holding him back, he might one day read about Xia Wansheng’s death in some obscure news article.
“There’s nothing wrong between us.” Xia Wansheng shook his head.
Although Yu Congyan had mentioned wanting to propose, he had just treated it as a hypothetical question.
Marriage was a foreign concept to him.
If it happened suddenly, if he was forced into it, or if he found a ring in his ice cream, he wouldn’t mind, he would simply tell himself he had no choice, just going with the flow.
But Yu Congyan asking him directly, just like asking him to “be together,” was different.
He was guiding him to make a choice, to embark on a different path.
“That’s good. I regret not being able to stop what happened before.” Chu You hesitated, then confessed his thoughts.
He was just an intern then, clueless about the industry’s power dynamics, acting impulsively.
He couldn’t save anyone, and he almost lost his job.
After months of struggling, he finally understood the rules of the game, how to handle these situations properly, minimizing the harm to Xia Wansheng.
“Here’s my business card, contact me if you need any help.” He found a newly printed card in his pocket and handed it over.
Although he hoped that number would never be called.
If it weren’t for Xia Wansheng’s help during the variety show, the situation would have been much worse, he, as an intern, would have been an easy target, perhaps he wouldn’t have stayed in this industry.
Xia Wansheng had, in a way, changed his life, without that opportunity, he might never have achieved his dream.
Xia Wansheng took the card, surprised to see the former intern had been promoted several times, a small success.
It was good to see everyone thriving in their chosen fields.
Just as Chu You left, and Xia Wansheng was wondering when the ceremony would start, a familiar figure sat down beside him.
Xiang Haichao decided to complete the task Yu Congyan had given him, lest he be distracted during his vows, unable to fully appreciate his love story.
“I have a question for you from Yu Congyan,” he said, seeing Xia Wansheng about to decline, he added,
“I’m not here to persuade you to accept his proposal, I’m here to ask, do you not want to get married, or do you not want to marry him?”
There was a significant difference between the two.
“I don’t know…perhaps I just haven’t thought about what my future life would be like.” Xia Wansheng looked at the decorated venue in the distance.
The weather was nice, perfect for pictures.
He suddenly became philosophical, “I feel like if I agree, my life will change completely.”
He wasn’t sure if he could handle the challenges that came with marriage, the uncertainty itself was overwhelming.
Xiang Haichao clicked his tongue, getting straight to the point, “What’s the difference between your current life and married life?”
They were already living together, and now he was worried about married life.
Would they move out and live separately after getting married, just to celebrate their change in status?
“That’s not what I meant, I’ll think about it.” Xia Wansheng chuckled.
He didn’t know what he was so conflicted about, perhaps he just needed a push.
Returning to the villa, he saw Yu Congyan looking at him hesitantly, wanting to ask but not daring to.
He suddenly felt amused, it was as if seeing someone else’s worry made him want to comfort them.
He reached out and gently covered Yu Congyan’s hand, shaking his head to indicate he was fine.
Catching the bouquet, Xia Wansheng felt a bit dazed. Everyone was cheering, and he, uncomfortable with the attention, instinctively looked for a familiar face.
His gaze met Yu Congyan’s across the crowd.
Even surrounded by so many people, he could still recognize him instantly.
As the guests started to leave, bidding farewell to slightly tipsy friends, Xia Wansheng clutched the bouquet.
It was a symbol, a catalyst for a life-altering decision.
As the car started, he suddenly said: “Let’s go back to the villa.”
“Why? If you forgot something, we can ask Housekeeper Zhang to send it over.” Yu Congyan leaned closer naturally, fastening his seatbelt, carefully avoiding the bouquet in his arms.
“I want to go home, there’s something I need to tell you.” Xia Wansheng clutched the bouquet of baby’s breath and roses, his voice barely audible.
Yu Congyan didn’t respond, but he felt a pang of sadness.
He regretted his earlier hasty question, pushing Xia Wansheng away again.
The matching rings in his pocket felt like a burning weight on his chest.
They drove home in silence, under a clear night sky.
Xia Wansheng had assumed his bedroom would be dusty after being away for so long.
But when he opened the door, it was spotless. Yu Congyan had been bringing back items and decorations he thought Xia Wansheng would like, placing them in the study.
So, if he wanted to, he could move back in immediately.
He gestured for Yu Congyan to close the door, turned on the light, then walked over and opened the window.
The cold night air rushed in.
Yu Congyan froze, instinctively wanting to stop him, but Xia Wansheng’s gaze held him in place.
Unlike the first time, he wasn’t holding any dreaded contract, but a bouquet of baby’s breath and roses.
He leaned against the window, bathed in the soft moonlight.
“I’ve changed my mind, do you want to ask again?” he said.
Yu Congyan’s heart stopped.
He felt his mind go blank, his emotions swept away by Xia Wansheng’s words, weightless.
“I never thought I would be lucky enough to meet you again. At first, it was just suspicion and worry, then, one day, I realized I couldn’t bear the thought of losing you.”
He couldn’t even hear his own voice, the world around him a blur.
“I’m sorry if this experience wasn’t pleasant for you, but I’m grateful you chose to stay.” He pulled out the custom-made rings he had been carrying, his voice soft and tender, “Wanwan, will you marry me?”
Xia Wansheng, holding the bouquet, heard a “ding” in his mind.
A flood of memories surged through him, filling in the gaps.
The system, after a long silence, tried to speak, but was immediately muted by Xia Wansheng.
He had more important things to do.
Xia Wansheng blinked innocently, leaning slightly towards the window, a playful glint in his eyes, “…Marry you? Does that mean being on the bottom every night?”
He leaned further out, pretending to jump, “I can’t handle that, I’m going to die now.”
Yu Congyan: …？？？？？！！？
What?! Wife???
Although still confused, he instinctively reached out to grab him.
But he only managed to catch the bouquet of baby’s breath and roses.
Xia Wansheng didn’t fall, but turned and threw himself into his arms,
Pulling off a rose petal, holding it between his teeth, he stood on his tiptoes and kissed him.
A bright full moon hung in the night sky.
-The End of main Story-
