Chapter 691 - 691: He Really Proposed

Zhao Ling was the first to snap back to her senses, cheering excitedly, "Way to go, bro! That was brilliant!"

Zhao Yuan was bewildered. 'I'm just giving her a Storage Ring. Why are you so excited?'

He didn't press the matter, just smiled and replied, "Thanks for the compliment!"

His response only deepened the misunderstanding. Even Zhao Ling's tutor was convinced that Zhao Yuan was proposing, and she said, full of envy and admiration, "How romantic!"

This left Zhao Yuan even more confused.

'If you'd called me generous or a big spender, I would've understood. But romantic? What the hell is that about?'

'Since when did giving away a Storage Ring have anything to do with romance? If so, what about when I gave one to Hao Li before? Was that romantic, too? Damn, how disgusting would that be!'

Zhao Yuan shook his head. He concluded that women were truly strange creatures whose thoughts he could never hope to understand.

Seeing the stunned look on Lin Xue's face, Zhao Yuan didn't think much of it, assuming she was just shocked to receive a Magical Artifact for the first time. After all, Ying Ji, Hao Li, and Cheng Haoyu had all had the same look of utter disbelief when they first saw their Storage Rings. Lin Xue's reaction was no different.

Zhao Yuan smiled and said, "What, so happy you're speechless? Go on and take it."

Lin Xue finally snapped out of it. She reached for the Storage Ring, but hesitated nervously. "Isn't this moving a little too fast?"

'Moving too fast?'

Zhao Yuan froze for a second before it dawned on him. 'I get it. Xiaoxue must be worried that she isn't strong enough to handle this Storage Ring.'

With an outsider present, he couldn't speak plainly, so he could only say vaguely, "It's not too fast. You can totally handle it right now!"

But his words only made Lin Xue misunderstand further. An alluring blush crept over her cheeks. She lowered her head, not quite daring to look at Zhao Yuan, and whispered, "Aren't you supposed to put it on for me? There's no precedent for me just taking the ring and putting it on myself."

Zhao Ling chimed in, "My sister-in-law is right! Bro, you're supposed to get down on one knee and put the ring on her hand yourself." She was certainly quick on the uptake, already calling Lin Xue her sister-in-law.

"Huh?" Zhao Yuan looked completely lost. "Why would I do that?"

Zhao Ling adopted a tone of profound disappointment, as if scolding a hopeless case. "You don't even get this? When you propose, you get down on one knee and present the ring, don't you? Who just makes the girl take it and put it on herself?"

"What? Propose?" Zhao Yuan was startled. "What are you talking about? I'm not proposing!"

At his words, everyone froze.

'What the hell? Did we completely misunderstand the situation?'

Zhao Ling, refusing to give up, asked, "If you're not proposing, then why are you giving her a ring?"

It was then that Zhao Yuan finally realized his gesture of giving her the Storage Ring was what caused this whole misunderstanding!

In front of the tutor, he could only hint, "This isn't an ordinary ring. I made it myself." As he spoke, he flashed the Storage Ring on his own hand.

Lin Xue and Zhao Ling were both sharp, and seeing this, they immediately realized they had misunderstood him.

Zhao Ling's shoulders slumped in disappointment. "Geez," she grumbled. "I thought this blockhead had finally gotten a clue. Turns out I got all excited for nothing!"

Lin Xue kept her head down, silent, but it was easy to imagine how crestfallen she must be feeling.

Zhao Yuan saw this and was filled with self-reproach, his mind racing to find a way to fix the situation.

Suddenly, inspiration struck. He dropped to one knee before Lin Xue and said with a smile, "That may have been a misunderstanding, but it also served as a good reminder… Xiaoxue, I love you. Will you marry me?"

Lin Xue clapped both hands over her mouth, her face a picture of delighted surprise.

Her emotions had been on a roller coaster—soaring high, then plunging low, and now, they were skyrocketing to the very peak once more.

Zhao Ling leaped to her feet excitedly. "Haha! Way to go, bro! Unbelievable! The blockhead finally got a clue!"

Zhao Yuan shot her a glare out of the corner of his eye. 'You little brat,' he thought. 'Daring to tease your own brother! Fine, you just wait. See how I deal with you after this is over!'

Zhao Ling felt a sudden chill and couldn't help but shiver.

But she was too caught up in the excitement to give it much thought, and instead continued to play wingman for her brother. "Sister-in-law, what are you waiting for? Say yes! Hold out your hand so my bro can put the ring on you!"

Zhao Yuan added, "It may not be a diamond ring, but its value is far greater."

"So incredibly romantic!" The private tutor's eyes were sparkling. She assumed Zhao Yuan meant that because he had made the ring himself, its sentimental value far outweighed the monetary value of any diamond.

What she didn't know, however, was that the value of the Jade ring in Zhao Yuan's hand was, in literal fact, far greater than any diamond ring.

If any other Cultivator saw Zhao Yuan using a Storage Ring for a marriage proposal, it's impossible to imagine how shocked they would be.

It was an absurdly extravagant gesture!

Lin Xue's heart was pounding with excitement and sweetness. A million voices inside her screamed yes, but a sliver of rational thought remained. "Isn't it a bit too soon to get married? We're still in school, and we aren't even at the legal age yet."

"No problem! You can just get engaged first, right, bro?" Zhao Ling said, landing another god-tier assist.

Zhao Yuan nodded in agreement. "Ling'Er is right. We can get engaged first and worry about marriage when we're old enough. Besides, my parents already adore you, and your family treats me like a precious treasure."

"Pfft, shameless. Who said they treat you like a treasure," Lin Xue retorted playfully.

Zhao Yuan chuckled. "Alright, alright. So they don't treasure me. What about you? Do you?"

"Of course," Lin Xue said with a sweet, earnest smile. "You've long been the most precious treasure in my life."

Zhao Yuan's heart skipped a beat.

Lin Xue extended her hand toward him.

Her trembling hand revealed just how excited and nervous she was.

Zhao Yuan gently took her hand and slipped the Storage Ring onto her finger.

He was placing a ring on her finger, but he was also taking on a responsibility.

Zhao Yuan suddenly felt the weight on his shoulders grow a little heavier.

But far from resisting it, he was thrilled.

He pulled Lin Xue into his arms and, right in front of Zhao Ling and the private tutor, began to kiss her passionately.

"Whoa!" Zhao Ling watched, thrilled.

The private tutor's eyes were shining, too. After all, it wasn't every day you got to witness a proposal firsthand.

After a passionate, all-consuming kiss, their lips parted, but they remained locked in an embrace.

Zhao Yuan looked at Lin Xue, a wide, happy smile on his face as he said with all sincerity, "From this day on, you're mine."

"I've been yours for a long time," Lin Xue replied softly, a gentle smile on her face.