Chapter 762: Our Love

The sun was exceptionally bright during the three days of the exam. The sky was a clear, deep blue without a single cloud, as if heralding a triumphant victory.

Thanks to the clear weather, the temperature had been climbing for days. Standing under the hot sun for too long would easily make one feel dizzy and light-headed.

Countless pedestrians filled the streets. The more fashion-conscious and elegant women all held up parasols or were wrapped up from head to toe, terrified of the scorching sun burning their delicate skin.

Chen Yuan had been completely devoted to supporting her during the exam, perfectly playing the part of a dutiful boyfriend. He would give Jiangg Ning a huge hug after each test and then drive her home. All the while, he would constantly reassure her that she must have done great and that if she just kept her momentum, the next day would be fine too. With his encouragement, Ningning was brimming with motivation.

Jiangg Ning’s exam started right after they returned from Lanjing University, so Chen Yuan hadn’t gotten much rest. He planned to take her out for some fun once this major event was over. A hike together or a celebratory candlelight dinner both sounded like wonderful ideas.

And so, they finally made it to the last day: the day of the interview.

Chen Yuan found a quiet spot to park and wait. He glanced at his watch. It was already 11:45 AM, fifteen minutes after the interview was scheduled to end.

‘Isn’t she out yet…’ he thought.

Beneath the magnificent building, sunlight baked the grayish-white stone steps of the wide, long staircase. Just as he looked up, people began to file out.

Their shadows stretched diagonally across the stairs.

After watching for a moment, Chen Yuan finally locked his eyes on the most stunning figure in the crowd. He eagerly hopped out of the car, taking off his sunglasses and holding them in his hand.

“Over here,” Chen Yuan waved.

Jiangg Ning looked up, and the moment she saw Chen Yuan, a brilliant smile lit up her face.

It was a gentle, close-lipped smile, not a wide grin, but it made her seem incredibly tender.

As tender as a soft breeze.

“It’s over!”

Jiangg Ning bounded down the last few steps and hurried toward him. Chen Yuan met her with a massive bear hug, sweeping her off her feet by the waist and spinning her in a full circle, sending her long white dress flaring out around them.

The sight of the handsome man and beautiful woman created such a picturesque scene that the other interview candidates nearby couldn’t help but cast envious glances their way.

Jiangg Ning blushed and quickly patted Chen Yuan’s shoulder.

“Put me down,” she said softly.

“Honey, you’re finally done! You’re number one, you were absolutely amazing,” Chen Yuan praised her without reservation.

“The results aren’t even out and you’re already calling me number one. Don’t let people hear you, they’ll laugh.”

“I don’t care. It doesn’t matter if your score is number one or not. You’re already number one in my heart.”

Having witnessed Jiangg Ning’s hard work firsthand these past few days, he believed from the bottom of his heart that she deserved it. She studied for more than eight hours every single day. If she couldn’t pass, who could?

After all, Jiangg Ning’s score on the preliminary exam had already been among the top ranks.

Seeing the proud look on Chen Yuan’s face, Jiangg Ning couldn’t help but let his mood rub off on her.

“Such sweet words. That’s my husband for you,” she said, pleased by his compliments. She wrinkled her nose and whispered in his ear.

“Come on, let’s go home.”

Finishing the exam felt like having an immense weight lifted from her shoulders.

On the way back, even the wind felt sweet.

The car was filled with their cheerful laughter as they talked about how she could help Chen Yuan at work after getting her degree, sharing their endless, wonderful dreams for the future.

When some light music started playing in the car, Jiangg Ning even hummed along for a few lines—something she hadn’t done in a long time.

She rarely showed such a lively side, which just went to show what a wonderful mood she was in.

“I wish you could smile like this every day.”

As he was driving, Chen Yuan turned to look at her. Jiangg Ning’s sweet smile made him stop in his tracks. They had been dating for so long, yet he had rarely seen Ningning this happy.

“What is it?” she asked, tilting her head.

“It’s nothing. I just don’t get to see you smile like this very often.”

“I really am happy. My mind feels so clear, and I have this sense of contentment that’s hard to put into words. All I can say is, I’m very happy right now…” She paused, then continued, “Plus, you’ve been with me constantly these past few days, which gave me so much motivation. You waited outside the exam hall for hours at a time. Having you by my side makes me feel so happy, too. It’s a feeling I’ve never experienced before.”

As she spoke, Jiangg Ning gave an adorable little pump of her arm and said softly, “I’m filled with energy.”

“How did you usually handle your exams before?”

“How else? I’d study on my own, go to the exam on my own, and then head home to wait for the results.”

“That sounds pretty rough.”

“But now I have you, so it’s different.”

As she said this, their eyes met. She saw Chen Yuan break into a goofy grin, as if he’d just received the highest possible praise.

‘Like a little puppy, grinning like a fool just because his wife praised him…’

‘So cute,’ she thought.

What she didn’t tell Chen Yuan was that only after they started dating had she truly understood what it felt like to be happy, to be loved, and to have someone to lean on.

If she had to choose all over again, Jiangg Ning felt she would fall in love with him a hundred, even a thousand times more.

“We have to tell Yaoyao the good news when we get back. But with the time difference, we’ll have to pick a time when she’s awake.”

“Oh, right. Yaoyao’s been on her trip for three or four days now. She told me yesterday that she just left Paris. It sounds like she’s having a great time.”

“Mm, there was actually something I wanted to discuss with you,” Chen Yuan said, suddenly remembering. “Now that all the major stuff is out of the way, shouldn’t we plan the engagement party? We can start when Jiangg Yao gets back.”

After Chen Yuan spoke, she suddenly remembered. The three of them had discussed this before, but it had been shelved due to various other matters. Now, it was time to bring the idea back to the table. According to his family’s customs, the engagement party was for their closest relatives and friends. The ceremony itself wasn’t complex; the important part was hashing out the details and having both families agree on a wedding date.

And once the engagement party was over, the official wedding banquet would be held within a few months at the latest.

Jiangg Ning was lost in thought.

‘Getting married at nineteen… A situation like Chen Yuan’s is pretty rare.’

“Why so quiet?” Chen Yuan asked from the driver’s seat.

“I’m just thinking. And I want to ask you… are you really ready to get married?”

“I’ve been ready for a long time. I’ve just been waiting for you to say yes.”

His answer took Jiangg Ning by surprise.

…

In life, one must always face countless choices.

Some choices determine one’s destiny, while others do not… But often, as if guided by an unseen hand, a person can feel a sudden sense of solemnity and sanctity descend upon them. Whenever this feeling arrives, it means you have reached a crossroads of fate.

When she thought about marriage, Jiangg Ning had been enveloped by this sense of fateful solemnity more than once.

She couldn’t quite explain it.

She always felt that the next step, though seemingly within arm’s reach, was as distant as the far side of an abyss.

Even though she truly, deeply loved Chen Yuan.

…

「That Evening」

A romantic and cozy candlelight dinner.

The entire garden restaurant was serene and exquisitely beautiful. From its wide, floor-to-ceiling windows, one could overlook the entire cityscape of Mingzhu City. The lights and shadows outside were the city’s very lifeblood, pulsing between resolute high-rises.

The beauty of the night was breathtaking, the lights dazzling and brilliant, showcasing the city’s immense prosperity.

Two glasses of red wine, the light of a single candle.

A quiet corner, just for the happy couple.

Chen Yuan and Jiangg Ning were having a long-overdue celebration.

The last time the two of them had sipped wine and chatted so freely, in a moment as cozy as this, was all the way back to that dinner in Lanjing, right when Jiangg Ning was first starting to fall for him.

Back then, Jiangg Ning had worn a particularly beautiful formal dress with a jacket over it, only taking off the outer layer after a few glasses of wine.

That moment had given the still-innocent Chen Yuan the shock of his life.

“What was going through your mind back then?” Jiangg Ning asked, covering her mouth to stifle a laugh. Her bright, beautiful eyes seemed to sparkle.

In truth, she had already had quite a bit of red wine, so her whole demeanor was especially alluring.

Not only were her cheeks red, but even her neck was flushed a delicate pink.

“I was dumbstruck, of course. I was completely captivated by your charm. I’d never experienced anything like that before… I rarely saw pretty girls when I was a student, and you, Ningning, you’re on a whole different plane than ‘pretty.’ You’re at goddess-level. Do you know what a shock that was to my young mind?”

Jiangg Ning couldn’t hold it in any longer, and a radiant smile bloomed across her face.

“I’m never going to tell you what I was thinking right before that.”

“What were you thinking?”

“Ask all you want, I’m definitely not telling you. It was hilarious, anyway… I don’t even know why I was so silly, concocting a whole scheme to test you. It’s just too embarrassing to think about.”

“You’re stopping halfway. You’re just teasing me.”

“Hey, you said you know me so well. You can try to guess what I was thinking. Just rule out the possibility that I was trying to seduce you, and then guess,” Jiangg Ning said playfully.

“I’m not guessing. Guessing games are for children.”

“Come on, guess… please guess.”

Whether she was just being playful or something else, Jiangg Ning actually started nudging his arm, drawing out the ends of her words. It was a rare display of her acting cute and spoiled.

Listening to her words and watching her actions, Chen Yuan stared blankly for a long moment, unable to react.

He couldn’t believe it. He’d completely forgotten that Jiangg Ning got all cute and clingy when she drank too much.

‘This is too cute…’

After nudging him for a moment, Jiangg Ning, in a daze, suddenly realized what she was doing. The shock of it sobered her up considerably.

“What was I just doing?” she asked, biting her lip, completely bewildered.

“I don’t know,” Chen Yuan said, propping his chin on his hand as he watched her.

“Maybe I’m a little… drunk.”

“But we’ve only had a few glasses, haven’t we?”

“That’s true,” Jiangg Ning said, feeling a bit clearer after her moment of confusion. She continued, “Actually, even though studying for this exam was hard, I didn’t feel too much pressure. On the contrary, every day felt fulfilling, and I was in a great mindset for studying. Tasks that used to take me an hour, I could now finish in forty-five minutes.”

“Did you level up or something?”

“No, it’s thanks to you.”

“What did I do?”

“Come over here, I’ll tell you a secret.”

Jiangg Ning crooked her finger, beckoning for Chen Yuan to lean in from across the table.

But when Chen Yuan leaned over quizzically, Jiangg Ning decided it still wasn’t close enough. She simply got up and sat down right next to him, then began whispering in his ear.

What she said made Chen Yuan’s face turn bright red.

The content was far too explicit.

And yet, it also had a firm scientific basis.

“Really?” Chen Yuan asked, suspicious.

“I’m not lying. It was… our nightly activities. They helped me de-stress. The first few times were fine, but as we went on, I felt more and more like I was floating on a cloud, all light and airy~”

SMOOCH…

Suddenly, Jiangg Ning planted a kiss on his cheek.

“It feels amazing.”

Chen Yuan turned his head to look at her. Her cheeks were flushed, and her lips gave off the faint, sweet scent of wine. She was almost unfairly beautiful, a captivating, drunken haze in her eyes.

“Marry me, Jiangg Ning,” he said earnestly, gently cupping Ningning’s face in his hands.

“Next year, okay…? I’ve given it serious thought. I was going to tell you tomorrow… We’re so happy right now, aren’t we? It’s already May, so that’s really only half a year away,” she said gently. “You already have everything you’ve ever wanted. You even have me. I’m all yours.”

She looked directly into Chen Yuan’s eyes, caressed his face, and said, taking the lead, “Let’s go home. I want you.”

Not wanting to ruin the heart-pounding feeling of the moment, Chen Yuan didn’t press the issue.

He hadn’t gotten the answer he wanted, but he said nothing. He just swallowed his disappointment and tried to console himself.

‘I’ve already waited this long. What’s waiting until next year…?’

“Okay. Let’s go home.”

He pulled Jiangg Ning into an embrace.

…

It was an incredibly enchanting night.

Drunk, Jiangg Ning was the one initiating the kisses, tracing hearts on his chest with her slender fingers. From her position on top of him, she savored her beloved.

(End of Volume)

Note: The next volume will contain seven chapters.

The Final Arc.