Chapter 294: The Buddha Says, "As You Wish

She saw that not far from her, the man had already gotten down on one knee.

He held an open ring box, and inside, a pigeon’s-egg-sized, heart-shaped Purple Diamond glittered dazzlingly under the lights.

“I knew you’d turn around when you saw that photo, so I anticipated it and got ready.”

The man seemed to be trying to mask his nervousness with a laugh, but his voice still trembled as he spoke.

The corner of Yvonne Lowell’s mouth twitched as she started walking toward him.

‘What a dummy! Could he really have predicted the exact moment I’d see that photo?’

Seeing her walk steadily closer, Leo Grant grew even more nervous, his voice trembling as he spoke.

“I’m sorry. The truth is, I lied to you. That time I told you I was on a business trip and used being busy with work as an excuse for not being able to video chat—that was a lie. I actually went abroad to secretly buy the ring and a gown. I also got your finger size by sneaking a ring from your walk-in closet to measure it. But I promise, that was the first and last time. I will never, ever do anything to deceive you again. If I do, you can punish me however you see fit. But… can I just file a petition in advance? For an exemption? If the lie is a white lie, told for the sake of a surprise, it shouldn’t count, right?”

First came the confession, then the apology, and finally, he started pushing his luck.

Yes, this was perfectly in line with his usual behavior around Yvonne Lowell.

Watching from afar via a monitor, Mr. Grant laughed and commented bluntly,

“The kid’s so nervous he can’t even think straight. Isn’t he contradicting himself?”

“Shut your mouth!” Old Master Grant and Mrs. Grant snapped in unison.

Mr. Grant: ‘…Fine. Being the outcast is my destiny.’

But Yvonne Lowell, who was actually there, could barely suppress her own laughter. After all, she had never seen this side of Leo Grant before.

‘Have to admit, it’s kind of adorable.’

Forcing a neutral expression, she said calmly, “That depends on the situation. Are you finished? If not, why don’t you stand up first and continue? Aren’t you tired of kneeling?”

“Oh, okay… No, it’s fine. I’ll just talk like this.”

Leo Grant’s expression froze for a second. ‘What was I going to say next?’

‘I was already nervous, and now I can’t even figure out what she’s thinking. I’ve completely forgotten my lines.’

‘Damn it! Forget it. I’ll just say whatever comes to mind.’

“Someone once said that only after you’ve been in a relationship for years can you understand what true love is.

I know that in the eyes of others, we haven’t been together for very long. Our bond might not seem deep enough, and we probably haven’t worked out all the kinks yet.

But I simply can’t wait any longer. Every single day we’ve been together, I’ve been desperately looking forward to today.

I’m desperate to have a home with you, a home that belongs to just us, a bond that will tie us together completely.

I want it so that whenever anyone mentions or sees one of us alone, the first thing they think of is the other person.

I’m the kind of person who likes to plan everything in advance, to have every possibility under my control.

But before we were reunited, I had no plans or intentions when it came to love. And after we met again, I never considered any other option but you.

Because you are my one, and only, optimal choice.

So to hell with what other people think. Our bond is already more than deep enough, and we have all the time in the world to make it even deeper.

We don’t need to ‘work out the kinks.’ You don’t have to change a single thing for this relationship. I will unconditionally adapt to you in every way.”

Yvonne Lowell’s expression remained unchanged as she looked down at him.

But her fingertips trembled unconsciously, and a lump formed in her throat. “You’re pretty greedy, then.”

Leo Grant keenly noticed the mist of tears gathering in her eyes. He suppressed the urge to stand up and forced a calm smile.

“I am. So I’ve decided to be even more selfish, a little more shameless, and waste no time in spiriting you away to be my Mrs. Grant. But more importantly, I want to say that whether it’s the future Mrs. Grant, the current heiress of the Lowell family, Professor Lowell, Chairman Lowell, or any other title or identity you may have, they should all come second to simply being Yvonne Lowell. Because I want you to be yourself first, and everything else second.”

“Leo is speaking so beautifully. He has your flair from back when you were a top literature student,” Wendy Sutton said, her eyes growing moist.

“Oh, that has nothing to do with me. I just think he’s being long-winded. Yvonne must be tired standing in those high heels! And he hasn’t even said ‘will you marry me?’ He’s just been rambling on and on. Get to the point already, honestly!”

Mrs. Grant didn’t know whether to laugh, cry, or be exasperated with her big, foolish son.

Charles Lowell pursed his lips. ‘It has nothing to do with her? It has nothing to do with literature, period! Okay?!’

‘You can find a million lines like this just by copying and pasting from the internet!’

‘And he’s actually succeeding in luring away our family’s prize cabbage with a few sweet nothings and some lines he probably just scraped off the internet?!’

Nolan Crawford: ‘…Who’s the one missing the point now, people?! Did you not see that my bro has been kneeling ever since he stepped into that sea of flowers? Doesn’t anyone feel bad for his poor knee?!’

‘Tsk. Just as I thought. None of these people are like me. I’m the only one who truly cares about my bro~’

Leo Grant lightly tapped his chest, right over his heart. His eyes, fixed on her, were filled not only with overflowing love but also with the devotion of a true believer for their faith.

“I’ve said it before: it was your appearance that caused the part of me in here called ‘love’ to start beating for you, and for you alone. I’ve also said, if the Buddha has spirit, may he bless you and grant your every wish, bringing you peace year after year. And now, I want to add that businessmen are known to be greedy and profit-driven, but I am even more so. If my own guardian deity has a spirit, then I pray that I might receive her divine grace. I don’t just want her to accompany me through the years of this lifetime, but through all the long ages, until we finally turn to dust and scatter across the vastness of heaven and earth. And for all my lifetimes, I will enshrine her and her alone. If these are empty words, then I am willing to accept the full reckoning of karma and cosmic law. So, Miss Lowell… my guardian deity… could you take pity on me? Will you marry me?”

Yvonne Lowell took two more steps forward, leaned down, and cupped his face with one hand.

“The Buddha says: As you wish, Dede.”

With that, she leaned in and kissed him.

He was the Dede she had claimed as her own with a ‘stamp’ when she was just two years old.

She was the Miss Lowell he’d had his first real encounter with again after fifteen years.

And the love Leo Grant gave her had always been passionate and something he was proud to show the world.

Fireworks blossomed in the sky at just the right moment, as if sending their blessings to the happy couple.

Their silhouettes, outlined by the light, radiated a tranquil and sacred glow.

It was as if a goddess, moved by compassion, had descended to the mortal realm to bow her head and kiss her most devout believer.