Qin Nuan slowly walked toward the mound of candles with her phone to her ear, while Luo Qianqian and Luo Yanwu followed at a slight distance, taking their time.
It wasn’t until she reached the center of the candles that Qin Nuan stopped. Simultaneously, Luo Yanran, standing inside the circle, made an inviting gesture, and without hesitation, she stepped into the circle.
Luo Yanran took Qin Nuan’s hand and walked to the very center of the heart, then knelt on one knee.
Luo Qianqian was taken aback and covered her mouth with her hand, staring unblinkingly at the two people at the center of the candles.
"Qin Nuan, today is our first birthday together, and the first Qixi Festival is coming up. This is the beginning of our lives, definitely not the end," Luo Yanran said with a hint of shyness but filled with solemnity, as he took out a small square box from his pocket. "Mom always says that to love someone means to give her a lifetime of commitment. Even though we are not of age yet, and even though we’ve only been together for a few short months, I still want to ask you, Qin Nuan, would you marry me? Be my wife, Qianqian’s sister-in-law, and stay with me for a lifetime, to the ends of the Earth, to witness flowers bloom and wither, to be by my side with every sunrise and sunset... Will you, be the only love of Luo Yanran’s life, the only wife. Qin Nuan, I want to have a future with you, I want to marry you and have and raise a bunch of kids together."
Luo Qianqian could hardly believe it. In an era where even years of dating might not lead to marriage, how could a few months of dating confirm the future? Luo Qianqian hesitated, unsure whether to support Luo Yanran’s proposal or advise Qin Nuan to think it over properly.
Qin Nuan’s response surprised everyone. She took the box, but closed it, not putting on the ring. "To agree now would be irresponsible to us both. When we reach marriageable age, and after I graduate, if you are still willing to kneel and propose to me, I will give you an answer. I’ll keep the ring for you for now." Then she reached out and pulled Luo Yanran to his feet.
Cong Rong chuckled lightly, "I knew it."
Luo Qianqian was about to ask, but then it dawned on her.
Luo Yanran was still Yhan Miyuan, and even if she trusted him, the intimate scenes with actresses on the big screen could still make Qin Nuan uncomfortable.
"I’ll wait for your graduation," Luo Yanran said, with not a trace of surprise, as if he had anticipated this response. He then pulled out a big teddy bear from behind the candles. "This was Brother Sun’s suggestion, and even though I feel like Qianqian might not even sleep with it, I’ll trust him just this once."
Sun Zhichao rolled his eyes amid the crowd. "If you don’t trust him, don’t give it."
Qin Nuan laughed outright—what a way to talk about someone. Just as she was about to take it, she heard Luo Yanran call, "Qianqian, come and help carry this."
Luo Qianqian bounced over and hugged the bear, bigger than herself, then returned to the crowd.
Luo Yanwu, seeing his sister overwhelmed by the size of the bear, couldn’t bear it, took the bear from her, and tucked it under his arm.
Looking embarrassed, Luo Yanran then took out a big bag and produced a box. "This is your birth gift, my thanks to your uncle and auntie for bringing you into this world. I’m giving you this Gold Lock, hoping you live a long and healthy life."
"At one year old, you were chubby and a bit mischievous; the best fit for you is this white Princess Dress, you’re Qin Family’s Little Princess, and the precious treasure of my life."
"Two years old, I give you a box of watercolor pens to paint your dreams, and I will help make each one come true."
"Three years old, an encyclopedia suits you best. For the hundred thousand whys, it will provide the answers."
"Four years old, I must give you a Barbie doll, hoping your future will be as exquisite as Barbie’s."
"At sixteen, you’ve grown elegant and beautiful; I give you a small tiara and a party dress, you are the loveliest girl."
"Seventeen years old, dignified, smart and witty, yet you face exams and are worn out, so I give you a pillow, hoping that every good dream of yours includes me."
"Eighteen years old, you’re finally an adult; I give you a pair of high heels, congratulations on entering the adult world, and I hope you step into my life wearing these shoes."
"Nineteen years old, you as you are now, I give you a bag, hoping you can carry your aspirations and be confident and happy as we walk together."
Luo Qianqian didn’t know what Qin Nuan was thinking. Standing there, listening to Luo Yanran say all this, she didn’t know why, but she felt like crying.
There were nineteen gift boxes laid out on the ground, and the final box, the largest one, was placed on top. Qin Nuan covered her mouth with both hands, choking up with emotion. Although she had yearned for a surprise, she never anticipated Luo Yanran would move her to this extent.
"Of course, I didn’t forget the roses," Luo Yanran said as he opened the last box behind him, which contained eleven red roses.
He held the box with both hands and presented it to Qin Nuan: "Nuannuan, happy birthday."
Qin Nuan put down the flowers on the ground, then leaped up to embrace Luo Yanran: "Sob sob, you fool, you big fool."
"Yes, yes, I’m a fool, I’m your fool," Luo Yanran chuckled, holding Qin Nuan with a face full of sweetness.
"Xiao Si, who gave you this idea?" Jia Ning was moved to tears as well, her gaze questioning as she turned towards Luo Qianqian.
Luo Qianqian shook her head repeatedly; she had said nothing of the sort.
"Our child has grown up, isn’t it wonderful that he has his own ideas?" Luo Xihan gently wiped the tears from Jia Ning’s face with a handkerchief. "Your son has grown up, you should be happy as a mother. Why are you crying? The kids are all here, isn’t it embarrassing?"
"I’m crying because I’m happy," Jia Ning quickly snatched the handkerchief to dry her tears, then looked at Luo Qianqian.
Cong Rong watched from the side, full of envy. Nuannuan was truly blessed.
The next second, Qin Nuan and Luo Yanran moved as if they had agreed beforehand, carrying the gifts out from the center of the candles.
Luo Yanran waved his hand towards Luo Yanwu: "Third brother, go for it!"
Luo Yanwu was taken aback when a box landed in his palm. He opened it to find a teddy bear, which he promptly stuffed into Qin Wen’s arms. Meanwhile, he pulled Cong Rong into the circle, then noticed something covered with a black plastic bag. Removing the plastic bag revealed a bunch of exquisite roses.
Cong Rong was stunned.
Luo Yanwu turned to Luo Yanran and saw him gesturing encouragement.
The next second, Luo Yanwu knelt on one knee as if he were remote-controlled: "Cong Rong, will you be my girlfriend?!"
Holding up the bouquet, his face flushed and his eyes bright, he looked at Cong Rong: "With the responsibility on my shoulders and the pride in my heart, I promise to cherish and protect you for a lifetime. Please accept me."
Luo Qianqian burst out laughing. Who proposes like that?
But Cong Rong just smiled, took the bouquet, and helped him up: "If they hadn’t given you this chance today, when were you planning to propose?"
"Tomor—tomorrow," Luo Yanwu stammered. Why else would he take a day off? He looked flustered at Cong Rong, counting the roses in her arms: "You—you’ve accepted?"
"Considering you’re quite sincere," Cong Rong smiled in response.
Only then did Luo Yanwu breathe a sigh of relief, grinning foolishly towards Luo Qianqian, Luo Yanran, and Qin Nuan: "You guys have a sister-in-law now."
Qin Nuan was startled, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
"Fourth Brother, is there a special meaning behind that bouquet of flowers?" Luo Qianqian inquired, noting that the bouquet in Cong Rong’s hands obviously had more roses than Qin Nuan’s.
In Qin Nuan’s hands were eleven roses, symbolizing ’love you for a lifetime.’
In Cong Rong’s hands were more than thirty, which meant... ’please accept my love.’