A Crazy Love Proposal
Chapter 180 - 180 99 Ugly Competition

Chapter 180: Chapter 99: Ugly Competition Chapter 180: Chapter 99: Ugly Competition “Its greatest value lies in remaining in your hands, for you are the one who most looks forward to the rose that can thrive freely under the sunshine,” Yang Ni was sincere.

Yun Yuwan didn’t even know how to refuse.

Jiang Yingyu played with the antique ring in his hand and spoke up at the right moment:

“Director Yang, although Yuwan still likes roses, she has taken a liking to climbing roses now and seldom grows shrub roses.”

Jiang Yingyu glanced at the pot of shrub rose seedlings: “The flowers she liked before are not necessarily still her favorites, and the past does not necessarily still count.”

Although Jiang Yingyu was usually easy-going, his facial lines were sharp, and his edge usually wasn’t felt because he was always smiling.

But at this moment, the words he spoke carried a clear provocation, and his hostility could not be ignored.

Yun Yuwan was unaware of the undercurrent between the two men, but Yang Ni was keenly aware.

Yang Ni had a restrained appearance, only his pupils were large and dark, giving an intense and piercing look when staring at someone.

At this point, both men were staring at each other; Jiang Yingyu smiled, Yang Ni did not, and neither gave ground.

Seeing Jiang Yingyu speaking up for her, Yun Yuwan also apologized: “I’m sorry, Yang Ni, but I really shouldn’t accept this gift.”

Yang Ni’s eyes shifted to Yun Yuwan; he had been tense and confrontational, but now he was gentle and sincere: “Don’t apologize. It’s just that my gift has arrived too late. I didn’t realize that before the rose season had even arrived, I was already outdated.”

The deferential words were intentionally meant to induce guilt, which Jiang Yingyu found somewhat amusing.

The girl might not understand, but as a man, who could be blind to his intentions?

Yun Yuwan did indeed feel a bit guilty, remembering that during her undergrad years, she and Yang Ni were indeed friends, though their relationship was quite ordinary.

She said helplessly, “It’s not about you. You were thoughtful, but you’ve simply given the gift to the wrong person.”

She looked at Jiang Yingyu and, wanting to save face for Yang Ni, lifted her lips slightly: “Jiang Yingyu, let’s go for a walk. I haven’t really seen the Zhu Family’s place yet.”

Jiang Yingyu agreed promptly: “Okay.”

Just as he was about to stand up, Yang Ni spoke: “Grandma Zhu likes me, I used to come here often. Let me show you around.”

Jiang Yingyu wasn’t too opposed to the idea, turning to Yun Yuwan instead:

“Millie, you promised to take me back to Belgium to see the Princess Margaret, remember?”

Princess Margaret was the variety of climbing rose Jiang Yingyu had given to Yun Yuwan.

Yun Yuwan didn’t understand why he suddenly brought up this promise: “Of course, I remember.”

Jiang Yingyu smiled elegantly, deliberately excluding Yang Ni with his gaze, and took the trouble to explain to him:

“Director Yang might not know, but a few years ago, I gave Millie a climbing rose named Princess Margaret.”

In that instant, Yang Ni understood the implication of the climbing rose.

He had given a shrub rose, but Jiang Yingyu’s gift was a climbing rose.

Now, Yun Yuwan preferred climbing roses.

Flowers reflect people, and people reflect flowers.

Jiang Yingyu’s demeanor remained unchanged, still showcasing his dashing elegance, and though Yang Ni was shameless, Jiang did not yield, deliberately jabbing at Yang Ni’s heart:

“Millie really likes that climbing rose. She moved it from London to Belgium, and it’s been growing there for a long time now, already covering Millie’s villa.”

His smile was rich.

Yun Yuwan thought Jiang Yingyu was just helping her reject Yang Ni and went along with it:

“Yes, I’ve grown fond of climbing roses now.”

Her gaze moved back to Jiang Yingyu’s face, which still bore a graceful and light smile.

But to Yang Ni, Jiang Yingyu’s mention of the roses covering Millie’s villa sounded exceedingly harsh on his ears.

Yang Ni’s hand, resting on the edge of the rose pot, couldn’t help but tighten slightly, his fingertips pressing against the carefully selected pot, his gaze growing heavier, deliberately avoiding Jiang Yingyu, but his voice remained gentle:

“Yuwan, may I speak with you in private?”

Yun Yuwan hesitated.

Indeed, she needed a talk, as Yang Ni’s affection was like a dense web that others might have cherished, but for her, it was merely a hassle; her affections were solely for Wen Yangzhi.

She glanced at Jiang Yingyu and spoke softly, “Why don’t you step aside for a moment? I have something I want to discuss with Yang Ni.”

Jiang Yingyu appeared nonchalant, but his veins were tightening beneath the surface: “Okay.”

Yun Yuwan stood up and left with Yang Ni.

Watching as Yang Ni and Yun Yuwan departed.

Listening as whispers arose around them:

“Yang Ni and Yun Yuwan, quite the surprise.”

“Who would have thought, they know each other and have this sort of connection.”

“So Yang Ni has someone he likes. No wonder you don’t hear about him dating or showing any signs of it.”

“Actually, they look quite well matched. They have a different vibe from everyone else. I never saw them together before, so I didn’t connect them. But seeing them together now, it makes sense they would be a pair.”

Pople began speaking a bit more cautiously about Yun Yuwan.

Angering Yang Ni would not be taken as lightly anymore.

Regarding matters of the Yang Family, people did not dare to gossip as freely.

And indeed, Yang Ni and Yun Yuwan did seem well matched.

A voice deliberately lowered, “Jiang Yingyu is really wary of Yang Ni, no wonder everyone said that Jiang Yingyu fled in disarray before.”

“Zhu Nongzhang’s tone, I thought it was because Yun Yuwan was being very clueless and annoying, but it turned out to be because of Yang Ni. Today, it seems that Jiang Yingyu actually quite likes her.”

The lady next to Zhao Qin even nudged her, indicating, “Yuwan and Xiaoyang have both disappeared.”

Zhao Qin looked, and indeed, they had.

She was a bit surprised.

Where could they have run off to in just a short while?

Meanwhile, the Zhu Family’s garden was open to all guests today, and Yun Yuwan and Yang Ni walked out of the villa in silence, entering the corridor of the Western Floral Hall.

Crabapples trembled gently with the wind by the side of the veranda, full of budding flowers.

Yun Yuwan had no intention of dragging things out and stopped to speak frankly, “Yang Ni, I actually have a boyfriend already.”

Yang Ni had anticipated her rejection, but he didn’t expect such a straightforward statement.

She stood between the sunlight and the shadows of the flowers, the light scattered, her expression no longer that of the weak and pitiable girl who used to be bullied, but serene.

She was a young woman who already had a mainstay in her life, not an unprotected young girl whose depths could be seen at a glance, possessing a certain air of mystery and detachment.

She rejected him without panicking over any potential consequences of rejecting him or his reaction—her rejection was that simple.

His gaze was as thick and dark as ink stirring at the bottom of a deep pool, yet his voice was gentle, “Boyfriend, is it Jiang Yingyu?”

Yun Yuwan, not wanting to bring trouble upon her friend, simply said, “No, he and I are just friends.”

Yang Ni chuckled bitterly, his clear eyes filled with self-mockery, “Yuwan, but you’ve told me many times that you have a boyfriend. How can I judge whether what you say is true this time?”

“But before it was to fool you, this time it’s true,” Yun Yuwan had no intention of laying out her private life to someone she wasn’t very close with.

The next to know should be her closest relatives, her parents from the Wen Family; she could distinguish between intimacy and distance.

For an adult, a direct rejection is already sufficient.

Yang Ni slightly bent his tall frame, looking at her, “Even if you do have a boyfriend, you don’t need to rush to reject me. I’m not pursuing you because I must be with you, I can leave it up to you to choose. If one day you want to be with me, I will always wait for you, even if it means being your backup.”

Yun Yuwan was surprised, never having imagined he would say he was willing to be a backup for her.

Yang Ni had always been aloof since his appearance, everyone sought after him.

Even when he expressed his love before, he wouldn’t deliberately make it explicit, always leaving her feeling like there was a way to evade.

The word “backup” could never have been expected to come from his mouth.

However, at this moment, she truly realized that Yang Ni’s affection for her might be much deeper than she thought, and he didn’t even intend to retract it:

“Yang Ni, you really don’t have to do this.”

But Yang Ni was resolute, “You just need to consider me as an additional option. You don’t need to be troubled by me. If you need me, whether it’s for money or anything else, I’ll help you.”

To receive a promise like that from the Yang Family would overwhelm someone else with immense joy, as it meant being under the protection of the Yang Family.

Even if they didn’t like him, they would keep him on the hook.

But Yun Yuwan decided to tell the truth forthrightly, and out of her red lips came words piercing to the heart:

“I actually have someone I’ve liked for six or seven years, and my return to the country this time is for him. He is now my boyfriend.”

It seemed as if even the wind stood still.

Yang Ni’s movements came to a halt.

He didn’t have any recollection of Yun Yuwan paying special attention to anyone at that time.

The fact that she had always liked someone didn’t add up to anything concrete.

He knew nothing about what kind of person Yun Yuwan would like, what that person did with her.

But if that was the case, no wonder she said finding that kind of rose had a probability similar to wishful thinking leading to fruition.

He thought she was speaking casually, but never considered that without such a state of mind, how could she say those words? The statement was because she was bemoaning in self-pity.

However, at this moment, Yang Ni simply said warmly, “I understand. If he doesn’t treat you well, you might consider giving me a chance.”

“If I get married, I’ll invite you to the ceremony,” Yun Yuwan replied with a clear and composed voice.

Yang Ni couldn’t help but wonder if this man truly existed.

If he had known Yun Yuwan at the time she also knew that man, would she have chosen him instead of someone else if he had treated Yun Yuwan well back then?

“It’s my fault for not treating you right from the start. I knew that you had just been adopted and should have been walking on thin ice, but I still caused you trouble.”

She, on the other hand, was composed, “You don’t have to apologize since you have already been punished. You’ve been feeling guilty and can’t stop thinking about it—that’s enough for me.”

Meanwhile, Jiang Yingyu was indoors, but his heart was not.

In fact, he had heard about Yang Ni a long time ago.

Before this, Jiang Yingyu never imagined that this man of legend would like Yun Yuwan.

And to come at her with such force.

The indoors buzzed with voices rising and falling like cawing crows:

“Yang Ni and Yun Yuwan went out, why haven’t they come back yet?”

“She’s amazing, to have caught Yang Ni in her net.”

“They wouldn’t just not come back, would they?”