The Master’s Mask Unveiled Again
Chapter 945 - 944: Proposal

Chapter 945: Chapter 944: Proposal

Lu Mian felt a warm breath against her neck. Clutching the hands around her waist, she couldn’t fathom Xiao Qimo’s sudden shift in mood.

"What’s wrong? What do you want to ask?"

Xiao Qimo tightened his arms and lightly bit Lu Mian’s ear with a hint of playful punishment.

"Do you... know Ya Qiao?"

The ticklish sensation on her ear made Lu Mian’s face flush red.

"Ahem." She tilted her head slightly, unaccustomed, dodging him just a little.

The small act of avoiding hurt Xiao Qimo’s feelings somewhat, so he instinctively tightened his hold on her.

"You don’t want me to touch you anymore?"

Lu Mian narrowed her beautiful eyes and shot him a sideways glance. What nonsense is this?

"It tickles," she explained.

Xiao Qimo turned his head away, unconvinced. "When I touch you, and you find it ticklish, it means you don’t fully trust me yet."

"..." Lu Mian was at a loss at the pseudo-scientific theory that he’d clearly picked up from somewhere. Lifting her gaze, she responded in earnest with an academically serious tone.

"Director Qimo, ear sensitivity is because this area is distributed with numerous sensitive nerve endings. It’s a normal physiological reaction. It has nothing to do with trust."

"..." Xiao Qimo could only nod and concede defeat, appearing unreasonable in front of the thoroughly rational Professor Lu.

"Ahem. You still haven’t answered my question." Xiao Qimo pursued doggedly.

The young woman tapped her chin with her finger, her playful mood ignited. "So, are you planning to exercise your little privilege?"

Xiao Qimo had once been given the opportunity to ask Lu Mian a question—no matter the question, she’d answer him truthfully.

But Xiao Qimo had yet to use it.

He couldn’t bear to use it.

In those few seconds that he hesitated, Lu Mian suddenly chuckled, showing an unprecedented emotional intelligence as she gently comforted the seemingly jealous man.

"Even if you’re reluctant to use this privilege, I’ll still tell you."

Xiao Qimo’s dark eyes, hidden behind his glasses, softened like sweet spring rain, a vivid warmth glowing in their depths. Pretending to be aloof, he let out an indifferent "Oh," waiting for Lu Mian’s explanation.

Lu Mian smiled lightly, blinking once, and replied mysteriously, "You’ll know on your birthday—there’s a surprise."

Xiao Qimo: ...Wait until my birthday?

Will it be a surprise or a shock?

Can’t you at least give me a hint?

Xiao Qimo rubbed his hair in frustration, feeling an inexplicable weight settle on his shoulders.

Ya Qiao wasn’t like Yuren or Sikong Jian. Yuren had ability but kept a low profile; Sikong Jian had power but had been rejected by Lu Mian. Neither of them were his real rivals.

But the elusive Ya Qiao, who was now ranked first on Forbes’ rich list?

When it came to power and wealth, even Xiao Qimo had to think twice.

Seeing Xiao Qimo’s unresolved unease, Lu Mian added, "But Qimo baby, rest assured, there’s absolutely no romantic connection that’ll make you jealous."

Though... it might perhaps put a little... pressure on you.

Xiao Qimo didn’t get the answer he wanted, but at least with Lu Mian’s reassurance, he felt like he’d taken a calming pill.

He gently brushed the tip of her delicate nose. "Then, I’ll have a surprise for you on your birthday too."

——

Mo Lei sent the car Xiao Qimo had ordered from Weilan headquarters to Jinjing.

The car was parked in the courtyard of Yijing Residence, and Lu Mian glanced at it casually from the second-floor window.

A Weilan car.

She recognized it instantly.

The exterior of Weilan cars always sported understated designs, but it was the core that showcased their true excellence.

From the engine to the chassis to the interior, all utilized the highest-end technology and configurations. Performance and comfort were impeccable, and the safety rating was extraordinarily high.

Weilan-series cars were often direct supplies for world leaders.

Such high-end vehicles were truly not accessible to the average person.

Lu Mian remembered that Xiao Qimo already had one, and now there was another one in the courtyard. Out of curiosity, she peeked a little longer.

Downstairs.

After inspecting the car, Xiao Qimo called Yun Sang.

"The car’s here. I’ll have Mo Si drive it to you. You can handle the paperwork yourself."

He spoke as he casually walked into the house.

On the other end, Yun Sang thanked him.

Mo Si trailed behind. "Master, there’s another package in the car."

Xiao Qimo took the package in hand, measuring its dimensions, and immediately knew what it was.

With leisure written all over him, he sat elegantly on the sofa, crossed his legs, and began unboxing the package while speaking to Yun Sang. "I’m planning to propose to Mianmian on my birthday."

"Propose?"

"Yes, I’ve already prepared the ring."

Xiao Qimo’s tone was calm, but Yun Sang still caught an edge of smugness.

Yun Sang furrowed his brows. "Propose? Have you even passed our tests? Did we say we agreed?!"

"Ha." Xiao Qimo couldn’t be bothered to take him seriously.

By now, he had already unwrapped the package. Inside was a small, exquisitely wrapped box. He opened the lid to reveal a large, pigeon egg-sized dark gem quietly nestled inside.

The dark gemstone gleamed with a shadowy yet noble radiance.

This was what he’d previously requested Mo Lei to prepare.

"I’m just notifying you. Mianmian said I’ve already passed her mentor’s ultimate test. What else do you think can possibly stop me?"

"..." Yun Sang was momentarily defeated.

Xiao Qimo let out a dismissive "Tch." "If you want to witness our happiness, you’re welcome to come to Yijing Residence on the 23rd. If all goes smoothly, you might even see Mianmian and me register our marriage in person."

"You’re so cocky!"

Yun Sang swore angrily, hanging up the phone with a snap.

After hanging up, he leaned against the railing of the rooftop, feeling the muggy August wind blow past him, his mood growing increasingly agitated.

Zhou Xin came up to the rooftop, seeing Yun Sang radiating an air of annoyance. He cautiously greeted him, "Yun god, what’s the matter? Who made you angry?"

"If it’s not that guy of yours!"

Zhou Xin instantly figured out who it was. "Ah, you two have been like this since you were kids. The more you clash, the better your bond."

Yun Sang, irritated, kicked the rooftop railing. The stainless steel rail hummed dully, echoing the frustration within him.

"This time it’s different." He looked skywards. "Your master is planning to propose to Lu Mian. Back then, I even helped their relationship a little, but the more I think about it now, the more something feels off."

Good brothers and an adopted sister finally tying the knot—he should feel happy for them.

But instead, a strange, bittersweet feeling stirred inside him, like a family’s prized cabbage being stolen by a pig. So mixed.

Zhou Xin nudged Yun Sang lightly, a knowing look in his eyes.

"Yun god, you’re just reluctant to part with your master! Rest assured that even after he gets married, you’re still his close brother, practically family."

Yun Sang shot Zhou Xin a scathing look.

Damn Zhou Xin, slandering his good name!

——

While Yun Sang was training that day, he received a rare call from his mother.

"We’re back," Yun Zhishu’s voice was as composed as ever.

Yun Sang abandoned his training task, his spirits lifting, "I’ll go to the airport to pick you up."

"No need. We’re taking a cab to your grandfather’s."

"It’s no trouble. I’m free right now; it won’t disrupt anything."

As he spoke, he changed into running shoes and grabbed his car keys, ready to head out, only to hear his mother’s calm, calculating tone.

"But you would disrupt our timing."

Yun Sang: ...

Yun Zhishu explained very seriously, "Driving from your training site to the airport will take 1 hour and 40 minutes. From the airport back to the city takes 1 hour and 30 minutes. Considering peak traffic during the evening rush hour, the expressway will likely be congested for..."

Yun Sang held his forehead, decisively cutting off his mother’s precision calculations.

"Mom, I just wanted to see you first thing." He sounded exasperated.

Yun Zhishu paused briefly on the other end and then swiftly sent him a photograph via messaging app—a candid, unflattering angle of her and Lu Xun at the airport.

"Seen us now?"

Yun Sang: ...Yes.

He admitted defeat, realizing it was futile to discuss emotions with his pragmatic, science-oriented mother.

Taking a deep breath, he said, "Fine, I’ll come over directly to Grandpa’s an hour later."

"Alright."

Yun Sang sighed helplessly and ended the call, feeling defeated. He turned to Zhou Xin to request leave.

"My parents have returned. I’ll be visiting my grandfather’s for dinner tonight, so I probably won’t come back afterward." He added, "Today’s training tasks are mostly completed anyway; make sure everyone practices their agility a little longer."

Zhou Xin nodded quickly but couldn’t hide his curiosity. "Yun god, you haven’t seen your parents in ages. Why not pick them up at the airport?"

"They wouldn’t let me."

Zhou Xin shrugged indifferently, "Yun god, you need to up your emotional intelligence. When it comes to parents, they don’t like to trouble their kids, so you should always interpret their words in reverse."

Yun Sang twitched the corners of his mouth. "There’s no need for that. I happen to be the person with the highest emotional intelligence in my family."

Rolling his eyes, he waited until the timing felt just right and drove the car Xiao Qimo had given him directly to Lu Beihua’s quaint little villa.

——

Of course, when Yun Zhishu and Lu Xun returned home, visiting the elder’s residence was top priority—especially since Lu Beihua now lived in Jinjing. Skipping him would be unheard of.

Yun Sang arrived just as his parents stepped out of the taxi.

Their timing was spot-on, separated by less than a minute.

Getting out of the car, Yun Sang looked over at the middle-aged couple standing hand-in-hand by the roadside.

The woman wore a graceful lavender cheongsam dress. Her jet-black hair cascaded over her shoulders, its ends styled with a soft wave. Her aura was aloof yet elegant.

She was forty-eight but maintained her figure and skin so well that she seemed far younger.

Yun Sang turned his head and looked at the middle-aged man standing beside her.

His father, Lu Xun, was a typical science guy—short hair, crisp shirt and trousers, with glasses sitting on his prominent nose. Intellectual yet exuding an unmistakably straightforward vibe.

Yun Sang strode toward them, suppressing his deep longing, and greeted them warmly. "Dad, Mom."

Lu Xun nodded. Yun Zhishu nodded.

Then...

Nothing else happened.

Yun Zhishu lightly patted her son’s shoulder, and her cold, distant expression gained a subtle warmth. "Let’s go."

Yun Sang: ...

"Let’s load the luggage into the car first." Yun Sang moved the two large suitcases on board and casually remarked, "Mom, this car was a gift from Xiao Qimo. What do you think of it?"

Any cautionary advice his brother had offered had vanished completely from his mind.

Yun Zhishu glanced at the vehicle, her interest slightly piqued. Taking her husband’s hand, they circled the car for a bit.

Lu Xun even slipped into the driver’s seat to start the engine.

The couple exchanged a knowing look.

Yun Zhishu: "Hybrid power system."

Lu Xun: "Combined output: 708 kilowatts."

Yun Zhishu: "V10 engine."

Lu Xun: "1000 horsepower."

Yun Sang: ...