The Tycoon's Mysterious Darling Wife
Chapter 237. Xiaoqi, do you miss me? (Seeking votes for a writing contest)

Chapter 237: 237. Xiaoqi, do you miss me? (Seeking votes for a writing contest)

"Shen Qinglan, I love you. Will you marry me?" Memories flooded Shen Qinglan’s mind, one after another, until finally, only Fu Hengyi’s tender gaze remained fixed in her thoughts.

Shen Qinglan felt an itch in her throat. She looked down, meeting Fu Hengyi’s eyes, "Will you always be by my side, never leaving me no matter what happens?"

Fu Hengyi smiled gently, "Yes, I will always be by your side. No matter what happens, I won’t leave you. Even if you try to leave me, I will search to the ends of the earth to bring you back."

Warmth filled Shen Qinglan’s eyes. Blurred with emotion, her lips lifted into a smile under the expectant gazes surrounding her. She nodded gently and placed her hand into Fu Hengyi’s palm, "Fu Hengyi, I am willing to marry you, to become your wife, and to be by your side for life."

The tenderness in Fu Hengyi’s eyes spilled over, slowly spreading across his face. He stood up and leaned down to kiss Shen Qinglan’s lips.

A round of applause erupted from the audience, even the two old gentlemen were smiling broadly. Although tonight was Shen Qinglan’s birthday party, the most important event was Fu Hengyi’s announcement that he would propose to Shen Qinglan, hence the invitations were primarily extended to close family and friends.

Old Sir Shen held a microphone, spotlighted as he spoke, "Thank you, everyone, for coming. Today is not only my granddaughter Qinglan’s birthday, but also her engagement party with Fu Hengyi. Having watched these two grow up, I feel completely at ease entrusting my granddaughter to Hengyi, and I hope that he will make her happy for a lifetime."

Fu Hengyi nodded seriously, "Grandfather, I certainly will."

Old Sir Shen smiled contentedly and handed the microphone to Old Sir Fu, "I don’t have much to say. What Old Shen means, I echo too. I just hope both children will live harmoniously and happily."

Another round of applause followed, and amidst everyone’s blessings, Shen Qinglan closed her eyes, made a sincere wish in front of the candlelight for the first time, and then she and Fu Hengyi cut the cake together, completing the ceremony.

The lights came back on and music started playing. Fu Hengyi led Shen Qinglan straight into the dance floor at the center.

As they danced gracefully, Shen Qinglan looked at Fu Hengyi and asked, "Did you arrange everything tonight?" She remembered what Pei Yinong had said—it seemed that everyone knew what this man intended, everyone except her.

"Do you like it?" Fu Hengyi responded with a question instead of an answer.

Shen Qinglan nodded, "I love it, and it’s a surprise." Even though they were already legally married, having registered their marriage.

Fu Hengyi smiled, "What others have, you must also have. What others don’t, I will also provide for you."

"Fu Hengyi, did you come tonight just to be sentimental?" Shen Qinglan joked, worried her tears might start falling soon, despite not being easily moved.

"Yeah, such chances are rare." Fu Hengyi agreed, nodding. He was not a man of many sweet words; he preferred expressing his love through actions.

"Fu Hengyi, thank you." Thank you for this romance, something to cherish for a lifetime.

"I never thought our serious and stern captain could speak such sweet words too, haha," Meng Liang stroked his chin, smiling broadly, "I’ll have to learn from him, never know when I might end up needing it."

Qian Fei glanced at Meng Liang disdainfully, "The captain can get away with just his looks, but even if you spouted a truckload of sweet nothings, no girl would spare you a glance."

Annoyed, Meng Liang elbowed Qian Fei in the chest, "Don’t make personal attacks like that, man."

Qian Fei rubbed his chest, "Man, why’d you have to hit so hard? Trying to commit murder?" His expression was exaggerated, clearly faking.

Mu Liancheng cast a glance at the bickering duo and said flatly, "Today is the captain’s engagement party. If you two keep fooling around, and the captain ends up disciplining you back at the base, don’t blame me for not warning you."

The two immediately calmed down, and Qian Fei’s gaze swept the room, looking regretful, "I thought there would be a lot of beauties tonight, but it turns out that even if there are, they’re all taken, alas..."

Meng Liang agreed with the sentiment.

"Ah, who would have thought that An’s husband, who usually seems so reserved, could actually be so romantic," Jin Enxi said with interest. After speaking, she realized Eden was still there and, catching his sad eyes, awkwardly scratched her head and shut her mouth.

Although sadness filled the depths of Eden’s eyes, he still smiled beautifully. "Enxi, have you ever seen An smile so happily before?"

Jin Enxi shook her head. Eden smiled, "I haven’t either. An is really happy now; we should all bless her."

"Mm, let’s bless her together."

"You know, An’s husband is really handsome. Now that’s what you call a real man," Cissily said as she nestled in Andre’s arms and danced, clicking her tongue in admiration.

Andre’s face darkened slightly as he gritted his teeth, "Am I not good-looking? Am I not a real man?"

Cissily eyed him, "You look good, but I’ve realized that Eastern men are even more attractive." Her words carried a hint of regret.

Andre’s expression grew darker. He pinched Cissily’s waist, this woman really needed a lesson; he’d see how to deal with her when they got home.

Cissily laughed flirtatiously, "I’m just teasing you. You’re taking it seriously, really petty."

Andre laughed out of annoyance, "If I praised another woman in front of you as being more beautiful and enchanting, would you be happy?"

"You wouldn’t dare," Cissily said angrily, but then she laughed again, her eyes revealing undisguised worry. "Andre, do you think we can stay this happy forever?"

Andre was startled for a moment before nodding seriously, "We will."

"Tongtong, why are you daydreaming alone here?" Li Bomming approached Fang Tong, who was lost in thought in a corner. His gaze fell on Fang Tong’s face, carrying a barely noticeable longing. It had been a while since he had seen Fang Tong. Since last realizing that Fang Tong seemed to be avoiding him, Li Bomming had tried not to seek her out too often.

Fang Tong came back to her senses and smiled, "Just thinking about work."

"It’s not work time now; you should relax a bit."

Fang Tong didn’t pick up the conversation. Work was the only thing she wanted to do well right now. "Why did you come today?"

"Han Yi invited me. I had nothing better to do tonight, so I followed him here. Didn’t expect to see you too," Li Bomming explained, actually aware of Fang Tong’s relationship with Shen Qinglan and that in such events Fang Tong would surely attend.

Fang Tong smiled slightly, "Qinglan is my good friend. I would definitely attend her birthday party."

"Meeting here must be fate. I wonder if I might have the honor of asking this beautiful lady for a dance?"

Fang Tong looked at the distinctively jointed large hand in front of her, thought for a moment, and then placed her hand in his.

In a corner, Yu Xiaoxuan watched this scene unfold and smiled faintly. Turning her head, she said to Han Yi, "Han Yi, I suddenly feel I am still very happy."

Seeing her good friend find happiness and having someone who loved her by her side filled her with joy. She cherished this feeling, thinking her parents, if they could see her now, would also feel comforted.

"We will also be this happy," Han Yi said as he embraced her, whispering in her ear.

Yu Xiaoxuan nodded gently.

"Yining, long time no see," Jiang Chenxi greeted Pei Yinong as he walked up to her. Hearing the familiar voice, Pei Yinong turned her head and saw Jiang Chenxi, her eyes lighting up with joy, "Chenxi, long time no see."

Jiang Chenxi smiled warmly, "Indeed, it’s been a long time since we last met after graduation."

"I’ve been busy with work in recent years, rarely in Beijing. How about you, are you working in Beijing now?"

Jiang Chenxi nodded, "Yes, I teach at A University."

Pei Yinong and Jiang Chenxi were college mates, not from the same class, but they got to know each other at a social gathering since both hailed from Beijing. They had a good friendship and often ate meals together.

However, later Pei Yinong became pregnant before marriage and the incident caused a backlash. She thereafter left Beijing and went to work elsewhere, changing all her previous contact info, which is how Jiang Chenxi lost touch with her.

Jiang Chenxi’s gaze shifted toward Little Douding, who was standing by the side munching on snacks, "Is this your child?"

Pei Yinong nodded, "Yes, my son Pei Hao."

Jiang Chenxi squatted down, "Hello, Pei Hao."

"Hello, Uncle." Little Douding responded politely, not showing any shyness.

"How old are you?"

Little Douding stretched out three chubby fingers, "Three years old."

Jiang Chenxi chatted with Little Douding while Pei Yinong watched from the side. After Jiang Chenxi had left, Little Douding tugged at his mother’s skirt hem, Pei Yinong squatting down, "Mommy, was that uncle just now Daddy?"

Pei Yinong was startled, "Why would you ask that?"

"I like that uncle, is he Daddy?"

Pei Yinong shook her head, "He’s just a friend of Mommy."

Little Douding looked a bit disappointed, "Then where is my Daddy?"

This was the first time Little Douding had asked about his father. Pei Yinong suddenly didn’t know how to respond, staring into Little Douding’s round eyes, "Your daddy went to a faraway place."

"Will he come back?"

Pei Yinong’s eyes darkened, "Mommy doesn’t know." That man might never return.

Little Douding, unaware of her expression, nestled into Pei Yinong’s shoulder, "Mommy, if Daddy doesn’t come back, can I ask that uncle to be my Daddy?"

As Pei Yinong was about to respond, the lights dimmed again, the music stopped, and the banquet hall was plunged into sudden darkness. Just when everyone thought it was a power outage, the air was suddenly filled with a light fragrance, the scent of roses.

Then the lights turned back on, and people noticed several drones in the hall now, scattering rose petals – that’s where the fragrance was coming from.

"Is this also your arrangement?" Shen Qinglan raised an eyebrow.

Fu Hengyi shook his head, "No, I wasn’t aware of this part either."

For some reason, Shen Qinglan’s heart sank. Just as she was feeling a sense of unease, her eyes suddenly fixed on the door, her gaze filled with shock.

A man in a crisp suit stood under the spotlight, his delicate face wearing a gentle smile, his eyes tenderly fixed on Shen Qinglan. Just a step behind him was Xu Nuo.

Cissily’s pupils shrank suddenly, stepping back two paces, and Andre quickly pulled her into his embrace. Although Andre’s reaction was not as pronounced as Cissily’s, the shock was still evident deep in his eyes.

"Slap." Jin Enxi was drinking water when she saw the person appearing on the screen, spraying water directly onto the computer screen in front of her. Her cup dropped to the floor and shattered. Eden stood up abruptly, staring at the screen in shock.

Shen Qinglan regained her composure from the shock. The smile on her face had long since disappeared. She looked at Allen with a cold expression, her thoughts inscrutable.

The room fell silent, everyone watching the person who appeared at the door.

Allen smiled slightly, walked through the crowd, and approached Shen Qinglan, "Qinglan, long time no see." His eyes were unabashedly filled with longing and obsession, as well as deep persistence.

It turned out they knew each other. Those present sighed in relief quietly, only a few who knew Allen maintained their high anxiety.

The Shen family saw Ms. Xu following behind Allen, their expressions changed. This woman had once impersonated Leng Qingqiu. Although her makeup today made her unrecognizable to many who had seen her before, the Shen family recognized her instantly. Shen Junyu’s expression turned cold when he looked at this woman, and his gaze towards Allen was also filled with malice.

Shen Qinglan looked at him, her face expressionless. Fu Hengyi saw Allen, and his expression gradually darkened. As a man, he could understand the emotions in Allen’s eyes.

"Junyu, who is this?" Shen Junyu came over and asked with a smile, but the chill in his eyes was obvious to anyone.

"I am Qinglan’s friend. I heard it’s her birthday today, so I came specially to congratulate her," Allen spoke, his voice hoarse and unpleasant, yet tender and lingering. His gaze turned fierce when he saw the ring on Shen Qinglan’s hand. He glanced at Fu Hengyi, then quickly moved his eyes back to Shen Qinglan, "Is that right, Qinglan?"

Shen Qinglan’s expression was somber, her red lips slightly parted, and she uttered a single word, "Yes."

Allen slowly smiled, his face soft and delicate, yet different from Han Yi’s effeminate beauty, his smile seemingly cold for no reason, "Qinglan, you are still as pretty and cute as ever."

Being described as pretty and cute did not please Shen Qinglan at all. Her eyes fell on Ms. Xu behind Allen, her lips slightly curling, "Ms. Xu, we meet again."

Ms. Xu smiled faintly, "Hello, Miss Shen."

"This lady looks very familiar," Shen Junyu coldly spoke.

Allen chuckled lightly, "It was just a little joke I played with Qinglan before, Ms. Xu, apologize to Miss Shen."

Upon hearing this, Ms. Xu’s eyes dimmed, but her actions were swift, "Miss Shen, I was wrong to have impersonated your identity as Leng Qingqiu before. Please forgive me."

Their voices were not low, and the others had heard them as well, all eyeing Ms. Xu curiously. The incident had been a big scandal, and many had seen Ms. Xu before. However, her makeup today made her look different from before, and many did not recognize her at first glance.

Ignoring everyone’s scrutinizing gaze, Ms. Xu looked straight at Shen Qinglan and apologized verbally, but her eyes were defiant.

She believed Shen Qinglan must have been aware of her pursuit of Jin Enxi. Now seeing herself, Shen Qinglan was still able to remain calm, which made her curious. Shen Qinglan was clearly a daughter of the Shen family, yet she knew Allen, and it seemed they were not just acquaintances. Moreover, that night when they pursued Jin Enxi, the man who had come out later was armed, which was very interesting. This Miss Shen, being friends with such people, what kind of person was she herself? Allen was a cold-hearted person, his blood even cold, yet he held this woman dear to his heart.

Shen Qinglan naturally did not expect that Allen had not revealed her identity to Ms. Xu.

"This gentleman’s joke is not to everyone’s liking," Fu Hengyi said coolly, his tone calm but his displeasure clear to anyone.

Allen had deliberately ignored Fu Hengyi’s presence, but now hearing him speak, his smile stiffened slightly. Seeing him standing by Shen Qinglan’s side, he wished he could tear this man into pieces, "I think Qinglan doesn’t mind my little joke, right, Qinglan?" The last two words, gently coiled, as if making sure others knew his affection for Shen Qinglan.

Shen Qinglan’s expression remained unchanged, but her gaze gradually turned icy. She looked steadily at Allen and spoke slowly, "I do mind."

Allen smiled as if looking at a child throwing a tantrum, shaking his head helplessly, "Well, perhaps my joke went too far. I apologize. Today is your birthday, and I have prepared a special birthday gift for you." With that, Allen took a small box from his pocket and handed it to Shen Qinglan, "Qinglan, happy birthday!"

Shen Qinglan did not take it, "I appreciate the thought, but take the gift back. You can leave now."

At her words, Allen’s smile finally faltered, "Qinglan, I prepared this especially for you. Won’t you even take a look?" The emphasis on ’especially’ made the dimness in the eyes of Ms. Xu, who was standing behind with her head bowed, deepen even more.

Shen Qinglan reached out, took the box from Allen’s hands, and did not open it. "I’ve accepted the gift, you can leave now."

Seeing that Shen Qinglan had accepted the gift, Allen smiled again and shrugged. "Alright, it seems you don’t like my presence here, no matter, we can talk another time." With that, he glanced at Fu Hengyi, who had not spoken much but had not removed his hand from Shen Qinglan’s waist, and then turned and left.

Xu Nuo looked deeply at Shen Qinglan then followed.

Stepping out of the banquet hall and rounding the corner, Allen’s face changed, his legs went weak, and he knelt down. His hands supported him against the ground. Xu Nuo, startled, rushed forward to help him up. But before her hands could touch him, he shoved her away, "Get lost."

Xu Nuo stood there helplessly, and Allen attempted to stand up on his own. But the stabbing pain in his legs drained all his strength; after several tries, he failed to stand.

Xu Nuo wanted to help him, but Allen would not even let her touch him. All she could do was stand there and watch him in pain.

Eventually, Peter, who was worried about Allen, came upon this scene and took him away.

"I have always told you, you can’t stand for too long, you should have come down sooner. What were you dawdling for up there?" Peter scolded him.

Allen’s face was somber, and he remained silent, hardly willing to leave having just seen Shen Qinglan.

**

This was just a small episode during the banquet. After Allen left, the banquet hall regained its liveliness. Although everyone was curious about Allen’s identity, since he had left, they naturally turned their attention back to the banquet.

Shen Qinglan held the small box in her hands, her eyes downcast, lost in thought. Fu Hengyi was watching her. "Qinglan," he called gently.

Shen Qinglan came back to her senses and realized both Fu Hengyi and Shen Junyu were looking at her.

"Lanlan, who was that man just now?" Shen Junyu frowned, feeling uneasy about Allen, who he found a rather dark character.

"He is someone I knew from the past, and we have some unresolved issues," Shen Qinglan replied succinctly, not wanting to elaborate. Both Shen Junyu and Fu Hengyi, being astute, knew this was neither the time nor the place for further questions. However, for the remainder of the banquet, it was apparent that Shen Qinglan was somewhat distracted, though she hid it well. Still, Fu Hengyi sensed it.

His eyes narrowed slightly; somehow, he felt that this man named Allen was related to that past that Shen Qinglan was reluctant to bring up.

Although Allen had left, the shock he left on Andre and the others was still palpable. They had speculated about whether Allen was dead or alive, and although they had recently confirmed that Allen was still alive, seeing him today in person deeply shadowed their hearts.

"Andre, he really is still alive. He surely won’t let us off, what do we do now?" Cissily clutched the front of Andre’s shirt, her voice trembling slightly.

Andre’s face bore a smile, his eyes grim as he gently embraced Cissily. "It’s either him or us. Since we do not wish to die, then...Cissily, we have died many times over, is there still anything to fear?"

Cissily quieted down gradually, thought for a moment, and nodded her head. Indeed, there was no turning back now.

Glancing at Shen Qinglan, who was chatting with others, Cissily smiled. It seemed she had been living in comfort for too long and it dulled her bravery—it was just Allen, after all. She had accomplished so many missions before and survived many trials; what was there to fear now?

She flipped her hair, smiled radiantly, and instantly reverted back to the enchanting Cissily. Seeing that she had come to terms, Andre smiled, took her hand, and they slipped back into the dance floor.

"Our battle has begun," Jin Enxi chuckled, excitement gleaming in her eyes as she recovered from the initial shock.

Eden smiled gently, nodding in agreement, "Yes, the game has begun. I believe this time, victory will still be in our hands."

"Ha ha, right, the victory will indeed be ours," Jin Enxi laughed, her eyes shifting as she pointed at the image frozen on the screen. "Eden, this woman chased me last time. Let’s start with her. After all, Allen was our instructor, now that we have graduated, we ought to show him what we have learned, don’t you think?"

"This idea of yours is really good." Eden had thought of something and spoke up, "Maybe we can give Allen a big gift."

**

When the party was halfway through, Ya Xi hurried in, "Big sister, I’m late." Her cheeks were very red, probably from running up, and she was wearing a knee-length dress, gasping for breath.

"Why did you run so urgently?" Shen Qinglan frowned; Ya Xi had severe asthma and was not suited for intense exercise.

Shen Qinglan looked behind her and saw Yan Shengyu, who had come with Ya Xi. She had messaged Ya Xi two days before, but with the college entrance exams just a few days away, she hadn’t seen Ya Xi today and thought she wouldn’t come.

Ya Xi caught her breath and stuck out her tongue, "It’s all my brother’s fault. I told him to leave early, but he always said there was enough time, and yet we still ended up being late."

Yan Shengyu walked up and heard his sister’s words, helplessly, "If you hadn’t forgotten the gift at home, we wouldn’t have had to go back to get it. Who is really to blame for being late?"

Ya Xi stopped talking; she had been desperately finishing her homework these last two days just to make it to Shen Qinglan’s birthday party. Today, she overslept, rushed to get ready, and forgot the gift she had prepared for Shen Qinglan.

Yan Shengyu smiled slightly and handed the gift he was carrying to Shen Qinglan, "Miss Shen, happy birthday."

Shen Qinglan took the gift and handed it to Fu Hengyi, "Thank you." Her tone was polite and distant.

Yan Shengyu’s eyes dimmed—he hadn’t contacted Shen Qinglan for a while, trying to let his feelings for her go. He thought he had succeeded, but seeing her now, he realized that she had long since taken a place in his heart.

"Big sister, where is there something good to eat? I’m hungry." Ya Xi rubbed her stomach, frowning, as she hadn’t eaten much today.

Shen Qinglan laughed; Ya Xi’s food-loving nature hadn’t been forgotten anywhere. With this thought, she looked at Yu Xiaoxuan, who was standing with Han Yi in a corner, and walked over with Ya Xi.

"Xiao Xuan."

Yu Xiaoxuan, hearing her name, turned around and saw Shen Qinglan, "Qinglan, you finally remembered me? I thought your eyes only had Mr. Fu in them now," she complained, but her eyes were full of smiles.

Shen Qinglan smiled slightly, relieved to see Yu Xiaoxuan joking again, and gestured towards Ya Xi, "I’ve brought a friend to introduce, this is Ya Xi."

Before Shen Qinglan could introduce her further, Ya Xi laughed, "I know you, you’re Yu Xiaoxuan, big sister’s good friend."

Yu Xiaoxuan had heard of Ya Xi from Shen Qinglan before, and now finally meeting her in person, she grinned, "Hehe, you can call me Sister Xiao Xuan."

"Sister Xiao Xuan, nice to meet you. Please look after me in the future."

Yu Xiaoxuan, naturally a lively person, had been quieted a lot by recent events but had grown a lot. However, her nature hadn’t changed much, and she quickly hit it off with Ya Xi. Soon, the two of them went off together to the dining area.

Han Yi stood there, watching Yu Xiaoxuan and Ya Xi each holding a plate, munching and still picking more food, and couldn’t help but smile.

The two Old Sirs had left earlier after Fu Hengyi’s successful proposal, along with Chu Yunrong, Chu Yunjin, and the others, leaving mostly young people at the scene.

"Little sister-in-law, who was that man who came today?" Han Yi recalled seeing Allen and asked.

"Someone I used to know."

Seeing that Shen Qinglan didn’t want to say more, Han Yi didn’t ask further but changed the subject, "Your wedding with Hengyi is set for September, right?"

Speaking of this, Shen Qinglan laughed, "Yes, September 9th." The date had been set by the two Old Sirs, symbolizing long-lasting permanence.

"Chinese-style or Western-style?"

"Chinese-style."

"How are things going with Xiaoxuan, any plans?" Shen Qinglan looked at Yu Xiaoxuan, who was eating happily with Ya Xi at the next table over. Little Douding was with them, but Pei Yinong was nowhere to be seen, and Qinglan wondered where she could have gone.

"Xiaoxuan’s career is just taking off, I plan to propose to her next year." Han Yi’s eyes softened, "Her dream is to become a world-famous actress, and I want to be there to support her in fulfilling that dream."

"You’re the only family Xiaoxuan has in this world now, and I hope you can take good care of her."

Han Yi nodded solemnly, "I will."

"Qinglan, someone is looking for you." Fu Hengyi came over and whispered in Shen Qinglan’s ear. Shen Qinglan looked in the direction Fu Hengyi indicated and saw Qin Yan.

She glanced over at the catering area and saw that Ya Xi hadn’t noticed Qin Yan’s arrival, so she walked toward her.

"Miss Shen, I’m sorry for coming uninvited." Qin Yan apologized.

Shen Qinglan’s expression was unreadable.

"Miss Shen, this is a small gift I prepared for you. I hope you will accept it and wish you a happy engagement." Qin Yan handed Shen Qinglan a small bag.

Shen Qinglan took it, "Thank you."

"My husband is still down there, so I won’t stay long. I’ll be leaving now." After saying that, Qin Yan left.

Shen Qinglan watched her departing figure, her eyes filled with doubt. She never could quite understand the woman that was Qin Yan.

After the banquet, Shen Qinglan went home with Fu Hengyi and they both went straight to the bathroom to take a shower. Fu Hengyi was organizing the gifts they received today in the bedroom.

He didn’t open the gift boxes, just sorted them by size of the boxes, waiting for Shen Qinglan to finish her shower before he took his.

Shen Qinglan glanced at the gifts on the floor, squatted down, and picked out the one from Allen among the many gifts.

As she opened the box, Shen Qinglan’s expression suddenly darkened. Inside was a ruby brooch, crafted into the shape of a flower, a Red Spider Lily, exactly like the symbol of that organization. And on the back of the brooch, there was a small engraved number "7," her former code number.

Allen, are you trying to remind me of the past? A hint of murderous intent flashed through her eyes.

After Fu Hengyi finished his shower, he came out and saw Shen Qinglan, wearing only a nightgown, standing on the balcony, her hair still wet. He frowned, "Why are you standing here in the wind without drying your hair?"

Shen Qinglan, who had been lost in thought, had completely forgotten about drying her hair. Hearing Fu Hengyi’s words, she smiled awkwardly, "I forgot."

"You." Fu Hengyi sighed helplessly, turned back into the bathroom to fetch a towel, and started to help dry her hair.

"Fu Hengyi, aren’t you going to ask who that man was tonight?" Shen Qinglan asked softly as she felt the large hands moving through her hair.

Fu Hengyi chuckled dismissively, "Did that person make you unhappy?"

Shen Qinglan paused, then nodded, "Yes."

"Then forget about him. The most important thing for you right now is to spend time with me. The training here will soon be over, and next month I’ll be returning to the base. I won’t be able to come home for a while, so why don’t you come and stay with me at the Military Region for a month tomorrow?"

"Alright." Shen Qinglan agreed.

After her hair was dried, Fu Hengyi cleaned the towel, then climbed into bed, pulling Shen Qinglan into his arms. Shen Qinglan turned around and initiated a kiss on Fu Hengyi’s lips.

When a wife sends out an invitation, Fu Hengyi was sure to respond, and with a roll, he deepened their kiss...

The next day, early in the morning, Shen Qinglan and Fu Hengyi set off for the Beijing Military Region.

"Thankful to have you by my side." Just before leaving, Shen Qinglan posted a status on Weibo with a photo. The picture showed a man’s hand and a woman’s hand, intertwined.

Earlier in the year, at Daniel’s urging, Shen Qinglan had registered a Weibo account. In just a few short months, she had amassed five million followers. This morning, just after she posted her update, the comments section exploded with well-wishes for Shen Qinglan.

On the same day, newspapers and weekly magazines in Beijing were all reporting on Fu Hengyi and Shen Qinglan’s engagement, putting Shen Qinglan at the top of the trending searches list.

Now, because of the engagement news, Shen Qinglan’s Weibo follower count skyrocketed to eight million in just one day, an astonishing rate of growth.

"Ah! My Qinglan is actually showing off her love on Weibo." Yu Xiaoxuan was having breakfast and scrolling through Weibo when she saw Shen Qinglan’s post, and couldn’t help but scream.

Han Yi jumped from the sudden scream and peeked over, "If she can show off her love, so can we." As he reached for his phone to take a selfie, Yu Xiaoxuan pushed his head away, "Who’s showing off love with you? If I were to flaunt, it would be with my Qinglan."

Yu Xiaoxuan was currently staying at Han Yi’s place, but they weren’t living in the same room.

Yu Xiaoxuan tapped her fingers a few times and reposted Shen Qinglan’s Weibo, adding a text—"My dearest, you must be happy."

Fang Tong also reposted the Weibo, the smile on her lips very gentle. Ding Minghui happened to see her smile as he was getting out of the car, and momentarily lost himself. He quickly walked a few steps toward her.

"Tongtong." When Fang Tong saw him, the smile vanished from her lips, and she looked at him expressionlessly, quickening her pace.

Ding Minghui caught up with her, grabbing Fang Tong’s arm, "Tongtong, can we talk?"

"I’m going to be late." Fang Tong said, her tone cold.

"Just five minutes, five minutes is all." Ding Minghui begged in a low voice.

Fang Tong considered for a moment, then walked with Ding Minghui to a corner, "You have four minutes left."

"Do you really need to be this cold to me?" Ding Minghui said, sounding hurt.

"If you wanted to say that, then I’m leaving, I’m quite busy." Fang Tong started to leave.

"Fang Tong." Ding Minghui stopped her, "Wait for me for three years, just three years, okay? After three years I’ll marry you."

Fang Tong stopped in her tracks, as if she had heard a huge joke, and she actually laughed out loud, "Hahaha, hahaha."

"Fang Tong, I’m serious."

Fang Tong stopped laughing and looked at Ding Minghui, "Did you forget that next month you are supposed to marry your precious manager. Do you need me to remind you again?"

Ding Minghui stared at her, "Tongtong, but I love you, I’ve always loved you, you are the one I truly want to marry. Tongtong, I can’t give you up."