Watching the large expanse of fiery red roses swaying in the cold wind, Jiang Li shed warm tears and was deeply touched. "You said you'd come later. So you were actually preparing all this?"
"The roses were brought by me, but these were prepared by Xue An just now," Xiao Yanzhi replied calmly.
"… You're so honest," Jiang Li said with a mix of laughter and tears. "I'd be even more touched if you'd arranged this yourself."
"I'll give him a bonus."
He tightened his arms around her waist, making her sit firmly in his lap. Then he said slowly, "Do you know why I prepared this surprise?"
His lips brushed against her earlobe as he whispered in a tone only lovers use. "Look, don't they resemble you?"
Having endured hardships, they still bloom proudly under the snow and the moon.
Between the snow and the moon, she is the third kind of unparalleled beauty.
"Such was probably my first impression of you," he said.
He was referring to the time when she was scolded by the bar owner in the corridor. Although she appeared obedient, he had seen her true emotions.
By then, she had started to learn to adapt to the world but didn't really agree with it.
He continued methodically, "You're polite to everyone, but never truly from the heart. You put on a flattering smile on the surface while secretly flipping them off in your mind."
"Me…" Jiang Li was stunned. She never expected him to still remember something so long ago.
"I was curious back then. How could there be such a rebellious woman in a bar? She surely wouldn't last long," Xiao Yanzhi smiled. "So I became interested in you."
Jiang Li murmured, "So that's why you stuffed your business card into my bra."
She still felt bothered by it.
Although she admitted that the act and the card had saved her, such a frivolous and insulting behavior did bother her.
"I was wrong. I should've done better," he tensed up instantly, regretting bringing up this topic. "Sorry, I just…"
"You didn't do anything wrong. In your eyes, I was just a bar girl, and I only deserved to be treated that way," she said.
Xiao Yanzhi was silent for a moment before saying slowly, "But you won't always be a bar girl."
"Maybe," Jiang Li blinked. "If it weren't for you, I would've quit and found a more comfortable job. I just wouldn't have met you, my benefactor."
Sometimes fate is quite interesting. It can make two people miss each other or entangle their lives.
"Do you like it?" he suddenly asked.
"Sure, I've always loved roses," Jiang Li thought he was asking about the flowers. "But they must be really expensive this season."
"I meant me," he tightened his grip slightly, trying to sound calm. "Do you like me?"
His voice was deep and serious as he awaited her answer.
A fine layer of sweat broke out on her back, and her heart raced uncontrollably. "… Why are you suddenly asking this?"
"I want to know your answer to decide what to do next," he asked seriously. "Just answer me."
In a split second, Jiang Li suddenly realized something and blurted out, "Are you going to propose?"
"Do you want me to propose?" Xiao Yanzhi found it amusing and pinched her cheek. "Are you so eager to marry me?"
Jiang Li was extremely embarrassed, thinking she might have misunderstood. "No, I mean if you're proposing now, I can't accept it yet."
"Why?" Xiao Yanzhi felt a pang in his heart. "You don't want to marry me?"
He asked so humbly that Jiang Li felt guilty and quickly explained, "No, it's because my work isn't finished yet. I still have to work hard for awards. If you propose now, the wedding will have to be postponed for a long time. I want to prepare for our wedding whole - heartedly, so I don't want it to be too soon…"
"So, you do want to?" His eyes fixed on her as he asked in a low voice. "Will you marry me?"
He paused for a moment, his gaze falling on her bright eyes. Then he let go of her and stood in front of her on the bed. Suddenly, he knelt down on one knee.
He knelt in front of the bed on one knee.
Behind him was the white snow and the fiery red roses. He looked up and took out a jewelry box with a rose relief from his pocket.
At this moment, Jiang Li suddenly held her breath.
When the jewelry box opened, she saw the ring inside.
The ring looked like a thorny vine, twisting and winding into a circle, studded with diamonds. In the center was a huge diamond.
The room was pitch - black, but the light reflected from outside the snow was enough to make the diamond ring sparkle.
Such a design and craftsmanship didn't seem like something from the general market. It was more likely the work of an established designer or a top - luxury brand.
His eyes were deep as he said softly, "Jiang Li, will you marry me? From now on, day by day, for a lifetime. Spend the rest of your life with me."
"Whether in life or death, in sickness or in health, in wealth or in poverty, I'll always be with you, by your side. I'll love you with all my heart until I die, until we're buried together."
Although he had rehearsed this many times in his mind, he still felt nervous when he said it. His breathing was difficult.
The hand holding the jewelry box was already damp. He still knelt there patiently, waiting for an answer for what seemed like an eternity.
As time passed, each second was more torturous than the last. He even hoped that he would never get an answer - at least it wouldn't be a negative one.
After what felt like a long time, he guessed the result and let out a bitter laugh. His hand holding the diamond ring trembled. "Was it too sudden? I'm sorry. I didn't think it through. I'll choose another day…"
Their eyes met.
What did she see?
She saw the panic, pain, annoyance, and disappointment in his eyes, all because she hadn't given him an answer yet.
An answer that would make him stop being lost, stop being afraid, and stop being insecure.
Jiang Li took a deep breath and said softly, "If I don't love you, I don't know who else I could love in this lifetime."
Xiao Yanzhi's heart finally settled.
He looked back at her calmly. Almost at the same time, he lifted his lips again. "Then I'll ask again."
"Jiang Li, marry me," he stated rather than asked.
"I do. But—"
She blinked and continued after accepting. "But I'd like to postpone the wedding. You know I have a very busy work schedule later. You're going to marry a…"
"I'm going to marry a big - time star, the future Chinese movie queen, the most beautiful woman in the world," he gently finished her sentence.