Lin Wan had indeed recorded the conversation. It was a plan she had meticulously crafted after thinking for a long time, using a great deal of mental effort. From beginning to end, everything was designed by her. And for thoroughness, as soon as she left the private room, she forwarded the backup to another location, to prevent anyone from intercepting it. Since money was "all-powerful," she followed suit, having someone investigate Chen Zui's usual hangouts. She disguised herself as a gold-digger, eager to climb the social ladder, bribed the bartender to "accidentally" make a "well-meaning mistake," and asked the mixed-race beauty to play matchmaker. Watching those people, after accepting the money, confidently promise their cooperation, Lin Wan felt a deep, internal sadness. This was the reality—blatant interests, indifferent and cold-hearted people. It was them who had lost to people like this. How could she possibly accept defeat?
She had originally planned for a long, drawn-out battle, but she hadn't expected Chen Zui to be so impatient. He walked straight into the trap she had set, much quicker than his more calculating older brother. Chen Zui was far easier to handle than his experienced brother. With the dual stimulus of alcohol and psychological tactics, Lin Wan achieved what she wanted.
As she exited the bar, Lin Wan finally relaxed her tightly wound emotions. She felt the cool evening breeze against her skin, soothing and gentle, and looked at the familiar road signs. She remembered that at the end of this street was a lively night market, a place she had visited countless times with Wang Xiao. The night market had all sorts of things young girls loved, as well as cheap and flavorful street food stalls that were popular with the youth. She often made dates there, and Wang Xiao would jokingly tease her, saying she was easy to please.
Then, she would pout and say, "Aren't you lucky, then?"
"Yeah, the money people spend on their pet dogs would be enough for me to take care of a wife…" The handsome young man gazed at the stars with a thoughtful look.
"Ugh." She pouted even harder. She had once found phrases like that unbearably cheesy when other girls said them, but when it came to her own relationship, she realized she too had become one of those "typical" people in love. This cliché love was truly beautiful, and even if she had to recite all the cheesy lines, she wouldn't mind.
"Wang Xiao, you're so annoying. I'm not talking to you anymore." And just like that, another corny line escaped her lips. Lin Wan would twist her body and walk away on her own.
The young man immediately laughed and chased after her, hugging her from behind without any concern that they were in a crowded street. After all, the night offered them cover, making it the perfect setting for a sweet little play.
"Darling, do you really hate me? Don't, my heart hurts so much it's going to die…"
She burst out laughing, unable to hold it in.
The boy let go of her, gently turning her body to face him, his face serious as he asked, "Little rice bowl, do you hate me?"
She was startled by his serious expression. Looking into his dark eyes, even in the dim light of the night market, they still shone brightly. His deep gaze made her heart flutter despite it not being the first time, and her heart beat uncontrollably. She softly replied, "Of course not."
"Then do you like me?"
"Mm."
"Do you love me?"
"Mm."
"How much do you love me?"
She rolled her eyes and said, "Wang Xiao, aren't you being a little too cheesy?"
"Say it." The boy persisted.
She glanced at the full moon hanging in the sky and then replied, "Like the moon…"
The boy pouted in dissatisfaction. "That won't do. The moon has its phases. If it's a new moon or a crescent, you won't love me anymore?"
Her amusement was evident. "Alright, then like the sun. Everything grows because of the sun, and I can't live without you. Is that good enough?"
"Really?"
She pretended to be angry. "If you don't believe it, forget it."
Wang Xiao took her hand tightly, looking tenderly at her, and asked, "Wan Wan, do you know how much I love you?"
Today, this guy had no idea what was wrong with him. He was acting so cheesy, so sentimental. But… her heart couldn't stop racing, and she blushed as she said, "I don't know."
He raised his hand to caress her cheek, gazing at her with a gentle expression. "I want to be with you every day, day and night, and wake up every morning to see you…"
Her face grew even warmer, and she couldn't tell if it was from his touch or from his words. She lowered her long lashes and asked, "Aren't you afraid of getting tired of seeing me?"
"How could I? You're so perfect. I could never get tired of looking at you for a lifetime…" Wang Xiao smiled and hugged her, lowering his head to whisper in her ear, "Let's get married."
Her body froze. She doubted her ears. He repeated the words, and only then did she pull his arm away, looking up at him and asking, "What did you say?"
He looked at her with sincerity and asked, "Lin Wan, will you marry me?"
"Is this a proposal?" She was somewhat stunned, feeling overwhelmed by the huge surprise.
"Mm."
Her face warmed again, and her mind seemed to short-circuit. She took a long time to gather her thoughts before softly murmuring, "But there are no flowers, no rings…"
Wang Xiao was momentarily stunned. "Wait here," he said before rushing off. Lin Wan stood in the shadow, waiting with a silly smile. After a short while, she saw him weaving through the crowd. She watched him approach with a satisfied smile on her face. How wonderful. This outstanding and gentle young man was the one she loved most, and he loved her just as much.
When Wang Xiao reached her, a little out of breath, he took her right hand, pulled out a shiny ring from his jeans pocket, and slid it onto her slender ring finger. It fit perfectly. He awkwardly said, "I'll get you a better one tomorrow. Let's just use this one for today."
She looked down at the small ring on her finger, then looked up at him and asked, "What made you think of this?"
She wasn't surprised. Although they had been dating for a few years and their relationship had been stable, they had only just graduated from college. Most people their age were busy with their careers or enjoying their youth. These days, fewer young people are willing to commit to marriage so early.
Wang Xiao cleared his throat awkwardly, rubbed his nose, and said, "When you said you wouldn't talk to me and turned away, even though I knew you were joking, looking at your back, I suddenly got scared. What if you really left one day? What would I do? So, I had to lock you down quickly."
She blinked her eyes in surprise, touched. "Wang Xiao, I won't leave."
"I know," he said, reaching up to smooth her windblown bangs. His gaze grew deeper, darker than the night itself. "And I know you want a home."
Her heart warmed at his words. He continued, "So, I want to give you a home. Our own home."
She lowered her head, her heart filled with warmth, like boiling water that didn't burn, only made her feel a deep, soothing warmth. She gently traced the small ring with her fingertips, noticing there was even a small diamond on it. Though it was fake, to her, it was more valuable than any expensive jewel. It took her a long time to calm down from the excitement and nervousness, and the person she loved was quietly waiting for her to gather her thoughts. She could feel his steady, passionate gaze on her.
Finally, she whispered, "I don't think I've agreed yet…"
"What?" Wang Xiao was taken aback.
She looked up at him, her eyes still glistening with unshed tears, and seriously said, "I will."
And then, they kissed.
Around them was the bustling street with the smell of barbecue. Above them was the moon that had witnessed countless lives through the ages. Two young bodies embraced tightly, like two vibrant little trees. He was her sun, and she was his sunflower. They met at the best time, falling into a pure and warm love, and they promised to be together for life.
Everything about that day was still fresh in her memory, like it was engraved on the disk of her life. Her mouth tasted like chocolate, and Wang Fei's ethereal voice played in the background. "May we live long, and share the moonlight, even when we are a thousand miles apart." In her right hand, a three-dollar ring sparkled. In her heart, she thought of Tagore's famous words, I love three things in this world, the sun, the moon, and you. The sun for the day, the moon for the night, and you forever!