Chapter 44: You’re not going to crash the proposal, are you?

Shuangxu had just gotten off work and returned home.

She didn’t reply to Yue Zifeng, but instead answered Lu Manman: “I’m not sure if I’ll be there.”

Lu Manman said: “I hope you come to witness it, but I’m afraid if you do, something unexpected might happen.”

They both knew what the other was thinking, so they could be honest with each other, speaking directly without beating around the bush.

Shuangxu said: “Then I won’t go.”

She didn’t want to miss this important moment in Shen Yu’s life, even though she knew that kind of happiness would be built on her own sadness. She still wanted to be there to bless him.

But at the same time, she didn’t want to ruin this equally important moment for Lu Manman. If Lu Manman wanted her to, she could stay away.

Lu Manman said: “You’re not going to crash the proposal, are you?”

Shuangxu remained expressionless: “You’re just getting engaged, not getting married. What am I going to crash?”

Lu Manman: “Take it back! Take it back! You ruined my surprise.”

Shuangxu: “…”

Shuangxu hadn’t eaten dinner yet. She still hadn’t learned to cook and wasn’t interested in learning. She ordered takeout on her phone and while waiting, she sat on the floor by the window, looking at the night view.

The 9th floor of Songming Road was a large, open-plan apartment. Living alone, it felt eerily quiet.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the lights of Yancheng twinkled. This city was home to over 20 million people. Every time she looked at the night view from the folding window, it made Shuangxu feel insignificant.

The takeout arrived, and she went to get it, arranging it on the dining table.

Maybe it was a bit of a vindictive act, though she didn’t know who she wanted to get back at. In any case, she ordered a lot: fried chicken covered in melted cheese, and a large pizza.

It was a feast, but it was no fun eating it alone.

She thought for a moment, then took a photo and sent it to Shu Yang and Xiao Liao.

Shu Yang, who was eating bland hospital food every day and felt like he was about to become a fairy, sent her a sixty-second voice message.

At the end, he said: “I’m going to block you now. I’ll unblock you when you’re done eating.”

Xiao Liao was more direct: “You wait! I’m coming over right now!”

Shuangxu felt much better: “Come on over. You can sleep in the fish tank tonight.”

Half an hour later, Xiao Liao arrived in a flurry, bringing half a dozen beers with her.

“Wow, what a beautiful night view. It’s true that the Yancheng of rich people is different from our Yancheng!” Xiao Liao leaned against the glass. “Living in a place like this, are there no worries?”

“There are,” Shuangxu said. “Rich people get constipated too.”

“That’s true!” Xiao Liao immediately felt more balanced.

Shuangxu simply placed a cushion by the window, and the two of them sat on the floor, enjoying the night view, eating fried chicken and drinking beer.

“Little boss, have you found your turtle yet?”

Shuangxu shook her head: “Probably not. It’s been lost for a long time.”

Turtles were very resistant to hunger, but they weren’t immortal. Since it had been lost for so long, she wondered if it had starved to death in some corner.

“Then get another one,” Xiao Liao said with a lighthearted attitude. “If you find the old one later, you’ll have two.”

“I won’t get another one,” Shuangxu said. “Where would you sleep if I did?”

Xiao Liao pounced on her: “You’re calling me names!”

Shuangxu burst out laughing and fell to the ground.

With Xiao Liao around, her mood lightened.

That night, Shuangxu didn’t actually make her sleep in the fish tank. Instead, she took her to the guest room.

The guest room had never been used, and Xiao Liao, like a dog marking its territory, rolled around on the bed, then lay down peacefully, placing her hands on her stomach.

“Don’t wake me up tomorrow. I’m going to sleep here for three days and three nights.”

Shuangxu returned to her own bedroom. Before going to sleep, she checked her phone and saw a message from Lu Manman.

“I still hope you come. Honestly. Ayu would definitely want you to be there.”

On Saturday afternoon, Shuangxu changed into light hiking clothes, put on her backpack, and went downstairs. Shen Yu and Yue Zifeng were already downstairs waiting.

This was the largest gathering of people yet. Lu Manman brought a few of her friends. Several cars were lined up, each filled with people.

Lu Manman, who was in the passenger seat of Shen Yu’s car, said to her: “Xiao Jiu, Ayu’s friends are in our car. You can take my cousin’s car first.”

The rear window rolled down, revealing a couple with striking features.

The man was a friend of Shen Yu’s, the CEO of Hengtai Bank. Shuangxu had met him before when she was with Shen Yu. His new wife was the eldest daughter of the Bai family in Yancheng.

“Brother Sheng’an, Sister Qingmei.” She greeted them politely and walked towards the car behind.

He Tingzhou was driving the Cullinan. Shuangxu still felt awkward around him, so she skipped the passenger seat.

She climbed into the back seat, fastened her seatbelt, and looked up. She was caught off guard by He Tingzhou’s gaze in the rearview mirror.

He was wearing a black turtleneck jacket, making his features appear sharper and more defined.

He Tingzhou had a piece of candy in his mouth. He looked at her casually through the mirror.

“Do I look like your family driver?”

Shuangxu said: “I’m not feeling well today. I want to sit in the back.”

“What’s wrong?” He Tingzhou asked.

Shuangxu: “Everything.”

He Tingzhou smirked: “You’re feeling that bad? We’ll find a sedan chair to carry you up the mountain later?”

Shuangxu averted her gaze first and didn’t speak to him.

What made her feel a little more relaxed was that Yue Zifeng, who had gotten out of the car to buy water, came back and sat in the passenger seat.

“Let’s go, let’s go.”

Yue Zifeng’s mouth never stopped chattering the whole way. Shuangxu sat in the back, quiet the entire time.

As the general commander of the proposal operation plan, he assigned Shuangxu a glorious and arduous task.

“Sister, you don’t have to do anything today. Just be responsible for giving your brother the ring at the crucial moment. Listen to my orders, understand?”

Shuangxu “Hmm”ed.

Yue Zifeng turned to look at her: “Why are you so unenthusiastic?”

Shuangxu raised her voice: “Hmm!”

He Tingzhou suddenly laughed.

Shuangxu didn’t understand what he was laughing at and continued to look out the window.

He Tingzhou held the steering wheel with one hand, his left hand resting on the car window, crushing the hard candy in his mouth, the crisp and muffled sound carrying a hint of orange flavor.

“Where did you get the candy?” Yue Zifeng opened the glove box and rummaged through it, but couldn’t find any.

He Tingzhou glanced back with his chin: “Ask the little princess.”

Shuangxu gave him a bewildered look. She didn’t have any candy.

Yue Zifeng actually reached out and asked her: “Princess sister, give me one.”

“…I finished it.” Shuangxu said.

The convoy continued eastward, and after more than an hour, they arrived at the Dongyu Mountain Camping Base.