In the dressing room, Jiang Qiongyin was helping Zang Ling get ready. Looking at her daughter in a light teal traditional dress, she sighed emotionally, “My daughter is so beautiful. Just a year ago, I was still worrying about your personal life, and now you’re already getting engaged. Time really flies.”

Zang Ling was checking her makeup in the mirror. Upon hearing that, she turned her head and smiled, “That’s all thanks to inheriting your beauty, Mom. I didn’t expect it to happen this fast either. I thought I’d stay single forever.”

“Are you sure Xiao Yan’s the one?”

Zang Ling touched up her lipstick a little and pressed her lips together. “Unless something unexpected happens, it’s him.”

“When will you two get married?”

Zang Ling chuckled. “We’re just getting engaged, and you’re already rushing us to get married? At least give us some time to prepare.”

“Mom, help me with this hairpin. It’s caught in my hair.”

Jiang Qiongyin came over to fix her hair, smiling brightly. “Okay, okay, you can get married whenever you want. I won’t rush you.”

Zang Ling laughed heartily.

Just then, Zang Xiuming’s voice came from outside the door. “Are you two ready? Most of the guests have arrived.”

“We’re coming!” Zang Ling replied loudly.

She exchanged a glance and smile with Jiang Qiongyin before opening the door—only to see Yan Wenshu waiting nearby.

He was wearing a black suit today, custom-tailored to fit perfectly, highlighting his excellent figure and long legs. 

His hair at the front and temples was slicked back, revealing a smooth forehead and handsome features. In his hand was a single red rose. The contrast between the red and black created a striking visual, especially against his pale skin. The combination of all three elements made Zang Ling feel like she was seeing a noble, aloof vampire—pureblood, at that.

Zang Ling couldn’t help but swallow—no, she had to hold back. Whatever she wanted to do, it would have to wait until after the engagement.

“Sorry for the wait…”

Yan Wenshu stared at her for a long moment, shook his head slightly, then handed her the rose. “This is for you.”

Zang Ling looked at him and, for some reason, suddenly felt a little shy. She took the flower and mumbled, “Thank you…”

Jiang Qiongyin gave them a knowing look, smiling as she tugged Zang Xiuming away, leaving the young couple with some space. They wouldn’t play third wheel.

Zang Ling asked, “Yan Wenshu, are you nervous right now?”

“A little,” he said.

He stared at her and added, “You’re very beautiful today…”

Her long black hair was tied up with a hairpin, her ears adorned with luminous pearl earrings. The light green qipao she wore fell to her ankles. Unlike her usual glamorous look, today she exuded a refined, otherworldly elegance. With just a touch of makeup, she looked breathtaking.

Zang Ling couldn’t help but smile. “Thank you. You look super handsome too. We match well.”

“It’s getting late. Let’s go.”

Yan Wenshu raised his arm beside her, and Zang Ling took it with a smile, walking downstairs arm in arm with her fiancé.

“Thank you all for coming to attend the engagement ceremony of my daughter Zang Ling and Yan Wenshu,” Zang Xiuming began. “We are deeply grateful for your presence. As a parent, I am filled with emotion and have something to say to my daughter and future son-in-law: I hope you live in harmony, stay devoted to each other, remain loyal and faithful through any hardship, whether in wealth or poverty, and work together through thick and thin.”

“At the same time, I hope that even after you’re married, you won’t forget your responsibilities before becoming husband and wife. Remember to come home and visit often.”

Sitting below, Zang Ling was slightly moved. She leaned over and whispered to Yan Wenshu, “I don’t know where my dad found this speech, but it’s kind of touching.”

Yan Wenshu didn’t respond. He just quietly held her hand.

On this joyful day, the system couldn’t contain its excitement and exclaimed:
[Host, you’re getting engaged today!]

[How do you feel right now?]

Yan Wenshu glanced at Zang Ling from the corner of his eye and slowly said, [It’s just an engagement. It’s nothing special.]

[Host, aren’t you happy? You’re about to complete your mission!]

Zang Ling’s ears twitched. Suspicious, she looked at Yan Wenshu. She could have sworn she just heard him say… something about a mission?

Yan Wenshu noticed her staring and asked, puzzled, “Did you forget something?”

“Did… did you just say something?”

“No, I was listening to Auntie’s speech.” Yan Wenshu looked confused by her question. “Did you hear something wrong?”

“Maybe,” Zang Ling smiled and nodded. She turned her attention back to her mother speaking on stage, though her mood had grown a bit heavy. Just as Yan Wenshu denied speaking, she heard that same voice again—coming from him.

This time she was sure it wasn’t a hallucination.

[What’s wrong with Zang Ling? Is she too nervous?]

Zang Ling looked at him again, her suspicion growing. If he wasn’t speaking… could that voice be his thoughts?

Before she could process it fully, the voice continued:

[After the engagement, it’s just marriage. The mission will be completed soon! Then you won’t have to keep pretending—you’ll finally be free.]

What… did that mean?!

Zang Ling suddenly felt like she had fallen into an icy abyss. Her thoughts immediately returned to the word she heard earlier: “mission”.

Combined with what she was hearing now, she started to piece together a chilling truth—Yan Wenshu was completing some sort of mission that required him to “win her over.” Everything he showed her might have been fake, all an act to make her fall for him.

Zang Ling was in disbelief. She tried to hear more of his thoughts, but no matter what she did next, she couldn’t hear anything.

She stared at Yan Wenshu silently for a while, then suddenly asked, “Was it hard for you?”

Yan Wenshu was stunned by the random question but still smiled gently. “Not at all.”

Not at all.

But… pretending to love her—that must’ve been exhausting.