"Hey, little fairy. By the time you hear my voice again, another knight will be protecting you. First, I apologize for the decisions I made without telling you. I was always someone nobody cared about, until I met you. That's when I realized that fairies truly exist in this world. You came to save me, and you brought about an astonishing change in my life. Every second I spent with you, I was happy. I once made a wish to the gods that if there were an afterlife, I would marry you. The sun will eventually set, but after sunset comes sunrise. Xuan Changan is dead, but countless Xuan Changans will appear by your side. They will all carry my love for you and accompany you on your journey. Lastly, little fairy, be happy and fortunate."
The voice from the recording pen belonged to a clean-cut young man.
Even though Lin Xingwan had never met Xuan Changan, she could picture a bright, sunny young man walking towards them, holding a basketball.
"Xuan Changan... I hate you... I hate you..." Qiao Ruosheng was sobbing uncontrollably, clutching the pen on the table tightly.
At this moment, Qiao Ruosheng felt as if her heart were being twisted by a knife.
She even picked up a glass of wine from the table and downed it in one gulp.
Seeing this, Xue Manting also picked up another glass and said, "Regarding our entanglement over the years, it's time for a conclusion."
As Xue Manting was about to drink the wine, Qiao Ruosheng snatched it away.
Then, Qiao Ruosheng drank this glass as well.
"I was wrong, terribly wrong. Haha, hahahaha..." Qiao Ruosheng laughed tragically, then turned and walked back the way she came. "The one who should die is me. I promised him that I would trust him no matter what... In the end, it was my distrust. It was all me."
Qiao Ruosheng's retreating figure looked incredibly lonely and pitiful.
Meanwhile, several police cars had arrived at the exit. The officers got out of the cars and handcuffed Qiao Ruosheng.
Qiao Ruosheng's expression was now incredibly calm.
As she got into the police car and it was about to start, Xue Manting called out, "Don't worry, there's no poison in the wine. This is a society governed by law. I'm not ignorant of the law, how could I intentionally harm you? I have a good life ahead of me, Xue Manting, and I don't want to go to jail because of you."
Xue Manting said proudly. Qiao Ruosheng looked at Xue Manting's appearance and a relaxed, relieved smile spread across her face. "Yes, Xue Manting is always the most dashing, the campus belle that makes girls jealous and boys go crazy."
At this moment, Xue Manting seemed to be transported back to her school days, and everything that had happened over the years felt like just a dream.
The police car slowly drove away. Xue Manting watched the car disappear from her sight, her vision beginning to blur.
Two lines of tears fell. The past had now come to a satisfactory conclusion.
"Cry it out loud. Hiding it like this isn't befitting of the eldest daughter of the Xue family," Lin Xingwan said, looking at Xue Manting, who appeared like a pitiable little rabbit, a rare sight.
Xue Manting wiped her tears. "I don't want to cry, it's just that you..."
Xue Manting suddenly leaned into Lin Xingwan's ear and whispered, "If you keep wasting time here, you'll be late for what you have planned tonight."
The more Xue Manting spoke, the more nervous Lin Xingwan's expression became.
"Oh no! How could I forget such an important matter?"
Lin Xingwan said, then quickly walked towards the helicopter.
As for the two men, Zhou Jinbai and Su Mo Yao, they watched their beloved women with doting eyes.
After Xue Manting and Lin Xingwan boarded the helicopter, Zhou Jinbai and Su Mo Yao followed.
The helicopter flew towards Tianlai Huafu and then landed there.
After the four of them got off the plane, Su Mo Yao said, "Thank you, Mr. Dongfang, for taking us back."
Lin Xingwan was taken aback. "You live in Tianlai Huafu too?"
She hadn't planned on taking Xue Manting and Su Mo Yao home tonight!
She had even considered that with so many rooms in Tianlai Huafu, Su Mo Yao and Xue Manting could sleep in whichever room they liked.
"Yes, we're your neighbors," Su Mo Yao replied, pointing to a manor ahead. Although the distance between the two manors was about a kilometer, it was visible at a glance.
Lin Xingwan: "..."
Zhou Jinbai then said, "Since that's the case, we won't see you off."
The dismissive tone in the man's voice was very clear.
"Wait, we can't leave yet. Even if we leave, we have to finish the most important thing tonight first."
Xue Manting said, her gaze falling on Lin Xingwan.
Lin Xingwan then looked at Zhou Jinbai.
When Zhou Jinbai noticed Lin Xingwan looking at him, the sharpness in his eyes instantly turned into tenderness. As he lowered his head, their eyes met.
The love that permeated between them seemed to engulf everyone around them.
"Husband, I love you. Will you marry me?"
As soon as Lin Xingwan finished speaking, the dark night sky was suddenly illuminated by fireworks.
In an instant, everyone's faces were lit up.
Lin Xingwan then took out a men's diamond ring from her pocket, grabbed Zhou Jinbai's hand, and without regard for his consent, placed the men's diamond ring on his ring finger.
This scene stunned even Zhou Jinbai, who had seen countless storms.
He looked at the dazzling fireworks illuminating the face of the woman he loved, her eyes reflecting him.
An unprecedented sense of happiness enveloped Zhou Jinbai. The deepest fears and nightmares in his heart seemed to be shattered, leaving only the desire for this moment to be eternal, with no thought of anything else.
Lin Xingwan also saw her own face in Zhou Jinbai's clear gaze.
In the past, he had confessed his love to her in a forceful and overbearing manner with fireworks;
Now, she was proposing to this man in an even more forceful and overbearing way.
The joy she felt that night was as if she had been blessed by the gods, making this man feel it.
"I know I have many shortcomings. Compared to the women you know, I am nothing. But Zhou Jinbai, I will cling to you for the rest of my life. Whether you agree or not, you are the only man I want to marry."
"Say yes, say yes," Lu Shiyan clasped his hands together in prayer.
"Oh my grandson, what are you spacing out for?" the old lady was almost frantic. Clearly, her grandson was the smartest, so why was he acting like a傻大个 (big傻瓜 - silly big guy) now?
"Fumbling at a crucial moment. It seems even Big Brother is just so-so. If it doesn't work out, let me do it. I'm embarrassed just watching," Jia Yanzhen was already rubbing his hands together. If Xuan Yin hadn't been staring at him with cold eyes, Jia Yanzhen would have loved to take Zhou Jinbai's place and teach him how to do it.
The expectation and shyness on Lin Xingwan's face slowly faded as time passed.
Her eyes even showed uncertainty and fear. She asked cautiously, "Are... are you... unwilling to marry me?"
"Silly girl, that's something a man should say," Zhou Jinbai said, his long arm reaching out and pulling Lin Xingwan into his embrace. He lowered his head and sealed her lips.
The fireworks overhead bloomed even more brilliantly, as if to record the sweet scene before them. Everyone around was cheering.
Su Mo Yao also took the opportunity to pull Xue Manting into his arms. Xue Manting struggled symbolically a few times, but finding that Su Mo Yao had no intention of letting go, she finally "surrendered."
As for Jia Yanzhen, his gaze fell upon Xuan Yin.
Ever since he saw this man disguised as a woman today, her delicate appearance had lingered in his mind.
Especially at this moment, as the fireworks illuminated half of Xuan Yin's face, the contours possessed a breathtaking beauty.
Jia Yanzhen, without a doubt, felt his heart race.
Damn it!
How could he have become like this?
Jia Yanzhen quickly averted his gaze, not wanting to look at the person who made him feel sad and distressed anymore.
Just seeing Xuan Yin reminded him of his extremely embarrassing behavior today.
Lin Xingwan had no idea how Zhou Jinbai carried her into the newly decorated bedroom in front of everyone.
Even as the fireworks continued to explode outside, the over 100-square-meter master bedroom had a bright red duvet on the bed, with a conspicuous "囍" (double happiness) embroidery. Even the table beside it was adorned with dragon and phoenix candles.
The entire room was filled with a faint fragrance.
It wasn't dizzying, but it evoked a sense of intoxicating desire.
Lin Xingwan was gently placed on the bed by Zhou Jinbai. The soft mattress sank deeply under their combined weight.
Zhou Jinbai rested his forehead against Lin Xingwan's, asking, "Why did you suddenly decide to propose to me? And... all of this, you prepared it, hmm?"
Zhou Jinbai's voice trembled with excitement. For him, this was undoubtedly the most glorious day of his life. Even the day he confessed his love ranked second.
"Can't I propose for no reason? I just suddenly wanted to propose."
Lin Xingwan cupped Zhou Jinbai's face in her hands. The man's face was not fleshy, and his skin was so firm that Lin Xingwan envied him.
"Yes, if my wife is happy, I'm happy even if you propose every day."
As Zhou Jinbai spoke, he rewarded Lin Xingwan with another kiss.
"Propose every day? You wish! I won't. Even if you propose, *you* should propose to *me*!" Lin Xingwan pouted, her spoiled demeanor like that of a willful little girl.
Only in front of Zhou Jinbai would Lin Xingwan reveal this side of herself.
"Okay, I'll propose to my wife every day from now on, as long as my wife doesn't find me annoying."
As Zhou Jinbai spoke, the light in his eyes grew dimmer, especially his restless hands. Lin Xingwan knew what this man wanted.
However, at this very moment, Lin Xingwan noticed Zhou Jinbai's brow furrowed deeply, with a distinct "川" (chuan) character forming between his eyebrows.
Lin Xingwan knew very well that Zhou Jinbai's body was starting to have problems.
The more he loved her, the greater the pain he suffered.
But... she would be selfish just one last time. After this, she would never let anyone she wanted to protect be harmed again.
"Wait—" Lin Xingwan gently wrapped her arms around Zhou Jinbai's neck and whispered into his ear, biting his earlobe.
Zhou Jinbai, uncharacteristically obedient, looked at Lin Xingwan with confusion. "Hmm?"
Lin Xingwan slowly pushed Zhou Jinbai away. "Husband, we still have one thing left to do."
Zhou Jinbai lay on the bed, his gaze following Lin Xingwan as she walked into the walk-in closet.
He didn't know what surprise his wife was preparing for him, but his mood began to become even more expectant.
Of course, where Lin Xingwan couldn't see, Zhou Jinbai no longer hid his pain.
He raised his hand to his chest, the sharp pain almost suffocating him.
He could clearly feel the excruciating pain in his body intensifying with each passing moment.
And it always happened when he was happiest.
But why did his body experience such pain when he was at his happiest?
It was as if a snake lived inside him, and when he was happy, the snake would bite him fiercely.
Meanwhile, in the walk-in closet, Lin Xingwan was now wearing a dignified and elegant traditional wedding dress.
She was now meticulously applying makeup in front of the mirror.
Lin Xingwan looked at herself in the mirror. After applying the final touch of lipstick, she stood up from the chair and slowly walked out.
Zhou Jinbai, who had been lying on the bed looking out at the fireworks, stared blankly when Lin Xingwan reappeared in his sight.
The woman before him was wearing a red ancient costume embroidered with a lifelike phoenix in gold thread.
Not only that, but the fabric, under the light, made Lin Xingwan's already fair skin appear even more delicate. Her slender waist seemed to possess a certain magic.
A magic that would make Zhou Jinbai neglect his royal duties forever!
Lin Xingwan walked up to Zhou Jinbai and removed the large red sleeves, revealing the thin inner lining she was wearing.
Zhou Jinbai's Adam's apple bobbed up and down. His direct gaze was completely captured by Lin Xingwan.