LHKE Ch49 (End)

“Cough… Cough cough… You want to propose to Lu Changting?!” Jiang Chifeng choked on his drink and began coughing violently.

Du Heng was also surprised for a moment before laughing. “How are you planning to propose? Do you need help?”

For all these years, Shen Li hadn’t been able to tell Lu Changting directly that he loved him. Their relationship had been initiated by Lu Changting. Now that Shen Li wanted to take the initiative, Du Heng was naturally supportive.

“I haven’t figured out how to propose yet,” Shen Li said, fondly touching the ring box in his pocket.

He had chosen the ring today, taking Lu Changting’s ring size while he was asleep.

Since Lu Changting returned, Shen Li had been thinking about this. All along, his love had been very reserved. He was the one who fell in love first and loved Lu Changting for so many years, but it always seemed like Lu Changting was the one coming toward him.

It couldn’t go on like this forever.

He wanted to be brave for his loved one once.

He had already decided that Lu Changting was the one he wanted to spend his life with, and he wanted to make it official. This ring was meant for Lu Changting alone.

After Jiang Chifeng finished coughing, he took another sip of his drink to calm himself.

“It looks like you need help,” Jiang Chifeng said, now sounding excited. “How about booking the revolving restaurant? A piano, violin, roses, candlelight dinner, and then you kneel down and propose…”

“That’s too extravagant,” Du Heng said, not quite understanding the wealthy person’s way of doing things. “Why not propose at school instead?”

Although a revolving restaurant was romantic and formal, it felt too showy and cliché for Shen Li. Plus, if he invited Lu Changting to such a place and arranged a candlelight dinner, Lu Changting would surely guess that a proposal was coming.

Shen Li had also considered proposing at school; the small auditorium seemed appropriate. However, the school had memories of Lu Changting and Tang Yao.

Moreover, since Lu Changting almost daily unwrapped a few stars to look at, reminiscing about high school, proposing at the school might make Lu Changting sad thinking about the past.

Shen Li shook his head, rejecting both ideas.

“How about proposing in a bar?” Jiang Chifeng suggested. “Turn off all the lights, and when he walks in, we can use our phone flashlights or light a bunch of candles. Then you kneel down and propose. If he says yes, we’ll throw confetti; if he says no, we’ll give him a good talking-to.”

Shen Li laughed at the idea. “That’s not a proposal; that’s pressuring him into marriage.”

Du Heng also laughed. “Are you planning to propose to your boyfriend like this in the future?”

“Why should I propose?” Jiang Chifeng said, holding his glass and sipping slowly. “I’m waiting for him to propose to me.”

“I’m a particularly cheesy person; I want excitement and romance,” Jiang Chifeng said casually. “If he doesn’t propose in a way that’s lively and romantic enough, I won’t accept it.”

“Romantic… How about watching the sunrise?” Du Heng suggested. “Go up the mountain to watch the sunrise, just the two of you.”

Jiang Chifeng agreed. “Watching the sunrise is also a good idea.” He paused and added, “When proposing at sunrise, if he says no, you can threaten to push him off the cliff.”

“You could go to Pavilion Mountain,” Jiang Chifeng said seriously after joking around. “I heard from my mom that Lu Changting’s parents got engaged there. I think that’s where Lu Changting’s name came from.”

“The pavilion in Changting’s name is from Pavilion Mountain?” Shen Li was hearing this for the first time.

“It should be. You can ask him,” Jiang Chifeng said. “His parents are a model of love in S City’s elite circles, admired by many. He’s always been the ideal child… My mom has often compared me to him.”

Jiang Chifeng muttered under his breath, “So my dad doesn’t like Lu Shiyuan, and I don’t like Lu Changting.”

The grudge had lasted a long time.

Shen Li smiled. “He’s really a good person.”

Jiang Chifeng gave him a look of resentment. “You’re just seeing him through rose-colored glasses.”

Shen Li smiled and teased him, “In Wei Wenxing’s eyes, you’re the best too.”

Jiang Chifeng opened his mouth but couldn’t argue. He finally managed to say, “Wei Wenxing is also great.”

Du Heng took a sip of his drink, sounding melancholic. “You two, could you consider the feelings of us single folks?”

“No,” Jiang Chifeng said, looking at him with pride. “My boyfriend is too excellent; I can’t help but show off.”

“You’re off-topic, off-topic,” Du Heng said discontentedly. “We came here to discuss how Shen Xiaoli should propose.”

The phone on the bar counter vibrated, showing a new WeChat message. Shen Li glanced at it, smiling, and stood up. “Changting is here to pick me up. I’ll head out now and invite you all to drinks another day.”

The discussion about planning the proposal wasn’t finished yet, and now he was leaving… Du Heng sighed heavily. “Prioritizing romance over friends.”

Jiang Chifeng wasn’t surprised and waved his hand. “Wishing you a smooth proposal in advance.”

Shen Li touched the ring box in his pocket and smiled as he walked toward the bar’s entrance.

Though he hadn’t figured out exactly how to propose, he was certain it would go smoothly.

…

Life eventually returns to its calm routine, but within that calm, there are always little surprises prepared by your loved one, like beautiful shells hidden among a pile of sand, shining brightly in an otherwise mundane life.

So when Shen Li asked if Lu Changting was free to go to Pavilion Mountain this weekend to fulfill a vow, Lu Changting decisively canceled his weekend plans and lied without changing his expression, “I’m free.”

Then, while messaging Wan Qing to reschedule his weekend plans, he asked, “What vow?”

“I used to visit the Matchmaker Temple,” Shen Li said somewhat shyly, with his head lowered and not looking at him.

Lu Changting looked at the red string on his wrist, thoughtfully. “It’s time to fulfill the vow.”

One was thinking about proposing, the other was remembering his earlier desire for a red string, and in the end, their thoughts coincided.

On Saturday, they went to Pavilion Mountain. The winding mountain road was covered with falling leaves. From the car window, the view was of layers of mountains, forests in vibrant colors, and swallows leaving for the season.

Shen Li watched the swiftly passing scenery outside the car window, mentally rehearsing his proposal speech.

“… I’ve always thought that loving someone should be a form of redemption.”

“Thank you for rescuing me from my self-esteem issues, from my suffering, for helping me improve myself, and for stabilizing my emotions…”

Shen Li glanced at the draft on his phone memo again, becoming anxious about whether the phrase “Thank you for loving me” was too simplistic.

Saying “Will you marry me?” seemed too formal, and “marry” or “wed” felt out of place. Shen Li hesitated. He thought his proposal might not be good enough and wondered if he should follow Jiang Chifeng’s advice and make the proposal more romantic.

He contemplated this all the way until the car stopped outside the mountain gate. Taking a deep breath, he got out of the car.

The Matchmaker Temple looked the same as ever, quietly nestled in the mountain scenery, with its red bean trees lush and green, their branches adorned with red cloth strips marking promises of eternal love.

Lu Changting and Shen Li went inside the temple to make their offerings.

Though Lu Changting had visited the temple long ago, it was only from outside. This was his first time kneeling on the mats inside, bowing in reverence as if worshiping heaven and earth.

It was also his first time drawing a fortune stick.

As the bamboo sticks clattered together, making a jingling sound, Lu Changting went to read the fortune, while Shen Li waited under the Wistaria tree, sneaking another look at his phone memo.

Having drawn a good fortune, Lu Changting returned with a smile, one hand behind his back, and walked towards Shen Li slowly.

In a mysterious tone, he said, “I have something for you.”

Shen Li’s heart skipped a beat. He was a bit stunned and also somewhat confused as he murmured, “Mm?”

“Extend your hand.”

Shen Li extended his hand.

Lu Changting took his wrist and tied a new red string around it.

It was a matching red string with the one on Lu Changting’s wrist.

Seeing the red string on his wrist, Shen Li realized what Lu Changting had been up to.

As Lu Changting tied the knot, he looked up and smiled at Shen Li. “With this red string tied, you’re mine now. No more backing out.”

Shen Li took a step back and softly said, “I also have something for you.”

Lu Changting was momentarily stunned but, accustomed to Shen Li’s little surprises, didn’t think much of it and asked with a smile, “Do I need to close my eyes?”

“No need,” Shen Li said, taking a deep breath. He was still a bit nervous and almost fumbled the small square black box from his pocket.

He steadied himself and then knelt on one knee.

Having forgotten the proposal speech he had rehearsed for days, Shen Li only wanted to show his heart to Lu Changting and couldn’t remember what he was supposed to say.

He looked at Lu Changting as if seeing him for the first time years ago, lips pressed together, showing a somewhat awkward smile.

“… Will you…”

Like anyone suddenly proposed to, Lu Changting stood there in shock.

When they first met, Shen Li had knelt before him, and Lu Changting had felt Shen Li’s posture almost reverent, which had stirred his heart.

At that time, he couldn’t understand or see through it. Shen Li’s eyes, always full of tender smiles, hid many emotions.

Now, looking at those eyes again, they were filled with love, fervent and intense.

He took the ring box from Shen Li’s hand and pulled Shen Li up.

This response might have been a rejection…

Shen Li lowered his head, forcing a smile. “Did I scare you… I actually… I had so much more to say… but I don’t know how to say it…”

Lu Changting interrupted him with a kiss.

“I will,” Lu Changting said. “I’m going to start kissing my groom now.”

—— The End