Chapter 589: Do You Want to Marry Me?

Chapter 589: Chapter 589: Do You Want to Marry Me?

The early autumn wind blew from behind Lu Shaoyuan, its rustling sound piercing the dead silence.

Shen Ningning stood stunned for a long moment before her pink lips parted. "Actually, I could give it a try... Following our original plan, I mean. We could see how a fake marriage goes."

’After all, Lu Shaoyuan is so good to me. When I was at my most desperate, I made such an outrageous request, and he actually agreed, going along with my absurd plan.’ Shen Ningning thought. ’I don’t know how to repay such kindness.’

Lu Shaoyuan smiled and shook his head. "Why bother? I know that even before the accident, you wanted to tell me you didn’t want to get engaged. You just never brought it up because you were afraid of hurting me."

"Ningning, you always sacrifice your own feelings to take care of others. But I can’t bear to hold you back any longer. Seeing you hide your sorrow these past few days has been hard on me too."

"I think... we shouldn’t continue down this wrong path. Giving you up is hard, of course, but I have no regrets. You need to be strong for yourself. Go to the Crown Prince. Follow your heart. Seeing you live happily is enough for me."

"Lu Shaoyuan..." Shen Ningning’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

After a moment, she stepped forward and gave his shoulder a light, friendly hug.

"Thank you for being my friend. I hope you’ll be happy too!"

After she spoke, Lu Shaoyuan gave her a smile of frank relief. "Alright now. I’ve never been the sentimental type. Don’t you dare cry in front of me, or I might regret this."

Shen Ningning let out a laugh. It was as if a great weight had been lifted from her heart, and a radiant smile lit up her delicate face.

She waved to Lu Shaoyuan. "I’ll head back now, then! You’ve lost so much weight. You have to eat well. When I get back from my trip, I hope to see you back to your old self."

"Okay, it’s a promise," Lu Shaoyuan nodded firmly.

He watched the young woman lift her skirt, her eyes bright and enchanting, her smile brilliant. She ran all the way to the garden gate, where she even stopped to look back at him.

Only when Shen Ningning’s figure had completely vanished at the end of the garden did the expression on Lu Shaoyuan’s face suddenly darken.

’In truth, he too had harbored a selfish hope.’

’He’d noticed that after his accident, Shen Ningning had cared for him with painstaking attention. Whenever she came to visit, she never mentioned her reluctance to get engaged. Instead, she acted just as she had before.’

’For a few fleeting moments, Lu Shaoyuan had selfishly hoped things could just stay this way.’

’At least he could keep her by his side, in another way.’

’But since he loved her, how could he ignore the melancholy that sometimes slipped out unintentionally?’

’She would get distracted whenever she heard news about Mo Lingwei.’

’When their friends brought up stories of her past with Mo Lingwei, she would force a smile.’

’When Mo Lingwei went to Xiangyun Village to visit Grandma Qin and the Black Wolf King, she would deliberately stay away.’

’When everyone else was laughing, she would be the only one sitting quietly in the crowd, her expression serene but distant.’

’Because he cared for her, he could feel that she wasn’t happy.’

After many sleepless nights, Lu Shaoyuan had finally made his decision.

’Shen Ningning isn’t a heartless person. She was considerate of my feelings. So, it had to be me who brought it up.’

’Otherwise, what was the point of watching her grow sadder by my side, day by day?’

It was like loving a flower. You should water and nurture it, not forcibly plant it in an environment it dislikes, forcing it to smile and sway gracefully.

Shen Ningning was more like a paper kite he happened to be holding, attached only by a string called "soft-heartedness," which allowed him to keep her tethered.

Today, Lu Shaoyuan had let her go with his own hands.

When he saw Shen Ningning’s brilliant smile, he knew he had made the right choice.

She belonged to the vast sky and the endlessly brilliant sun, not to him.

The first thing Shen Ningning did after returning home was to arrange a meeting with Mo Lingwei.

The great Crown Prince, her childhood friend, thought something terrible had happened when he received the message and rushed over immediately.

It was already past dusk. Xie Suzhi had brought Grandma Qin to their home, and they were preparing to have dinner together.

Just as everyone was raising their chopsticks, Housekeeper Pang rushed in. "Master, the Crown Prince is here."

Xie Suzhi looked up and put down his chopsticks, but Shen Ningning had already stood up. "I’m the one who invited him. Uncle Pang, please show him in. Wanchun, add another set of bowls and chopsticks."

The other young men of the Xie family exchanged glances.

’The Crown Prince is coming for dinner? How come we didn’t know?’

A moment later, Mo Lingwei arrived. He was still wearing the Crown Prince’s robes embroidered with a five-clawed golden dragon. Beneath his jade crown, his sword-like brows slanted toward his temples, and his sharp, narrow eyes held a hint of peace.

Seeing Grandma Qin, he first clasped his hands in a salute. "I apologize for the intrusion."

So courteous and polite—he was like a completely different person from the rebellious, perverse, and short-tempered Crown Prince of the past.

Grandma Qin knew him well, and her gaze was full of the fond satisfaction one would have for their own junior.

She said with a smile, "We’re all family. What’s there to apologize for? Come, sit next to Grandma."

But Mo Lingwei looked at Shen Ningning, asking for her permission with his eyes.

Shen Ningning smiled, looking utterly charming with her bright eyes and pearly teeth.

"If Grandma tells you to sit, then you should sit."

The Black Wolf King had been in the backyard, but perhaps having caught Mo Lingwei’s scent, it now padded quietly into the courtyard, its cold, lupine eyes staring intently.

Xie Mingxu and Xie Ming’an exchanged a glance.

"Sister, if the Crown Prince was coming for dinner, you should have told us sooner so we could have prepared. Today’s meal is a bit simple; we’ve truly neglected His Highness," Xie Ming’an spoke first, probing for information.

Shen Ningning pressed her red lips together, looking at her family with great solemnity.

’Everyone sitting here is my closest family.’

"Wolf Father, come on, you come inside too. I have something to announce."

The Black Wolf King had been observing stealthily, not expecting to be discovered by Shen Ningning.

It had no choice but to walk in openly. The servants immediately brought over a chair, and the Black Wolf King dutifully hopped onto it, sitting down beside Xie Suzhi.

Shen Ningning stood up, and Mo Lingwei followed suit.

The young woman grabbed his wrist. Mo Lingwei froze.

"I’ve decided to get engaged to him!"

"What?!" Xie Suzhi and Second Master Xie exclaimed in unison, their voices rising.

Another coarse, ill-timed voice rang out irritably, "What did you say?"

It was the Black Wolf King. Its lupine eyes were wide and round, its sharp gaze sweeping over Mo Lingwei’s face, as if wondering if he had forced their precious Jiaojiao!

Forget everyone else; Mo Lingwei himself was utterly stunned.

"You... you... what?"

Xie Mingxu was always composed, but at this moment, though his expression remained calm, his chopsticks fell to the floor with a CLATTER.

Of everyone present, only Grandma Qin was beaming as she looked at the two of them.

Shen Ningning took a deep breath, having made her decision.

"Before, I told him I needed to think things over, to have some time to myself to figure out if I truly loved him. I’ve thought it through now. After everything that’s happened, I’ve asked my own heart, and I still want to be with him."

Having said her piece, she turned to Mo Lingwei, her long lashes trembling, her beautiful eyes filled with a maiden’s bashfulness.

"Mo Lingwei... are you... are you still willing to marry me? Does the promise you made still stand?"