Chapter 99 —The Proposal (2)

Across from the piano, a single stage light illuminated the centre of the stage. The glass walls were decorated with little lights that twinkled once in a while, bringing the ambience to a peak.

Red rose petals had been artfully sprinkled to form a straight path leading up to the centre. Pei Yueran walked on them till she was standing in the limelight and facing the piano.

Li Chuanmo looked up at her and smiled, before changing the melody unhurriedly. As his fingers danced elegantly on the keys, his voice —a pleasant deep baritone —producing a soul stirring accompaniment.

It was like a dream

The first time I looked into your eyes

Walking across the hall

It seemed even time had paused

You brought light into my life

Taking away the shadows and gloom

I found love, hope and light

The exact moment I found you

You changed everything my Love

Because of you I have become

The best version of myself

One who is devoted to you

I'm singing from my heart

When I say, "I love you"

I want to be yours alone

To be by your side forever

We'll travel over lands and seas

Living our best lives together

I'm saying "I love you"

The queen — queen of my heart

I'm not perfect, but you perfect me

I was wounded, you nursed me sweetly

I'll love and cherish you, my precious

Forever, till our hairs turn white

Pei Yueran stood electrified on the spot. Her love for Li Chuanmo had never felt as real to her as in that moment. She was gripped, his voice wrapping around her like a warm blanket.

She felt like he had directly reached into the softest part of her heart and captured it for himself.

As he sang further, her heart felt full. In that moment, all other thoughts fled—the boys, work, even thoughts of Han Lei had long been forgotten. Li Chuanmo filled her heart, her head and her sight.

She was sure. She wanted this. She wanted him.

Li Chuanmo finally ended the piece with a flourish, his fingers lingering on the last note. Then rising up, he took the huge bouquet of red roses beside him and walked step by step, towards Pei Yueran.

He stopped one step away from her and presented the bouquet to her. Pei Yueran accepted it, stunned. Just looking at it, there had to be hundreds of roses in this bouquet. It was so heavy that her hands sagged under the weight. Li Chuanmo quickly helped her set it down, beside her feet.

He held her hands and began to speak his first words of the night, "When I did my research on flower language, red roses were the first to grab my attention. Red, vibrant and romantic, they were the very definition of the love I've always wanted and never had—till I met you.

In all these months, I've never given you roses, at first because my feelings were not that potent, and then later because I wanted to make sure that when I do, that moment would be very special.

What I feel for you is more than just desire. It is something deeper and more profound, something unfathomable."

He paused and knelt down on one knee. Fiddling with a bright red velvet box, he eventually opened it to reveal a stunning, platinum-plated diamond ring.

The main gem was a heart-shaped cut, brilliant orange diamond. It was as fiery as fire and was coruscating brightly under the lone light. Set on either side of it in two delicate prongs of platinum, were two smaller colorless diamonds. The side stones set off the brillance of the main gem and gave the ring an elegant style.

The orange diamond, known as "The Phoenix's Soul" was one of the rarest diamonds on earth. Of all "fire diamonds"—as orange diamonds were commonly called— ever discovered, The Phoenix's Soul was the most unique because of its vibrant vividness and flattering cut.

It was mined over three centuries ago and had been in the coffers of Country B's royal family, before it was eventually auctioned privately, just few weeks ago. Li Chuanmo had to pull some strings and utilize his connections abroad to get it.

Presenting it now made him very nervous. This was the moment.

"This ring is a token, a physical representation of my heart. With this symbol, I'm promising you forever. My precious Ran, will you marry me?"

Overwhelmed, Pei Yueran couldn't say anything. The seconds ticked by as she tried to compose herself well enough to respond.

When she didn't say anything for a few seconds —which felt like eternity to Li Chuanmo —he felt she was thinking of how best to reject him without hurting his feelings. Maybe she wasn't ready yet?

He was considering begging her on both knees and asking the boys to help, when those luscious lips parted and uttered the words he had been waiting for, but with a slightly different choice of words.

"I thought you'd never ask."

Li Chuanmo's face lit up faster than a light switch.

"Yes. Marrying you would be a dream come true, Chuan."

As Li Chuanmo slid the ring on her finger, cheering erupted from the door all the way down the stairwell as fireworks lit up the night sky. Pei Yueran looked up to see the boys and all the workers cheering and congratulating them.

She had been too immersed in the mood to even know the moment they arrived. She smiled at them before looking into Li Chuanmo's eyes.

Li Yuchen, who was holding a camera and recording the moment took the lead to chant, "Kiss, Kiss, Kiss, Kiss." Before long, all the workers had joined in the fun, and shouts of "Kiss, Kiss, Kiss" echoed in the distant night.

Li Chuanmo looked at her. Seeing her nod, he drew her closer and obliged the spectators. Their lips and tongues joined together in a millennium-old dance as they underscored the momentous occasion.

Even Han Yichen whipped out his phone at the last moment and took a picture.

After tasting so much bitterness and going round in circles, his mother had finally found her harbor.

That night.....