A beautiful summer night

The cool sensation on her fingertips felt so real that Yunli stared blankly as the rare pink diamond shone brightly on her hand.

Her eyes blinked faster, Yunli curled her fingers, and her breathing slowed down.

"Mr. Jiang, what...does this mean?" Yun Li looked at Jiang Baichuan, who was forcing himself to finish the rest of the pork lung and pear soup, and spread her fingers to show off the pink diamond ring that matched her size.

Jiang Baichuan smiled slightly, suppressing the slight nervousness in his heart, and said with a half-smile, "The engagement ring."

It was quiet all around.

Yunli heard her own breathing become heavier and didn't know how to react for a moment.

Her eyelashes trembled slightly as she looked at Jiang Baichuan, her eyes inexplicably becoming moist and warm.

After finishing his soup and putting away the lunchbox, Jiang Baichuan wiped his mouth, drank half a cup of hot tea, cleared his throat, and then explained meaningfully, "You and Xia Wanzhi are best friends. As the saying goes, 'One is influenced by one's company,' and I was afraid you wouldn't give me the chance to follow her example and propose before me, so..."

"You wish! Who would propose to you..." Yunli's eyes widened, and she scolded him with a mixture of embarrassment and anger.

Xia Wanzhi and Xie Qiyan had been together for over a hundred days, and they had known each other since childhood, so they knew each other inside and out.

They're barely there yet.

Jiang Baichuan met her gaze, smiled, and took both of Yun Li's hands in his own, saying solemnly, "I beg you, I beg you."

Yunli swallowed hard for no apparent reason.

She was afraid he would actually do it.

But I also hope it's true.

Jiang Baichuan watched her intently, taking in her every expression and movement.

Giving her a ring was just a test to gauge her attitude towards proposing.

He did want to, but the time wasn't right, and he was afraid Yunli would think he was being too presumptuous.

Moreover, Yunli's mother was still a hurdle.

"Jiang Baichuan, are you serious?" Yun Li spoke softly, not daring to look into his eyes, her lashes lowered as she gazed at her hands, which he held tightly. "What if we spend more time together and find we're not right for each other? What if I'm not as good as you think? What if I..."

He interrupted her and cut off her next words.

It was just a light, fleeting kiss, lips touching lips, yet it made Yunli's heart flutter.

She didn't reject intimate contact like kissing him; on the contrary, she somewhat enjoyed the feeling of lips touching. However, when the kiss moved to other places, she still subconsciously resisted with her whole body.

With her eyes tightly closed, Yunli recalled that sordid scene from long ago, bit her lip, and kept her gaze lowered.

"I don't care about 'what ifs,' I only want you." Jiang Baichuan held her hand, not wanting to put pressure on her, and changed the subject with a smile, "A real engagement ring wouldn't be so hasty. This is a birthday present for you."

Yunli subconsciously looked up, only then remembering that her birthday was approaching. After calming herself down, she sniffed and said, "A birthday present is fine, but you had to joke about proposing..."

"I'm not kidding. If I wasn't afraid you'd call me a pervert, I'd be willing to start a post-marital relationship with you right away." Jiang Baichuan's tone was relaxed, but his eyes were serious. "Would you be willing?"

Yunli kicked his shin, not wanting to answer this embarrassing question.

She is willing.

But she was afraid.

Seemingly noticing that her mood was unusual tonight, Jiang Baichuan frowned slightly.

Yunli's emotions tonight were like a rollercoaster, reaching a high point, but then suddenly plummeting, as if she were under some kind of unspeakable pressure.

Jiang Baichuan was certain that she was hiding something.

As it grew dark, the two huddled together and watched a movie. The movie lasted one hour and twenty minutes. After it ended, Jiang Baichuan glanced at his watch and didn't plan to leave yet.

Yunli stroked the pink diamond on her ring finger, her breathing slightly uneven, her soul long gone.

An engagement ring should be worn on the middle finger.

Jiang Baichuan put the ring on her ring finger without hesitation, the true meaning of which was self-evident.

Yun Li pinched her fingertips and glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. When Jiang Baichuan looked over, she tried to look away, but it was too late.

Jiang Baichuan turned off the projector, and the living room became completely dark.

Yunli's breathing quickened involuntarily, and she raised her hand to block Jiang Baichuan as he leaned over.

Jiang Baichuan didn't kiss her at all. Instead, he pulled her up and straddled her on his lap.

Startled, Yunli pushed his shoulder, saying, "Jiang Baichuan, put me down..."

"If you can't say something with the lights on, then say it in the dark." Jiang Baichuan pinched her slender waist, controlling her writhing body. "Yunli, are you afraid of me?"

"Or rather, what are you afraid of?"

The struggling movements stopped abruptly, Yunli slumped her shoulders, and a slight soreness welled up in her nose.