Chapter 1624

Xiao Qingqing was uncharacteristically late. After reporting her tardiness, she slipped into the multimedia classroom. Not far away, Mu Nuan waved at her. Qingqing nodded, ducked her head slightly, and hurried over in a half-crouch before settling into the seat beside her. Mu Nuan pushed an unopened carton of milk from her own desk toward Qingqing and whispered, "What took you so long?" Qingqing tensed for a second. "Uh... I overslept." "You feeling okay? You were totally wasted last night—blackout drunk. Third Uncle had to drop you off at the hotel. You remember any of that?" Qingqing’s cheeks flushed slightly, and she avoided answering, shifting the topic instead. "We got busted, didn’t we?" "Big time," Mu Nuan sighed dramatically. "I’m never drinking with you again. After we got hauled in last night, An’an was furious. Almost..." She cleared her throat mid-sentence. That idiot had nearly wrecked her. They’d slept together plenty of times before, but last night was the first time she realized just how much restraint An’an had been exercising all along. When she woke up this morning, walking felt like an impossible feat—crawling would’ve been more realistic. Qingqing studied her with concern. "Did you two fight? I could go explain things to Ye if you want..." Mu Nuan rubbed her forehead, chuckling. "Nah, don’t bother. An’an’s easy to handle. I just shamelessly sweet-talked my way out of it." Qingqing exhaled in relief. "My bad this time, sis. Won’t drag you out drinking again." Mu Nuan thought back to their sorry state in the police station last night and couldn’t help but laugh under her breath. Xiao Qingqing could tell exactly what was on her mind and couldn't help but chuckle helplessly. As she turned her head, Mu Nuan's sharp eyes caught a glimpse of faint redness on her neck. Instinctively leaning closer, Mu Nuan mumbled, "What happened to your neck?" Xiao Qingqing tensed for a split second, her heart racing with guilt, but she calmly adjusted her collar and replied, "Oh, it's nothing. I must've eaten something I was allergic to in the fruit platter last night after drinking too much. Broke out in hives all over." Since Xiao Qingqing wasn’t seeing anyone at the moment, Mu Nuan didn’t overthink it and simply said, "Why didn’t you go to the hospital?" "I already went to the clinic near campus and got some antihistamines. It’s fading now, so no big deal. Anyway, class is starting—let’s focus." Mu Nuan nodded, shifting her attention back to the lecture. Xiao Qingqing exhaled in relief. Thank goodness Nuan Nuan didn’t press further—she would’ve lost it if she had. Just the thought of last night’s events sent her mind spiraling again. Even though she’d agreed to play along with her uncle’s little charade, she figured the less she saw of him in the coming days, the better. --- The next day, after finishing her classes, Xiao Qingqing tugged at Mu Nuan’s sleeve, insisting they go shopping for clothes. Mu Nuan’s walk-in closet was already stuffed with the latest seasonal pieces, courtesy of Hannah, so she hardly needed anything new. But when Xiao Qingqing mentioned that staying on campus kept reminding her of unpleasant memories, Mu Nuan didn’t hesitate to tag along. Surprisingly, Xiao Qingqing—who usually window-shopped without buying much—went all out this time. She treated them both to facials, full makeup, and a fresh hairstyle before dragging Mu Nuan into a boutique to pick out evening gowns. Xiao Qingqing slipped into hers right away and urged Mu Nuan to do the same, saying she wanted a fresh look to match her fresh start. Then, she insisted on treating Mu Nuan to a fancy dinner at a high-end hotel—a symbolic farewell to the past. Mu Nuan didn't think much of it. When someone's heartbroken, they need company to go a little wild and let loose. She was more than willing to help Qingqing emerge from her current gloom. Dressed to the nines, the two arrived at the hotel, where Mu Nuan had specifically reserved a private room. But the moment she pushed the door open, a series of loud pops erupted from inside, followed by a shower of golden confetti raining down from above. Mu Nuan jumped in surprise. What stunned her even more was the crowd inside the room. Uncle and Aunt Ye, Third Uncle, her own mother, both fathers, and Niannian… Everyone was beaming. At the center of it all stood Ye Heng'an, dressed in a sharp formal suit, holding a bouquet. With a warm smile, he stepped forward and presented the flowers to Mu Nuan. Still dazed, she had barely taken them when Ye Heng'an dropped to one knee. He pulled out a ring box from his pocket, flipped it open, and held up a dazzling diamond ring. His deep, magnetic voice filled the room: "Nuan Nuan, today I’ve invited both our families and loved ones to witness the promise I’m making to you. I, Ye Heng’an, vow to stand by your side for the rest of my life—as your husband, your partner in every moment to come. Nuan Nuan, will you marry me and share that future with me?" Mu Nuan looked down into his eyes, her own brimming with emotion. She pressed her lips together, then glanced up at the circle of expectant faces around them. A soft smile curved her lips before she met Ye Heng’an’s gaze again and nodded. "I do." The room erupted in deafening cheers and applause. Ye Heng’an slid the ring onto her finger, stood, and pulled her into an embrace, pressing a tender kiss to her lips. Blushing, Mu Nuan turned to the crowd once they parted. "All of you—when did you get here? How come nobody gave me a heads-up?" Eliana hurried over, clasping Mu Nuan’s hands, her face radiant with joy. "Originally, An’an called to say you two were together, and we were all thrilled. We’d even planned to visit you this weekend with your parents. But then yesterday, he suddenly announced he wanted to propose! How could we wait? I immediately got in touch with your family, and here we are!" Mu Nuan couldn’t help laughing. "Auntie, you sound even more impatient than An’an. Shouldn’t engagements at least wait for an auspicious date?" "Of course we’re impatient! If we don’t hold on tight to such a wonderful daughter-in-law, someone else might snatch you away! Those so-called 'auspicious dates' are just superstition. When two people truly love each other, every day is the perfect day." Mo Xuanyin nodded in agreement, then added gently, "Ellie, don't praise her too much. She knows her own limits. It's Hannah who's truly outstanding. Having him as our son-in-law puts our minds at ease." She could see Hannah's character clearly—warm and kind-hearted. For the rest of their lives, she wouldn’t have to worry about Nuan Nuan being mistreated. Eliana waved her off, not wanting to hear such talk. After all, she genuinely adored Nuan Nuan. Before she could speak, however, Mo Hanting interjected calmly, "The son-in-law is excellent, but my daughter is just as remarkable. After all, exceptional people attract exceptional people." Mo Xuanyin shot him a sidelong glance. Seeing this, Mo Hanting immediately softened, flashing a sheepish grin before turning to the young couple. "Still, you two got engaged so suddenly. You’re not… expecting, are you?" Nuan Nuan’s face flushed crimson as she glared at him. "Oh my god, Uncle! What are you even saying?" Beside her, Ye Heng'an smiled warmly at Mo Hanting. "Don’t worry, Uncle. We won’t have a baby unless Nuan Nuan wants one. It’s entirely her decision." Mu Jingxiu chimed in matter-of-factly, "Don’t be so absolute. If it happens, it’s fine. If you’re too busy to raise the child, just hand them over to us." The elders went back and forth, settling into their seats and even diving into discussions about wedding dates… Nuan Nuan exchanged a glance with Ye Heng'an, both amused by how overly enthusiastic their parents were. Still, this kind of feeling—it was undeniably blissful. Beneath the table, their hands found each other, fingers intertwining. In their eyes was unwavering certainty for one another. They knew their future would follow the usual path—marriage, children, a quiet life. Yet, they still looked forward to it with all their hearts. After all, the true destination of love was turning ordinary days into everlasting happiness… The dinner table brimmed with warmth and laughter—except for Xiao Qingqing, the only one who seemed out of place. She had been entrusted by Ye Heng'an to lure Nuan Nuan to the proposal spot. Her plan was to leave after witnessing their joy, but Nuan Nuan had insisted she stay. Now, seated diagonally across from her third uncle, she could feel his gaze lingering on her. It made her skin prickle, as if she were sitting on pins and needles…