"Ughhh... I'm so tired!"

Xia Tong stretched luxuriously, then draped her arm over mine and rested her head on my shoulder as we slowly walked out of the amusement park.

If coming here was supposed to be relaxing, why did this girl look so exhausted?

"Don’t you dare get tired! We’ve still got one more stop!"

Today’s main event hadn’t even happened yet—I couldn’t let Xia Tong slip away that easily. She’d just have to push through!

"Where else? It’s almost dark!"

Xia Tong looked utterly bewildered. She’d always been the one dragging me around.

Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine I’d ever pull her along like this.

"Just wait and see!"

I practically shoved her into the passenger seat, refusing to answer. Let me keep this tiny bit of suspense a little longer—ruining the surprise would kill the fun.

"Playing mysterious? Did you prepare a surprise for me?"

Xia Tong stroked her chin, deep in thought. That was the only possibility she could come up with. A trace of anticipation flickered in her eyes as she waited for my reply.

"Nah, forget it. A blockhead like you couldn’t possibly plan a surprise!"

But before the words fully left her mouth, she shot down her own idea. I couldn’t help but frown.

*Blockhead?* Like I was some clueless robot.

Hadn’t I given her gifts every holiday? I’d wracked my brain trying to find something original, something that wouldn’t feel cheap or generic!

She dared say that right to my face—didn’t she fear I’d settle old and new scores later?

"Stop daydreaming. Buckle your seatbelt, will you?"

Did she even know what safe driving meant? I had to do everything myself. Lazybones.

"Ye Xi~ Can’t you give me just a tiny hint? I promise I won’t tell anyone!"

Xia Tong raised three fingers, trying to win my trust with this flimsy vow. What use was such a "promise" to me?

This was meant only for her. If she found out now, where’d the mystery be?

"..."

I stayed silent, rummaging through the car’s compartments.

"What are you looking for? Just tell me!"

Xia Tong gently shook my arm, attempting to coax answers out of me with cute pouts. Wishful thinking.

*I swear I left gum here somewhere!*

Last time we visited Grandma’s grave, the drive was long—I’d bought some to keep her entertained. Where did I stash it?

...

...

Ah! Clever little rascal, hiding under the cat plushie’s butt! After a frantic search, I finally spotted the gum.

That plushie, by the way, was Xia Tong’s whim during a grocery run. One quarter. One try. Jackpot.

"Open up!"

I poured two pieces of gum into my palm and held them before her lips, waiting for her to open wide.

She was watching me this time—no chance she’d suspect wasabi flavor again.

*Ah—*

Xia Tong didn’t just open her mouth; she stuck out her little tongue, wiggling it playfully from side to side.

She was playing with fire. I barely restrained the urge to "catch" it, dumping both pieces into her mouth instead.

"Chew quietly and behave, got it?"

Since she’d opened her mouth so obediently, I’d let her slander slide. I found an excuse to salvage my masculine dignity.

"Mhm!"

*Pop—*

*Pop—*

True to her word, Xia Tong didn’t ask another question the whole drive.

She just blew bubbles idly, chewing gum round after round, her eyes shimmering with anticipation.

………………

………………

………………

"So... you brought me mountain climbing?"

Xia Tong stared at the towering peak before us, her eyes flickering with surprise. She hadn’t expected this.

If this were any other couple, the girl would’ve scowled by now. But not Xia Tong.

The "proper" script would’ve had me booking a fancy restaurant for a candlelit dinner—the classic romantic trope.

But Xia Tong hated clichés. So did I.

Doing that would’ve felt awkward for both of us. Boring, even.

Cooking a meal together at home, playfully bickering over burnt rice—that was our kind of romance. Our everyday warmth.

"Something like that. Swap your heels..."

I crouched to help her change shoes. I’d brought flats from home this morning just for this moment.

"What are we doing up there? We can’t even see the view now."

Though puzzled, Xia Tong obediently extended her foot toward my hands.

Slender and perfectly arched, her feet revealed delicate tendons along the top whenever she flexed her toes.

Every inch of Xia Tong’s body was flawless—crafted without a single imperfection.

"You’ll see when we get there!"

Who said views were only for daytime? Let me keep this last secret. Today’s surprise was the real deal.

"Being all mysterious... I’ll see what ‘surprise’ you’ve got!"

Xia Tong grabbed my hand, pulling me toward the mountain path. Her steps were quicker than mine.

………………

………………

"All this... you prepared this?!"

Xia Tong froze the moment she reached the summit, staring blankly ahead.

In the distance, a brilliant fountain shot skyward, scattering a rain of shimmering droplets that shifted colors—now blue, now red—more dazzling than any rainbow.

The entire mountaintop held only us. No third person in sight. Even the lights glowed with serene quiet. Worth every penny to rent this place exclusively.

Trees around the plaza glittered with strings of multicolored bulbs—emerald, pink, sky-blue—turning night into day.

At the center, clusters of roses formed a blazing circle.

Their petals burned like flames. A dreamscape made real. And it lay vividly before Xia Tong.

When I bought these roses, the shop had warned me:

*‘Roseonly’ blooms are pledged to one recipient alone—unchangeable for life.*

A beautiful, binding promise.

"Come with me!"

I confirmed her guess, leading her into that ring of "flames."

Let her stand surrounded by countless blooms, the center of attention—the undisputed heroine of tonight.

"I..."

Xia Tong’s face glowed with happiness just inches from mine, but my own expression turned bitter.

I’d never been this nervous. I’d rehearsed my lines in the mirror until they were memorized.

Yet standing here now, my mind went utterly blank. Not a single word remained.

"Stop spacing out! Where is it? Hurry up! Give it to me!"

Unlike my daze, Xia Tong’s grin stretched ear to ear. When I didn’t move, she shook me fiercely, her words urgent—almost ready to tear my clothes off!

"Where is what?!"

Her question jolted me out of my trance. She hadn’t given me anything. Her bag was still in the car—what could she possibly want from me now?

"Haven’t you been carrying it in your pocket all day?"

Xia Tong’s gaze dropped to my pocket.

It bulged conspicuously, square-shaped—a box’s outline unmistakable beneath the fabric.

"This..."

My hand trembled as I reached for it. When my fingers brushed the box, my world seemed to collapse.

*This wasn’t how the script went!*

"How did you know?"

Accidentally seeing it was one thing—but Xia Tong’s tone implied she knew exactly what was inside.

Otherwise, why so desperate? She’d nearly pounced to snatch it!

*How was this possible?*

I’d guarded the secret perfectly! Where was the surprise now that she knew?

"First!"

Xia Tong held up one finger, as if to explain...

"When you go to the bathroom, close your browser tabs! Minimizing them doesn’t help—do you think I’m blind?"

*Damn it. So that’s when?*

I knew nothing about rings. I’d searched online for over a week, drowning in brands and models until my eyes crossed.

At my most impulsive, I’d wanted to buy them all—let her change rings daily!

Finally cornered, I’d consulted Xia Tong’s mother.

I still remembered her look—like a farmer watching a wolf eye his prize cabbage.

But she’d helped. Thank goodness.

"Second!"

Xia Tong raised another finger. *There’s more?*

"Stop sneaking calls behind my back! And when I catch you, can’t you act natural? You look like a thief!"

*Let me explain—it’s complicated!*

After talking to her mom, I got a card for a custom jeweler.

I didn’t know his reputation, but if he was her pick for her daughter... he had to be world-class.

I trusted him completely. Just needed to share my requirements.

Choosing myself? I’d still be scrolling through generic options—none worthy of a goddess like Xia Tong.

"If I hadn’t called back using your phone to check his credentials, I’d have thought you were cheating!"

Xia Tong pouted, scolding yet adorably so—as if blaming me for keeping secrets.

"That’s impossible!"

I blurted out instinctively.

Cheating? On her? My acting must’ve been worse than I thought. Unforgivable!

So she’d known all along. No wonder she hadn’t confronted me earlier.

Now I understood why that jeweler’s voice always sounded odd when answering my calls...

Now I finally understood why. He must have been utterly speechless back then, right?

A guy trying to secretly make a ring for his girlfriend, only for her to not only discover it but march over to confront him—he was truly caught in the middle!

"Third!" Xia Tong declared, her voice sharp. "And the thing I can least forgive!"

"You absolute fool! The biggest fool on earth!"

As she said this, she covered her face with one hand, clearly exasperated...

Was that really fair? How could I have made so many mistakes?

And that expression of yours...

Did I commit some unforgivable crime? Cheer up already!

"Explain this," she demanded, lowering her hand. "Fine, you touched my hand once. But why did you keep doing it all day long? I couldn’t even leave!"

"Even if I hadn’t figured it out before, I definitely knew what you were up to after that!"

Xia Tong sighed deeply, her gaze complex as it settled on me.

Was it my imagination, or did she seem genuinely worried about my IQ? Was my girlfriend underestimating me?

"It’s not like—"

Don’t look at me like that! There was a reason! Give me some dignity here—I’m starting to doubt my own intelligence!

"It was just... to get the size right..."

To make your ring, I had to tell the jeweler your finger size. How else would it be custom-made?

I couldn’t exactly measure your hand with a ruler—that’d give it away. Though... I guess it’s out now anyway.

So I had to trace it slowly by hand, then transfer it to paper. That method’s prone to errors. I had to do it multiple times.

I refused to let my own mistakes ruin today’s proposal. Not a single regret.

"I’d been looking forward to Christmas for ages... and nothing happened!"

I’d decided on this after Qixi Festival. Half a year had flown by—maybe my planning *was* taking too long.

It wasn’t that I didn’t want to on Christmas. The ring just wasn’t ready yet.

Earliest delivery was New Year’s Day. Trust me, I didn’t want to wait this long either. I wanted to propose sooner.

"Then I thought, ‘Just one more week—New Year’s should work.’ But still nothing!"

The ring arrived on New Year’s, but... it was my first time. Zero experience.

I realized last minute that a ring alone was too bare. Too shabby.

I hadn’t even booked the venue yet. The lights, the decorations—all needed time. I had to rent an entire mountain. Custom-order every single lantern. Each shade printed with photos of us together... It all took time!

"Watching you fumble for months, I was going crazy! I thought you’d given up on proposing!"

"Even if you weren’t ready, a soda can ring would’ve been fine! I don’t care about that stuff. Just make me your fiancée already!"

Her words grew urgent. For a second, I wondered if *I* was the problem. Should I have skipped the grand gestures and just given her my promise first?

"That’s impossible!" I insisted, forcing myself to stay calm. Almost let her sway me there.

Why wasn’t she taking her own happiness seriously?

A soda can ring? This only happens once in a lifetime. This memory had to be perfect. I wouldn’t let Xia Tong have a single regret.

"Look up!" I said, pressing a hidden button behind my back. "I kept *this* part secret too. Don’t underestimate me!"

Xia Tong didn’t know everything. That’s why I brought her here. Why I rented this mountain. So she’d see what came next.

***BOOM!***

Like a shooting star tearing through the sky, a single point of light exploded into a blooming flower. Hundreds of shimmering trails poured downward like radiant tassels.

"... "

Xia Tong turned, frozen in place. She stared silently at the spectacle unfolding above, so absorbed she didn’t even notice me stepping beside her...

***BOOM!***

***BOOM!***

***BOOM!***

More fireworks erupted from the mountainside, chasing the first. Hundreds of shooting stars burst open.

Clusters of blossoms bloomed wildly in the darkness: sun-like orange chrysanthemums, serene blue spider lilies, fiery crimson roses...

A display even I hadn’t imagined. I’d only wanted unforgettable fireworks. But this? This was beyond anything.

In an instant, the sky blazed with light—illuminating both of us.

The glow traced Xia Tong’s profile. Faint tear tracks glistened on her cheeks. I’d only wanted to make her smile... Why was she crying?

Slowly, the booms faded. The world hushed. Only the gentle wind whispered in our ears.

"Ye—"

She started to turn. I gently pressed her back.

"Not done yet."

*This* was where my real effort lay.

I pressed another button. A massive firework rose slowly, dwarfing all the others.

***BOOOOM!***

With a thunderous roar, it finally bloomed beneath the dome of night...

Scarlet. Ocean blue. Tangerine. Leaf green...

Colors brighter than any rainbow wove together in the dark sky, forming words:

**「Xia Tong, I LOVE YOU」**

"Now the whole city knows you’re mine," I murmured close to her ear.

Selfish? Maybe. But I wanted everyone to know: Xia Tong was mine. Forever. No one would ever tear us apart again.

"So..."

I dropped to one knee, the perfect knight’s bow.

"I promised I’d never leave you alone again. So now, Xia Tong..."

The rehearsed lines vanished. Only truth remained. Simple. Raw.

"Will you marry me?"

From my pocket, the ring I’d hidden for half a year finally emerged. My princess deserved nothing less.

"Yes! I will!"

Her tears flowed freely, but her smile outshone the fireworks. A weight lifted from her shoulders.

"Thank you, Xia Tong," I whispered, reaching for her hand.

One last step. The perfect ending. Then—disaster.

"Why’s it so loose? Have you been losing weight?"

The perfect moment shattered. Panic clawed at my throat. What now?

The ring slid on effortlessly. It would slide right off.

Half a year. She didn’t look thinner. How had her finger shrunk? Had my proposal just failed?

"*Pfft!*" Xia Tong burst out laughing through her tears. "You silly fool!"

"You researched for months, planned all this... and you didn’t know engagement rings go on the *middle* finger? Why were you aiming for the ring finger?"

Huh? Was there a rule?

I shifted the ring to her middle finger. Perfect fit.

I’d sent all five finger measurements to the jeweler—after all, I *had* spent a whole day "measuring."

I’d even ordered both engagement and wedding bands. The wedding ring was still hidden in my bookshelf... hollowed-out dictionary. Please don’t tell me she found that too.

The jeweler only said "engagement ring." Never mentioned *which* finger. I just assumed...

"Ugh! You’re hopeless! Can I take back my yes?"

She said it, but her smile glowed. She kept touching the ring, treasuring it.

"No take-backs!" I pulled her close. "Not in this life. Not the next. You’re my wife, Xia Tong. Ye Xi’s wife."

Dream on. Said yes and now you want out? That ring means you’re mine.

This life? The next? The one after? I’d chase her forever. Couldn’t let her carry all the courage.

"Bossy!" She looped her arms around my neck, suddenly serious. "What if our son’s as dumb as you? He’ll never find a girlfriend!"

We’d just gotten engaged, and she was already planning our kids...

"Then we’ll have a daughter," I tapped her forehead gently. "Smart like you. Who’ll find a sweet, silly boyfriend like me."

A selfish thought surfaced: I’d adore a daughter. A son? He’d just compete for Xia Tong’s attention. Two girls to spoil? Perfect.

"Ye Xi," she whispered, eyes closing slowly. Her face flushed as she tilted it up. "Remember. Next life... you *have* to find me. Promise."

My lips brushed her forehead. Her eyelids. The tip of her nose. Then, surrendering to the pull, I claimed her soft mouth.

"Mmm..."

Warmth flooded me. One hand cradled her cheek, ignoring her faint protests. The other held her back, anchoring her against me.

She stopped resisting. Her hands answered mine, deepening the kiss—no retreat, only surrender.

I held her like I’d die if I let go. Until breathlessness forced us apart.

But my arms only tightened, pulling her deeper into my chest. And she melted there, quiet and trusting.

"I promise," I murmured against her hair. "I’ll find you. Always. Just... remember to wait for me."