Chapter 297: I Do

“And one more thing…”

Liu Liu was about to say something when she was suddenly interrupted.

Next to her, Zhu Qiu, blushing, pressed on her shoulder. “Alright, stop talking. That’s enough.”

“Ah, but we were praising you! We haven’t finished yet.”

“I know.” Zhu Qiu nodded.

The historical part was indeed only a small portion; most of it was praise for Zhu Qiu from various angles, like a reading comprehension exercise.

Moreover, the praise seemed forced, as if they were trying to flatter her without anything to say.

At first, Zhu Qiu could accept it, but later she didn’t even know she possessed such virtues and traditional morals.

From the beginning, Zhu Qiu was praised for being thrifty and managing her household, all the way to being hailed as a virtuous wife and good mother.

Although she had never raised a child, she took good care of her cat, so surely she could raise a child to be plump and healthy.

Zhu Qiu had no idea about this, and she didn’t think she could raise a child to that extent.

“Fine.”

Liu Liu let go of the microphone and was about to hand it to Zhu Qiu.

But just as Zhu Qiu took the microphone, a force tugged at her clothes.

She looked down—it was Yang Shuli.

“I haven’t spoken yet.”

Zhu Qiu was stunned, then turned to Ye Qingwan and Liu Liu. “So you two were putting on a show here and forgot there’s someone else beside you?”

“In our country, there’s a saying: when adults are talking, children shouldn’t interrupt. Just now, when we two were speaking, she wasn’t allowed to speak.”

Zhu Qiu glared at her two roommates but still handed the microphone to Yang Shuli.

“Cough, cough. I want to ask, when do we start the feast? I’ve been waiting for so long and all we’ve had is appetizers?”

“Alright, you don’t need to say anymore.” Zhu Qiu snatched back the microphone and dragged Yang Shuli off the stage.

After doing all this, Zhu Qiu felt a bit mentally exhausted.

Wait, where did Gou Yu go? Why is he taking so long in the bathroom?

She turned around and saw the guests looking at her, seemingly waiting for something.

She felt a prickling sensation on her back.

Instinctively, Zhu Qiu wanted to leave the stage.

But then a voice came from behind.

“Little Bird.”

She saw Gou Yu, who had finally returned from the bathroom.

She had thought the guy fell into the pit and was eating the engagement banquet’s dishes ahead of everyone else—how sinister.

“What were you doing just now?” Zhu Qiu placed the microphone on the table where they had signed the engagement certificate.

“I just went to get something.”

“What something?” Zhu Qiu tilted her head, then noticed the prickling gazes from the audience.

She decided to stop worrying about what Gou Yu was doing.

“Forget it, forget it. Let’s both get off first. Then you go call your sister to take over. The stage can’t be empty.”

“Yes, the stage really can’t be empty.” Gou Yu stopped walking, causing Zhu Qiu, who was pulling his wrist to go down, to suddenly find herself unable to move.

He met Zhu Qiu’s slightly puzzled gaze. “But aren’t the two of us right here on the stage?”

He took out two small boxes and opened them in front of Zhu Qiu.

They gleamed with gold.

“What’s this?” Zhu Qiu was startled. “Oh, it’s time for the ring exchange, right?”

“That’s right.” Gou Yu chuckled and nodded.

Zhu Qiu thought simply. This thing was probably like the engagement certificate the store manager lady had brought earlier—a pre-prepared prop.

All they had to do was use this prop in front of the other guests at the banquet.

“So what do we do now?”

“Do you see that ring that’s a bit bigger? Pick it up,” Gou Yu said softly.

“I’ve picked it up. Then what?” Zhu Qiu squeezed it. “Is this pure gold?”

“No, it’s gold-plated silver, but it’s not cheap either.”

As Gou Yu spoke, he slipped the ring onto the middle finger of his left hand.

But Zhu Qiu was clearly stunned after hearing the first half of the sentence.

She knew that if it were a prop provided by the store manager lady, it would never be gold-plated silver—it would definitely be pure gold.

Plus, Gou Yu’s particularly obvious line—”not cheap”—

“This thing isn’t… yours…”

“Yes, these two things are my entire life savings.” Gou Yu leaned in closer. “Including the 837 yuan of private money I hid under my pillow.”

He said this not to show how much he cared for Zhu Qiu, or to manipulate her or anything.

He just wanted to tell Zhu Qiu that he was serious.

And he didn’t need to say it out loud; Zhu Qiu could feel it.

After hearing this, Zhu Qiu’s hands trembled as she held the ring, almost dropping it.

“You’re joking, right?” Zhu Qiu forced a light laugh. “Like when you scared me last time when you went to get clothes.”

Gou Yu didn’t speak, just looked deeply at Zhu Qiu.

His eyes held no playfulness, no exaggeration or mischief—only sincerity and affection.

Zhu Qiu suddenly panicked. She looked behind Gou Yu at the backstage.

The store manager lady and Mai Che Xiaozi were watching with approving expressions.

She realized that Gou Yu might really be serious.

But she was all too aware, yet dared not face it.

How was she worthy?

She pretended to be oblivious.

“Which finger did you say just now?” Zhu Qiu’s voice trembled, but she still asked Gou Yu as if everything was normal.

Gou Yu also answered patiently, as if nothing was out of the ordinary. “I said the left middle finger. Where are your ears?”

He only wanted to tell Zhu Qiu his feelings, but he wouldn’t demand a decision from her, nor would he let his love become a burden to her.

“Alright, alright, I get it.” Zhu Qiu slipped the ring onto her finger with trembling hands. “And then…”

She was about to ask what to do with her own ring when Gou Yu suddenly became shorter.

Not shorter—he had gone down on one knee.

The poor ring box was tossed aside. In his right hand, Gou Yu held the other ring, and his left hand gently grasped Zhu Qiu’s left hand.

The entire venue seemed to fall silent.

“Will you marry me?”

The soft question was asked as if afraid to disturb Zhu Qiu’s trembling, fragmented heart.

“I…”

The white dress covered the girl’s legs, only the tips of her shoes could be seen scuffing against the floor.

She hesitated, she panicked.

But Gou Yu wasn’t that kind of person.

He simply put the ring on Zhu Qiu’s left middle finger without waiting.

Then he stood up and pulled Zhu Qiu into his arms.

“Don’t be afraid. We’re just playing it through.”

Even though both of them knew this was no longer an act.

But Gou Yu just wanted to give her a way out that would let her pass easily.

No one could see Zhu Qiu’s expression in his embrace.

Naturally, no one could see the girl’s slightly moving pink lips and the silent words.

‘I do.’