What's Wrong with This Alpha? - Extra 9

Chapter 110 – Extra 9: Marriage (2)

Duan Yi had been bored out of his mind at home lately.

He had come up with a proposal plan for Sheng Yunze, but it was currently stuck at a crucial point: he didn’t know Sheng Yunze’s ring size.

A proposal definitely needed a ring, and Duan Yi had even visited a jewelry store that day—a private custom shop in China owned by a friend of Xiaoduan Mom. While the materials were similar to those used in other jewelry stores, the shop focused on niche markets and branding, charging ten times more than its competitors for the same items.

Recently, Duan Shaoheng had become the brand’s ambassador, driving prices up another twofold. They had also introduced a romantic concept: rings that could only be customized once in a lifetime.

Duan Yi spent hours at the jewelry store that day, initially wanting to buy Sheng Yunze the largest diamond ring.

But considering Sheng Yunze might not like such a flashy ring—and might even coldly reject his proposal—he eventually chose a pair of plain bands.

When asked for the sizes, Duan Yi knew his own but not his husband’s.

Embarrassed, he left the store empty-handed.

“Don’t climb,” Duan Yi said, lifting Sheng Xi away from the easel. “What did I tell you earlier? If you want to paint with me, you can’t play with the paint. Otherwise, I’ll have Aunt Wang take you outside.”

Aunt Wang was their regular nanny, the younger sister of the Duan family’s driver. She was a gentle middle-aged woman with a kind face.

Sheng Xi had just learned to walk and spent his days crawling and toddling around, determined to explore every corner of the house.

Clutching one of Duan Yi’s paintbrushes, he dipped it into a bit of blue paint and began scribbling wildly on Duan Yi’s white shirt, leaving colorful streaks across the walls as well.

Each time he made a mark, he would squeal with delight and point proudly at his artwork for Duan Yi to see.

Duan Yi nodded absently, thinking that if his son kept painting on the wall, they’d have to re-wallpaper it soon. After checking the time and seeing it was already noon, he called for Aunt Wang and carried Sheng Xi off to bed.

As the older brother, Sheng Ming had always been more sensible than Sheng Xi.

While Sheng Xi was a restless, hyperactive child, Sheng Ming was quiet and well-behaved, never demanding or grabbing. His personality resembled Sheng Yunze’s—thoughtful and mature.

Aunt Wang carried the twins to bed, and Duan Yi soothed them to sleep in the nursery. As he sat in the living room, he saw Aunt Wang and suddenly had an idea. He beckoned her over.

“Auntie, could you come here for a moment? Are you busy right now?”

Aunt Wang had just finished mopping the floor, leaving the house spotless. She smiled and said, “No problem, what’s up?”

Duan Yi patted the sofa, inviting her to sit beside him. With genuine curiosity, he asked, “I just wanted to know… how did you and Uncle get together?”

Aunt Wang blushed slightly, not expecting such a personal question. “Back then, we were poor. There wasn’t much to it. Our parents introduced us, we got along well, and that was that.”

Duan Yi’s curiosity piqued. “No proposal?”

Aunt Wang’s blush deepened. “Proposals weren’t really a thing back then. Why? Are you planning to propose to Mr. Sheng…?”

Duan Yi waved his hands frantically. “No, no, nothing like that…”

Unbeknownst to him, Aunt Wang’s expression stiffened momentarily before she quickly recovered.

“Besides,” she added, “Mr. Sheng should be the one to propose anyway…”

Oblivious to how transparent his intentions had become to this experienced woman, Duan Yi grumbled, “He probably doesn’t even remember such things. He’s always so busy, I never know what he’s doing all day.”

Rumor had it that the institute was facing a particularly urgent project, and Sheng Yunze, as the person in charge, was swamped, not getting home until one or two in the morning every day.

Duan Yi felt deeply for him. Enduring it for a day or two was one thing, but this had been going on for weeks.

He waited for Sheng Yunze in the living room every night. Having slept beside him for years, Duan Yi couldn’t fall asleep without him.

Sheng Yunze, feeling guilty whenever he saw Duan Yi waiting, would occasionally show a rare tenderness, kissing his cheek and promising, “This will be over soon.”

It’s been almost a month, Duan Yi thought.

Even a god couldn’t endure sleeping at one or two in the morning every day.

Moreover, with Sheng Yunze so busy, Duan Yi felt too embarrassed to ask him out for dinner.

If he didn’t even have personal time, how could he propose?

Duan Yi was beside himself with worry.

Aunt Wang suggested, “Proposing and getting married are major events. Why don’t you first plan out the details and then ask Mr. Sheng what he thinks?”

Duan Yi rested his chin in his hand. “What details do I need to plan?”

Aunt Wang: “Where you want to get married—a hotel? What kind of wedding attire you prefer? And who will be the groomsmen?”

The more Aunt Wang spoke, the more bewildered Duan Yi’s expression became.

“Xiaoduan,” Aunt Wang asked, “you haven’t thought about any of this, have you?”

This was hardly surprising. Duan Yi’s brain had always been a bit lacking, and his IQ seemed perpetually in arrears. Asking him to consider so many details at once was a tall order.

“It’s my first time getting married,” Duan Yi protested, “I’m still a bit inexperienced.”

Remembering Sheng Yunze’s instructions, Aunt Wang casually suggested, “You could ask your friends for advice.”

“Oh, so that’s why you came to me.” Jiang Wangshu set down his coffee. “Do I look like someone with extensive marriage experience?”

Duan Yi chewed on the straw in his orange juice, flattening it between his teeth. “Because I want to surprise Sheng Yunze, I can’t tell anyone. You’re the most trustworthy person I know. If I discuss this with you, you absolutely can’t tell him. I’m going to give him a proposal he’ll never forget!”

For some reason, after hearing this, Jiang Wangshu silently, guiltily, averted his gaze.

“Y-yeah, that’s right! We’re like brothers, man!”

Duan Yi, oblivious to any awkwardness, continued, “So, how do you think I should trick Sheng Yunze into letting me measure his ring size? I also have no idea what kind of wedding he wants or who he’d want as his best man. Honestly, it feels like he doesn’t even have any friends.”

Jiang Wangshu: “Why are you always thinking about him? What do you like?”

Duan Yi paused, surprised. “I… I don’t think I really like anything.”

He said he doesn’t like anything.

Jiang Wangshu typed a message into WeChat, sending it to his chat with Sheng Yunze.

A reply came back: Keep asking.

“He’ll definitely come to you first.”

A week earlier, Sheng Yunze had visited Jiang Wangshu at his home. After settling in, he cut straight to the point: “Duan Yi thinks you’re his best friend. He’d never betray him.”

“Correction, Brother-in-law,” Jiang Wangshu said sternly. “Use the word ‘brother.'”

“Then why do you think I’d help you?”

“After it’s done,” Sheng Yunze said, holding up a number with his fingers.

Jiang Wangshu chuckled. “Don’t be so formal.” He added, “I want to be Sheng Ming and Sheng Xi’s godfather.”

Sheng Yunze: ……

Sheng Ming and Sheng Xi were crawling all over the bed. Sheng Yunze picked up one of them and stared expressionlessly at Jiang Wangshu. “Call him ‘Godmother.'”

Jiang Wangshu: ……

The memory cut off abruptly. Jiang Wangshu gazed at Duan Yi’s still-chubby face, thinking, I can’t decide if Sheng Yunze understands Duan Yi too well, or if Duan Yi is just too predictable. He actually came to find me!

Internally, he was speechless, grumbling to himself, What did I do to deserve this? I had bad luck in my past life, and now I’m stuck with you two in this one. Even using me as a tool has its limits!

Duan Yi continued rambling, “Actually, I think I should propose in a more romantic place, preferably with lots of people. But I’m worried he might not like crowds—what do you think about an amusement park?”

“A bit tacky,” Jiang Wangshu continued, probing further. “Don’t you have a favorite formal outfit?”

Duan Yi shrugged. “Anything works for me. Why make such a fuss for a proposal? I think a suit would be fine. How about a white suit for me and a black one for Sheng Yunze?”

Jiang Wangshu pressed on. “After the proposal comes the wedding, right? Don’t you have any preferences for that? Who will be your groomsmen—I’m definitely in, of course. Do you want a big crowd or a small gathering? Chinese or Western style? Church or hotel?”

Duan Yi’s brow furrowed deeply before he finally gave up thinking about it. “All I care about is marrying Sheng Yunze. Hotel or church, it doesn’t matter.”

Jiang Wangshu scoffed, “You’re really not picky at all.”

He forwarded Duan Yi’s exact words to Sheng Yunze.

Sheng Yunze visibly basked in secret delight for a long time, his expression softening considerably. When their tutor noticed, he chuckled, “So all the recent late arrivals and early departures have been wedding preparations?”

“Mm-hmm,” Sheng Yunze nodded. “Good thing the department’s been quiet lately.”

The tutor continued to laugh. “To fool your family, I had to come up with a last-minute excuse when he called last time to make him believe you were busy with work. If you don’t invite me to your wedding, you’ll never live it down.”

Sheng Yunze replied, “Of course, I will.”

The tutor hesitated before asking, “But you’re keeping your proposal and wedding a secret to surprise him. Aren’t you worried he might propose to you first?”

“No,” Sheng Yunze said confidently.

Would Duan Yi propose to him?

Sheng Yunze had considered this possibility.

What if their proposals clashed? Would they end up bowing to each other instead of the heavens and earth?

He found the scenario absurdly amusing, but then he thought, Duan Yi, that little pig who only knows how to eat and sleep, probably hasn’t even thought that far ahead.

In short, Sheng Yunze thought with unwavering confidence, No. He won’t.

…Right?

He can’t.

At least, he shouldn’t.

But even if Duan Yi did propose, Sheng Yunze wouldn’t mind.

He always made sure to have a backup plan.

And the only two people in the world who knew Duan Yi was contemplating marriage were…

One was Aunt Wang, who didn’t think the matter was urgent and hadn’t told Sheng Yunze. Her task was simply to pry information from Duan Yi and then find a way to persuade him to take better care of his skin. After all, a wedding only happens once in a lifetime, and it would definitely be recorded with high-definition cameras. If Duan Yi had acne on his face, he would surely regret it for a long time.

The other was Jiang Wangshu, who, having been ruthlessly used as a tool by the couple, harbored malicious thoughts. He planned to keep Sheng Yunze in the dark, waiting for the moment when the two would kneel and kowtow to each other.

“Sigh,” Duan Yi sighed. “I really shouldn’t have come to you. You haven’t given me any ideas, and now you’re asking me what I want? This isn’t about what I want! Can’t I even know what I want? What I need to know right now is what Sheng Yunze wants!”

“Then why don’t you just ask him secretly?” Jiang Wangshu suggested.

“I’m afraid he’ll find out…” Duan Yi admitted.

He paid the bill and said, “I can’t be bothered talking to you anymore. I’m leaving.”

As he pushed open the café door, Jiang Wangshu suddenly leaned back, lifting the front legs of his chair off the ground. “Hey! Babe, just to confirm, you do like white suits, right?”

Duan Yi called back from a distance, “Yeah!”

Currently available public information: My wife likes white suits.

“Proposing, huh?” Xie Xinglan leaned back, sliding his sunglasses down his nose. “You’ve come to the right person.”

After leaving the café, Duan Yi ran into Xie Xinglan on the street, who was returning from the supermarket with groceries.

It was quite a coincidence. The first time Duan Yi met Xie Xinglan, they had both been caught having an early romance and forced to give public apologies under the national flag by Old He.

Back then, Xie Xinglan was a second-year student, Duan Yi’s junior.

He and his girlfriend, Xia Qin, had rushed to get married as soon as they reached the legal age. Now, they were both fourth-year students doing internships.

Xie Xinglan himself was studying finance and had previously worked as a trader for several wealthy clients. Despite his young age, he had already gained some recognition in the industry. However, due to his lack of experience, he alternated between being rich and going bankrupt, spending most of his time broke and living off his wife. He seemed to enjoy being a kept man.

His wife, Xia Qin, was a natural beauty. She had reportedly gone to the Film Academy and become a household name as a young actress even before graduating. Last year, she starred in a popular male-lead fantasy drama, skyrocketing to fame. She had signed with Duan Shaoheng’s studio, and Duan Yi’s brother was wholeheartedly promoting the young starlet.

This led Duan Yi to reconnect with Xie Xinglan. He later discovered they lived in the same neighborhood and would occasionally see Xie Xinglan buying groceries, including a washboard—a clear sign of his low domestic status.

Hearing Xie Xinglan’s confident tone, Duan Yi immediately became more humble. “I knew asking you for advice was the right move. You’re a legend at Second High School—the only one who stormed the Political Education Office seven times and walked out unscathed!”

“Overblown, overblown,” Xie Xinglan demurred. “Compared to Senior’s public coming-out on the school broadcast with the school beauty, I’m nothing.”

“Enough nonsense,” Duan Yi retorted. “How did you propose to Xia Qin?”

Duan Yi knew Xia Qin.

He vaguely remembered her from high school, where she had struck him as prickly and cold as a walking ice machine.

After debuting, she maintained a reserved, salt-of-the-earth image—the quintessential ice beauty. She rarely acknowledged her fans, yet they ate it up.

The more Duan Yi thought about it, the more convinced he became that consulting Xie Xinglan was the right strategy. Who was Sheng Yunze, anyway? Sheng Yunze claimed to be the number one High Mountain Flower, and there was no second place.

Suddenly, the way Duan Yi looked at Xie Xinglan changed.

Xie Xinglan set down the groceries and invited Duan Yi inside. Xia Qin wasn’t scheduled to work that evening and would be home for dinner, so he had spent the afternoon washing vegetables and cooking.

Duan Yi had visited Xie Xinglan’s home with Sheng Yunze and the others during the Lunar New Year last year, so the two families were somewhat familiar. As soon as Duan Yi entered, Xie Xinglan’s Pomeranian dog leaped at him. Xie Xinglan shooed the dog onto the balcony, poured Duan Yi a glass of water, and told him to sit down.

While washing vegetables, Xie Xinglan said, “You know Xia Qin. She’d rather die than admit what she likes. If I didn’t ask, she’d keep it bottled up her whole life. Even the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles aren’t this stubborn. To deal with such a thin-skinned, icy beauty, you have to leave her no way out.”

Duan Yi watched Xie Xinglan’s skillful vegetable washing and chopping, clearly the work of an expert.

Holding a spatula, Duan Yi earnestly asked, “How did you propose? How did Xia Qin agree?”

“I proposed on the bridge over the Grand Canal,” Xie Xinglan directed him. “Hand me the salt.”

Duan Yi, seeking a favor, lowered his voice and adopted a humble tone. “The Grand Canal? Why there?”

Xie Xinglan replied, “I stood on the bridge and proposed. I told Xia Qin that if she didn’t say yes, I’d jump off. Her soft heart couldn’t bear the thought of me dying and her spending the rest of her life as a widow. She had no choice but to grit her teeth and agree.”

Duan Yi abruptly dumped the entire salt shaker into the pot.

“Holy shit! What are you doing?!”

Duan Yi remained expressionless. “I feel like my intelligence is being insulted.”

Xie Xinglan scooped out the salt shaker, casually remarking, “You don’t need to propose to Sheng Yunze. Why not just wait for him to propose to you?”

“Exactly.”

Five days earlier, Sheng Yunze had run into Xie Xinglan walking his dog near their apartment building. He said slowly, “If Duan Yi tries to consult you about how to propose to me, dissuade him.”

Xie Xinglan was surprised. “Are you serious? How do you know Duan Yi would come to me?”

Sheng Yunze wore a smug expression that seemed to say, “As if I wouldn’t know him!” Xie Xinglan instantly felt like he’d been force-fed dog food.

Actually, it wasn’t hard to guess. Both families knew each other, and Duan Yi stubbornly clung to the belief that Xia Qin was a “High Mountain Flower 2.0.” If his wife wanted to consult someone about how to propose to him, she’d most likely turn to Xie Xinglan.

Thus, Sheng Yunze felt it necessary to give Xie Xinglan a heads-up in advance.

Now, Xie Xinglan sighed inwardly, marveling at Duan Yi’s lover’s uncanny foresight. Is he some kind of strategic genius?

As expected of someone who’d risen through the ranks at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xie Xinglan’s IQ was far above average.

Seeing Duan Yi’s bewildered expression, Xie Xinglan felt a pang of sympathy for his naivety.

I definitely won’t need your proposal methods, Duan Yi thought. Sheng Yunze already thinks my IQ is lacking. If I pulled off something like that, he’d think I’m completely insane.

But Duan Yi caught the key point in Xie Xinglan’s words: “When you proposed to Xia Qin, you didn’t tell her beforehand, did you?”

“Of course not. What’s the surprise if she knew?”

Surprise? Duan Yi thought sarcastically. More like a heart attack! How did Xia Qin not kill you after she came to her senses? Jumping into the river? What kind of logic is that?

Pretending ignorance, he shifted to the question he really wanted to ask: “How did you get Xia Qin’s ring size? Weren’t you getting a custom-made engagement ring?”

Xie Xinglan: “I measured it secretly.”

He looked surprised. “Just measure her finger with a string while she’s asleep at night. Is that so hard?”

Duan Yi: ……

“Of course I know how. I was just testing you.”

“No need to save face, Duan-ge. We all know—pregnancy makes you dumb for three years.”

“……”

Duan Yi, relieved to have found a solution, waved goodbye. “I’m off!”

“Not staying for dinner? Xia Qin’s about to be back.”

“Nah, I’d rather not be a third wheel. I’m heading home.” Duan Yi slipped on his shoes, then paused as if suddenly remembering something. He turned back, grabbed Xie Xinglan’s hand, and said earnestly, “Oh, right! I came to discuss the proposal with you. Don’t tell Sheng Yunze! I want to surprise him.”

Xie Xinglan gave Duan Yi a peculiar look before nodding with difficulty. “Don’t worry, I won’t.”

One o’clock in the morning, the bedroom.

Sheng Yunze had returned early today, apparently because the project at the studio was nearing completion, requiring only some final touches. He’d been home by around eleven.

Duan Yi had hidden the rope in the bedside table earlier. After Sheng Yunze had playfully pinned him to the bed several times that evening, he was so exhausted he could barely keep his eyes open. Sheng Yunze had even carried him to the bathroom for a shower, where he’d fallen asleep halfway through.

But no matter how tired he was, he couldn’t forget his mission. He refused to believe he was the only one exhausted—Sheng Yunze must be even more worn out!

Duan Yi opened his eyes in the darkness. I’ve been cooperating so well. Sheng Yunze must be sound asleep by now. Doesn’t exhaustion lead to deeper sleep?

A bony hand reached for the bedside table. Duan Yi carefully pulled open the drawer, mainly to avoid making any noise. He tugged it open a little, glanced back at Sheng Yunze, then tugged it open a little more.

Finally, he pulled the drawer open wide enough to reach inside. After rummaging around for a while, he finally found the rope. Duan Yi excitedly lifted his head, only to slam it hard against the wall with a loud thud, followed by a muffled groan.

Even Sheng Yunze, who was pretending to be asleep, nearly broke character.

Can’t even grab something properly? How can my wife be so clumsy?

Rubbing his head, Duan Yi stealthily crawled out of bed.

He switched on his phone’s flashlight and shone it directly on Sheng Yunze’s face to check if he was truly asleep.

That bright light was shining right in Sheng Yunze’s face.

Duan Yi let out a silent “wow,” momentarily starstruck. Sheng Yunze’s face was just too handsome.

Sheng Yunze: ……

Pretending to be asleep is so hard.

Duan Yi sighed in relief: Good thing he’s still asleep and didn’t wake up.

He gently took Sheng Yunze’s hand, tied the rope around his ring finger, measured it several times, and finally recorded the correct measurements in his phone.

After finishing, Duan Yi burrowed into Sheng Yunze’s arms, still feeling not close enough. He nudged and shifted until he found the perfect position, lifting Sheng Yunze’s arm to wrap around himself before finally drifting off to sleep, completely content.

Ten minutes later, Sheng Yunze opened his eyes and gently propped himself up.

Duan Yi was sleeping on his side, his arm pressed beneath Sheng Yunze’s right arm, effectively pinning it in place.

Sheng Yunze carefully extracted his arm. Duan Yi remained sound asleep, showing no signs of waking. His long, straight eyelashes cast a shadow across his face.

In his sleep, Duan Yi looked even more serene and docile, belying his usual energetic and mischievous nature.

Sheng Yunze’s heart softened. He pinched Duan Yi’s cheek and leaned down to kiss him softly.

Duan Yi slept like a log, completely undisturbed.

Sheng Yunze took Duan Yi’s hand, squeezing it gently. The palm was plump and soft, a comforting weight in his grasp.

The silver baby bracelet slid from Duan Yi’s wrist to his forearm. Sheng Yunze intertwined their fingers, playing with his wife’s hand for a moment before preparing to get down to business.

Duan Yi’s hand was much smaller than his own, plump yet with long, slender fingers.

Sheng Yunze squeezed Duan Yi’s ring finger and pulled out several plain rings he had prepared, slipping them onto Duan Yi’s finger one by one.

He had initially intended to simply find the ring that best suited Duan Yi, but each time he placed a ring on Duan Yi’s finger, Sheng Yunze felt an irresistible tremor in his heart.

His hand is perfectly suited for wearing rings.

The thought grew stronger in Sheng Yunze’s mind. He felt as if the rings in his hand were delicate little locks, capable of binding Duan Yi to his side for a lifetime.

The next morning, Duan Yi woke up and touched his hand, muttering to himself.

He had been dreaming all night about proposing to Sheng Yunze. Strangely, the ring that should have been for Sheng Yunze had somehow ended up on his own finger.

As Sheng Yunze grew visibly impatient, Duan Yi panicked, breaking into a cold sweat. He frantically tried to pry the ring off his finger, rubbing it until his finger was red, but it wouldn’t budge…

Then he woke up in a fright.

His finger actually felt a little sore. Had he been sleepwalking?

Duan Yi quickly dismissed the minor incident from his mind.

Now that he had Sheng Yunze’s ring size, he immediately rushed to order a custom ring. With expedited service, it would be ready in about a week.

Duan Yi wasn’t planning to propose so soon. He wanted to get a custom-tailored suit first. On the night of the proposal, he planned to treat Sheng Yunze to a romantic candlelit dinner, then take him to an amusement park to propose.

He had already contacted the amusement park and reserved the entire venue for the evening. He also planned to order over nine thousand roses from a florist (though he knew it was a bit cliché, Duan Yi couldn’t think of anything better).

Unexpectedly, he ran into a familiar face at the florist.

Duan Yi had personally chosen the florist. As he entered, he heard a gentle, clear female voice: “Welcome—”

The voice trailed off as the woman looked at him in surprise. She smiled. “Duan Yi?”

Duan Yi didn’t think he was famous enough for even the florist’s owner to recognize him. He studied her carefully. She was young, perhaps around his age, wearing a plain long-sleeved shirt with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows and black pants stained with mud.

The owner smiled. “You’ve forgotten me, but I still remember you.”

Duan Yi finally recognized her: Meng Tian.

“I remember now,” Duan Yi said. “You’re Meng Tian!”

Meng Tian smiled again. “Are you running a flower shop now?” Duan Yi asked.

“I’m studying,” she replied gently. “The flower shop belongs to a friend. She had to go back to her hometown for a while, so I’m helping out here.”

Duan Yi nodded awkwardly. He wasn’t exactly close to Meng Tian, but she had left a vivid impression on his high school life.

“Are you here to buy flowers?” Meng Tian skillfully changed the subject.

“Oh, right. I need roses. Do you have any in stock? I’m looking for around nine thousand…”

Meng Tian was slightly surprised. “Nine thousand roses? No shop keeps that many on hand. We’d have to order them directly from the market. Are you in a hurry?”

“No rush,” Duan Yi replied. “They just need to arrive by August.”

He stood before a bouquet, fidgeting with a petal. “So, after—”

Meng Tian poured him a glass of water. “I’ve been doing well since then.”

Duan Yi turned to her. “I always meant to thank you properly,” Meng Tian said. “I was really grateful for your help back then.”

Duan Yi chuckled awkwardly. “I didn’t really do anything…”

Meng Tian shook her head. “It was enough.”

After a moment’s thought, she changed the subject. “Looking back now, it actually feels quite heroic.”

Meng Tian chuckled. “In high school, we thought some things were the end of the world, but now they seem so trivial. As you grow older, you learn to let go. Back then, I genuinely believed not doing my homework would be a death sentence. I was terrified at the time.”

Duan Yi noticed that Meng Tian no longer stuttered when she spoke, and she seemed remarkably calm and composed, just like any ordinary girl. She wore light makeup, attended a good university, and had a promising future ahead of her.

The things that had once held her back were now in the past. Though they might still have some lingering influence, they had become stories she could share openly and without hesitation.

This time, Duan Yi smiled genuinely from the heart.

Meng Tian asked, “So many roses… are you proposing?”

Duan Yi nodded, a little embarrassed.

“Is it to Sheng… the school beauty?” she asked.

She seemed to have forgotten Sheng Yunze’s name but remembered his title as the school beauty. She chuckled sheepishly at her own slip-up.

“Yeah, to the school beauty,” Duan Yi replied.

Meng Tian picked a few fresh roses, arranged them into a small bouquet, and handed it to Duan Yi. “I don’t have anything else to give you, so here’s a bouquet for you both.”

She named the flower, tilting her head with a smile. “It represents eternal love, a love that will never fade.”

When Duan Yi left the flower shop, Meng Tian made a point of seeing him out.

There, he spotted someone completely unexpected. To be honest, Duan Yi couldn’t quite place her, but her face was strikingly familiar.

Across the street, motorcycles roared past. A sleek, jet-black heavy bike was parked in front of the shop, its rider a female alpha with waist-length hair. Removing her helmet, she revealed an icy expression and a piercing glare that she fixed on Duan Yi.

Duan Yi stared back, utterly bewildered.

Meng Tian ignored the woman, her expression cool and unreadable.

Even after Duan Yi left, he could still hear the female alpha’s sharp questions:

“Who was that man?”

“None of your business.”

“Why did you give him flowers?”

“None of your business.”

“Is that all you can say? I came all this way, and you give me this cold shoulder? Can’t you at least be nice to me?”

“I didn’t ask you to come. You can leave.”

“……”

Duan Yi had been secretly preparing his proposal to Sheng Yunze for nearly two months.

August arrived in the blink of an eye, and the weather grew increasingly hot. Duan Yi’s two suits had finally arrived: one white and one black.

That afternoon, Duan Yi instructed the family chef to prepare an exquisite candlelit dinner. To preserve the romantic atmosphere, he sent the twins to Xiaoduan Mom’s house beforehand.

On his way over, Duan Yi couldn’t resist spilling the beans about his proposal plans to Xiaoduan Mom. He noticed a flicker of unease cross her face.

Oblivious to her reaction, Duan Yi continued gushing excitedly, eventually slipping into a hint of complaint: “You haven’t been seeing me much lately. What have you been up to?”

It wasn’t just Xiaoduan Mom; Duan Yi felt everyone had been unusually busy lately. He used to be able to easily arrange outings with Jiang Wangshu, but lately, even Jiang Wangshu had become increasingly difficult to pin down, offering increasingly bizarre excuses.

And then there was Sheng Yunze.

After their last project concluded, a new one had immediately emerged, even more demanding than before. Sheng Yunze had become a ghost, vanishing even on weekends.

Three days prior, Duan Yi had issued Sheng Yunze a Thai boxing-style warning: if he didn’t immediately salvage their crumbling relationship, they might as well go their separate ways.

Sheng Yunze had responded with an enigmatic remark: “Fine. It’s about time anyway.”

The proposal day: August 25th, the Dragon Boat Festival.

This festival is perfect, Duan Yi thought, already having his plan mapped out.

If Sheng Yunze rejected his proposal, he would emulate the great Qu Yuan and throw himself into the river.

So, I’m resorting to this after all!

Duan Yi’s plan was simple: first, meet up with Sheng Yunze, trick him into going to the amusement park, propose there, and if successful, go home for dinner. If rejected, jump into the river.

After reviewing the plan one last time, he felt confident that nothing could go wrong.

He had called Meng Tian earlier to confirm that the roses were ready, and everything was in place.

The amusement park owner had guaranteed that the park would be cleared by 6 PM, lifting a weight off Duan Yi’s shoulders. He prepared to call Jiang Wangshu and ask him to come over for a drink to boost his courage.

But Jiang Wangshu’s phone was switched off.

Fortunately, Duan Yi had other friends.

He sent a message to Hao Shanshan—no reply.

He texted Jian Qiao—no reply.

Next, he tried Duan Shaoheng, Xiaoduan Mom, Xie Xinglan…

No one responded.

What’s going on?

Isn’t today the Dragon Boat Festival? Surely everyone isn’t at work?

Feeling frustrated, Duan Yi decided to go out for a walk to clear his head.

Due to work, Sheng Yunze and Duan Yi had been living in Hang City for the past year.

The southern summer heat was relentless. After wandering outside for only a short while, Duan Yi sought refuge in a shopping mall to escape the heat.

When he came to his senses, he realized he had unconsciously wandered to Xiaohai Street—Second High School was just two blocks away. During his high school years, Duan Yi used to come here often to wander around aimlessly.

He still remembered the night Sheng Yunze had done his homework here and then gone into rut. They had ended up getting a room at the hotel next door.

Once the memories started flowing, they were like a floodgate that couldn’t be closed.

It had been over four years since Duan Yi graduated, but his high school days felt like a lifetime ago.

For a moment, he was overwhelmed with nostalgia.

At this time of year, most schools should be on summer break, with only the third-year students still attending cram sessions.

Duan Yi had just seen a few students wearing Second High School uniforms—even uglier than the ones from their year.

He had thought their uniforms were the ugliest possible, but it seemed Second High School had no bottom when it came to ugliness.

Duan Yi secretly took a photo of the workbooks being sold on Xiaohai Street, which looked almost identical to the ones they used to buy.

Four years had passed, and the surrounding commercial streets had changed dramatically. Some shops had opened and closed, while others stubbornly remained open.

At each spot he passed, Duan Yi couldn’t resist stopping to take a photo and send it to Sheng Yunze. Unfortunately, Sheng Yunze was even busier than usual today and hadn’t replied to a single message.

Around five in the afternoon, Duan Yi felt it was time to leave. His palms were sweating nervously as he checked his phone repeatedly.

Just as he was about to leave, an unexpected incident occurred.

A child suddenly grabbed onto Duan Yi’s thigh. He was certain he didn’t know the child, but the boy clung tightly to his leg, refusing to let go.

“What’s wrong?” Duan Yi asked urgently.

The child looked up, his expression timid. “Big brother, I got separated from my mom. Can you help me find her?”

What is this? Duan Yi thought, his mind racing. I’m already running late…

“Wait a sec, okay? Do you remember your mom’s phone number? I can call her for you.”

The child shook his head. Before Duan Yi could say anything else, the boy added, “My mom’s a teacher, big brother. Can you take me back to school?”

Duan Yi crouched down. “Do you know where your mom teaches?”

The child pointed vaguely into the air.

There were only two schools nearby: Second High School and Seventh High School. Duan Yi guessed casually, “Is it Second High School?”

The child nodded obediently. Duan Yi checked the time. Second High School wasn’t far—a ten-minute walk at most. He could just grab a taxi back from there.

Taking the child’s hand, Duan Yi said, “Alright, I’ll take you there.”

As they walked, Duan Yi made a mental plan.

I’ll just drop him off at the guard booth. They usually have contact information for all the teachers. This kid must know his mom’s name, right?

Just as they were about to head toward the main gate, the child spoke up. “Big Brother, I think we should go this way.”

Without giving it much thought, Duan Yi followed the child’s directions.

When they reached the gate, Duan Yi set the child down. “Wait here. I’ll go find the guard.”

The child nodded obediently. Duan Yi went inside, only to find the guard booth empty.

He called out twice, but there was no response. Besides, he was intimately familiar with this guard booth—every time Duan Yi climbed over the wall nearby, the guard, Mr. Wang, would chase after him.

Thinking of this, Duan Yi couldn’t help but chuckle. He remembered once when he sprained his ankle while climbing the wall, crying in pain and embarrassment at the foot of the wall, only to be caught by the security guard who often caught him.

It was a similar evening before Evening Self-Study, with temperatures soaring above 30 degrees Celsius. The guard was startled and carried Duan Yi a long distance on his back to the infirmary. By the time they arrived, the guard’s shirt was soaked through with sweat, and he hadn’t even had time to take a sip of water before returning to his post.

Duan Yi sighed, deeply moved by the memory.

Back in high school, he had been practically hyperactive, a mischievous troublemaker to the core.

But later, after Second High School’s Centennial Celebration, the school underwent renovations. The main gate was moved to the south, the guard booth here was demolished, and this gate was sealed shut—

Duan Yi’s footsteps faltered.

He froze in place, as if struck by lightning.

Holy shit?

Holy shit, holy shit?

Duan Yi was stunned!

Right, holy shit! After the Centennial Celebration, this gate was sealed shut!

In an instant, a chill ran down Duan Yi’s spine.

Then what had he just seen?

His first thought was that he had seen a ghost.

What the fuck—

Thinking about it, it really does feel like seeing a ghost—a child inexplicably looking for his mother?

Wait, could that child have disappeared too?

Duan Yi’s entire expression froze into a wide-eyed “=口=” as he rushed outside. The child was indeed gone.

At the same moment he took in the outside scenery, his body froze in an unnatural posture.

The guard booth was there, the gate was there, and the lush, towering trees lined both sides—exactly as they had been when he graduated four years ago.

But the truth was, after the Centennial Celebration, most of Second High School had been renovated. The main gate had been moved to the south, the Cherry Blossom Path had been relocated to the sports field, and the bulletin boards on either side had been completely dismantled.

Duan Yi slowly straightened up, his feet moving involuntarily toward the bulletin board.

The bulletin board was still there…

The bulletin board hadn’t been dismantled…

But it was supposed to be gone…

When Duan Yi finally focused on the contents of the bulletin board, his pupils contracted almost imperceptibly.

He reached out, his fingers touching the glass, tracing the nostalgic announcements—

Public Criticism: Duan Yi, a student from Third Year Class 1, disrupted classmates during last week’s opening exam. When Liu Yu from Second Year Class 3 accidentally dropped his paper, Duan Yi shamelessly picked it up and copied from it, completely disregarding the proctor and severely violating exam regulations.

Public Criticism: Duan Yi, a student from Third Year Class 1, shamelessly imitated Jack Ma’s passport photo pose. When the Political Education Office demanded he rectify this, Duan Yi showed no remorse and submitted a wedding photo as a perfunctory gesture, demonstrating extreme insolence!

Public Criticism: During a power outage during Evening Self-Study, Duan Yi was caught in the classroom engaging in physical altercations with a male classmate, their fingers intertwined. Subsequent investigation revealed that Duan Yi had coerced the classmate…

Good News: Sheng Yunze and Jiang Wangshu from Second High School have been selected for the national team in the International Competition!

Good News: Sheng Yunze from Third Year Class 1 has secured first place in the Provincial Physics Competition, while Fang Yun from the same class has achieved eleventh place!

Notice: Starting next week, the school cafeteria will replace white rice with purple rice to improve student meals…

Notice: Due to ongoing library construction, water will be shut off for half an hour at 6:30 PM every Monday and Thursday in Alpha and Delta dormitories. Students are advised to prepare accordingly.

Notice: Starting June 22nd, boarding students may attend weekly film screenings in the lecture hall every Thursday.

Notice: To enhance school management, students must apply inhibitor spray three times daily—morning, noon, and evening. Uniform and appearance checks have been moved to earlier in the evening and will include verification of school IDs, uniforms, and hairstyles.

Though the notices were ordinary, Duan Yi found himself increasingly engrossed, his nose even starting to tingle.

Every date corresponded to his third year of high school, and he could recall exactly when each event had occurred.

In a daze, it felt as if graduation day were right before him, and the past four years had been nothing but a dream. When he opened his eyes, he would still be a high school student, worrying only about what to eat tomorrow.

A sudden premonition struck Duan Yi. He walked forward along the Cherry Blossom Path. The school was deserted, the only sound the cicadas’ drone.

As he passed the school square, he saw the swing set that had long been dismantled. The music room, once filled with clutter, was now empty, restored to its original state from his student days. The wall posters on the perimeter wall had been repainted, their colors vibrant as if freshly applied. The mural he had painted years ago, now obscured by a towering tree, was suddenly visible again, looking as new as if he had just finished it yesterday.

Duan Yi’s heart pounded wildly, as if it might burst from his chest.

“President Duan!”

After four years, he heard that familiar title again.

Duan Yi jerked his head up and saw a figure on the second floor—Xiaobang, waving a book. Still wearing his Second High School uniform, though visibly older, Xiaobang waved the book vigorously and shouted, “Keep moving forward!”

Xiaobang cupped his hands to amplify his voice, shouting again. Soon, a second voice joined in.

“Duan Bao!” This time it was Jiang Wangshu, who had shed his white coat and changed into his old high school uniform. Running down the corridor, he yelled, “Run! Run!”

Duan Yi swallowed hard and shouted back, “What’s going on here?!”

Jiang Wangshu replied, “Keep moving forward! Hurry!”

Without hesitation, Duan Yi quickened his pace across the school square, his walk turning into a jog, then a sprint.

Along the way, besides Xiaobang and Jiang Wangshu, he saw more classmates:

Hao Shanshan, Xiaobudian, Sister Ma, Pingtou, Abbot, Fang Yun, Bookworm…

They were all upstairs, smiling and shouting at him, “President Duan! Hurry up! You’re going to be late for class!”

Duan Yi’s heart pounded wildly as he rounded the corner and climbed the stairs.

He remembered exactly how to get to Third Year Class 1: from the first floor to the fourth, twenty steps per floor, three turns, and the broken lightbulb on the second floor…

Everything matched perfectly.

Panting heavily, Duan Yi stood in the fourth-floor corridor, gazing at the unbelievable scene before him.

He was wearing a black suit, his shirt clinging to his skin and his tie feeling too tight.

Duan Yi loosened his tie and paused at the entrance to Third Year Class 1, his feet rooted to the spot by a mix of anticipation and trepidation.

His hand gripped the doorknob for a long moment, but he didn’t open it.

Suddenly, as if needing to confirm something, Duan Yi rushed to the window.

The lock on the second window of their classroom was loose; during every long break, Duan Yi would climb in through this window.

Four years later, he still remembered how to open it. He slid the window aside and leaped out.

He fell into a familiar embrace.

Sheng Yunze’s voice whispered in his ear, “I knew you’d jump from here.”

He was wearing his old high school uniform, a stark contrast to Duan Yi’s formal suit.

Duan Yi hugged him tightly, then looked up to see the classroom lights blazing.

Scrawled across the blackboard in large, colorful chalk letters was a message:

Congratulations to Class President and League Branch Secretary on their marriage!

Secretary Sheng ❤️ President Duan

Cheap festive streamers, flowers, and balloons adorned the room, radiating a childish, tacky, yet endearing charm that brought tears to Duan Yi’s eyes.

Sheng Yunze, still in his Second High School uniform, looked almost unchanged from his days as Secretary Sheng, though his features had matured, making him more man than boy.

Jiang Wangshu and the others raced up from the second floor, threw open the classroom door, but remained in the doorway, cheering from the window: “Secretary Sheng! Hurry up! Quick, quick!”

Sensing what was coming, Duan Yi stared at Sheng Yunze, speechless.

Hao Shanshan led the raucous cheering outside, her youthful exuberance belying her twenty-four or twenty-five years. In their uniforms, they seemed no different from the teenagers they once were.

Sheng Yunze, embarrassed by their boisterous antics, blushed slightly.

Duan Yi stammered, “W-when did you…?”

…arrange all this?

Sheng Yunze replied, “Over the past few months.”

Duan Yi’s throat bobbed as he suddenly leaned back slightly, distancing himself from Sheng Yunze.

Duan Yi’s mind went blank as he panicked, his hands fumbling clumsily. He had a vague idea of what Sheng Yunze was about to do.

Then, his thoughts spiraled wildly. If Sheng Yunze kneels on one knee, should I tell him to rise?

That would probably ruin the mood…

Even kneeling on one knee, Sheng Yunze looked incredibly handsome.

As he knelt, Jiang Wangshu and the others erupted into such raucous cheers that they nearly blew the roof off Class One.

Duan Yi froze completely, his face burning crimson from his neck up, practically steaming.

“Duan Yi,” Sheng Yunze cleared his throat, clearly embarrassed by his own cheesiness, his tongue stumbling slightly. “You—”

“Huh?” Duan Yi blurted out.

Suddenly realizing he couldn’t let Sheng Yunze propose first, Duan Yi frantically rummaged through his pockets, finally pulling out his own engagement ring. He shouted, “Wait, wait, wait! Can I go first?!”

Sheng Yunze: ?

“I have a ring! I—I—” Duan Yi stammered, his words tumbling over each other in his haste to beat Sheng Yunze to the punch. He blurted out in one breath, “C-can I marry you?!”

…Huh?

The room fell silent for ten seconds before erupting into thunderous laughter.

Jiang Wangshu led the charge, bending over so far he nearly hung off the doorway.

Sheng Yunze was laughing so hard he could barely stand, propping himself up on a nearby stool, head bowed, shoulders shaking violently as he teetered on the verge of collapsing from laughter.

Even Duan Yi couldn’t help but laugh at his own flustered outburst. “No, no, I meant… could I—no, I meant, could you—oh, damn it, I’m—”

“What I meant to say was…” Duan Yi threw caution to the wind. “I… I really want to marry you.”

After a moment of silence, he quietly added, “…Can I ask again?”

Sheng Yunze, having finally caught his breath, knelt on one knee, looked up, and said with utmost seriousness, “No, but I agree to let you marry me.”

This is completely backwards—the two of us! Duan Yi thought, torn between laughter and tears.

He suddenly remembered the night Sheng Yunze had confessed his feelings. The young man had stood before him, asking if he could be his boyfriend.

“I’ll let you copy my homework from now on,” the boy had said.

“I’ll let you copy my homework,” the man now echoed. “This time, you can copy it for a lifetime.”

In that moment, the image of the boy and the man gradually merged into one.

Duan Yi found himself thinking, without any particular logic, It’s good. He hasn’t changed, and neither have I.

He loves me, just as I love him.

“Okay,” he said.