Chapter 74
It was graduation season, and a certain indescribable lancholy lingered around campus.
At the graduation party, Xu Chaoyang drank a lot. Reaching across Jing Chi, he grasped Chu Zhao's hand tightly: "Junior sister, don't worry. Instructor Xu will look after him well! I won't let anything happen to him."
By the end, this fool was even sobbing, saying how much he would miss everyone. The four years of university were the happiest ti for him, when he t a group of brothers and sisters.
Of course, Xia You was included in his circle of sisters.
Jing Chi pried Xu Chaoyang's paws off his girlfriend's hand, using his body to block the touchy Xu, not allowing him to get handsy with his woman.
"That's enough. It's not like we're separating forever. We'll still see each other often. When we get married, we'll definitely invite you - you can be the godfather when we have kids."
Xu Chaoyang clutched his chest, stung by those words.
Later, the head of their grade went up on stage, toasting all the graduates and giving an impassioned speech that moved the idealistic graduates to tears.
Jin Xi glanced at Bo Yan beside her. His dark eyes were always tranquil as a deep pool, rarely showing the flashing lights other youths had.
He had experienced more setbacks than others, too early felt the most sorrowful of human emotions. So it was hard for fiery youth's blood to be stirred by enthusiastic words and speeches.
He looked perpetually indifferent, but Jin Xi understood him - only bearing life's weight could bring such aloofness.
Jing Chi goaded Xu Chaoyang, saying "If you can drink Boss Bo under the table today, I'll call you 'bro'."
Xu Chaoyang imdiately rose to the challenge, walking over to Bo Yan with wine cup in hand: "Boss Bo, today's the last day of our college life. Can't just sit there - have to drink two cups at least."
Jin Xi knew Bo Yan had no alcohol tolerance at all, and was about to help fend off the drinks, but Bo Yan smiled gently: "It's fine."
He raised his cup, lightly clinking Xu Chaoyang's. "When we're over there on the mission, it won't be like our everyday fooling around and exercises. The mission is important, but safety is most important."
He patted Jing Chi's shoulder: "You're always steady. I shouldn't need to worry, but rember my words. Nothing cos before you returning ho safe and sound."
Jing Chi was silent a mont, then nodded heavily: "I understand."
Though not the eldest in Room 409, Bo Yan's mind was the most mature of the three boys, and he was their room monitor. So they all treated him like an older brother.
In the past, Bo Yan had led them in mischief - talking back to teachers, skipping class, brawling. Later they ford the ow ow Club, helping stray animals. They'd done good things and bad things, but it seed that as long as Bo Yan was there, the boys had backbone and feared nothing, daring to punch holes in the very heavens.
Now Bo Yan was staying behind while they left. It made them feel complicated, rather sad.
Horsing around together, they didn't feel the parting. Only after this graduation party would they split off on their separate paths, and the lancholy hit all at once.
The boys ambled around campus. Xu Chaoyang's eyes were red and he asked Bo Yan several tis: "Boss, you're really not going?"
Bo Yan indulgently ruffled Jin Xi's hair: "As long as my wife doesn't think I'm useless, I'll stay by her side my whole life."
Jin Xi shook her head again and again to show she didn't think so. She wouldn't ask Bo Yan to achieve success and reputation, to amount to much. Having experienced the pain of loss, she treasured their simple, warm, happy ti together even more.
"Then let
congratulate you early - happiness and joy." Jing Chi said. "Don't know if I'll have a chance to co back for your wedding."
"After you co back, when Xi Xi graduates and starts working, we'll have the wedding then."
"Alright, I'll be your groomsman."
"It's a deal."
The boys shook on it. Blushing, Jin Xi scattered their hands. "What deal? Who's marrying you? Don't swear oaths over nothing..."
Smiling, Bo Yan asked "Don't you want to marry ?"
Flushing red, Jin Xi mumbled "You haven't even proposed yet you're making
marry you. Where do you get such a good deal?"
The boys exchanged aningful looks and elbowed Bo Yan playfully.
From their roguish eyes, Jin Xi sensed sothing amiss. Before she could react, Bo Yan suddenly reached into his bag.
Could it be a ring?
Jin Xi's breath hitched. Though many campus couples got engaged during graduation season - she'd seen it happen several tis - she wasn't ntally prepared!
Jin Xi felt her whole body heat up. She tucked back a lock of hair by her ear, her cheeks also turning red.
Bo Yan's hand slowly erged from his bag. Jin Xi gasped, tense and thrilled.
Here it cos!
She had to stay calm, pretty, modest...
Bo Yan took out a lighter from his bag and lit a cigarette.
"..."
Bo Yan looked at the hand she'd unconsciously stretched out. "What's that for?" he asked slowly.
Jin Xi: ...
Fooled by him again!
The boys roared with laughter.
Smiling, Bo Yan asked "What were you thinking?"
"Nothing."
"What did you think I was going to do?"
"No, nothing!"
"Don't tell ...you thought I was going to propose?"
"I didn't think that! Jerk! Go away!"
Seeing how red her face was, Bo Yan's eyes crinkled. "You really thought I was going to propose?"
"Annoying! Who wants you to propose, I wouldn't say yes even if you did. Go away!"
Mortified, Jin Xi quickened her pace and walked away.
Bo Yan hurriedly pulled her into his arms. "Alright, my bad, just joking around."
The boys said while laughing: "Boss Bo, proposing's not sothing to joke about."
"Look, little butt Xi's almost in tears."
"Stop teasing her and get to business."
...
Helplessly smiling, Bo Yan reached into his bag again and took out a velvet ring box. Slowly, he said "I know proposing like this is awkward no matter how you look at it. But I made a promise in front of my good brothers and your best girlfriends that I would say this to you."
After the emotional rollercoaster, Jin Xi was calm now. She watched Bo Yan seriously: "What do you want to say?"
Bo Yan pursed his lips, but no words ca out. He smiled first, covering his face bashfully with a fair, smooth hand. "Damn," he mumbled softly.
Jin Xi: ...
Alright, no need to say it. She understood.
This idiot couldn't get it out.
The onlookers nearly kicked him -
"What kind of man are you!"
"Where'd all your guts go!"
"It's just a proposal, not having a kid on the spot!"
...
Jin Xi had never seen Bo Yan so embarrassed. His whole face flushed red, even his earlobes blushing charmingly. His mouth curved in a smile, he tried to speak several tis but couldn't get the words out.
This shaless dog normally had no bottom line, yet now he was actually shy...
Bo Yan collected himself and said seriously: "I wrote you a proposal letter. I'll read it to you."
He took out the crumpled letter from his pocket.
Xu Chaoyang quickly retreated: "Crap, Boss wrote another love letter. Everyone take cover, incoming firepower!"
Jing Chi covered his ears: "The last confession letter made
nauseous for three days, completely put
off food."
Seeing that he'd really written a whole letter, Jin Xi panickedly snatched away the ring box. She hurriedly opened it, taking out the huge ring and putting it on her left ring finger -
"I accept, I accept! Big bro, don't read it, I'm begging you!"
"..."
The corner of Bo Yan's mouth quirked. "Or, you should still listen. I spent three nights on this."
"No, no no! Such a precious love letter, I'll take it back and digest it myself. So...so don't trouble yourself to read it aloud, Boss Bo."
Jin Xi coaxed and pleaded until she snatched away the letter. Carefully folding it, she put it in her own bag.
Bo Yan looked at the dazzling diamond ring on her ring finger and frowned, "This is so unceremonious."
Jin Xi laughed at his words and gave him a push, "You confessed your love with a love letter and proposed with a love letter too. Can't you be a little more creative?"
"I must be creative," Bo Yan said mysteriously, "I'll show you what creativity is tonight."
Their friends pretended to cough.
"Ahem, well, it's getting late. Shall we call it a day?"
"Let's break up for today."
"Mr. Bo, we wish you happiness. We'll get going now."
After their friends left, Jin Xi went ho with Bo Yan. Along the way, she kept admiring the dazzling ring on her finger, "What a huge diamond! Where did you get the money to buy this?"
"I didn't buy it. This is my mom's wedding ring."
The gentle night breeze lightly caressed her ears. Her heart quivered. She lowered her head to look at the translucent ring, then gripped his hand tightly.
"Baby, I'll always be with you and give you the warst ho."
Bo Yan naturally took her hand and kissed it, "I did write the love letter sincerely. You must read it."
"Okay, I'll read it carefully tonight."
"Not tonight."
"Why not?"
Bo Yan's mouth curved up slightly. He pulled her along to walk ho faster.
Jin Xi felt Bo Yan was up to so mischief tonight, but she still took out the love letter when he was showering.
She recognized the letter. It was the one Bo Yan had written to confess his love to her long ago, but taken the wrong one. That letter only had one sentence: Jin Xi, I love you, will you marry ?
Now this letter had much more content added.
The letter paper was drawn with cute cartoon flower borders and kittens and puppies, as if to witness his every word.
He had put into words all the feelings from their years together and written them on the letter paper.
Every heartbeat, every feeling of being moved, and the mood after each quarrel...he had written them all down. His words were simple and made Jin Xi giggle. After laughing, she felt touched.
She went to the bathroom door and knocked gently.
Bo Yan's muffled voice ca from inside, "What's up?"
"I'm reading your love letter."
"Oh, any thoughts you want to share?"
"You really make
laugh so hard. You even said my eyes are like the moon."
"I was serious. Don't laugh at ."
"You also said my laughter sounds like the wind caressing the touch--nots, ha ha, red, fiery, dizzy..."
Bo Yan: ...
I take that back.
"Jin Xi, can you not mock
while I'm showering?"
Jin Xi leaned against the door and asked with a laugh, "Why not?"
"n without clothes on are very vulnerable."
"Then I'll recite your love letter out loud in standard Mandarin with great emotion again - My dear Pixi, I love you, please marry !"
With a "creak
Reviews
All reviews (0)