Chapter 28: A Sudden Proposal

No sooner had the two arrived at the villa than Ye Huaiting's phone began to ring. The ringtone was quite peculiar: "Pick up the phone, quick! Her Majesty the Queen Mother is calling! Pick up the phone, quick! Her Majesty the Queen Mother is calling!"

"Oh my god, why is my mother video-calling at a time like this?" Ye Huaiting immediately cast a desperate look toward Shen Mengxia for help.

"Don't look at me; I can't help you," Shen Mengxia said with effortless nonchalance before turning and walking away.

Trembling, Ye Huaiting tapped the answer button. Instantly, the familiar voice of Mother Fu filled his ears: "You brat, do you think your wings have finally hardened? You got yourself beaten up over a woman, and you haven't even cut the video call yet? Let me have a look at you."

Ye Huaiting helplessly turned the camera toward his bruised face, pulling a long face as he said, "Mom, look, my injuries are not light. Your son is physically and mentally exhausted right now."

Mother Fu cried out in distress: "Oh, my precious son, who laid such a heavy hand on you? Let me see your fingers; they said your fingers were nearly chopped off. But you deserve it, getting yourself into this state over some woman. If you had listened to me earlier and found a partner to marry, would you be in this position?"

Ye Huaiting hurriedly defended himself: "Mom, it’s they who don’t know what’s good for them. They showed no respect for the Fu family at all, daring to lay a hand on me. They have no idea who—"

Mother Fu snorted: "Stop spouting nonsense. Do you want me to cut off your credit cards? Let me tell you, I’ve scouted several candidates for you to date. Find a partner and get married, now."

Upon hearing this, Ye Huaiting was horrified: "Mom, what are you doing? Eldest Brother is in his thirties and still single; why are you forcing me to marry? I’m still young! If anyone is getting married, Eldest Brother should go first! I’m not doing it! Don’t come after me just because you can’t pressure him. You’re always so biased."

Mother Fu was incensed, her voice rising by an octave: "What do you have to compare with your brother? All you know how to do is talk nonsense. Just because I’m not by your side, you think my words are just hot air? You are both getting married. Whoever marries and has children first gets my assets. Otherwise, don’t even think about it." With that, she hung up with a sharp click.

Ye Huaiting gripped his phone tightly, his brow furrowed as he muttered to himself: "Which heartless bastard reported me to my mother? Hmph, when I find out, I won't let them off! Daring to stab me in the back—see how I deal with this wretched person."

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, and he couldn't help but curse: "What a bunch of spineless, fair-weather 'friends.' Not a single one is reliable when it counts!"

The next morning, while still some distance from the dining room, Shen Mengxia heard Fu Yanchen questioning Ye Huaiting: "What did you do to upset her again? Why did you bring these things over?"

"Why don't you ask her yourself? She's not just my mother," Ye Huaiting grumbled. Listening to the two of them bickering back and forth, Shen Mengxia couldn't help but shake her head, wondering to herself what could have happened between the mother and her two sons to cause such an early-morning argument.

In the evening, Shen Mengxia was preparing for her usual stroll. As she passed Fu Yanchen's study, she caught a glimpse of the ashtray overflowing with cigarette butts on his desk. Her heart tightened, and her delicate brows furrowed slightly.

Just as she stood outside the study door, hesitating over whether to go in and offer some comfort, she suddenly heard Fu Yanchen’s low, magnetic voice calling out: "Xiaxia! Come in!"

Shen Mengxia took a deep breath, gently pushed open the door, and entered. She found Fu Yanchen sitting at his desk with a grave expression, his eyes fixed steadily upon her.

After a brief silence, Fu Yanchen suddenly knelt on one knee. He pulled an exquisite jewelry box from his pocket and slowly opened it before her—inside was a large heart-shaped diamond ring, carefully engraved with Shen Mengxia's initials.

It was clearly a bespoke piece, crafted with great care.

Fu Yanchen spoke with solemn sincerity: "This isn't a whim. I’ve been preparing this ring for a long time, but I never found the right opportunity to give it to you. Xiaxia, let’s get married!"

The words struck Shen Mengxia like a bolt of lightning, leaving her momentarily stunned, completely at a loss for how to respond.