Proposal (Part 1)

Chapter 315

The morning sunlight streamed through the gaps in the heavy curtains, spilling onto the soft, spacious double bed.

Ye Zhenzhen groggily opened her eyes in the warm cocoon of her blanket.

Before her vision could fully focus, she was startled by a handsome face enlarged right before her, instinctively shrinking back.

She clutched the edge of the blanket tightly to her chest, staring wide-eyed at the uninvited guest by her bedside.

Gu Ran, sporting two obvious dark circles under bloodshot eyes, was propping his chin with one hand, staring at her intently.

Ye Zhenzhen took a closer look and found that although his face looked weary, his eyes were exceptionally bright and spirited.

She rubbed her messy hair in exasperation, puffing out her cheeks as she couldn’t help complaining.

"Don’t you have your own room to sleep in? Coming here to stare at people first thing in the morning is really creepy, you know."

Gu Ran raised an eyebrow, unable to suppress the smile tugging at his lips, his voice carrying the lazy, husky tone unique to just waking up.

"Happy New Year, Dr. Ye."

He reached out, pinching the girl’s puffed cheek affectionately, then urged her along.

"Hurry up and get up to wash up. Auntie Ye and my dad are already waiting for us in the restaurant downstairs."

He withdrew his hand and stood up.

"If we’re late, we’ll miss out on the good food."

Ye Zhenzhen let out a big yawn, eyeing him suspiciously.

Was this guy on some kind of stimulant?

So full of energy early in the morning...

Thinking this, she threw back the covers and prepared to take off her pajamas to change.

Just as her fingers reached the last button, she noticed he was still standing there, rooted to the spot.

Gu Ran leaned against the bedpost with his arms crossed, not showing the slightest intention to turn away or give her privacy.

Instead, he watched her with interest, sporting a roguish look as if ready to enjoy the show.

The girl’s face flushed bright red as she scolded him angrily.

"You lecherous creep, I need to change! Get out!"

Gu Ran tilted his head, asking back in a deadpan, shameless manner.

"What part of you, sis, haven’t I seen before? Kicking me out is just being distant."

Ye Zhenzhen, torn between embarrassment and anger, her cheeks reddening to the point of bleeding, grabbed a pillow and hurled it straight at his face.

"Stop your nonsense! Out!"

Gu Ran took the pillow with a grin, then finally retreated out the door, closing it behind him. From the living room, he began humming some obscure tune.

Half an hour later, Ye Zhenzhen, draped in a light purple long cashmere sweater, pushed open the door and looked at the young man leaning on the sofa waiting for her. A smile danced in her eyes.

"Happy New Year, Gu Ran."

Gu Ran’s gaze softened as he stepped forward, bending down to plant a gentle kiss on her smooth forehead.

"Come on, let’s go have breakfast first. Fill your stomach so you’ll have energy to play."

The two walked side by side to the restaurant on the fourth floor.

Gu Xiangcheng and Ye Shulian had already chosen a prime spot by the window, the table laden with an array of hearty Chinese breakfast dishes.

Ye Shulian smiled and waved as she saw the two approach, pointing to the steaming noodle station not far away.

"Zhenzhen, Xiao Ran, go grab some freshly made noodles."

After they returned, she pushed a small dish of pickled vegetables to the center of the table.

"Eat it while it’s hot to warm your stomachs. The chef at this resort is absolutely amazing."

Sitting down, Ye Zhenzhen sweetly picked up a glass of warm milk and said in a sugary tone.

"Mom, Uncle Gu, I wish you both a Happy New Year, good health, and all the best."

They raised their own glasses of milk, chuckling as they accepted the blessing.

Ye Zhenzhen took a bite of a juicy soup dumpling and looked curiously at the two, both looking unusually energized.

"Mom, Uncle Gu, you usually sleep in on weekends. Why are you up so early today? Didn’t you get more rest?"

Gu Xiangcheng was just blowing on his steaming hot soy milk when he heard this and blurted out without thinking.

"Oh, your mom she got a bit too excited—played too much last night and couldn’t sleep, so she got up early."

He caught himself mid-sentence, braking hard, the muscles in his face twitching awkwardly.

Ye Zhenzhen grew even more puzzled, looking at her mother with suspicion.

"Playing tai chi in the room late at night?"

Gu Xiangcheng silently sucked in a sharp breath, struggling to compose his contorted expression.

Under the table, Ye Shulian stomped hard on his foot, making his toes curl in pain.

Ye Shulian calmly picked up a piece of green vegetable, lying without batting an eye.

"Experts say practicing tai chi at night helps soothe the meridians and improves sleep, so I dragged your Uncle Gu into it for a couple of moves."

Gu Ran, beside them, was shaking with suppressed laughter. He quickly lifted his bowl of porridge to drink it down, covering his snickers while also trying to smooth things over.

"Right, right, I saw that TV program too. I think it makes a lot of sense. After all, exercise doesn’t have to be limited by time."

Ye Zhenzhen found the atmosphere among the three oddly strange, but unable to pinpoint anything off, she dropped the subject and continued eating her noodles.

After breakfast, the family of four followed their plan and headed to the comprehensive entertainment complex on the back hill of the resort. This four-story center had every facility imaginable.

They arrived at the billiard hall, which was bustling with people. After queuing for a while, it was finally their turn.

Gu Ran deliberately miscalculated angles to feed Ye Zhenzhen easy shots, earning the girl continuous points and a stream of laughter.

"Gu Ran, you’re hopeless at this. You need more practice—"

The young man said nothing, just kept feeding her shots.

The older couple, watching from the sidelines, silently endured the love-filled display.

After playing for a while, they got bored. Ye Zhenzhen pouted, catching sight of the outdoor ski slope through the window.

Her voice trembled with excitement: "Gu Ran, let’s go skiing!"

They reached an agreement, but the couple refused to endure another round of the young lovers’ antics, deciding to split up and have their own fun.

Each rented a colorful inflatable tube and slid down the long snowy slope one after another.

Ye Zhenzhen screamed with joy as she sat in her tube, speeding down.

Gu Ran stayed close behind, carefully guarding the edge of her slide path.

The group had a blast.

As the sun set, dusk began to fall, and the resort lit up with strings of festive red lanterns.

Gu Ran led Ye Zhenzhen to the entrance of the private room they had booked. Looking at her flushed cheeks from running, he spoke softly.

"Zhenzhen, there’s something I need to tell you. Dad and Auntie Ye already know about us dating."

Ye Zhenzhen’s eyes first widened in panic, and her hands nervously twisted the hem of her clothes.

Her mind went blank, a buzzing sound echoing in her ears.

But she quickly pieced together the earlier odd behavior of the elders—every clue made sense now.

She gradually calmed down.

They hadn’t avoided the topic; if anything, they had silently protected and condoned them all along.

"They knew all along."

She rubbed her fingers together awkwardly and looked up at Gu Ran.

"Watching us play out our little act right under their noses—they must have been laughing on the inside, weren’t they?"

Gu Ran took her hand, wrapping her cold fingertips securely in his warm palm, his voice full of affection and reassurance.

"How could that be? Don’t you think it’s a rare kind of fun, too?"

Ye Zhenzhen shot him a playful glare. "Only a freak like you would think that."

Gu Ran sighed in mock hurt. "I comfort you, and you call me names. How heartbreaking."

The girl took the initiative to loop her arm through his, and, as he looked at her with slight surprise, she spoke slowly.

"Come on. Let’s go eat."

Then she pulled him into the private room.

Dinner was set in a reservation-only, upscale Chinese-style private dining room.

The table was laden with an array of exquisite dishes, their enticing aromas filling the air.

Several people raised highball glasses filled with red wine and juice, toasting the arrival of the New Year.

After the meal, they donned thick coats and stepped into the courtyard.

They watched as other tourists set off brilliant fireworks on the open ground and asked a passing server to take a warm, harmonious family photo.

Gu Xiangcheng and Ye Shulian walked behind, watching the two young people ahead—finally able to walk hand in hand openly and shoulder to shoulder—and smiled with heartfelt relief.

Gu Ran’s palms were drenched in sweat from the nerves of his impending proposal plan.

He kept lifting his wrist to check his watch, counting down the final moments.

Ye Shulian saw through it all but said nothing, quickening her pace to call out to the young woman ahead.

“Zhenzhen.”

Ye Zhenzhen turned back, pausing as she saw her mother’s gentle face illuminated by the interplay of night and lantern light.

Ye Shulian took her daughter’s hand, her eyes growing a bit misty as she spoke with solemn sincerity.

“In the new year, I wish you lasting happiness, and that you’ll always be as carefree and joyful as you are now.”

Gu Xiangcheng also stepped forward, the corners of his eyes etched with smile lines from the years, his voice deep and robust, filled with elder’s warmth.

“Happy New Year. I hope the two of you will be happy too.”

He patted Gu Ran on the shoulder. “If you ever run into any trouble in the future, your family will always be your strongest support.”

From his coat, he took out a thick red envelope and pressed it solemnly into Ye Zhenzhen’s hands.

Feeling its heavy weight, Ye Zhenzhen panicked slightly, waving her hands to refuse.

“Thank you, Uncle Gu, but this red envelope is too generous. I can’t take it.”

Ye Shulian firmly pushed the envelope back into the young woman’s arms, gently patting her hand, her gaze full of affection.

“Take it. It’s your uncle’s gesture of goodwill. It’s meant to bring good luck—think of it as your New Year’s gift.”

Mother and daughter both had tears in their eyes, the lively sound of firecrackers ringing in their ears.

Ye Shulian took Gu Ran’s hand and placed it over Ye Zhenzhen’s, pressing them together meaningfully, completing a silent act of entrustment.

“You young ones go off and have fun by yourselves. We old folks are going to enjoy a taste of the younger generation’s way of celebrating the holiday, so don’t bother us.”

She gave the young woman a mysterious, inscrutable look, then took Gu Xiangcheng’s arm and turned to leave, leaving the space entirely to them.

Gu Ran took Ye Zhenzhen’s hand as he tried to ease his own nerves with a lighthearted tone.

“Well, isn’t that partial? How come I didn’t get a red envelope?”

The young woman gave a sweet smile, tilting her head playfully.

“That means I’m more likable! Besides, maybe your share is tucked away in mine, so I’ll just keep it safe for you for now~”

Gu Ran turned to face her, a grin lingering at the corners of his mouth.

“We’re not even married yet, and you’re already managing the money.”

Ye Zhenzhen mumbled quietly.

“That’s only a matter of time, isn’t it?~”

The sound of fireworks drowned out her voice; Gu Ran didn’t catch it and instinctively asked.

“What did you just say? I didn’t hear you.”

Ye Zhenzhen smiled coyly, stepping forward and rising onto her tiptoes.

“I’m not telling you~”

Under the dazzling fireworks, they exchanged a knowing smile, seeing only each other.