Marriage Proposal

Lu Chenyuan cooked quickly, and even in a new location, his skills remained unaffected.

Soon, four dishes and a soup were laid out on the dining table—all of Mo Qingli’s favorites, with their light and delicate flavors.

He filled a bowl of rice and placed it in front of her.

"Let’s eat."

The two of them ate in silence, just as they had done countless times before.

He picked dishes for her; she ladled soup for him.

Outside the window, the city lights of Gedo sparkled brilliantly.

Inside, the room was filled with the most comforting warmth of ordinary life.

After the meal, Lu Chenyuan cleared the dishes.

Then, he retrieved a small first-aid kit from the hotel.

Kneeling down, he carefully examined Mo Qingli’s ankle.

The edges of the electronic ankle monitor were rough.

After days of wear, faint red marks had formed around her skin.

His expression darkened.

He took out some ointment, dabbed a bit onto his fingertip, and gently applied it to the irritated skin.

His touch was so tender, as if handling a priceless treasure.

Mo Qingli lowered her gaze, watching his focused expression.

This man, who could shake the world with a single move outside, now looked like a stubborn, heartbroken child as he tended to her small wound.

Her heart melted completely.

"Chenyuan."

"Hmm?"

"It hurts," she suddenly said.

Lu Chenyuan froze, lifting his head to look at her anxiously.

"Did I hurt you?"

Mo Qingli shook her head and pointed to her chest.

"Here."

"Seeing you like this for me... it hurts here."

Lu Chenyuan was stunned.

Then, he set aside the ointment, took her hand, and pressed a soft kiss to it.

"Then don’t look."

"Close your eyes and sleep well."

"When you wake up tomorrow, everything will be different."

......

The next day.

A piece of news shocked global media.

Mo Qingli would hold a press conference at the Gedo Royal Grand Hotel.

Lu Chenyuan would attend alongside her.

The moment the announcement broke, the officials of Country J were thrown into disarray.

They couldn’t stop it—and didn’t dare to try.

The hotel’s press room was instantly packed with journalists from around the world.

At 3 p.m., Mo Qingli appeared on the stage, dressed in a crisp white suit, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Lu Chenyuan.

Her makeup was flawless, her demeanor radiant, her smile composed—showing no trace of the weariness of captivity.

Only when she sat down did the occasional glimpse of silver-gray beneath her pant leg remind everyone that she was still not entirely free.

Yet this only accentuated her strength.

"Good afternoon, members of the press."

With her first words, she commanded the room.

"First, thank you for your concern. As you can see, I am doing well."

"Regarding the accusations from Country J, my legal team is in active communication with them. I trust their judicial system will deliver a fair conclusion."

Her statement was impeccable—firm in stance yet leaving room for diplomacy.

"The Mo Group is a global enterprise. Our business ties with Country J have a long history. We do not wish for isolated misunderstandings to affect our longstanding partnership."

"Operations at Mo Group continue as usual. Our strategic development remains unchanged."

Her words were a reassurance.

Traders on WF Street exhaled in relief in front of their screens.

Mo Group’s stock price rose immediately.

The Q&A session began.

An A-country journalist seized the opportunity with a sharp question:

"Ms. Mo, evidence suggests your company stole core technology from an A-country ally. How do you respond? And isn’t it a coincidence that Mr. Lu Chenyuan beside you faces similar allegations?"

For a moment, every camera lens focused on Mo Qingli.

It was a trap—any answer could be twisted.

Mo Qingli smiled, unshaken.

"Reporter, your question sounds more like an accusation than an inquiry."

"We respect facts and trust evidence. Until a court rules, everyone is entitled to the presumption of innocence—a fundamental principle of civilized society."

"As for coincidence..."

She turned to glance at Lu Chenyuan beside her.

Her gaze held unmistakable trust and tenderness.

"If standing beside an exceptional person counts as coincidence..."

"Then I hope there will be more of it."

A masterful counter—deflecting the question while subtly flaunting their bond.

The room erupted in good-natured laughter and applause.

The press conference proceeded smoothly.

Mo Qingli single-handedly turned the tide of public opinion.

Just as the host was about to conclude the event—

Lu Chenyuan, who had remained silent until then, picked up the microphone.

The room fell utterly still.

Everyone held their breath.

What would this titan of the tech world say?

A declaration of war against A-country? An ultimatum to Country J?

But Lu Chenyuan’s gaze didn’t settle on any journalist in the crowd.

Instead, he turned—slowly, deeply—to look at Mo Qingli beside him.

In those profound eyes was an emotion he had never revealed in public.

It was love, it was remorse, and it was a solemn vow for a lifetime.

He stood up and, under the gaze of the entire world, knelt on one knee.

The room erupted in a collective gasp.

Mo Qingli froze—she had never expected him to...

Lu Chenyuan reached into his pocket and pulled out a velvet box.

No diamond ring.

Inside, resting quietly, was a delicate little band meticulously woven using tin embroidery craftsmanship.

He had made it himself.

"Qingli."

Lu Chenyuan's voice, amplified by the microphone, echoed through the grand hall and out to the world.

"Before, I always thought there was plenty of time."

"I kept telling myself, 'Once I finish what’s on my plate, once we reach greater heights, then I’ll think about our future.'"

"I believed giving you the best the world had to offer was the greatest love I could give."

"Until I saw you wearing this." His voice wavered, trembling with emotion.

"That’s when I realized I was wrong."

"I gave you the stars and the sea, but I forgot to give you the one thing that mattered most—a safe harbor."

"I promised to take you home."

"But from now on, I want to say—wherever you are, that’s home."

He looked up at her, his gaze reverent and burning.

"So, Ms. Mo Qingli."

"Will you marry me?"

"Let me spend the rest of my life protecting you, loving you, and becoming your forever—free from any rules, any constraints."

The world seemed to hold its breath.

Camera flashes halted in that instant.

Every reporter forgot their job.

They could only watch, dumbstruck, as this fairytale unfolded.

Mo Qingli looked at the man kneeling before her, at the galaxies swirling in his eyes.

Tears finally spilled over, unchecked.

But on her face bloomed a smile brighter than ever before.

She didn’t say, "I do."

Instead, she extended her hand like a queen accepting a knight’s oath.

Her voice, though choked with emotion, was clear and proud as she spoke.

"Fine."

"You have my permission."

Just like that day at Cloud Peak One, when he first invited her to meet his family—her response was exactly the same.

Lu Chenyuan laughed, radiant with relief.

He took that unique ring and, with utmost care, slid it onto her finger.

Then he stood and pulled her into his arms.

The next second, thunderous applause and a frenzy of camera shutters erupted through the venue.

Within five minutes, the moment spread to every corner of the globe.

The headline said it all:

"The Proposal of the Century: Lu Chenyuan Kneels for Mo Qingli"

With a spectacle witnessed by the world, they made their declaration.

The storm won’t break us.

It will only make us stand stronger—together.