Take Me Away, My Love - Chapter 49 - Fireworks

After the barbecue, setting off fireworks was the natural course of action, designed to create a favorable atmosphere for the couple in question.

Jian Yiqing and Li Minchun made themselves scarce, while Jian Ru was also pulled away by Jian Qingtian.

Well, despite his aversion to the poker-faced Jian Ru, he obediently led Jian Ru away for the sake of Uncle Ru Long’s personal affairs.

Now, in the vast backyard, apart from the blooming fireworks in the sky, only Chen Zhen and Ru Long remained.

They had eaten quite a lot tonight, and with Jian Yiqing and Li Minchun urging them to drink, Chen Zhen had consumed quite a bit too.

So now, Chen Zhen lay sprawled on the rocking chair, watching the brilliant fireworks burst and fall sporadically in the sky, her mind hazy and on the brink of sleep.

“Chen Zhen?” Ru Long softly called to the drowsy woman beside him, but she merely murmured in response and remained still.

Ru Long took a jacket from beside him and gently draped it over Chen Zhen. He then rested her head on his shoulder, careful not to move and risk waking her.

His body remained motionless, one hand braced on the chair for support, while the other stayed neatly on his lap, maintaining this posture throughout the night.

It wasn’t until morning, when the sun rose over the horizon, that Chen Zhen awoke, astonished to find she had spent the night sleeping in Ru Long’s embrace.

This realization startled her into jumping up suddenly. The action, however, caused Ru Long, who had been leaning against her for support, to tumble unguardedly onto the chair. The jacket that had been on Chen Zhen’s shoulders slid off in the process.

“Ah, what’s going on, why are you here?”

Chen Zhen was so flustered that her words tumbled out incoherently.

As Ru Long attempted to rise, he discovered he couldn’t move; his body was stiff and sore from maintaining the same position all night, leaving him numb and in pain.

Seeing Chen Zhen beside him, and noting her anxious expression, he tried to explain, but his words came out as a groan, “Oh my, it hurts…”

“Oh no, what’s wrong?”

Chen Zhen could tell from Ru Long’s expression that he was genuinely in pain and not faking it. Forgetting to question what had transpired last night, she rushed over to hold his arm, anxiously inquiring about his condition.

However, the spot where Chen Zhen grabbed him intensified the pain; it was as if thousands of electric currents were coursing through his body, nearly causing him to faint from the agony.

“Please don’t…” Ru Long’s voice grew increasingly pained under Chen Zhen’s concerned grip.

Frightened, Chen Zhen quickly released him, looking worriedly at him. Ultimately, she gingerly began to massage his limbs, diligently helping to restore his senses.

Though Ru Long still felt a needle-like sensation, his body had significantly improved.

Fortunately, it was Ru Long; had it been someone else, they might have been rendered immobile after the night’s exertion.

“What were you thinking, sleeping here like this all night? Of course your legs would go numb,” Chen Zhen chided as she massaged him attentively.

But Ru Long’s thoughts had already drifted far away as he gazed at her beautiful face.

The morning sunlight warmed him softly, especially as the not-too-bright, golden light outlined Chen Zhen’s silhouette, making her look like an ethereal fairy bathed in golden radiance. Ru Long’s heart seemed to drift along as well.

Struggling to reach out with the hand that was slowly regaining feeling, he gently stroked Chen Zhen’s hair, inadvertently murmuring, “Chen Zhen, you’re so beautiful…”

Hearing this, Chen Zhen, who had been focused on his wellbeing, quickly stood up and walked away without a backward glance.

Ru Long, sitting in the chair, tried to follow her but his legs buckled, nearly sending him to his knees.

He could only watch helplessly as Chen Zhen walked farther and farther away, not once looking back.

The fleeting warmth they shared was as vibrant and colorful as last night’s fireworks.

So wondrous that it could be etched deeply into one’s memory, but like the momentary blossoming of fireworks, it dissipated with the wind and vanished forever into the heavens and earth.

The tiny bit of happiness that once existed also faded away with its disappearance.

Could it be that Chen Zhen truly feels nothing for me? The thought caused Ru Long indescribable heartache.

When he tried to get up, a pair of hands reached out to help him. Thinking it was Chen Zhen, he looked up, only to find Li Minchun standing there.

Li Minchun was dressed in a pink mid-sleeved dress today, looking quite playful and adorable.

He managed a wry smile but eventually allowed Li Minchun to help him to his feet. Strangely, if anyone else had seen him in such a pitiful state, Ru Long might have been dismayed, but with Li Minchun, all he felt was the care emanating from her.

After helping Ru Long onto a nearby chair, Li Minchun asked softly, “What’s wrong? Still not okay? Didn’t I see you two getting along well last night?”

Ru Long managed a weak smile. “That was a fluke. This morning, this is the reality.”

Li Minchun laughed and patted his shoulder. “Cheer up. This isn’t the Ru Long I know. How could you be defeated by just a small setback? Come on, give me a smile.”

Hearing Li Minchun’s words, Ru Long did manage a smile, though it quickly faded away.

The once talkative and cheerful Ru Long seemed to be disappearing along with his romantic misfortunes.

When Li Minchun led him back to the dining room, Chen Zhen stood up hastily, saying she had to take the kids to school and began gathering her things to leave.

Ru Long quickly interjected, “Let me give you a ride. It’s too far to walk.”

Chen Zhen paused but said nothing.

Li Minchun quickly chimed in to support Ru Long’s suggestion, “Yes, let Ru Long take you. Jian Qingtian has to go to school too.”

Hearing Li Minchun say this, Chen Zhen finally nodded in agreement.

In the car, with two adults and two kids, silence prevailed.

After the kids entered the school, Ru Long finally mustered the courage to say, “Let me drive you home.”

“No need, I have other things to do,” Chen Zhen declined again.

Today, Ru Long couldn’t hold back any longer and shouted at her, “How can you be like this? What have I ever done to wrong you? Tell me.”

“You haven’t wronged me,” Chen Zhen replied, looking weary and pale.

“I know you still have some feelings for me. Let me take care of you and the kids for a lifetime, okay? I promise I’ll treat you well forever, truly.”

Ru Long spoke with emotion, his clear eyes filled with deep affection as he gazed at Chen Zhen.

Faced with such a heartfelt gaze, how could Chen Zhen continue to ignore it?

Over the years, she’d seen and felt Ru Long’s affection for her.

However, despite this, the shadow of Cheng Duo continued to linger in her mind, refusing to fade even after all these years.

Even now, seeing such sincerity, all she could offer in return was doubt.

Chen Zhen had once been as pure and clear as a pool of water, changing color with every drop of dye-reflecting whatever hue it was.

But after everything, returning to that original, untainted clarity seemed impossible.

The current Chen Zhen, tormented by the past with Cheng Duo, felt exhausted and fearful. She feared both being hurt again and hurting Ru Long herself. This contradictory feeling weighed heavily on her heart, making even breathing feel burdensome.

“Marry me!”

In that moment of hesitation, right there on the bustling street, Ru Long suddenly dropped to one knee, holding up a diamond ring in a public proposal.

The scene was so unexpected.

Chen Zhen was caught completely off guard and had no idea how to respond. She stood there wide-eyed, hands covering her mouth, utterly flustered.

Passersby, witnessing this turn of events, forgot their own errands and stopped to join in clapping and cheering for the couple.

Soon, chants emerged from the crowd: “Together, together, together!”

More and more people gathered, their kind eyes fixed on the two, causing them to blush and feel at a loss.

One enthusiastic older woman couldn’t contain herself any longer and rushed over. “Young lady, look at this fine young man. He’s handsome and earnest. You should say yes!”

“Yes, say yes!” echoed the surrounding crowd.

Feeling she had no other choice, Chen Zhen nodded gently.

The crowd erupted into cheers. Ru Long was the happiest of all, exclaiming, “What did you just say? You agreed, didn’t you?”

With her cheeks flushed, Chen Zhen replied, “Yes, I agreed. Now, get up.”

“Ah, that’s wonderful, truly wonderful…”

Overcome with emotion, Ru Long swept Chen Zhen off her feet and spun her around, oblivious to anything else. The crowd’s cheering and blessings rose around them, and at last, under everyone’s gaze, they got into the car.

Inside the car, Ru Long, still brimming with excitement, held the hand now adorned with the ring and said, “I can’t believe you actually said yes today, Chen Zhen. I’m so happy. Please trust me; I truly will take care of you for the rest of our lives.”

With Ru Long by her side, Chen Zhen found herself unable to refuse. In truth, the moment had felt right; she had wanted to nod all along.

It was only her pride and lingering doubts that had held her back. Eventually, with the encouragement of the crowd, the proposal was realized.

While the ending seemed perfect, they were unaware that back at the kindergarten, the two children had gotten into a squabble.