Chapter 91: The Proposal Under the Stars
Although Young Master Gu often acted all sly and vaguely aggrieved, he rarely showed such a wronged expression so openly.
He looked like he was begging to be comforted.
Gu Tang felt both sorry for him and amused. Reaching out, he rubbed the other man’s head. “Poor Niannian.”
He had finally managed to propose, only for his dad and his brother to ruin it.
Gu Qinian lifted his eyes and looked at him pitifully from under his lashes. “…Do you like it?”
He meant the huge diamond ring.
Gu Tang raised his hand and looked at it in the sunlight. “I like it.”
“I like shiny things the most, especially one this big.”
As he spoke, he blinked at Young Master Gu. “Especially since you picked it out for me.”
Gu Qinian’s heart leaped with joy, and he hurried to ask, “Then do you accept?”
This time he was asking about the proposal.
But Gu Tang did not answer directly. Instead, he wrapped his arms around Young Master Gu’s neck and pressed his soft lips lightly to his.
Gu Qinian’s breathing deepened. “Do you accept or not?”
Gu Tang still said nothing. He closed his eyes and kept kissing him.
Those lips, full and sweet like ripe berries, kissed him again and again with careful tenderness.
Being kissed like this, there was no need for extra words. He could clearly feel how deeply the other person liked him.
The unease and restlessness in his heart gradually faded away with each kiss.
Gu Qinian closed his eyes, held the back of Gu Tang’s head, pried open his teeth, and deepened the kiss…
Outside the window, the sun shifted position, and the light in the room changed.
After who knew how long, Gu Qinian leaned against the bed, gently stroking the soft cheek of the person in his arms with his fingers as he called softly, “Tangtang…”
“Mm…”
Gu Tang was tired and answered hazily.
He moved just a little, and the blanket slipped down slightly, revealing a few fresh red marks on his shoulder.
Gu Qinian lowered his head and kissed those marks, then lifted the young man’s hand and kissed it by his lips. When he reached the finger wearing the ring, he suddenly froze.
Wait…
Did this count as accepting, or not?
Gu Qinian instantly woke up. He shook the person in his arms. “Don’t sleep yet. You still haven’t answered me.”
Gu Tang: “Zzzz…”
Gu Qinian: “…”
He could only blame himself. He should have gotten a clear answer before doing anything else.
Young Master Gu scratched his head.
If you asked him how he felt, the answer was regret.
—
University summer break was different from high school. There was basically no summer homework, and students had a lot of freedom.
“I found an internship back in my hometown.”
As Zhou Ze packed his luggage, he asked his two roommates, “What about you guys? Any plans?”
Tan Mian had no intention of leaving school for the time being. He lazily leaned back in his chair. “I picked up a few design commissions. Finishing them will be enough to feed me for a few months.”
As the two spoke, they both turned to look at Gu Tang. “What about Tangtang?”
Although Gu Tang did not live in the dorm, he sometimes came by to rest.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, he absentmindedly rubbed the ring finger of his left hand. “…There is something very important.”
If he did not say it directly, then it clearly was not convenient to talk about.
Zhou Ze and Tan Mian did not press further.
But seeing the way Gu Tang kept touching that finger, Zhou Ze suddenly had a strange illusion—
as if there ought to be a ring there.
The thought startled him, and he quickly shook his head.
Who got married that young?
Tan Mian seemed to sense something too, and suddenly asked, “I haven’t seen that Finance Department boyfriend of yours in a long time. Summer break is starting—he’s not coming to pick you up?”
Zhou Ze also asked with concern, “Yeah, Tangtang, how have things been between you two lately?”
“Very good.”
Gu Tang tilted his head and smiled with pursed lips.
He looked completely happy.
Seeing their cute little roommate wearing that simple, carefree, defenseless expression, both roommates felt their hearts tighten at the same time.
Why did it feel like their adorable roommate would be so easy for some man to trick?!
“He hasn’t come to pick you up in so long. Aren’t you going to ask him about it?”
Zhou Ze hinted carefully.
Gu Tang shook his head. “He’s busy.”
“Some people get busy and then disappear altogether!”
Tan Mian was much more direct. “When people have been together a long time, it’s easy to get tired of each other. And men become bad once they have money. Your boyfriend is so rich—you’d better be careful…”
Halfway through, Tan Mian’s voice got quieter.
Gu Tang had money too.
That statement had basically hit everyone equally…
“No, Niannian wouldn’t do that.”
Gu Tang sounded extremely certain, smiling cheerfully.
If they really wanted to count it, he was the owner of the company. The company’s money was all with him.
If anyone was going to go bad, it would be him.
Zhou Ze and Tan Mian were speechless. Silently, they worried: their love-brained little roommate had better not get tricked by some scumbag and end up helping him count the money afterward!
Just then, Gu Tang suddenly got a call.
“You’re here? Okay, I’m coming down right now!”
Still talking on the phone, he waved at his roommates and happily ran downstairs.
Zhou Ze and Tan Mian looked at each other, then simultaneously rushed to the dorm window—
Below, parked outside, was an outrageously flashy rose-pink sports car that looked nothing like the kind a man would drive.
Zhou Ze & Tan Mian: “?”
The car door opened, and out stepped a stylish, gorgeous young woman.
“!!!”
The two straight male roommates instantly blushed bright red.
A moment later, they saw Gu Tang come running out with quick little steps, waving from far away. “Yiyi!”
The woman was even more open and warm, spreading her arms to him.
The two of them hugged each other enthusiastically.
Zhou Ze: “?!”
Tan Mian: “?!!!”
Then Gu Tang jumped into her car, and with the roar of the engine, the sports car sped off into the distance.
Leaving the two roommates upstairs standing there in complete confusion.
Tan Mian: “What is going on? He got into a girl’s car!”
Zhou Ze shook his head in bewilderment.
He did not know either.
At the very least, their little roommate probably was not going to get tricked by some scumbag…
Gu Tang had no idea that his image in his roommates’ minds had changed again.
After getting into the car, he looked around at the decorations inside, then turned to look at Jiang Yiyi’s outfit. “Yiyi, you look so cool!”
As Jiang Yiyi sped along with her childhood friend in tow, she smugly lifted her chin. “Of course!”
The Jiang siblings had both earned enough credits early and returned to the country ahead of schedule.
Jiang Yiwen followed Gu Qinian as his assistant, while Jiang Yiyi poured all her energy into her dreams. She opened a styling design studio and even became an associate editor for a fashion magazine, moving easily through high society and the fashion world.
Gu Tang asked curiously, “So now you don’t even dare eat chicken drumsticks anymore? What do you do when you crave them?”
“When I crave them, I just look at the golden chicken drumstick you and Gu Qinian gave me!”
Jiang Yiyi smacked her lips and sighed regretfully. “For the sake of making money and building my career, I can only temporarily cut off my true love…”
“Temporarily?” Gu Tang repeated.
Jiang Yiyi grinned. “When I retire someday and quit the fashion world, I’m going to eat a whole bucket of chicken drumsticks in one go!”
Gu Tang: “…”
Who would believe that a fashion icon’s ultimate dream was to eat an entire bucket of chicken drumsticks?
—
Jiang Yiyi’s studio was located in the fashion district of the capital.
As soon as they arrived, she wasted no time and shoved Gu Tang into the inner room to change clothes.
“Yiyi…”
From inside came Gu Tang’s weak little voice. “Why… doesn’t this shirt have a back?”
Jiang Yiyi gave a dry cough. “That’s the design. Anyway, no one can see it under the jacket.”
“But if I take the jacket off, won’t they see it?”
Holding up the shirt with a huge chunk of fabric missing from the back, Gu Tang looked very worried.
Jiang Yiyi coughed again. “It’s not like you’ll be taking it off in front of other people, so what are you afraid of? Hurry up and put it on so I can see. I can’t wait to see my masterpiece!”
It took quite a while before Gu Tang finally got dressed.
From the outside, the white little formal suit looked like a fitted suit jacket, except that the waist was cut very narrow and the pants clung closely to the legs. Compared with an ordinary suit, it had far more decorative detail, with delicate trim added to the collar and hem.
The most special part of the design was the shirt worn underneath.
Several ribbons were tied at the neckline, lace decorated the cuffs and waist, and the back had a large diamond-shaped cutout.
As soon as the jacket came off, the entire back would be exposed.
Jiang Yiyi said the outfit was called Angel’s Wings, and the cutout was meant to make it easier for an angel to spread his wings.
In her eyes, Gu Tang had always been a little angel ever since childhood.
Gu Tang had never worn such elaborate clothing before, and standing in front of the mirror, he felt shy. “I told you, a normal formal outfit would have been enough. Why did you make it so complicated?”
Jiang Yiyi stepped forward to help straighten his clothes. “What are you saying? Nothing that comes out of my hands is ever ordinary!”
“Besides, how could something ordinary possibly suit you?”
Jiang Yiyi was extremely satisfied with her work, and even more satisfied that Gu Tang was the one wearing it.
Gu Tang tugged at the hem. “Will it look good?”
“You don’t trust my taste?”
Jiang Yiyi shot back confidently.
Gu Tang shook his head. “I… I’m just a little nervous.”
“Listen, you look insanely good!”
With nimble fingers, Jiang Yiyi tied the ribbons at Gu Tang’s collar into a bow. “I’m already starting to envy Gu Qinian.”
Gu Tang lowered his head, his cheeks reddening.
Jiang Yiyi leaned in and whispered, “Remember to tell him this outfit took me more than a month to make by hand. Tell him to treasure it and not tear it off.”
Gu Tang’s face immediately exploded red. “Yiyi!!!”
Jiang Yiyi: “Hehe.”
“All dressed. Let’s go!”
Gu Tang turned his head and looked at himself in the mirror again. Taking a deep breath, he nodded.
Set off—
On the other side, in the company.
After finishing a phase of work and checking the accounts, Gu Qinian said calmly, “I’m taking vacation. You handle things for a while.”
Jiang Yiwen closed the file in his hands. “Got it. Summer break, right? You want to stay with Tangtang.”
It was rare to see a smile on Young Master Gu’s face.
Gu Qinian slightly curled his lips, clearly in a good mood. “Good that you know.”
“Speaking of which, when are you two finally doing it?”
Jiang Yiwen fired off three questions in a row. “Have you proposed? Did he say yes? Did everything go smoothly?”
All three questions managed to hit exactly where it hurt.
“…”
The rare smile on Young Master Gu’s face immediately vanished, and his whole expression darkened like the bottom of a pot.
Jiang Yiwen instantly changed the subject. “You won’t be in the office at all this summer. Can you at least give your assistant the last day? Let’s go have a drink and relax a little?”
Gu Qinian shot him a glance. “Do I look like someone who would drink with you?”
Jiang Yiwen: “…”
If it weren’t for Tangtang’s lifelong happiness, I would not bother with you at all!
Assistant Jiang cursed him furiously in his heart while still forcing a smile. “Come on, come on…”
Gu Qinian frowned tightly. “You do realize this is disgusting, right?”
Jiang Yiwen stared at him in disbelief. “Last time! Tangtang used exactly this tone with you, and you agreed to everything immediately!”
Gu Qinian gave him a look as if he were an idiot. “You just said it yourself—that was Gu Tang. When he does it, it’s acting cute. When you do it…”
Jiang Yiwen: “When I do it, what?”
“It’s losing your mind.”
“…”
To keep the little boat of their friendship from being sunk, Jiang Yiwen finally stood up straight and spoke properly. “Fine, no more beating around the bush. I’ve got my eye on a project. I want you to come take a look with me.”
Gu Qinian remained unmoved. “I’m going home.”
Jiang Yiwen was about to say more when Young Master Gu’s phone chimed—
“Niannian.”
Perfect. That was Gu Tang’s exclusive message tone.
No one knew when Gu Qinian had recorded it.
But every time Jiang Yiwen heard it, he felt the sour sting of having just eaten a lemon.
The moment he saw the message was from Gu Tang, a smile appeared in Gu Qinian’s eyes. However, the instant he read the contents, the happiness vanished.
Jiang Yiwen: “? Is he breaking up with you?!”
“…In your dreams.”
Gu Qinian frowned irritably. “It’s not that serious. He said he’s going back to the Yu house for a few days and told me to do whatever I want in the meantime.”
Jiang Yiwen was overjoyed. “That’s great! Tangtang is brilliant. Perfect—you can come look at the project with me!”
Gu Qinian had absolutely no interest in any new project.
He had been working overtime nonstop lately, expanding the company’s business areas yet again, all so the company could stabilize sooner and he could go home to spend the summer with Gu Tang.
And now on the very first day of vacation, Gu Tang had gone back to the Yu house by himself.
He had not even invited him along—he had only told him to enjoy his own free time.
Gu Qinian: angry.
He had heard that some couples ran into the so-called seven-year itch. He and Gu Tang had been together for almost three times seven years already. Could it be that Gu Tang was getting tired of him?
That would not do. He had not even successfully gotten through the proposal yet!
Thinking back to the day of the proposal made Gu Qinian’s chest tighten.
He had failed to control himself and exhausted Gu Tang too badly. Gu Tang had ended up sleeping until nearly evening, and when he finally came out of the room, he had been so shy that he did not even dare let Gu Qinian properly say goodbye to the Yu family before seeing him off through the back door.
It had made it look like they were having an affair…
Though sneaking around was exciting too, what Gu Qinian wanted now was a proper title.
A title that would let him keep Gu Tang openly by his side.
A title that would make no one ever question their relationship again.
But the problem was—
he was anxious, while Gu Tang was not anxious at all.
Just like tonight. He could actually bear to leave him behind and go back to the Yu house…
Jiang Yiwen could visibly see his boss’s expression becoming more and more pitiful.
Assistant Jiang stepped forward and patted his shoulder. “Stop overthinking it and come with me. For the sake of all the blood and sweat I’ve given this company, trust me just once. I guarantee the trip will be worth it!”
Gu Qinian’s sharp gaze dropped to the hand patting his shoulder. “You’re not planning to drag me off to some weird place, are you?”
Jiang Yiwen’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly pulled his hand back. “O-of course not!”
Gu Qinian narrowed his eyes.
Jiang Yiwen swallowed.
He could not help sighing inwardly. Young Master Gu really was hard to fool…
“Anyway, it’s a good place. You might even have such a great time that you won’t want to come back!”
Assistant Jiang gave up pretending and went straight to emotional blackmail. “Just tell me—do you trust me or not?”
Gu Qinian said mercilessly, “Honestly? Not very much.”
Jiang Yiwen: “…”
At this point, there was only one trump card left.
“But Tangtang trusts me!”
Bringing out Gu Tang, Jiang Yiwen held two fingers less than a centimeter apart. “So why don’t you maybe trust me just this tiny little bit too?”
Gu Qinian: “…”
—
More than three hours later.
Sitting in a helicopter, the veins at Gu Qinian’s temple throbbed. “You are trampling on Gu Tang’s trust.”
“No, no!”
Jiang Yiwen waved his hands nervously. “We’re almost there, really!”
Gu Qinian closed his eyes and tried to suppress his temper. “What kind of project did you even choose?”
Jiang Yiwen could not explain it clearly either. He kept his head down checking the location coordinates and muttering, “This should be the place…”
Eyes still closed, Gu Qinian leaned back in his seat, annoyed and restless. “If you didn’t lack the nerve for it, I’d think you had kidnapped me.”
The moment he finished speaking, Jiang Yiwen shouted excitedly—
“We’re here, we’re here!!!”
Looking out through the helicopter window, Gu Qinian saw an island. It was close to evening, and there were a few lights glowing on the island.
Judging by its size, this should be a private island.
After the helicopter landed steadily, Gu Qinian and Jiang Yiwen stepped onto the island.
The island was mainly white sand, fine and soft in texture. The sea was a deep blue, and scattered seashells lay across the beach. In the distance, dense greenery filled the view, with quite a few fruit trees among it. There was also a manor-like building on the island, showing that someone maintained the place.
Jiang Yiwen looked very pleased with himself. “Nice environment, right?”
After looking around once, Gu Qinian asked, “You want to buy an island? Turn it into a resort?”
Jiang Yiwen shrugged. “I wish. The owner won’t sell.”
Gu Qinian let out a cold laugh. “That just means you didn’t offer enough money.”
Jiang Yiwen curled his lips but did not comment. He only said, “Let’s go inside first.”
The manor-like building looked like a private club.
There were not many staff members, but each was calmly carrying out their duties.
Seeing guests arrive, they did not look surprised. They led the two of them to the bar by the floor-to-ceiling windows so they could enjoy the beautiful seaside sunset.
“How does this place normally take guests?”
Looking around, Gu Qinian asked from a business angle.
“This place wasn’t open to the public before. The island owner invited us here because they want to discuss the possibility of joint development.”
After briefly explaining, Jiang Yiwen made an excuse to disappear to the bathroom. “You sit here and rest for a bit. I’m going to the restroom.”
Gu Qinian waved a hand. “Do as you like.”
Jiang Yiwen hurried off. Gu Qinian ordered a drink and sipped it slowly.
Outside the window, the setting sun looked like a round salted egg yolk, sinking leisurely into the water.
This kind of peaceful scenery was exactly what Gu Tang liked best.
Gu Qinian took out his phone, snapped a few photos of the “salted egg yolk” outside, and sent them to Gu Tang along with a message—
[Do you like it? We’ll come together next time.]
It was probably the same feeling Gu Tang had whenever he ate something delicious and wanted to share half of it with him.
Gu Qinian had always thought it was idiotic to hold up a phone and take pictures of scenery.
But now, seeing a beautiful view, he could not help acting stupid too.
He just wanted to share it with the person he loved.
Since the island owner wanted to discuss joint development, there would be plenty of chances in the future to bring Gu Tang here for a short stay.
Far away from the crowds, with only the two of them.
Gu Qinian curved his lips and put his phone away.
Then he noticed that Jiang Yiwen still had not come back, as if he had fallen into the restroom. Even stranger, the two or three staff members nearby had disappeared as well.
The whole island suddenly seemed quiet.
All that could be heard was the distant sound of the waves and birds returning to their nests.
Growing a little bored, Gu Qinian stood up, ready to go drag Jiang Yiwen out of the restroom.
The moment he moved, someone sat down beside him.
Gu Qinian turned his head and saw someone dressed in an exquisite white suit.
The person was slender and tall, wearing a mask on his face. Not only were his clothes gorgeous, even the mask itself was decorated with sparkling crystals and feathers.
Gu Qinian had no interest in strangers. His only thought upon seeing the outfit was—
Later, he had to get one for Gu Tang!
That pure white little suit suited Gu Tang far too well. The flowing ribbons and lace combined with the feather decorations gave it a hint of holiness.
His darling would look like a beautiful little angel in it.
The newcomer held a glass of red wine. After sitting down, he tapped his crystal glass lightly against Gu Qinian’s.
Clink—
The two glasses touched with a soft sound.
Then the other person lifted his glass toward him in an unmistakable gesture of invitation and flirtation.
Gu Qinian ignored him completely. He did not even touch the glass that had been bumped by the other man. He turned to leave.
His arm suddenly tightened.
The other person’s hand, clad in a lace glove, had grabbed his sleeve.
Gu Qinian shook him off at once. “Stay away from me. I’m married.”
“Oh?”
The other person let out a faint sound of surprise. “Then why aren’t you wearing a ring?”
Hearing that voice, Gu Qinian froze and turned back to stare at him in disbelief.
The masked young man leaned close, his soft body pressing lightly against Gu Qinian’s arm, and with a finger covered by a lace glove, he lightly tapped his Adam’s apple. “What kind of fool proposes with a diamond ring only for his partner, but prepares nothing for himself?”
“…”
Gu Qinian’s throat moved, but he could not get out a single word.
“My husband is exactly like that.”
The masked young man gave a small huff. As he spoke, he removed his lace glove and held his long, beautiful fingers out in front of him—
On the ring finger was the huge sparkling diamond he had bought.
“My husband, you see, only bought this one for me when he proposed, and forgot to prepare one for himself.”
The young man gently shook Gu Qinian’s arm. “So tell me, should I say yes to him?”
It took Gu Qinian a long moment to recover his voice. “…He has no experience.”
“That’s what I thought too.”
The young man tilted his head to look at him. “He’s very cute, don’t you think? Even with his partner standing right in front of him, he still can’t recognize him.”
“He’s an idiot.”
Cursing himself, Gu Qinian reached out and removed the young man’s mask.
As they spoke, the sun had already sunk completely into the sea. Outside the window, everything had grown dark, with only the moon and stars still hanging in the sky.
Yet the moment the mask came off, even the moon and stars seemed to lose their light.
There was only the young man in front of him, smiling with crescent eyes.
His eyes were like two little moons, filled with glittering starlight, so beautiful that it was impossible to look away.
“Niannian, do I look good?”
Gu Tang pressed his lips together and asked shyly.
Suddenly, Gu Qinian hated how bad he was with words. He searched his mind over and over, yet could not think of a single word worthy of the person in front of him.
In the end, he could only nod hard.
The shyness on Gu Tang’s face faded, and his smile grew even sweeter. “Then do you like it here?”
“The whole island has only the two of us on it.”
Gu Qinian nodded even harder.
This was a scene that should only exist in dreams—
the entire world holding no one but him and Gu Tang.
He could keep the person before him all to himself, hide him away carefully, let only himself see him, let only himself have him.
“You see, this is what a proposal should be like. In a private place like this, with no one around, no one can interrupt.”
As Gu Tang spoke, he took out a ring box.
When he opened it, inside lay a pair of beautifully designed plain bands.
One larger, one smaller, with a neutral style that was perfect for everyday wear.
“Are you willing to stay with me?”
Gu Tang tipped up his face and asked the person in front of him.
Gu Qinian did not even give him the chance to kneel on one knee. He stepped forward and kissed him directly.
They had already kissed many times before. It should not have felt this awkward and inexperienced.
But Gu Tang felt that tonight Young Master Gu was just like the first time they had kissed—clumsy, eager, messy, yet cherishing him beyond words.
After the two of them parted, seeing the silver thread still hanging at the corner of Gu Qinian’s lips, Young Master Gu actually blushed.
Gu Tang’s playful side immediately surfaced, and he said with a grin, “You’re already married, so why are you still kissing other people?”
“Wouldn’t your partner get angry?”
The young man before him was playful and lively, a little different from the obedient Gu Tang he usually saw at home.
Gu Qinian’s heart pounded. In one swift motion, he lifted him onto the bar counter, wanting to continue the kiss they had just started.
But Gu Tang braced a hand against his shoulder. “Wait. Put the rings on first.”
He took out one of the plain bands and slipped it onto Young Master Gu’s finger.
Without needing to be told, Gu Qinian impatiently grabbed the other, smaller one and put it on Gu Tang.
Gu Tang happily shook his hand. “Now that you’re wearing the ring, you belong to me. You have nothing to do with your partner anymore.”
Gu Qinian stared fixedly at the young man before him.
They had been together for twenty years. Every single day, he liked Gu Tang more than he had the day before.
As time accumulated, so did the things he wanted…
Gu Tang had not had enough fun yet, and was just about to tease Young Master Gu a little more.
But the very next second, he was scooped up into the other man’s arms.
Gu Qinian asked only one question—
“Where’s the room?”
