Chapter 27: The Proposal Declaration

Ever since getting to know Fu Rangyi, Zhu Zhixi had countless times deliberately teased him, pushed his boundaries, and forced him to do things he was unwilling to do, just to see his reaction… Each time, he derived great pleasure from the mischief. This was the first time he had managed to put himself in such an awkward position.

The strange thing was, he couldn’t bring himself to stop it now. Another voice in his head was constantly answering for him: I want it! I want it.

He also knew it was because today was special, because Fu Rangyi was strictly abiding by his promise, irrefutably obligated to fulfill his every demand. That was the only reason for this rushed and comical proposal.

“I…” Zhu Zhixi didn’t know what to say. In the end, he just blinked his eyes. “Go ahead and propose.”

The ring delivery guy furrowed his brows, his gaze shifting between the two of them, finding it stranger and stranger the more he thought about it.

This level of pheromones should be the result of going at it for a whole day and night, right? So how are these two so unfamiliar with each other? Friends with benefits turning into an official couple? No, that’s not right, isn’t this a “make-up” proposal? What kind of normal person gets married first and then becomes friends with benefits…

He looked again at his top-Alpha client.

“Okay.” Fu Rangyi lowered his head, looking at the pair of rings nestled side-by-side in the jewelry box, and began to speak softly and slowly, “Then I will now…”

“Wait.” The temporary witness suddenly raised his hand, but as he opened his mouth, the pheromones almost made him gag, and he swallowed his words back down.

“Uh, I mean, usually proposals are recorded. Don’t you two want to record one as a keepsake?”

We’re not having a usual marriage either. Zhu Zhixi wanted to muddle through with his drunk act, but his fake husband spoke up first.

“Then I’ll have to trouble you to help us record it.”

Zhu Zhixi blinked.

Could it be that he’s seen through my act and wants to keep evidence to settle scores with me later?

“Oh, okay then. I’ll record.” The witness took out his phone, aimed the camera, and then directed, “Mr. Fu, please close the box first. Yes, when I say ‘start,’ you kneel down, and then open it.”

Fu Rangyi felt a bit strange.

It seems like a lot of people are ordering me around today.

But he did as he was told.

The moment the witness shouted “start,” the entryway of the apartment seemed to transform into a film set filled with lights and camera positions. He was a terrible new actor with no script and no skill. The director’s ability was also quite average. He could only crudely imitate similar scenes he had seen, no matter how cliché.

“Zhu Zhixi…”

He lowered his body, intending to get down on one knee, but the next second, his arm was pulled. Looking up, Fu Rangyi saw Zhu Zhixi’s flushed face.

“You don’t have to kneel,” he said in a small voice. “Aren’t we…”

Not real partners?

Zhu Zhixi also stood up, swaying as he lowered his head and finished his sentence.

“…equals?”

The actor in the scene with him had suddenly delivered a line that could be called a stroke of genius, making the new actor even more flustered.

He stood rigidly, opened the ring box, inhaled, exhaled, and was just about to speak.

A long vibration sounded, exceptionally clear in the quiet entryway. The three of them had different expressions. The witness frowned, his eyes darting around as if looking for the culprit who had ruined the atmosphere.

It’s me.

“Sorry…” Zhu Zhixi lowered his head and took his phone out of his hoodie pocket. Seeing the caller ID, his vision went dark.

Damn it, Da Zhu.

He unhesitatingly rejected the call and said sullenly, “Continue.”

Half a minute later, the new actor prepared himself once again. After a deep breath, he began in a low voice, “Zhu Zhixi, are you willing…”

He was interrupted again.

This time, it was a dry heave.

Since it wasn’t his fault this time, Zhu Zhixi was rather eager to find fault and get revenge. He supported his head and, under the influence of “alcohol,” started talking nonsense to the “witness.”

“Are you pregnant? Congratulations, congratulations!”

It’s because your husband’s pheromones are too strong! The witness swallowed, coughed dryly, and covered his mouth. “Sorry, you two continue…”

But Fu Rangyi didn’t pick up where he left off and repeat the line. He looked down at the rings. A few seconds later, with a soft click, the ring box was closed.

He left the entryway and walked deeper into the apartment, leaving the other two to stare at each other.

With one interruption after another, anyone would lose their momentum.

Listening to the fading footsteps, Zhu Zhixi felt a mix of emotions, wondering if it would be better to call it off now.

If he had known Fu Rangyi was this serious, he wouldn’t have teased him.

He took a deep breath, just as he was about to tell the delivery guy, “Thank you, you don’t need to record anymore, you can go,” Fu Rangyi came back. He was holding a half-empty bottle of red wine, the same bottle of Pinot Noir that Zhu Zhixi had picked from the wine cabinet a short while ago, the leftovers from making mulled wine.

It was clear Fu Rangyi had taken a few sips. The bite guard was off, and his lips were still moist with some wine, looking red and wet.

He placed the wine on the entryway cabinet, glanced at Zhu Zhixi’s eyes, then lowered his own lashes and began to speak calmly.

“This time last year, I wasn’t here. I was at an archaeological site. I had already been there for five months, from summer to winter…”

The witness held up his phone, his face full of confusion.

Is this still a proposal? Or have we moved on to another part of the process? Don’t you two divorce in front of me! And don’t complain about me if you break up, okay? This job isn’t easy.

He looked at the Beta who had just been acting drunk and found that this one was now also surprisingly calm.

“One night, there was a blizzard. The snow broke the tree branches, and I was woken up by the noise. It was three in the morning. I was very worried that the excavation site would be damaged, so I threw on a down jacket, grabbed a searchlight, and ran to the site by myself. It was icy, the ground was very slippery, and I accidentally fell into a deep drainage ditch… But it was okay. It was just a fracture of my left tibia. I had a fever for a few days and stayed in the hospital for a while. It wasn’t too serious.”

His tone was very flat, with no emotional fluctuations, as if he were telling someone else’s story.

“So, last Christmas, I also spent it in a small local hospital. At that time, there was a middle-aged couple in the hospital room, very loving. The Alpha’s wife came to see him every day, gave him sponge baths, and fed him. She was a very friendly Omega. On Christmas Eve, she even gave me a beautiful apple. I was very grateful.”

The witness listened, still not understanding what this had to do with a proposal. But he didn’t dare to make a sound.

“I watched their interactions every day and felt very estranged. It was as if that kind of life had nothing to do with me. I resist intimacy, I hate being close to people. At that time, I was lying alone in the hospital bed, working with my leg in a cast, and I even told myself, this is not the life I want to choose. If I had known that a year later I would be married and relying on red wine to ease my nervousness, I might not have been so resolute back then.”

At that time, an apple was just an apple. Now, looking back across the axis of time at that beautiful fruit, I might think, this would be perfect for the candy apple Zhu Zhixi never got to eat.

“To be honest, married life is very different from what I imagined. Suddenly there’s another person in the house, my life’s rhythm has been disrupted, the situation is not stable at all, and there are even many times when things get out of control. It’s terrible.”

As he spoke, he looked at Zhu Zhixi. That fellow sniffled, lowered his head, and rubbed the tip of his nose.

“Later I discovered that all these feelings were actually because I wasn’t used to it.” Fu Rangyi paused and smiled a little. “I’m like… a child who has never been to an amusement park. Afraid of heights, afraid of water, and very timid. But by accident, I got a limited-time experience ticket, walked in, and forced myself to accept this colorful, new park. After getting used to it, I also tasted some sweetness and felt some happiness.”

Zhu Zhixi remained silent, and Fu Rangyi continued on his own, “We… are different from other couples. We were very clear with each other from the beginning, and we made an agreement. However, I want to add a point now: regardless of the true emotional connection behind this relationship or how long it lasts, I am very grateful. Even if this relationship ends, you will always be my friend, my family, the most special existence in my life.”

He really wanted to add another point: I don’t have many friends, just Li Qiao for now. So this actually carries a lot of weight. But on second thought, it seemed unnecessary.

He didn’t look at Zhu Zhixi’s reaction. With his eyes downcast, he opened the ring box for the last time, took out the ruby wedding ring he had chosen for him, and stared at its brilliant, dazzling fire as he took half a step forward.

“So, Zhu Zhixi, are you willing to accept this promise and become the person with the highest priority in my interpersonal relationships?”

Zhu Zhixi’s lips were tightly sealed. He found it a little hard to breathe, his eyelashes trembling. A sourness spread through his heart, as if something was about to burst and flow out from the corners of his eyes.

This was the strangest proposal speech he had ever heard in his life. He had been to so many places and met countless people, but none were like Fu Rangyi.

Who else would take a drunkard’s request seriously? Who else would, during a proposal, not speak sweet nothings, but have lines filled with endings and farewells?

Fu Rangyi. Meticulous at work. Picky in life. Yet at this moment, he was clumsily hiding his subtext: Even though we started with a contract marriage, an emotional connection has genuinely and naturally developed.

We can be the closest of friends under a marriage certificate, or family members under the title of partners. No matter what kind of relationship, it is very precious to him.

Zhu Zhixi suddenly wanted to laugh. Never mind this “witness” who was completely out of the loop; in the whole world, probably only the two of them could understand this proposal.

But he didn’t laugh. He was afraid if he laughed, the tears would fall first.

And he didn’t even understand where these tears were coming from. His own heart, his own feelings, were a tangled mess.

He picked up the bottle of wine on the entryway cabinet, and chugged it down until it was empty.

Even so, even though Zhu Zhixi couldn’t sort out his thoughts at all, he knew one thing clearly—he didn’t want to make Fu Rangyi wait.

After finishing the wine, he put the bottle down, clenched his slightly trembling hand, extended it, and looked up at Fu Rangyi. “I am willing.”

Fu Rangyi was visibly stunned for a second.

“Hurry up.”

Only then did he lower his head and place the ring on Zhu Zhixi’s finger, for the second time. This time, his movements were clearly slower, more careful.

And this time, he didn’t make Fu Rangyi take the initiative. He naturally picked up the other ring himself. Before putting it on, he held it up to his eyes, scrutinized it, then suddenly gasped and shouted, “They engraved the numbers wrong!”

“What?”

The other two people on the scene jumped in fright.

But Zhu Zhixi giggled. “Just kidding.” After saying that, he smiled at the witness. “You too.”

Turning his head like that startled him as well. The witness’s face was streaked with tears, glistening.

“No, he’s proposing to me, what are you crying for?” Look how moved you are, a blubbering mess. Zhu Zhixi was baffled. “Do you even understand what he’s saying?”

The witness wiped his tears with his work uniform and sniffled.

I’m being smoked out by your husband!

Zhu Zhixi turned back, grabbed Fu Rangyi’s hand, holding it with both of his just like the first time on their blind date. “Your hand is so cold. Let me warm it up for you.”

Fu Rangyi stared at the drunken him, and at the ring that looked so easy to lose, and reminded him softly, “Hurry up and put it on me.”

“Oh, okay.” Zhu Zhixi grinned, held the ring properly, aimed it several times, and finally slipped it on. He then held up his hand and asked the witness, “Does my husband look good wearing this?”

The witness, with tears and snot streaming down his face, nodded. “Good, so good.”

Zhu Zhixi smiled again. “I think so too, so, so good.”

The next second, he went limp like a boneless shrimp and collapsed into Fu Rangyi’s arms. This time he wasn’t acting; he was truly drunk.

“Oh my, Mr. Zhu seems to have blacked out,” the witness said. “I was just about to suggest you two share a kiss.”

A kiss?

How could that be possible.

Fu Rangyi held the man half-embraced in his arms, glanced at the still-crying Monday-morning quarterback, and felt he was quite pitiful too, having to witness this farce.

So he thanked him, helped Zhu Zhixi onto the sofa, and after seeing him lie down properly, went back to the study. He opened a box, took out a few packets of wedding candy he had previously given to colleagues, handed them to the deliveryman, saw him off, and then sent him a large red envelope in the name of a tip.

When he returned inside, he was surprised to find that Zhu Zhixi had sat up again.

He was leaning quietly against the sofa cushion, his face red, his eyes still bright but unfocused, as if he were spacing out.

“Do you want to go back to your room to sleep?” Fu Rangyi walked over and squatted in front of him. “I’ll help you back.”

Zhu Zhixi lowered his eyes, his gaze vaguely locking onto its target, and he gave a childish smile.

In that instant, Fu Rangyi had a curious thought. Is this what Zhu Zhixi is like when he’s truly drunk? Very quiet, very well-behaved, not talking.

He also watched quietly, until Zhu Zhixi reached out a burning hot hand and pinched his cheek.

Fu Rangyi frowned and also grabbed his wrist. “What are you doing?”

Zhu Zhixi smiled again.

The long vibration started again. It was still Zhu Zhixi’s phone, ringing incessantly. But he didn’t seem to want to look at it at all.

Fu Rangyi reminded him, “Your phone is ringing.”

Only then did Zhu Zhixi slowly start to speak. “Zhu Zeran, annoying. Ignore him.”

“He annoys you?” Fu Rangyi asked.

“Mhm.”

“Who else annoys you?”

“…Lao Zhu, meddles a lot, also annoying.”

“Anyone else?”

Zhu Zhixi rubbed his face, then suddenly leaned in close to him and said in a super soft voice, “And you.”

Their noses touched. Fu Rangyi froze for a moment, feeling like his breathing had stopped.

After a moment, he also asked in a super soft voice, “Why do I annoy you?”

Zhu Zhixi blinked extremely slowly, his hand movements stopping. “You’ve made my heart a mess.”

Heart. A mess?

Zhu Zhixi took a long, light breath and said again, “You’ve made me a mess too, but I don’t blame you. You’re sick, you don’t want to be.”

Fu Rangyi let him hold his face, feeling the warmth of his palms seeming to transfer to his own cheeks, making them heat up.

He hesitated for a moment, still wanting to ask the same question, even though he had just coolly made his declaration, claiming that any emotional connection was good.

Even though he had warned himself that Zhu Zhixi loves everyone around him who has helped him. So of course, he would also burn his sincere love for anyone, lighting up the dark room, smoothing over the bruises.

A little god of love. Born to love people.

I was just luckily chosen to be the fortunate audience member who gets to experience the half-year partner game.

Knowing this, he still couldn’t help it.

“If, and I mean what if, it was someone else who was sick?”

Zhu Zhixi tilted his head slightly. “Someone else?”

“Yes. Not Fu Rangyi.”

Zhu Zhixi’s gaze shifted away from him, looking upward. This made his eyes look exceptionally bright, large, and round.

A few seconds later, he shook his head. “No.”

“No?” Fu Rangyi’s heart stirred.

“Other people can’t rub their bite guards on me, can’t kiss me, and definitely can’t lick me and touch my d…”

Fu Rangyi timely covered his overly honest little mouth.

“Okay. I understand.”

After a moment of silence, he said to Zhu Zhixi, “Thank you.”

He caught Zhu Zhixi’s wrist and took his hand away. He noticed that Zhu Zhixi now had a ring on his hand, but the beaded bracelet he always wore on his wrist was missing.

Where did it go?

And Zhu Zhixi seemed to be sleepy already, collapsing onto the sofa, not wanting to get up.

Fu Rangyi turned to look at the clock. It was already past ten. No wonder his voice had gotten softer just now.

He thought for a moment, hesitated, then stood up, bent down, and scooped the little drunkard into his arms. He walked from the living room to the guest bedroom, was about to step in, but then paused, raised his elbow, and knocked on the door, knock knock—

He lowered his head and asked the person in his arms softly, “May I come in?”

He didn’t know if the drunkard heard him clearly. He just hummed twice in his arms and buried his face deeper into his chest.

“Then I’ll take that as an invitation.” After saying that, Fu Rangyi walked in, placed him on the bed, took off his shoes and socks, and covered him with the quilt.

Zhu Zhixi was still muttering something, his speech unclear. Fu Rangyi leaned closer to finally make it out.

“Limited-time experience ticket, there are two. One for you, one for me.”

So he did hear me.

“Mhm, and then?”

“And then…” Zhu Zhixi rambled, “…only mine is real, the limited-time ticket.”

Fu Rangyi didn’t quite understand. “Why?”

Zhu Zhixi obviously couldn’t answer his question logically, just said in a low voice, “I’m very scared.”

That sounded so unlike Zhu Zhixi.

“You have things you’re afraid of too?” Fu Rangyi tucked the corner of the quilt for him.

Zhu Zhixi nodded. “I… am afraid of dying.”

Afraid of dying?

“Then why did you go skydiving, bungee jumping, and exploring primeval forests and tribes?” Fu Rangyi took advantage of his drunkenness and said it all.

There were so many of those videos. He had watched every single one. He had practically memorized the opening lines—because every opening line was the same, with Zhu Zhixi smiling brightly at the camera and shouting, “Mom, look!” A total mama’s boy.

At this moment, Zhu Zhixi didn’t realize that his round-the-world travel videos had been thoroughly watched by someone. He only had one thing on his mind, so he just muttered to himself, “I’m afraid of dying. I promised Mom I would live a little more for her, live longer, see more of this world for her. But this world is too big, I can’t finish seeing it all. Mom.”

Fu Rangyi suddenly froze, understanding something.

No wonder he had never met Zhu Zhixi’s mother.

“So, your mother…”

He couldn’t finish, because he found that the pair of beautiful eyes in front of him, which always held a mischievous glint, were now suddenly filled with tears. Soon, crystal-clear tears began to stream down.

When Zhu Zhixi cried, he would bite his lip, holding back his sobs, quieter than imagined.

[What makes you cry:]

[I haven’t cried since I became an adult. No need to write it, and you don’t need to fill it in.]

So that’s how it was.

Fu Rangyi carefully dabbed away his tears but didn’t know how to comfort him. Just as he was getting anxious, his hand was grabbed.

Zhu Zhixi looked at him with teary eyes and stammered, “That countdown I told you about, it’s real. I’m really seriously sick. I wasn’t lying to you.”

Fu Rangyi nodded. “You also said I could help you.”

“That’s true too, that sentence is also true. Yesterday, after you kissed me, the countdown not only stopped, but it also… it also went backward. Yesterday, after you and I… did that, it went back a whole day.”

“Fu Rangyi, in the future, can I…”

Fu Rangyi’s emotions suddenly became very complex, very chaotic. For a moment, it was as if he had been sucked into a vacuum where there was only the sound of flapping wings. He flew over, he was struck by an arrow, there was a reason for everything.

But he still managed to say “You can” in a deep voice before Zhu Zhixi could be more explicit, more detailed. Today was special, he quickly found a reason. It was “the day to obey Zhu Zhixi’s commands,” a compensation.

“If it can help you.”

---

Author’s Note:

—Small Theater: Professor Fu Cleaning Up the Mess—

After coaxing Xiao Zhu to sleep, Fu Rangyi got up. He was about to leave the guest bedroom but turned back before reaching the door. He walked to the tent, cleared out all the clothes inside, and carried them to the washing machine to sort.

Before stuffing them into the washing machine, he held the clothes, looked down at them for a while, buried his face in them and sniffed for a bit, then stuffed them in with a straight face and started the wash.

At this time, Professor Xiao Fu cleaned the dining table, tidied the kitchen, put the utensils and dishes in the dishwasher, then went back to the master bedroom to deal with the bedsheets and duvet cover, and finally entered the master bathroom.

He found the floor littered with small ice-blue beads. He knelt down and picked them up one by one, also collecting the final memory fragments. All his memories of the previous day returned.

After being stunned for a minute, he stood up, carried the beads to the study, took out a small ceramic bowl, and poured the small beads into it with a clatter. He then pulled open a drawer, found a small velvet box in the very back, and opened it. Inside was an identical, brand-new bracelet.

Holding this one, he went to the guest bedroom, knocked softly again, went in, came to the bedside, pulled out Xiao Zhu’s hand, and slipped it on for him.

Before leaving, he took Xiao Zhu’s left hand, gently pried open his fingers one by one, and checked his empty palm.

Then he said, “Pause quickly.”