NOVPUB
Chapter 131: Chapter 131: Do You Want to Marry Me?
Chu Yin was scared stiff by Zhan Hui’s shameless words, her body tensed up as she was held tightly by him.
The quiet alley was so silent that a pin drop could be heard, and the sound of their breathing and heartbeats echoed in each other’s ears.
Zhan Hui said to Chu Yin, "Chu Yin, in the past, we treated each other like enemies, always arguing whenever we met. But, I don’t know when it started, I realized that I am happy when I see you and feel lost when I don’t. You, being so timid, even came to find me from among the dead. Before I went to the battlefield, I wrote you a letter in case I died, and you might find it in my clothes."
Chu Yin pushed Zhan Hui away and covered his mouth, "Don’t talk nonsense!"
Zhan Hui held Chu Yin’s hand and kissed her.
"I don’t want to die; I want to marry you!" Zhan Hui summoned his courage to say.
Chu Yin’s cheeks flushed red; was Zhan Hui confessing his feelings?
"Are you lying to me?" she asked, uncertain.
Holding Chu Yin’s hand, Zhan Hui said, "I still carry that letter with me."
After saying that, he handed the letter he had in his chest pocket to Chu Yin.
Under the dim light, Chu Yin couldn’t see the words clearly, but she took the letter and placed it inside her sleeve.
"Do you want to marry me?" Zhan Hui asked straightforwardly.
Chu Yin’s heart pounded chaotically; she stammered, "I am not yet divorced, I don’t know what my father would think."
Zhan Hui, touching Chu Yin’s soft cheek, asked, "Does it hurt?"
"What?" Chu Yin looked puzzled.
Zhan Hui pulled Chu Yin into his embrace again, "I heard that your father hit you."
Chu Yin awkwardly said, "That’s not true, my dad loves me so much!"
Zhan Hui said tenderly, "I’ll go with you; if your father gets angry, let him hit me. I was the one who fell for you first. As long as we can be together, I’m not afraid of any difficulties."
Chu Yin’s face rested against Zhan Hui’s chest; at this moment, it felt so unreal.
Despite their usual conflicting relationship, at this moment, they both fell hopelessly in love with each other.
"Zhan Hui, can we really be together?" Chu Yin asked worriedly.
Zhan Hui tightened his grasp on Chu Yin’s hand, "We definitely can. If your uncle refuses to let us be together, and if you’re willing, I will elope with you!"
Chu Yin’s lips curved into a smile, "You, I will try to convince my father."
"Alright." Zhan Hui held Chu Yin’s hand happily, ready to marry her once her parents agree to the breakup.
It’s unlikely anyone from the Zhan Family would object.
Zhan Hui walked Chu Yin home, the couple reluctant to part, now certain of each other’s feelings.
...
Meanwhile, during the bustling Lantern Festival, Zhan Lan walked by the Wangjiang River, decorated with lotus lamps.
In Nanjin, the Lantern Festival is not only a time for fun, but also a day for blessings and remembrance.
It is said that worlds of the living and the dead are separate, and so are their lanterns, thus the lanterns meant for spirits are placed on water, a practice called "lantern floating."
Lanterns shaped like lotus flowers and lit, are called "lotus lanterns."
Zhan Lan saw a girl about ten years old selling lotus lanterns at the roadside. She had two lantern-like buns on her head and wore tattered clothes, shyly looking up at Zhan Lan.
She had never seen such an androgynous and good-looking man, with such an ethereal aura.
Zhan Lan approached her and stood in front of her, causing the girl’s face to instantly flush red.
Zhan Lan softly said, "Little girl, I’ll buy all your lotus lanterns!"
The girl looked at Zhan Lan in surprise, "Mister, did I hear you right, all of them?"
Not until she felt a heavy piece of silver in her palm did the girl look at Zhan Lan in astonishment, "Mister, this is too much!"
Zhan Lan smiled and said, "You help me light these lanterns and float them on the river; I will give you another silver."
The girl’s eyes sparkled with excitement, and she nodded vigorously, "Yes, mister!"
Carefully, she placed the silver in her pocket and lit each lantern, arranging them in a row by the river.
Zhan Lan knelt by the river’s edge, floating one lantern after another, watching them drift away with the current.
"Mister, are you commemorating a loved one?" the girl asked curiously, tilting her head.
Zhan Lan nodded, "Yes, I am remembering my relatives."
The lanterns were for the Zhan Family Army who perished at Fengyu Pass, although Zhan Beicang and others had comforted the soldiers’ families and brought enough silver to ensure their well-being for life.
Despite having lived a second life and saving his relatives, changing their fates, Zhan Lan found it impossible to fend off the anguish that war brought.
Those young, vibrant lives had still departed.
The girl, looking at Zhan Lan’s expression, found the mister more and more beautiful, his attractive eyes beneath long lashes shining like stars.
But those eyes seemed filled with sorrow.
The girl felt sad along with him, thinking how pitiful this generous mister was, having to remember so many deceased loved ones.
"Don’t be sad; they will think of you too," the girl comforted.
Zhan Lan smiled faintly, finding the little girl quite endearing, "What’s your name?"
"I am called Little Heye, my grandpa has always called me that since I was young."
"Little Heye, that’s a nice name, easy to remember." Zhan Lan pulled out a pack of Pine Nut Sugar from his sleeve and handed it to Little Heye.
"Thank you, brother." Little Heye accepted shyly, thinking for a moment before saying, "Brother, you don’t need to give me that other silver; one piece is already enough for my grandfather and me to live on for a year."
Little Heye was quite principled, refusing to take any more silver Zhan Lan offered. 𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒑𝒖𝒃.𝙘𝒐𝒎
"Alright!" Zhan Lan took another lotus lantern and placed it into the water, watching them drift.
There are many children like Little Heye in this world, impoverished.
If he can help, he should.
Zhan Lan smiled, "Next time I buy lotus lanterns, I’ll come to you!"
Little Heye’s eyes gleamed with excitement.
"Okay, brother."
Zhan Lan watched Little Heye merge into the crowd; suddenly, his right eyelid twitched.
He sharply looked up, noticing in the darkness that several figures were following Little Heye.
"That’s not good!"
Was someone after the silver he gave to Little Heye intending to rob her?
Zhan Lan quickly stood up and moved swiftly along the riverbank.
If Little Heye suffered any harm because of the silver he gave, he couldn’t possibly rest easy.
