The two of them had been taking photos in the park for a long time, and the sky was gradually darkening.
Feng Qingyi asked, "Shouldn't dinner be ready at your place by now?"
"It should be about ready. Let's head back," Qin Yuchuan replied.
In the Falling Flower Courtyard, Yan Chi and Yan Yang had already lit the candles, and the food was laid out on the table.
"Yan Yang, how are the fireworks preparations coming along?" Yan Chi inquired.
Yan Yang responded, "Don't worry! I've had everything prepared for a while now. We're just waiting for Miss Qingyi to arrive and light them up."
Yan Chi cautioned, "I remember the General saying to set off the fireworks after dinner. Don't mess up the General's plans."
"You don't need to remind me. I know what I'm doing," Yan Yang retorted.
Qin Yuchuan led Feng Qingyi out from the study. Seeing the two arrive, Yan Chi and Yan Yang swiftly exited the courtyard.
Feng Qingyi immediately noticed the flickering candlelight in the courtyard. "Is today a special occasion?" she asked.
"Let's go sit down," Qin Yuchuan said, guiding Feng Qingyi to a chair beneath the crabapple tree.
Moonlight poured down, creating a charming interplay with the candlelight. It was then that Feng Qingyi noticed the flower bouquets placed around them.
Qin Yuchuan handed chopsticks to Feng Qingyi, saying, "You must be hungry after waiting so long. Let's eat!"
Feng Qingyi took the chopsticks, replying, "Alright, you eat too."
The red candles on the table burned brightly, their flames swaying gently in the breeze.
Feng Qingyi tasted the porridge in her bowl. "Did you make this?"
"Mm-hmm," Qin Yuchuan nodded.
Feng Qingyi asked, "Did you add sugar to the porridge?"
"Don't you like sweet things?" Qin Yuchuan inquired.
Feng Qingyi smiled and said, "I do like sweet things, but it seems you've added a bit too much sugar today. Try it yourself."
Feng Qingyi scooped up a spoonful and held it to Qin Yuchuan's lips. He tasted it and said, "You're right, it is a bit too sweet. I'll get you another bowl."
"A little extra sweetness is nice too. It's a unique flavor," she replied.
Feng Qingyi ate leisurely, occasionally glancing up at Qin Yuchuan across from her.
Qin Yuchuan slowly added food to Feng Qingyi's plate. The spring night's breeze was warm, and the moonlight gentle.
Suddenly, a firework exploded in the sky, its dazzling light scattering in all directions before fading away, leaving behind wisps of smoke.
Then, rows of fireworks began to bloom in the night sky, illuminating the entire scene.
Feng Qingyi looked up at the sky. This vantage point seemed to have been chosen specifically for her. No wonder he had been stalling for time, waiting for nightfall!
As the fireworks faded and the scattered smoke dissipated, everything returned to tranquility.
Qin Yuchuan walked to Feng Qingyi's side. "Did you like it?" he asked.
Feng Qingyi looked up, meeting his affectionate gaze. "I loved it," she replied.
Qin Yuchuan slowly produced a diamond ring he had prepared earlier.
"Qingyi, this journey has been worth looking forward to because of you," he began.
"Before I met you, I thought my life would be like my father's – fighting on battlefields until I perished there. Nothing more."
"After meeting you, I realized there were other things worth pursuing in life. You, for instance."
"I hope that for every day in the future, you'll be by my side."
"Qingyi, will you marry me?"
Feng Qingyi stood up, facing Qin Yuchuan.
Looking at his eyes full of deep emotion and the diamond ring in his hand, Feng Qingyi nodded solemnly.
"Yes. Put the ring on my finger!"
Feng Qingyi extended her left hand, and Qin Yuchuan gently held it as he slowly slipped the ring onto her finger.
"Qingyi, now that you've agreed, there's no turning back," he said.
Feng Qingyi admired the sparkling diamond on her hand. "I definitely won't regret it. But what if you're the one who regrets it later?"
Qin Yuchuan pulled Feng Qingyi into a tight embrace. "I've worked so hard to be with you. How could I ever regret it?"
Suddenly, Feng Qingyi caught a whiff of something burning. "Yuchuan, let go of me. I think something's burning."
Qin Yuchuan released Feng Qingyi and saw that the table had caught fire.
"It's nothing serious. Yan Chi and the others will take care of it. Come with me back to the room," Qin Yuchuan said, picking up Feng Qingyi and carrying her towards the bedroom.
Yan Chi and Yan Yang leaped over the wall and looked at the burning table with resignation.
Yan Yang remarked, "Good thing it didn't catch fire while they were eating. That would have certainly frightened Miss Qingyi."
"That's because the General was constantly watching those candles, protecting them with his inner energy. Otherwise, do you think they could have lasted this long?" Yan Chi explained.
Yan Yang said, "I really don't understand why they needed to eat outside so late at night, set off fireworks, and have all these decorations."
"That's because you don't understand. The General seems to be in a very good mood," Yan Chi replied.
Yan Yang quipped, "With a beautiful woman in his arms, how could he not be in a good mood?"
In the study, Qin Yuchuan set Feng Qingyi down to sit on the desk.
He took out a notebook from a box, which Feng Qingyi recognized as the one she had given him before.
Qin Yuchuan handed the notebook to Feng Qingyi. "This is for you," he said.
Feng Qingyi accepted it and flipped through it, discovering that it was filled with writing, like a diary.
"When did you write all this?" she asked.
Qin Yuchuan explained, "After you gave me your diary, I also wrote some things I wanted to give to you. Today seemed like a good opportunity."
Feng Qingyi opened it to find amusing anecdotes from the military camp and things he wanted to tell her.
The entire notebook was filled from cover to cover. Feng Qingyi read a couple of pages carefully and decided to take the rest home to read later.
"Qingyi, come look at these things here. They're all prepared for you," Qin Yuchuan said, lifting Feng Qingyi off the desk and setting her down next to a pile of boxes.
Feng Qingyi looked at the stacked boxes. "What's inside all of these?"
"Open them and see!" Qin Yuchuan said softly.
Feng Qingyi opened one box and saw various styles of bowls inside. She wasn't sure what to say.
What did it mean to give her a box full of bowls?
"I remember you gave me many bowls before. When I returned from the military camp, I brought them all back and put them in the kitchen," Qin Yuchuan said.
Feng Qingyi found the memory amusing. "So now you're giving me bowls too?"
"You said you liked pretty things. I specially selected all of these," Qin Yuchuan explained.
Feng Qingyi crouched down to look closer. "They are quite beautiful."
"I'm glad you like them. Take a look at the others," Qin Yuchuan urged.
Feng Qingyi obligingly opened another box, which contained several vases.
"Do you like them?" he asked.
Feng Qingyi forced a smile. "They're nice."
"Look at the rest too," Qin Yuchuan said expectantly.
Feng Qingyi declined, "It's getting late. You can give me these another time."
"I'll buy you different things in the future," Qin Yuchuan said generously.
