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Liao Sheng: "?"

He was truly naive! He even allowed himself two whole seconds to believe that he might return to normal!

A proposal...!

A proposal was absolutely out of the question.

He and Ge Qiuling had agreed on a contract relationship; dating and breaking up were perfectly normal. But if a proposal made it to the trending topics and everyone knew about it, then breaking up afterward would carry a completely different weight.

Regret.

Liao Sheng regretted it deeply now.

If only he had found an excuse earlier to get Yi Feicheng hospitalized for a month straight.

Then he wouldn’t have to keep patching one lie with another.

But... since things had come this far, he just needed to endure a little longer and delay things—it should pass soon enough.

Liao Sheng first asked Yi Feicheng’s thoughts: "When do you want to propose?"

If he hadn’t already mentioned the wedding house and rings, he could have taken his time preparing a surprise. But now, it was as if the arrow was already on the bowstring; he had to show his sincerity as soon as possible and give her a perfect proposal ceremony, though not too rushed.

Yi Feicheng voiced his hesitation and concerns.

Liao Sheng pondered for a moment: "Feicheng, there’s a dating reality show project that I think fits your needs perfectly—ideal for a proposal."

Yi Feicheng: "Tell me more."

Hearing his interest, Liao Sheng felt he was already 60% certain.

Preparing for the dating show itself would take at least a month or two. By the time filming started, maybe Yi Feicheng would be well again, and a proposal wouldn’t be necessary.

He really was a genius!

*

At half past eleven, the driver parked the car downstairs at the hotel.

Yi Feicheng and Jiang Ranyun got in one after the other.

The car followed the navigation to a private restaurant they had reserved. It was Sunday and mealtime; the roads were crowded.

The intimate space made Jiang Ranyun want to say something to break the silence.

"Tonight’s..."

"I sent the..."

Obviously, Yi Feicheng was thinking the same.

They both began to speak, then stopped simultaneously.

Yi Feicheng looked at Jiang Ranyun, motioning for her to speak first.

Jiang Ranyun said dryly, "Are you participating in tonight’s Weibo text Q&A activity?"

It was one of the promotional events for "Flying Bird, Green Mountain."

Actually, as soon as she started speaking, Jiang Ranyun remembered—he was participating.

Yi Feicheng replied, "Yes."

Jiang Ranyun smiled, "Have you watched the recent updates of 'Flying Bird, Green Mountain' these past few days?"

Yi Feicheng said, "I have."

"Oh..." Jiang Ranyun was a bit surprised. "I haven’t yet; I need to catch up this afternoon."

Yi Feicheng asked, "Are you flying back to City A this afternoon?"

"Yes, a 4:30 flight."

Yi Feicheng was taken aback, "Sounds like we’re on the same flight."

Jiang Ranyun was surprised, "Really?"

Yi Feicheng pulled out his phone and showed her a screenshot of a ticket booking that Xiao Luo had sent him.

Jiang Ranyun leaned over for a glance: "It really is."

Yi Feicheng laughed, "Then we can go together. I’ll keep you company watching 'Flying Bird, Green Mountain' in the afternoon?"

Jiang Ranyun said, "Sure."

The topic came to a pause, and she thoughtfully asked Yi Feicheng, "What were you about to say earlier?"

Yi Feicheng lowered his voice, "I wanted to ask if you’ve picked a house you like?"

Jiang Ranyun: "."

Sometimes, it’s better to ask fewer questions!

These past days, Yi Feicheng had sent her many options—in City A, City S, and Luan City, including spacious flats and standalone villas. All were well-equipped and shockingly priced.

She kept saying she’d look and then look again.

*

She hadn’t planned to examine them closely, but just a cursory glance had made Jiang Ranyun genuinely interested in a few. It showed that Yi Feicheng had put a lot of thought into the selections.

"There are a few I think are pretty good," Jiang Ranyun said. "I’ll study and compare them more carefully."

"Alright, no rush."

At that moment, Jiang Ranyun’s phone buzzed—a message on WeChat.

Sitting close, Yi Feicheng caught a glimpse immediately.

It was from Song Zhiyuan.

[The song’s done. I recorded a demo myself. Have a listen.]

Then came a music file.

Jiang Ranyun clicked it open, and a light, charming melody flowed out.

It was a brief three minutes.

For Yi Feicheng, it felt somewhat long.

"Do you like it?" Jiang Ranyun asked after the song ended.

Yi Feicheng countered, "Do you?"

Jiang Ranyun replied, "I quite like it."

Yi Feicheng smiled, "Then it’s good."

"Don’t you usually listen to music?"

"Not much."

"What do you do in your free time then?"

"Mostly watch movies." After a pause, Yi Feicheng asked, "Do you want to be a singer?"

Jiang Ranyun: "I just want to release a single for fun. I sang on a variety show before, and many people complimented my singing. Haha, though I can’t take it too seriously, it made me think maybe I could try. Besides... I’ve always felt that music moves people in a subtler, broader, and more intimate way. Have you ever had a moment like that? Loving a song so much that you listen to it over and over, and years later, hearing it again brings you right back to that time—the weather, the feelings, the atmosphere—it's magical."

"I haven’t before," Yi Feicheng said, "but I’ll try someday."

...

Before they knew it, the car had arrived.

They entered the restaurant’s private room, which was decorated with an elegant, rustic style. The menu was crafted with exquisite detail.

The food didn’t disappoint Jiang Ranyun; every dish was delicious.

She ate with her head down, and Yi Feicheng couldn’t help but watch her, finding her adorable.

When Jiang Ranyun had nearly finished, Yi Feicheng tidied up, and then it was her turn to watch him.

He ate slowly and deliberately, unhurried.

Jiang Ranyun couldn’t tell what he liked or disliked.

"You don’t seem picky at all," she said, resting her chin on her hand.

"I am," Yi Feicheng said, "I don’t eat raw food."

"Like sashimi?"

"Yes."

"Have you tried it before and didn’t like it?"

"I tried it once as a child and it left a deep impression. I haven’t tried it since."

"A deep... trauma?"

Yi Feicheng smiled, "Exactly."

Watching him finish the remaining food, Jiang Ranyun thought to herself that she had learned a little more about him today.

*

Back at the hotel, they first tidied their things, then spent the rest of the time watching the show together.

"Let me see how far 'Flying Bird, Green Mountain' has updated."

The hotel TV was well-equipped, and Jiang Ranyun quickly found the latest episodes.

They leaned against the bed and sat on the carpet, watching silently.

Neither spoke until the episode ended.

"It’s really good," Jiang Ranyun said. "The pacing is fast, you can see the editor’s skill, and everyone’s performances are great... not wasted all those takes on set."

Yi Feicheng said, "You acted very well."

Jiang Ranyun complimented back, "You did too."

"Really," Yi Feicheng gazed at her, "you’re the best in my eyes."

Jiang Ranyun suddenly wanted to pinch his cheek but hesitated, instead lightly bumping his shoulder and smiling, "That’s probably because you’re watching me through a ten-meter filter. When that filter drops, you’ll realize you’ve been mistaken."

Yi Feicheng smiled gently, "If this filter is called 'love,' then I’m happy to wear it forever."

His smile was his most beautiful expression—eyes curved with endless tenderness, his dark pupils reflecting her image. At least at this moment, his heart and eyes were completely filled with her.

Jiang Ranyun lowered her gaze, holding the remote, "There’s not much time left. Let’s hurry and watch the next episode."

...

*

On the plane back to City A, thank goodness, Yi Feicheng’s seat was not next to hers.

Jiang Ranyun closed her eyes and rested after boarding; she was truly tired these past few days and quickly fell asleep until arriving in City A.

By the time she got home, night had fallen.

Since she rarely stayed at home, the fridge was empty.

Jiang Ranyun ordered a simple takeout and set an alarm—to remind herself to prepare for the Weibo promotional Q&A. Meanwhile, she messaged her close friends.

[I'm off tomorrow, anyone want to come over for a little drink?]

Her girlfriends replied one by one.

[Working overtime.]

[On a business trip.]

[Have a date.]

[Dog is sick.]

Jiang Ranyun sighed deeply.

This was the adult world—getting a group together was so difficult.

After finishing a simple low-calorie dinner, it was time to work. Jiang Ranyun began logging on to answer questions as part of the promotion.

Yi Feicheng was online as well.

He would reply to questions she had answered.

She would also respond to those he answered.

[JJ Everything is Achieved: @Jiang Ranyun @Yi Feicheng, at which point did Meng Zhiyi fall in love with Shen Yanming? And when did Shen Yanming fall for Meng Zhiyi? Please answer!]

Though set in the Republican spy era, "Flying Bird, Green Mountain" portrayed emotions delicately. Jiang Ranyun had written over ten thousand words of character backstory for the protagonist Meng Zhiyi, with emotions as a key focus.

She replied carefully and methodically.

After a while, Yi Feicheng responded too.

The fans happily shipped the couple and wanted even more joy, commenting under their replies: [Can you reveal when you two fell for each other? And when you officially got together?]

Jiang Ranyun worried Yi Feicheng might answer rashly, so she messaged him, reminding him not to reply to every fan question.

Yi Feicheng replied with a simple "Okay."

He behaved well in the latter half, only replying to questions Jiang Ranyun had answered.

Once this pattern was clear, Yi Feicheng’s most devoted fans had no choice but to politely @Jiang Ranyun, hoping she would respond so he would too.

The Q&A ended with the couple’s fans satisfied.

The promotional team saw multiple trending topics across platforms and beamed with delight. "Flying Bird, Green Mountain" reached new heights in popularity and ratings, and the production team happily sent red envelopes in their group chat.

The next day.

Upon waking, Jiang Ranyun first saw Yi Feicheng’s "Good morning," followed by a document that startled her.

[Qingti Video S-Level Project "Four Seasons Love Traveler" Proposal]

Jiang Ranyun: ?

She didn’t reply immediately.

After getting up and freshening up, she made sure her mind was fully awake and rational in the early morning.

Then she looked at her phone again and saw a message from Liao Sheng.

Jiang Ranyun frowned, not fully agreeing with his plan.

She replied that she wanted to discuss it with Yi Feicheng first.

She called Yi Feicheng.

He answered almost instantly, as if waiting for her.

"Yi Feicheng," Jiang Ranyun said, "let’s meet and talk."