Attention Sir, I Have Your Heart Handcuffed!-Chapter 393 - 272: Going Public with the Relationship (2 more 2)
Perhaps it was the feeling of having a complete family last night that was too good, or maybe it was because of Shi Nian’s words "be intimate after getting engaged" that acted as a catalyst, or perhaps it was the intimacy from last night that gave him confidence. Early the next morning, Huangfu Huazhang donned a formal tailcoat and stood in the hallway.
Xu Xinzhen and Shi Nian got up, and when they opened the door, they saw Huangfu Huazhang making such a grand gesture.
The pale golden sunlight filtered through the ivory sheer curtains, landing on the expensive scarlet corridor carpet, creating a dreamlike light mist.
Shi Nian was stunned: "Huangfu, what are you doing?"
Huangfu Huazhang smiled and nodded at her, reaching out his hand from afar.
She did not know why but walked over in a daze. He firmly grasped her hand and suddenly knelt on one knee before the stunned Xu Xinzhen.
"Auntie, I ask you to entrust your precious daughter to me. I will love her with all my heart and soul for the rest of my life."
Shi Nian was so shocked she couldn’t breathe.
Xu Xinzhen seemed to have no reaction for a long time, but Mrs. Liu was the first to chuckle softly and explained to Xu Xinzhen in a whisper: "Isn’t this Mr. Huangfu proposing to Shi Nian?"
Only then did Xu Xinzhen open her eyes wide and stare fixedly at Huangfu Huazhang: "Is... this a proposal?"
Huangfu Huazhang gazed at Shi Nian with a smile, "Auntie, the proposal is for Nian Nian. But before proposing to her, I must first seek your approval. Because such a precious daughter was raised by you with care and hardship for 25 years. Only after getting your approval and blessing can I then seek hers."
Xu Xinzhen’s tears suddenly fell like broken pearls, streaming down.
"Mom..." Shi Nian felt distressed, quickly reaching out to help her mother wipe her tears.
Xu Xinzhen looked up in confusion, glancing around: "Nian Nian, why hasn’t your dad come home from work yet? Look at this big thing happening today, with Huangfu coming to propose to you, how could your dad not take a moment off to come home a little early?"
This sentence unexpectedly pierced deeply into Shi Nian’s heart, making even breathing painful. Looking up, the sunlight was like mist, and tears turned into mist.
Xu Xinzhen was so anxious that she rubbed her hands together: "Oh dear, with such a big matter, he’s not here. How can I decide alone? If I agree and he is not satisfied, what will we do then?"
Mrs. Liu also felt heartache for Xu Xinzhen, holding her shoulders: "Xin Zhen, Mr. Shi loves you so much; as long as it’s someone you approve of, how could he disagree?"
Xu Xinzhen looked at Mrs. Liu with difficulty: "It’s all the fault of that silly boy before, Nian Nian’s dad always said that when Nian Nian started dating, he had to personally choose the candidate. If she dated a boy like that silly lad who got scared off by a couple of words from her dad in his police uniform, he would definitely not give his approval. Look, Nian Nian’s dad made it clear, how can I make a decision before he comes back?"
Xu Xinzhen’s words stumped Mrs. Liu as well. How could they connect the dots at that moment?
Huangfu Huazhang, however, was not anxious. He remained patiently kneeling on the ground, holding Xu Xinzhen’s hand.
"Auntie, there’s no need to worry. I’m seeking your opinion now, and I’ll seek Uncle’s opinion when I see him later. Rest assured, if Uncle disapproves of me being with Nian Nian, I will certainly comply. I will never let Auntie and Uncle have differing views, so please be at ease, okay?"
Hearing this from Huangfu Huazhang, even Mrs. Liu nodded with relief: This Mr. Huangfu is truly clever. Now that Mr. Shi is not here, he certainly won’t voice any objections.
Finally, Xu Xinzhen felt relieved and nodded with a smile, saying: "Alright."
Shi Nian looked blankly at her mother, feeling a moment of emptiness in her heart.
Since Mom already said "alright," what else could she say?
She could only stare blankly as Huangfu Huazhang, nearly reverently, kneeled on one knee and rested his forehead on Mom’s hand. Like a devout believer, entrusting all his faith in this way.
After this grand gesture, Huangfu Huazhang stood up and wrapped his arms around Xu Xinzhen, gently saying: "Thank you... You and Nian Nian have finally given me a home. From now on, you are my family; you are my mom. I swear to take care of you for the rest of my life."
Even Mrs. Liu, who stood nearby, couldn’t help but wipe her tears.
Seeing Shi Nian still in a daze, Mrs. Liu came over and gently tugged on Shi Nian’s sleeve: "...Think about how Mrs. Xiang’s overbearing wife once treated your mom, and now look at Mr. Huangfu today. Shi Nian, I am truly gratified for your mom."
Being discarded like old shoes in some people’s eyes yet regarded as dearest family in others’, Shi Nian naturally understood this contrast.
Thus, when Huangfu Huazhang approached and gazed deeply down at her, her heart felt soft.
Huangfu Huazhang smiled: "I know proposing early in the morning might have startled you. Nian, how about we first go public with our relationship; once you’re comfortable with your identity by my side, I’ll formally propose."
As he spoke, he leaned in close to her ear: "Though the proposal might come a step later, the ring has long been ready. Nian, you should understand by last night how impatient I am for you."
Shi Nian’s heart pounded fiercely, and she hastily took a step back, lowering her voice: "Mom and Mrs. Liu are still here."
He smiled, catching her fingertips: "Okay, I’ll restrain myself."
The four of them had breakfast together. Huangfu Huazhang treated Xu Xinzhen with increasing closeness, even removing the slightly hard edges of the toast and placing them on his own plate, before handing the perfectly soft heart to Xu Xinzhen.
Such details only come naturally from genuine feelings; if it were just deliberate flattery, it wouldn’t be so meticulous. Shi Nian watched this scene quietly, his heart awash with mixed emotions.
Towards the end of breakfast, Xia Zuo came in silently and leaned over to whisper in Huangfu Huazhang’s ear.
Huangfu Huazhang laughed and moved back a bit.
"I’ve told you, speak directly in front of Miss from now on. She and I are family, there are no secrets."
Xia Zuo felt a bit awkward, then bowed to Shi Nian: "I’m sorry, I still haven’t changed some habits, please forgive me, Miss."
Shi Nian nodded and smiled: "Xia Zuo, you’re too polite. Your loyalty to the gentleman is admirable, how could I be upset."
Xu Xinzhen also smiled, took an apple from the table, and handed it to Xia Zuo, kindly saying: "Child, haven’t had breakfast yet? Here, eat."
The slightly subtle atmosphere was resolved by Xu Xinzhen’s playful act. Xia Zuo took the apple with both hands, blushing deeply.
Huangfu Huazhang’s gaze swept over the young man and focused on Shi Nian, and they exchanged smiles.
Only after calming down did Xia Zuo continue to report: "...The media reporters have arrived."
Shi Nian was taken aback.
Huangfu Huazhang came over, bowed in a gentlemanly manner, and reached for Shi Nian. Shi Nian took a deep breath and placed her hand in his palm.
He held it, tightened his grip, tucked it into his elbow, and elegantly led Shi Nian downstairs.
Sure enough, the living room on the first floor was already filled with the media. Shi Nian was not surprised to see colleagues from "Deep Throat," and also saw Little Niu, who had replaced Xiong Jie from "Black Curtain."
Huangfu Huazhang smiled and looked around at everyone: "The reason I invited everyone here today is to introduce my girlfriend: Miss Shi Nian."
Immediately, the flashbulbs lit up, and voices of various questions poured in.
Shi Nian, amidst the dazzling lights, turned to look at him.
Huangfu Huazhang smiled back, softly saying: "I love you, and I want the whole world to know."
.
Hong Kong.
Because of the time difference, when Tang Yanqing escorted Meng Chuyan out of the car and avoided the media to enter the hotel, it was already dimly lit.
The media interviewing varied in quality; the fans waiting outside the hotel for their idols included all sorts.
Due to Meng Chuyan’s inherent innocence and charm, some trivial magazines came only to capture wardrobe malfunctions; while some sleazy male fans pushed past assistants attempting to get close to Meng Chuyan.
A few of Meng Chuyan’s assistants struggled to handle them, thanks to Tang Yanqing, who shielded Meng Chuyan with one arm, and slapped a lecherous middle-aged man who had squeezed to the front with the other; he even slightly tripped a notorious tabloid paparazzo, causing his camera to smash onto the ground.
Doing all this, he still wore a smile on his face.
Of course, it was mostly a mischievous grin.
Finally succeeded in escorting Meng Chuyan into the main entrance, handing her over to Luo Xiansheng. Tang Yanqing then relaxed his shoulders, turned his head, and saw a petite woman staring at him coldly in the hotel’s splendid lobby.
At the moment their eyes met, his mischievous grin couldn’t hold up and collapsed.
Luo Xiansheng saw it from afar too, quickly moved over, and whispered: "Third Aunt’s expression doesn’t seem right. I think I’d better not go over now; I’ll take Judy upstairs, and come back to invite Third Aunt to dinner later."
Tang Yanqing didn’t rush over either, stood in place watching Sky Star’s employees vanish into the elevator. Then took a deep breath and walked towards Shen Wan.
Started with a fawning smile from ten steps away, hurried to embrace upon approaching.
"Hey? Who is this peerless beauty? Am I seeing things, how come I meet her here?" 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶
Shen Wan unceremoniously swung her handbag to slap his hands away: "Tang Yanqing, enough with this act!"
