Delicate Beauty in the Palm : Chapter 69 - Princess, Will You Marry Me?

August 26, 2025 Oyen 0 Comments

Happy Reading~

Chapter 69: Princess, Will You Marry Me?

 

The crab festival came to an end. The two of them had previously booked a nearby hotel, so after dinner and saying goodbye to everyone, they planned to head back to the hotel.

 

Wang Mian stopped her, asking Chen Die to come home with her for a bit.

 

Everyone packed up together, and Chen Die was showered with compliments from the townspeople until she felt a little embarrassed.

 

When they arrived home, Wang Mian told Chen Zhouchang to go to his room, then pulled Chen Die into her bedroom.

 

Chen Die stood at the doorway, watching as Wang Mian squatted down and struggled to pull a box out of the cabinet.

 

“This is for you,” Wang Mian said, pushing the box into her arms.

 

Chen Die looked down. “What is it?”

 

“When your dad and I adopted you from the orphanage, we prepared this dowry for your future. We thought we might never get the chance to give it to you,” Wang Mian said. “But I see you and Wen Liang getting along really well—maybe you'll be getting married soon. Since you're busy with work, I'll give it to you in advance.”

 

As she spoke, she scratched her head and laughed, “It’s nothing expensive, just a token of our love.”

 

Chen Die was taken aback and opened the box.

 

Inside lay a gold bracelet. The design was a bit old-fashioned, but it rested neatly on black velvet, spotless even after all these years—a sign it had been well cared for.

 

Her throat tightened as she swallowed hard. She reached out to touch the bracelet, momentarily at a loss for words.

 

“When are you and Wen Liang planning to get married?” Wang Mian asked.

 

“Ah, probably not for a while. I’m only 23, and I just started acting.”

 

Wang Mian nodded. “True, people in big cities tend to marry late. No matter, just hold on to it for now.”

 

Chen Die hugged her. “Thanks, Mom. When we do get married, we’ll let you know.”

 

She and Wen Liang stayed at the hotel for the night. The next day, they went to the morning market to buy a basket of crabs and had someone mail them to Chen Shao in Yan City. After saying goodbye to Wang Mian and Chen Jianping, they boarded their flight home.

 

By early November, <A-Xiao> had finished its domestic run, with final box office earnings surpassing 2 billion yuan, and it had even secured international theatrical release.

 

Following <Hairpin Flowers>’s 1.9 billion box office and <A-Xiao> 2 billion, Chen Die was once again propelled to new heights.

 

A newcomer scoring such success with her first two films quickly became idolized. Titles like ‘Box Office Goddess’ and ‘Ratings Guarantee’ were increasingly used to describe her.

 

Chen Die was naturally laid-back. After filming <A-Xiao>, she received many scripts, but most were more entertainment-focused, so she didn’t accept them and decided to take a break.

 

After lounging at home for several days, Chen Die started getting restless. Unfortunately, Wen Liang was still going to work on time every day, leaving her with no one to hang out with.

 

But by mid-November, something came up.

 

Her high school was celebrating its 30th anniversary, and the school specifically reached out to invite her.

 

She hadn’t kept in touch with any of her high school friends.

 

Back then, because of Chen Shuyuan, her relationships with the girls in her own class weren’t great. Most of her friends were outgoing girls from other classes.

 

Chen Die didn’t hesitate much before agreeing.

 

Early that morning, Wen Liang drove her to the school.

 

Suddenly, Chen Die felt a little dazed. It had been a long time since things were like this. Back in university, if she had early classes, Zhu Qicong would take her to school first, then head to the company with Wen Liang.

 

The car stopped at the high school gate.

 

It was lively that day. Being a private school, the campus was crowded with cars fancy enough to look like a luxury car exhibition.

 

Chen Die unfastened her seatbelt. "I’m going in then."

 

“Wait a sec,” Wen Liang said, grabbing her.

 

She sank back into her seat. Wen Liang leaned over and kissed her, lightly biting her lip. He cupped her face, his finger hooking behind her ear and playing with it, making a soft, intimate sound.

 

Even though they had been living together for a while and had done everything already—

 

This kiss still made Chen Die feel… so embarrassed.

 

Especially in front of a school gate.

 

Even if the car windows were one-way tinted glass.

 

Chen Die leaned back, pressing her hand to his chest, eyes wide as she tried to push him away.

 

When Wen Liang finally let her go, she wiped her lips with a flushed face and softly protested, “Why did you suddenly kiss me?”

 

Wen Liang raised an eyebrow. “Because I felt like it.”

 

“......”

 

Fine. You’re the domineering CEO.

 

Chen Die wiped her lips again, accidentally smudging her lipstick. She grabbed a wet tissue to clean up and reapplied her lipstick.

 

Wen Liang watched her. “When should I come pick you up?”

 

“Not sure yet. I’ll text you when it’s almost over,” Chen Die replied.

 

Wen Liang patted her on the head and said, “Be good.”

 

“......”

 

Chen Die tilted her head and stared at him for a moment before bursting out laughing. “What’s with you? Why do you always think I have tons of older or younger guy friends? Do I seem like that kind of person?”

 

Wen Liang gave a soft snort. “Don’t you?”

 

Chen Die slung her bag over her shoulder and suddenly leaned in to plant a kiss on Wen Liang’s cheek, making a loud, clear smack. With a grin, she said, “Don’t worry, I’ll still love you when I come back.”

 

With that, she opened the car door and ran off.

 

She sprinted quite a distance before slowing down inside the school gate, a smile still lingering on her lips.

 

Once she slowed her steps, she couldn’t help but glance back. Wen Liang’s car was still parked there, the passenger-side window rolled down.

 

Chen Die smiled again and waved at him before heading in.

 

It had been years since everyone had last seen each other. Those boys who used to whistle at pretty girls from the classroom windows were now all dressed in suits, looking proper and mature.

 

Following the signs toward the auditorium, Chen Die hadn’t gone far when someone tapped her on the shoulder from behind.

 

“Hu Die!!” a girl’s voice rang out behind her.

 

She turned and immediately recognized her. “Ququ!”

 

Qu Ying had been Chen Die's close friend in high school. She hadn’t changed much—tall, slim, and beautiful.

 

“It really is you! I thought with how famous you are now, you wouldn’t come!” Qu Ying said.

 

Chen Die smiled. “Things have been quiet lately, so I thought I’d come back and have a look.”

 

“I just saw you and Mr. Wen! You two are way too sweet. You hadn’t even been apart half a day and you were already looking back at each other every few steps. It’s sickening.”

 

“......”

 

Qu Ying was still as animated as ever. Despite the years of no contact, she didn’t feel distant at all, linking arms with Chen Die as they chatted on the way in.

 

The auditorium was already quite full.

 

As soon as Chen Die entered, all eyes turned toward her.

 

Back in school, even when she had transferred in, she had immediately become the popular girl. Now, even more so—everyone recognized her.

 

They found seats in the last row and chatted.

 

“What have you been up to lately?” Chen Die asked her.

 

“I’ve just been eating, drinking, having fun, and traveling,” Qu Ying said lazily, leaning back. “I went abroad right after the college entrance exams and settled there. I only come back occasionally—not like you, blowing up with back-to-back box office hits.”

 

Chen Die said, “I’ve been lucky. The teams I worked with were all amazing.”

 

“But hey, did you ever get back in touch with that senior you had a crush on in high school?” Qu Ying suddenly asked.

 

Chen Die blinked. “Huh?”

 

“No way.” Qu Ying laughed. “You’ve completely fallen for Mr. Wen, haven’t you? You can’t even remember your old high school crush?”

 

Chen Die thought back.

 

It was during the first semester of senior year. There was a ton to memorize for the liberal arts subjects, so she and Qu Ying had gone up to the rooftop during lunch with their history textbooks, intending to study—but they ended up chatting.

 

Qu Ying had asked why she’d rejected the grade heartthrob so coldly when he confessed to her.

 

Chen Die had stood by the rooftop railing, wind blowing her hair back, and said, “Because I already like someone else.”

 

Qu Ying had been shocked. “Who? You should go for it then.”

 

Chen Die shook her head and only answered the second part: “I don’t even have the courage to tell him I like him.”

 

“Please, with your face, you could walk up to any guy, say ‘I’m Chen Die,’ and he’d confess to you on the spot.”

 

She had exaggerated so much that Chen Die couldn’t help but laugh. “He’s not that kind of guy.”

 

“So who is it?” Qu Ying had been dying to know.

 

“…Not from our school,” Chen Die said vaguely.

 

“If not from our school, how’d you meet him? Was he a senior who already graduated?”

 

Chen Die couldn’t just make someone up, but was too embarrassed to say it was Wen Liang, so she’d left it at that.

 

She had nearly forgotten all of this—who knew Qu Ying would still remember?

 

“That guy I had a crush on... was actually Wen Liang.” By now, Chen Die could admit it openly.

 

Qu Ying: “Huh?”

 

She smiled. “From start to finish, it’s only ever been him.”

 

The principal's speech at the school anniversary ended, and everyone gathered to take group photos. Chen Die became a main attraction—many familiar and unfamiliar faces came up asking for selfies.

 

“Hu Die!” Fang Jiamao called from a group of guys, all from their grade back then. “Come take a photo!”

 

“Sure,” Chen Die replied.

 

Fang Jiamao handed his phone to someone else to take the picture.

 

With her current popularity, even being spotted randomly on the street would make headlines—let alone returning to her high school for its anniversary. Social media fan groups were already full of candid photos.

 

A photo of Chen Die and the group of boys she had taken a picture with was posted online, and fans quickly gave it a new title:

 

<Chen Die and the Suitors From Her Youth.>

 

Chen Die: “……”

 

If that petty Wen Liang saw this, he’d definitely get mad again.

 

Sitting in a corner seat, Chen Die scrolled through her fan forums. She had to admit, her fans were incredibly skilled at photo editing. Even grainy candid shots with terrible lighting and angles were transformed to make her look like a literal goddess.

 

While she was looking, a woman around her age walked up and stood in front of her. “Chen Die.”

 

Chen Die looked up. She didn’t recognize the face at all—no memory of this person. “Yeah? What’s up?”

 

“I came to apologize. I used to bully you with Chen Shuyuan. I know she’s in prison now, but I wanted to say sorry in person.”

 

Qu Ying, sitting nearby, also looked up.

 

Chen Die didn’t quite process it immediately and just waved her hand awkwardly, “Oh, it’s fine. That was all a long time ago.”

 

After the woman walked away, Qu Ying tilted her chin and asked, “Who was that?”

 

Chen Die: “...I don’t remember either.”

 

“...” Qu Ying rolled her eyes. “Wait—what did she just say? Chen Shuyuan went to prison?”

 

She had been abroad for a while, with a whole new circle of friends, and didn’t know much about what had happened recently in Yan CIty.

 

“Yeah, it was a pretty big mess.”

 

Chen Die gave her a rough summary but didn’t go into details.

 

As evening fell and the anniversary celebration ended, the classmates made plans to go out and continue the night. Acquaintances and strangers alike kept trying to drag Chen Die along. 

 

But Chen Die wasn’t that naive. Going out to party with a bunch of people she barely knew? That was a guaranteed way to land herself on the trending topics in the worst way.

 

Still, she didn’t refuse too harshly, which only encouraged the group to push harder.

 

That was, until Qu Ying gave a sharp whistle and nodded toward the other side of the street.

 

Chen Die looked over—Wen Liang’s car had arrived.

 

Qu Ying helped her out with a laugh. “Her man’s here. Who’s got time to drink with you guys?”

 

Everyone there that day was part of the new-money elite. Of course, they all recognized Wen Liang. The moment he appeared, no one dared push Chen Die anymore. The crowd awkwardly laughed and backed off.

 

Wen Liang shut the car door and walked over, lifting his arm and resting it casually on Chen Die’s shoulder.

 

Some of the people nearby had worked with him before and greeted him politely.

 

Wen Liang nodded in response, then lowered his gaze to Chen Die. “Ready to go?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

No one tried to stop her anymore. Instead, they all started saying their goodbyes.

 

The contrast was… overwhelming.

 

Chen Die felt a bit insulted by the whole thing.

 

She tossed her bag in the back seat. There was a pair of slippers under the passenger seat—just for her. After all, no one else ever sat in Wen Liang’s passenger seat.

 

She slipped off her high heels and put on the slippers, instantly feeling like her whole body had relaxed.

 

They drove back to the villa in the western suburbs.

 

That’s when Wen Liang decided to stir things up. He tossed his phone onto her lap—on the screen was the group photo of her and the boys.

 

Even worse, someone had Photoshopped text directly onto the image: <Chen Die and the Suitors From Her Youth.>

 

She couldn’t help but laugh. “Wait—you actually read my fan forums?”

 

“I didn’t. I was busy all day. Chen Shao sent it to me.”

 

“When did you two get so close?” Chen Die asked.

 

Wen Liang shot her a cold glance and didn’t answer.

 

“He sends you that and you actually believe it? He’s just mad about the shares and taking it out on me. Even after I gave them to him, he’s still being petty. Just like someone else I know,” she added, casting a meaningful glance his way.

 

As for that photo, where nothing had even happened, Chen Die didn’t even bother trying to explain.

 

Instead, she raised her chin proudly and said, “Now you see—past or present, the line of people who like me goes on forever.”

 

Wen Liang nodded. “Yeah, didn’t you used to stuff your backpack full of love letters to show me?”

 

“......”

 

At that, Chen Die had no comeback.

 

Wen Liang, on the other hand, looked lazy and smug. “Too bad, in the end, you’re still mine.”

 

He reached over. “Come here, let me feel.”

 

Chen Die: “?”

 

What the hell is wrong with you!?

 

During this time while Chen Die was resting, Ye Chuqing was insanely busy.

 

It was nearly award season, and as the chairwoman of the Film Industry association, Ye Chuqing was buried in screenings and scoring sessions—spending her days with a bunch of middle-aged industry pros, watching and evaluating all the year’s films.

 

Chen Die’s achievements over the past year were certainly enough to earn her a nomination.

 

When Fang Ruan received the nomination invitation, she was overwhelmed with excitement. She dragged Chen Die into a long monologue about the insights and reflections she'd gained over the years as a manager, and eventually got herself so emotional that she ended up in tears.

 

Chen Die didn’t have the heart to tell her that she actually found out a few days ago that she was nominated.

 

With a friend on the festival’s executive committee, finding out the nominees was hardly a challenge.

 

At the end of December, after a month of selection by film and drama critics, the Baihua International Film Festival officially kicked off in Yan City, becoming the entertainment industry’s grand finale event of the year.

 

Chen Die was picked up early in the morning to get her makeup done and change into her gown.

 

That evening, both sides of the red carpet were packed with photographers wielding their ‘long guns and cannons.’ The constant shutter clicks and flashing lights lit up the red carpet as bright as day.

 

Yan City in December was already quite cold. It had just snowed the day before, and all the actresses walked the red carpet in thin dresses.

 

Before she got out of the car, Fang Ruan gave Chen Die one last reminder not to focus solely on the cameras—watch her step and don’t slip or fall.

 

Chen Die nodded and stepped out of the car.

 

The photographers below immediately burst into a mix of excited calls: “Chen Die is here!”

 

They surged forward, the shutter clicks even more frantic.

 

Chen Die wore a floor-length gown, lightly lifting her skirt as she gracefully walked forward, waving at the cameras.

 

She suddenly recalled the first time she walked a red carpet like this, back when she was in the cast of <Hairpin Flowers>. At that time, Wang Yunxi had stolen her spot and entered alongside Qi Cheng.

 

Now, the scene was entirely different.

 

After walking the red carpet, she turned around at the front for another round of photos before finally heading inside.

 

The warmth of the interior heating hit her immediately, finally easing the cold. Her face had nearly frozen from smiling outside.

 

She patted her cheeks and walked in. Fang Ruan had already entered through a staff passage on the other side and draped a coat over her shoulders.

 

Wen Liang was also attending tonight, representing Wenyuan Group, and he was already seated in the front row.

 

Chen Die saw him from afar. With so many people around, she didn’t want to draw attention by walking over. She found her own seat and sat down. The people seated around her weren’t familiar—she hadn’t worked with them before—so she pulled out her phone and messaged Ye Chuqing.

 

[Chen Die: Where are you?]

 

[Ye Chuqing: Backstage. You’ve arrived?]

 

[Chen Die: Yeah, just got to my seat.]

 

[Ye Chuqing: Come hang out with me. There’s still a bit of time before it starts.]

 

Chen Die was feeling a bit bored sitting alone, and the camera rigs kept sliding up right in her face to shoot, so she got up and decided to go find Ye Chuqing.

 

The awards venue was enormous, with staff bustling back and forth in final preparations. Chen Die circled around and got dizzy—she couldn’t figure out where the backstage entrance was.

 

[Chen Die: Where’s the backstage entrance?]

 

After waiting a while with no reply, Chen Die just decided to call her.

 

The call connected, but after she said “hello” a few times, no one responded. She only heard some vague rustling and what sounded like people whispering, too faint to make out clearly.

 

Chen Die furrowed her brow slightly and said “hello” again.

 

Then someone on the other end finally spoke: “What do you want?”

 

“......”

 

It was Chen Shao’s voice.

 

Chen Die was momentarily stunned. “Why are you holding Chairwoman Ye’s phone?”

 

“None of your business. I’m hanging up,” Chen Shao said coldly.

 

“Hey hey hey—” Chen Die quickly stopped him. “What’s your problem? Is she okay? You’re a guy holding a woman’s phone, and you’ve got the nerve to tell me to mind my own business?”

 

Just as she finished speaking, she heard Ye Chuqing’s voice outside the phone: “Chen Shao, what the hell is wrong with you?”

 

At the same time, Chen Die turned around.

 

There was a small green emergency light above the nearby door leading to a safety corridor. That voice had seemed to come from there.

 

She hesitated for a moment and pushed the door open.

 

It was pitch dark, the only light coming from the green lamp, stretching into a narrow path.

 

Inside the darkness were two people—Chen Shao and Ye Chuqing—seemingly embracing. They turned to look at her at the same time.

 

Chen Die: “…”

 

Sorry for interrupting.

 

Ye Chuqing cleared her throat, snatched her phone back, pushed Chen Shao away, and dragged Chen Die out.

 

“Wait…” Chen Die looked confused. As she was being pulled away, she glanced back at Chen Shao, still completely baffled about what on earth was going on between the two of them.

 

Ye Chuqing brought her backstage, poured her a glass of water, then sat down at the makeup station across from her and said, “Ask what you want to ask.”

 

Chen Die thought for a moment and asked, somewhat tactfully, “Should I be calling you something different now?”

 

“......”

 

Chen Die raised her eyebrows slightly: “Sister-in-law?”

 

“Not quite at that point yet.”

 

Chen Die laughed. “Not yet? So when will it be?”

 

“It’s not like that,” Ye Chuqing didn’t really know how to explain. She grabbed the cup of water she had just poured for Chen Die and finished it in one go. After a pause, she apologized. “Sorry, I… I slept with your brother.”

 

“…Huh?”

 

That was way too explosive. Chen Die couldn't digest it all at once. Her throat bobbed as she swallowed hard. “When did that happen?”

 

“On the night of that birthday party. Damn.” Ye Chuqing frowned. “I really drank too much that night.”

 

“…And then?”

 

Ye Chuqing shrugged and spread her hands. “Then that’s what happened. The next morning, we were still being really polite. Your brother said he’d take responsibility, and I said it was fine.”

 

“So just now, was my brother trying to force his ‘responsibility’ on you?”

 

“Something like that.” Ye Chuqing was surprisingly understanding. “But I can’t take advantage of him like that. That whole thing was really my fault—I’m the one who slept with him. How could I let someone throw in the rest of their life for that, right?”

 

“…I guess… that makes sense.”

 

After hearing about the tangled emotional mess between these two bickering hotheads, Chen Die felt like her entire being had short-circuited.

 

Even after the film festival officially began, she couldn’t refocus her attention. She sat there zoning out until Ye Chuqing sent her a message:

 

[Chen Die: Chen Shao might not look reliable, but Old Master Chen is already planning to hand the company over to him. You could curse him out and still spend his money—not a bad deal.]

 

Ye Chuqing, sitting in the middle of the jury panel, didn’t look at her phone.

 

Chen Die put her phone away and leaned back in her chair, her mind still spinning from earlier.

 

On the big screen, highlight reels of the year’s outstanding films were already playing. Both of Chen Die’s movies were on the list, and cameras throughout the venue were now live broadcasting everything.

 

After the montage, the official award ceremony began.

 

The first award was for Best Newcomer.

 

The screen began showing scenes from various newcomers’ performances that year. Chen Die’s individual cut from <Hairpin Flowers> was among them. 

 

Almost the moment her scene appeared, all eyes turned to her—among all the newcomers, Chen Die was undoubtedly a phenomenon.

 

The host, holding the cue card, said, “So, who will take home this year’s Best Newcomer Award? Let’s welcome—the lead actress of <Hairpin Flowers>, Chen Die!”

 

The applause was thunderous.

 

Chen Die lifted her gown slightly and stood up, as the camera zoomed in on her.

 

Amidst applause, she walked up to the stage, received the trophy from the host, and gave her acceptance speech.

 

Meanwhile, the livestream comment section exploded:

 

[Aaaaahhhhhh SISTER DIE GO GET IT FOR US!!!]

 

[Those legs leave me speechless. Sis’s legs aren’t legs—they’re spring water by the Seine!]

 

[Can someone PLEASE turn the camera to Mr. Wen’s face right now?!?!]

 

After finishing her speech, Chen Die never once dared look directly toward Wen Liang. Only out of the corner of her eye did she see him applauding for her.

 

She stepped off the stage and returned to her seat.

 

The actor sitting next to her struck up a conversation, and after chatting for a bit, Chen Die finally relaxed from the earlier tension.

 

Now that she had already won an award, Chen Die settled into her role as an observer and clapped along as the host announced each new segment. 

 

Feng Zhi also won Best Director and, in his acceptance speech, once again thanked Chen Die, Qi Cheng, and all the cast and crew of <Hairpin Flowers>.

 

About two hours into the festival, it came time for the main event of the evening—the awards for Best Actor and Best Actress.

 

The host built up the suspense on stage.

 

“To be honest, even I don’t know who this year’s Best Actress is yet.”

 

She opened her cue card halfway, took a peek, and made an exaggerated shocked face. “Wow! This year’s Best Actress is a powerhouse of talent! Truly deserving, yet still a surprise!”

 

“Now, let’s give the warmest applause to welcome the birth of our Baihua International Film Festival’s Best Actress!”

 

“She’s also our Best Newcomer winner—Ms. Chen Die!”

 

At the moment she heard her name, Chen Die was still clapping for the soon-to-be Best Actress. The camera caught her mid-clap, smiling politely—and then her smile froze as she looked completely stunned and confused.

 

The host called her up again from the stage.

 

Only then did Chen Die snap up from her seat—and nearly tripped over her own dress.

 

As she made her way to the stage, she was still in a daze. The joy hadn’t even registered in her brain yet. Her thoughts were all scrambled: “Who am I?” “Where am I?” “What am I doing?” And—I only wrote one acceptance speech?!

 

The host motioned for her to come center stage and asked, “I noticed you looked really surprised just now. You didn’t expect to win Best Actress, did you?”

 

Chen Die was still a little dazed and spoke honestly: “A prestigious award like this—of course I fantasized about it before coming here. But I didn’t really think I’d win. And since I’d already gotten the Best Newcomer award earlier, I didn’t think they’d give this one to me too.”

 

“And how does it feel to win such an honor at the young age of 23? Any thoughts you’d like to share?”

 

Chen Die held the Best Actress trophy in one hand and gripped the microphone with the other. Her heart pounded as she looked out over the audience.

 

She truly felt the nerves deep in her core—and even a touch of fear that she wasn’t worthy of the title. Instinctively, her gaze searched for Wen Liang.

 

He was sitting in the front row, looking up at her steadily.

 

That one look suddenly calmed her down.

 

Holding the mic, she slowly and clearly delivered an impromptu acceptance speech.

 

She said she was very happy.

 

Very grateful to everyone.

 

And that she would keep working hard to always live up to this award.

 

Every word came from the heart.

 

After she finished, she handed the mic back to the host and prepared to step down from the stage.

 

But then the host suddenly noticed Wen Liang standing up and walking toward the stage. The host quickly called out, “Chen Die, please wait just a moment.”

 

Chen Die turned around—and saw Wen Liang coming up from the other side of the stage.

 

“......”

 

I’m already nervous enough!!

 

What big move are you trying to pull now?!

 

Can I just go already!!!

 

Wen Liang took the microphone from the host. He never got nervous, and with a calm air, he said to the audience, “Sorry—please allow me to take just a moment.”

 

He stood on stage in a perfectly tailored suit, looking sharp and composed.

 

Chen Die was too tense to notice, but if she had paid closer attention, she would have realized it was the same suit she had bought for him with the first paycheck she ever earned, back when they were still together.

 

The stage lights shone down, casting his broad shoulders and chiseled features into striking relief.

 

She watched as he slipped a hand into his pocket and pulled out a box.

 

It wasn’t unfamiliar—Wen Liang had given her jewelry before.

 

A ring box.

 

So what’s this now?

 

If it were just a piece of jewelry, he wouldn’t need to come up on stage to give it, right?

 

Her heart was pounding like it was about to leap out of her chest. Her breathing faltered as she stared at him.

 

Wen Liang twirled the ring box between his fingers, lifted his chin slightly, the line of his jaw clean and sharp.

 

He said, “I originally planned to give this to you after everything was over. But then I thought—giving it to you now sounds just right, Best Actress.”

 

He paused, then smiled and added, “My princess.”

 

Chen Die froze, speechless.

 

Then she watched, wide-eyed, as Wen Liang took a step back with his left leg, lowered himself, and knelt on one knee before her—in front of everyone.

 

She covered her mouth, eyes brimming instantly with tears.

 

She had imagined before what it might be like if Wen Liang proposed.

 

He definitely wouldn’t kneel. He’d be all smug and a little childish about it, teasing her about how pretty the ring was, asking if she wanted it. Even if she said no, it wouldn’t matter to him.

 

But now, here he was, kneeling before her, looking up at her with quiet, unwavering eyes.

 

She had first seen him at 16. The first word that popped into her mind then was— god.

 

And now, her god was kneeling before her in full view of the world.

 

Wen Liang opened the ring box with his fingers. Under the lights, the diamond sparkled dazzlingly.

 

He said lazily, “I read some wedding vows the other day. They all say stuff like, ‘for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health.’”

 

“I’m healthy. And if you’re with me, there’ll never be a day of poverty.”

 

“So—do you want to spend a future with me, one filled only with wealth and good health?”

 

He paused, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly, the nervousness he tried to hide now quietly surfacing.

 

He raised the ring, and softly asked: “So, princess… will you marry me?”

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