Chapter 124
: My First Romance
Chapter 124 A Love Story
The banquet ended and the guests left.
The guided car drove smoothly, and the night view of Mingdu outside the window, dazzling with color, rushed past.
Realizing that the route was gradually deviating from the main road leading to Mingde Hall, Lian Chen turned his head to look at the boy beside him: "This is not the way back to Mingde Hall. Where are we going?"
“Hmm,” Xiao Hongchen responded, leaning back in his chair with his usual relaxed posture: “I’ll take you somewhere, you’ll find out soon enough.”
Lian Chen raised an eyebrow, but didn't ask any further questions, letting him make the arrangements.
The car drove through the city and towards the suburbs, eventually stopping at a high cliff platform near the sea.
The view here is expansive, and the night breeze carries a salty, damp scent. In the distance lies the deep, boundless sea, shimmering with tiny silvery lights under the moonlight.
The sound of waves crashing against the shore seemed like a world apart from the clamor of the palace banquet.
Xiao Hongchen got out of the car first, walked around to the other side to open the car door for Lian Chen, and reached out his hand.
Lian Chen placed her hand in his palm, her fingertips touching the slight but burning sweat.
She looked up and met Xiao Hongchen's seemingly calm gaze. She said nothing, lifted her skirt, and got out of the car.
Looking around, there was nothing special except for the waves and rocks.
What are you doing here?
"Come with me." Xiao Hongchen gripped her hand tightly, then suddenly raised his other hand and covered her eyes.
Lian Chen's eyelashes trembled under his palm, and a vague premonition arose in her heart.
She let Xiao Hongchen hold her hand and guide her forward.
We were led for quite a distance, and the sand gradually became firmer, as if we were walking on a paved boardwalk.
Lian Chen could sense that there seemed to be quite a few people around, and they were all deliberately keeping their breathing and movements quiet.
"It's ready." Xiao Hongchen's voice was close to my ear, his deep voice magnetic, tinged with barely concealed nervousness.
The hand above his eyes slowly moved away.
As my vision returned, a dazzling light came into view.
The once empty and dark beach is now covered with countless purple fluorescent crystals, with shimmering light flowing between the waves and sand, and the entire coastline has been transformed into a starry sea fallen to earth.
Tiny fluorescent lights meander along the beach, leading to a simple yet striking archway adorned with pure white flowers and guiding lights, standing silently amidst the vast expanse of light.
What moved Lian Chen the most were the familiar faces standing behind that halo, smiling as they looked at her.
Under the flower stand and in the light, many people were standing.
Jing Hongchen, Ma Lao, Meng Hongchen... almost everyone Mingdetang knew, all the members of the Sun and Moon Team, and even Ma Rulong, who was still injured and pale, stood in the crowd with the help of his teammates.
Everyone looked at her and Xiao Hongchen with warm eyes and smiles of blessing. Meng Hongchen even winked at her playfully.
Lian Chen's heart skipped a beat uncontrollably.
Just then—
"Boom-bang!"
On the distant sea, a bright light suddenly shot up, piercing the dark night, and exploded with a bang at its highest point.
In an instant, countless fragments of gold and jade scattered outwards, transforming into an enormous, blooming golden rain of light that illuminated almost half the sky and the surging waves below.
And this is just the beginning.
Immediately afterwards, the second, the third... countless dazzling points of light rose into the sky one after another, vying to bloom in the night sky.
Red, purple, blue, and gold clusters bloom in profusion, one flower not yet fallen, another already opening. A continuous rain of light, countless stars falling to earth, splashing, flowing, and transforming across the sky with the most fervent and unrestrained spirit, painting this sea and sky into a magnificent and breathtaking picture.
Amidst the dazzling light and noise, Xiao Hongchen turned around to face her directly.
The brilliance of fireworks danced on his handsome features, and his heterochromatic eyes were the most precious gems.
The roar and dazzling light of the fireworks explosions became the grandest backdrop at this moment.
He took a step back, placed his right hand on his chest, and knelt down on one knee with utmost solemnity before Lian Chen.
This action caused everyone present to hold their breath, and even the colorful lights in the sky seemed to pale in comparison at this moment.
Xiao Hongchen raised his head and looked up at the girl standing in front of him.
The sea breeze ruffled his silver hair. His voice, though not loud, clearly pierced through the clamor of the fireworks, reaching everyone's ears and striking Lian Chen's heart heavily.
“This might be a bit sudden, and a bit… cliché.” He took a light breath, as if gathering his confidence, but a confident smile curved his lips: “But I can’t think of a better way.”
"Lian Chen." Xiao Hongchen called Lian Chen by his full name: "I like you, regardless of your status, talent, or strength, simply because it's you."
“I know that the road ahead is long, and what you have to do is extraordinary, and the responsibilities you have to bear are as heavy as mountains and seas. I want to stand by your side, not as a teammate, not as a follower.”
He gazed deeply into her eyes, each word clear and firm: "I want to stand beside you as your lover, your partner. I will share your glory; I will bear your storms with you; I will accompany you to the places you want to go."
"Chen'er, are you willing to give me this chance?"
As soon as he finished speaking, he raised his other hand, palm up, and waited quietly.
The entire venue was silent, save for the sounds of waves and fireworks.
All eyes were on Lian Chen.
The sea breeze swept by, lifting the hem of her heavy skirt and strands of hair.
Looking down at the boy who had concealed all his sharpness and offered her his pure and ardent feelings, she recalled the moments they had shared over the past three years.
After a long while, when Xiao Hongchen could barely contain her anxiety, she took a small step forward.
Against the backdrop of dazzling fireworks, and witnessed by family and friends, Lian Chen gently placed her hand in his palm.
The girl smiled and responded softly.
"it is good."
The moment the words were spoken, enthusiastic cheers and applause erupted from all around.
Xiao Hongchen suddenly gripped Lian Chen's hand tightly.
The fireworks continued, turning the night sky as bright as day, and illuminating the sudden burst of ecstasy on his face with crystal clarity.
In those eyes, the dazzling fireworks intertwined with her reflection, creating a stunningly bright effect.
"real?!"
He repeatedly confirmed, and without waiting for Lian Chen's reply, he suddenly stood up and embraced him.
"I won't give you a chance to back out, you've already agreed!"
Lian Chen was embraced by this sudden yet expected hug. The other person's rapid and powerful heartbeat, like a drumbeat, came through the fabric and overlapped with her own heartbeat, making it impossible to distinguish between them.
She reached out and hugged the boy's slender waist, saying, "But I don't want to regret it."
"Chen'er..." he called her softly, his voice still hoarse with lingering emotions.
"Well, I'm here."