Zhang Tiantian had hit the nail on the head—if you wanted to propose, you really did need a ring.
With that opening, everyone seemed to burst with suggestions, eagerly offering their own advice.
“Right, you definitely need a ring. You’re proposing to Jiang Sixian, after all. You should have a custom-made ring with special meaning, something thoughtful.”
“Speaking of which, Jiang Yi, when are you planning to propose? Do you still have time to get a ring made?”
“It’s not just about the ring—you also need to pick the right location. There should be flowers, a romantic setup.”
“Where are you going to find flowers in this season? Greenhouse flowers are expensive—are you going to have them flown in?”
“That’s not impossible. I can help.”
The one who offered help was Chen Wanzhou. With everyone chipping in, the conversation quickly spiraled off track. On the way back, the group of alphas continued their lively discussion in the group chat.
Jiang Yi read through all the suggestions, gradually forming a clearer idea in her mind.
First, she needed to figure out Jiang Sixian’s ring size.
That night, after returning home and finishing her shower, Jiang Yi was still engrossed in her phone, chatting enthusiastically with her friends.
Jiang Sixian came out of the bathroom and called her name several times, but Jiang Yi didn’t respond. This neglect made Jiang Sixian a little jealous.
After drying her hair, she climbed onto the bed, kneeling in front of Jiang Yi and cupping her face with a frown. “Who are you talking to? Why aren’t you answering me?”
Afraid Jiang Sixian might see the chat, Jiang Yi quickly tucked her phone beneath her and wrapped her arms around Jiang Sixian’s waist, grinning. “Who else? Just Little Monitor and the others.”
She decided to divert Jiang Sixian’s attention, pulling her down onto the bed and hovering over her. “Speaking of which, I found out something interesting during dinner today.”
Jiang Sixian looked up at her, eyes bright. “What interesting thing? Tell me.”
Jiang Yi traced Jiang Sixian’s lips with her fingers, smiling faintly. “They told me Chen Wanzhou and Little Monitor have been dating since college… So, Jiang Sixian, what’s this about a fiancée?”
Jiang Sixian flushed slightly, looping her arms around Jiang Yi’s neck and murmuring, “Back then… I just wanted to see how you’d react.”
“Whether you’d get jealous, whether you’d remember anything from the past.”
Jiang Yi let out an understanding “Oh,” then said knowingly, “So the person you love really was the old me.”
Jiang Sixian knew Jiang Yi was teasing her, but she still felt a little nervous. She hugged Jiang Yi tightly and explained, “Not exactly. I love every version of you.”
Jiang Yi clicked her tongue, suddenly recalling a line from that novel. Inspiration struck, and she gripped Jiang Sixian’s waist, lifting her onto her lap. “Jiang Sixian, let’s play a game.”
Jiang Sixian blinked in confusion. “What game?”
Jiang Yi leaned in, whispering in her ear, “Tonight, I won’t be your Jiang Yi. Pretend I’m someone else—a little dog you’ve taken in, a stand-in for Jiang Yi. How about it?”
Jiang Sixian’s waist burned at the words. She looked down at Jiang Yi, cheeks flushed. “No… I can’t…”
But Jiang Yi was already deep in character. She tilted her head up and kissed Jiang Sixian’s lips, murmuring, “Did Jiang Yi ever kiss you like this?”
“Did she ever touch you?”
“Hold you?”
“Do you even remember what she looked like?”
“Right now, it’s me inside you. Look at me—what do you really want?”
“Do you want me to become your Jiang Yi?”
Jiang Sixian felt herself melting into liquid, spilling over under Jiang Yi’s every movement.
She clung to Jiang Yi in a daze, tears welling as she sobbed, “No… you’ll never… never be my Jiang Yi.”
Jiang Yi paused, then gathered the weeping Jiang Sixian into her arms, kissing away her tears. “You’re right. I’ll never be that eighteen-year-old Jiang Yi.”
“That Jiang Yi was cowardly, a little timid. Brave, but not yet mature.”
“But the twenty-four-year-old Jiang Yi is different. She’s strong enough now, a little more grown. Still young, but she knows how to love you.”
Jiang Yi wrapped her arms around Jiang Sixian’s waist, pressing close to her ear. “So, Jiang Sixian, which Jiang Yi do you love?”
Jiang Sixian was so overwhelmed by her body that her thoughts blurred. She answered hazily, tears in her voice, “Both…”
Jiang Yi pressed further. “But if you had to choose just one? The one you love most.”
The question made Jiang Sixian feel as if two Jiang Yis were embracing her—one from her youth, and one who held her now.
Her consciousness drifted as she clutched Jiang Yi’s shoulders, biting her lip through tears. “I don’t know…”
She didn’t know which one mattered more, because both did. Her soul and body were both imprinted with Jiang Yi’s mark.
In the end, Jiang Yi coaxed the answer from her through tears. “Whichever… whichever one, I love them both. I want both.”
Jiang Yi smirked, leaning down to kiss her. “Jiang Sixian, you’re so greedy.”
The consequence of that greed was that, for the first time outside of her heat, Jiang Sixian couldn’t get out of bed the next morning.
Jiang Yi had morning classes, so before leaving, she looped a string around Jiang Sixian’s finger to measure her ring size. After class, she rushed to the mall to look for rings.
It was already mid-December—too late to custom-make a ring. But Jiang Yi believed that whether bought or made, as long as it was chosen with care, it would be the best, most sincere option.
So for the rest of December, Jiang Yi scoured every major mall in Yuncheng, searching for the perfect ring for Jiang Sixian.
The weather grew colder. By late December, Yuncheng was shrouded in dark clouds, with sleet and snow falling intermittently.
On Christmas Day—Jiang Yi’s birthday—Jiang Qionghua and Ning Wenying called her home for a warm celebration.
Since Jiang Yi mentioned she had evening plans, the elders didn’t insist they stay overnight. The children were grown now, with lives of their own—it was time to let them leave the nest.
After leaving the Jiang residence, Jiang Yi took Jiang Sixian to meet up with Little Monitor and the others for dinner.
This was Jiang Sixian’s first time meeting Jiang Yi’s friends as her girlfriend, and the meal was a little awkward, with the alphas acting unusually reserved.
But when it was time to leave, Little Monitor couldn’t help herself. She grabbed Jiang Yi’s hand, eyes brimming with tears, and said solemnly, “Be happy, okay?”
To an outsider, it might have looked like she had feelings for Jiang Yi. Jiang Yi nodded firmly, sending them off before driving Jiang Sixian home.
Thinking about what she planned to do that night, Jiang Yi felt a flutter of nerves.
On the way, she gripped the steering wheel and asked, “It’s still early. Want to go for a drive?”
The weather wasn’t ideal for it—snow was likely. But Jiang Sixian thought for a moment and said, “It’s too cold—we might catch a chill. But Jiang Yi, there’s somewhere I’d like to go with you. Will you take me?”
Jiang Yi hesitated but agreed readily. “Sure. Where to?”
Jiang Sixian gave an address—the hotel where Jiang Yi had celebrated her sixteenth birthday. Jiang Yi’s heart skipped a beat. Could it be a coincidence? Does Jiang Sixian know I’m planning to propose?
Calm down, Jiang Yi. Think—is that possible?
Jiang Sixian paid close attention to her. If she’d noticed Jiang Yi visiting malls lately, she might have guessed she was ring shopping. And if she knew about the ring…
Jiang Yi’s mind raced as she drove Jiang Sixian to the hotel, her nerves a tangled mess.
Hand in hand, they stepped into the elevator. Jiang Yi asked nervously, “Why here all of a sudden? Do you want to stargaze?”
As far as she knew, this place was popular for romantic stargazing. Maybe she was too tense to notice Jiang Sixian’s own nervous expression.
Jiang Sixian shook her head. “Not really. I just… haven’t celebrated your birthday with you in so long. I wanted to bring you here.”
Jiang Yi relaxed slightly. “Oh,” she said, leading Jiang Sixian to the top floor.
It was late, and the halls were empty, even the doors to the rooftop lounge shut tight. Jiang Sixian had a staff member open them, and when the doors swung wide, Jiang Yi was hit with the overwhelming scent of flowers—
Lilies, roses, peonies…
Before she could identify them all, Jiang Sixian tugged her inside.
The lounge was dark, lit only by the faint glow from outside. Shadows stretched across the room, but Jiang Yi could make out the shapes of countless blooms.
A thought flickered in her mind, sending a thrill through her.
She followed Jiang Sixian, gripping her hand tightly. “Hey, Jiang Sixian, why no lights?”
Jiang Sixian led her to the center of the room before turning to face her. “Because there’s something I want to show you.”
As she spoke, a spotlight illuminated them, revealing their surroundings.
Jiang Sixian lifted a hand to Jiang Yi’s shoulder, and with each breath, soft, ambient lights flickered on overhead, casting a dreamy glow across the lounge.
In the dim light, an ocean of flowers stretched out around them. Standing at its heart, Jiang Yi gasped.
Jiang Sixian smiled at her stunned expression. “Do you like it?”
Of course Jiang Yi liked it. She nodded. “Is this my birthday present? How much did it cost?”
Jiang Sixian laughed. “It’s not really a birthday present, and it wasn’t too expensive. But I’m glad you like it.”
Then she reached up, looping her arms around Jiang Yi’s neck, and took a deep breath. “Jiang Yi… I…”
“My illness… it’s almost gone. But I can’t wait anymore, so…”
“So…”
“Will you…”
Jiang Yi understood instantly. Of course Jiang Sixian had the same idea.
She pressed a finger to Jiang Sixian’s lips, shushing her gently. “Don’t say it yet. I know what you want to ask. Come with me first—I have something to show you too.”
She led a confused Jiang Sixian to the floor-to-ceiling windows, then pressed a button in her pocket.
In an instant, fireworks erupted outside, lighting up the sky as brilliantly as the flowers inside.
Jiang Sixian looked up at the display and suddenly remembered Jiang Yi at sixteen.
Jiang Yi squeezed her hand, turning to face her seriously. “Do you remember what you said to me on my sixteenth birthday?”
Jiang Sixian nodded. “I remember.”
Jiang Yi smiled. “I asked you to wish me a long life. Do you know what I was thinking then?”
Jiang Sixian tilted her head. “What?”
Jiang Yi reached into her left pocket. “I thought, if I lived to twenty, I’d definitely chase after you.”
“And grow old with you.”
As she spoke, she pulled out a ring box and dropped to one knee, opening it before Jiang Sixian.
Outside, fireworks bloomed, casting their glow over Jiang Yi’s face. In that moment, the sixteen-year-old Jiang Yi and the twenty-four-year-old overlapped.
Jiang Sixian covered her mouth, stepping back as tears fell.
Jiang Yi looked up at her, holding out the glittering ring, her eyes shining. “Jiang Sixian, marry me.”
Jiang Sixian nodded fervently, then fumbled in her own pocket, pulling out a ring box. Through her tears, she laughed. “I… I actually prepared one too.”
“I was going to… today was supposed to be…”
Jiang Yi’s eyes crinkled with joy. She took Jiang Sixian’s hand and slid the ring onto her finger, then stood, cradling Jiang Sixian’s face and kissing away her tears.
“Jiang Sixian, see? We really are in sync.”
Jiang Sixian nodded, burying her face in Jiang Yi’s shoulder. Jiang Yi wrapped her arms around her waist, whispering in her ear, “Jiang Sixian, I love you.”
Even if her life had been as fleeting as fireworks, nothing could stop her from loving Jiang Sixian. Six years ago, Jiang Yi had realized that for Jiang Sixian, she’d burn her whole life away like a firework.
Luckily, fate had been kind. In the end, she got her happy ending.
Outside, fireworks painted the sky. Inside, flowers carpeted the floor. Everything was perfect, as if her life had finally arrived at spring.
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