Chapter 204: I Hope Sheng Yu Can Be Happy

"Yuanyuan, what do you mean?" Zhu Jingyao's voice was unusually cold and deep.

Immersed in the joy of sharing her happiness with her brother, Zhu Yuan did not notice, and she chuckled, "Brother, I've accepted someone's marriage proposal. He treats me very well, you don't have to..."

"Who is it?"

The man interrupted her in a deep voice.

Zhu Yuan was slightly stunned, looking at the man's stern face and tight jaw.

In her memory, this was probably the first time Zhu Jingyao had spoken to her in such a tone, and the first time he had looked at her with such a serious expression.

It couldn't help but make her feel a little nervous.

But as soon as she thought of the person in her heart, she didn't shrink back in the slightest, but patiently explained to Zhu Jingyao, "His name is Sheng Yu, he is from Jingdu City."

Sheng Yu.

It was that person!

Zhu Jingyao narrowed his eyes slightly. He watched the joy that naturally flowed from the depths of Zhu Yuan's eyes when she mentioned that person's name—did she like him that much?

A marriage proposal... she actually dared to accept someone else's marriage proposal!

"When did this happen? Why have you never mentioned it to me?"

She had indeed never mentioned the matter of Sheng Yu to her brother.

It was because the relationship between her and Sheng Yu was complicated at the beginning, and later she thought her life could be completely separated from Sheng Yu's, but she hadn't expected that she couldn't overcome her true feelings.

Zhu Yuan looked at Zhu Jingyao's stern face and felt a shiver in her heart, "Brother..."

With just that one word from the girl, Zhu Jingyao's heart softened.

He took a breath in secret, his hand resting on the tabletop slowly clenched into a fist, and his gaze landed once again on the ring finger of her left hand.

"We'll talk about it after I get out of prison." The man's clear, gentle voice carried an indisputable decisiveness.

Zhu Yuan's heart tightened, and she stood up subconsciously, "Brother, what do you mean by what you said?"

However, Zhu Jingyao had already stood up and turned to walk inside.

No matter how Zhu Yuan called to him, he did not look back.

Zhu Yuan sat back down on the chair, frustrated, comforting herself in her heart that it was fine; in ten more days, her brother would be able to come out, and she would explain it to him properly then.

She could understand that she had never been in a relationship before, yet had told her brother without any warning that she had accepted someone's marriage proposal; as an older brother, he certainly couldn't accept it immediately.

Her brother loved her; she knew that.

She hoped her brother could accept Sheng Yu.

After leaving Jingjiao Prison, Zhu Yuan went to the shopping mall.

Yesterday she received a birthday invitation personally drawn by Qi Qi, which was for tomorrow.

After picking out a gift for Qi Qi, Zhu Yuan went to a niche brand store.

"Hello, I want to buy a lighter, do you have any recommendations?"

The clerk asked politely and courteously, "May I ask who you are buying it for?"

Zhu Yuan answered without hesitation, "My fiancé."

Although she had noticed that Sheng Yu had been smoking very little recently—she had barely seen it a few times—didn't he used to have a pretty heavy smoking habit?

Why did he suddenly stop smoking?

A few days ago, when she was having a meal with Sheng Yu's uncle, she suddenly remembered to ask him.

He had said with a nonchalant air—do you like watching me smoke?

At that time, she had no desire to continue asking, lest he say again that she was obsessed with him or something similar.

However, she still decided to buy him a new lighter.

The clerk recommended several styles of lighters for her to choose from, and Zhu Yuan finally picked a matte, pure black lighter, simple and understated.

On the day of Qi Qi's birthday, in the car, Zhu Yuan handed the wrapped lighter box to Sheng Yu.

"What is it?" The corners of Sheng Yu's mouth hooked up as he looked at the beautifully wrapped box; it was clearly a gift at a glance.

Ever since Zhu Yuan bought him a tie last time to coax him into being happy, she had been buying him new gifts every so often.

Besides the tie, there was also a pair of cufflinks and a leather belt.

"Open it and see," Zhu Yuan urged him.

Sheng Yu feigned a leisurely pace as he untied the ribbon on the box, "Coaxing me into being happy by giving me gifts for no reason?"

"Can giving you a gift coax you into being happy?"

"What do you think?" Sheng Yu untied the ribbon and lifted the lid of the box; inside lay a black lighter.

A glimmer of light flashed in the man's eyes.

Pure black matte, it fit his aesthetic.

He skillfully picked up the lighter.

Click.

A flame sprang up.

The firelight lit up inside the car, shining on both of their faces.

Sheng Yu's deep, pleasant voice was right against her ear, "Make a wish."

Zhu Yuan was amused by him, "It's not my birthday today."

"Birthday wishes are made to the Heavens; I will make your everyday wishes come true."

"Can any wish come true?"

"As long as it's not too excessive." Sheng Yu put his arm around her shoulder.

Zhu Yuan looked at him, "For example?"

"For example, reducing the number of times we interact at night, or sleeping in separate rooms when at your house—these are all excessive requests."

"You're the one being excessive!" Zhu Yuan pushed him, flustered and exasperated.

Sheng Yu laughed and pulled her tighter, "Go ahead and make one."

Zhu Yuan truly pressed her palms together and made a wish toward the firelight, "I hope Sheng Yu can be happy and have everything go smoothly."

Sheng Yu was stunned for a moment.

He stared at Zhu Yuan's face for a while, then blew out the flame.

The carriage instantly returned to dimness.

Sheng Yu pinched Zhu Yuan's chin and kissed her, "With you by my side, how could I not be happy?"

By the time they arrived at the Qi Family, everyone else had already arrived.

As soon as Zhu Yuan entered the door, she saw Ning Huaiqing accompanying Qi Qi.

She walked over with a calm expression.

As soon as Qi Qi saw her, she ran over, "Sister Yuanyuan... Auntie Yuanyuan!"

"Happy birthday, baby Qi Qi!" Zhu Yuan crouched down and pulled her into her arms.

Yuan Fengye, standing to the side, teased, "Qi Qi, in a while, you should change how you address her to Auntie."

Qi Qi was confused, while everyone else looked in unison at the diamond ring on Zhu Yuan's left ring finger.

Ning Huaiqing took a glance and then withdrew her gaze, a hint of loneliness hidden in the depths of her eyes.

Zhu Yuan couldn't help but blush from being stared at by so many people.

A smile curled at the corners of Sheng Yu's lips, "You can change how you address her right now."

This smug look made Yuan Fengye, Qi Jing, and the others want to hit him.

Unfortunately, none of them were a match for Sheng Yu.

Tonight was Qi Qi's birthday, and the Qi Family had invited quite a few people to attend.

After Zhu Yuan arrived, Qi Qi clung to her and no longer went to find Ning Huaiqing.

Watching Zhu Yuan feeding things to Qi Qi, Sheng Yu held his wine glass with a deep gaze.

In the future, she would treat their own children with such gentleness and patience.

Sheng Yu was drinking with Qi Jing and the others when Situ entered from outside, his pace faster than usual.

Someone sensed something unusual and instinctively looked at Sheng Yu, who was in the seat of honor.

Someone in the crowd lowered their voice and said in surprise, "No wonder the death of Mrs. Sheng has always been a forbidden topic for Sheng Yu; no one dared to mention it in front of him. So that's what happened back then."

Situ walked to Sheng Yu's side and took out his phone, "Young Master Yu, while Sheng Hongyao was being interviewed by reporters, he said some things about what happened after the Madam was kidnapped, and it has already fermented online."