Chapter 285: Engagement Ceremony in the Hospital Room
Chapter 285: Chapter 285: Engagement Ceremony in the Hospital Room
The new year brought a new atmosphere, a new beginning.
Master Yuan had finally divined the dates. The second day of the second lunar month, the day the dragon raises its head, was an auspicious day suitable for an engagement. The wedding was set for the tenth day of the ninth lunar month, during the traditional Returning to Truth Festival.
Feng Wanru was very satisfied when she received the dates, and the day arrived quickly.
Things were much simpler now. Hua Zhiqiang and Feng Wanru went directly to Immortal Grass Hall to propose the match to Sun Haoran and Madam Sun.
Madam Sun and Sun Haoran were aware of Zhao Nuanyue’s feelings. Following custom, they politely declined the first time. When Feng Wanru and Hua Zhiqiang visited a second time, they formally agreed to the engagement.
"Mrs. Hua, while Nuanyue may not come from a prominent family, she is loyal, kind-hearted, bright, and clever. She is a wonderful girl, worthy of any man. For the sake of her sincere heart, I ask that you please treat her well," Madam Sun said with great solemnity. ’If the Hua family couldn’t even cherish and treat a wonderful girl like Zhao Nuanyue kindly, then they certainly weren’t a good family.’
Hearing this, Feng Wanru smiled. "I will take your words to heart, Madam Sun. I will be sure to treat Nuanyue well."
Meanwhile, Sun Haoran and Hua Zhiqiang exchanged some pleasantries, all of them praising Zhao Nuanyue.
The marriage was settled. With just over ten days until the engagement, Madam Sun had enough time to help Zhao Nuanyue prepare the necessary items.
When Gu Qingyu heard that Zhao Nuanyue and Hua Yusen were getting engaged, he immediately offered to be their official witness.
The engagement ceremony was to be held in Hua Yusen’s hospital room.
On the day of the ceremony, Zhao Nuanyue wore a red woolen coat, a gift from Gu Qingyu.
Zhao Nuanyue sat before the mirror, getting ready. She combed her hair, wove it into a braid, and then coiled it neatly on her head. Wispy bangs brushed against her forehead. Finally, she tucked a few freshly picked plum blossoms from the courtyard into her hair, securing them with small pins so they were scattered artfully.
Zhao Nuanyue’s skin was naturally fair, so she wore no powder. A shy blush made her cheeks rosy and radiant. Her cherry-red lips needed no lipstick, and her thick, beautifully shaped brows framed a pair of bright, large eyes, making them look even more limpid and clear.
Finally, she put on the red coat, a pair of black trousers, and the mid-heeled leather shoes that Madam Sun had bought for her.
Madam Sun had Zhao Nuanyue stand up and looked her over carefully. Seeing that everything was perfect, she said slowly, "Ah, Nuanyue, you’re getting engaged today. You’ll be a wife soon. I wish you a life of happiness and hope that Hua Yusen wakes up soon, so you two can grow old together in harmony."
"Thank you, Madam Sun." Zhao Nuanyue opened her arms and embraced Madam Sun. "Thank you for helping me have such a dignified engagement and marriage."
Madam Sun chuckled. "The Hua family has shown great sincerity. I’ve placed their gifts in your room—the betrothal gifts. They’re all for you. When it’s time for the wedding, I’ll prepare a dowry for you, so your marriage will be even more respectable."
Because of Hua Yusen’s special condition, everything was kept simple. Hua Yulin and Hua Yufen came to pick up Zhao Nuanyue. Liu Wenqiang, Tang Kai Xuan, and Zhao Nuan Yang from Immortal Grass Hall escorted her to the hospital.
It was expected to be a busy day, so the Little Red Carp stayed close to Madam Sun.
Hua Yulin and Hua Yufen were already waiting outside. Zhao Nuan Yang stopped and looked at his sister, then asked in all seriousness, "Sister, it’s not too late to change your mind!"
Hearing her brother’s words, Zhao Nuanyue smiled, her eyes glistening with tears. "Thank you, Nuanyang," she said softly. "Just let me be selfish this one time. Being with Hua Yusen, legitimately and officially, is all I’ve ever dreamed of. I have no regrets."
"Alright!" Hearing her answer, Zhao Nuan Yang nodded. "Then I wish you happiness, Sister."
"Thank you." Zhao Nuanyue nodded. Then, escorted by her senior brothers and her own brother, she arrived at the hospital.
The Little Red Carp obediently stayed by Madam Sun’s side.
When she arrived at the hospital and stepped out of the car, Zhao Nuanyue felt a little dazed.
’Am I really getting engaged?’
’In her past life, she would never have earned such a title, not even in death. But in this life, she had finally achieved it through her own efforts. She could finally be with Hua Yusen, officially and rightfully.’
’Yu Sen, we finally got our wish.’
Zhao Nuanyue fought to hold back her tears. They were tears of joy and excitement, but she knew others might not understand.
’It wouldn’t do for them to misunderstand and think she was unwilling or not completely sincere.’
Hua Yulin glanced at the beautiful woman beside him, who was about to become his older brother’s fiancée.
’He had never in his life met a woman so deeply devoted.’ While Hua Yulin admired Zhao Nuanyue, he was also intensely curious about her.
’Just what kind of woman was she?’
’To accept a man who might never wake up, all for the sake of love?’
Zhao Nuanyue felt that with every step, she was getting closer to her happiness, closer to making her dreams a reality.
The atmosphere in the hospital room was solemn, yet it was filled with warmth thanks to Zhao Nuanyue’s red coat and the presence of so many family members, all gathered to witness their engagement ceremony.
Zhao Nuanyue walked up to Hua Yusen’s bedside and gently took his hand. "Hua," she said softly, "we’re finally engaged. No matter what the future holds, I will always be by your side. In front of all our elders, I’ll say it again: I love you with all my heart, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
Seeing her son finally engaged to the woman he loved, Feng Wanru was overjoyed.
’This was what it meant to have a cherished wish come true. It was all the more moving, especially under these circumstances.’
After nearly two months of observation, Feng Wanru was firmly convinced that Zhao Nuanyue’s feelings for her son, Hua Yusen, were genuine.
She also hoped that, inspired by Zhao Nuanyue’s love, her son would wake up soon and recover his health.
’Her son was so outstanding, so filial, with such a bright future ahead of him. For him to remain in this slumber... what a terrible shame, how utterly heartbreaking!’
As the head of the family, Hua Zhiqiang’s thoughts ran deeper, especially concerning the future of the Hua family. ’His second son, Hua Yulin, was brave and vigorous, but he lacked the strategic, big-picture thinking of his older brother, who always considered every angle and planned meticulously before taking action.’
’In the hands of his eldest son, the Hua family could achieve even greater things. In the hands of his second son, however, they would at best maintain their current standing; further progress would be difficult.’
’Gu Qingyu had personally come to preside over this ceremony for his eldest son and Zhao Nuanyue. Hua Zhiqiang was astonished. He hadn’t realized his son and Zhao Nuanyue held such an important position in Elder Gu’s heart.’
’But if his eldest son never woke up, this connection wouldn’t be of much help for the future. What a shame.’
’Perhaps I could arrange for Zhao Nuanyue to get a job. She is, after all, a trusted confidante of Elder Gu. Even if it’s not a crucial position, she might be able to gather some useful information.’
’Enough of that. That’s a matter for the future.’
"Nuanyue, you must stay strong," Gu Qingyu said gently. "No matter what difficulties you face, you must come and tell me."