Chapter 212: Marriage Proposal (Complete text)
Chapter 212
President Song showed with his actions that he truly loved her. The previous rumors circulating in the industry that Zhong Ruanxing was a gold digger who seduced the rich Song family were shattered on this flight. Several guests watched as Song JinXing held her as gently as if she would melt in his mouth or break in his hands, not knowing whether to feel jealous or admiring.
Exhausted until midnight last night, Zhong Ruanxing was unable to catch up on her sleep in the car because she was reluctant to leave her boyfriend. Now with her boyfriend by her side, she could finally sleep in peace.
Song JinXing opened his laptop to work, his excellent side profile causing several artists next to him to frequently glance over. After the plane reached cruising altitude, the flight attendant began serving the first class cabin passengers, walking over to Song JinXing to ask if he needed any food or drinks. He only politely made a “shush” gesture.
My girlfriend is sleeping, please do not disturb her.
The flight attendant understood and left. When she asked the next passenger, she unconsciously lowered her own voice.
The guest spectators: ...So annoying!!
While feeling sour, they also couldn’t help but secretly watch, and even gradually found the joy of “shipping” them...
Aside from their identities as artists pitted against each other, they were also ordinary people who would go crazy with sweet romance! Damn, who would have thought there would be a day when I actually ship my rival and her boyfriend!
After a nice nap, Zhong Ruanxing woke up to discover the other guests looking at her without the sharp hostility from when they first boarded the plane.
It seemed everyone had convinced themselves during her nap to reach an agreement to get along peacefully and not fight for the rest of the trip.
Zhong Ruanxing thought it was a bit strange. After sitting back down, she secretly moved next to Song JinXing and asked quietly, “Did you threaten them?”
Otherwise, it would be hard to explain why these popular female artists were so well-behaved! She had mentally prepared herself for catfights before coming!
Song JinXing looked at her innocently. “I was working the whole time.”
Zhong Ruanxing contemplated, “Oh, then they must have been scared off by your imposing manner!”
Song JinXing closed his laptop, rang the service bell, then said to her, “I think my manner is very mild right now. Hungry? What do you want to eat?”
The flight attendant quickly came over with a tablet for ordering food. Zhong Ruanxing happily started ordering.
The spectating guests: Secretly whispering is so sweet! Say more!
The first stop of the show’s itinerary was Greece. They would be traveling through several scenic Northern European countries over the next half month, searching for rarely-seen wondrous sights. After getting off the plane, the filming by the show’s crew began immediately.
The six guests gathered in the airport lobby to start their half-month journey pursuing amazing natural sights.
Zhong Ruanxing pushed her luggage cart, watching as her boyfriend seamlessly blended in with the filming crew. The lead director even wore an honored expression while shaking his hand! Turns out that without her knowing, her boyfriend had become the show’s biggest investor.
Of course the investor would want to follow the crew everywhere!
It really was an accompaniment from start to finish.
Thus, the filming crew discovered that the guests this season were extremely well-behaved. Everyone was modest, enthusiastic, patient, fully demonstrating the traditional virtues of the Chinese people, turning this journey originally meant for catfights into a happy tourist group laughing merrily.
Three seasons already, three seasons!
They had never captured such harmonious footage before.
The assistant director anxiously whispered to the lead director, “Director Chen, this won’t do. Without any catfights, there is no appeal at all.”
The lead director secretly glanced at the investor in their group, maintaining a just and unyielding expression: “Why fight? This is the style we’re going with this season! There’s already too much hostility in life itself. As TV show creators, we should guide positive energy!”
Assistant Director: “?”
Weren’t you preaching something completely different the last three seasons, Director?!
Under her boyfriend's deterrence, Zhong Ruanxing's reality show filming went very smoothly. Nothing unpleasant happened at all. This trip really did transform into a leisurely vacation to relax and appreciate the sights.
The filming crew was surprised to discover that although there were no catfights, the show’s effect was exceptionally good.
The friendship between six pretty and popular girls, laughing and playing pranks as they traveled, posing together in all sorts of styles, chatting about mundane girly topics. When they saw foreign guys with blonde hair and tall noses, they would clamor about never having “kissed Western lips” and dare each other to go strike up a conversation.
They were pursuing wondrous natural sights, and they themselves were the delightful sights along the way.
The last stop of the reality show filming was the Kakslauttanen village in Finland, said to be the best spot for viewing the aurora. The locals built special igloos just for tourists to watch the lights, very characteristic of the region.
The guests dressed up as Santa Claus and reindeer to pose for pictures, and also tried sitting in a snow raft sled. The entire filming site echoed with laughter and chatter.
Because of the cold, everyone was bundled up like penguins. After finishing a snowball fight and returning for water, Zhong Ruanxing saw Song JinXing talking about something with the lead director. Seeing her waddle over, he smiled and waved her over, stuffing the hand warmer bag into her hands.
Zhong Ruanxing held the hand warmer bag to her flushed face, appearing extremely delighted. “I heard there will be pink auroras tonight!”
Song JinXing helped brush the snow off her hat. “Oh?”
She seemed very excited. “A pink aurora! Remember to take lots of pictures for me!”
Song JinXing nodded with a smile. “Got it.”
Everyone anticipate nightfall because of this pink aurora. The filming crew also set up advanced equipment, determined to document this rarely-seen wondrous sight.
But as night enveloped them, the aurora did not appear.
In the icy, snow-covered land, the night sky also emitted a crystalline blue resembling ice and snow. The stars glittered brightly, but there was no sign of an aurora.
The guests patiently waited several hours, with the campfire rebuilt with more firewood many times, yet there continued to be no trace of an aurora. Zhong Ruanxing turned to ask the director, “Did you guys get the weather forecast wrong?”
The lead director seemed even more anxious than the guests. He kept glancing at President Song sitting to the side: “How could that be! The local guide also said there would definitely be a pink aurora tonight! It will show up for sure. Just endure a while longer everyone! Little Zhang, add some more wood to the fire! Oh right, are you guys hungry? Should we cook some instant noodles?”
Very nice, cook noodles while waiting for the aurora, feels down-to-earth.
The campfire burned brighter. In its glow, everyone’s faces were rosy red. At first, for the sake of visual beauty, the six guests all sat in the front in a line so the camera could film their anticipation in waiting to admire the aurora from behind.
But after one hour passed, then two hours, then three hours, no one knew who started it but yawns began spreading across the site.
Several of the guests also found comfortable places and positions to lie down. Only Zhong Ruanxing stubbornly remained seated in front, bundled up in her thick down jacket and knit hat, cupping her face as she waited for the pink aurora to emerge.
The previously lively camp gradually quieted. Everyone started dozing off. Only the occasional sparks from the burning campfire could be heard.
Zhong Ruanxing yawned slightly before feeling hands support her body so she could lean back comfortably.
Without needing to turn her head, she knew who it was.
She naturally leaned against Song JinXing as he sat down beside her. The two snuggled under the crystalline starry sky without saying a word.
At first still persevering, as soon as she had something to lean on, Zhong Ruanxing’s drowsiness instantly surged forth. Her head pillowed on her boyfriend’s broad shoulder, she sank into light slumber. Song JinXing gently lowered his shoulder and wrapped his arm around her back to hug her body, allowing her to sleep more comfortably.
After some unknown amount of time passed, Zhong Ruanxing suddenly heard a gentle voice calling next to her ear, “Little star, the aurora is out.”
Still groggy, she then heard cheers erupt from the camp behind her: “The aurora is here!”
Everyone who had dozed off instantly woke up. The tumbled guests also hurriedly climbed to their feet. At some point, swathes of pink auroras filled the night sky, their glows drifting past like gentle silks across water, stunningly beautiful beyond words.
Zhong Ruanxing had never seen such a pretty pink. This was the wondrous creation of nature itself, scenery that no human ability could obtain.
She stared fixedly at the sky, afraid to miss a single second of this rare sight.
Next to her ear, she suddenly heard Song JinXing’s gentle, low voice. “Little star.”
Zhong Ruanxing did not turn her head: "Hmm?"
A glimpse of pink light flashed in the corner of her eye, and her hand tucked in her sleeve was pulled out. A cold sensation circled her ring finger.
Zhong Ruanxing was stunned and looked down sharply to see a ring slipped onto her finger.
The pink diamond on the ring glittered as beautifully as the aurora overhead, shining with a touching brilliance, as if it was made from the lights in the sky and finally condensed into this large, bright diamond ring on her finger.
She held her breath for a moment, and looked up at the person in front of her.
Song JinXing smiled, his deep eyes reflecting the brilliance of the myriad lights in the night sky. "Will you marry me?"
The noisy chatter around them had somehow gone silent. It seemed the entire camp was waiting for her answer. The executive producer excitedly covered her mouth, frantically signaling to the cameraman. Sitting on a rotating platform, the cameraman was pushed around in circles by the staff to film this picturesque proposal scene worthy of an idol drama.
At this moment, the aurora was magnificent.
Zhong Ruanxing blinked and asked in a voice only the two of them could hear, "If I say yes, does that mean we'll swap worlds again tomorrow?"
Song JinXing revealed a helpless smile. "Possibly."
The two gazed at each other for a while. Finally, Zhong Ruanxing laughed and opened her arms wide. "Then let's swap. We can just get married earlier."
On camera, the two embraced under the vast pink lights. The diamond ring on Zhong Ruanxing's finger shone even brighter than the aurora.
A pink aurora was a rare and wondrous sight in this world.
But it would eventually appear.
Because someone had always been waiting for it.
Just as Song JinXing had always been waiting for his star to appear.
And she would eventually appear, lighting up the night sky like an aurora, illuminating his life.