CHAPTER 29: CHAPTER 29: HE CHEN, WHY ARE YOU BLUSHING?

Actually, He Chen had been secretly watching her all along. He stole a glance at her when he came out to pour the vegetable washing water while cooking, and also when he served the dishes, and even while eating.

As he watched, he began to get used to it. Although he still felt his blood boiling inside, at least it didn’t burst out through his nose.

But being so close and staring straight at him like this, He Chen felt it was still a bit unbearable.

Especially since Ye Manman stood up and cupped his face with her hands to keep him from instinctively turning his head.

The angle and distance were all wrong. Besides clearly seeing Ye Manman’s expression, He Chen could also clearly see his own reflection in her clear eyes.

Seeing his silly self reflected in her eyes, he suddenly looked even dumber, and his face turned bright red.

Ye Manman, however, didn’t let go and deliberately asked.

"He Chen, why are you blushing?"

He Chen couldn’t endure this tone of hers, soft and gentle like a hand gently brushing against his chest, making him feel ticklish and numb.

He felt like he was about to catch fire.

He didn’t dare to speak, afraid his hoarse voice would expose his unworthiness.

Ye Manman moved in closer, seemingly wanting to see his facial expressions more clearly, slightly leaning over and looking down at him.

He Chen saw her lips, and soon, all he could see were those lips.

Red, tender, they looked delicious, surely just like jelly.

Thinking this in his mind, He Chen became even more cautious with his actions.

Not only did he dare not make a sound, but his eyes were also determined as if he were facing a terribly challenging life-or-death trial, and he was resisting with all his might.

Ye Manman thought it was about enough; He Chen no longer had a nosebleed, and his gaze did not dodge anymore. He looked righteous, presumably wouldn’t be easily taken away by other beauties in the future.

She then let go and turned around to sit down.

"Alright, I’ll let you off. You did well. In the future, when you see beautiful women, you can’t be as unpresentable as before, got it?"

Once she left, He Chen vaguely felt that the air before him twisted, and the alluring fragrance from the only hug he remembered gradually dissipated, leaving the mesmerizing sight that made his fingertips tingle gone.

Feeling a sense of loss.

Obediently, He Chen mumbled a response, noticing his voice was embarrassingly hoarse, and dared not speak further.

Actually, he wanted to say that he’s only so unpresentable when he sees her, and his good behavior was merely a worry that exposing his devilish thoughts might scare her.

Fortunately, she didn’t notice.

"Speaking of which, I haven’t been to town in a long time. Are you busy tomorrow? If not, take me along. I haven’t shopped in ages, reading books all the time is making my eyes tired."

Ye Manman stretched lazily. Recently, she’s understood most of the college entrance examination subjects and was somewhat disappointed as most contents were too simple.

She had now figured out some difficult historical issues and suddenly lost interest in reading.

Plans to get the exams from the past two years and practice a bit.

"We can go after work today. Do you want to go?"

After confirming that his throat had recovered significantly, He Chen couldn’t help but start touching the little box in his pocket.

"Why don’t we go to the state-owned restaurant in town for lunch this afternoon? I happened to get some food coupons."

Actually, he didn’t really want Ye Manman to show her face outside; the world was too dangerous, plus there were many excellent, well-off families in town...

What if she liked someone else, or someone else liked her...

Thinking of this, He Chen felt heavily challenged and, not knowing where the courage came from, suddenly pulled out the little box from his pocket.

Ye Manman was just mulling over what kind of clothes to buy, startled by his sudden action.

"What are you doing?"

"I—"

The courage He Chen had just mustered up burst like a balloon leaking quickly.

He gritted his teeth, thinking Ye Manman hadn’t seen it, ready to secretly stash the box back away.

But Ye Manman’s eyesight was good.

"You took it out, aren’t you going to show me?"

He Chen’s hands were large, and Ye Manman only vaguely saw something red, not knowing what he was holding.

But it didn’t affect her curiosity.

Nor did it affect He Chen’s anxiety.

He bit his lip, still taking out the little box, placing it on the table and quickly sliding it in front of Ye Manman.

"I bought a ring and want to give it to you..."

"I heard wearing a ring means being married, and everyone who sees it will know."

After saying this, He Chen suddenly felt a lot more relaxed, although he didn’t say the sweet, cheesy words he rehearsed on the way back, but it should...

He anxiously looked at Ye Manman, his palms slightly sweaty.

Blame it on his clumsy tongue, his mind uselessly rusting at such moments!

He bitterly regretted it and almost wanted to slap himself.

Ye Manman looked at the ring box, not rushed to open it, casually raised an eyebrow, and pouted her moist lips.

"I heard people propose on one knee too, why didn’t you kneel, just placing the ring so casually on the table."

"No sincerity at all."

She made no move to accept the ring, not even a gesture.

He Chen’s heart pounded, an overwhelming sense of crisis suddenly cleared his mind.

He grabbed the ring box, learning from what she just said, quickly knelt on one knee in front of her, sincerely saying,

"I’m sorry, I’m slow with words, please don’t be upset, I am sincere, I want to spend my life with you."

"Manman, will you accept me?"

As he spoke, He Chen’s face blushed again.

This was the first time he called her by her name like that.

Shy, but he still knelt there on one knee with a straight back, his gaze sincere and even a bit devout.

Ye Manman looked at him, secretly amused, but slightly raised her chin and looked away, slowly stretching her hand out in front of him.

When He Chen saw her hand extend, he hadn’t yet reacted, looking up to catch a hint of a smile on Ye Manman’s face and suddenly patted his forehead.

He hurriedly and carefully pinched the small gold ring, hands slightly trembling as he slipped it onto her slender, white ring finger.

Seeing this, He Chen didn’t know what he felt, besides a sudden sense of relief, he couldn’t help but find that hand incredibly beautiful.

His brain not catching up with his actions, when he realized it, he found himself shamelessly holding her hand and kissing the back of it.

From the neck up, his face turned bright red, and He Chen suddenly felt so awkward he wanted to smash his head into that peach tree.

Like the wild boar gone mad.

"Seems a bit too big."

He was embarrassed beyond words, yet Ye Manman didn’t feel anything remarkable about kissing the back of a hand.

She turned the ring on her finger, a curious expression forming.

Truth be told, He Chen had pretty good taste, the ring was simple and matched her aesthetic.

If he had gone through all the trouble to buy a gold band, she might not have chosen to accept it.

"This is the smallest size in the store, I’ll fatten you up a bit in the future, then you can wear many different styles of rings."

He Chen scratched his head, his eyes staring at her hand.

His face couldn’t resist holding onto a mysterious smile, and though he tried hard to control his expression to look normal, he just couldn’t pull his lips down.

Luckily, Ye Manman didn’t pay much mind to his peculiar smile, instead, she thought of something concerning the ring.

"By the way, haven’t we not gotten a marriage certificate?"

Saying so, she glanced at He Chen, whose smile had suddenly frozen, and giggled.

"I heard that just wearing a ring doesn’t count as marriage without the certificate, there’s no legal effect."