158 Courtship

I drained my glass in one gulp and said, "Sister Yang, thank you for taking me in all this time. I'd like to propose a toast to you as well!"

Sister Yang waved her hand and replied, "Feng, I'm not feeling well these days and shouldn't drink alcohol. I'll just use a soft drink instead!"

Unconcerned, I continued, "Sister Yang, now that the factory has new business and I've helped you recover the payment, there's something I want to tell you."

With a beaming smile, Sister Yang said, "Feng, I also have something very important to tell you. Who goes first?"

Seeing her mysterious expression, I said, "You go ahead, Sister Yang!"

Blushing with shyness, Sister Yang said, "Feng, I'm pregnant!"

Stunned, I asked, "You're what?"

Reaching out, she gave my arm a sharp pinch and scolded, "You fool, don't you even understand that?"

Before I could react, my phone suddenly rang. Seeing that the call was from Jin Yulian, I ignored Sister Yang and answered it.

Jin Yulian said, "Feng, I have something very urgent to discuss with you. You'd better come out right now."

I asked, "Alright, where shall we meet?"

Jin Yulian replied, "Wait for me at the usual beef noodle shop."

Hearing the urgency in her voice, I couldn't care less about what else to say to Sister Yang. I stood up and said, "Sister Yang, I have something to take care of and need to step out."

Seeing me leave in such a hurry, Sister Yang seemed to have more on her mind, but finally said with a resigned sigh, "Alright then! Come back as soon as you can."

"I can't say for sure," I replied. "If things wrap up quickly, I'll be back as early as possible."

I hurried out of Sister Yang's factory and walked out to the main road. Just then, Jin Yulian called again to say she had already arrived at the noodle shop and urged me to get there quickly.

"I'm already on my way," I said.

"I'll drive along the road to pick you up," Jin Yulian offered.

A few minutes later, Jin Yulian spotted me walking along the street and pulled her car over.

Complaining bitterly, she said, "Look at the state of you—you don't even have a car. If you're really that strapped for cash, come to my company tomorrow and I'll give you two hundred thousand so you can buy a decent car to get around."

Hearing this, I felt a twinge of shame. I thought to myself that even Fu Xiaomei had managed to buy herself a BMW, whereas I didn't even possess a cheap second-hand car. It was genuinely humiliating.

I hopped into the front passenger seat and asked, "Sister Yulian, what is this urgent matter you needed me for?"

Visibly angry, Jin Yulian demanded, "Look at the mess you've made! You clearly promised me last time that you would leave that proprietress! Why haven't you left her yet? Why are you still helping her develop new products? What on earth is so great about her that has you so utterly bewitched and unwilling to walk away?"

I tried to explain: "Sister Yulian, I was actually planning to tell her tonight that I'm leaving. You were the one who called me away in such a rush, so I didn't get the chance."

Jin Yulian retorted, "You just didn't have the guts to say it! Fine, I'll go tell her for you. You're still a young man, yet she's brazen enough to cling to you even though her daughter is already grown up."

"Sister Yulian, calm down," I said. "I can handle my own affairs. Just tell me why you were in such a frantic hurry to find me."

Jin Yulian snapped, "How could I not be in a hurry? It's been nearly half a month since you promised me you'd leave that proprietress, and the two of you are still acting all lovey-dovey. Are you even listening to me? You should know that my time is running out."

"Alright, Sister Yulian," I conceded. "Just tell me what you plan to do."

Jin Yulian declared, "First, you're going to take me to see your proprietress. Since you don't have the nerve to speak up, I'll do it for you. I'll make sure she stops pestering my little brother."

"Sister Yulian, you don't need to worry about that. I'll resolve it myself."

"Fine!" Jin Yulian conceded. "Handle that yourself then. But now we move on to the second task. I'm driving you there right now."

Astonished, I asked, "What's the second task? Why are you in such a frenzy?"

Jin Yulian announced, "Tonight, we are going to confess our love to Ling Xue."

"Sister Yulian, have you lost your mind?" I cried out. "I don't even know where Ling Xue lives, how am I supposed to confess my love to her?"

Jin Yulian explained, "I received word that the Qingxi Film and Television City is hosting a song and dance performance tonight. The organizers invited several celebrities, including Ling Xue. She will be on stage singing later, so you can go up, present her with flowers, and use the opportunity to confess your love."

Uneasy, I asked, "In front of everyone like that? Is this really a good idea?"

Jin Yulian scolded, "Back in Hudu, how did you dare to kiss A'yun in plain sight of everyone?"

"That was different," I argued. "I didn't know A'yun's identity back then..."

"Enough with the nonsense," Jin Yulian interrupted. "I've already prepared the flowers for you. Let's hurry over. It will be a tragedy if we miss this chance."

With that, Jin Yulian stepped hard on the accelerator, and the car sped toward the Qingxi Film and Television City.

Ten minutes later, Jin Yulian drove up to the Film and Television City. We parked nearby, and with Jin Yulian holding a bouquet of flowers and leading the way, we headed toward the stage erected within the complex. By then, the area in front of the stage was already a sea of people.

Stage lights flashed and deafening music reverberated through the air, signaling that the performance had already begun.

As Jin Yulian squeezed her way through the crowd, she asked people around us whether Ling Xue had already performed, but no one knew for sure. Just then, the stage host announced, "For tonight's music and dance gala, we are honored to invite Princess Ling Xue. Coming up next, she will sing 'Sorrowful Snow' for everyone. Let's give her a warm round of applause!"

I caught sight of Ling Xue standing on the stage, dressed in a flowing white gown. Her peerless beauty made her look like an immortal fairy descended from the heavens. As she slowly stepped forward, thunderous applause erupted.

Holding the microphone, Ling Xue began to sing: *Looking at the drifting snow outside the window, returning to the world we once shared...*

*Whenever snowflakes fall scatteringly, missing you has become a habit I cannot break,*

*Looking up at the sky, I ask in bitter agony, why the heavens misaligned this thread of fate, yearning for you is my most agonizing bond...*

*Watching your departing figure, snowflakes melt into tears that blur my vision...*

Ling Xue's voice was exceptionally pure and sweet, yet tinged with boundless sorrow and melancholy. I became utterly entranced by her singing, and when her song came to an end, I was so mesmerized that I completely forgot to rush forward with the flowers.

Infuriated, Jin Yulian gave my arm another hard pinch and hissed, "Be brave! Go on up!"

Seeing Ling Xue turn to leave the stage, I couldn't hold back any longer. I lunged forward and shouted, "Ling Xue, I love you!"

Hearing my voice, Ling Xue started visibly and turned her head back.

As I dashed forward, the security guards immediately moved to block me.

Ling Xue called out, "Let him come up!"

At her command, the guards stepped aside in astonishment, and I scrambled clumsily onto the stage...