"I believe back then, you wouldn't have wanted to accept me either. After all, we'd never met, and with the era, having arranged weddings like that was indeed hard to accept." Xiao Feng thought for a long time before finally deciding how to say it.
As this topic began, both of them looked at each other. Tang Tang, in particular, kept nodding as Xiao Feng spoke, as if she strongly agreed with his words.
"You feel the same way, don't you?"
Tang Tang nodded. "That's right. To be honest, I was very resistant when I first heard the news. We're not in a TV drama, and we're not living by the old ways of our predecessors, yet there was still arranged marriage. At that time, I thought, 'My god. How cliché can this get?' And I didn't dare tell anyone that my family still held such archaic beliefs."
Hearing Tang Tang say this, Xiao Feng let out a relaxed laugh. "Yes, I didn't expect our thoughts to be the same."
Xiao Feng took a deep breath and continued, "To be honest with you, my initial thought was that if it were a woman I didn't like, I would find all sorts of ways to make her give up, even if it meant making her think I was an unreliable playboy. As long as it could end this engagement, I would use any means."
Tang Tang looked as if she and Xiao Feng were very compatible when she heard him say this. "Really? You thought that too? Actually, I thought the same. Xiao Feng, you know? I initially thought it would be best if that man was a scoundrel, so I could find all sorts of ways to urge my parents to break off the engagement."
Xiao Feng burst into laughter, and Tang Tang laughed too. "I can't believe we were both so immature."
"Indeed, we were immature," Xiao Feng continued to smile, but the smile soon gradually faded, replaced by a serious expression.
"But actually, I'm saying this to let you know that I've changed a lot. Especially regarding you and our marriage."
Tang Tang immediately made a crossing-out gesture. "Please, we haven't truly entered into marriage yet. Don't say that."
Xiao Feng nodded, indicating his willingness to accept Tang Tang's statement. "You're right, but I didn't bring you to this hotel today to talk about the past."
At this point, Xiao Feng felt that these words seemed a little different.
So, Xiao Feng continued, "Actually, I wanted to tell you that from our very first meeting, I felt you were different from what I imagined. Beautiful, generous, dignified, lovely – you were all of these. I think… at that moment, I madly wanted to win you over. Fortunately, you're my fiancée. So for you…"
Xiao Feng looked at Tang Tang, his eyes full of sincerity. "For you… I have feelings. Feelings of love. So I feel very fortunate that someone like me has a fiancée like you. This has given me a lot of courage and made me feel more at ease."
"At ease?" Tang Tang understood what Xiao Feng had said earlier. She could feel that Xiao Feng truly had feelings for her.
But with the latter part of his words, Tang Tang was genuinely a little unsure of what Xiao Feng meant.
Xiao Feng nodded. "Yes, because you are my fiancée, I can approach you openly. And you, even if you're unwilling, will still have to go on dates with me for the sake of our families. This is what makes me happy. And now, Tang Tang, I want to make our relationship official."
Before Tang Tang could react, Xiao Feng produced a delicate little box from somewhere.
How could Tang Tang not know what this kind of small box was? It was clearly a small box meant to hold a ring.
Indeed, Xiao Feng opened the small box, and inside lay a delicate little ring.
Just as Tang Tang was stunned by this surprise and hadn't yet reacted, Xiao Feng was already on one knee. "Although we haven't spent much time together, Tang Tang, I genuinely like you. We have a marriage set for us, but that's what the elders decided. I want to tell you my true feelings, which is, please marry me!"
Tang Tang stood completely still, utterly astonished.
Tang Tang had considered this possibility. When she agreed to this hot spring trip, she had thought about it. She had fantasized about it being an opportunity for her relationship with Xiao Feng to heat up.
But Tang Tang never expected that Xiao Feng would directly propose this time, leaving her momentarily speechless, unsure of what to say.
Xiao Feng, however, looked unhurried. "You can ask your heart what it truly chooses."
Now that he was kneeling with the ring, Xiao Feng no longer felt the nervousness from before. His eyes were fixed on Tang Tang. All he wanted was an answer from her, and he even proactively gave her time to consider. "Perhaps it's too rushed for you. But for me, I'm very scared, very worried that you'll be snatched away by someone else, so I'm making a preemptive move."
Hearing Xiao Feng say this, Tang Tang's lips couldn't help but curve upwards slightly. "But I really haven't thought it through yet. I haven't decided."
"Are you refusing me?" Xiao Feng asked tentatively.
Tang Tang didn't know how to answer him. "Honestly, you're proposing to me right now, and then we'll get married soon? Is that what you mean?"
"That's the outcome I want, the one you described," Xiao Feng didn't hide his desire for Tang Tang at all. "But if you haven't thought about entering into marriage, I won't force you. But at least give me some response."
"You feel our current relationship isn't clear?" Tang Tang couldn't think of a word to describe her relationship with Xiao Feng and finally settled on "clear," a word she herself found odd.
Xiao Feng pondered for a moment and nodded. "You do have a point. Perhaps that's what I feel. So, can you accept me and make our relationship official?"
After testing Xiao Feng for so long, Tang Tang already had a significant answer in her heart.
"I'm quite willing," Tang Tang was a brave and generous girl. If she liked someone, she would never hide her true feelings.
Tang Tang's words suddenly made Xiao Feng's eyes light up. He looked at Tang Tang with evident excitement.
But Tang Tang then said, "I can agree to be officially engaged, but I cannot accept your formal proposal at this moment."
"Why?" Although his heart was very satisfied with Tang Tang's answer, Xiao Feng still wanted to ask for a reason.