The next day at noon in the Zhang Family Villa.
Chattering and occasional laughter filled the dining room as everyone made small talks while eating lunch. The long table that can accommodate 24 people was fully packed with no seat left vacant. There was a very light air going around that eased Zhou Yuexi's nerves. Everyone was rather friendly and easy to get along with, specially Wang Lingyu, Zhang Yixing's mother.
Wang Lingyu was very attentive to Zhou Yuexi. Whenever she sees that Zhou Yuexi finished the dish on her bowl, she would fill it up again with another dish. She even removed the shell of the prawns for Zhou Yuexi.
Zhou Yuexi was overwhelmed with the attention that Wang Lingyu was giving her. It was as if her mother was with her. She remembered memories when she was where her mother always made sure she eats properly, deboning fishes and removing prawn shells for her whenever she ate. It didn't matter whether she would eat later, she just wanted her daughter to have proper meals. After her parents died, nobody did that for her anymore, making Zhou Yuexi lose her appetite. Seeing Wang Lingyu's care for her reminded her of her mother. Zhou Yuexi always longed for the same motherly care her mother gave her and Wang Lingyu's actions made her miss her mother more.
"Oh dear, what's wrong? You don't like this dish? I'll get you something else then, what do you like?", Wang Lingyu asked when she noticed the sad look on Zhou Yuexi's face.
"No, no it's fine Madam Zhang, I was just reminded of my mother. The dish actually tastes great, I love it." Zhou Yuexi smiled at Wang Lingyu to prove her statement.
"Oh my dear, what Madam Zhang? You're going to be my daughter-in-law so that makes you my child as well, you can just call me mom from now on.", the middle aged lady offered. "Here have some more, I personally made this dish so I'm glad you love it."
"Thank you Madam... I mean mom.", Zhou Yuexi said as Wang Lingyu continued to put another serving of food into her bowl.
After the meal was over, they all went to the garden to have their afternoon tea. Everyone sat on the chairs around the round tea tables. As everyone was enjoying their tea, Elder Zhang stood up.
"Listen to what I will say.", Elder Zhang started off which gained the attention of everyone. "I would like to formally introduce the latest addition to our family, Zhou Yuexi. Xiao Yuexi, Yixing come over."
The two heeded to the elder's command and stood side by side next to the old man.
"These two are already planning to bind themselves in marriage so I'm expecting all of you to treat Xiao Yuexi as our own from now onwards..", the old man stated.
The affianced couple bowed as everyone clapped happily in congruence to the good news, Zhang Qingyu being the most enthusiastic of them all. Everybody then congratulated them and wished the couple best of wishes.
"It's so good to hear that my first nephew is finally tying the knot, I nearly thought you're interested in men instead women since I've never seen you date anyone. But turns out you're just secretive enough to hide your woman from your family." Zhang Yixing's Second Aunt laughed.
The rest of the Zhang family weren't aware of the truth about Zhang Yixing's marriage except from the Old couple, his parents and Zhang Qingyu. But even so, they were still very welcoming towards Zhou Yuexi.
"So when's the wedding? I'd vacate my schedule for your big day so I will definitely be there. Wait... I don't see any engagement ring... Don't tell me you haven't even proposed to Yuexi yet, Yixing?" Zhang Yixing's Fourth Aunt shot him an incredulous look.
Zhang Yixing knew someone was bound to notice the absence of a ring, thus he came prepared. He took out a small velvet box from his suit's inside pocket and knelt down on one knee in front of everyone as he looked at Zhou Yuexi. He smiled widely at her as he said "Just play along" in a low voice just enough for Zhou Yuexi to hear but inaudible for everybody else, also minimizing his lip movement so nobody noticed his secret message.
Zhou Yuexi on the other hand was bewildered with the current event. She wasn't prepared for the abrupt 'proposal' from Zhang Yixing that she lost her calm expression and her face was painted with shock. She instantly covered her mouth that hanged agape with her hand as she tried to register Zhang Yixing's actions. Her reaction didn't look amiss to the viewers though, since it looked like the natural reaction to a lover's proposal. They thought that she was just probably overwhelmed with joy that she couldn't seem to accept what was happening
Zhang Yixing opened the velvet case and a fancy sparkling diamond ring came into sight. The beauty of the ring earned gasps of excitement from the audience, specially Zhang Qingyu.
Despite the distractive reactions from everyone, Zhang Yixing was focused on Zhou Yuexi alone and he asked her in all seriousness. "Will you marry me?"
Zhou Yuexi was staring straight at Zhang Yixing's eyes as well and she felt her heart skip a beat when he asked her with a serious face. When she regained her composure, she noticed that everyone's focus was on her. Zhou Yuexi felt a little embarrassed from all the eyes that stared at her as they awaited her answer to Zhang Yixing's question.
"Yes.", she answered accompanied with a smile and a slight nod.
Zhang Yixing smiled back at Zhou Yuexi then took her left hand and slipped the extravagant diamond ring into her ring finger.
"Congratulations!"
"We're so happy for you!"
Everyone cheered for the two of them and Zhang Qingyu who could barely contain her feelings, rushed to Zhou Yuexi and her brother.
"OMG! It's a yes! You already said yes so you're really my sister now! Hahaha I'm so happy! Hey you! Ge Ge! I never knew you had the ability to do such cheesy stuff? Hahaha anyways I'm just so happy. I love the both of you." She hugged the both of them like there was no tomorrow and then ran away to their cousins.
Wang Lingyu also made her way to the couple followed by her husband, Zhang Jingyi.
"I'm so proud of you Yixing for finding me such a great daughter-in-law.", Wang Lingyu said as she hugged her son. She then turned to Zhou Yuexi. "My dear Xiao Yue, if this ice block like son of mine ever bullies you in the future just tell mother and I will punish him for you. Okay?"
Zhou Yuexi answered in all smiles. "Yes, mom."
Zhang Yixing just shook his head on his mother's antic. Just what mother calls her own son a block of ice? Only Wang Lingyu. She made it sound like she loved Zhou Yuexi more than she loved her son, her own blood and flesh.
"Congratulations to the both of you and welcome to the family Xiao Yuexi." Zhang Jingyi was a man of few words and just congratulated his son and daughter-in-law.
Wang Lingyu nudged her husband's side. "Darling why do you speak so little? My dear Xiao Yue might think that you don't like her. She might feel uncomfortable and then decide leave our son. If that happens she might not want me anymore as well and I'll blame you for the rest of my life.", she dramatically said.
"Mom, I think you're the one that will scare your daughter-in-law away. Don't you think dad?"
Zhang Jingyi just nodded as he pulled his wife closer to coax her.
"My dear Xiao Yue just remember that I'll be your mother from now on. Don't mind these monkeys who knows nothing about taking care of their woman."
Zhou Yuexi just chuckled lightly to Huang Lingyu's remarks. "Yes, mother."
...
The gathering ended and everyone went their separate ways.
Zhou Yuexi was about to call Chen Liang to fetch her but Wang Lingyu insisted that Zhang Yixing should drive her home and Zhang Yixing agreed with her mother as well.
"It's final. Yixing will send you home.", Huang Lingyu said as she pushed the two of them towards the car.
Zhou Yuexi then had no choice but to give in to her mother-in-law's request and boarded the car. Zhang Yixing followed suit and quickly started the engine and drove away.
Inside the car, the two remained silent. Zhang Yixing was focusing on the road while Zhou Yuexi was examining the very fancy ring on her finger.
"Zhang Yixing."
"Zhou Yuexi."
They both said at the same time.
"Okay, you first.", Zhang Yixing said.
"What was that earlier? All those kneeling, diamond ring and stuff?", Zhou Yuexi asked him in all curiosity.
"Oh, that... I figured out that my aunts will find it weird that you don't have an engagement ring, so I prepared one. I wasn't planning on doing that if no one noticed but since Fourth Aunt did, I had to do it to avoid suspicion.", Zhang Yixing explained. "Don't you like the ring? There's a saying that 'Diamonds are girls' best friend.' so I figured you would like it as well.
Zhou Yuexi sighed in frustration. "It's not that I don't like the ring. It's really beautiful but that's not my point. The point is you should have told me before hand so I could prepare myself. At least I wouldn't have acted the way I did earlier. It was so embarrassing. I think I looked like a fish with my mouth hanging open like that."
Zhang Yixing just laughed at Zhou Yuexi's reaction.
"And now you're laughing at me! Are you for real?", she scoffed.
"My mom hoarded you all for herself that I couldn't even find a chance to talk to you alone and advice you of my plan. Sorry, you seem to be really upset."
Hearing Zhang Yixing's explanation and apology, Zhou Yuexi's agitation faded.
"I'm not that upset, I was just really flustered that's why.", she said after releasing a deep breath. "You wanted to say something as well?"
"Yes. Don't call me by my full name, it sounds so formal. It's like you're always going to talk to me about business.", Zhang Yixing said as he stole some glances at Zhou Yuexi but staring right back at the road as he was driving.
"So what should I call you then?"
"You choose, you can just call me by my name, Yixing or Bro Xing, since I'm older than you.Dear future husband is fine with me too.", he cheekily said.
"I'll just call you Yixing, I find Bro Xing a little too cringe worthy to say."
Zhang Yixing laughed. "Why not dear future husband?"
"Because it's no longer valid once we get married."