357 Circus (1/2)

Long Hui fished out a small box from his breast pocket and opened it, revealing a simple solitaire diamond ring. He looked up at Jiang Ying Yue.

”Ying Yue, I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you and our son. Let's build a happy family together. Will you marry me?”

Jiang Ying Yue looked utterly shocked just like everyone else. She froze, her mind going blank.

Everyone gasped at Long Hui's sudden proposal.

Even Iris didn't expect that he would propose to Jiang Ying Yue tonight. She looked at Meimei, Chen Fei and Long Jinjing. All of them had similar expressions as her. They didn't know exactly what to feel. They felt both joy and discontent for Jiang Ying Yue.

Many of the guests whipped out their phones to record the sensational moment. They weren't particularly excited for the couple themselves. They were more excited at the prospect of a family scandal that was sure to engulf the Long family, knowing that the woman involved was Long Hui's former bodyguard.

These people moved in the same circles in high society. They already knew what kind of attitude the Long elders had towards people they deemed as inferior to their status. The Long family almost broke apart when Long Tengfei divorced his first wife to marry Wei Lan, a struggling model with questionable background. The situation only stabilized when Long Tengfei married his current wife, Yang Jiahui, who was proving to be a reliable madam of the Long family despite her not so impressive family background.

If Long Hui were to really marry this bodyguard, the Long family would most likely enter another turbulent period. There might even be some drastic insurgence among the dissatisfied branch families.

Unlike Long Tengfei who was already the family head when he married Wei Lan before, Long Hui was still just an heir at the moment. One wrong move from him and he might not even succeed his father as head of the family at all.

All of these ran through the minds of everyone witnessing the surprise proposal. They couldn't resist glancing at the Wu family, specifically at Wu Qianxi, who was believed to be Long Hui's future wife once upon a time.

Wu Qianxi looked pale, horrified and heartbroken as she watched her ex-boyfriend proposing to another woman. Her mother, Madam Wu, clutched her chest in a similar horrified expression, while disbelief filled her father' face.

Back to the proposal.

Long Hui started to sweat when Jiang Ying Yue failed to respond. His expectant expression started to transform into anxiety. He lifted the open box containing the diamond ring higher.

”Ying Yue? Please marry me.”

Jiang Ying Yue finally regained her senses. Her heart was beating so fast and so loudly that it was all she could hear. It was like the galloping of horses threatening to jump out from inside her chest.

”H-hui…”

She wanted to ask him what the hell he was doing, proposing in such a (for her) hostile environment like this. She felt extremely uncomfortable and pressured. Did he think this was romantic? Not to mention that she was still feeling unhappy about his earlier actions (or lack thereof) regarding the insults being thrown at her by the elders and the other guests and most especially Wu Qianxi's flirting with him.

'Let me think about it first. Let's not rush our relationship,' was what she wanted to tell him. However, with all the people watching them right now, doing so would embarrass him. She still loved and cared for Long Hui not to subject him to such public humiliation.

”Ying Yue?” Long Hui asked again. He was now almost soaked in his own sweat.

”I…” Jiang Ying Yue felt very torn. She didn't want to make a decision so quickly. However, seeing his pleading expression, her heart softened for him. Trembling a little, she forced a smile and answered, ”Y-yes, I'll marry you.”

Cheers erupted among the crowd. They congratulated Long Hui for a successful proposal.

Long Hui looked delighted. He quickly slipped the ring on Jiang Ying Yue's finger. It fit perfectly. Then he jumped up, pulled her into his arms, and kissed her on the lips in front of everyone.