CIATB Chapter 151 Lion Dance!
Chapter 151 Lion Dance!
Sitting on Zhang Yan's broad shoulders, Nie Qingcheng's whole world seemed to change.
Beneath my feet was a throng of people, in my ears were the deafening sounds of gongs and drums, and before my eyes stood a majestic lion soaring and tumbling.
But she felt as if she were in the eye of a storm, completely enveloped by an absolute sense of security.
She could feel how strong and powerful the hands supporting her below were.
You could also feel the familiar and comforting warmth emanating from him.
All around, countless envious and amazed gazes were cast upon them.
"Wow, look at that guy, he's so doting on his girlfriend!"
"Where did you find this boyfriend? Was he issued a government job?"
"I'm so jealous! My boyfriend is too lazy to even open a bottle for me."
These whispers reached Nie Qingcheng's ears, causing her beautiful face to flush slightly.
But more than anything, it was an indescribable feeling of pride and sweetness.
She lowered her head and looked at Zhang Yan's angular profile and his eyes, which remained clear even amidst the noise.
My heart felt like it was soaking in a honey pot, soft and sweet.
She reached out and gently ruffled his hair.
Zhang Yan looked up and smiled at her.
"Can you see it clearly?"
"Mmm!" Nie Qingcheng nodded heavily, her voice carrying a hint of joy and naivety that she herself was unaware of.
The lion dance performance was spectacular.
But Nie Qingcheng's gaze gradually shifted away from the bustling scene.
Her entire attention was focused on the man below, who was providing her with a view.
She looked at him as if she were seeing her entire world.
The performance ended, and the crowd gradually dispersed.
Zhang Yan gently put her down from his shoulder.
The moment her feet touched the ground again, Nie Qingcheng was still somewhat dazed, as if she had just had a beautiful dream that she didn't want to wake up from.
"Come on, I'll take you somewhere."
Zhang Yan took her hand and instead of going deeper into the temple fair, turned into a relatively quiet alley.
At the end of the alley was a wide, frozen lake.
Along the lake, rows of large red lanterns hang, emitting a warm glow in the night.
Compared to the hustle and bustle of the temple fair not far away, this place is so quiet, it feels like another world.
The two walked to a bench by the lake and sat down.
Nie Qingcheng gently rested her head on Zhang Yan's shoulder.
"Zhang Yan".
"Um?"
"I'm so happy today."
Her voice was soft, with a hint of satisfied sigh.
"I never imagined that one day I would be like an ordinary girl, strolling through temple fairs, eating candied hawthorns, and watching lion dances..."
"I never imagined that someone would carry me on their shoulders, just so I could see a little better."
As she spoke, her eyes welled up slightly.
These were simple and pure moments of happiness that she had never experienced in the past twenty-four years of her life.
Zhang Yan didn't say anything, but simply reached out and pulled her even tighter into his arms.
He could feel that the woman in his arms was gradually shedding all her hard shell, revealing her softest and most authentic self to him.
"Do you know?" Nie Qingcheng buried her face in his chest, her voice muffled.
Before I met you, I always thought that life was a transaction, a battle.
"I need to keep getting stronger and keep scheming in order to protect everything I have."
"I feel very tired, but I dare not stop."
"Until you appeared."
She raised her head, her peach blossom eyes, shimmering under the lamplight, fixed on him.
"You're like an unreasonable intruder."
"A bowl of spilled rice noodle soup turned my world upside down."
"You've shown me what it feels like to be protected."
"So this is what it means to rely on someone—it's an addictive kind of happiness."
Looking into the deep affection and dependence in her eyes, Zhang Yan felt as if his heart was being gently grasped by a warm hand.
He lowered his head and kissed away the glistening tear from the corner of her eye.
From a bowl of rice noodle soup to temple fairs in Beijing…
His voice was deep and gentle.
"Mr. Nie, it seems you've gotten a huge loss on this 'payment with your body' deal."
Upon hearing this, Nie Qingcheng chuckled.
Tears still clung to her eyelashes, yet her smile was as radiant as summer flowers.
"Yeah, we lost a lot of money."
She stretched out her arms, hooked them around his neck, and took the initiative to kiss his lips.
"So, you have to spend your whole life making up for it."
The kiss was light and gentle.
Yet it also carries a scorching heat that seems capable of melting everything.
Not far away, from the direction of the temple fair, suddenly came a series of exclamations.
Immediately afterwards, a huge, golden firework exploded in the deep blue night sky.
The dazzling light instantly illuminated the entire night sky and the lakeside, where two faces were tightly embracing and passionately kissing.
Fireworks, one after another.
Red, green, purple...
Like a grand and magnificent meteor shower.
It has painted the whole world with a fairytale-like color.
Looking at the woman before him, breathtakingly beautiful amidst the fireworks, Zhang Yan felt an unprecedented clarity and unwavering resolve in his heart to spend his life with her.
He thought of the children in the orphanage who longed for a family.
He remembered Nie Qingcheng's expectant words in the car: "Let's have a child too."
He remembered how they had laid the first foundation stone of that castle in the snow, brick by brick.
There is still a long way to go in the future.
There will be all sorts of challenges and adventures.
But at this moment, he was absolutely certain.
As long as this woman is by his side, no matter what lies ahead—be it mountains of knives, seas of fire, or bottomless abyss—he is confident he can conquer them all.
"A beauty that could topple a city".
Their lips parted, and he pressed his forehead against hers, speaking softly.
"Um?"
"Let's get married once the orphanage in Jinghai is built."
Nie Qingcheng was startled and suddenly raised her head. Her beautiful eyes were instantly filled with immense, unbelievable joy.
"What...what did you say?"
Her voice was trembling.
Seeing her surprised and delighted expression, Zhang Yan's smile deepened.
He did not repeat it.
With just one deeper, more passionate kiss, he gave the most affirmative answer.
In the night sky, the last firework bursts forth with the most dazzling light.
On the lake, the reflections of the two people embracing tightly were mirrored.