Chapter 72 Will Qingyun marry me?

Meanwhile, at Beicheng Yuanhe Medical Clinic.

At 3 PM, Jiang Mingxue finished dealing with her patients and received a message from Madam Rong:

[Ren Rushuang]: Mingxue, are you free tonight? There's a small gathering, and I'd like to introduce you to my friends.

[Jiang Mingxue]: I have time. There aren't many patients today, so I can get off work at five o'clock.

Ren Rushuang: Okay, I'll pick you up ahead of time.

[Jiang Mingxue]: Okay.

During the days Rong Chengzhou was away, Madam Rong would ask her where she was going and would send someone over to deliver any delicious food she had made at home.

Now that they were family, Jiang Mingxue treated Madam Rong as her mother. Especially since Madam Rong, like her, had no son by her side, as Rong Chengzhou's wife, she naturally felt it was her duty to fulfill her filial duties to him. Whenever she had time, she would accompany Madam Rong to visit her.

Moreover, Madam Rong wouldn't let her waste her time on simple recreational activities. The first few times, she took her to internationally renowned art exhibitions and business galas, saying that she wanted her daughter-in-law to accompany her, but in reality, she was broadening her horizons.

The same thing happened this time.

At five o'clock in the evening, Madam Rong came to pick her up. First, she took her to get her hair and styled, and then she changed into a simple dress. After that, they went to the private estate that had been arranged in advance.

It was called a small gathering, but the attendees were all prominent socialites from wealthy families in Beicheng; it would be more accurate to call it a networking event.

Madam Rong wore a silk cheongsam and a dark gold shawl, exuding an air of elegance and nobility.

Holding a glass of champagne, he walked into the crowd, took her hand, and introduced her to his friends: "This is Mingxue, whom I've often mentioned to you. My Chengzhou has kept her a secret for a long time before finally letting me meet her. She's quiet, thoughtful, sensible, and has a wonderful personality. I almost wish I could snatch her away from my future in-laws and make her my own daughter. If there are any fun activities in the future, please bring her along."

Jiang Mingxue smiled and nodded, greeting them.

"I've heard so much about Dr. Jiang, and I heard that your son is hiding his wife, but you've hidden her very well too." A lady came over and shook her hand warmly.

"Xiaoxue is so beautiful. If my rascal could find me such a good daughter-in-law, I would never scold him again."

Madam Rong deliberately said, "You're dreaming. Do you think everyone is as lucky as me?"

The banquet hall erupted in laughter. Jiang Mingxue smiled and thanked them, naturally praising the ladies for their good temperament and graceful demeanor, showing no stage fright whatsoever.

As the conversation progressed, the ladies all begged her to take their pulses. As people reach middle age, they inevitably worry about their health, especially the wealthy wives who have no worries about food and clothing, who want to prolong their lives and live for decades longer.

For Jiang Mingxue, this was just a small favor, and it would also help promote the reputation of Yuanhe Medical Clinic, so she was happy to do it. No one treated her like a service-oriented doctor; they treated her as if she were asking a friend's daughter for help, speaking to her politely and warmly.

After all, everyone knows that Jiang Mingxue is backed by the Rong family, the Jiang family, and the Qi family, the richest family in the country with whom she has close ties.

The atmosphere of the party was very relaxed, and it ended half an hour later than expected.

When saying goodbye, all the ladies instructed Madam Rong: "Bring Xiaoxue with you next time. Our circle needs fresh blood a long time from now. I've got my eye on your daughter-in-law."

Madam Rong smiled and replied, "Yes, yes, I'll definitely do it next time."

At 9:30, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law took a car back from the manor. On the way, Madam Rong kept praising her.

“It’s better to have a daughter. She’ll have a companion when we go out to play.” Ren Rushuang held Jiang Mingxue’s hand and kept sighing. “I originally wanted to have a daughter so that her father wouldn’t send her to military school to join the army. Who knew that the Rong family had only one son for three generations?”

Jiang Mingxue lowered her eyes and smiled: "Even if it's a daughter, she will most likely be sent to a military academy by her father and grandfather to be trained into a female pilot."

Ren Rushuang suddenly realized: "You're absolutely right, that's exactly what the men of the Rong family would do."

Jiang Mingxue smiled faintly, her lips pursed.

The shadows of the trees along the roadside kept moving backward. When Madam Rong got to this point in her conversation, she seemed to remember something, and her smile gradually faded. Her tone became somewhat solemn: "Mingxue, actually, I am grateful every day that Chengzhou married you. Not only because you are a good person, but also because you saved Chengzhou and the Rong family."

Jiang Mingxue was stunned for a moment, not understanding the meaning of the second half of the sentence.

Madam Rong sighed: "Actually, in his third year at military school, Chengzhou advised us to have another child, even if it meant adopting from an orphanage. But his father and I both refused. Even though I was only thirty at the time, we were determined not to have a second child."

Jiang Mingxue vaguely guessed what was going on: "Is it because of Chengzhou?"

"Yes." Madam Rong nodded, her eyes glistening with tears as she spoke of the matter. "Chengzhou is both heartless and compassionate. That year, he went on a very dangerous mission and almost lost his life. He didn't tell his family at all, and he didn't say anything when he came back. He had already planned that if he were to die for his country one day, his brothers and sisters would take care of us for him."

Jiang Mingxue's eyes trembled slightly, as if she too was drawn back to ten years ago, sharing the same feelings as Madam Rong.

"He wanted to fight for the country without any worries and realize his ambitions, but I refused to comply with his wishes. I could go along with everything else, but on this matter, I would never give in."

"Because..." Madam Rong choked up slightly as she said this.

"They only fear death because they have something to hold onto on earth."

“I hope that when he’s flying in the sky, he can remember that we and his grandfather are waiting for him at home, so that he can have some concerns and not always push himself so hard. It’s just a pity that this kid is too hard-hearted. Even so, he still didn’t back down an inch when going on a mission.”

“But things are different now. Chengzhou has you, Mingxue.” Madam Rong said with tears in her eyes and a smile. “I can feel that he has more expectations for this family this time. He worries that you are not doing well at home, that he is afraid of not seeing you, and that he is even more afraid of leaving you alone. So when he is flying in the sky, he will have a little more will to live.”

Madam Rong looked at her gratefully: "So Mingxue, you not only saved Chengzhou, but also the Rong family."

"I..." Jiang Mingxue's throat tightened, and she didn't know what to say for a moment.

She didn't know if she had the important role that Madam Rong had described, but Madam Rong's words made her feel uneasy.

Everyone is suffering so much.

Unfortunately, no one was at fault, so there was nowhere to vent one's grievances.

She felt sorry for Madam Rong, for the Rong family, and even more sorry for Rong Chengzhou.

She hoped Rong Chengzhou would live a good life, but she was even more afraid of becoming a burden to him.

He should have been a soaring eagle, not circling for her.

This seems to be an unsolvable problem.

"Oh, why did I tell you all this?" Madam Rong said remorsefully. "In short, you two should live your lives well, and you don't need to worry about anything else."

Jiang Mingxue suppressed her complicated emotions and nodded: "Okay."

Madam Rong then chatted with her about some lighthearted topics, quickly dispelling the heavy atmosphere. The manor wasn't far from Songyunting, and the driver soon dropped her off downstairs.

Jiang Mingxue grabbed the car door handle: "Mom, I'm going up first."

"Hey, wait a minute—" Madam Rong stopped her.

"What's wrong, Mom?" Jiang Mingxue turned her head and asked.

Ren Rushuang glanced up silently, then rummaged through her bag for a while before pulling out a well-packaged silk scarf box: "This is a new design from Anlia. She asked me to bring one back for you. I almost forgot."

Jiang Mingxue took it: "Thank you, Mom and Sister Eileen. If there's nothing else, I'll go upstairs."

Ren Rushuang glanced up again before saying, "Okay, I'm fine here. You can go upstairs now."

Jiang Mingxue nodded, told the driver to drive slowly, then said goodbye to Madam Rong, got out of the car, and turned to go up the elevator.

When I arrived at my doorstep, I entered the password to get in.

As soon as I opened the door, I smelled the scent of burning candles.

She frowned, closed the door and went inside, pressing the switch on the wall, but the light in the entryway didn't turn on.

Her brows furrowed slightly as she softly asked, "Aunt Lian, is the power out at home?"

There was no response.

Aunt Lian won't leave if no one is home.

unless......

A dim light shone from the living room, just a few meters away. Jiang Mingxue gripped the hem of her dress tightly, not bothering to change her shoes, and took a few steps inside with anticipation and hope.

On the tiled floor at the corner, a familiar carved coconut lamp is the first thing that catches the eye.

It was the one she saw in Haining.

Seven characters were engraved on it with wax paper, and the bright characters reflected under the candle wick, looking so familiar.

The first toast: "Mrs. Rong, it's been a long time."

Her heart skipped a beat, and she continued walking inside.

Along both sides of the living room corridor, there are carved coconut lamps placed at intervals, each with different words printed on it in the same handwriting.

The second lamp: "Every day we're apart, I miss you so much."

The third lamp: "I wonder if you'll miss me? I hope the answer is 'yes'."

The fourth lamp: "I saw the photos Mom took of you. You look beautiful tonight."

The fifth lamp: "Our real meeting was in Haining. Before that, I had always been very resistant to marriage."

The sixth lamp: "But after that, I'm glad you needed marriage, and even more glad you chose me."

The seventh lamp: "I am not a good husband, but I greedily want to have you."

The eighth lamp: "I want to see you every morning when I open my eyes."

The ninth lamp: "I want you to be standing in the sunset when I leave the base at dusk."

The tenth lamp: "I want to take a walk with you after dinner."

Eleventh lamp: "I want to reach out and hug you in the dead of night when I wake up from a dream."

The twelfth lamp: "In this marriage, it's not that you need me, but that I need you."

The thirteenth lamp: "Do you remember these coconut lamps? The one I most want to give you is—"

The fourteenth lamp: "Wa Yi Wan Lu".

The fifteenth lamp: "I've already told you the translation of this sentence, but now I'd like to explain it to you again."

The sixteenth lamp: "Peipei, I like you."

The coconut lamps extend from the living room to the glass doors and then to the high terrace outside.

There are sixteen coconut lamps in total, starting with "Long time no see" and ending with "I like you".

The air is filled with the fresh scent of coconut lamps, a unique sea breeze smell of Haining. Petals cover the steps and the ground, and warm-colored string lights illuminate the dazzling city skyline.

Jiang Mingxue wore a champagne-colored evening gown and slender high heels as she walked up the flower-lined path. A gentle breeze blew through her hair and brushed against her face, carrying a hint of dampness and saltiness, as if she had returned to Haining.

She walked up step by step, her vision gradually opening up, and she could see Rong Chengzhou's face more and more clearly.

The man she had been longing for appeared before her, holding a bouquet of blue and white lisianthus and swallowtails.

The bellflower represents eternity, while the swallow symbolizes freedom.

He stood gracefully in the twilight, with the shimmering lake and starlit buildings behind him.

His deep eyes looked at her, seemingly shimmering with tiny lights.

He lifted his foot, and he would walk the rest of the way.

As the distance closed, the man's handsome features became clearer.

He presented her with a bouquet of flowers, saying, "Although we've been married for over a year, I still want to propose to you formally once more."

He was wearing her favorite dark blue military uniform, the shoulder lines neat and sharp. Holding the wedding ring he had fastened on her finger, he solemnly asked:

"Peipei, will you marry me?"