Chapter 106

Lena never expected her to be so popular. She had only planned to tell the story of her adventure chasing the governor, but as soon as she finished, Enid asked for more stories.

Sofia then began to recount their adventure in the woods.

Interspersed throughout were countless boasts and praises from Sofia to Lina, making Lina feel extremely uncomfortable, her cheeks burning.

Enid's eyes grew even more adoring, and Karl was no less so. Although he already knew all this, hearing Sophia talk about it gave him a different feeling. Indeed, Lina was very strong.

“Sophia, you should be a writer. You’re such a great storyteller, so adept at using exaggeration.” Lina awkwardly scratched her cheek.

“I’m not exaggerating, you were absolutely awesome,” Sofia said. “Without you, I wouldn’t be here.”

"Honestly, you're right here, why are you saying such unlucky things? Let's go, let's go home." Lina changed the subject and urged everyone to leave.

"Uh..." For some reason, the three children panicked for a moment, but couldn't find a reasonable excuse. They could only watch as Lina told them to leave. Fortunately, not long after, they saw Dwayne's figure. He calmly greeted Lina and then ran towards Karl and the others.

“Everything is ready,” Dwayne said mysteriously.

"That's good," Sophia breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that if she kept trying to stop Lina, she would definitely notice.

"Shall we go take a look?" Karl immediately decided that he couldn't just let him be the only one watching the spectacle.

“If you’re not afraid of Daryl,” Dwayne shrugged.

"It should be alright, right?" Sophia hesitated, wondering if Daryl would be angry.

“What’s there to be afraid of? I bet if we get there late we won’t be able to get a good spot outside,” Carl said. He didn’t believe his dad wouldn’t go to watch the excitement. Glenn, Moore… Good heavens, there must be countless people watching. We’d better hurry.

"Let's go!" Sophia made the decision and rushed towards Lina's house with Dwayne. Enid hesitated for a moment, wondering if it was inappropriate for her to go in this situation.

"Let's go." Karl took Enid's hand and ran after Sophia and the others.

*

When Lina got home, she felt something was strange. From the outside, she could see that the lights were off. Was Daryl not home?

That shouldn't be the case.

Lina pushed open the door. The porch was somewhat dim. Stepping into the living room, she found it completely transformed. Colorful petals were scattered on the floor, forming a flower path. Lina was stunned for a moment, and her heart started racing. Following the flower path, she arrived at the dining room, where candles, fresh flowers matching the petals on the floor, and a sumptuous dinner were laid out on the long table.

What attracted Lena the most was Daryl, who was facing her directly. He was holding a bunch of fake roses, his hair had been cut shorter, and it hung down neatly, looking very refreshing and fluffy. He was also wearing a sharp suit.

That's so strange.

Lina chuckled. "I've never seen you like this before." She seemed to be trying to ease her tension with this teasing.

Daryl awkwardly clutched the bouquet, looking very uneasy. "I knew it, this was terribly stupid," he said, adding that it was all their fault for giving such a terrible idea.

“No, not at all,” Lina said with a smile as she approached Daryl. “This is the first time I’ve seen you dressed so… austerely. Let me see if I have any gold-rimmed glasses…”

There seemed to be a rustling sound outside the window. Lina and Daryl exchanged a glance and fell silent.

“…I,” Daryl began awkwardly, unsure of what to say. These guys! What are they doing getting involved!

Those who watch the spectacle will always be watched.

Lena was only embarrassed for a moment; her emotions were mostly focused on Daryl, who was dressed very formally in a suit. He looked like a wild lion that had been locked up in a zoo, wanting to roar in awe, but instead being surrounded by people praising him for being cute.

So cute.

But today, she's more sexy than cute.

I really want to tear his suit open, leaving only his tie.

whee.

Clearly, the two are on very different wavelengths.

“I,” Daryl swallowed nervously. He had thought about it for a long, long time, but he never had the courage. Even this matter was only started with everyone’s half-hearted encouragement.

"What's wrong?" Lina blinked. A candlelight dinner, so romantic. Was this their first formal date?

That's rare, but it doesn't seem like Daryl's idea, does it? He's such a reserved guy.

“I’m tongue-tied,” Daryl said, trying to avoid using any rude words. After all, it was a formal occasion. Even if he wasn’t good at eloquent speech, he should at least think carefully about his language.

But the more he thought about it, the more he forgot the words he had thought about countless times, and his mind went completely blank.

“You should have told me so I could have changed into a pretty dress too,” Daryl said. Daryl was dressed very formally, while Daryl was dressed far too casually, not at all suitable for a candlelight dinner!

“You look great right now,” Daryl said. “Well, I mean, very beautiful.”

Lena found Daryl increasingly amusing. "Whose crash course did you take?" Lena walked to the table and sat down. On the table was a beautifully pan-fried pork chop, a pot of meat soup, and the familiar vegetable salad.

It was quite a lavish meal.

“It’s obviously Carol’s cooking,” Lina said, smelling the aroma of the food. “Come on, come on,” she said, already eager to start eating.

Daryl looked at Lina helplessly. So, he wasn't as attractive as the food?

Daryl took a deep breath, reached into the box in his pocket with his right hand, and calmed down.

“I have something to say to you,” Daryl said.

"Okay?" Lina asked, a little confused, but then turned to look at Daryl.

“Wait a minute,” Daryl said, striding to the bedside and pulling back the curtains.

There are so many people.

Lina stared blankly out the window. Rick and Michonne, weren't they supposed to be going on a mission? Glenn and Maggie, were they done picking through the dung? Don't they find Glenn smelly now?

Carol, Amy, Andrea... and Moore? And the other children?

How did so many people manage to crowd under such a small window?

"Ahem, let's go over there and discuss the farmland plan," Hershel calmly cleared his throat, then led his family on a quick getaway.

“Uh, Judith seems to be crying,” Rick and Michonne grabbed Carl and a few kids and ran off with a ridiculous excuse.

The rest of the people quietly dispersed, except for Mor, who gave Daryl a look of exasperation and said, "Are you even capable?" before turning away with a look of disdain.

Carol smiled for a long time, then said, “Take a deep breath. I remember I have a pair of gold-rimmed glasses at home.” She winked playfully and then left.

...

Finally, everyone was gone. Daryl drew the curtains expressionlessly.

Turning around, Lina crossed her arms and looked at Daryl. "It seems you really have something to say to me," otherwise why would it be so lively outside?

Daryl's eyes darted around uncomfortably, a hint of shyness welling up inside, but thankfully his expression remained unchanged, so he still appeared as calm as ever.

“I’ve been thinking about this for a while, but,” Darleton paused, “I think, anyway, I still want to tell you that it should be your decision.”

Lina blinked nervously.

“I’ve never told you this before, but I want you to know, and I know you know,” Daryl said, walking toward Lina and sitting down beside her. “I love you.”

“I’m not good at saying anything sentimental. They said plenty, but I’ve forgotten them all,” Daryl said awkwardly. “But I want to say,” Daryl licked his lips, “you were right. You captured me. I was your prey. You owned me completely.”

“Emm,” Lina looked up at Daryl with a beaming smile, “Looks like you’ve given up, Mr. Hunter?”

“We’ve already lost completely,” Daryl said with a smile, taking the small box out of his pocket. “I remember you said that at least as an engagement ring, it’s worthy of you.” Daryl knelt down on one knee, the sparkling diamonds gleaming in the candlelight.

“Indeed,” Lina nodded, appearing relatively calm, but her mind had completely gone blank.

“I wanted to wait until your birthday, or maybe a few years later, that’s what I was thinking,” Daryl looked into Lena’s eyes. “I always felt we had a lot of time, and I wanted to make you happy, until you felt ready, but…”

"But the world has changed. I don't know if we really have that much time, and I want to cherish the time we spend together."

He had kept the ring on his person for a long time and had developed the habit of taking it out and stroking it from time to time, thinking that perhaps one day in the future he could use it.

He was still wearing the ring when he went out last week, but it was during that time that he and Moore almost didn't make it back alive. He was trapped on that rooftop that night, and he kept clutching the ring the whole time.

He couldn't tell whether he regretted not having the chance to give the ring away, or was glad he hadn't.

Perhaps both.

But looking back, I think it was more of a regret.

“I want to say, Lina Lee, I want to be by your side. This world is rotten. We may live today but not tomorrow. I don’t want to waste the days we have together. I want to get through this with you. I want to be with you. Even death cannot separate us. Will you give me this chance?” Daryl said nervously.

This might be the longest he's ever spoken in one breath? Lina wondered.

The silence made Daryl even more nervous, and he couldn't help but feel anxious.

Lina is too young; she probably doesn't want to be tied down by an older man so early.

“You are indeed tongue-tied,” Lina said, “but if you were to learn from any of them to recite a love poem in front of me, I would suspect that you lost a bet.”

“However, I really like what you just said, that even death cannot separate us,” Lina leaned closer to Daryl, her forehead touching his. “If you want to be with me, you have to be prepared to die with me. I’m not the kind of person who will let go. Once I’m with you, don’t even think about running away halfway.”

“I have to return that favor,” Daryl said with a sigh of relief, having almost been rejected.

“But have you forgotten that I said this ring can’t be taken out?” Lina said, glancing at the ring in Daryl’s hand.

“I haven’t forgotten,” Daryl pulled out a pair of platinum rings from the bottom of the box, simple and elegant in design, “they’re new.”

Lina extended her hand, and Daryl gently pushed the ring onto her finger.

Similarly, Lina put a ring on Daryl's finger, saying, "Let's make this clear first, I accept that you take my last name, but I don't want to take yours."

"No, I don't agree to him taking your surname!"

Daryl and Lina suddenly looked out the window.

“Now we’re really leaving!” Carroll shouted. “Oh, right, I put your glasses on the windowsill.”

"Waaaaah..." It was the sound of someone being dragged away.

Daryl and Lina stared out the window for a long time, then looked at each other and burst out laughing.

“Don’t listen to him, what he says doesn’t count,” Daryl said with a smile.

“I think so too,” Lina lowered her head and kissed Daryl’s lips. Forget about a candlelight dinner, the glasses have arrived, let’s have a big meal.