On the second day in New York, Lin Yu took Su Chengyang to a photography studio.
The photographer selected three sets of themes for Su Chengyang, two individual sets and one couple set in a romantic style.
After shooting Su Chengyang’s individual theme, the photographer called Lin Yu in. He had already changed his makeup and looked like a prince from a medieval painting, with deep brows and eyes that hesitated like vast stars. As he gazed at Su Chengyang, it seemed as if all the stars were sparkling because of him.
During the shooting process, their collaboration impressed the photographer. After the shoot, when they were browsing the pictures on the computer, the photographer pointed at their group photo and couldn’t stop smiling.
“You two have such great chemistry. These photos can all be used for magazine covers. Lin Yu, compared to three years ago, you’ve indeed changed.”
Lin Yu handed a cup of warm water to Su Chengyang and smiled, saying, “Is that so?”
The photographer nodded busily, as if afraid he wouldn’t believe it. He searched through a pile of photo albums and pulled out one, opening it to a specific page and comparing it to the photo on the screen. He said, “Don’t believe me, see for yourself.”
Su Chengyang glanced at the album, and it showed a photo of Lin Yu taken three years ago with Mary, but she couldn’t seem to notice any difference.
Lin Yu couldn’t help but laugh, “Is there any difference?”
Su Chengyang also looked at the photographer curiously.
The photographer nodded, “Of course! Although the magazine-style shoot with you and Mary three years ago was meant to look like a couple, you didn’t seem like a couple at all. You were as stiff as a piece of wood, without a soul. This set of photos has a different feeling. When you’re standing with Chengyang, even though your face lacks expression, your eyes are constantly smiling. You have emotions when you’re with her.”
Lin Yu nodded without confirming or denying, “It does seem like that.”
The photographer was very satisfied with his masterpiece and almost wanted to jump into the computer to take a closer look.
“I understand now. From now on, when shooting this kind of couple-themed stuff, I’ll have to invite real couples to capture that feeling of being in love.”
Suddenly, the photographer remembered something and turned to Lin Yu, saying, “When you two get married in the future, shall I help you with your wedding photos? It’s free!”
With free and professionally skilled labor offered, Lin Yu naturally wouldn’t refuse.
“Sure, we’ll trouble you with the wedding photography then.”
The photographer readily agreed, “No problem!”
It was evident that he truly enjoyed the process of shooting.
When they left the studio, the photographer sat in front of his computer, pleased with his work. He wished everyone in the studio could come and admire it. He could almost imagine the rave reviews the magazine would receive after publication!
Although the day’s shoot went smoother than expected, by the time they left the studio, it was already dark outside.
Perhaps due to the irregular sleep patterns during filming, Su Chengyang didn’t feel any jet lag, let alone Lin Yu.
Lin Yu took a taxi and brought Su Chengyang to Times Square, where they had dinner at a nearby Western restaurant.
When they finished their meal and walked out, the square was becoming increasingly crowded.
Passing by a group of street artists engaged in performance art, Su Chengyang took out ten dollars from her bag and put it in the box in front of them. Suddenly, the artist, covered in white paint like a sculpture, started moving, thinking that Su Chengyang wanted to take a photo with him. Su Chengyang didn’t refuse and handed his phone to Lin Yu, asking him to help take a couple of pictures.
Before leaving, the artist continued to praise Su Chengyang and Lin Yu, attracting the attention of many passersby. Su Chengyang quickly expressed her thanks and pulled Lin Yu away.
“Shall we go over there for a stroll?” Lin Yu pointed in a direction.
“Sure,” Su Chengyang nodded. “Since we’re here, let’s take a look.”
As they walked through the bustling streets, Su Chengyang and Lin Yu spoke softly to each other. With each other’s company, they didn’t feel uneasy in this unfamiliar place and paid no mind to the occasional curious gazes from people around them.
While passing through a street, they overheard two girls on the roadside mentioning a fireworks show at the square tonight. Su Chengyang and Lin Yu decided to watch the fireworks before heading back.
“Hello! Are you two available? We’d like to invite you for a street interview.”
Su Chengyang was discussing the street artist they had just encountered with Lin Yu when suddenly a few people blocked their way.
They held microphones and cameras in their hands and spoke in American English, questioning them.
Su Chengyang and Lin Yu exchanged glances, then nodded at each other and said, “Okay.”
Su Chengyang glanced at the other person’s camera and thought that after they uploaded it online, they would definitely be recognized. She had already figured out what clickbait title the marketing accounts would use.
“You two aren’t Americans, right?”
Lin Yu smiled and said, “We’re Chinese.”
“May I ask what your relationship is?”
Lin Yu held Su Chengyang’s hand tightly, brought it into view of the camera, and said, “She’s my girlfriend.”
“Wow! You two are a great match!”
“Thank you.”
“The next question I’m going to ask may make you feel uncomfortable, but please believe me, I have no ill intentions towards you. It’s just a street interview.”
Su Chengyang smiled at the person and Lin Yu continued, “If the question involves privacy or is inconvenient to answer, we won’t answer.”
“Of course!”
“Please imagine if one day the other person gets a very serious illness and there is no possibility of a cure. Would you be willing to continue being with them, taking care of them until their last moment?”
Just the thought that Lin Yu might one day fall seriously ill made Su Chengyang feel her heart sink. She suddenly thought of the security guard grandfather who hadn’t appeared since New Year’s Eve, and her mood instantly plummeted to the bottom.
She held onto Lin Yu tightly, as if afraid that if she loosened her grip even slightly, Lin Yu would disappear from her world.
Su Chengyang couldn’t imagine Lin Yu falling ill, and she couldn’t imagine his life coming to an end one day.
“Please don’t worry, both of you. This is just a hypothesis, and I will pray for your well-being.”
Sensing Su Chengyang’s nervousness and unease, Lin Yu tightly held her hand, smiled, and said, “Of course.”
However, Su Chengyang seemed somewhat absent-minded and didn’t say anything.
After separating from the people they were interviewing on the street, Su Chengyang still couldn’t come back to her senses.
Lin Yu caressed the back of her hand and softly asked, “What’s wrong?”
Su Chengyang shook her head and said, “Nothing.”
Lin Yu smiled and said, “Did you take his words seriously? Don’t worry, I will take care of myself and take care of you too.”
Su Chengyang considered herself not to be a sentimental person, as there were too many beautiful things she could experience. She always worried that one day they would disappear.
“But we will all grow old, our physical abilities will gradually decline, and someday, we will die.”
After saying these words, Su Chengyang herself was shocked. She didn’t expect that just a few words from someone else could make her think so deeply.
Upon hearing this, Lin Yu couldn’t help but stifle a laugh and teasingly said, “Are you so convinced that we will grow old together?”
Su Chengyang sighed with a sense of loss and said, “Well then, let’s forget about it. If you die before me, I won’t be able to bear it. Let’s part ways, so even if you die later, I shouldn’t have too big of a reaction.”
Lin Yu’s body froze, his eyes narrowed, and he asked, “Say that again?”
Su Chengyang immediately lifted her smiling eyes and leaned against his arm, pleading, “Don’t be angry. I was just playing a little joke with you.”
Lin Yu clenched her hand, half-seriously and half-jokingly saying, “If you really have such thoughts in the future, I will tie you back to the Italian mansion and lock you inside. Only I will be able to see you every day.”
Knowing that he was joking, Su Chengyang exaggeratedly exclaimed, “Wow!” and said, “You’re so cruel! Will you treat me to hotpot?”
Lin Yu smiled and replied, “It depends on your performance.”
“I know! If it makes you happy, then I can eat, right?”
“Yes.”
Su Chengyang glanced around, left and right, and when she saw that no one noticed them, she suddenly tiptoed and quickly kissed Lin Yu on the cheek. Then, like a mischievous child who succeeded in her prank, she looked at Lin Yu with a smile and said, “Like this, will you be a little happier?”
Lin Yu was stunned, feeling the soft touch on his cheek. It felt incredibly unreal, as if a white cloud had brushed by.
However, what Su Chengyang didn’t expect was that her seemingly hidden action was noticed by a group of young people on the street. They whistled and cast teasing glances at them. This time, it was Su Chengyang who was stunned.
Although Su Chengyang could shamelessly show affection with Lin Yu in front of Xiao Lu, she had never done such a thing in front of others, and it was entirely her own initiative. Her face turned red with embarrassment, and she pulled Lin Yu, wanting to leave directly.
As she pulled him along, Lin Yu suddenly leaned down and, in front of everyone’s eyes, kissed her lips.
Su Chengyang was completely bewildered, hearing the surrounding crowd cheer.
The kiss was brief, just a moment, and Lin Yu pulled back.
He calmly met Su Chengyang’s surprised gaze and said, “This will make you a little happier.”
Su Chengyang: “…”
Well, the one who starts the teasing is the most mischievous.
Su Chengyang knew she was in the wrong and didn’t dare say much. She quickly pulled Lin Yu away from the crowd.
Before long, the two of them arrived next to the open space where fireworks were being set off. There were still ten minutes left until the fireworks display, and quite a few people had already gathered around.
“There are so many people,” Su Chengyang exclaimed.
Lin Yu smiled and said, “When we passed by earlier, I overheard them saying that someone will propose here tonight.”
Su Chengyang nodded and said, “So that’s why there’s a fireworks display? We’re really lucky. I’ve never seen someone propose before.”
Lin Yu replied, “Me neither. This is a good opportunity to learn.”
Su Chengyang felt a little embarrassed and playfully patted him, saying, “‘If you give me a string of pork kidneys in the future, I’ll agree to marry you.”
Lin Yu: “…”
Lin Yu was taken aback by her playful attitude, but couldn’t help but smile. He asked, “Why pork kidneys?”
Su Chengyang confidently replied, “Because I feel like eating them right now.”
Hearing this, Lin Yu sighed and said, “Unfortunately, they’re not available here. Otherwise, I would have taken this chance to propose to you.”
Su Chengyang laughed twice and said, “That won’t do. Tonight is someone else’s proposal. We can’t steal their thunder.”
Lin Yu nodded and said, “You’re right.”
As the time approached, more and more people gathered around the open space.
The staff responsible for the fireworks display were already preparing on the field. Su Chengyang excitedly stomped her feet and said, “It’s starting, it’s starting!”
She searched through the dense crowd with her eyes, guessing which couple would be the center of attention tonight.
Is it that couple on the side? They look quite similar.
Or is it the couple next to them?
The ones who can propose with fireworks in Times Square must be wealthy, right? Could it be those two who just got out of the luxury car? But they seem a bit like a father and daughter, so it’s probably not them.
Just as Su Chengyang was speculating randomly, the fireworks went up into the sky with a bang.
Su Chengyang was startled and instantly shifted her attention. Her eyes looked at the fireworks blooming in the night sky.
There were continuous sounds of admiration around, and Su Chengyang blended into the crowd. As the fireworks rose into the sky, she sighed along with them. Although fireworks weren’t something particularly rare, there was a sense of ceremony to it. She had never watched fireworks with so many people before, and every second spent with Lin Yu by her side felt like happiness.
As the fireworks bloomed in the sky, a faint music suddenly came from the crowd.
“Wow!”
“Love Story!”
When the song’s prelude began, everyone in the surrounding crowd became excited.
Su Chengyang paused for a moment. She hadn’t listened to many songs, especially English ones, but this particular song, “Love Story“, left a deep impression on her.
Because in that secretive and ambiguous KTV room, Lin Yu had held her hand and translated every lyric into her ear, then kissed her.
“We were both young when I first saw you.”
In an instant, as the song started playing, everyone around the open space began to sing along.
Countless voices mixed together, bombarding Su Chengyang’s ears as if everyone was eagerly awaiting the couple’s proposal ceremony to take place here.
The voices of the crowd gradually drowned out the fireworks and background music.
Watching them waving their arms and singing along to the rhythm, Su Chengyang suddenly felt a stirring sensation, her chest filled to the brim. It was the first time she had witnessed such a scene, and she unexpectedly felt tears welling up in her eyes.
In this place, in the presence of everyone, the girl being proposed to would surely be happy!
“And I said“
Influenced by the emotions of the crowd, Su Chengyang joined in and sang along softly.
“Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone.“
“Ah!!!”
“OMG!”
Suddenly, screams erupted from the crowd. Su Chengyang turned around in confusion and realized that everyone’s gaze was focused on her.
She froze and instinctively reached for Lin Yu beside her, but he wasn’t there. She looked to her side and saw Lin Yu on one knee, holding a small box in his hand. His eyes were gentle as he looked at her, waiting for her to meet his gaze. How long had he been waiting for this moment?
The song continued playing, but Su Chengyang suddenly felt a void in her ears.
She looked at Lin Yu beside her, and in that instant, all the other voices seemed to fade away.
Like countless girls being proposed to in movies, she incredulously covered her mouth with her hand. She never expected that here, in the presence of thousands, she would be the one receiving everyone’s blessings in a proposal.
“Today, I haven’t prepared the food you like. Will you marry me? Entrust your future to me and let me occupy every part of your life.”
Lin Yu’s voice accurately fell into Su Chengyang’s ears amidst the noisy singing.
“Marry me.”
“I didn’t translate this sentence for you at that time. Now you should know what it means.”
“Su Chengyang, marry me. Since the first time I said this sentence, I have been sincere,” Lin Yu expressed.
Su Chengyang stared at him in astonishment as tears streamed down her cheeks. She couldn’t control her emotions. She had never imagined that Lin Yu would propose to her here.
“I love you and that’s all I really know.”
“I love you and that’s all I really know.”
Su Chengyang, who thought of herself as an actress with the ability to control her tears professionally, realized it was not the case. Her heart bloomed like fireworks in the night sky, but she couldn’t control her tears. Under Lin Yu’s tender gaze, she nodded forcefully and said, “I’m willing.”
A smile appeared at the corners of Lin Yu’s mouth, and the night breeze made his smile even gentler. He took out the ring from the box and gently took Su Chengyang’s right hand, sliding the ring onto her finger.
“I hope that in the days to come, this will be the last time I make you cry.”
Su Chengyang bit her lip, trying her best to stop herself, but it was futile.
Under the moonlight, Lin Yu slowly stood up.
He held Su Chengyang tightly in his arms with a gentle strength.
“Thank you.”
“Thank you for being willing to become my collection. I will cherish and protect you always.”
TL/Note: So we have finally reached the end of the novel. It has been a memorable journey. Although there may be a few things that have not been explained in the story, personally, I think it’s all good. The story doesn’t drag on excessively.
