Chapter57

This grand, city-wide proposal created a huge stir both in the sports and entertainment circles.

The day after the performance, several topics trended on social media, some discussing the giant diamond engagement ring Cen Zhen received, while others focused on the stunning moment when Meng Fanchuan led the cars around the track three times. Even international media, when covering the performance, made a special mention of the romantic proposal as an Easter egg.

Under the flashing lights, Cen Zhen smiled radiantly and happily, and Meng Fanchuan, in his racing suit, looked equally handsome. The scene of them hugging after the proposal became a sensation on social media worldwide, with international netizens calling it "Passion and Eternity on the racetrack."

After the grand proposal, the Meng family began preparing for their wedding. Zhuang Jia valued feng shui and the Chinese zodiac, so when Zhuang Tai learned that his grandson had successfully proposed, he was naturally overjoyed. He even consulted his feng shui master to check the couple's zodiac compatibility.

Good news: The couple was indeed a perfect match, destined by the heavens.

Bad news: To avoid Meng Fanchuan’s birth year, the wedding should be held next year for the best timing.

Meng Fanchuan was already insecure about Cen Zhen’s comment of "I haven’t thought about marriage" and was always thinking about marrying her as soon as possible. But with his grandfather’s sudden advice, although he didn’t believe in such things, Zhuang Tai’s words held him back:

"Better to believe than not. If you want Zhen Zhen to be with you forever, you must marry her at the right time."

Because of the "forever," Meng Fanchuan listened, but he still feared the longer wait, so he and Cen Zhen held a small engagement ceremony in Shanghai before the wedding.

Cen Zhen, feeling helpless, said, "It’s already April. We can hold the wedding after this year. Do we really need an engagement?"

Meng Fanchuan kept a tight hold on her, "It’s absolutely necessary."

Although Cen Zhen had no choice, the decision was made, and both families had no objections. So, a small engagement banquet with only the parents present was held in mid-April, quietly in Shanghai.

The choice of Shanghai was significant because it was where they reunited, the place where their bond was rekindled. Additionally, it was where Cen Zhen had been living since graduation, a place she was familiar with.

Even though it was a low-key engagement, the Meng family did not skimp on the formalities. They gifted the young couple a villa in Hong Kong’s Deep Water Bay as an engagement present, and the house was put under Cen Zhen's name. This was the first expression of sincerity from the Meng family.

Zhuang Jia said to Xiao Yunqi, "In the formal ceremony, we will give Zhen Zhen all the proper gifts—three letters, six rites, and the four gifts and five metals. We will marry her into the Meng family with the utmost splendor."

Xiao Yunqi, already knowing the importance of proper rituals in prestigious families, was amazed by the billion-dollar villa gifted for the engagement. She couldn’t imagine how extravagant the actual wedding would be.

Although she was surprised internally, Xiao Yunqi smiled and said it was all good. After all, the Meng family was sincere, and it was beneficial for her daughter.

After having the engagement banquet with their parents during the day, Meng Fanchuan and Cen Zhen also invited their respective friends to celebrate in the evening.

The young people had their own way of celebrating. The clubhouse at No. 1 Jia’an Road naturally became the best venue for their gathering.

That night, the clubhouse was closed to the public, and all the staff knew that the young master had brought his fiancée and friends, so they quietly discussed among themselves:

"When Cen Zhen first came, I was the one who opened the door for her."

"Do you think they were already dating back then?"

"I don’t think so. When I took her to the wine cellar, she didn’t seem to know the young master well."

"Did they break up before? Last time in the upstairs private room, they looked like they were about to argue."

The club staff hadn’t forgotten that moment, and Hua Xun, one of the people involved, didn’t forget either. Now, seeing the couple finally going strong, he couldn’t help but gossip:

"You two were fighting here last time, and I was outside, completely unsure of what to do, heart racing."

Meng Fanchuan raised an eyebrow indifferently, "Who was angry?"

"It was you." Hua Xun brought up an awkward moment, "After Zhen Zhen left, you kept me drinking for so long. Don’t you remember? And now everything’s fine between you two, so am I supposed to be compensated for almost drinking myself into a mess?"

Cen Zhen, who was listening nearby, smiled faintly and gently.

Meng Wenruo, sensing the gossip, immediately put down his snacks, "Huh? My brother actually drinks to drown his sorrows? Tell me, tell me!"

The entertainment industry's first gossip lover, Qiao Tingting, also put down her microphone and leaned over, "What gossip? I want to hear too!"

Meng Fanchuan: "…"

Hua Xun, seeing Meng Fanchuan’s sharp glare, still didn’t back down. He pointed at Meng Wenruo, "Your sister made me say it."

Meng Wenruo waved his hand, "I’ll take the responsibility, quickly, say it!"

So, Hua Xun cleared his throat and, in front of the main people, spilled the beans:

"It was because Cen Zhen was rumored to be dating that actor Bai Yan. Someone got crazy with jealousy… well, no, he got crazy with vinegar."

Meng Wenruo: "Hahahahahaha, and then? Why did my brother get angry?"

Hua Xun hid his face with one hand and whispered to the two girls, "Because Zhen Zhen came to find him, and he wanted her to admit that she liked him. When she didn’t say it, he went crazy."

Qiao Tingting, enjoying the gossip, even passed some sunflower seeds to Hua Xun, "Please tell us more about how Young Master Meng went crazy."

Hua Xun spoke enthusiastically, "That day he drank—"Hua Xun’s words were interrupted when a foot kicked him in the leg. "Shut up."

"Damn it, Meng Fanchuan—" Hua Xun, a longtime friend of Meng Fanchuan, spoke bluntly, "You can’t even pretend a little bit in front of your wife?"

After that, he immediately turned to Cen Zhen and protested, "Zhen Zhen, do something about this guy."

Meng Fanchuan shot him a cold look, "Zhen Zhen is what I call her. Please refer to her as Teacher Cen."

"…"

"Alright, alright." Hua Xun responded dramatically, "This is how you treat your matchmaker?"

At this, Meng Wenruo and Qiao Tingting, who had been laughing uncontrollably, suddenly stopped and almost in unison asked:

"Aren’t we the matchmakers?"

Meng Fanchuan and Cen Zhen: "…"

The conversation quickly turned into a debate between the three:

"I was the matchmaker, okay? If it weren't for me hosting a welcome dinner when Fanchuan came to Shanghai, and Zhen Zhen being there, they wouldn't have met!"

"Wrong! I’m the matchmaker. They only knew each other back then. If I hadn't invited Zhen Zhen for a late-night snack, and she brought Meng Fanchuan along, there wouldn't have been any further development!"

"What? What kind of matchmaker are you? Everything was arranged by me, your sister, with great care. Do you have any idea how much I did for them at home?"

Unable to come to a conclusion, the three of them turned to Cen Zhen at once, asking, "Zhen Zhen, who do you think is the matchmaker?"

—Who was their matchmaker?

Of course, it was heaven's arrangement.

The people present didn’t know, but Meng Fanchuan had already fallen for Cen Zhen at first sight in North City. Everything that followed was just fate leading them. Even without Hua Xun and the others’ unintentional nudges, they would have met and fallen in love in another way.

But Cen Zhen pursed her lips and smiled as she said, "They're all matchmakers. When the time comes, they’ll all sit at the main table."

That one sentence made all three of them feel satisfied.

Cen Zhen picked up her glass and said to Meng Fanchuan, "Shall we toast to the three matchmakers?"

Since his wife had spoken, Meng Fanchuan of course agreed. He cast a glance at the glass in her hand, "What are you drinking?"

Cen Zhen shook her glass and pointed to the table, "A drink. It's from the wine cellar, they say it’s made with guava and cherry."

A drink?

His wine cellar never had any drinks.

Meng Fanchuan looked at the bottle on the table and silently cursed for a few seconds in his mind. He considered switching it for something else, but she gently urged, "Hurry up, everyone’s waiting."

Indeed, the three matchmakers across from them were waiting leisurely for their toast.

Seeing that Cen Zhen looked fine, Meng Fanchuan paused for a moment, then nodded and raised his glass.

Although their destiny was ordained by heaven, a few good friends had indeed, intentionally or unintentionally, helped their relationship along the way. Meng Fanchuan was more than willing to raise a glass in gratitude.

Afterward, the group continued singing and chatting, discussing where Cen Zhen’s wedding would be held and where they would go for their honeymoon.

Meng Fanchuan had been observing Cen Zhen secretly. She seemed very happy tonight. She had drunk half a bottle of low-temperature fermented Cabernet Sauvignon and still naively thought she was drinking fruit juice.

The wine was a gift from a friend, a special Cabernet Sauvignon from a winery in Sichuan. It had won a gold medal at the Asia Wine Competition, and its distinguishing feature was its pink, juice-like liquid and a strong fruity aroma, which often made people forget—this was, after all, a bottle of wine.

But Cen Zhen was happy, and since he was keeping an eye on her, Meng Fanchuan didn’t stop her. It wasn’t until around 10 p.m., when Cen Zhen and Meng Wenruo had finished the whole bottle, that Meng Wenruo said, "It's gone, shall we go get another bottle from the wine cellar?"

Cen Zhen stood up immediately, which startled Meng Fanchuan.

She volunteered to go, "I’ll go get it."

After being together for a long time, they had a certain tacit understanding. Meng Fanchuan quickly followed her while calling back to the others in the room, "It's over, she’s drunk."

The others: "Huh?"

Cen Zhen went to the wine cellar alone, very familiar with the route.

Earlier, when she and Meng Wenruo were downstairs picking out wine, she had accidentally discovered this pink "drink" and saw that it was labeled with guava and cherry. Without a second thought, she had picked it up.

When she tasted it upstairs, the sweet and sour taste reassured her, and she drank it confidently.

She walked lightly, almost floating, down to the wine cellar. Just as she entered, Meng Fanchuan caught up and stopped her. "Don’t take it."

Cen Zhen turned around, frowning, "Why?"

She hadn’t seen clearly in the dimly lit private room, but now in the wine cellar, she could see that his cheeks had a cute flush. He still drunkenly asked, "Is it very expensive?"

Meng Fanchuan shook his head, pulling her waist close, "They’ve all gone home.""Ah?" Cen Zhen's excitement suddenly dropped, and she looked a little dejected, "Why did everyone leave without saying goodbye?"

After a brief pause, she looked up at Meng Fanchuan, "How about we have one more drink?"

Meng Fanchuan: "…"

"That bottle of guava juice was really delicious, I want to have some more." She even leaned against her chest and pouted.

Meng Fanchuan was speechless and wanted to laugh, looking down at her flushed face. "You're drunk."

Cen Zhen froze, trying to defend herself, "You're the one who's drunk. I'm still very clear-headed, okay?"

She stepped back slightly, looked up at Meng Fanchuan, and said slowly, "You are Meng Fanchuan, my husband."

Meng Fanchuan: "…" Okay, now he was more certain she was drunk.

Cen Zhen never would have called him her husband when sober. Several times, Meng Fanchuan had to coax and persuade her, and she always felt too shy to say it.

Now, with the alcohol kicking in, she said it smoothly.

Being called "husband" like this made Meng Fanchuan feel a bit helpless, but he still answered, satisfied, "Can we go home now, with your husband?"

Cen Zhen smiled at him and suddenly climbed onto his neck. "Kiss me."

Before Meng Fanchuan could react, Cen Zhen took the initiative and kissed him.

Meng Fanchuan: "…" Is forced kissing her special skill when she's drunk?

But after all this time, Cen Zhen still hadn’t quite mastered her kissing skills. Her soft, sweet tongue wandered awkwardly in Meng Fanchuan's mouth, without any clear direction, but somehow, it was strangely addictive and made him lose control.

Meng Fanchuan tried to keep himself from reciprocating with his drunk wife. He wanted to push her away, but Cen Zhen, as if angry, held him tighter.

"I told you, I'm not drunk." Cen Zhen seriously told Meng Fanchuan just how clear-headed she was. "I still remember the first time I came here to meet you, that day…" She paused for a moment and suddenly laughed. "I told you, I was really afraid you were going to take advantage of me."

Meng Fanchuan, expressionless, looked at Cen Zhen, who had already placed her hand on his waistband: "…Now, I’m more afraid of you."

"You're so annoying." The alcohol slowly took its effect, making Cen Zhen slightly more adorable as she teased, "What are you afraid of? I won’t take advantage of you."

She looked at Meng Fanchuan intently, her eyes moist and hazy, and as if sensing something in his gaze, she suddenly wobbled a couple of steps, pushed him against the wall, and kissed him again. "How about I try taking advantage of you once?"

The temperature in Shanghai had already risen in April. Cen Zhen was wearing a long dress, with a thin wool cardigan over it. The cardigan had already slid halfway off due to their movements, and her pale shoulders swayed in the red light of the wine cellar. Even though Meng Fanchuan tried to stay calm and composed, he couldn’t resist the temptation in front of him.

He eventually couldn’t hold back. He quickly took control, lowered his head, and kissed her forcefully. Cen Zhen lost her balance from the kiss, and Meng Fanchuan held her waist, lifting her and sitting her on the only wine table in the cellar.

One of them was standing, the other sitting, and they kissed for a long time. Cen Zhen’s cardigan was loosely hanging around her waist, and the shoulder strap of her dress had slipped off without either of them noticing. Meng Fanchuan's hand easily reached where it shouldn't.

At that moment, as his fingers caressed her, Cen Zhen tightened her grip on him, her breath uneven, letting out a low, soft moan. Her feet, controlled by him, unconsciously pressed against the edge of the table.

The position was quite embarrassing, but the warmth of his fingers almost melted her in the wine cellar.

With every sound of discomfort, Meng Fanchuan kissed her more fiercely, his tongue intertwining with hers, his breath becoming heavier. "Can we go home?"

A child eating candy wouldn't want to stop. "…No."

Cen Zhen, still a little disoriented, reached down to unbutton Meng Fanchuan’s pants. "Right here."

Suddenly feeling her soft hands, Meng Fanchuan quickly grabbed her wrist, his body tensing as if it might break.

There was nothing here, how could they do this?

Meng Fanchuan was about to lose it. She was drunk, completely unaware of what she was doing.

"Wait for me here." Meng Fanchuan quickly made a decision.

But Cen Zhen immediately turned around, clinging to him, not letting go. "No."

"…"

Two minutes later, Chen Xiangan, who was waiting outside, saw Meng Fanchuan carrying a human-shaped figure into the car.

It had been a long time since Chen Xiangan had driven for Meng Fanchuan. Since both of them went to North City, he had been driving for Wang Yuan. Every time Wang Yuan got in the car, he either slept or slept, so the divider in the car didn’t need to be raised.

Now, seeing the young master carrying his fiancée into the car, Chen Xiangan’s mind suddenly cleared for a moment. He immediately opened the door for them. "Young Master, where are we going?"

"The nearest convenience store."

"…?"

Although he didn’t know why they were going to a convenience store at night, Chen Xiangan still diligently followed the order. The nearest convenience store was just 500 meters away, so he drove in that direction.

Once inside the car, Cen Zhen calmed down quite a bit. She quietly leaned back in the seat, but after a while, she suddenly mumbled, "I’m not sitting here."

Before Meng Fanchuan could speak, Cen Zhen had already skillfully sat on his lap, her soft body burrowing into his arms. "Hug me."

Meng Fanchuan: "…"

The car was silent for three seconds. Chen Xiangan, not daring to look in the rearview mirror, silently raised the divider.Everyone hadn’t seen each other for a long time, but some things still seemed as familiar as ever.

The convenience store was only 500 meters away, and Meng Fanchuan quickly got what he needed. The whole round trip only took about seven minutes.

Cen Zhen was still clinging to him. Meng Fanchuan had no choice but to carry her out of the car, and in the end, he simply lifted her over his shoulder and returned to the wine cellar, locked the door behind them.

The moment he placed Cen Zhen on the couch, the kiss came down heavily. Meng Fanchuan removed his jacket with one hand, while the other went to unfasten the clasp on Cen Zhen’s dress. There was no resistance, and as soon as he touched the most sensitive part of her, the person beneath him didn’t arch her back as usual.

Meng Fanchuan suddenly realized that something was wrong with the mood. He lifted his head—

Great, the person who had been drunk on alcohol had fallen asleep without him noticing.

She was even sleeping soundly, her body gently rising and falling, showing no reaction at all.

Meng Fanchuan: "……"

An hour later, Cen Zhen finally groggily opened her eyes.

She wasn’t fully awake yet. The light made her squint, and she struggled to sit up. She saw Meng Fanchuan sitting motionless across from her and, still dazed, asked, "How are you here?"

Meng Fanchuan: "I was waiting for you to wake up."

"Waiting for me?" Cen Zhen vaguely sensed that the person in front of her seemed a little resentful. She paused and carefully asked, "...What were you waiting for me to wake up for?"

Meng Fanchuan was playing with a small box that contained five pieces inside, his movements slow and methodical. He let out a cold laugh. "What do you think?"