Serenade

It was graduation season, and a certain indescribable melancholy lingered around campus.

At the graduation party, Xu Chaoyang drank a lot. Reaching across Jing Chi, he grasped Chu Zhao's hand tightly: "Junior sister, don't worry. Instructor Xu will look after him well! I won't let anything happen to him."

By the end, this fool was even sobbing, saying how much he would miss everyone. The four years of university were the happiest time for him, when he met a group of brothers and sisters.

Of course, Xia You was included in his circle of sisters.

Jing Chi pried Xu Chaoyang's paws off his girlfriend's hand, using his body to block the touchy Xu, not allowing him to get handsy with his woman.

"That's enough. It's not like we're separating forever. We'll still see each other often. When we get married, we'll definitely invite you - you can be the godfather when we have kids."

Xu Chaoyang clutched his chest, stung by those words.

Later, the head of their grade went up on stage, toasting all the graduates and giving an impassioned speech that moved the idealistic graduates to tears.

Jin Xi glanced at Bo Yan beside her. His dark eyes were always tranquil as a deep pool, rarely showing the flashing lights other youths had.

He had experienced more setbacks than others, too early felt the most sorrowful of human emotions. So it was hard for fiery youth's blood to be stirred by enthusiastic words and speeches.

He looked perpetually indifferent, but Jin Xi understood him - only bearing life's weight could bring such aloofness.

Jing Chi goaded Xu Chaoyang, saying "If you can drink Boss Bo under the table today, I'll call you 'bro'."

Xu Chaoyang immediately rose to the challenge, walking over to Bo Yan with wine cup in hand: "Boss Bo, today's the last day of our college life. Can't just sit there - have to drink two cups at least."

Jin Xi knew Bo Yan had no alcohol tolerance at all, and was about to help fend off the drinks, but Bo Yan smiled gently: "It's fine."

He raised his cup, lightly clinking Xu Chaoyang's. "When we're over there on the mission, it won't be like our everyday fooling around and exercises. The mission is important, but safety is most important."

He patted Jing Chi's shoulder: "You're always steady. I shouldn't need to worry, but remember my words. Nothing comes before you returning home safe and sound."

Jing Chi was silent a moment, then nodded heavily: "I understand."

Though not the eldest in Room 409, Bo Yan's mind was the most mature of the three boys, and he was their room monitor. So they all treated him like an older brother.

In the past, Bo Yan had led them in mischief - talking back to teachers, skipping class, brawling. Later they formed the Meow Meow Club, helping stray animals. They'd done good things and bad things, but it seemed that as long as Bo Yan was there, the boys had backbone and feared nothing, daring to punch holes in the very heavens.

Now Bo Yan was staying behind while they left. It made them feel complicated, rather sad.

Horsing around together, they didn't feel the parting. Only after this graduation party would they split off on their separate paths, and the melancholy hit all at once.

The boys ambled around campus. Xu Chaoyang's eyes were red and he asked Bo Yan several times: "Boss, you're really not going?"

Bo Yan indulgently ruffled Jin Xi's hair: "As long as my wife doesn't think I'm useless, I'll stay by her side my whole life."

Jin Xi shook her head again and again to show she didn't think so. She wouldn't ask Bo Yan to achieve success and reputation, to amount to much. Having experienced the pain of loss, she treasured their simple, warm, happy time together even more.

"Then let me congratulate you early - happiness and joy." Jing Chi said. "Don't know if I'll have a chance to come back for your wedding."

"After you come back, when Xi Xi graduates and starts working, we'll have the wedding then."

"Alright, I'll be your groomsman."

"It's a deal."

The boys shook on it. Blushing, Jin Xi scattered their hands. "What deal? Who's marrying you? Don't swear oaths over nothing..."

Smiling, Bo Yan asked "Don't you want to marry me?"

Flushing red, Jin Xi mumbled "You haven't even proposed yet you're making me marry you. Where do you get such a good deal?"

The boys exchanged meaningful looks and elbowed Bo Yan playfully.

From their roguish eyes, Jin Xi sensed something amiss. Before she could react, Bo Yan suddenly reached into his bag.

Could it be a ring?

Jin Xi's breath hitched. Though many campus couples got engaged during graduation season - she'd seen it happen several times - she wasn't mentally prepared!

Jin Xi felt her whole body heat up. She tucked back a lock of hair by her ear, her cheeks also turning red.

Bo Yan's hand slowly emerged from his bag. Jin Xi gasped, tense and thrilled.

Here it comes!

She had to stay calm, pretty, modest...

Bo Yan took out a lighter from his bag and lit a cigarette.

"..."

Bo Yan looked at the hand she'd unconsciously stretched out. "What's that for?" he asked slowly.

Jin Xi: ...

Fooled by him again!

The boys roared with laughter.

Smiling, Bo Yan asked "What were you thinking?"

"Nothing."

"What did you think I was going to do?"

"No, nothing!"

"Don't tell me...you thought I was going to propose?"

"I didn't think that! Jerk! Go away!"

Seeing how red her face was, Bo Yan's eyes crinkled. "You really thought I was going to propose?"

"Annoying! Who wants you to propose, I wouldn't say yes even if you did. Go away!"

Mortified, Jin Xi quickened her pace and walked away.

Bo Yan hurriedly pulled her into his arms. "Alright, my bad, just joking around."

The boys said while laughing: "Boss Bo, proposing's not something to joke about."

"Look, little butt Xi's almost in tears."

"Stop teasing her and get to business."

...

Helplessly smiling, Bo Yan reached into his bag again and took out a velvet ring box. Slowly, he said "I know proposing like this is awkward no matter how you look at it. But I made a promise in front of my good brothers and your best girlfriends that I would say this to you."

After the emotional rollercoaster, Jin Xi was calm now. She watched Bo Yan seriously: "What do you want to say?"

Bo Yan pursed his lips, but no words came out. He smiled first, covering his face bashfully with a fair, smooth hand. "Damn," he mumbled softly.

Jin Xi: ...

Alright, no need to say it. She understood.

This idiot couldn't get it out.

The onlookers nearly kicked him -

"What kind of man are you!"

"Where'd all your guts go!"

"It's just a proposal, not having a kid on the spot!"

...

Jin Xi had never seen Bo Yan so embarrassed. His whole face flushed red, even his earlobes blushing charmingly. His mouth curved in a smile, he tried to speak several times but couldn't get the words out.

This shameless dog normally had no bottom line, yet now he was actually shy...

Bo Yan collected himself and said seriously: "I wrote you a proposal letter. I'll read it to you."

He took out the crumpled letter from his pocket.

Xu Chaoyang quickly retreated: "Crap, Boss wrote another love letter. Everyone take cover, incoming firepower!"

Jing Chi covered his ears: "The last confession letter made me nauseous for three days, completely put me off food."

Seeing that he'd really written a whole letter, Jin Xi panickedly snatched away the ring box. She hurriedly opened it, taking out the huge ring and putting it on her left ring finger -

"I accept, I accept! Big bro, don't read it, I'm begging you!"

"..."

The corner of Bo Yan's mouth quirked. "Or, you should still listen. I spent three nights on this."

"No, no no! Such a precious love letter, I'll take it back and digest it myself. So...so don't trouble yourself to read it aloud, Boss Bo."

Jin Xi coaxed and pleaded until she snatched away the letter. Carefully folding it, she put it in her own bag.

Bo Yan looked at the dazzling diamond ring on her ring finger and frowned, "This is so unceremonious."

Jin Xi laughed at his words and gave him a push, "You confessed your love with a love letter and proposed with a love letter too. Can't you be a little more creative?"

"I must be creative," Bo Yan said mysteriously, "I'll show you what creativity is tonight."

Their friends pretended to cough.

"Ahem, well, it's getting late. Shall we call it a day?"

"Let's break up for today."

"Mr. Bo, we wish you happiness. We'll get going now."

After their friends left, Jin Xi went home with Bo Yan. Along the way, she kept admiring the dazzling ring on her finger, "What a huge diamond! Where did you get the money to buy this?"

"I didn't buy it. This is my mom's wedding ring."

The gentle night breeze lightly caressed her ears. Her heart quivered. She lowered her head to look at the translucent ring, then gripped his hand tightly.

"Baby, I'll always be with you and give you the warmest home."

Bo Yan naturally took her hand and kissed it, "I did write the love letter sincerely. You must read it."

"Okay, I'll read it carefully tonight."

"Not tonight."

"Why not?"

Bo Yan's mouth curved up slightly. He pulled her along to walk home faster.

Jin Xi felt Bo Yan was up to some mischief tonight, but she still took out the love letter when he was showering.

She recognized the letter. It was the one Bo Yan had written to confess his love to her long ago, but taken the wrong one. That letter only had one sentence: Jin Xi, I love you, will you marry me?

Now this letter had much more content added.

The letter paper was drawn with cute cartoon flower borders and kittens and puppies, as if to witness his every word.

He had put into words all the feelings from their years together and written them on the letter paper.

Every heartbeat, every feeling of being moved, and the mood after each quarrel...he had written them all down. His words were simple and made Jin Xi giggle. After laughing, she felt touched.

She went to the bathroom door and knocked gently.

Bo Yan's muffled voice came from inside, "What's up?"

"I'm reading your love letter."

"Oh, any thoughts you want to share?"

"You really make me laugh so hard. You even said my eyes are like the moon."

"I was serious. Don't laugh at me."

"You also said my laughter sounds like the wind caressing the touch-me-nots, ha ha, red, fiery, dizzy..."

Bo Yan: ...

I take that back.

"Jin Xi, can you not mock me while I'm showering?"

Jin Xi leaned against the door and asked with a laugh, "Why not?"

"Men without clothes on are very vulnerable."

"Then I'll recite your love letter out loud in standard Mandarin with great emotion again - My dear Pixi, I love you, please marry me!"

With a "creak", the bathroom door suddenly opened. A certain "vulnerable" man was standing stark naked in front of Jin Xi, though he had a thin towel around his waist that still couldn't cover his magnificent "landscape".

This was not Jin Xi's first time seeing his body, but it coming so suddenly still made her breath hitch and her face flush red.

"What...what are you doing?"

"What do you mean what am I doing?"

He dragged her to the bedroom.

Jin Xi was dragged along like a little rabbit, "Hey, you...want to fight again? Let me tell you, I'm full today and very strong!"

Bo Yan threw her onto the bed. The corners of his narrow eyes held an evil and dangerous smile, "Being 'innocent' with me for so long, have you forgotten we still have one big thing we haven't done?"

It seemed...there was one thing they hadn't done yet...

...

The June wind blew gently through the branches. The night was as thick as undiluted ink.

Before her world completely collapsed, she heard Bo Yan's low, sexy voice whispering in her ear, panting -

"Jin Xi, thank you."

Her hand gripped the letter tightly. The end of the letter had a line -

Thank you for giving me such a good home and family. Thank you for tolerating my bad temper.

In our long road ahead, Bo Yan promises you, he will shield you from the wind and rain, protect you, cherish you, respect you.

I hereby dedicate my most sincere love to you for the rest of my life.