A Maid's Survival Story in a Noble Family Mansion? Rich Landlords Are More Appealing.

Wang Yanning's last word, carrying all the lingering trepidation, fervor, and desperate gamble, collided perfectly with the final syllable of Chen Wanxing's "Come back in winter," creating a wondrous harmony that almost stopped his heart.

The courtyard suddenly fell silent.

Wang Yanning's voice stopped abruptly, and he froze, his eyes widening slightly.

He seemed not to have heard clearly, or perhaps he had heard clearly but couldn't immediately grasp this too beautiful coincidence, and just stared blankly at her.

Time seemed to be stretched and frozen by an invisible hand.

It took him two more seconds to realize that he had actually said those words. The blankness on his face receded quickly like a tide, replaced by a mixture of tension, anticipation, and the burning desire of waiting for the verdict after burning one's bridges.

Wang Yanning held his breath, his gaze fixed on her face.

Chen Wanxing was completely stunned.

That crystal-clear statement was like a pebble thrown into the calm lake of her heart, stirring up huge, unexpected ripples.

She blinked, her long eyelashes casting a small fan-shaped shadow under her eyes, as if confirming that she hadn't misheard.

Her expression was one of pure bewilderment and surprise. Chen Wanxing even subconsciously leaned back slightly, creating some distance between them.

"Young Master Wang...?" She finally found her voice, but it was much lower than usual, filled with obvious hesitation and uncertainty. "What did you just say?"

She wasn't that she hadn't heard clearly, but now she was starting to wonder if she had misheard.

An engagement? At this time? After she had just heard his whole backstory and witnessed the lingering pain and resolve in his eyes?

The turn of events was too fast and too abrupt, making it impossible for her to immediately associate the word "engagement," which represents a solemn promise, with the young man before her.

Seeing her reaction, the burning passion that had arisen in Wang Yanning's heart due to impulsiveness quickly cooled down, replaced by a cold panic.

But he did not back down. The words had been spoken, like an arrow released from a bow. He did not want, nor could he allow, them to fall to the ground midway.

Wang Yanning took a deep breath, forcing himself to suppress his panic, and sat up even straighter, his gaze fixed on her. He repeated each word more clearly and solemnly than before:

"Miss Chen, before we go to Kaifeng, perhaps we could get engaged?"

Chen Wanxing was completely certain. It wasn't a hallucination, nor a slip of the tongue. Looking at his unusually serious, even desperate, expression, the initial shock in her heart was gradually replaced by a more complex emotion.

"Young Master Wang," her tone regained its usual calm, "this matter is no child's play."

Although we have gotten along well since we met, engagement is a lifelong matter that concerns both our families and our lives.

You've just experienced a major upheaval in your family today, and your emotions are still unsettled. Isn't it a bit too hasty to bring this up now?

You need to calm down and think things through carefully. Don't make such a momentary lapse in judgment due to emotional impulses or worries about future separation.

She paused, looked at him with clear eyes, and said sincerely, "I know what you mean, but that's precisely why I don't want you to make a decision you might regret later. Let's think about this carefully."

Her words were reasonable and considerate, showing her concern for him in every way, and every sentence was filled with calmness and thoughtfulness.

But to Wang Yanning, it sounded like needles pricking his most sensitive spot. She thought he was impulsive, irrational, and perhaps even making a rash decision out of momentary anger or fear.

"I didn't act on impulse!" he retorted almost immediately, his voice rising in urgency, breaking the forced composure on his face and revealing his true agitation and grievance.

He leaned forward, his hands unconsciously pressing on the edge of the stone table, his knuckles turning slightly white, his gaze fixed intently on her, as if eager to lay his heart bare for her to see.

But as soon as he spoke, his slightly raised voice brought him back to his senses. He was afraid—afraid that he had been too abrupt and scared her, and also afraid that this rash suggestion would destroy the closeness and tacit understanding they had worked so hard to build.

Wang Yanning quickly sat up straight, a faint blush rising to her face, but she tried her best to remain calm and sincere in her eyes, and hurriedly explained, "Miss Chen, I'm sorry, I was too rash and frightened you."

He spoke quickly, his chest rising and falling slightly, his eyes flashing with a wounded yet stubborn light. "I spoke without thinking in my haste."

But I am not what you think, someone who was thrown into turmoil by family troubles and impulsively brought this up. This thought is not new, nor is it a spur-of-the-moment thing.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm his overly excited tone, but the heat in his eyes did not diminish at all: "This matter has been lingering in my mind for a long time."

From our first meeting on the Lantern Festival, to our subsequent correspondence, and every time we meet and talk, I feel peace and joy in your company.

This sentiment has long since taken root in my heart.

During my time in the prefectural city, I spent my days discussing academic matters with my classmates and my nights studying diligently by lamplight. Whenever the night was quiet or during breaks from reading, the image of the girl's voice and smile would always appear in my mind.

I have long held the girl in the most important place in my heart.

His cheeks flushed even more, but his eyes became more determined and bright, no longer avoiding his gaze: "Yes, I admit it, I am somewhat afraid of separation, afraid that as time goes by, we will be separated, and the world will change, so I desperately wanted to tie you down with a marriage contract."

I know that engagement is a big deal, and bringing it up now is certainly abrupt and not the best time.

But after I said those words, I realized that I had been hiding these thoughts for a long time without realizing it, and I didn't want to take them back.

Especially when I heard that the girl was also going to Kaifeng, I felt as if God was granting my wish.

I don't want this connection to remain unresolved. I want a formal status, a more stable and legitimate relationship, so that this connection can take root and flourish.

He looked at her with burning, sincere eyes, filled with the unique innocence of youth. "I am willing to offer the rest of my life as a dowry, to treat you with utmost respect, and to never change my mind in this lifetime."

What I blurted out today may seem reckless, but it is actually a thought that I have pondered over and over again in my heart. Finally, it found a crack and burst out without a care in the world.

Miss Chen, I may not be mature enough, and I may not have considered things thoroughly, but my feelings for you are absolutely genuine and sincere. Please believe me.