Chapter 664 - 444: I’m Getting Married

"I think you’ve realized over these past few days that he’s not a selfish person... On the plane back to Tokyo, he fell asleep, but I couldn’t. I was thinking about so much, from when our relationship started to our current situation. He’s always been very clear about what he wants—for the three of us to be together, living a peaceful life. That sounds ridiculous at first glance, but when you think about it, isn’t it all because of the mistake we made by dating him together from the very beginning?"

Jiangg Yao said calmly, "You have to take responsibility for your mistakes. That’s a simple truth everyone understands. The key is *how* to take that responsibility... Sis, I’ve never asked you what you think, because every time I wanted to, I felt like I didn’t need to. But this time, I really have to ask you a question on his behalf."

"What do you want to ask?" Jiangg Ning turned her head, refusing to meet her sister’s eyes.

"You don’t want to marry him together with me, do you?"

The moment the words were out.

Jiangg Ning’s head snapped back around to face Jiangg Yao.

Her expression grew complicated.

’Yaoyao was certainly being direct. That was always her style.’

"And what are your thoughts?" Jiangg Ning didn’t answer right away, countering with a question of her own.

"Before, I absolutely wouldn’t have agreed. Because love is inherently selfish. We’re sisters, we’ve shared so many things growing up, and I didn’t care about any of that. But I really couldn’t accept sharing a boyfriend. It’s not about having a ’bottom line’ or whatever you call it, it’s that I didn’t want a good relationship to just be split in half..."

Jiangg Yao took a deep breath and continued, "But... I’ve changed my mind now. For him to go this far for the two of us... I have nothing to repay him with. Sacrificing a bit of my own feelings is really no big deal."

"I don’t understand," Jiangg Ning said, her gaze profound as she spoke calmly. "Marriage is for a lifetime. If you compromise just because you’re moved in the moment, what about the future? Won’t you regret it?"

"So what if I do regret it? He’s the man I chose, and I trust he’ll make me happy."

Jiangg Yao suddenly broke into a smile.

It was a carefree one.

’She recalled the past year or so of their relationship, filled with countless sweet and happy moments.’

’She would treasure these memories forever.’

’She had already resolved to spend the rest of her life with Chen Yuan. That was her only demand.’

’And Chen Yuan had already promised to propose once this was all over.’

’So what more could Jiangg Yao ask for?’

’She wasn’t the kind of girl who only knew how to take.’

’Call her lovesick, say her judgment was clouded by emotion and guilt—it didn’t matter. People regret countless things in their lives, but as long as it’s your own choice, you just have to keep believing in yourself.’

’Until the very end of your life.’

"He didn’t ask me to say this, Sis. Actually, he originally planned to use the money he lent us as leverage, but he backed out at the last minute... I almost wish he had. Then I wouldn’t feel so guilty. But of course, he had to go and get soft-hearted..." As Jiangg Yao spoke, her voice grew quieter, eventually trailing off.

Love was truly an unsolvable puzzle.

Chen Yuan’s heart had softened, and Jiangg Yao’s had softened right along with it.

If he had committed to his threat, she wouldn’t even be asking this today.

"So it looks like you two are a united front now," Jiangg Ning said, her eyes downcast. She paused for a moment before adding, "And you’ve tossed the problem over to me."

"So, what do you really think?"

"I’m not willing," Jiangg Ning said, biting her lip tightly. "I know I owe him a lot, a debt I can never repay, but I’ll do my best to make it up to him. I also know we went down the wrong path from the start, and that’s what led to the situation we’re in today. But... but Yaoyao, none of that is a reason to compromise my principles. In life, you’ll face choices like this countless times. Only by holding on to your bottom line can you truly be yourself. And this is my bottom line."

Jiangg Ning bowed her head low.

It was difficult to make out the expression on her face.

"I’ll pay it back... I love him very much, too, but this has nothing to do with love. All three of us are in pain right now. There’s no way around it... Even if we did compromise and get married, it would be a thorn in our hearts. The future is long. We have to be rational. I know you like him a lot, and my feelings for him are no less—"

"We’re getting engaged." Jiangg Yao cut her sister off, suddenly looking her in the eye.

"What???"

Jiangg Ning froze instantly, staring at her sister with eyes full of disbelief. She was stock-still, like a statue.

She couldn’t believe what she had just heard.

The utter shock was plain to see in Jiangg Ning’s eyes.

"You’re right, Sis. If we continue like this, all three of us will be miserable forever. So, he’s not going to insist on trying to convince you anymore."

"Wh... When are you getting engaged? When did he say this?" Jiangg Ning asked, leaning forward instinctively as she began to recover from the shock, an awkwardness touching the corners of her lips.

"He told me in Tokyo. After this is all over, he’s planning to have his family come make a formal marriage proposal... Sis, you can terminate your secretarial contract at any time. He’s willing to respect whatever you decide. He told me all of this himself."

"And you agreed?"

"Why wouldn’t I? I really want to marry him," Jiangg Yao said, taking her sister’s hands earnestly. "Sis, I’m willing to compromise, because I really don’t want to keep going on like this. You’re not willing, and I respect your decision."

"This..." Jiangg Ning still hadn’t recovered from her shock. "Isn’t this a bit sudden? Marriage is a huge deal. Have you two really thought it through?"

"As long as he’s willing and I’m willing, what is there to think about?"

Suddenly.

A chilly wind blew in from the window that hadn’t been fully closed, causing Jiangg Ning to shiver.

She struggled to process Jiangg Yao’s words.

’No wonder Yaoyao suddenly asked that question for Chen Yuan today.’

’So they’ve already made their decision?’

’And she couldn’t blame Chen Yuan for this.’

The last time she and Chen Yuan were home, they had a late-night talk, and Jiangg Ning had clearly expressed many of her practical concerns.

A woman’s youth is fleeting, unlike a man’s.

In the blink of an eye, she’d be another year older, yet their relationship had been at a standstill ever since this entanglement began.

This painful situation had tormented all three of them for a long time.

With one person compromising, the once-unsolvable problem now had a logical solution.

"That’s... that’s great," Jiangg Ning said, forcing a smile, her voice a little dazed.

"He was willing to marry you, but you wouldn’t," her sister’s voice rang in her ear at just the right moment.

"But he was talking about marrying both of us, of course I couldn’t agree to—"

"I am willing."

Looking into Jiangg Yao’s earnest eyes, hearing those three words.

Jiangg Ning suddenly felt like she had a thousand things to say but couldn’t get a single one out.

’Originally, the three of them all had their own ideas, which was why the situation was at a stalemate. Now that two of them had compromised, she had somehow become the loser.’

’That’s right...’

’It was like a problem of choosing one out of two, and he just... made his choice...’

’So, was she supposed to cry and throw a tantrum, demanding to know why he was marrying Yaoyao and not her?’

Jiangg Ning found the thought almost laughable. The corner of her mouth twitched.

But what fell were tears.

"That’s right. I’m not willing."