Chapter 169 - THANK YOU FOR SAVING ME, YING JIE

"You did. Here, I will show you."

The photographer started showing us the pictures that he took. Although I didn't remember that we had taken any, but when it turned out, Mr. Antionio had taken more than he should. 

The first picture was Meng Bao and I holding our hands. Meng Bao's expression showed a deep love as if he was trying to tell something that had been inside his mind for so long, something like a confession. 

The second and third pictures were me caressing Meng Bao's cheek with Baobao rubbing his cheek on my palm. It was a sequence that looked so beautiful together. Showed how I treasured and wanted to give him the warmth he always wanted, while he also constantly searched for me. 

The fourth picture was him carrying me in bridal style.. I looked surprised, while Meng Bao looked incredibly happy. "It's very rare for Young Master Yang to smile like that. Usually, he would smile full of contempt or smile before he executed someone—"

Meng Bao glared at Mr. Antonio, and the latter zipped his mouth instantly. As I expected, everyone was scared of Baobao. Maybe I was the only one that saw him in a different light.

The fifth photo was of Meng Bao carrying me in bridal style. There was a clear joy on his face as if he had obtained something that nobody could ever have.

As if he was the winner in life. I honestly still didn't understand how could he be so happy to have me, but he really did.

The following five pictures were selected from burst shots of Meng Bao running full of joy while carrying me. I also saw the last picture of me resting on his broad chest with a smile on my face. 

It was so beautiful to see, with a clear ocean as our background, Meng Bao's ran barefoot with a joyful expression while carrying me, and me finally finding peace with someone that I loved after so long. 

The last picture hit me so hard that I couldn't take my eyes off it. It was a picture of a summer dream for me. I looked at Meng Bao, who was also as stunned as I did. 

It seemed the picture also hit him hard, "Jie, why do I look so happy there?"

"Hm? What do you mean?" I asked. I found nothing wrong with it, but Meng Bao seemed to be questioning something.

"It's just… I didn't know that I could make that kind of expression…." Meng Bao said. "All my life, I thought that I would never show that kind of joyful expression. Anything about me that doesn't involve you is quite depressing, Jie…."

"That's because it's a true love," Mr. Antonio suddenly interrupted. "Pardon me for interrupting, but the reason why I took your candid picture with Miss Shi Ying is due to the aura of love you emanated. It's very rare, but I saw few couples who didn't need direction when doing their photoshoot. Their love emanating around the room, and their stares at each other were as sincere as it could be."

"I believe that the best picture is the one that needs little to no direction. A natural, candid picture of two lovebirds preparing for their wedding should be a great example," Mr. Antonion explained with a smile. 

Meng Bao and I glanced at each other and nodded in unison, "We will use this picture as the highlight." 

"Ah, then I will proceed," Mr. Antonio said.

The picture was powerful enough for us not to have a second take. It was beautifully simple and tranquil. 

We wrapped out the photoshoot session, but Meng Bao asked me to go with him, strolling through the private beach while looking at the sunset. 

Meng Bao and I strolled side by side. The candid pictures seemed to have struck him because he became less jumpy and hyperactive like usual.

He also didn't act like a spoiled baby or acted cute to gain my attention. He just cast his eyes down while walking with me, kicking the sand on his feet.

This wasn't like my usual Bao bun. He would usually circle around me like a puppy, wanting to get all my attention, "Is there something wrong, Baobao?"

"Ah, it's not exactly wrong, but it's just…." Meng Bao paused and shook his head. "That feeling hit me hard after I saw those pictures of us, Ying Jie."

"I know that I love you, Ying Jie. Deep in my heart, I know that you're the love of my life," Meng Bao confessed without any difficulty, "But at the same time, I just realized how strong that feeling could be. To make someone like me, Yang Menghuo, to smile happily without any devious intention or evil scheme."

Meng Bao turned his head at me, the sunset behind him only made things even more dramatic, and he said, "Ying Jie, thank you for making me feel this way. Without you, I'd be stranded in the sea of nothingness. Because I could feel nothing since I was a kid."

"Everything feels like a toy for me, and I cannot sympathize with people…."

"Until I met you, Shi Ying, Ying Jie…." Yang Menghuo couldn't hold his tears. He smiled full of gratitude and took a step closer. His palm found my waist and pulled me in his embrace. 

His other hand gently held my hand and put it on his chest, where I could feel his heartbeat.

"Ying Jie, you might not really understand the feeling I have for you. I know I can be a bit too much from time to time, but my heart genuinely beat for you, and you only."

"I cannot feel the love with other people since I was born, but because of you…."

"Thank you for salvaging me from the dark abyss when we were kids, and thank you for waiting until my return."

Meng Bao slowly leaned his head closer, and he closed his eyes, hoping for a kiss. 

I was contemplating it for a moment before I accepted his advance and let him touch my lips for the first time. It was a simple but long kiss. Under the breeze of the dusk, I got my first kiss from the man I loved for so long. 

His lips were warm, moist, and surprisingly sweet, probably because Meng Bao never smoked in his life. I took a deep breath, immersing myself for a few more seconds before parting slowly. 

Meng Bao and I opened our eyes at the same time, and when our gaze met, I chuckled and commented, "It's good that you don't smoke, Baobao."

Meng Bao giggled lightly, "You told me when we were kids that I shouldn't smoke because it's a waste of money. I got used to listening to all of your advice, I guess."

"Including that advice, you told me before, that business is cutthroat, so if I find a way to start a business and has a competitor, I should take care of the competitor first," Meng Bao said.

…

Okay, I might've contributed to his current reputation, just a bit. I was also just a child and saw how my uncle was addicted to smoking and gambling. And how my dad was struggling to even start a small shop because everyone around the village knew that our family had a huge debt and was scared that our family wouldn't be able to pay back the money if they lent us some.

People also spread some rumours that I was a thief because my family was so poor. I wasn't pretty like my sisters either, so I would get bullied by the boys back then. 

But I was a strong girl. I wouldn't let myself get bullied by anyone. That was the reason I could physically fight those bullies and also protected Little Baobao from the bullies. 

"Ying Jie, I will not let you suffer anymore. I want to make our story into a dreamlike fairytale, a novel that will give readers butterflies in their belly."

"I want people to know that Yang Menghuo has Shi Ying beside him, so he would be happy forever."

Aish, Baobao was so sweet now. I couldn't lie that tears started pooling in my eyes. Nobody ever said such sweet words to me before. And I expected nothing since I knew I didn't have the beauty privilege.

"You're so sweet today, Baobao," I chuckled and gently caressed his cheek. "Never have I imagined myself to be with someone like you. You're handsome, young, and wealthy. You're too good for me. I feel like I'm in a dream right now."

Meng Bao suddenly hugged me tightly, sinking me in his embrace, "I'm the one who thinks that this is just a dream because it's just too perfect for someone like me."

"But trust me, this is not a dream. I will stay with you until death separates us. Even in the afterlife, and our reincarnation, I still want you to be my love. Because you're my only medicine…."

"Thank you for everything, Ying Jie. Thank you for saving me."