Joint Decision

The gentle hum of the city surrounded Bing Rong and Xiao Ning as they sat on a quiet park bench, taking a moment to enjoy the peace after days of turmoil. The sunlight filtered through the trees, casting soft shadows across the ground. Despite the calm setting, their minds were filled with the weight of the conversation they were about to have.

Bing Rong glanced at Xiao Ning, watching as he sat beside her, his gaze focused on the horizon. Over the past few days, things between them had changed. They had grown closer, and for the first time in a long while, Bing Rong felt herself softening toward him, realizing that her assumptions about him had been wrong. He was more than capable, more than she had ever given him credit for.

And now, they had reached a point where they needed to make a decision about their future—one that involved not just the two of them, but their families as well.

“I’ve been thinking about us,” Bing Rong said softly, breaking the silence.

Xiao Ning turned to her, his expression attentive. “I’ve been thinking about us too.”

She smiled, feeling a warmth in her chest at his response. “We’ve come a long way, haven’t we? From me delaying the engagement to this… It’s hard to believe we’re here now.”

Xiao Ning nodded, his gaze soft. “Yeah. But I’m glad we are. I know I haven’t always been completely open with you, but I’m willing to be honest from now on. I want this to work.”

Bing Rong’s heart fluttered at his words, and she reached for his hand, squeezing it gently. “I want this to work too. And I think it’s time we stop hiding from our families. They’ve been waiting for us to make a decision about our engagement, and… I think we’re ready to let them know that we’re in this together.”

Xiao Ning’s expression brightened with relief and happiness. “You mean… you’re ready to move forward with the engagement? Officially?”

Bing Rong smiled, her gaze steady. “Yes. I’m ready to accept you as my fiancé, Xiao Ning. And I want our families to know that we’re committed to each other.”

For a moment, Xiao Ning simply stared at her, the weight of her words sinking in. He had spent so much time worrying that she would never truly see him as a worthy partner. But now, here she was, ready to stand by his side and announce their engagement to the world.

“I don’t know what to say,” he admitted, his voice soft. “I’ve been waiting for this for so long, and now that it’s here… I just want to make sure I don’t let you down.”

“You won’t,” Bing Rong reassured him. “We’ll figure things out together, step by step. And no matter what, we’ll face everything as a team.”

Xiao Ning smiled, his heart swelling with emotion. He leaned in slightly, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. “Thank you, Bing Rong. I’ll do everything I can to make sure you never regret this decision.”

She closed her eyes, letting the warmth of his gesture sink in. “I know you will.”

After a few more moments of quiet, Bing Rong opened her eyes and sat up straighter, her voice more serious. “We should probably let our families know sooner rather than later. They’ve been waiting long enough.”

Xiao Ning nodded in agreement. “You’re right. My grandfather, in particular, has been asking about the wedding for months now. He’ll be thrilled when we tell him we’re moving forward.”

Bing Rong chuckled softly. “And my grandparents have been pushing me to make a decision too. They’ll be happy to hear that we’re finally on the same page.”

They sat there for a moment, the weight of the decision finally settled between them. It wasn’t just about announcing their engagement—it was about taking a step forward together, committing to each other not just as partners in name, but as a real couple with a future ahead of them.

After a few moments, Xiao Ning glanced at Bing Rong, his expression warm. “So… when should we do it? When should we tell them?”

Bing Rong thought for a moment, then smiled. “How about this weekend? We can invite both families to dinner, and we’ll make the announcement together.”

Xiao Ning’s eyes lit up with excitement. “That sounds perfect. Let’s do it.”

The Weekend: Family Dinner

The clinking of glasses and soft murmur of conversation filled the air as both families gathered at a cozy, upscale restaurant. Xiao Ning’s father and grandfather sat at one end of the table, while Bing Rong’s grandparents took their seats at the other. The atmosphere was warm, with both families exchanging pleasantries and laughter.

Bing Rong glanced at Xiao Ning, her heart racing slightly. They had discussed how they would break the news, but now that the moment was approaching, she couldn’t help but feel a bit nervous. Xiao Ning gave her hand a gentle squeeze under the table, a silent reassurance that they were in this together.

When the main course had been served and the conversation had quieted down, Bing Rong cleared her throat, catching everyone’s attention.

“There’s something we’d like to share with all of you,” she began, her voice steady but filled with emotion.

Xiao Ning nodded, picking up where she left off. “We’ve had a lot of time to think about our engagement, and we know you’ve all been waiting for us to make a decision. We’re here today to let you know that… we’ve decided to move forward with it.”

A moment of silence followed as their families processed the news. Then, almost as one, both sets of grandparents broke into wide smiles.

Bing Rong’s grandfather chuckled, his voice filled with joy. “Finally! I knew you two would come to your senses.”

Her grandmother nodded in agreement. “We’ve been waiting for this day. It’s about time you two made things official.”

Xiao Ning’s grandfather beamed with pride, leaning forward in his chair. “I knew my grandson wouldn’t disappoint. This is wonderful news!”

His father smiled warmly, nodding in approval. “We’re very happy for you both.”

The room filled with congratulations and laughter, the warmth of their families’ approval wrapping around Bing Rong and Xiao Ning like a blanket. As they sat there, surrounded by their loved ones, Bing Rong felt a sense of peace settle over her. This was the right decision. They were ready to face whatever came next—together.

After the initial excitement calmed down, Xiao Ning’s grandfather raised his glass, his voice full of pride. “To Xiao Ning and Bing Rong—may your future together be bright and filled with happiness.”

Everyone raised their glasses, echoing the sentiment. “To Xiao Ning and Bing Rong!”

As the evening continued, the families chatted happily, already making plans for the wedding and discussing future celebrations. Bing Rong and Xiao Ning exchanged a glance, their hands still intertwined under the table.

“We did it,” Xiao Ning whispered, his eyes gleaming with happiness.

Bing Rong smiled softly, her heart full. “Yeah. We did.”

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