Chapter 516: Engagement

Chapter 516: Engagement

If it could be said that Kun Ye had not a single shred of regret about meeting Meng Fan, that would be impossible. He had once been such a carefree soul—playing games, making videos, chatting nonsense, and when boredom struck, updating his novel. Life was simply too beautiful. But now? Every day he was exhausted like a dog, especially during this year-end period, with all sorts of affairs he couldn't dodge. The most infuriating part was that even matters originally belonging to Meng Fan were landing on his plate. Even more maddening was that the home address was known to everyone in the studio.

Of course, it really was just a shred of regret—nothing more.

As for knowing Meng Fan, Kun Ye still felt quite proud. After all, the guy was a five-time Olympic gold medalist, a legendary figure destined for the history books without even needing to "die." To have such a legend wash feet, soak in baths, steam in saunas, sleep beside him, and now co-run a studio—no matter how many mines his family owned, these were tales worth bragging about with a cocked leg and a puffed chest.

Not to mention anything else, his family had always thought Kun Ye was wasting his potential. But ever since they learned he knew Meng Fan and was doing business together, their attitude shifted entirely. In a word, they asked how much investment he needed, saying if cash at home was short, they could mortgage a mine. Making money was secondary; the real question was whether someone of that caliber would naturally assume their son, by associating with Meng Fan, would finally straighten up and do something worthwhile. The answer? Absolutely!

The key was that Kun Ye and Meng Fan truly shared many interests and had similar yet complementary personalities. That was why, not long after their first meeting, they became close friends, each trusting the other as a reliable companion.

When Meng Fan proposed opening a studio, Kun Ye invested without a second thought and even coaxed the team working on *Underground Spirits* into becoming the core of Shanhai Animation Studio.

How lazy Kun Ye was, Meng Fan knew all too well. But while Meng Fan was away competing and later in Japan, not in Hangzhou, Kun Ye—lazy and passive as he was—still shouldered some of the preparatory work during that time.

When Meng Fan returned from Japan, Kun Ye naturally prepared to slip away. After handing over the tasks, he said, "I need to head home first. My family’s been calling, saying they’ve arranged a blind date for me. Don’t look at me like that—I’ve got to take care of my own lifelong matters!"

"A blind date? Alright, go on then." Meng Fan paused. "Wait, why didn’t Uncle and Aunt mention this to me?"

"Meng, even though you’re the golden child in my parents’ eyes, they don’t have to tell you everything, especially about something like this."

"Heh, other things they might not share, but this? They definitely would. Fine, fine, go on back. After the meeting, you can leave. The preparations are mostly settled; it’s time for a break. Come back on the third day of the New Year."

"The third day of the New Year! You’re a slave driver!"

"Get through the Animation Awards, and you can skip the studio for six months."

"You said it!"

This time, when Meng Fan returned from Japan, he brought the final guest list. Back at the studio, he held a brief meeting to slot those names into the process, and the last preparations for the Animation Awards were complete.

With that done, the studio finally went on break, and Meng Fan could rest too. That evening, he treated the three studio members still in Hangzhou to dinner. The next day, the 29th of the lunar year, he caught a flight to Sanya in Hainan Province.

This New Year was different from past ones. In previous years, the four branches of the Meng family each celebrated separately—those free gathered for a meal, those busy did their own thing, mostly crossing over to form small groups. This year, however, they all converged on Hainan, including the elder generation.

There were several reasons for this change: first, Meng Fan’s five Olympic golds; second, his second sister Meng Cailian’s investment in a company that made a fortune; third, his third sister Meng Caiwei winning the Best Actress crown; fourth, his fourth sister Meng Caihe getting married; fifth, his early completion of a doctorate; and another reason best left unspoken—Meng Fan and Wu Tong’s engagement.

The two families’ elders had long since met. Everyone knew the two kids lived together in Hangzhou and had bought a house in Beijing. Their relationship was stable, their careers steady. Though they hadn’t even graduated college, both families were eager for a concrete outcome.

This year, Liang Qing had originally planned to take Wu Tong back to Wenzhou for the New Year. But on second thought—and Liang Qing rarely thought things through—since the girl hadn’t married or even gotten engaged, going to the boy’s home for the holiday felt improper. So she arranged for the Wu family to celebrate elsewhere, inviting most of the elders. The goal was to finalize the match between the two families; marriage and certificates could wait.

Meng Fan and Wu Tong’s marriage had been placed on both families’ agendas as a top priority. There was no helping it—one family had only one son, the other only one daughter.

Only after arriving in Sanya did Meng Fan learn the real reason for choosing this location. He felt helpless—helpless meaning he had to go along with the arrangements!

Nobody likes being pressured into marriage; they want to decide for themselves. But on this matter, Meng Fan saw clearly: making his own decision wasn’t an option.

During dinner that evening, the elders sat together, trading remarks and occasionally asking, "Xiao Fan, Tong Tong, you don’t mind, do you?" And just like that, the couple’s engagement was settled. Though their faces bore the feudal look of hosting a wedding banquet, in practice they were quite democratic. Knowing both were busy, and neither family insisted on a formal ceremony, tonight’s meal would serve as the engagement banquet. The grand wedding could come later.

As for when Meng Fan and Wu Tong would marry, after settling the engagement, the families were in no rush. If possible, they hoped the two would get their marriage certificate after graduation, with the ceremony delayed.

Meng Fan whispered to Wu Tong, "You’re not freaked out, are you?"

Wu Tong had arrived in Sanya days before Meng Fan and had already faced the ordeal. "At least they didn’t push us to have kids right away," she said.

Meng Fan grinned. "That, I’ll work on."

Wu Tong pinched him.

This engagement came somewhat abruptly, like realizing summer had just passed and suddenly it was New Year’s—yet also natural, for after summer, the New Year was inevitable.

The New Year passed in a blink. Over the next few days, Meng Fan simply followed his family around for various amusements—well, "followed" was the word, since he couldn’t lead even if he tried.

There was an unexpected delight: Meng Fan picked up a new hobby—diving.

His fourth sister, Meng Caihe, was an outdoor photographer and a seasoned diving enthusiast, reaching professional levels. Meng Fan had never gone diving with her before, though his other sisters all knew how. This time, he gave it a try and instantly fell in love. Then he amazed Meng Caihe.

It wasn’t just that he learned quickly; the real shock was how deep he could dive. If not for the limitations of Sanya’s underwater environment, Meng Fan could have broken the world diving depth record.

Too bad, after a few days, no mission was triggered.

(End of chapter)