The entire venue was in shock.

No one had expected Xiao Qingdi to propose to Bai Bing in public.

With deep affection in his eyes and the lights casting a handsome glow on his face, Xiao Qingdi looked every bit the prince.

Of course, what drew the most attention was the diamond ring in his hand.

It was an incredibly rare blue diamond.

As big as a coin.

“My goodness, that diamond is huge!”

“It must be at least fifty carats!”

“I’m so envious of that woman!”

“Hey, that ring looks familiar, where have I seen it before?”

Just as a member of the audience voiced their confusion, they heard Xiao Qingdi say to Bai Bing, “In this world, there are three things I love the most: the sun, the moon, and you. The sun for the day, the moon for the night, and you, forever. This ring is named ‘Blue Starry Sky,’ symbolizing eternal love. Bai Bing, I love you! I want to be with you forever!”

“Oh my god, it’s the Blue Starry Sky, no wonder it looked familiar,” the previously puzzled audience member exclaimed.

“Is that ring really something special?” someone asked.

“More than special, it’s a rarity in this world,” the same person replied. “Blue diamonds are already a rare treasure, and one this size is one of only a few in the whole world.”

“You all know Cartier, right? The world’s most famous jeweler, renowned since the 19th century, crafting jewelry for royalty, earning it the titles ‘King of Jewelers’ and ‘Jeweler to Kings.’ And this Blue Starry Sky is one of Cartier’s crown jewels.”

“Just the other day, I heard the Blue Starry Sky was purchased by a mysterious buyer. I never imagined it would be Young Master Xiao.”

“Do you know how much the Blue Starry Sky ring costs?”

“How much?”

“Two hundred million… US dollars!”

The crowd gasped in unison.

Two hundred million US dollars, which is over a billion in Huaguo currency. Instantly, the women in the room looked at Bai Bing with eyes green with envy.

“That woman is so lucky!”

“Jealous! So jealous!”

“If only Young Master Xiao would propose to me with the Blue Starry Sky!”

But Bai Bing remained silent.

Head bowed, no one knew what she was thinking.

Xiao Qingdi’s face showed not a hint of impatience; instead, his voice softened even more.

“I know this is all so sudden for you, but please believe in my sincerity. I will treat you well for the rest of my life.”

After saying this and seeing no response from Bai Bing, Xiao Qingdi continued, “I remember, when we were abroad, you told me you hoped that one day, the man you love would put on crystal shoes for you under the starry sky… Please look.”

Snap!

Xiao Qingdi snapped his fingers, and instantly, the banquet hall lights went out, plunging the room into darkness. Then, a blue star appeared.

Followed by a second, and a third…

In the blink of an eye.

Thousands of stars appeared on the ceiling of the banquet hall, turning it into a blue starry sky.

Sapphire-carved stars densely scattered in the air, twinkling and shimmering, created an illusion of being in the universe.

Moreover, in the center of this starry sky, two transparent crystal shoes were suspended by ribbons, sparkling and enchanting.

“Wow, so romantic!”

“Young Master Xiao is so thoughtful!”

“I’m dying of envy for that woman!”

Screams of admiration rose one after another.

Bai Bing stared at the starry sky, the happy times flashing through her mind like a movie, and slowly, tears began to form in the corners of her eyes…

Xiao Qingdi finally breathed a sigh of relief.

A woman’s tears meant she was moved, and being moved meant he had a chance.

Xiao Qingdi stood up, took down the crystal shoes, and returned to Bai Bing, kneeling on one knee.

“My princess, please allow me to put these crystal shoes on for you.”

After saying this, Xiao Qingdi bent down to help Bai Bing take off her shoes.

The women in the audience exclaimed at this gesture:

“Young Master Xiao is so gentle!”

“I really like him so much!”

“That woman must have saved the galaxy in her past life to earn Young Master Xiao’s love.”

But at that moment, Bai Bing, like a startled rabbit, suddenly stood up and took two quick steps back, widening the distance between her and Xiao Qingdi.

“Bai Bing, what are you…” Xiao Qingdi looked at her, puzzled, his handsome face filled with confusion.

Bai Bing wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes and said coldly, “Xiao Qingdi, thank you for everything, but unfortunately, I’m not fortunate enough to accept it.”

“Why?” Xiao Qingdi still didn’t understand.

Bai Bing said, “No matter how exquisite a mirror is, once shattered, it can never be restored to its former state. Just like us, a broken mirror can’t be made whole again. Do you understand?”

“I don’t understand,” Xiao Qingdi stubbornly said. “I’ll do anything to change your mind.”

“It’s too late, it’s too late…” Bai Bing’s voice trailed off as tears welled up again.

Years ago, while she was pursuing her Ph.D. at the Royal Academy in England, she met Xiao Qingdi at a gathering for international students.

Bai Bing had known of Xiao Qingdi back in China and had heard of his exploits, which is why she had a poor impression of him from the start.

Their first meeting was not as Bai Bing had expected; Xiao Qingdi wasn’t the arrogant and willful person the rumors made him out to be. Instead, his actions completely overturned Bai Bing’s impression of him.

At the party, he played the piano, tap-danced, performed magic tricks like an artist; then he lectured on Huaguo’s history like a learned scholar, charming and graceful. Finally, he composed a love poem on the spot and presented it to Bai Bing, the epitome of elegance.

He won Bai Bing’s favor.

After that, Xiao Qingdi often found reasons to ask Bai Bing out, and after persisting for half a year, they finally became a couple.

“If it hadn’t been for that incident, maybe I would be his wife by now…”

Thinking of the past, Bai Bing felt a heart-wrenching pain.

After breaking up with Xiao Qingdi, Bai Bing learned that everything he had shown her was a facade. Behind her back, Xiao Qingdi was a complete playboy, acting recklessly because he was the brother of the Champion Marquis.

This realization was like salt on Bai Bing’s wounded heart.

Bai Bing swore to cut ties with Xiao Qingdi completely.

“Bai Bing, I know I’ve wronged you, but I’m willing to spend the rest of my life making it up to you. Please, be with me, will you? I promise, I’ll only love you for the rest of my life,” Xiao Qingdi pleaded, reaching out to hold Bai Bing’s hand.

Bai Bing quickly stepped back, her voice colder, “Xiao Qingdi, I swore never to get back together with you in this lifetime, so I hope you’ll stop bothering me from now on.”

“Why?”

“Because I’ve given up on you.”

“No, you’re lying to me! You still love me, don’t you? If you didn’t love me, why did you cry just now?”

“The reason I was moved was because of the past, and the reason I’m rejecting you is also because of the past. I’ve been hurt once, and I don’t want to be hurt again.”

“Bai Bing, I…”

“Let’s leave it at that! I wish you happiness!”

At that moment, Feng Youling approached Xiao Qingdi and whispered something in his ear.

Instantly, rage flared in Xiao Qingdi’s eyes. Pointing at Ye Qiu, he loudly questioned Bai Bing, “Are you rejecting me because of him?”