Chapter 148: Is It Necessary to Make It so Exciting?

[Chapter 148: Is It Necessary to Make It so Exciting?]

"Right behind me is the venue for Taylor Swift's birthday party. Just moments ago, Ryan made a move that surprised everyone..." The female reporter stood in front of the camera, broadcasting live. Alongside her were reporters from other networks, all gathered -- ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, and CW.

The incident at the birthday party quickly turned into breaking news, spreading across television and social media throughout America.

Inside, the guests applauded vigorously.

Taylor and Ryan embraced, sharing a passionate kiss under the gaze of everyone present.

The enormous diamond ring on Taylor's left hand sparkled under the lights, with a rectangular shape and multiple well-angled facets. The diamond measured over 10 millimeters in length and 8.5 millimeters in width, just slightly wider than Taylor's slender finger.

With a slight movement, the diamond radiated reflections reminiscent of those exaggerated "dazzling" effects seen in animated films -- not exaggerated at all in this moment.

...

"Wow, that was so sudden..." Trey blinked, momentarily blinded by the light, but she saw Ryan's impulsiveness clearly.

"Promotional reasons aside, their relationship has reached this point, and Ryan was definitely decisive." Fizz, standing nearby, held a completely different view.

She tilted her head toward Trey, seemingly catching on to something and sporting a mysterious smile. "Aren't you supposed to be happy? Are you feeling uncomfortable because Ryan proposed to someone else?"

"Not at all." Trey quickly shook her head. "I just think they're both still too young."

...

On the other side, after the initial shock had worn off, some of Taylor's friends looked at the large ring on her finger with envy.

"Is Taylor the luckiest or what?" Selena whispered.

"She must have saved the world in her past life," Emma Stone sighed, chiming in.

"And more than once," Diana added.

Then the three of them all looked at Ryan, and they all felt a little itchy in their hearts. In comparison, other guys in the entertainment industry seemed to pale in comparison, and a twinge of annoyance followed -- why did he have to propose to her?

...

The party perfectly concluded with their kiss, and Taylor was in tears, wiping her face with one tissue after another, her makeup smudged.

"From now on, you'll be called Taylor Rivers," Ryan said as he wiped away her tears.

"Okay," Taylor nodded vigorously, then pulled him into another embrace, reluctant to let go.

If it weren't for needing to greet departing friends and guests, she surely would have held on all night.

...

"That's wonderful! Wishing you both happiness," Elizabeth Olsen smiled at Ryan, though the smile seemed a bit forced.

"You too," Ryan nodded back.

"Then, I..." Elizabeth Olsen felt it was time to leave Florida. After this, she doubted she'd ever step foot on this land again.

"Planning to ditch work? Did your clothes sell out? I only gave you one day off," Ryan said seriously.

"Oh," she gasped.

"Let's talk when you get back," she said before turning to find her own two sisters.

...

Ryan looked around, not spotting Daddario anywhere.

When he whipped out his phone, he saw a text from Tyran, saying she had seen Daddario getting too emotional and had taken her to her room.

Surprisingly, Tyranactually played a small role at a critical moment.

...

Ryan then looked up and met Karlie's gaze.

"You need to treat her well!" Karlie warned, glaring at Ryan.

She really took on the sister role, didn't she?

"It's not your business, kid," Ryan retorted.

Karlie huffed, turning to leave with Fizz, while Irina merely exchanged glances with Ryan and said nothing before following suit.

...

Late that night, Ryan returned to his room from the gym at the Fontainebleau Hotel, his hair still damp. Upon entering, he found Taylor's parents sitting in chairs, with Taylor's brother standing next to them while Taylor tried on a few pieces of jewelry Ryan had given her.

"How can I have kids now when I'm still not fully grown up?" Taylor mumbled, seeing Ryan walk in through the mirror's reflection and immediately turning around.

"Hubby, you're back! You must be so tired from working out today," she said, rushing over with a look of sympathy, playfully toying with Ryan's hair ends.

Now that he had proposed, the terms of endearment naturally had to change.

As for her parents, they had practically vanished from her mind. All she could see now was her fiance. Ryan, however, took the initiative to greet her parents. 

"Ryan, you certainly surprised us all today," Taylor's mother said, giving him a warm hug, followed by Taylor's father.

"Honestly, before today, I often speculated about your motives for acquiring Big Machine Records, but today, you showed me a side of you -- the responsible man. From now on, Taylor is in your hands," Taylor's father, Scott, said, patting Ryan on the shoulder.

Ryan promptly assured them that he would make Taylor a happy woman.

To outsiders, buying Big Machine may have seemed like "saving Taylor," but her parents knew the truth.

If it had simply been a business collaboration, like before with Scott, it would have only been a matter of whether profit margins were more or less. But when emotions were involved, the stakes were entirely different.

The couple certainly contemplated if Ryan saw their daughter merely as a profit machine, playing with her feelings. This doubt was a thorn in their hearts, and if Ryan's subsequent actions confirmed their fears, they wouldn't approve, which could ruin Ryan's reputation entirely.

Despite Ryan's current success, he was walking on thin ice. Any misstep could lead to disaster, and her parents were no fools; they wouldn't be easily swayed like their daughter.

Now, Ryan taking the initiative to propose effectively dispelled their worries. This was the core reason for his proposal, whereas any publicity stunts or promotional campaigns served merely as incentives.

"My sister has a lot of quirks; you better be patient with her," Austin chimed in, trying hard not to cry.

"That's nonsense; I don't!" Taylor said, playfully tapping her brother's head.

"So, when's the wedding..." Taylor's father asked seriously.

"We just consulted Taylor, and she feels her career should take precedence for the next couple of years. So you might need to wait a little longer. That should be alright, right?" Taylor's mother responded cautiously, smiling.

The couple certainly favored their daughter's views and feared Ryan might not agree.

"As her fiance, making some sacrifices for Taylor's career development is no problem for me," Ryan readily said.

This satisfied everyone.

"Alright, we won't intrude on your private time anymore. We can discuss the details tomorrow," Taylor's father remarked as he noted the late hour, leaving the rest of the time for the young couple.

...

After sending off her family, Taylor closed the door and turned around to find Ryan changing his shirt, sweat stains still visible on his light workout tee.

"I'll help," she said instinctively, mimicking her mother's nurturing demeanor.

Like mother, like daughter. Taylor's mom had become a full-time housewife after marrying, and deep inside, Taylor had her own traditional wife traits as well, though they were repressed.

Had Ryan not proposed, that side of her might have remained buried, only to be completely overtaken by another mindset, turning her into an actual pet-loving cat lady.

"Are you hungry? Can I get you something?" Taylor asked sweetly.

Ryan nodded, having never experienced such treatment before.

A little while later, Taylor returned with a plate of prepackaged pasta from the supermarket, realizing that making a proper meal was quite the challenge for her.

As Ryan took the plate, Taylor settled next to him, watching intently.

"You gave me so many ideas today. I think I can write three songs about it," Taylor said softly, humming a nameless melody.

"Three? For a proposal this big, you should be writing thirty songs!" Ryan joked, not entirely satisfied.

"Quality over quantity," Taylor laughed, then suddenly shifted the conversation.

"Hubby, I have to admit I was really annoyed earlier. When I saw those other women, it felt like a blatant provocation!"

"And that Daddario girl? What's her deal? She's practically flaunting it! Small doesn't mean less attractive!" Taylor said, glaring.

"But you surprised me so much today that I think having those girls witness this moment is somewhat nice. I'm not that petty a person," she concluded with a sudden smile.

Are you really that generous?

A chill ran down Ryan's neck. Had he not proposed, he would have been facing a very different scenario. Far from a cheerful moment, the media would have been documenting a chaotic scene. No, it wasn't just a chaotic scene; it would be a battle of epic proportions.

Thinking it through, it was likely he would have suffered the backlash of the public's wrath by then.

Just a single choice could differentiate between heaven and hell...

'Didn't I just make a mistake that every man would make? Is it necessary to make it so exciting?'

*****

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