We’re getting married!

Yichen and Chelsey met on the Halloween of 2014, when they went trick-or-treating with a group of international students in the neighborhood around American University. It just so happens that Chelsey left her wallet in her dorm, which gave her the perfect excuse to get Yichen’s number after he offered to pay for her dinner. In the next four months, as Chelsey and Yichen grew closer as friends, it took Chelsey several attempts before Yichen finally went on a first date with her, at a French restaurant in Dupont Circle. The food was horrible. But at least now they knew how they felt about each other. AU’s annual Founders’ Day Ball was coming up. After both Yichen and Chelsey got their tickets, which was a very intense and competitive process, Yichen asked if Chelsey would go to the ball with him. Two weeks before the ball, and one week before Valentine’s Day, they went on another date. They first went skating in the Sculpture Garden, and before they headed to the movies, they decided to grab a bite at Cosi in Friendship Heights. This is when Yichen asked if Chelsey would be his girlfriend, and the rest is history. Yichen and Chelsey have been together for over five years now. They have travelled together to 29 cities in 10 countries in Asia, Europe, North America, and Latin America and speak a total of 6 languages. They adopted an exotic long-hair cat named Belle, and welcomed their pug puppy Guapo (their first ever puppy!) home in September 2019.

June 8, 2019 was going to be a regular Saturday for Chelsey. Yichen made a dinner reservation for 9 pm at Chez Billy Sud, a French restaurant in Georgetown, earlier in the week. At around 5 pm, they left their apartment together hoping that they can catch a movie before dinner. In the Uber, Chelsey asked Yichen where in Georgetown they were heading. Yichen said he wanted to go to Pie Sisters first. Their Uber stopped across the street from Pie Sisters, and instead of heading straight there, Yichen asked if they could take a walk in Francis Scott Key Memorial park. So they went to the park, and Yichen started reading signs in the park that introduce its history. Chelsey was losing patience and couldn’t wait to get pies. As Chelsey turned around and was ready to go, Yichen stopped her, led her to the middle of the rotunda, and got down on one knee. That’s when he pulled out the beautiful ring that’s now slipped on Chelsey’s finger, and popped the question. Both Yichen and Chelsey, their families, their cat Belle, and their dog Guapo are very excited about their future together.