Cheng Qiaobei stayed in Danjiang for two days, during which he t the elders of Chen Ningxi’s family. He liked the family atmosphere of the Chen Family—full of lively harmony—which was sothing Cheng Qiaobei had longed for but found hard to achieve.
His good looks and sociable nature made him very likable to Chen Ningxi’s grandparents, and Chen Ningxi’s grandmother was even more pleased to have him as her grandson-in-law.
Returning to Zhoushan, Cheng Qiaobei started looking up real estate online and had sales offices send him promotional material. His unusual behavior caught Wei Lai’s attention.
Wei Lai took the opportunity while signing papers to ask, "Are you getting married?"
It was ant as a joke, but Cheng Qiaobei answered straightforwardly, "Yeah."
Wei Lai was stunned, the first reaction being, "Did Mr. Cheng agree?"
Cheng Qiaobei replied, "It’s not him getting married, so I don’t need his approval."
"If Mr. Cheng doesn’t agree, how are you getting married?"
Cheng Qiaobei said, "Does the marriage registry require a father’s signature?"
"Well, no, but," before Wei Lai could finish, Cheng Qiaobei interrupted, "Do you think custom rings require knowing the circumference of her finger?"
Wei Lai’s eyes widened, "So soon? You’re planning to propose? Do you even know her?"
"Forget it, asking you is pointless—you’ve never been married." Cheng Qiaobei stood up and started to leave, "I’m going back to Danjiang; make sure to watch over the hotel these two days."
Wei Lai laughed twice, "Ha... I’ve never been married? I’ve never been married? What’s so great about marriage?"
It was late April, just when the flowers bloom in spring in Danjiang.
As Cheng Qiaobei approached the power company, he called Chen Ningxi, "I’m back, about ten minutes from your office, let’s go out to eat tonight."
Chen Ningxi had just received a verbal notification from her superior that she would be taking the position of Manager of Danjiang Power, with the official docunt to be issued later.
"Great, I have so good news to tell you too. Dinner’s on tonight."
Hearing the joy in her voice and guessing by the timing, Cheng Qiaobei had a pretty good idea, "Are you going to have start calling you Manager Chen?"
Chen Ningxi said, "Right before you called, personnel gave a verbal notice."
Cheng Qiaobei was happy for her, "Congratulations! Congratulations! What do you want to eat?"
Chen Ningxi insisted, "What do you want to eat? Tonight, I insist on treating you."
In a teasing tone, Cheng Qiaobei said, "Alright, let taste the ’soft al’ then, it’s on you." He added, "Let’s not go too far, let’s eat near ho."
"Okay, I’ll take the car ho, and we’ll find a restaurant nearby."
Chen Ningxi happily drove out from work, and as soon as she got out, she saw Cheng Qiaobei’s car parked by the roadside. The two cars, one leading, the other following, headed toward the neighborhood where Chen Ningxi lived.
The early spring breeze carried the scent of grass and trees, nature was being reborn, and the fields were turning green.
While walking side by side, Cheng Qiaobei suddenly held her hand, discreetly asuring her finger’s circumference. Chen Ningxi hadn’t walked hand in hand with him on the street before, she instinctively looked around; seeing no one noticed, she felt at ease.
Although Cheng Qiaobei ordered the dishes, they were all ones Chen Ningxi loved.
"I’m happy today, so I’ll have a drink too." After pouring a glass for Cheng Qiaobei, Chen Ningxi poured one for herself.
She raised her glass, and Cheng Qiaobei said, "Congratulations to you, for fulfilling your wishes."
Chen Ningxi smiled, "Thank you."
The clink of glasses followed, and they both drank it all at once.
Chen Ningxi put down her glass, taking a refreshed breath, "Do you know why I work so hard?"
Cheng Qiaobei said, "You want to prove to Uncle that you can also start from the grassroots, working hard to achieve sothing."
"Exactly!" Chen Ningxi was especially gratified that soone understood her, pouring another glass. Cheng Qiaobei, knowing she was happy, joined her for another drink.
With the back of her hand, she wiped the wine from her mouth and said, "Since I was young, my dad was always a towering figure in my heart; he is my role model, my lighthouse. But he thinks that as a girl, I shouldn’t be too ambitious—just find a stable job, and when the ti cos, find the right person to marry, living a steady life just like that. But I don’t think so. I just want to prove to him that I can do it too. My life has value; I want him to feel proud of just once from the bottom of his heart."
Cheng Qiaobei smiled, "You are excellent; he is definitely proud of you."
"Uh-huh," Chen Ningxi shook her head in negation, "My dad is particularly serious; he’s never praised no matter how well I scored. I’ve never seen him smile, he only says to work harder next ti, to be more diligent. My dad is the typical strict educator."
Cheng Qiaobei asked, "What about Auntie?"
"My mom?" On ntioning Ye Yujun, Chen Ningxi’s expression beca much more relaxed, "As for my mom, of course, they are two extres.
I am her pride, whatever I do, any decision I make, she will firmly stand by my side and support . I might not have gone astray because of my mom; she gave a lot of love."
It seems every family has its struggles, just depends on who hides it well.
Chen Ningxi drank three glasses in a row, feeling slightly dizzy from drinking too fast. Luckily, she could handle her alcohol well, needing only a mont to recover.
"Actually, what I really want is to hear my dad praise , but, thinking about it, it’s fine. Even if I don’t say it, soone else will tell him." She rested her chin on her hand, subconsciously tracing circles on the table with her finger. Her studies and career had t her expectations and reached certain heights, only marriage remained. "Cheng Qiaobei, do you want to get married?"
Cheng Qiaobei paused in the middle of pouring wine, "...Yes."
Chen Ningxi lowered her eyes, "Although I don’t have much experience in relationships, I feel that one quality relationship is enough. We’re both smart people, knowing what we want, valuing what we have, so our margin for error in marriage is low. If you don’t have any objections, how about,"
She looked up, "why don’t we get married?"
Cheng Qiaobei stared at her for a long ti, even doubting whether he had heard wrong.
Until Chen Ningxi said, "If you don’t want to, then forget it."
Cheng Qiaobei moved to sit beside her, hugging her as he asked, "Will you answer two questions for first?"
They were in a public dining hall, surrounded by other diners, and Chen Ningxi was embarrassed, lightly pushing him away, "Just ask; let go first."
Cheng Qiaobei, knowing she was shy, let her go but still held her hand. Chen Ningxi couldn’t break free, "What are you doing? I’m not going to run away."
"That’s not certain." Cheng Qiaobei took out his phone, started recording, and pointed it at them. Chen Ningxi asked, "What are you doing? Why record?"
Cheng Qiaobei replied, "I must keep evidence just in case you deny it tomorrow. Where else would I find justice?"
Chen Ningxi rubbed her forehead, "What do you want to ask?"
Cheng Qiaobei asked, "First question, are you drunk now?"
Chen Ningxi answered, "No, I’m very clear-headed."
"The second question," Cheng Qiaobei asked earnestly, "Will you marry ?"
Chen Ningxi turned her face to look into Cheng Qiaobei’s eyes, "...If I say no mmph,"
Cheng Qiaobei covered her mouth, "Chen Ningxi, are you being naughty? Believe it or not, I’ll kill you. Say it again to the cara, repeat what you told earlier."
Chen Ningxi pointed to his hand, indicating she couldn’t speak unless he let go.
He lowered his hand, and Chen Ningxi lifted her chin slightly, with a confident and determined smile, she said,
"How about marrying ?"
Cheng Qiaobei’s mouth curled into a smile, "I agree."
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