After simply packing up, Li Jing's family and Ge Qin's family bid farewell to Li Fuguo and his wife.
As for Li Jing taking Ge Qin's car back to the city, neither family had any objections and seemed quite pleased instead.
For Ge Qin's parents, Li Jing's financial strength was evident, and being a graduate from a prestigious university, they were naturally happy to see their daughter getting along well with him.
If they could have Li Jing as their son-in-law, they would be overjoyed. Even if the two didn't plan on being together, getting closer to Li Jing's family was a good thing for them.
And Li Jing's parents were even more pleased to see this happen.
Although the two hadn't pressured Li Jing to get married, there were still some thoughts in their minds.
Now seeing such a beautiful and well-behaved girl like Ge Qin willing to spend time with Li Jing, the couple couldn't stop smiling.
Thus, Li Jing smoothly got into Ge Qin's new car to return to the city.
On the way back, Ge Qin originally wanted to chat more with Li Jing but received several phone calls from friends inviting her out to play.
"I don't have time today, you guys go ahead, I really can't make it."
"I have things at home, sorry, why don't you ask someone else."
"I really can't push it off here. What? Tomorrow? Tomorrow..."
Ge Qin glanced at Li Jing in the passenger seat, then said, "We'll see about tomorrow, not certain yet."
Having finally declined all the invitations, Ge Qin let out a long breath, and feeling a bit apologetic for being on the phone the whole time without considering Li Jing.
"Sorry, because I mentioned to them earlier that I might have time these days..."
"It's fine, no need to apologize."
Li Jing casually said, "If you have things to attend to, don't worry about me."
"How could that be..."
Upon hearing this, Ge Qin's expression changed slightly, then she showed some grievance and bit her lip, "You promised to keep me company today."
Seeing her expression, Li Jing couldn't help but smile, "Alright, I'll take back what I just said."
Then he shifted the topic, asking, "Were all those your friends? I heard most of them were guys?"
"Ah, I'm just ordinary friends with them."
As soon as she finished speaking, Ge Qin hurried to explain, "Maybe I get along well with the opposite sex, but I really keep my distance from them all."
Li Jing raised an eyebrow.
"Not exactly... just friends."
Ge Qin explained while driving, "Maybe a few guys have feelings for me, but I only ask them for help occasionally when needed, and I don't intentionally send any ambiguous signals for them to misunderstand."
Li Jing nodded slightly, not sure if he accepted her answer, but curiously asking, "With so many guys around you, are you also taking me as your backup?"
Before she finished speaking, Ge Qin nearly braked abruptly, but quickly resumed smooth driving and said, "If we're talking backups, I'm yours, or..."
She remembered seeing Zhang Xinxin and An Tong in Tianhai, and her voice lowered, "I don't even count as your backup."
Li Jing's eyebrow twitched, then he said, "I don't plan on dating, so how could I have a backup? Honestly, I'm just more affectionate at most."
Upon hearing Li Jing's explanation, Ge Qin's lips twitched slightly, clearly not approving of his answer.
Seeing her expression, Li Jing smiled, "What, are you implying I'm a jerk?"
"No, no, I didn't say that." Ge Qin's expression changed slightly, immediately denying it.
For Li Jing, perhaps due to his financial strength, she always had some respect and awe, not daring to easily provoke his displeasure.
"No worries, I never deny being a jerk."
Li Jing casually looked at the scenery outside the window, softly saying, "You know I'm a jerk, so why are you still willing to be with me?"
Ge Qin opened her mouth slightly, wanting to say something but not knowing how, ultimately falling silent.
The breeze blew through the car window, bringing a slight chill to their faces.
Due to the cold weather, after a while, Ge Qin rolled up all the car windows and turned on the heater.
Then, Ge Qin broke the previous silence by asking, "Since you don't plan on dating, what about marriage in the future?"
"Why must I get married?" Li Jing calmly replied.
"If you don't get married, your parents..."
Ge Qin initially thought the elders might pressure him to marry but felt this reason was not persuasive and changed her wording, "When you get old, without someone by your side, won't it be lonely?"
"Maybe, but since I have money, someone would be willing to grow old with me, right?"
Speaking of which, Li Jing recalled An Tong and Zhang Xinxin and couldn't help but smile, "Several girls have promised to grow old with me already, what do you think?"
Ge Qin didn't know if he was joking or testing her, hesitated slightly before speaking again, "I have to get married, whether for my parents or for my own future life."
Li Jing nodded, without saying much.
In fact, he had long guessed Ge Qin's choice.
Ge Qin grew up in a small town, and her views and habits were influenced by the surrounding environment.
Marriage has always been a major event for girls from small towns.
In contrast, Zhang Xinxin and An Tong, although not from wealthy backgrounds, have their own personalities and ideas about life choices.
They don't want to be bound by traditional views, and they don't see marriage as that important.
An Tong's previous goal was to marry a local from Tianhai, mainly to settle down there, marriage was just her means to an end.
Seeing Li Jing silent, Ge Qin thought her answer might have displeased him, felt a bit tense inside, immediately trying to amend, "I mean...I will get married in the future, but for now, I can be with you..."
Saying this, she slightly frowned, feeling that "being together" wasn't quite suitable to describe her relationship with Li Jing, so she rephrased, "Not about being together, I mean you don't have to worry that I'll be with other guys..."
"Alright, no need to explain so much."
Seeing her cautious look, Li Jing casually smiled, "I won't interfere with your life choices. In fact, I think it's a good thing for you to find a nice guy to marry here in the future."
Ge Qin was a bit surprised that Li Jing agreed with her thoughts.
She thought that Li Jing, used to living in Tianhai, would look down on someone from a small town like herself and wouldn't agree with her traditional views, but Li Jing was not so.
Not only this time, but Ge Qin often found many different points from Li Jing.
And it's precisely these different details and perspectives that made Ge Qin never forget such a unique man.
"Of course, it's true."
Li Jing looked at the countryside fields swiftly passing by outside the window, continuing, "Life itself is a wilderness, and everyone has their own way of living. As long as these ways fit oneself, it doesn't matter who's high or low, who's right or wrong."
Hearing these words, Ge Qin glanced at Li Jing's calm and sincere profile, her eyes slightly moved with a faint stirring inside.
Then, she turned back to focus on driving, seriously nodding: