Don’t mention an engagement ring; there wasn’t even flowers or champagne. The excitement and enthusiasm slowly sunk down.
"I admit, the proposal was premeditated. If I had told you in advance, would you still have agreed to come back with me?" Zhou Zhenghui felt utterly disheartened when it came to this point.
Despite being exceptionally handsome, it never bothered the little lady that she was never swayed by his looks. What’s more, she never paid much attention to him, the so-called diamond bachelor. Often as soon as she started school, she would just leave him behind as if forgotten, entirely heedless of his longing for her call.
If the object of his affection is too focused on her studies, Zhou Zhenghui felt no sense of achievement.
Uh, nor any sense of security.
What made Zhou Zhenghui frown was that his little lady’s temperament and looks were so charming that some darn kid at the school had started the trouble by naming her some silly department beauty or school belle. Even if she gave others the cold shoulder, it was no use against the nauseating persistence of those pests!
In order to settle his own heart, Zhou Zhenghui whisked the little lady back to Beijing with the intention of sealing their engagement.
At the Xie household, only Xie Jingzi was unaware of this matter.
Before gaining permission from the Xie Family’s parents to take Xie Jingzi back to Beijing, he had already informed the Xie Family that this return to Beijing was with the intent of getting engaged first, and then, once Little Zi’er had graduated, they would directly hold the wedding banquet.
As for why not get engaged in the countryside, the idea of throwing an engagement party is truly not fashionable there.
Xie Tiesheng and his son Xie Jingchen both believed that this time the youngest daughter was going with the young lad from the Zhou family to Beijing. If the Zhou Family didn’t express any objection to their relationship, then Zhou Zhenghui’s identity as the Xie family’s future son-in-law was confirmed.
Unfortunately, even if the Xie Family members all acknowledged Zhou Zhenghui as the prospective son-in-law, if the Zhou Family didn’t like the youngest daughter, then the relationship would still not be established.
They were no longer children, very aware that marriage is about uniting two families. If one side was forced, Xie Jingzi ultimately would not be truly happy. A reluctant union would only lead to discord and constant strife in the new family.
Fortunately, Xie Jingchen had already found out through his own channels that the Zhou Family held no apparent disdain for Zhou Zhenghui’s current partner being a rural girl, allowing them to date freely.
Otherwise, with Xie Jingchen’s assertive nature, how could he possibly let his little sister rush into something doomed from the start?
Xie Jingchen is extremely protective.
Allowing Zhou Zhenghui to bring his little sister back to Beijing this time was also to see how Zhou Zhenghui would handle this romantic relationship.
The courtship between Xie Jingzi and Zhou Zhenghui can be considered the first love match born out of freedom in the Xie Family.
Fortunately, Zhou Zhenghui did not disappoint Xie Jingchen; he handled it quite well.
That was Xie Jingchen’s assessment.
A politician who could put aside personal interests and stand by Xie Jingzi’s side to protect her, Xie Jingchen felt that this brother-in-law was up to par.
Knowing that the Zhou Family’s parents were sincerely on her side, Xie Jingzi felt a bit happy about the engagement.
But towards the uncle who instigated all this, she was not pleased and was definitely going to put on an act! As her Third Sister-in-law said, a woman needs to be able to act; act in such a way that makes a man willingly go out of his way to pamper her.
Of course, one cannot be willful when it comes to serious matters. The definition of acting should be aimed at intensifying the warmth in the relationship.
"You’re so good at calculating, why don’t you set up a stall? Hmph—" Xie Jingzi glared with her round eyes, and after huffing, she tried to get up, but the moment she did, he forcefully pulled her back to sit on the bed.
"Little Zi’er..." Zhou Zhenghui called out innocently, his deep male voice magnetic, making one’s ears go soft.
"Let me go!" Xie Jingzi’s face turned slightly red with irritation, clenching her teeth, unwilling to indulge his bad temper. This was putting the cart before the horse. If she didn’t intimidate him now, there would be a next time!
She absolutely couldn’t indulge—
"I won’t let go... wife." Zhou Zhenghui hugged her tightly, and after he spoke the last two words deeply, he clearly perceived the little woman in his arms go limp, a faint glow emerging in her drooping phoenix eyes.
Hearing this, Xie Jingzi’s heart raced uncontrollably, making her forget to struggle.
Then, she immediately perceived that her right little finger had been slipped with a metal ring—
Xie Jingzi stared at the ring that had suddenly appeared on her right hand, the cool yet warm touch confirming that it wasn’t an illusion.
"You..." Xie Jingzi heard the dryness in her swallow, as her heart kept racing wildly.
"I’ve said it was premeditated, how could I forget such an important ring. Silly girl, put it on me quickly, from now on Zhou Zhenghui will be your man!"
Zhou Zhenghui grabbed her small hand and had her slip the male ring, identical to the one in her hand, slowly onto his left little finger.
"Wife, I’m yours from now on, you have to take good care of me." Zhou Zhenghui turned her small face and pecked her rosy lips, pleading sincerely.
Don’t forget about me as soon as you go back to school—Whenever this topic came up, Zhou Zhenghui truly felt wronged.
She, a freshman in the arts, could get so busy that she was even busier than him, a politician. To say nothing of writing letters to him, not seeing him for a week, she could adapt perfectly well!
Xie Jingzi’s lips quivered, her gaze fell on their hands clasped with rings, and for a moment she was speechless, tears sliding down inexplicably: "...Uncle, you’re too cunning!"
"Good girl, don’t cry, it hurts my heart." Zhou Zhenghui gently wiped the tears rolling down the little woman’s face with a handkerchief, coaxing shamelessly:
"Little Zi’er, if I’m not cunning, how can I take my bride back home? Good wife, think about it, I’ve waited for twenty-eight years until you came into my life, wouldn’t I think of ways to draw you into my nest? Look at my mom when she sees you, she almost forgets about me, doesn’t even know who’s her real son..."
"You’ve said everything, I..." Xie Jingzi thought of Mrs. Zhou’s attitude towards her, which really was overly kind.
"Logically speaking, I love you." Zhou Zhenghui hugged her tightly, embracing her and said earnestly.
Xie Jingzi was startled, resting in his warm chest, lost for words.
This was Uncle, the first time he had said ’love’ to her so clearly and openly.
"Xie Jingzi, I love you. I want to be able to hold you to sleep every day, to embrace you when morning comes. I want to start a family with you, with you, me, and our children..."
As if carried away by the topic, Zhou Zhenghui’s anticipation for the future was full of beauty, and he continued emotionally describing: "Let’s have two babies, a daughter like you, and a son like me, making a perfect ’good’ character!"
Speaking of children, Zhou Zhenghui’s breathing heated up, hot breath sprayed on her ear, he really couldn’t wait to pull the little woman in his arms into the bridal chamber and conceive.
"What if we have two daughters?"