"You're usually so carefree and never cared what others thought, why are you so timid about this matter?"
"We live our lives, he lives his. As long as we don't care, does it matter what others think?"
Though spoken, it's never that easy in practice.
Xiang Yang couldn't avoid interacting with his sister and Lu Mingzhe forever.
Every time they interacted… she could imagine the scene.
"Stop talking, let me up."
"If you feel wronged about me breaking up with you, you can dump me now. We truly have no future together."
Xiang Yang didn't let go.
"Did Lu Mingzhe say something to you behind my back?"
"No, he's not that kind of person. I just feel it's not suitable."
"Nonsense!"
Xiang Yang gritted his back teeth and suddenly stood up, supporting her legs.
"Actually, what you care about isn't Lu Mingzhe's opinion, but my sister, right?"
"You feel you can't face her, having had a past entanglement with her husband, and now with her brother."
"Then I can tell you clearly, you're overthinking it. My sister, for all her faults, is best at considering others."
"Besides, she knows better than anyone what your marriage with Lu Mingzhe was like back then. She definitely won't have any objections to this."
"Stop using that as an excuse. I'm taking you somewhere."
Chen Jiaojiao gasped and struggled to get down.
"Didn't you sprain your ankle? Put me down quickly."
Sister Man and Zhou Jinbei were also startled. Especially Sister Man, who rushed forward to stop him.
"My dear brother, are you really not afraid of death? You just had medicine applied, the doctor told you to rest. Put her down quickly!"
"Even if you don't care about your own future, think about me, okay? My mother is in the hospital, spending money like water every day. If you lose your job, we'll have to drink the northwest wind. Just consider it my plea, alright?"
Chen Jiaojiao felt even more embarrassed to be held by him. Xiang Yang just held onto her tightly.
"Unless you agree to come with me, I won't let you down today, even if I have to break this leg."
How could this guy be so good at moral blackmail? Chen Jiaojiao was speechless.
"Okay, okay, let's talk. Put me down first."
"You promise me."
"Put me down first."
He carried her and walked away.
Amidst everyone's exclamations, Chen Jiaojiao could only agree.
"I promise, I promise, stop walking!"
Xiang Yang put her down.
Sister Man quickly pulled up his pant leg to check his ankle. It was so swollen that the bone was no longer visible.
"We still have to record rehearsal videos later. Your ankle is this swollen, and you still want to go out? Are you trying to kill me?"
"Don't worry, I won't delay the rehearsal. You don't want me to delay the rehearsal, do you? Let's go quickly."
Xiang Yang grabbed Chen Jiaojiao and walked out.
Passing by Zhou Jinbei, Zhou Jinbei gave him a charming smile.
"Hello, I'm Zhou Jinbei. I support you and Jiaojiao, go for it!"
Yesterday's vows and the analysis of pros and cons for Chen Jiaojiao flew out of the window in the face of Xiang Yang's looks and voice.
The two walked far away. Watching their perfect couple's backs, she was still sighing.
"They're so well-matched. Chen Jiaojiao has truly struck gold this time. It was worth knowing Lu Mingzhe."
Chen Jiaojiao drove, with Xiang Yang in the passenger seat, holding her hand and urging her to go to the notary office.
"What are we going to the notary office for?"
"To do pre-marital property notarization. I want to transfer five million to you as your pre-marital property."
Xiang Yang said, "I don't have a house or a car, so I can only give you all my net worth to show my sincerity. Don't say it's too little."
Chen Jiaojiao was speechless again. "I didn't mean it's too little..."
"That means you're worried about me. I know. If you're worried about me, then accept me. In the future, help me cook delicious food and drinks every day, and call to care about me."
"...I don't know what's gotten into you, but I want to remind you, Xiang Yang, marriage is not a child's play. I've already played this game once..."
"I know, that's why I'm being extra serious and never playing around."
"Think about it, all this money, I'm giving it all to you. If I were to divorce you playfully, I'd be bankrupt. I wouldn't be that foolish."
"..."
He dropped the joking tone.
"Actually, I've wanted to marry you for a long time, but you said you didn't want to, and I didn't dare to force you."
"I love the feeling of being with you so much. Before, when my sister and Lu Mingzhe were together every day behind your back, seeing them eat and live together, being so affectionate, it felt like a home, and I was envious."
"After meeting you, I realized I can have that too."
"I used to be a very gloomy person, often alone, feeling life was dull and tasteless. It was you who made me fall in love with life. How can you abandon me again?"
"Consider it my plea. If you like me too, don't waste time and life like my sister and them. Let's face our hearts, shall we?"
What he said made sense, and his attitude was firm. To be honest, Chen Jiaojiao was truly moved.
However, the thought of facing Xiang Wan in the future still made her extremely awkward.
"Then let's not let them know. Before, they secretly interacted behind your back, consider it your revenge. Now, let's interact secretly behind their backs."
"If you want to go public, we will. If you don't, I'll spend my whole life with you. As long as you agree to be mine, I'll cooperate with whatever you want to do."
Xiang Wan finally drove the car to the entrance of the Civil Affairs Bureau.
"Think carefully. Once you get the marriage certificate, it's for life. There's no turning back once you go inside."
Xiang Yang: "How about you record a video for me? If I regret it later, you can post this online and ruin my reputation."
The two got out of the car with surging passion, holding their documents, and slowly walked inside.
Chen Jiaojiao suddenly remembered, "Aren't you underage? I remember the marriage law says men must be 22 years old."
Xiang Yang handed her his household registration book to see; he had already reached the age.
"When I registered my birth, they added two years to my real age. Otherwise, how would I have the confidence to insist on marrying you?"
This guy was always one step ahead.
Chen Jiaojiao realized she had truly been schemed against by him.
It was only seven o'clock. Apart from the cleaning lady, the hall was empty.
The two took a number and were the first in line.
Chen Jiaojiao was bare-faced today. Now that she had time, she took out things from her bag to fix herself up, applying light makeup. She also did a bit for Xiang Yang.
Concealing the dark circles, evening out the skin tone, styling his hair. Then they looked at each other, extremely satisfied.
The staff started working precisely at eight o'clock, and they received their marriage certificates at 08:10.
As soon as they walked out of the hall, Sister Man called.
"I'm at the entrance. I saw Jiaojiao's car. Did you really go in?"
"We've already got the certificate."
Sister Man resigned herself. "I don't ask for anything else, just one thing. Brother Xiang, can we keep it confidential for now?"
"Yes. We really don't plan to go public at the moment. Except for you and Miss Zhou."