"Do you hate me that much? You'd rather stay single forever than consider settling down with me?"
Ge'er told the truth.
"It's not that I hate you. Otherwise, I wouldn't be interacting with you at all, not even as friends. It's just that I can't bring myself to like you."
"I've told you, you're not my ideal type."
Shang Jincheng almost blurted out: *Then can I change my profession? Change to be what you like, work hard to be what you like, isn't that enough? Just give me a chance, at least test me, and then consider divorce, okay?*
Before the words could be spoken, Ge'er's phone rang.
She turned it over and saw it was a video call from Jiang Nan Fang.
Shang Jincheng swallowed his words. Seeing her answer, Jiang Nan Fang's voice came through.
"Sweetie, are you off work?"
"Oh, ever since you and Tiantian moved out, Dad and I have been so lost. We worry every day if you're eating well, sleeping well, and living well."
"I just finished talking to Tiantian. She's still working overtime at the company. Don't be like her."
"Our family doesn't need to work that hard. Wealth can't be accumulated all at once, and personal abilities need to be shown gradually. Don't rush. Taking care of your health is the most important thing... Where are you now?"
Ge'er said she wasn't as foolish as Tiantian, working herself to death for the sake of her job.
"I'm eating out. I'll be back soon. Don't worry."
Jiang Nan Fang wasn't easily reassured. Hearing that she was eating out, she asked who she was with, male or female.
Ge'er said Shang Jincheng, then turned the camera to him. "Say hello to my mommy."
Shang Jincheng's face instantly lit up with a smile, and he waved at the camera.
"Hello, Auntie. Long time no see."
When they were in school, he and Jiang Jingyu were good friends. They often visited each other during holidays and he had bothered the Zhan family quite a bit.
But after Lu Jiaying had her accident, Jiang Jingyu stopped interacting with them as much.
In the past few years, he had visited their home only a handful of times, but Jiang Nan Fang still had a deep impression of him.
"Jincheng, long time no see. How long has it been since you last visited? Are you busy with work?"
Shang Jincheng said it was okay.
"Mainly, Jingyu doesn't live with you anymore, so I didn't feel it was appropriate to bother you. But if Auntie likes, I can visit with Ge'er in the future."
Jiang Nan Fang was extremely enthusiastic. "That's great. Even though Jingyu is married, Tiantian and Ge'er are still here. You can come over to see them. You're welcome! Just let me know before you come, and Auntie will prepare a feast for you."
After hanging up, Ge'er didn't want to talk to him anymore. They ate their meal in a lukewarm manner, and she immediately wanted to go home.
Shang Jincheng knew that further words were useless, so he could only drive her.
No matter how slowly he drove, they still arrived downstairs.
Ge'er got out of the car without any lingering attachment, and before going in, she reminded him.
"See you at the Civil Affairs Bureau tomorrow morning at eight. Whoever doesn't show up is a coward."
Watching her back as she elegantly entered the lobby, Shang Jincheng felt heartbroken.
Was he so unworthy of attention, so unappealing to Zhan Jingge?
There were plenty of women outside who wanted to marry him!
He had finally gotten the marriage certificate, only to realize it was about to be annulled before he could even cherish it.
He was unwilling to lose her like this. After much thought, he sat in his car and called Jiang Jingyu.
Tong An'an had just given birth, and Jiang Jingyu was a new father, full of excitement.
He left work on time every day and stayed home with his wife and child.
He hadn't received a call from Shang Jincheng in a long time, so seeing his name was quite a surprise.
"Something wrong?"
"Something's wrong," Shang Jincheng said. "It's an emergency. Can you come out and meet me?"
No matter how urgent it was, it couldn't be more urgent than his wife and child. Jiang Jingyu refused without any hesitation.
"What big deal can't be discussed over the phone? I can't come out. Tell me."
"This can't be explained over the phone. If you can't come out, I'll come to your place. Just give me half an hour, okay?"
When someone was this humble, how could Jiang Jingyu refuse?
Soon, Shang Jincheng appeared at his doorstep.
Jiang Jingyu let him in. After he closed the door and before he could turn around, Shang Jincheng handed him two small, fiery red booklets.
"Look at this."
Jiang Jingyu was no stranger to such things and was shocked.
"Whose marriage certificates? You're married? This is so sudden? To whom? Did you come here just to tell me this?"
As he spoke, he lifted the cover of the marriage certificate to look inside. Before he could even clearly see who the bride was, Shang Jincheng knelt before him with a thud.
As he knelt, Jiang Jingyu also clearly saw the bride in the photo and her name.
Zhan Jingge.
He had actually gotten married to Ge'er! What was going on?
No wonder this scoundrel said it was an emergency and had eloped with his sister. This was unacceptable!
"You two... what happened?"
Jiang Jingyu raised his eyebrows, ready to settle the score.
Shang Jincheng lowered his head and confessed.
"Don't get angry first. Let me finish speaking."
"I admit it. Getting the marriage certificate with Ge'er was sudden, but it was premeditated."
"It's not for any other reason, simply because I like her. Jingyu, I think you've felt it for a long time. I've liked Ge'er for a very, very long time. If it weren't for you, I would have pursued her long ago!"
Jiang Jingyu did know about this.
Ever since middle school, when Ge'er had grown into a graceful young lady, he noticed that Shang Jincheng always seemed to be around Ge'er, often visiting the Zhan family and shamelessly trying to impress her.
However, his studies were poor, and Ge'er didn't like him. Jiang Jingyu also felt it was too awkward to turn his buddy into his brother-in-law and had warned him not to have any ideas about his sister.
Later, he frequently changed girlfriends, and Jiang Jingyu thought he had given up on that idea, but he never expected...
After Shang Jincheng finished speaking, seeing that he wasn't angry, he continued.
"I was indeed a scoundrel before, interacting with many other girls, but there was no other way."
"I don't like studying. Besides flirting with her sisters and making myself visible to her, I couldn't find any other way to interact with her."
"I know that was wrong, but who hasn't had an awkward teenage phase? I regret it now... It's too late to say anything else. I've come to assure you that I will be devoted to her from now on and will never mess around."
"Otherwise, I'll accept whatever you want me to do, even if you kill me or flay me. I won't say a word."
Seeing that he had gone this far, and looking at the booklets in his hand, Jiang Jingyu was confused.
"You came running over here in the middle of the night as an emergency just to promise me you'll treat her well in the future?"
"You married her, not me. As long as she's willing, no one can interfere. You don't need to explain to me like this."
"Or is it that you know you got her too easily and your conscience is bothering you? Are you afraid I'll scold you? Afraid my dad will come after you?"