Chapter Forty-Eight: An Unexplained Cold War

"Chen Weiqi has a girlfriend." Huang Yanyan said casually during the meal.

"Who is it? When did this happen?" I was a little surprised. Chu Zhen had said that Chen Weiqi was someone who didn't like to settle, so it seemed that this girl must be his type.

"I met him in the parking lot today, and Chen Weiqi let her sit in the passenger seat."

I suddenly became a little worried about Huang Yanyan. The way she spoke was too calm, which was not her usual style at all.

"Are you alright? Do you want me to do something with you?"

"What could possibly be wrong with me? Let him talk about his stuff. It's not like I have no suitors. It's just that suddenly the person I like is taken, and I feel a bit empty inside. Oh well, let's not talk about it." Yan Yan continued eating, even drinking the soup from the takeout hot pot we ordered. A one-sided love that never even began ended with Chen Weiqi's relationship being exposed.

"It shouldn't be that bad. I know he went on a blind date during the New Year's holiday, but I haven't heard that they've confirmed their relationship." When I mentioned it to Chu Zhen, he also found it unbelievable. "But the woman who can sit in his passenger seat must have a relationship that's not simple."

I was about to say that I had ridden in it, but reason told me to keep it to myself!

"Why don't you ask?"

"I'm not that gossipy." Chu Zhen stared at his computer again. It seemed like he wouldn't get any information out of me, so I buried myself in my work.

With the Lunar New Year approaching, we have a lot of material from previous interviews that can be broadcast during the holiday, so we are not as busy as before, and everyone is discussing what to do during the holiday.

"Grandma wants to spend the New Year at your place, what do you think?" Chu Zhen suddenly asked me after a moment of silence.

"Sure, Professor Huang is traveling with you!"

"Yes, together!"

"So isn't this just the two sets of parents meeting?"

"right!"

"I need to talk to my parents so they can be mentally prepared."

"What do I need to prepare? My mom has already started buying things for the marriage proposal to your house. Do you have any customs in your area?"

"Proposing marriage? Brother, did I hear that right? Wasn't it just a New Year's visit?" I asked, somewhat surprised.

Aren't they all the same?

My goodness, a housewarming party and a marriage proposal are worlds apart. How could this guy treat the two things as the same thing?

"Completely different. The marriage proposal is too fast. Shouldn't the parents meet before discussing the proposal? You should contact Professor Huang right away and make sure he doesn't buy anything."

"Are you worried your parents won't approve?" Chu Zhen walked up to me. "I think my future in-laws are quite satisfied with me!"

"No!" I had thought about dating, getting engaged, and even getting married to Chu Zhen before, and sometimes I would even talk about it with Yan Yan, but I didn't expect it to happen so quickly.

"What is that?" Chu Zhen stared into my eyes and asked aggressively.

"I'm not ready, we haven't known each other for very long." I knew what the consequences would be if I said this, but I said it anyway.

Chu Zhen's expression was exactly as I had imagined: cold, exceptionally cold. That gaze made me feel a chill run down my spine.

"I understand. I'll talk to Grandma and we won't be going this year for the Lunar New Year." Chu Zhen said and left the office.

"Is it almost Chinese New Year? Don't you have anything to do? Everyone's just playing on their phones~" A cold voice reached my ears.

"Lin Dang, what's wrong with you two? Did you have a fight?" Xiao Ai ran over and asked after Chu Zhen went out.

"No," I said guiltily, my eyes fixed on the computer screen, avoiding Xiao Ai's gaze.

"Teacher Chu's mood will only fluctuate because of you. You should make up with him as soon as possible. The holiday is coming up in a few days, and we really don't want to work overtime."

"You're trading me for your freedom? I won't do it!" I don't know why, but I said this coldly to Xiao Ai. I always thought I was worried that others would treat me differently because of my relationship with Chu Zhen, so I always got along very well with them. This was the first time I was angry. When Xiao Ai saw that I was angry, she went out.

“If I were you, I would also think this is inappropriate. Maybe it's because Chu Zhen is getting older and his family is getting anxious, which is why they want to propose marriage so quickly. You should try to understand.” A woman who has been single for 25 years is giving me, who has been dating for less than a year, her analysis.

"Chu Zhen's temperament is unpredictable, and I haven't gotten used to it for a long time." I always confide my deepest worries to Yan Yan.

"That's true, but you have to give him some time. I think he's already suppressing his personality. Think about how he's the big devil in everyone's eyes, yet he's so gentle and tender towards you. It's not easy for him."

I've thought about everything Huang Yanyan said, but as far as I'm concerned, Chu Zhen is older than me, entered the workforce earlier, and has a much broader perspective and better conditions than me. Why would someone like that fall for me? Although I admit I'm not bad myself, someone like that should be destined for a marriage between equals.

For the next few days, Chu Zhen and I continued to share an office. He brought me breakfast every day as usual, but we rarely spoke to each other, and apart from work-related matters, we had almost no other communication.

We didn't mention Chu Zhen's family going to City B for the Spring Festival again, and I bought my own train ticket home.

"Are you really not going to let Chu Zhen see you off?" Huang Yanyan could tell that this time we really had a problem.

"I can't always rely on others. I used to go back alone!" I packed my luggage, planning to take the bus home early tomorrow morning.

"Lin Dang, sometimes women can be a little coquettish and lower their heads."

"Why should I bow my head? I don't think I did anything wrong!"

"Your personality will drive the people who love you further and further away."

"Yan Yan, don't change your personality for someone. A woman must live her own life." I patted Yan Yan on the shoulder and said meaningfully. I admire Huang Yan Yan's courage to love and hate, but one-sided giving will only make the other person feel pressured. Chen Weiqi is a good example.

Huang Yanyan stopped discussing the topic with me and started packing my things.

The next morning, I returned to City B. This was the first time in over a year that I had traveled home alone. Watching others rushing to catch the train with their families and large bags, I felt a strange warmth. Perhaps this is the true spirit of the New Year.

"Is Chu Zhen coming over during the Spring Festival?" That was the first thing my dear father asked me when he picked me up at the train station.

“He's visiting relatives too, he won't be coming. Dad, why don't you ask me if I've had breakfast before rushing to catch the train so early?”

“How could I not know my daughter? How could she not eat? Even if she didn’t eat breakfast, she must have eaten a lot on the way!” Dad put my suitcase down. “Let’s go, let’s go to the supermarket to buy some things. Your mother made a list. She asked me to buy them a couple of days ago. I can’t imagine how boring it would be for me to go to the supermarket alone. It’s a good thing my eldest daughter is back.”

I seriously doubt she's really my daughter. People usually welcome their daughters back with a feast, but my dad seems to think that all he wants is for her to help him with the New Year's shopping.