Chapter Sixty-Six: A Complete Transformation

Hearing Chu Zhen's words, Mom was completely stunned. There was no doubt that Chu Zhen loved me, but it was a bit of a surprise that Chu Zhen suddenly expressed it in front of everyone.

"We've never objected to your relationship," Dad said quickly when he saw Mom remain silent. "Don't just stand there, sit down. Lin Dang, get some food for Chu Zhen!"

I tugged at Chu Zhen and gave him a look; I was genuinely worried he might bring up marriage in this setting. Chu Zhen seemed to understand what I meant. After sitting down, he toasted the other uncles and elders, but didn't mention us. The meal was quite enjoyable.

My parents went home first, and I took Chu Zhen for a walk outside.

"Did you date Wang Sihong?" This question suddenly popped up as we were walking.

"Two days." Even though it was only two short days, I felt like I was cheating on someone, and I answered with trepidation.

"This must be the shortest relationship ever!" Chu Zhen smiled, but I sensed a slight bitterness in the corners of his lips.

"By the way, did you contact Zhao Zhengyu this time you came?" I changed the subject.

"Okay, I'll go to the hospital to see him tomorrow."

“Okay, let him check your heart again. The last electrocardiogram wasn’t very good. Although the doctor said it was nothing serious, I’m still worried.”

He is an orthopedic surgeon.

"But he must know a cardiologist, right?"

Chu Zhen couldn't argue with me, so he verbally agreed.

When I got home, my parents had already tidied up the guest room. My mother seemed indifferent on the surface, but she remembered everything I said. The sheets were cool-colored, and they had lit jasmine scented candles.

"Chu Zhen, come and sit down for a while," her father called out to Chu Zhen.

"Okay~" Chu Zhen sat down on the sofa, and I sat down next to her, but my dad chased me away and told me to go back to my room.

Thinking about it, forget it. Which son-in-law doesn't have to get past his in-laws? My parents letting Chu Zhen live with them is already a form of acceptance. Now, it's up to Chu Zhen to figure out how to handle it.

I was listening intently in my room, and I could vaguely hear Chu Zhen's voice, along with my parents' laughter from time to time. I had no idea what they were talking about. However, the next day, my parents' attitude towards Chu Zhen changed completely, and I felt like an outsider again. They were the ones who were having a great time.

Chu Zhen never told me what he talked about with his parents. He only said that everyone hoped I would be happy. Since that was the case, I stopped asking and "escorted" Chu Zhen to the hospital.

"Is it still the same?" Zhao Zhengyu asked, somewhat surprised when he saw me.

"What do you mean? Does this mean that Teacher Chu changes teachers very frequently?"

"No, it's just that you seem like a completely different person. If it weren't for the unwavering determination in your eyes, I really wouldn't recognize you. By the way, what have you been through these past few years? You seem to have undergone a complete transformation!" Zhao Zhengyu wasn't joking; many of my friends have this reaction when they see me.

"I'm leveling up in seclusion at home," Chu Zhen said, hugging me.

“Yes, yes, for leveling up and fighting big monsters,” I chimed in.

"Alright, alright, stop showing off your love in front of me. Think about the old man's heart." Zhao Zhengyu pretended to touch his chest.

"Do you know any cardiologists? Chu Zhen's heart has been beating too fast lately."

"That shouldn't be the case. You've known each other for so many years, and your heart is still racing!"

"That's right, being with Lin Dang, every moment, every second, makes my heart flutter."

Chu Zhen showed me off to Zhao Zhengyu like a child, as if he had a unique toy that no one else had.

Zhao Zhengyu took us to the cardiology department, where there happened to be a specialist at the level of a full-fledged department. An electrocardiogram was taken, and T-wave changes were still present.

"Pay more attention to rest during the day, avoid staying up late, and maintain a good sleep schedule. It doesn't matter when you're young, but as you get older, you're more prone to myocardial infarction and myocardial ischemia." After reviewing the scans, the doctor analyzed the findings and reached the same conclusion as in City A.

Hearing the doctor's words, my heart ached, and my eyes welled up with tears...

"But don't be too nervous. As long as you maintain a regular lifestyle, avoid stress, and keep a positive mindset, there shouldn't be any problems," the doctor said, perhaps noticing my nervousness.

"Did you hear that? The doctor said I should avoid getting too much stress. He can't keep up with my anxieties." Chu Zhen grinned as he left the consultation room.

"That's not necessarily true. If you don't cause me any trouble, I'll definitely make things go smoothly for you."

"You two are really a pair of sworn enemies~" Today, Chu Zhen and I really fed Zhao Zhengyu a good dose of dog food.

After saying goodbye to Zhao Zhengyu, we went home to pack up and then said goodbye to my parents. Before leaving, my mother pulled me aside.

"Lin Dang, it's not easy to meet a man you love who loves you back in return. Cherish him."

"Yes, I will."

"Chu Zhen, can we change the program?" On the way back to City A, I couldn't help but bring up my idea.

"Why?"

“I’m worried about your health, and there’s more to it than just ‘Before Dawn’ when it comes to reporting on social issues. Many other programs can do it too, and the print media I’m working on now can do it as well.”

"Lin Dang, I thought you understood me." Chu Zhen grasped my left hand and placed it on the gear shift.

“I also work in journalism, I understand you, but I want to be selfish just this once.” I did not compromise because of this.

After a long silence...

"I'll think about it carefully~" Chu Zhen finally gave me a reply just before we got off the highway.

After returning to City A, we naturally started living together. I video-chatted with my parents several times, and they seemed to have tacitly approved of our relationship. Chu Zhen and I also went to the suburbs to visit Professor Huang and his grandmother. As elderly people, they were eager for us to get married as soon as possible so they could hold their grandchildren and enjoy family life. The matter of proposing marriage was also put on the agenda.

Every day after get off work, I would go to the TV station to see Chu Zhen. Now, most of the interviews in the early morning are done by other colleagues, unless Chu Zhen does the follow-up on a special topic by himself. Whenever that happens, I would stay up with Chu Zhen to watch the night.

Huang Yanyan said, "I have completely changed. The two years I spent teaching in the rural area were more like a period of self-cultivation, which made me more and more like a virtuous wife. Now I hope to have a baby before the deadline for late marriage and late childbirth."

Song Ji-hyo said, "I'm the only one who can change Chu Zhen. During the two years I taught in the rural area, Chu Zhen's indifference was intimidating. Now I can finally see Chu Zhen's face occasionally showing a smile again."

Chu Zhen told me that after we re-established our relationship, Chen Weiqi contacted him. Chen Weiqi said that he lost to time, that he didn't meet me before Chu Zhen, and that he didn't confess his feelings to me before Chu Zhen. He said that if Chu Zhen ever betrayed me, he would definitely stand up for me.

I was deeply moved when Chu Zhen told me all this. Chen Weiqi and Wang Sihong, two men, were practically telling me that if the road ahead is difficult, there are still people who can walk it for me. However, I firmly believe that the future Chu Zhen has given me, even if it is difficult, will definitely be one that we walk hand in hand.