Side Story (1) "Xiao Xu, marry me."...

Three years later, it would be their fifth year together.

Wang Yajie finally met her son's rumored girlfriend. Her first impression of her was quite good; she was beautiful and had a gentle, easygoing personality. Her son doted on her.

After the two left, she placed the bouquet Zhu Xu had given her on the dresser; it was said that the boy had wrapped it himself. The bouquet didn't contain the usual lilies and carnations; it was a full meter in diameter, and when she entered, she had held it in her arms, almost completely obscuring her.

This bouquet was already stunning enough, but then the child peeked out from behind it, smiling sweetly, and politely greeted her, "Hello, Auntie."

She felt her vision brighten, unsure whether to look at the flowers or the people first.

Wang Yajie stood in front of the dresser, admiring the many kinds of flowers, many of which she couldn't name.

I was about to search with my phone when I suddenly noticed cards stuck among the flowers. The child had thoughtfully created pictures and added explanations:

The white ones are lisianthus, dahlias, and gardenias;

Pink is Constance and Ranunculus;

Purple represents wind chimes and purple palms;

There are also light blue swallowtails, light orange poppies, and pale yellow buttercups.

Finally, a few more fountain plants were added as embellishments.

The content is rich and varied.

At this time of spring, when the weather is fine and the scenery is bright, this bouquet of flowers, arranged in a staggered pattern and with a strong sense of space, gives people a feeling of vitality.

There was another card with delicate handwriting: "Wishing Auntie good health and youth, and a good mood every day." It was signed with a short preface.

He Cheng walked past from behind with his hands behind his back: "You like it, don't you?"

Are you asking about people or flowers?

"Yes, we have both."

Wang Yajie, however, gave an irrelevant answer: "Others my age already have grandchildren, but Yanzhou's progress is too slow. Look at Sun Ning, her child is almost a month old, and the three of them are very happy together."

He Cheng shook his head, knowing her very well: "You're about to worry about the next thing."

Wang Yajie put away her phone, and after his reminder, she really did have a new plan: "Xiaoxi and Yanzhou are both on Beidao Island, what's the point of us staying in Lincheng? Besides, the air here is dry, why don't we move back to Beidao Island and live there permanently?" As she spoke, she swiped her phone again and walked to the sofa: "I'll call Yanzhou."

He Cheng sighed and let her do as she pleased.

On the other side, He Yanzhou finished his call with his mother and temporarily agreed to her request.

He and Zhu Xu only stayed in Lincheng for one day. After visiting their cousin's house, they had to take an evening flight back to Beidao.

Zhu Xu finally met the little girl who had "saved her life." Her nickname was Zhenzhen, and she was now in elementary school. The little girl's appearance was a perfect blend of her parents' best features; her eyes and mouth resembled her father's, while her nose and face shape were a carbon copy of her mother's.

Zhenzhen and He Yanzhou have a good relationship. She sat properly on the sofa, speaking softly, and was quite willing to share interesting things about her life and studies with him.

Seeing that his uncle had brought his girlfriend, he couldn't help but steal glances at Zhu Xu.

She leaned close to his ear and whispered, "She's so beautiful."

He Yanzhou smiled and said, "Speak loudly."

Zhenzhen shook her head shyly, refusing to speak. Looking at Zhu Xu again, she found her smiling at her.

Zhu Xu said, "I heard you. You're beautiful too."

Zhenzhen smiled, revealing a few teeth.

Zhu Xu handed her the gift bag that was placed at her feet: "Inside is a Hanfu (traditional Han clothing) design gift box and a comic book history of China. It's for you, I hope you like it."

Zhenzhen's eyes lit up. She first turned to look at her uncle, and after receiving his silent encouragement, she stood up and took the clothes with both hands. "Auntie, how did you know I like Hanfu?"

"Please ask your uncle about your mother."

"Thank you." Zhenzhen was delighted. "Do you know me?"

“Of course.” Zhu Xu rested his chin on his hand and said to her across He Yanzhou, “Your uncle often mentions you. I know you loved sweets when you were little, and your favorite cartoon was Sheriff Labrador. You could use chopsticks by yourself when you were three, and you could brush your teeth and wash your face independently.” She thought for a moment, “My hobbies are skateboarding and Chinese dance.”

Zhenzhen was very surprised, but leaned over and secretly corrected her: "Chinese dance was forced upon us."

After saying that, the two looked at each other and smiled.

My cousin's wife invited them to stay for dinner, which consisted of some home-style dishes prepared by my aunt.

My cousin unfortunately had to work today, so there were only four people at the table. The conversation revolved around the children, and it was relaxed and lively.

Zhu Xu's sister-in-law sat to her left, busy serving her food and taking care of her, afraid of neglecting her in any way.

Zhu Xu was a little embarrassed: "Sister-in-law, let me do it myself. There's too much food and I really can't eat anymore."

"Then don't be shy, we're all family."

"good."

My cousin's wife is only two or three years older than He Yanzhou. She has a gentle and elegant appearance and a remarkable temperament. You can tell that she has a life of luxury and her appearance is not the kind of exquisite that is deliberately packaged.

She took a bite of food: "Ms. Zhu, are you very busy with work?"

"Just call me Zhu Xu." Zhu Xu said, "I have indeed been quite busy these past two years."

"Can you and Yanzhou coordinate your schedules?"

Zhu Xu replied, "To be honest, we spent relatively little time together."

My cousin's wife nodded, then casually asked, "You two seem to have been together for a long time, right? Do you have any plans to get married soon?"

Zhu Xu paused, glancing at the person opposite him: "There are no plans yet."

"Then we need to discuss it as soon as possible." My cousin-in-law smiled apologetically. "It's a cliché, but I still want to say, don't have a baby too late, otherwise it'll be quite difficult to raise them. I have a colleague..."

She didn't finish her sentence.

He Yanzhou, sitting opposite, said, "Sister-in-law."

She turned her head.

He Yanzhou said, "Could you please serve me some rice?"

The conversation ended there, and it wasn't continued.

After the meal, they sat for a while longer before saying goodbye.

The car was quiet on the way to the airport.

Zhu Xu looked out the car window. The scenery along the way was already somewhat unfamiliar. Apart from having a small gathering with Jiang Rao, she rarely returned to Lincheng.

Spring has come again, and the magnolias along the roadside are in full bloom, their delicate blossoms filling the trees.

He Yanzhou, standing next to him, looked out the other window and remained silent as well.

Zhu Xu turned her head, her fingertips slipping into his palm, and the next second her hand was gripped tightly.

He shifted his gaze to her: "What's wrong?"

"What’s wrong with you?"

He Yanzhou simply said, "I'm a little tired."

"...Don't you have anything to say to me?"

He Yanzhou hesitated for a moment, then joked, "Does that mean you'll agree to whatever I say?"

Zhu Xu felt a sudden pang in her heart. She inexplicably detected a hint of loneliness in his relaxed tone. She didn't say anything for the time being, but took his arm with her other hand and turned to look out the window again.

The plane landed at 8 p.m., and the driver picked me up and took me directly home to Xincheng.

The two houses they bought a few years ago were all renovated. Zhu Xu hadn't lived in the two-bedroom house much, but he moved into the villa with He Yanzhou.

Zhu Xu was very grateful to He Yanzhou, and he reminded himself to be a confident woman.

As the two spent more time together, they inevitably had their share of arguments and bickering. Whenever this happened, Zhu Xu would change her shoes and go back to her own home. However, every time, he would follow her in shortly after she stepped inside.

The two of them changed spaces and went about their own business, ignoring each other. But an unintentional glance or touch would inexplicably dispel their anger, and at that moment, it would be easy to talk and resolve the conflict.

Next, the best way to reignite their feelings was to make love. The two completely switched roles; Zhu Xu was as soft as she wanted, while he was as hard as he wanted, and he would torment her until she was tearful and begging for mercy before he would stop.

In short, they perfectly managed to ensure that anger never lingered overnight.

After arriving home, the two took separate showers and went to bed.

Actually, we went to bed relatively early tonight. The villa is closer to the wetland park, and the two of us usually take a walk there hand in hand after dinner.

They hadn't seen each other for a week. Today, Zhu Xu went alone to meet him, and after finishing their business, the two of them returned to Beidao together.

They missed each other dearly. He Yanzhou embraced Zhu Xu from behind, his lips lingering on the back of her neck.

The room was dark, and a layer of cold, white moonlight bathed her delicate skin.

Zhu Xu's breathing was erratic. He gripped the arm wrapped around her waist and couldn't help but twist and wriggle in response: "Today... did Auntie have a good impression of me?"

"It should be good." His voice was low and hoarse.

Zhu Xu turned to face him, forcing him to stop all movement.

She looked up and found his eyes in the dim moonlight: "Actually, it's because you've protected me too well."

Zhu Xu wasn't so stupid as to be completely unaware. He Yanzhou repeatedly delayed the matter, never pressuring or forcing her in the slightest.

Three or four years have passed, and Lincheng has come to accept it even when it was initially reluctant.

She said, "My aunt was very kind to me, and I didn't feel uncomfortable at all. My uncle was also a very kind person."

"That's good." He still said it casually.

Zhu Xu asked, "Didn't they urge us to get married?"

He Yanzhou simply said, "I haven't mentioned it."

"Well..." she paused for two seconds, "Have you ever thought about this?"

He Yanzhou remained silent for a while, pondering the purpose of her question, before finally choosing a safer answer: "Given our current situation, it's no different from whether we get married or not."

Zhu Xu didn't ask anything else, then suddenly remembered something, "Do you remember when we played Gomoku in high school?"

He Yanzhou replied calmly, "Of course."

"Shall we play a game?"

"Now?" He seemed hesitant, as if he had already made up his mind.

But Zhu Xu offered an even more tempting condition: "The next bet will be more exciting." She hesitated for a moment, her face burning before she could speak: "Um..."

"Hmm." He Yanzhou waited for her to tease him.

"If I lose, I eat; if you lose, you eat."

He Yanzhou raised an eyebrow, but looked puzzled: "What do you want to eat?"

She looked up, wanting to lean closer to his ear, but he pushed her away halfway by pressing his finger against her lips. He turned on the lamp, half-smiling as he admired the expression on her face: "Just say that."

Under his intriguing gaze, she could only say, "Next."

"What below?"

"I'm not playing anymore." She turned around.

He Yanzhou pulled the person over and said, "I can just admit defeat."

The two got entangled and inevitably laughed and joked around for a while.

We were about to get to the main topic when Zhu Xu called a halt again.

He Yanzhou was so annoyed by her constant torment that he was about to resort to some tricks. He propped himself up on his arms, only to see that she had already put on a nightgown.

The porcelain white and bright pink were instantly concealed by the thin fabric.

His gaze darkened slightly, and he silently rubbed his forehead: "Did I offend you today?"

Zhu Xu shook his head.

She sat on the bed and quietly watched him for a while, and unconsciously, a sense of solemnity appeared in her eyes.

At this moment, He Yanzhou finally realized that she seemed to have something to say or some decision to make tonight, so he silently sat up and picked up the T-shirt next to him and put it on.

"I was just joking." Zhu Xu bit his lip. "Shall we play a serious game?"

"Okay." He Yanzhou asked, "What's the stake?"

"I lost. I will grant you one request unconditionally, and vice versa."

"good."

Zhu Xu jumped out of bed before him, went to the printer in the study, pulled out an A4 sheet of paper, and found a ruler and pencil, which were not hard to find, as he usually used them when drawing.

Zhu Xu sat in his chair and first drew a chessboard with a ruler.

He Yanzhou arrived a few minutes late, placing the slippers he was carrying on the ground and nudging her feet with his toes. Seeing that she was dressed, he turned and went to the dining room to pour two glasses of warm water. He placed one on the table, took the other, and leaned against the bookshelf, slowly drinking the water while watching her draw a chessboard.

She just cut her hair short last month; it only reaches her neck.

He Yanzhou naturally liked both styles. Long hair had its gentleness, and short hair had its refreshing and neatness. Short hair was even more convenient; she wouldn't startle her like that, saying one minute that she was being crushed, and the next that it hurt.

Just as he was looking at her closely, she put down the ruler and waved at him.

He Yanzhou casually placed the water glass on the bookshelf and sat down opposite her.

Still using hollow and solid circles instead of chess pieces, Zhu Xu made the first move.

He Yanzhou pointed to a solid circle diagonally above her hollow circle, his gaze still on the paper: "I remember you always lost to me back then."

Zhu Xu made his second stroke, frowned and said, "You must be mistaken. I don't remember you ever beating me."

After they each took a few steps, He Yanzhou continued, "Your memory has never been very good to begin with."

Zhu Xu snorted, "Impossible." He then put down his pen, just in time to stop the solid circle that was about to form a line.

"Think about it again."

"I don't want to." Zhu Xucai wasn't that stupid: "You're disrupting my train of thought."

He Yanzhou smiled and said nothing more.

The two were evenly matched, and soon, the chess pieces covered half a page.

The clock on the wall was frozen at 10 p.m., and some of the lights outside were turned off.

He Yanzhou leaned back and loosened his shoulders: "I'm one step away from winning."

"Where?" Zhu Xu was distracted and looked for it. After a moment, he realized he had been tricked. He couldn't help but glare at him. When he looked back, he had already forgotten where he was supposed to start writing.

He kept interfering with her, which slowed her down a lot.

He Yanzhou urged, "We still have important matters to attend to, so please have Miss Zhu hurry up a bit."

"Shut up." She said fiercely, making a mark.

He Yanzhou followed closely behind.

Zhu Xu fixed his gaze on a certain spot, and after a few seconds, he subtly shifted his gaze to the other side to pave his own path.

He Yanzhou noticed that she was intentionally letting him win. He looked up at her for a long time, then filled in the last solid circle. With the five points aligned, he won.

Zhu Xu shrugged: "A bet's a bet. You make your demands."

He Yanzhou paused for a moment, then asked again, "Does that mean you'll agree with whatever I say?"

Zhu Xu nodded, "I said no conditions." She spoke casually, but secretly she was picking at the curled edge of the chessboard.

The study was silent for a few seconds, with the rustling of leaves in the wind clearly audible outside.

He Yanzhou: "Xiao Xu, marry me."

Zhu Xu's heartbeat went out of rhythm. Even though he had made full preparations, he couldn't help but feel his hair stand on end from the stimulation.

The silence seemed to stretch out several seconds, as the two sat facing each other, looking at one another.

He Yanzhou swallowed lightly until a smile bloomed on her face, and then she answered him cheerfully, "Okay."