"Honey, no, it's okay if you don't want to have children. We will fully support whatever you want to do. I've been through it all and I know how difficult it is for a family. If you marry Qingming, it's just that you'll live in a different place and there will be another person in your bed. It won't affect your work or life."

Zhang Hehua broke out in a cold sweat from nervousness.

What should we do if it doesn't work out?

"Xiaoli, why don't you think about it and try to get to know Battalion Commander Li Qingming first?" Xiang Shulan couldn't help but give her another piece of advice.

Xia Xiaoli stood up, bowed to Zhang Hehua, and said, "I'm sorry, Auntie, I..."

"Xiaoli!" Li Qingming came in from outside. He had just heard what Xia Xiaoli was saying and knew that his mother couldn't persuade Xia Xiaoli, so he came in anxiously.

Xia Xiaoli became even more nervous when she saw Li Qingming. She subconsciously looked at her sister-in-law and fearfully walked to her side.

Seeing this, Li Qingming grabbed Xia Xiaoli's hand.

"Xiaoli, can we talk some more?" Li Qingming still wanted to try.

He felt uneasy. If he gave up just because Xia Xiaoli rejected him, he would be an even bigger bastard.

Xia Xiaoli was held captive by Li Qingming, and she had no choice but to compromise.

Xiang Shulan and Zhang Hehua left this private space to them and went outside into the courtyard.

Xia Xiaoli lowered her head, not daring to meet Li Qingming's gaze.

She clearly did nothing wrong, yet she didn't dare confront Li Qingming; she's really cowardly.

Li Qingming touched the corner of his clothes and swallowed hard.

"Xiaoli, I've seriously considered the issues you raised during the day. It's true that we'll torment each other if we don't have love, but can we give each other a chance? I do love Miaomiao. She was killed because she was dating me, and I'll never be able to get over her death! But I should also look forward. Things have come to this point, and I will definitely give you an explanation."

When Li Qingming mentioned Luo Miaomiao, his voice was still choked with emotion.

But in order not to hurt Xia Xiaoli, he tried his best to control his emotions.

When it's time to speak.

Xia Xiaoli looked up at Li Qingming and said, "You really love her, that's why you mistook me for her. You called out her name and did such a thing to me... I... can't let it go, and I can't accept the fact that I married you. We can choose to forget. Battalion Commander Li, I won't hold you responsible. You don't need to be nervous, and you don't need to marry me out of a sense of responsibility."

Xia Xiaoli knew that this was because of a sense of responsibility that he had to marry her, and that he was forced to forget the person he loved. Xia Xiaoli couldn't do it.

“Xiaoli, I think we can get along very well. I married you because we have already consummated our marriage, and I don’t want this to become a shadow over your life. After you marry me, things will be different, and we won’t feel awkward when we meet again. I know my behavior has caused you a lot of harm, and I want to make amends. I also want to ask you to try to accept me. We can also try to date and put the past behind us.”

Xia Xiaoli remained silent.

She looked down and fidgeted with her fingers.

That's right. If this situation isn't changed, it will become a shadow, but is it worth gambling with one's entire life's happiness?

Looking at Xia Xiaoli's expression, Li Qingming said, "Xiaoli, from now on, I will never mention Luo Miaomiao's name again. After we get married, you will be the only one in my heart and eyes. You don't need to do things you don't like just because you're marrying me, and you don't need to wrong yourself. What you're afraid of now is an unhappy marriage, gambling with your life. I, Li Qingming, promise you that I will prove my goodness to you with my actions and will not let you suffer in the slightest."

“I can do these things without getting married, so why do I have to get married? When you forced me to marry you, I already felt unhappy and wronged!” Xia Xiaoli looked up and continued to say to Li Qingming, “We can pretend that it was consensual that time, and then it’s all over. I can let it go.”

“I can’t let this go. I want to marry you. This is the most precious time of your youth, but I’ve brought you bad influences. If you ask me to pretend nothing happened, I can’t do it.” Li Qingming knew that Xia Xiaoli was afraid of an unhappy marriage. “Xiaoli, we can work together to move towards happiness. I want to marry you.”

Xia Xiaoli shook her head again and said, "I don't want to get married."

"I can give you happiness, Xiaoli?" Li Qingming said earnestly, taking out the marriage application and handing it to Xia Xiaoli, saying, "I have already written the marriage application. As long as you agree and write your name on it, I can send it to the leader."

Xia Xiaoli looked down at the marriage application form with the applicant's expression on it.

They chose silence, bowing their heads and saying nothing.

Li Qingming and Xia Xiaoli remained silent.

“If you don’t agree, then I will turn myself in tomorrow and confess to the organization that I did something wrong and should bear the corresponding responsibility.”

Xia Xiaoli became anxious upon hearing this.

"What are you doing? If you do this, everyone will know about us!" Xia Xiaoli stomped her foot anxiously as she looked at Li Qingming. "You... Ouch~"

Two days have passed, and Xia Xiaoli still feels aches and pains in her lower back and legs when she stomps her feet.

Li Qingming anxiously hugged Xia Xiaoli.

"Are you alright?" Li Qingming put his arms around Xia Xiaoli's slender waist. This action was all too familiar, and Xia Xiaoli hurriedly pushed him away.

"sorry."

Li Qingming frantically touched his head, unable to say anything, and could only apologize.

Xia Xiaoli looked up at Li Qingming angrily.

"Is there no room for discussion?" Xia Xiaoli asked Li Qingming.

Li Qingming nodded blankly.

Xia Xiaoli took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and said nothing.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!