“Just because it’s your parents’ decision doesn’t mean you have to do it,” Shi Guang said helplessly, then softened her tone. “Actually, you probably don’t really like me that much; you’ve just been influenced by your parents since you were little. I think you should find someone who truly loves you to marry.”

After all, she's a girl, and she's easily embarrassed, so she should be mindful of the other person's feelings.

Upon hearing this, the person on the other end was visibly distracted for a moment before asking, "Where are you? Is it because you refused to get engaged that you're not coming back?"

"I'm with my girlfriend right now. I don't want to go back yet," Shi Guang replied simply.

Xu Qingya on the other end of the phone exclaimed in disbelief, "Girlfriend?!"

Lin Momo's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately broke free from the grasp of time.

This person didn't even consult her before handing her over; he just betrayed her like that.

Will she ever have a peaceful life again?

She might as well travel back to ancient times right now.

Unexpectedly, the more Lin Momo tried to break free, the tighter he gripped her, making her feel as if his bones were about to be crushed.

The next moment, he turned his head and said gently, "Stop fooling around? I'm driving."

At this point, Lin Momo felt like she wanted to die.

This guy started talking nonsense before he even hung up the phone.

But they were on the highway, so Lin Momo had no choice but to grit her teeth and bear it.

"Is the person sitting next to you her?"

Xu Qingya didn't want to use the jarring word "girlfriend," so she vaguely used "she" instead.

"Yes, she's my girlfriend." Shi Guang didn't mince words, and then prepared to end the call, "I can't take the call right now, I'm hanging up!"

After saying that, he hung up the phone.

"Shiguang, how can you talk nonsense like that?"

"I didn't say anything out of line. Aren't you my girlfriend?"

Although Lin Momo hadn't explicitly stated that she wanted to be his girlfriend, the deed was done, and she was powerless to refute it. After stammering for a long time, she finally said resentfully:

"Then you can't tell her that, can you?"

Men are so oblivious, don't they think about the consequences of doing this?

Shiguang asked with a smile, "Why can't I say?"

Without even asking him a question, she started arranging his engagement.

If we don't say it now, when will we?

That way, at least they won't pretend to be confused anymore.

It might even have a surprising effect.

Lin Momo was still troubled: "If she knows, doesn't that mean her parents and your parents know too?"

"They'll find out sooner or later anyway."

"But, but..."

"Alright, stop with the 'buts'," Shi Guang laughed, then analyzed for her, "It's not without its benefits if they find out, because then the two families won't get engaged anymore."

When the two families were about to get engaged, the man's sudden move was tantamount to slapping the woman in the face.

Xu's father wasn't very educated, but he succeeded through sheer grit and determination. In his early years, when he started in real estate, he did a lot of unethical things, including swindling and cheating, and he also had connections to the underworld. Although he's now cleaned up his act, he's not exactly a magnanimous person.

"What about the downsides? Have you thought about that?"

Both families value their reputation, and Shi Guang's actions have undoubtedly embarrassed both of them. In the end, he himself will certainly not fare well.

This is undoubtedly a strategy of killing a thousand enemies while losing eight hundred of your own.

As for the outcome, he wouldn't necessarily be kicked out of his home because of it.

But the two families certainly wouldn't do nothing and let him stir up trouble while they themselves stayed out and lived a carefree life.

As Shi Guang drove, he spoke slowly and deliberately: "As for the downsides, the Xu and Shi families may fall out because of this, and the Shi family may suffer some losses in business. But in business, there are gains and losses, and it's far from being crippling."

"Didn't you ever think that the two families might team up to drag you back for an engagement?" Lin Momo's imagination ran wild.

Shi Guang couldn't help but chuckle: "What are you thinking with that little brain of yours? You've been watching too many TV dramas."

He then explained earnestly, “They don’t know I’m here. Even if they could find me, searching for someone in such a big city would be like looking for a needle in a haystack. Besides, now that we’re in the countryside, they’re even less likely to find me.”

When do you plan to go back?

We can't stay in this poor, remote place forever.

Time sighed softly, "Let's see how it goes."

*

After exiting the highway, the car quickly turned onto the country road leading to Linmomo Village.

Looking at the increasingly familiar fields and roads before her, Lin Momo felt very comfortable and at ease.

Before long, the car entered the village and drove directly to the doorstep along the cement-paved village road.

The Lin family's house faces south and is located at the entrance of the village.

When Lin Momo was little, her house was right across from the fields. Later, the village kept expanding outwards, and now it's almost next to the country road.

Seeing the car parked in front of the uninhabited Lin family's house, the villagers who were idly chatting outside craned their necks and rubbed their eyes, eager to know who would get out of the car.

It couldn't possibly be that granddaughter of the Lin family, could it?

But it's not the weekend, shouldn't she be working in the city?

Farming is no longer profitable, and there are hardly any families in the village who actually farm. They either contract out their land, leave it fallow, or plant ornamental saplings that don't require much care, or fruit trees like grapes and kiwis.

Since they weren't going to farm, they had to find other ways to make a living, so they all went to work in factories.

Nowadays, almost every family has someone working outside, so people are quite sensitive to the difference between weekdays and weekends.

After the car came to a complete stop, Lin Momo was the first to jump out.

"Mo Mo, why are you back today?"

"Yeah, yeah, don't you go to work?"

"You must have come back because of something, right?"

While in the car, Lin Momo saw a group of middle-aged and elderly women gathered at the entrance. After getting out of the car, she was about to greet them when, before she could even open her mouth, the women who had watched her grow up started making a fuss.

Lin Momo didn't dare to hesitate and quickly greeted everyone one by one.

At that moment, time itself came off the train.

The older women and aunties all followed him around, leaving Lin Momo standing there.

They immediately started chattering away again.

"Who's this, Momo?"

"MoMo, is this your boyfriend? He's really handsome!"

"Isn't that right? They actually look quite good together standing next to each other."

Lin gave a perfunctory "Mmm" and tried to sneak home with Shiguang.

It has to be said that Lin Momo has shown a certain degree of social anxiety since childhood, and it hasn't gotten any better as she's grown up. She really can't handle this group of enthusiastic rural women.

Unexpectedly, Shi Guang, who was naturally friendly, started chatting with a group of aunties and older women with a warm smile.

Lin Momo couldn't help but think to herself, "This guy really is a social butterfly. He can even chat with an old lady from the countryside whom he's never met before. He completely outshines me."