Meanwhile, inside a hot pot restaurant in Hangzhou.

"Congratulations on passing the written exam!"

Li Sinian raised his glass of juice and gently clinked it against Sun Ruoxi's, a smile he couldn't stop.

This year, he wasn't as restless as before, and finally succeeded in crossing the line.

Seeing Sun Ruoxi glance down at the time, he said again, "Your mother must be urging you to come home. I'll take you back."

It's already past nine o'clock, which is quite late. Usually, as soon as it's past seven o'clock, Sun Ruoxi's mother starts bombarding her with phone calls.

"No," the short-haired girl slowly shook her head.

"Um?"

Sun Ruoxi looked away shyly and whispered, "My mom didn't urge me today, so I won't go back yet."

Li Sinian was stunned, feeling his heart skip a beat, and then he unconsciously swallowed.

I hope I haven't misunderstood anything.

Is he finally going to take this step too?

I'm so nervous, what should I do...?

His brain just couldn't process anything, so he had to pick up his phone and ask for help from outside the arena.

Li Sinian: Brothers, how can I get a girl to sleep with me without being too direct or vulgar?

Jiang Chao: My wife is right here, are you asking me this kind of question because you wish I were dead?

Li Sinian: I'm not kidding. Hurry up, I'll put you on my family tree later.

Jiang Chao: ...First, ask her if she wants to go to the riverside to see the night view. As long as she's willing to stay with you until after 10 pm, just ask her if she wants to come to your place for a while.

Jiang Chao: We're all adults, we all know what's going on.

Jiang Chao: And that thing, before you use it, be sure to check if there are any holes punched in it.

Li Sinian: @Chen Lu, you should share some experience too.

Jiang Chao: Are you sure you want to ask him?! His girlfriend probably wasn't just given away for free.

Putting down his phone, Li Sinian calmed his thoughts and, after a moment of careful consideration, nervously said:

"Want to come to my place and see the night view?"

He looked embarrassed after he finished speaking.

It seems I misspoke because I was nervous.

Unexpectedly, Sun Ruoxi hesitated for a moment, then nodded slightly.

Li Sinian rented a one-bedroom apartment, the kind that many migrant workers rent when they are away from home.

The space isn't very big. As soon as you enter, you can see the bed and table, then the doors to the kitchen and bathroom, and the balcony in the distance. You can see everything from the doorway.

Although he is a boy living alone here, everything is kept very clean and tidy.

"Please, please sit down first. I'll go boil some water for you."

"good."

Seeing Li Sinian walk into the kitchen, Sun Ruoxi quickly took two deep breaths and clenched her hands tightly.

It felt like I was doing something wrong behind my parents' backs; my heart felt like it was about to jump out of my throat.

Just as she was starting to calm down, her phone suddenly rang, startling her again.

Sun Ruoxi suddenly felt a pang of fear, and her right hand trembled as she took her phone out of her bag.

Mom: Still not back?

Sun Ruoxi: I'd like to go home a little later today, is that okay?

Mom: Are you still celebrating outside with your boyfriend?

Sun Ruoxi: Yes, I'm eating at a hot pot restaurant, and I haven't finished yet.

Mom: Okay.

Sun Ruoxi was overjoyed, not expecting her mother to be so agreeable today.

She was mentally prepared to be scolded and then called home.

This was the first time she had ever lied in her life.

Just as I was starting to relax, my phone suddenly rang again.

Mom: Oh right, weren't our two families discussing the bride price before? Tell him that our family wants 300,000 yuan as the bride price.

Sun Ruoxi frowned. She couldn't understand why her mother would suddenly bring this up, so she continued clicking the screen:

Mom... 300,000 is too much.

The person on the other end of the screen remained as resolute as ever: "Does it decide me or you?"

"Here you go." Li Sinian placed the water glass on the table, then nervously sat down next to it.

After hesitating for a moment, he pretended to be nonchalant, moved closer to Sun Ruoxi, and reached out to pull her into his arms.

Both sets of parents have met, so what's there to be afraid of?

I bought that thing under the guise of buying drinks before going upstairs, even though I've never looked into it before...

But he believed in his instincts as a boy.

Sun Ruoxi rested her head on his shoulder, and after thinking it over, she said, "Well, my mother said my family wants a dowry of 300,000 yuan."

Li Sinian's upturned lips suddenly froze.

"How much?" he repeated almost subconsciously.

Sun Ruoxi's voice trembled slightly, "Three hundred thousand..."

Li Sinian paused, "Is this your idea or your mother's idea?"

"This was decided by my mom."

"But this is our wedding, there's no need to listen to your mother. Why don't you go back and discuss it with her? Even if it's a little less."

"My mom won't listen, Si Nian, can you think of something?" The girl's eyes were filled with tears, and her tone seemed to be pleading.

Li Sinian clicked her tongue helplessly, "Don't listen to your mother in everything."

"I... I have no choice... Should we just do as she says?"

"But my family can't even scrape together 300,000 yuan!"

Li Sinian couldn't help but shout, his pupils widening.

He hadn't been able to earn money for two years while he was taking the civil service exam, and his father was already working overtime driving a taxi to support the family.

The whole family hopes that he can pass the civil service exam and get a good job. They don't ask for great wealth, but at least a stable job and income.

He's already had enough to live off his parents for two years; asking them for more money would be worse than death.

Three hundred thousand? Let alone the fact that he has only been out of school for a little over a year, even if he works for a few more years, how could he possibly save up that much?

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