Old Master Liang hadn't uttered a sound since Zhang Guoqiang came in.
He looked at this one, then at that one, his cloudy eyes filled with complex emotions.
Finally, he sighed deeply, gently patted the edge of the bed, and gestured for Zhao Damei to come over.
Seeing this, Zhang Guoqiang didn't try to stop Zhao Damei anymore, and Grandpa Liang's eyes softened even more.
He took Zhao Damei's hand and said softly,
"Da Mei, you're just too strong-willed. It's because of Liang Zi's influence in the past. You always want to shoulder everything yourself, afraid of owing favors or burdening others..."
As he spoke, he glanced at Zhang Guoqiang again.
“Silly child, Comrade Guoqiang has said all that, and every word he said makes sense and is from the heart. After hearing this, your father-in-law feels much more at ease.”
He turned to Zhao Damei, his tone consoling:
"Comrade Guoqiang is a genuine, responsible, and reliable man. The fact that he said those words shows that he sincerely wants to shoulder the burden of this family with you, not that it was just a momentary impulse. You always say you're afraid of being a burden to him, but when two people live together, how can you just enjoy the benefits without taking on any responsibility? You have to give him a chance, and you have to give yourself a chance..."
Zhao Damei wavered slightly, but thinking about her father-in-law's sometimes confused and sometimes clear-headed mind, she was still not entirely at ease.
Seeing that there was a chance, the old man softened his tone even more, directly using the tone of coaxing a child:
"How about... we give it a try first? Don't put it off right away. Give me some time to see how you feel, just to see what you really think. Don't worry about your father-in-law, I promise I'll stay put, not run around, and definitely won't cause you any trouble! If you think it's right after dating for a while, then you two can get married!"
Zhao Damei never expected that her father-in-law would personally act as her matchmaker and even bring up marriage. Her face immediately turned red to the roots of her neck.
The old man could tell that his daughter-in-law was interested, and his tone became much more relaxed.
"Of course, if you feel it won't work, or if Comrade Guoqiang changes his mind, then we'll just leave it at that. Your father-in-law will absolutely not force you! How about that? Is that okay?"
The old man's words were heartfelt and sincere, every word and phrase was for Zhao Damei's benefit, showing that he treated her like his own daughter.
How could Zhao Damei not be moved when she heard this?
She glanced at her father-in-law, whose eyes were full of encouragement, lying on the hospital bed, and then at Zhang Guoqiang, who was so nervous that he didn't know where to put his hands.
In an instant, she felt as if something had suddenly struck her heart. Her heart, which had resigned itself to its fate, began to pound wildly, so loudly that she could hear it herself.
She bit her lower lip hard, but tears still streamed down her face.
But this time, the tears that flowed were not tears of bitterness and despair, but warm tears that were both sour and sweet.
The ward was extremely quiet. Everyone held their breath, their eyes fixed on her, wondering how she would answer.
Zhao Damei was a straightforward person by nature, and once she made up her mind, she stopped hesitating.
While hastily wiping her tears with the back of her hand, she glanced quickly and very subtly at Zhang Guoqiang, and said loudly:
"Okay, then... let's give it a try!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the somewhat somber atmosphere in the ward instantly relaxed.
Deng Cuixiang and Zhu Yingying were the first to laugh, and Zhou Qiqi also breathed a long sigh of relief, a smile spreading across her face.
Zhang Guoqiang was the happiest of all!
This honest, unassuming man was so excited that he let out a "Hey!", clenched his fist, and jumped up on the spot. His wide smile, stretching to the back of his ears, made him look ten years younger, just like a young man.
Seeing his undisguised silly grin, Zhao Damei couldn't help but smile, and her anxiety lessened considerably.
But she forced a smile off her lips and immediately added a quick excuse:
"But... it's a deal, right? This is just a trial run, it doesn't count as... it doesn't count as a formal relationship!"
"Okay! Okay! Whatever you say! I'll do whatever you say!"
Zhang Guoqiang nodded vigorously, grinning from ear to ear. He was willing to try anything as long as she agreed!
His simple and honest statement made Zhao Damei a little embarrassed, and her cheeks flushed slightly.
Zhou Qiqi and the others quickly surrounded Zhao Damei, smiling and congratulating her.
They're both married people, so it's obvious to everyone that these two have feelings for each other.
They're not young anymore, and after going through so much, it's not easy to meet someone who understands them and is genuinely willing to care for them!
This couple has gone through a series of thrilling events, from Zhao Damei's initial rejection to Zhou Qiqi's risky rescue of the old man when he was in trouble, and now that everyone is safe and sound and they have finally confessed their feelings.
Now that we've finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel, everyone is genuinely happy for them.
Just as the atmosphere was warm and cozy, Zhang Guoqiang seemed to suddenly remember something. His smile faded, his brows furrowed slightly, and he changed the subject.
"but..."
The old man's gaze hadn't left his "prospective son-in-law" since the beginning. Upon hearing this twist, his heart immediately jumped, and he rushed to ask:
"But what? You little brat, you're not going to go back on your word now that we just agreed on something, are you? Let me tell you, if you dare to betray Da Mei, I, this old man, will be the first to object! I'll risk my old bones to make you pay!"
Zhou Qiqi immediately chimed in, "That's right! Brother Guoqiang, you can't let Sister Damei down! Otherwise, we won't stand for it!"
Deng Cuixiang and Zhu Yingying quickly put their hands on their hips and looked over with warning expressions.
Zhang Guoqiang was caught off guard by this sudden "attack" and was both amused and embarrassed. He quickly waved his hands to explain:
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