"I originally wanted to visit my dad, but if you're leaving the day after tomorrow, could I go back and take care of him for a while?"
It's inconvenient for her to do anything in the family compound; the rules here are strict, making it difficult for her to get things done. If she goes back, she won't have these concerns.
"Can."
He agreed readily, since she didn't know many people here, and it wouldn't be right to leave her alone after he left.
"Thanks!"
"Wanqing".
"Um?"
Jiang Wanqing had just taken a bite of food when she suddenly heard him call her name, and she subconsciously looked up.
"It's nothing. Please give my regards to my parents when you get back."
He wanted to tell her that she didn't need to be polite to him, but that things shouldn't be rushed, so he changed the subject.
Mom and Dad? Jiang Wanqing's lips twitched. He changed his address so quickly, getting into character without any buffer period.
"Okay," she replied, bowing her head.
That night, the two tacitly agreed to sleep separately. When she woke up the next day, he had already prepared breakfast, which was still hot.
To be honest, this kind of life felt like a dream to her. She didn't say much, and after they finished eating, they went to go through the marriage registration process.
The report was prepared in advance; all that's needed is for the two of them to register in person.
Everything was planned perfectly, but as soon as they left the residential compound, a figure stopped them.
Qiao Xuemei spread her arms to block the jeep, narrowly avoiding a collision. She closed her eyes and turned her head away, showing how much courage she had mustered.
Hung Hing was the driver today. When he saw who had stopped the car, he was furious. He got out of the car, put his hands on his hips, and gave them a verbal lecture, feeling both angry and helpless.
"No, Dr. Qiao, what kind of thing are you doing? Yesterday your sister was being unreasonable, and today you're blocking the car in public. What's your purpose?"
He's straightforward, and after being annoyed twice, he couldn't bear it anymore, so he just said it directly.
Qiao Xuemei pushed him away, walked to the car, glared at Jiang Wanqing sitting next to Cheng Ran, and then looked at him affectionately.
"Battalion Commander Cheng, I now understand why you're in such a hurry to marry this woman. It's not that you can't live without her, right? Work is temporary, but marriage is for life. Think it through. Even if... even if this marriage is unavoidable, why can't it be someone else?"
When she talked about others, her eyes sparkled with anticipation and hope. She always felt that her years of camaraderie with Cheng Ran could not compare to that of Jiang Wanqing, a woman she had only known for a few days.
"This is none of your business, get out of the way!"
He didn't even give her a gentle look from beginning to end. Instead of backing down, she pressed on to the car window and shook her head.
"No, if you get your marriage certificate with Jiang Wanqing today, there will be no turning back. She's clearly not the best, why would you risk your whole life? Cheng Ran, I beg you to think carefully. Don't let a country bumpkin hold you back from your future!"
Qiao Xuemei has connections, so being with her would be a powerful alliance for Cheng Ran, while being with Jiang Wanqing would just be a huge burden!
She glared hatefully at the woman beside him, as if to say that if she knew what was good for her, she should back off.
One second... two seconds... three seconds...
A minute passed, and Jiang Wanqing was waiting for his response. In this era, for a woman to risk stopping a car to say such things, it was obvious what she meant. Wasn't Qiao Xuemei gambling with her reputation and future?
Half a minute later, Cheng Ran closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again and opened the car door.
Jiang Wanqing's lips moved slightly, and she heard him say seriously, "I'll be back soon."
He got out of the car, and Qiao Xuemei's face was full of smugness. Her head, which had just been lowered, was now held high, and she looked at Jiang Wanqing with disdain and smugness.
She was wearing a dress today. The two of them hadn't gone far; the wind lifted her skirt, and her silhouette was beautiful from behind.
Even if Cheng Ran abandoned her now, Jiang Wanqing would have no choice. She could have left even more gracefully than him if she had hardened her heart, but she held back.
He returned in less than five minutes. She couldn't hear what they were saying, but she saw Qiao Xuemei try to pull him, but he wouldn't even let her touch the hem of his clothes.
I vaguely heard something like "have some self-respect".
"Drive, let's go."
He quickly returned to the car, closed the door, and gave instructions to Hung Hing.
As the car drove further and further away, Qiao Xuemei's figure became blurred, and Jiang Wanqing had to admit that the woman possessed a vitality that she had admired in her previous life.
"What are you thinking about?" Cheng Ran asked when she turned around.
"Dr. Qiao likes you, can't you tell?"
Hung Hing, who was driving, trembled slightly, not expecting her to be so direct.
Cheng Ran's brow twitched. It was clear that he could end the conversation with just three words, but he still answered her question very seriously.
"I know she's not wrong, and I'm not wrong for not liking her, and I won't let her change my mind."
His words were telling her that he wouldn't change his mind at the last minute. Jiang Wanqing understood and pursed her lips, then said "oh".
"Indeed, feelings are not like growing vegetables; they may not grow even if you wait a long time."
He suddenly turned to look at her, his eyes filled with a strange expression.
"Did I say something wrong?" she countered.
"You can't say it's wrong. Feelings are like growing vegetables. As long as the seeds are right, who says they won't grow?"
Hong Xing glanced at the person in the rearview mirror and wondered if what he said wasn't as simple as it sounded. Could it be that he hadn't read enough books?
They drove to the registration desk, went inside to explain their purpose, and someone was there to assist them.
The registration staff carefully reviewed the two people's application materials, their gaze finally settling on Cheng Ran.
"Hiss... Comrade Cheng, have you thought this through? Are you sure you want to marry this woman beside you? How long have you known each other? How did you meet?"
The information about the two people shown in the materials is almost completely different, and it is hard to imagine how people of such different social statuses could have gotten together.
"The application instructions didn't mention that such details needed to be provided." Cheng Ran raised his eyes authoritatively.
"Yes, yes, yes." The staff member's forehead flushed with sweat, and he changed his question to, "You two are doing this voluntarily, right?"
"yes."
Cheng Ran and Jiang Wanqing answered at the same time, which dispelled the staff's doubts. They quickly completed the procedures for them and helped them register their marriage.
A marriage certificate is a thin piece of orange-red paper, yet it feels incredibly substantial.
Jiang Wanqing's paper was taken by Cheng Ran before she could even warm it up.
"Hey, this is mine."
He carefully folded it and stuffed it into the inside pocket of his coat, raising the corners of his eyebrows.
"I'll keep it safe. It can be used to prove my married status if necessary, okay?"
"Okay...okay."
Now that things have come to this point and the marriage has been finalized, who keeps the marriage certificate isn't a big problem. Jiang Wanqing withdrew her hand.
"I'm leaving tomorrow, so I'll show you around the city today and buy you some things to take back to your family."
"Too much trouble, no..."
Before he could finish speaking, Cheng Ran ordered Hong Xing to drive the car into the bustling city center. In some ways, he was quite domineering…
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