"I've been busy working overtime lately."
As I said this, my face flushed a little. I didn't want my grandfather to know that I had been in the police station for the past month. If he found out, he would be worried sick. So I quickly laughed it off.
"Grandpa, a pretty girl is looking for me..."
"Oh, you mean Xiao Shui'er, your wife? Don't say anything more, we'll have a wedding banquet as soon as you go back to your hometown. When are you going to take leave and come back for a visit..." Damn it, it's actually true! I really have a wife I've been betrothed to since childhood?!
After chatting with my grandfather for a while, I put down the phone and looked at Shui Yanling in front of me, feeling somewhat helpless.
"Well, you don't have to take the engagement seriously."
“I take it seriously; it’s my parents’ command, and I can’t disobey them.”
I felt like I had lost common ground with Shui Yanling. I wasn't familiar with her to begin with, and I'd never even heard anyone mention the concept of "arranged marriage" in modern society! I could only wash my hands first, and then join them at the table for dinner.
"Mmm, delicious!" In short, it's always right to praise the chef's cooking when you're at the dinner table. Shui Yanling smiled and just looked at me after I praised her like that. Although she was as beautiful as a painting, I still couldn't stand her staring at me while I ate.
Why aren't you eating?
"have eaten."
Shui Yanling gave a nonchalant reply, and I felt an awkward atmosphere begin to spread. I'm not the type to be timid when talking to girls, but I still didn't know how to start a conversation with Shui Yanling.
The meal was finished in silence. Just as I was about to wash the dishes, Shui Yanling grabbed my hand. I panicked a little and swallowed hard. Was this girl being so proactive? "Fang Shuang, where's your jade pendant?"
"Jade pendant? What jade? Oh, I lost it while cleaning the other day."
Shui Yanling pouted, and I couldn't take my eyes off her mouth. While I was in a daze, I saw Shui Yanling raise her wrist and wave it in front of my eyes.
"The jade pendant is our engagement token, how could you lose it?" Shui Yanling had a red string on her wrist with the same jade pendant that had been with me since I was a child.
I felt a little embarrassed; it seemed that Shui Yanling really valued this thing.
Just as I was about to say something, I saw Shui Yanling untie the red string from her wrist and then wrap it around mine, saying something.
"This is me, so I'm handing myself over to you."
Shui Yanling's words stirred my heart. She truly was a woman like him, with the same surname, as pure as water. Having only met him once, she had already given herself to a man she'd never met, all for a marriage agreement? I wanted to say that Shui Yanling wasn't worth it, but the words stuck in my throat, unable to come out. I didn't know how many days I had left to live; how could a woman entrust herself to me? "I will cherish it."
I just want to slap myself for saying that! Fang Shuang, do you know what you are now? A plague! Anyone who gets close to you will be in trouble! How could you drag an ignorant girl down with you? "Thank you, then it's settled, pinky promise?" Shui Yanling held out her little finger. Seeing such a childish gesture, I couldn't help but laugh out loud. Then I realized that this was the funniest thing I'd seen in a month. It was really too funny.
After Shui Yanling and I made a pinky promise, she started cleaning up the food. I felt like it was a dream, letting me experience the warmth that I shouldn't have received.
This cozy feeling lasted until it was time to sleep. I felt a little awkward. Although I rented this apartment with a double bed, I couldn't very well sleep with a woman I'd met, could I? But Shui Yanling said it didn't matter; it was just sharing a bed and nothing would happen.
It would be strange if I didn't do something! I'm a man, and a man who's been holding back for a month. I made an excuse that I didn't have enough toiletries and went downstairs to buy a box of condoms.
As I was about to enter, I hesitated. I stood in the hallway for about ten minutes, then slapped myself in the face and threw the whole box of condoms into the crappy stairwell.
"**!" After that, naturally nothing happened that night. Not only did I not do anything, but I also slept very soundly! I felt that I might have been touched by a bit of Master Huineng's spiritual energy. I secretly thought that Buddhism might have missed out on such a natural talent as me.
After praising myself for so long, I realized my biggest problem: I'm broke! The cost of living in Beijing is already high, and I'm not exactly frugal. This month in detention also cost me my job, which only made things worse.
Left with no other option, I called Lei Yu to ask if there were any companies that didn't check criminal records. To my surprise, Lei Yu was incredibly generous and found me a designer job with a salary that was no less than my previous one.
Then I started a stable life, clocking in for work every day, turning off the clock, and coming home to a clean rented room, hot meals, and that familiar "You're back?" I felt like I was going to die of intoxication in the arms of Shui Yanling.
Only by experiencing loss can one know the value of such a stable life. I gave up all my bad habits, stopped smoking, stopped drinking, and even stopped playing games. I shaved my head and discarded all my bad aspects because I didn't want to disappoint Shui Yanling even a little bit.
As the days passed, the black hand on my chest miraculously disappeared, and the old beggar also disappeared from my life. I got into the habit of putting my hands together in prayer after every meal to pray for the old beggar and Master Huineng.
I've saved up some money, and I've started planning to go back and hold a wedding for Shui Yanling. Otherwise, it would be quite frustrating to have a wife but still have to take care of my own physical needs. Everything is on track now.
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