In Chapter 46, Jin Zhao bowed deeply to Jin Zhao, who was wearing a ring.
Jiang Xiliu was already having trouble sleeping due to jet lag.
She opened the document, confirmed that Jin Zhao had signed his own name, and handed the documents to the lawyer with satisfaction.
The lawyer took the documents, adjusted his glasses, checked the signatures page by page, and after confirming there were no errors, he turned to nod slightly to Jiang Xiliu in the back seat, then quietly opened the car door and got out to handle the follow-up matters.
Jin Zhao didn't care about any of this, as if the prenuptial agreement he had just signed wasn't about his own rights, but just an insignificant piece of waste paper.
He tilted his head slightly, his gaze fixed on the Civil Affairs Bureau gate not far from the window, as if afraid it would run away.
Thanks to the warmth, Jiang Xiliu's nose, which had been blocked the whole way, finally cleared up.
She frowned, reached out and turned Jin Zhao's face, which was turned towards the window, towards her, and sniffed him closely: "Have you been drinking?"
Jin Zhao didn't dodge, letting her do as she pleased. He simply raised his hand slowly and gently touched her furrowed brow, his touch soft as if to soothe her: "I won't drink it again, don't be angry."
Getting a marriage certificate should be a cause for celebration, as happiness signifies a smooth and trouble-free marriage.
Jiang Xiliu felt somewhat uncomfortable with his attitude.
Jin Zhao, who had been drinking, was unusually easy to talk to. Even when she roughly turned his face, he didn't show any displeasure. In fact, his gaze towards her even carried a hint of tenderness.
Up close, his already striking face was undeniably handsome.
Jiang Xiliu felt a chill run down her spine from the way he looked at the dog with such affection.
She abruptly released her grip on his face, then forcefully slapped Jin Zhao's hand away: "Just talk, don't touch me."
This is a typical case of officials being allowed to set fires but ordinary people not being allowed to light lamps.
However, the common people didn't care and just mumbled an "uh-huh".
"I know, you don't like it." Jin Zhao's mind was hazy. He indulged himself and could easily say and do things that he would normally suppress. "But I really want to touch you."
It can give him a sense of security.
Jiang Xiliu is truly someone who responds better to gentleness than force. If Jin Zhao and she put on a stern face and say, "I want to touch you,"...
Even if he had a face that Jiang Xiliu really liked, she would still beat him to the side.
But when she was being stared at like that, she could only turn her face away impatiently and say, "Fine, I'll hold your hand, okay? Don't look at me like that."
"Mmm." Jin Zhao admitted that he was seducing her.
He didn't know where he learned it from, but holding hands wasn't enough. His fingertips restlessly rubbed against her fingers, trying to intertwine with Jiang Xiliu's.
He clumsily pried her fingers apart, trying to squeeze his own between her two fingers.
Seeing his clumsy movements, Jiang Xiliu couldn't help but want to tease him. She deliberately closed her fingers again when he stretched them out.
Jin Zhao sighed softly, not angry, but stubbornly reached out to break it again.
Several failures in a row could not awaken an overly stubborn drunkard.
"Jin Zhao," Jiang Xiliu couldn't help but say, "Are you an idiot?"
"Hmm." Jin Zhao didn't refute anything, his tone unusually obedient, "I'm an idiot."
Jiang Xiliu was completely at a loss: How could Jin Zhao be so likable when he was slightly drunk?
With several hours to go before the Civil Affairs Bureau opened, Jiang Xiliu decided to take the unusually obedient drunkard to the styling studio.
This is for getting a marriage certificate! Even if they're likely to divorce in the future, she won't allow herself to look unkempt in this important life photo.
Jiang Xiliu went to the stylist's regular salon. She didn't need much communication; the stylist understood what she wanted.
The problem lies with Jin Zhao. Just a moment ago, Jin Zhao was very easy to talk to while holding the young lady's hand, but now he is uncooperative in every way and is resisting with his whole body.
"Don't touch my hair."
"I don't need makeup."
...
Jiang Xiliu glanced at him in the mirror: "Sit still."
She added casually, "Ugly men don't deserve to appear in a photo with me."
Jin Zhao stiffened and leaned back in his chair reluctantly.
He's not used to things being too refined, but it's not that he can't adapt to them; he can sit comfortably.
With their physical attributes set up, four or five people surrounded them, doing their makeup, styling, and checking the details. It didn't take long to get everything done.
Meanwhile, the professional equipment and lighting in the upstairs photography area have been tested and everything is ready.
The moment Jin Zhao and Jiang Xiliu's shoulders touched, he subconsciously held his breath, afraid that if his breathing became too heavy, everything in front of him would change.
The flash went off, and the image froze at that moment.
The final photo was chosen by the young lady from more than a dozen sample photos.
In the photo, Jiang Xiliu's expression was expressionless, while he himself, facing the camera, had a very slight curve at the corner of his mouth, and his eyes revealed a hint of undisguised joy.
He seemed very happy.
The process of obtaining a marriage certificate is much simpler than taking a photo.
They were the first couple to apply today. They took out their ID cards, and after the staff verified the information, a bright red stamp was placed on their marriage certificate.
After receiving their marriage certificate, the staff said they could take photos on the oath-taking platform. Jiang Xiliu made no attempt to hide her lack of interest, and Jin Zhao, who was becoming increasingly sober, was too embarrassed to say that he wanted to take photos with her there.
Without lingering or exchanging any unnecessary words, they received their marriage certificate and walked out of the Civil Affairs Bureau side by side.
At Jiang Xiliu's instruction, the driver first took Jin Zhao back to school.
Jin Zhao held their marriage certificate in his hand, said "thank you," and then got out of the car.
He stood by the roadside and watched the car leave.
After driving a short distance, the car slowly reversed and stopped in front of him.
Jiang Xiliu rolled down the car window, her tone flat and indifferent: "By the way, my parents are having dinner with you tonight. Message me after you finish class."
Without asking Jin Zhao's opinion or even giving him time to respond, she rolled up the car window again and drove away after she finished speaking.
Jin Zhao began to feel anxious on his own.
This time, his visit to Jiang Xiliu's parents was different from any other time. His status had changed from that of an insignificant outsider to that of a member of the Jiang family.
He could no longer act as casually as before.
However, he had no one to confide in, so he instinctively turned to his wife for help: "What should I buy as a gift for my uncle and aunt?"
He hasn't dared to change his mind on his own initiative.
Just a few seconds after the message was sent, Jiang Xiliu replied with a question mark.
The young lady couldn't put herself in his shoes and didn't understand what he was struggling with, so she told him clearly and bluntly, "You don't need to buy it."
She was telling the truth: "They don't value it, and they don't need it."
But visiting Jiang Xiliu's parents is different from attending Ye Qishan's birthday banquet. Even if they don't like him, Jin Zhao can't show up empty-handed.
This is a way to show respect.
However, Jin Zhao was not the kind of person who would pretend to be rich when he was not. He went to the mall and carefully selected items within his budget.
He picked out a tie for Jiang Fuhuai, an elegant silk scarf for Xi Zhen, and finally chose two exquisitely packaged imported fruit gift boxes from the fruit section.
He also provided the best quality cigarettes and alcohol within his means.
After buying the gifts for Jiang Xiliu's parents, Jin Zhao turned and walked towards the mall exit.
As he walked through the first floor of the mall, he suddenly caught a glimpse of a pair of wedding rings in the window of a jewelry store not far away.
As if possessed, Jin Zhao paused, almost subconsciously turning around and walking towards the jewelry store.
The store was filled with a faint scent of perfume, and the sales assistant immediately greeted him with a smile. Jin Zhao said, "I want to buy a pair of wedding rings."
From simple plain rings to ornate inlaid designs, Jin Zhao's gaze finally settled on the new model in the middle of the display case.
The diamond on the women's ring isn't small, but it's cleverly set in a narrow band, looking exquisite yet understated, and won't get in the way at all when worn daily; the men's ring next to it is simply a smooth, plain band.
However, the inside of both rings is engraved with special patterns, so as long as they are close together, no matter how they are turned, the patterns will remain connected.
Jin Zhao liked this subtle, unspoken similarity that only the two of them knew about.
The sales assistant was very perceptive; seeing that he had lingered there for so long, she took the initiative to step forward and quote the price.
This store is considered a high-end brand, and the prices are not cheap. For him, who is still a student and has a low income, this is almost a "huge sum of money".
But that's only true for him.
Jin Zhao knew that if this ring was found in the young lady's jewelry box, it must be the most inconspicuous and cheapest one there.
He stared at the pattern on the inside of the ring for a few seconds, then looked up at the sales assistant and said, "Excuse me, I'll take this pair."
Impulsively, Jin Zhao still bought the pair of rings.
When Jin Zhao met Jiang Xiliu that evening, he did not mention the pair of rings.
He didn't know how to bring it up or how to give it to them.
"Why did you buy so much?" That's rubbish.
Jiang Xiliu didn't say anything too harsh, not because she suddenly learned to be tactful, but because Jin Zhao was putting on that alluring look again, looking at her pitifully, and she unconsciously restrained herself a bit.
Even if you buy a puppy or kitten from a pet store, the owner will only be excited for two days.
It's quite normal for the young lady to treat Jin Zhao, who is currently considered one of her own for the time being, better.
She just had a problem with his actions in the original novel, not that she disliked him.
Moreover, Jin Zhao's face is exactly what the young lady likes. As long as Jin Zhao is sensible enough and can learn to be a good husband, the young lady will naturally be willing to treat him well.
After putting the things away, Jin Zhao sat down next to her: "It's not much, it's all from my heart."
Since the purchase was already made, Jiang Xiliu was too lazy to discourage him further.
It felt like only a short while after getting into the car, Jin Zhao saw the Jiang family's gate.
Jin Zhao thought he had arrived once he entered the gate.
But the car didn't stop; it kept moving forward. Jin Zhao turned to look out the window. On both sides of the road were lush green plants; they even drove past a wide artificial lake.
Occasionally, uniformed staff members would pass by, stop by the roadside, and nod to greet the car as it moved at a steady speed.
The car drove for nearly ten more minutes before finally coming to a slow stop.
Jin Zhao gained a deeper understanding of the Jiang family's wealth.
Fortunately, he has a strong mental fortitude.
He could even pull out the gift he had prepared from the trunk without changing his expression.
"Just hand it to the housekeeper." Jiang Xiliu saw that he was struggling to carry the things. "Let's go straight in."
Jiang Xiliu held his hand and offered a word of comfort: "It's not like we haven't met before. This is just a normal meal and meeting. It's just about getting to know someone. Take it easy."
Jin Zhao took a deep breath: "Mm."
He couldn't stay calm at all.
Today felt like a dream – getting the marriage certificate, meeting the parents… it all felt so unbelievable.
When Jiang Fuhuai and Xi Zhen saw them arrive, they stood up, their faces showing gentle smiles, and looked at Jin Zhao kindly: "Little Jin."
"Hello, uncle and aunt."
Jin Zhao bowed deeply at a 90-degree angle, startling Jiang Xiliu.
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Author's note: Perform a grand ceremony.
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