Chapter 34 Don't you want to marry me in the future?
The takeout I ordered has finally arrived.
Wen Ling was already starving, and she couldn't wait to open the takeout bag. In her haste, she tore the bag apart, almost spilling the food.
She looked up at Shang Chen with an embarrassed expression.
Shang Chen just stared at her like a stalker, occasionally curling his lips into a smile: "Haven't eaten?"
Wen Ling pushed the dining table next to her out and placed the takeout she had ordered on it one by one: dry pot prawns, stir-fried beef with yellow peppers, and garlic baby bok choy. The aroma was so strong that it could whet one's appetite in just a second.
I can't eat.
But now that she's seen people, her appetite has whetted, and she feels like she could devour a whole cow.
Shang Chen was just trying to tease her, but she didn't expect that she really hadn't eaten. Before, at school, she always ate three meals a day on time, and she would groan and feel uncomfortable if she ate late.
There won't be a next time.
Wen Ling was completely absorbed by the food and nodded nodding. Shang Chen was both amused and exasperated. He picked up his chopsticks to eat with her, but Wen Ling grabbed his wrist.
Your takeout hasn't arrived yet.
Although Shang Chen was hungry, he didn't really have any appetite. Watching her eat so heartily, however, inexplicably stirred a craving within him, and he wanted to try some. But he couldn't eat it, so he decided against it…
He turned his takeout bag inside out and looked at it from all angles, still incredulous: "I only... a bowl of plain porridge?"
Wen Ling still had a shrimp head in her mouth, and her pair of watery doe eyes blinked innocently, the meaning of which was clear: Yes.
In contrast, hers is a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate.
My bowl of porridge is inexplicably a bit pathetic.
"I want to eat yours too."
"You have porridge."
"I'll switch with you."
"I don't."
"Lingling..."
Wen Ling pushed the table and stood up: "Then I'll go out to eat."
Shang Chen: "..."
Wen Ling disliked peeling shrimp shells, finding it troublesome, and planned to leave it for last. Shang Chen put on gloves and was about to peel them for her, but Wen Ling was ungrateful and said, "No need, you drink the porridge, I'll peel them myself later."
"I can't eat right now."
"Eat even if you can't." Wen Ling's attitude was a bit firm as she stared at him. "Can you please stop playing around with your health?"
Shang Chen was somewhat taken aback, seemingly not quite understanding her change. Wen Ling realized she was being a bit emotional, opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say, and continued eating.
"Are you angry?" Shang Chen belatedly realized her emotions.
Wen Ling denied it: "No."
In most cases, when a girl says no, she means yes. Shang Chen reflected on himself and realized that from the moment he woke up and said his first words to her until now, he didn't seem to have done anything to offend her.
Shang Chen, like a clueless young boy, asked bluntly, "Why are you angry?"
Wen Ling still emphasized, "I didn't."
"Alright," Shang Chen suddenly relented, "If you don't have it, you don't have it."
Wen Ling: "..."
Why do I seem even angrier?
Shang Chen still peeled all the shrimp shells for her. After peeling them, she obediently finished the bowl of porridge. Wen Ling finished eating and silently packed her things, went out to throw out the trash, and then went to the bathroom to wash up. She finally returned to the ward.
Just as Shang Chen was about to speak, Wen Ling opened the drawer, took out the jade bracelet, and interrupted him: "When I came here, I happened to see Auntie, and she gave this to me, but I feel that it is quite valuable, so I can't accept it. You should give it back to Auntie."
Shang Chen stared at the jade bracelet, a strange glint in his eyes: "What else did she say?"
Wen Ling thought for a moment, and it seemed that he had also said that she should take good care of him, but she didn't want to say it now: "That's all."
Wen Ling put the bracelet back.
"Wen Ling, do you know what this is?"
Wen Ling looked at him in confusion: "A... bracelet?"
“Not entirely.” Shang Chen stared at her, a strange excitement creeping into his eyes. “This was my great-grandmother’s dowry, then it was passed down to my grandmother, then to my mother, and now she’s giving it to you. Can you figure out why?”
Hearing so many generations of names, including "great-grandmother" and "great-grandmother," Wen Ling felt a little dizzy. She shook her head and said, "I don't know. You should go back."
Shang Chen: "..."
"I can't return it." Shang Chen glanced at her. "This was passed down from my mother to her daughter-in-law. I can't make that decision."
Wen Ling almost blurted out, "I'm not her daughter-in-law," but then she remembered something, choked back a sob, and closed the drawer with a flushed face, muttering to herself, "Then I shouldn't have taken it."
"What's the meaning?"
Shang Chen grabbed her hand, not letting her leave.
Wen Ling retorted, her neck stiff, "That's true! We're barely there yet, whether we can get married is still uncertain—"
"Wen Ling!" He suddenly called out to her in a low voice. Wen Ling was startled, realizing that her words had been a bit hurtful. She pouted, her voice lacking confidence, and said, "Why are you being so fierce?"
Shang Chen coughed several times in anger.
Clutching his stomach, his back arched in pain.
Wen Ling panicked for a moment and quickly sat on the edge of the bed, looking down at him: "What's wrong? Does it hurt somewhere?"
Shang Chen's eyes were bloodshot, as if he could only recognize her at this moment. His mind was clouded by the pain. He knew that what he was about to do would make her very angry, but he still couldn't help but want to do it.
He grabbed Wen Ling by the back of the neck.
He grabbed her haphazardly, his fingertips and strands of hair tangling together, not daring to grip too tightly for fear of pulling her hair.
Wen Ling was still unaware of what was happening and looked worried when she sensed the dark figure approaching. With no way to retreat, Shang Chen kissed her, covering her lips with his and fiercely grinding them against hers.
He closed his eyes, as if he could not see the disappointment in Wen Ling's eyes unless he looked. Whether he pushed him or hit him, Shang Chen accepted it.
As long as the person in my arms doesn't leave me, that's enough.
When the slippery tongue slipped in, Wen Ling was completely stunned.
He… no, Wen Ling struggled with some force, but couldn’t break free. Her hand, which was pounding on her chest, was also tightly gripped, and Wen Ling was forced to endure his kiss.
It's probably because he's sick and physically weak.
After a stalemate of two or three minutes, Wen Ling finally pushed him away, and Shang Chen, following her force, slammed his back against the headboard.
Wen Ling suddenly stood up, covering her lips with the back of her hand, staring blankly at him. She really wanted to leave in a fit of anger, but seeing the dejection in his eyes and the subtle caution in them, she softened.
She sat sullenly on the edge of the bed, intending to scold him for kissing her so fiercely that it frightened her, but her words inexplicably turned into a coquettish tone: "Why are you always like this?"
"You didn't even tell me beforehand, and then you kissed me."
Shang Chen reached out a hand in disbelief.
Wen Ling saw this, clenched her fist, and punched his palm several times before leaving.
It didn't hurt at all, and Shang Chen smiled again: "Lingling."
"What?" Wen Ling didn't turn her head to look at him; she felt like she was about to be cooked.
"I'm so happy." He cupped her fist in his hand.
Wen Ling tried to break free, but couldn't. So she just let him hold her. Her nose felt sore, and she tried to reason with him: "Shang Chen, you can't always be like this."
"How am I?" Shang Chen mimicked her tone.
Wen Ling glared at him, almost crying with anger: "You bully me, you always bully me."
"You didn't tell me anything when something happened." Wen Ling vented her displeasure in one breath. "You didn't say a word about the stomach problems you caused, and you didn't answer my calls. You... you knew I would worry, but you would rather disappear than explain to me."
"Shang Chen, you're a bastard."
Shang Chen laughed for a while, then tears welled up in his eyes. He tilted his head and looked at her, "Yeah, I'm a jerk. Does Lingling still like this jerk?"
I really want to say I don't like it anymore out of spite.
Not wanting to keep hurting each other like this, she turned her head, grabbed him with both hands, and said seriously, "Shang Chen, I can know about your injury, but I can't accept you suddenly disappearing."
“I’m not as fragile as you think,” Wen Ling said. “I can get treatment for illness and injury. I won’t be defeated. But you’ve kept it from me and trapped me with a white lie. If I find out, I will only be more upset. Shang Chen, can you understand that this will make you lose my trust in you?”
“Once trust is gone, it’s very hard to rebuild.” Wen Ling looked up at him and murmured, “If you’re always like this, I don’t want to be with you anymore. I hate people who deceive me.”
"Okay." If he continued, Shang Chen's heart would stop beating.
He apologized sincerely, sat on the bed and bowed at a 90-degree angle, holding her hands reverently: "This time I was careless and made you worry. I will never do it again. So... my dear girlfriend, can you forgive your boyfriend this time?"
Wen Ling felt uncomfortable from his sudden formality. Her face turned red, and her body felt hot. She also felt a little smug from being called "boyfriend" or "girlfriend."
There has been no sound for a long time.
Shang Chen raised his head, but not fully, and looked at her sideways: "Do you forgive me?"
Wen Ling shook her hand that had been grabbed, a little shyly saying, "Alright then, I'll forgive you this time."
Shang Chen sat up straight and stretched out his arms: "Give me a hug?"
Wen Ling hesitated for a second, then reached out and hugged him. Shang Chen held her tightly, kissed her ear, and whispered, "I'm sorry for making you worry."
Wen Ling's heart softened upon hearing this: "Don't do it again next time."
Shang Chen agreed, and looking at her slightly swollen lips, his Adam's apple bobbed: "Did the kiss hurt? Why are your lips a little swollen?"
Wen Ling nestled in his arms, startled by his words. She looked up at him and muttered, "You bad guy."
There was no instruction not to do it again, nor was there any rejection or dislike.
Shang Chen's chest heaved slightly. He felt incredibly happy and couldn't help but give her a light kiss on the lips again: "Lingling, you're so good."
Wen Ling remained silent; her ears were very itchy.
His embrace felt so comfortable.
Shang Chen took the bracelet out of the drawer and was about to put it on her.
Wen Ling pulled her hands away and said no, that's not good.
"Don't you want to marry me in the future?"
Wen Ling hadn't actually considered this issue yet, and felt it was a bit too early to discuss it: "It's not related to this, it's just..."
"It's a bit too fast," Wen Ling explained. "Whether you wear it or not doesn't prove anything, so don't overthink it. Besides, this must be very valuable. If I accidentally break it, it would be even more of a loss."
She smiled playfully: "Let Auntie keep it for me for a bit."
Seeing that Shang Chen still seemed a little dissatisfied, Wen Ling, while lying in his arms, poked his cheeks with her two index fingers: "Smile, don't be unhappy."
Shang Chen was completely unmoved by her coquettishness, and after humming, he put the bracelet back in the drawer.
Wen Ling kissed him first: "I won't leave you."
Shang Chen buried his face in her chest, his voice muffled: "Then you're not allowed to refuse any gifts I give you from now on."
"Okay."
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