Chapter 214 Establishing a Relationship
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Lin's mother put in a lot of effort that evening, preparing three dishes, all of which were Lin Baozhu's favorites. After a long day of running around, having barely eaten lunch, the two of them were now practically glued to each other.
At the dinner table, the two were engrossed in their food. Lin's mother sat opposite them, her hands supporting her chin, her smiling gaze fixed on Qin Haifeng.
"Haifeng, you must eat more! Look how tired you are. You've been taking care of our little rascal these past few days. It's really been hard on you!" The tone was affectionate, as if he were talking to a family member.
"It's no trouble at all, Auntie." Qin Haifeng swallowed the food in his mouth, looked up and said seriously, "Taking care of Baozhu is what I should do." He spoke very naturally, as if it were a matter of course.
Lin Baozhu paused, her chopsticks still holding food, and glanced at him: This kid... knows how to take advantage of a situation?
With a barely perceptible curve to her lips, she flicked her wrist and precisely picked up the fattest and thickest piece from the glistening bowl of braised pork, placing it steadily into Qin Haifeng's bowl.
A triumphant smile flashed across Qin Haifeng's eyes, so quick it was almost impossible to catch. He immediately picked up the piece of meat, put it in his mouth, and chewed it with great care.
Dinner ended in a tacitly warm atmosphere. Qin Haifeng helped clear the dishes, and then there was no reason for him to linger any longer. He pushed his bicycle and said goodbye to Lin's mother.
Lin's mother quickly nudged her daughter beside her and urged in a low voice, "Go and see them off! They've been running around for you all day, do I have to teach them this basic manners?"
"Okay!" Lin Baozhu replied, slipping on her cloth shoes and following him out.
The country dirt road gleamed a hazy gray-white in the moonlight. Qin Haifeng pushed the cart, his steps extremely slow. Lin Baozhu walked beside him, clearly feeling his almost tangible gaze, tracing her profile over and over again.
"Hey," she finally stopped, turned her head, and the moonlight illuminated her smiling eyes and brows: "Have you seen enough?"
Qin Haifeng also stopped, his deep eyes shining brightly in the night. His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and his voice was low and straightforward:
No. You're pretty.
Lin Baozhu: ? ? Oh my! This blockhead has finally figured it out?
Qin Haifeng seemed to feel a slight burning sensation in his ears from his own bluntness. He coughed lightly and, as if to cover up his actions, took out a rectangular box wrapped in red velvet from his inner pocket.
He held the box in his palm and presented it to her, his gaze fixed on her, his expression more solemn than ever before: "Baozhu..."
His voice carried a barely perceptible tension: "I bought this a while ago and have been wanting to give it to you, but I was afraid... afraid you wouldn't accept it."
He took a deep breath, took a small step forward, and the moonlight clearly outlined his taut jawline and the surging emotions in his eyes:
"Comrade Lin Baozhu..."
He spoke each word clearly and forcefully, as if making a vow: "I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Please give me a chance to stay by your side and protect you."
Lin Baozhu gazed at him quietly, her eyes reflecting the moonlight. Without hesitation, she reached out and took the box that still carried his warmth.
Then, she stepped forward, extended her hand, palm up, with a radiant smile:
"Comrade Qin Haifeng..."
She mimicked his tone, her voice clear and bright: "For the rest of my life, please take care of me!"
"You mean... you've agreed?"
Qin Haifeng suddenly looked up, his eyes flashing with wild joy, his voice slightly choked with excitement.
"Um!"
Lin Baozhu nodded vigorously, her smile bright. What was there to be coy about at this point? This man was the 'meat' she had her eye on, and now that he'd jumped right into her bowl, how could she not 'eat' him?
Overwhelmed with joy, Qin Haifeng felt slightly dizzy. He suppressed the urge to embrace her and began to explain rapidly:
"I get a monthly allowance of 165 yuan! Plus bonuses for missions! I've saved some over the years! Tomorrow! I'll bring you my savings book tomorrow!"
They seemed eager to empty their pockets immediately to show the other party their sincerity.
"Marriage certificate! I'll go get it first thing tomorrow morning!"
Lin Baozhu was amused by his hurried manner, and suddenly, as if remembering something, she tilted her head curiously:
"Wait a minute? Didn't you... retire from the military? The military even gave you a job as compensation. How come... you still need to submit a report to the military to get married?"
Qin Haifeng's excitement faltered, his eyes flickered, and he quickly turned his face away, his voice somewhat muffled: "...Ahem, this...is not convenient to talk about right now."
When Lin Baozhu saw his expression, she immediately understood—what retirement? He was clearly on a mission, and his identity as a police officer was just a facade!
Her eyes darted around, she took a step closer, and said with a grin, "Alright, now we're officially a couple, so..."
She drew out her words, her gaze lingering meaningfully on his waist: "Can I touch your abs?"
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