Chapter 4: Proposing Marriage
Jiang Nuanzhu couldn't sleep well all night after suddenly learning that she had a fiancé.
At night, Jiang Nuanzhu lay in bed, listening to the sound of mountain streams and rustling leaves, tossing and turning, unable to sleep, and had a dream in a drowsy state.
In the dream, she was wearing a white dress and dancing under the old pear tree in the courtyard.
The pear blossoms covered the ground like snow, and a handsome young man in a white shirt slowly walked out...
"Miss Nuanzhu, wake up quickly, something big has happened!"
Before Jiang Nuanzhu could see the boy's face clearly, he was woken up by someone.
As soon as I opened my eyes, I saw the anxious face of the servant Li Ma.
She rubbed her eyes and asked, "Aunt Li, what's wrong?"
"Miss Nuanzhu, the Xu family is here to propose marriage!"
Jiang Nuanzhu suddenly came to her senses and said blankly, "What did you say? Which Xu family?"
"Which Xu family could it be? It's the Xu family that the old man said last night that you and I were engaged as children. The eldest son of the Xu family came in person, and the engagement gifts filled the entire yard."
Obviously, Aunt Li also heard what the old man said last night.
Jiang Nuanzhu hurriedly got up and washed up. When she went downstairs, she saw Old Man Jiang sitting in the main seat in the hall. On his left were two middle-aged men and women, both dressed very elegantly.
Xu Heyi sat in the first seat on the right, wearing a black custom-made suit. He looked calm and dignified, with a strong aura, and was very eye-catching.
When Mr. Jiang saw Jiang Nuanzhu, there was a hint of reserved pride in his eyes. "Nuanzhu, come here and recognize them. This is your Uncle Xu and Aunt Zhang."
Xu Heyi's parents divorced early in their lives and have now each started a new family. Jiang Nuanzhu vaguely remembers that Xu Heyi's maternal surname was Zhang.
She walked up to them obediently and called out, "Uncle Xu, Aunt Zhang."
Zhang Nanyi looked at Jiang Nuanzhu carefully, then took Jiang Nuanzhu's hand with a smile, "This child is so beautiful, it makes my Heyi look less outstanding."
Old Master Jiang also smiled kindly and said, "If your Heyi doesn't become outstanding, there will be no outstanding young people in the capital."
"Mr. Jiang, you're so kind." Zhang Nanyi patted Jiang Nuanzhu's hand and said cheerfully, "Let's chat for a while, you young people, go out and walk around, so you don't get bored accompanying us."
Before Jiang Nuanzhu could speak, Old Man Jiang smiled and waved his hand: "Go ahead."
Jiang Nuanzhu had no choice but to leave.
She walked in front, and Xu Heyi followed behind slowly.
The two of them maintained a suitable distance, but Xu Heyi's presence was always strong, which is probably what is often called aura.
Before I knew it, I had walked to the foot of the old pear tree. The branches above my head were full of pear blossoms, and their snow-white color reflected the sky.
Jiang Nuanzhu turned around, and her clear eyes met Xu Heyi's.
Just as she was about to speak, her phone rang.
Xu Heyi said calmly, "Do you need me to step aside?"
Jiang Nuanzhu glanced at the incoming call. It was an unfamiliar number, but she knew it must be Yan Shi.
She said calmly, "No need."
When the call was connected, Yan Shi's voice broke in, "Jiang Nuanzhu, I allow you to say some irrational things out of jealousy last night, but this matter ends here. I can forgive you for what you did."
"Forgive?" Jiang Nuanzhu took a deep breath. "What did I do wrong that I need your forgiveness?"
"You suspect my relationship with Feng Nuan and you're following me and investigating me. Isn't that too much?"
"I said I wasn't following or investigating you!"
Jiang Nuanzhu suddenly felt powerless, as if he was playing the lute to a cow.
Yan Shi continued his condescending charity, "Your parents are at my house now. Come back and explain everything to me. We can continue our marriage as usual, and I can let bygones be bygones."
Jiang Nuanzhu was silent for a long time. "You want your parents and my parents to force me to marry you? Is such a marriage interesting?"
"What do you mean by coercion?" Yan Shi said calmly, "We are marrying two families. Shouldn't we listen to the opinions of both parents on whether to cancel the engagement?"
Just by listening to Yan Shi's words, Jiang Nuanzhu could already imagine what she might encounter when she went to Yan's house.
It must be that her parents persuaded her, Yan Shi's parents also persuaded her, and everyone tried their best to do it for her "good"... In the end, it was just treated as a trivial matter of her unreasonable behavior.
Jiang Nuanzhu was unusually firm. "No. Getting married and breaking off the engagement are a matter between you and me. I'm unilaterally notifying you of the breakup, not asking for your opinion."
Yan Shi's voice became colder and colder, half threateningly saying, "Jiang Nuanzhu, are you sure you want to cancel the engagement?"
Obviously, Yan Shi never took Jiang Nuanzhu's words to heart.
Jiang Nuanzhu said weakly but firmly: "This marriage must be cancelled!"
Yan Shi said in a deep voice: "Do you know the consequences of canceling the engagement? You are not young anymore, why are you still acting so childishly? Jiang Nuanzhu, your reckless behavior will destroy the Jiang family!"
"Yan Shi, are you threatening me? For the sake of our generations-long friendship, I have tried very hard not to say anything unpleasant. I will let you go free, so please give yourself some dignity."
Jiang Nuanzhu suppressed his anger and hung up the phone.
Every time she talked with Yan Shi for a few more words, she felt that the probability of her breast cancer developing would increase a lot.
Jiang Nuanzhu turned around and smiled helplessly, "Mr. Xu, you heard it just now. My situation is very confusing now."
Xu Heyi's face was calm. After a moment's hesitation, he asked, "Has Miss Jiang's engagement been called off?"
Jiang Nuanzhu said without hesitation: "Of course I quit."
Xu Heyi: "Then it wouldn't be immoral for me to propose to the Jiang family."
Jiang Nuanzhu was speechless. She didn't expect that Xu Heyi had not given up the idea of marrying her after hearing about her and Yan Shi's troubles.
She suddenly felt a little curious, "Mr. Xu, I'm not so outstanding that I'm irreplaceable. Why do you insist on marrying me?"
Xu Heyi's eyes were calm and his attitude was very serious. "Miss Jiang, I have been engaged for sixteen years and I have been waiting to marry you."
It is undeniable that when Jiang Nuanzhu met Xu Heyi's dark and deep eyes, her heartbeat was unbalanced for a moment.
Jiang Nuanzhu calmed down, lowered his eyes and said slowly: "I'm sorry, I only found out about the engagement last night."
Xu Heyi remained calm, "I know, that's why I came to propose this morning."
"Don't you think it's a bit sudden?"
"Sudden?" Xu Heyi's eyebrows twitched slightly, his voice low and magnetic, "It's not sudden. I've been preparing for this day for a long time."
Sixteen years, how could it be long?
Suddenly, Jiang Nuanzhu felt some psychological pressure.
Xu Heyi waited for her for sixteen years, but she almost married Yan Shi without knowing it.
Jiang Nuanzhu's lips moved, and she whispered, "Mr. Xu, although I didn't know it before, Yan Shi and I have been together for three years, which is considered a breach of contract. You don't have to abide by the agreement..."
Xu Heyi lowered his eyes and said, "Miss Jiang, I always keep my promises."
Seeing Jiang Nuanzhu's confused and helpless face, Xu Heyi's eyes warmed slightly, "I know this matter is very sudden for you, but I hope Miss Jiang will think carefully about this marriage."
"I have never had a first love, a mistress, or an ambiguous partner. I will give my wife my full respect, understanding, and love."
Jiang Nuanzhu was startled and subconsciously covered her eyes. "Mr. Xu, I just ended an engagement and am not ready to enter the next relationship..."
He was so serious that she had to be on guard.
Xu Heyi said slowly: "If you marry me, Miss Jiang can continue her work. I respect your career and hobbies. My parents divorced a long time ago and now they have each started their own families. They will not interfere in our lives."
"Of course, I won't control or restrict you in the name of your husband. If you feel that the relationship is not yet there, we can adapt to each other for a while."
Every word he said hit Jiang Nuanzhu's heart.
Jiang Nuanzhu seriously suspected that the old man in his family had given him the standard answer in advance.
She had been engaged to Yan Shi for three years but had not yet married because Yan's family hoped that Jiang Nuanzhu would concentrate on managing the business after marriage, stop taking classes and performing, and become a qualified wife of a wealthy family.
Jiang Nuanzhu has an indifferent attitude towards everything, but she is very stubborn when it comes to dancing.
Jiang Nuanzhu blinked and asked quietly, "What did you mean by your last sentence?"
Xu Heyi curled his lips into a faint smile, his sharp eyes revealing a hint of warmth, "I respect all of Mrs. Xu's wishes."
At last, Xu Heyi suddenly said, "Miss Jiang's dance is very soulful. It would be a pity if she stopped dancing."
This is what Xu Heyi said to Jiang Nuanzhu last night.
Jiang Nuanzhu didn't feel anything last night, but now it set off a huge wave in Jiang Nuanzhu's heart which was as calm as stagnant water.
Xu Heyi's words hit the weak spot hidden deep inside Jiang Nuanzhu.
Jiang Nuanzhu stared at him, her breathing becoming heavier.
Her eyes suddenly became more determined. "Did you bring your household registration book?"
Now it was Xu Heyi's turn to be surprised, "At home."
Jiang Nuanzhu nodded seriously and continued to speak shockingly, "That's perfect, I'll pick it up and get the certificate on the way."
Jiang Nuanzhu, who had always been hesitant, was decisive for once.
Thinking of the whole family waiting to interrogate her at the Yan family, the aggressive Yan Shi, and the tea-smelling Feng Nuan, Jiang Nuanzhu suddenly wanted to act impulsively.
Xu Heyi looked at her solemnly, with an expression in his eyes that Jiang Nuanzhu didn't understand. "Okay."
Jiang Nuanzhu wants to go into the old house and talk about this matter with the elders.
Xu Heyi suddenly said, "Wait!"
Jiang Nuanzhu turned around in confusion, thinking Xu Heyi regretted it, "You..."
"Lower your head." Xu Heyi's low and magnetic voice brushed past people's ears. Jiang Nuanzhu only felt her ears tingling and she lowered her head subconsciously.
Feeling a slight chill on her neck, Jiang Nuanzhu looked up in surprise and saw a white pear blossom pinched by Xu Heyi's slender fingertips.
She immediately realized she had misunderstood, and her cheeks flushed slightly, "Thank you."
Xu Heyi said slowly, "There's no need to be too polite between you and me."
He has a calm demeanor and can always soothe people's emotions with simple words.
When the news of the upcoming marriage was told to Mr. Jiang and Xu Heyi's parents, both sides were a little surprised.
I don't know how the two of them suddenly skipped the engagement and went straight to getting married.
Old Master Jiang was overjoyed and immediately made the decision, saying to Aunt Li, "Go and get Zhu's household registration book."
Mother Li took quick action.
Zhang Nanyi was quick to react and stepped forward, saying, "Since we're getting the marriage certificate today, shouldn't we also start planning the wedding as soon as possible?"
She put a jade bracelet on Jiang Nuanzhu's hand and said teasingly, "I wanted to give it to you just now, but I was afraid you would be embarrassed to accept it. Now you don't have the chance to refuse."
Jiang Nuanzhu's cheeks flushed slightly, and she felt a little overwhelmed.
Xu Heyi stood beside her, his tone calm, "Go ahead, this is for my future wife, unless you want to regret it?"
His low and deep voice brushed past her ears, and Jiang Nuanzhu's earlobes felt hot. She had no choice but to lower her eyes and accept it obediently.
Father Xu nodded slightly and rarely spoke, "Don't worry, Mr. Jiang, this marriage was personally requested by He Yi. Your granddaughter will not be treated unfairly in any way."
The three elders went to discuss the wedding preparations, and Xu Heyi took Jiang Nuanzhu straight to the Beijing Civil Affairs Bureau.
Xu Heyi's household registration book was delivered by the driver.
When getting off the car, Jiang Nuanzhu suddenly asked again: "Mr. Xu, have you really considered marrying me?"
Xu Heyi chuckled, "Miss Jiang, there's no regret in making this move."
Jiang Nuanzhu hesitated for a moment, but still asked the question in her heart, "Yan Shi and I have been engaged for three years. Do you really not mind?"
"mind."
Jiang Nuanzhu's heart tightened.
Xu Heyi's cold features were filled with warmth. "I mind that he had you for three years but didn't treat you well."
Jiang Nuanzhu stared at Xu Heyi with her glass-like eyes. For a moment, her chest was filled with complicated emotions and she didn't know what to say.
She hadn't felt this kind of cherished feeling from anyone other than her grandfather for a long time.
It took less than five minutes from entering the door to getting the certificate. Jiang Nuanzhu unfolded the marriage certificate and stared at the photo on it in a daze.
After a long silence, she finally said, "I'm actually married."
Xu Heyi smiled faintly on his thin lips, "Mrs. Xu, there is still one thing missing."
"Is something missing?" Jiang Nuanzhu didn't understand for a moment.
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