Chapter 61 I'll find some time to get the marriage certificate.
Chapter 61
Instinctively, she grabbed Li Zeyuan's wrist, "What did you say? Explain yourself!"
Li Zeyuan desperately shook off her hand, taking two steps back as he tried to avoid her touch. His expression was wary, as if afraid she would touch him again. "I made myself very clear. His family wants him to marry Peng Yue, but Li Changjing insists on marrying you. My grandfather said, 'Even if he quits his job, he still insists on marrying you.' Then my grandfather got very angry. He used to dote on him the most, but now he's quite ruthless. He took sick leave for him, and he's been at home for almost two months. Didn't he even tell you?"
She understood each of these words individually, but when put together, it took Wen Yining a long time to digest them, repeatedly pondering them in her mind, before she finally understood the meaning of the passage.
"How is that possible!"
"This is outrageous!" Wen Yining shook her head, took a few steps back, and laughed ridiculously, tears streaming down her face. "How could this be... I don't believe it, I don't believe it..."
All the torment we've endured, all the hatred we've felt, is because of this.
No wonder he reads the news, no wonder he's so free every day, no wonder he looked at her with such a strange expression that day—he knew how it would end when he went there.
But he told her that he simply didn't want to go.
She knew that Li Changjing seemed to have high emotional intelligence and be very tactful, like a mature and steady adult. He used to love flirting with her and saying sweet words, but when it came to his own true feelings, emotions, and real love, he became unwilling to express them and even became a little clumsy.
Perhaps it's because of his childhood experiences that he becomes less likely to speak his mind, especially when he's truly sincere.
His love was too subtle; over the years, it has been overlooked in an unseen corner countless times.
But how could he have made that choice? How could he have made that choice...?
Li Zeyuan watched Wen Yining's somewhat delirious state, silently laughing and crying at the same time. She kept laughing and saying she didn't believe it, as if she had heard an outrageous joke, but tears were silently streaming down her face, and her heartache was obvious in her eyes.
She cried quietly, but her emotions surged forth.
For some reason, as Li Zeyuan looked at Wen Yining, he seemed to be able to sense her emotions, and his eyes inexplicably reddened as well.
He suddenly thought of himself, his eyes reddening as he turned around, opened the car door, and frantically grabbed tissues to hand to Wen Yining. "I was also surprised that he would make this choice, but he is a very opinionated person. No one can sway him once he decides to do something. My uncle, my dad, and my other uncle, our family has tried to persuade him many times."
All sounds disappeared from her ears, and she could see no one. Wen Yining frantically took out her phone.
No, she has to go home! She has to ask Li Changjing in person!
She had never wanted to see him so desperately as she did at this moment.
Li Zeyuan calmed himself down, took a breath, and turned around with a tissue in hand, only to see Wen Yining's back.
Wen Yining had already run far away in the blink of an eye.
Li Zeyuan looked at the mess of tissues in his hand and, recalling Wen Yining's earlier appearance, felt a sense of unease.
He just said something that Li Changjing hadn't said. Could this have ruined things?
After thinking it over, Li Zeyuan got into his car and called Li Changjing. As expected, no one answered the first time. He rolled his eyes and called a second time, and this time the other end answered.
"What's up?"
Li Changjing had already hung up the phone. Li Zeyuan was furious when he saw the disconnected call on the screen, but a few seconds later, Li Changjing called back.
"You went to see her? What did you say?"
How can he still be so perceptive!
"say!"
Li Zeyuan was startled and immediately whispered, "I told him about how you were stripped of your power by Grandpa because of her, but before I could say anything, she ran away..."
After he finished speaking, Li Changjing hung up the phone immediately.
Li Zeyuan stared at the black screen, not angry for the first time. After a long while, he raised his head, his eyes reddening again, and he murmured to himself.
"Actually, I really admire you this time for daring to go against Grandpa and everyone else."
"Not just you, both of you are braver than me."
"This road is too difficult. I hope you can do what I couldn't do."
*
Wen Yining didn't care about anything else. Her mind was a mess, filled with thoughts of Li Changjing being dismissed because of her. She took a taxi straight home. The taxi was parked outside the yard, and she paid the fare early. Before it even stopped, she quickly opened the door, got out, and ran into the yard.
The summer evening sun was still scorching, cicadas chirped overhead, and the lush magnolia tree cast a shadow over the courtyard.
The bodyguard watering the flowers in the courtyard looked surprised when he saw her rushing in. "Miss Wen, why are you back so suddenly?"
Wen Yining didn't have time to answer; she had already run past the bodyguards and upstairs.
The wooden stairs creaked under her footsteps, and just as she reached the top, Wen Yining's hurried steps faltered.
Li Changjing sat by the window, a book in his hand. Outside, the dense green trees swayed in the summer breeze. Hearing the sound, he looked at her without any surprise in his eyes, as if he had been waiting for a long time.
She had so many questions to ask and so many things to say on the bus, but the moment she saw Li Changjing, she burst into tears.
The two looked at each other, Wen Yining bent over with one hand on the wall, tears streaming down her face as she looked at Li Changjing.
She clearly hated him most for abandoning her for his future and for wanting to marry someone else, but when he actually said he wanted to marry her, she was so sad.
Hatred had not yet dissipated when love came rushing in.
Li Changjing, how could you make such a choice...?
Li Changjing looked at her, said nothing, and walked over to help her step by step.
Neither of them spoke. Li Changjing helped her sit down over there. Wen Yining turned to look at him with tears streaming down her face. Too many emotions were stuck in her throat, and she couldn't speak.
I don't want to talk about the questions I wanted to ask him or the feelings I wanted to express anymore.
Fang Qi was right; deep down, the two of them were both extremely calm and clear-headed.
Wen Yining took a deep breath, broke free from Li Changjing's hand, took two steps back, wiped away her tears haphazardly, forced herself to calm down, and advised him with a heavy nasal voice, "Li Changjing, you can't make this choice."
She took another deep breath, suppressing all her sentimental and melancholic emotions. This was too serious; it concerned her entire life. All she could think about now was stopping him.
Wen Yining forced herself to calmly analyze things for him one by one, "This is not as simple as just losing a job. Let's talk about the job first. You said it's an indefinite sick leave, which means you're still holding the position. I remember many people in the system can't do other jobs, right? That means you probably can't develop in other industries. But you're not the kind of person who would stay at home and be a spoiled brat!"
Li Changjing remained silent, looking up at Wen Yining, whose voice still carried a heavy nasal tone. Her words were resolute, earnest, and intense, like a salesperson analyzing the pros and cons for him point by point, emphasizing how bad his path was and implying that he should abandon her and choose someone else.
She didn't mention her own feelings at all.
She didn't realize how heartbreaking it was to see her calmly analyzing the situation with red eyes and a nasal voice, nor did he realize how tender and deep his gaze was when he looked up at her.
Wen Yining sniffed and continued, "Let's talk about your family, your parents, your family's sacrifices and expectations for you. This will strain your relationship with your family, as well as your friends and your former bosses and colleagues."
"And you're only 29! You have so many ideals and ambitions!"
Wen Yining choked up as she spoke, “I remember you telling me about your childhood, about the ambition in your eyes back then, and about how Aunt Liu took me to the storage room. She felt sorry for you and kept all your trophies and certificates from childhood so carefully. She also kept all the problems you did when you were little, so many, filling several cabinets. She also said that you often did problems and read books until midnight when you were little.”
Unable to hold back her tears, she wiped them away and continued, "I went through the same thing when I was a child. I understand the feeling of having nothing but studying in my life. No matter who you are or how powerful your family is, the suffering is real. You have given so much, but now you want to stifle your ambition and aspirations of so many years. You can't do this, Li Changjing!"
"The price is too high, too heavy, I can't bear it. Life is long, and there are so many variables..."
"Did you hear me? Say something!"
She spoke so much in a fit of emotion, but he, the person involved, just watched her like an outsider, without saying a word.
Wen Yining couldn't help but shake his arm anxiously, "Li Changjing, say something!"
Li Changjing looked at her and spoke his first words after all she had said: "Now that you know, let's find some time to get our marriage certificate."
Wen Yining's mind went blank, and her expression went completely blank.
Realizing what he said, she let go of him. "What did you say? Are you crazy?"
Li Changjing slightly curled the corners of his mouth, revealing a blank smile devoid of any genuine emotion. "Perhaps."
Seeing his unyielding attitude, Wen Yining felt like she was going crazy. She covered her head with her hands and paced back and forth twice, and Li Changjing's gaze followed her until she stopped.
"Do you know what you're saying? Li Changjing, calm down!"
Li Changjing grabbed Wen Yining's arm, pressed her down to sit, and stared at her, "I'm very calm now, you're the one who's not calm."
"This is a choice I made after careful consideration. I know what I'm doing, I know the consequences, and I want to do this, not for you."
“It’s me who wants to marry you, not someone who wants you to marry me, understand Wen Yining? Don’t think about anything else, just stand behind me and follow my choice.”
Wen Yining's eyes were still wet with tears as she stared at him wide-eyed.
"Today is Wednesday, the day after tomorrow, I think Friday is a good day."
Wen Yining sat up abruptly and backed away, "No! I won't go!"
He can still go back and choose again now, but once he gets the marriage certificate, it will be too late.
He's making this choice now, but what about later? What if he regrets it someday? The price is too high; she doesn't want him to hate her for choosing her.
A sharp pain shot through Wen Yining's arm, and she gasped softly.
Li Changjing grabbed her arm to prevent her from backing away, and coldly told her, "It's not up to you."
*
Wen Yining couldn't leave after she came back. It wasn't until Friday that she understood why it had to be Friday, not Thursday or any other time.
Because he spent a whole day getting her family's household registration booklet.
Early in the morning, Li Changjing dragged Wen Yining out of bed. He stood in front of the mirror in the dressing room in a good mood, even preparing to go to the Civil Affairs Bureau to queue up for business himself. He also smiled at her more often.
Wen Yining didn't even glance at the dress beside her. She had barely slept all night and was watching Li Changjing change into his suit with a splitting headache. She stood behind him in her pajamas, still trying to persuade him.
"Think about it again. I'm not going. I don't want to carry that burden."
Li Changjing glanced at her in the mirror. "I'm not that pathetic to shift the blame onto a young girl. I've thought about it long enough and I know what I'm doing."
"But you'll never be able to get to where you want to be again."
“Not necessarily.” Li Changjing lowered his eyes and fastened his shirt cuffs. Under the overhead light, his long eyelashes cast a light shadow on his straight, jade-like nose. “They can’t really keep suppressing me forever. Let’s take a gamble. I bet I’m the most outstanding one of this generation, and they won’t be able to find a replacement.”
Wen Yining's eyes lit up, and she subconsciously stepped forward and hurriedly asked, "And then? What are your chances?"
"If you lose the bet, that's it. I'll teach you calligraphy for free from now on. If you win, you can go back to your original position. Even without your family's help, I can still help you get to the position you want."
Li Changjing fastened his tie, his expression cold, and said in a nonchalant tone, "Anyway, I'll win whether we win or lose."
Wen Yining's eyes darkened.
I'm afraid his statement that he wouldn't keep suppressing her forever was just a deliberate lie.
Looking at his back and his reflection in the mirror, she realized she had never seen anyone look better in a suit than Li Changjing. Only he could make a serious, rigid suit and an old-fashioned black jacket look cool and noble.
She always remembered the first time she saw him when she was 18. He was wearing an executive jacket and overcoat, and was surrounded by a group of high-ranking officials and dignitaries who were much older than him, with a gentle smile on his face.
Li Changjing was born to stand in a high position, in the middle of the crowd.
The words she used to say when she was young and impetuous and argued with him have now taken on a different meaning for her at 21.
She still didn't feel that just because she was an ordinary person, she should feel ashamed and unworthy of him, but she couldn't represent the thoughts of the whole society.
"Li Changjing, let go. It's not worth it, it really isn't worth it."
"I know."
Wen Yining couldn't understand, "Then just let go."
Li Changjing paused, his dark eyes fixed on her in the mirror. After a while, he turned around, a cold smile playing on his lips. "Let go? I want to let go too. Do you think I don't want to? If I could let go of you, I would have done so long ago."
Wen Yining was startled, as if she could sense his emotions for a moment. She looked at Li Changjing and was speechless for a long time.
She could barely open her mouth, but she said softly and sincerely, "Then you should calm down for a while and wait and see. I wish you a speedy letting go."
Li Changjing's face instantly turned cold.
Wen Yining immediately realized that she had said the wrong thing again.
"Wen Yining, I'll pretend I didn't hear those words. I don't want to hear you say them a second time. Now, change your clothes."
Wen Yining was forced to change her clothes, and Li Changjing led her stiffly outside.
As she approached the car and looked at it heading towards the Civil Affairs Bureau, Wen Yining felt as if she had seen a monstrous flood and began to back away.
Once you're married, there's no going back!
Four or five bodyguards lived in the courtyard every day to protect her, and she couldn't resist at all; she was still shoved into the car.
Yue Feng was driving, and a bodyguard was sitting in the passenger seat. It's probably the most outrageous combination of people being forced into marriage.
Once in the car, Li Changjing was clearly in a good mood again. He gently tidied her slightly messy hair, looking both gentle and dignified. "Ningning, be good, don't force me to keep you tied up all day."
The car drove at a steady speed toward the Civil Affairs Bureau. It was only eight o'clock, and the summer morning sun was already shining with heat on the streets. At eight o'clock on a weekday, the streets were busy yet orderly.
Wen Yining hadn't slept all night, and staring blankly at the bright sunshine outside the car window, she felt an extreme sense of unreality.
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