After Escaping Marriage - Chapter 87
Chapter 87
Cheng Zhanxi grabbed Yu Qingtang, took her to the restroom to rinse her hand with water, then came back and applied some burn cream for her.
Yu Qingtang wasn't directly scalded by hot water; her fingers were just a little red, with no signs of blistering. She wasn't very sensitive to pain and usually wouldn't even apply medicine. But Cheng Zhanxi held her hand, carefully applying the ointment, her eyes filled with pity. Watching Cheng Zhanxi, Yu Qingtang surprisingly felt a little pain too.
It was like an ancient, unmelting iceberg, slowly thawing from the inside out under the sunlight, welcoming a new beginning.
Cheng Zhanxi occasionally looked up to observe her expression.
Yu Qingtang's pretty brows furrowed slightly.
Cheng Zhanxi softened her movements, her voice even gentler than her actions: "Did I hurt you?"
Yu Qingtang didn't know how to describe the subtle yet intense feelings surging in her heart. She reached out and covered Cheng Zhanxi's hand, which was holding the cotton swab.
Cheng Zhanxi glanced down, then looked up, her eyes meeting Yu Qingtang's.
Ge Jing had been watching the drama unfold for a while. As a non-core subject teacher, all her tasks for the semester, except for grading final exams, were completed. She was basically in the office all day. Anyway, being single and a homebody after work, her workplace was her only social activity.
From Wen Zhihan asking Cheng Zhanxi out, Yu Qingtang getting jealous and distracted, to burning her hand, Cheng Zhanxi rushing forward, both angry and distressed, and now to applying medicine, they suddenly started gazing deeply into each other's eyes, pink bubbles beginning to appear between them.
The two of them hugged.
Ge Jing, thoroughly satisfied, averted her gaze, tiptoed out, and even thoughtfully closed the office door.
Wednesday, the final exams officially began.
The examination rooms for the final exams were randomized, no longer based on their regular classes, but arranged according to the grade ranking from the midterm exams, from top to bottom. For the students, the moment they received their exam room number, they knew their rank in the grade and their future goals to strive for.
Several students from Class Seven were assigned to Exam Room 1 and Exam Room 2, meaning they had pushed out students who originally belonged to the experimental class positions when they entered senior high, which was greatly encouraging. There would be another opportunity for class reassignment during subject selection in the second year of senior high; students whose grades surpassed those in the experimental class had a chance to enter it.
Cheng Zhanxi volunteered to join the invigilation team and was assigned to invigilate in the same exam room as Yu Qingtang on the first day.
The two went to the examination affairs office together to collect the papers and entered Exam Room 1, where the top fifty students in the grade were. Xiao Qing from Class Seven was seated in the first row of the second group, directly opposite the door. Yu Zhou was in the second to last row.
Cheng Zhanxi finished checking the list of names and read out the instructions, while Yu Qingtang counted the answer sheets beside her, checking for any missing ones.
Below, not a single person spoke; all sat upright and attentive. Some stared straight ahead, while others closed their eyes in meditation.
Ding ling ling ling—
The exam bell rang, and the students uniformly picked up their pens and began to answer the questions on the exam papers smoothly.
In the quiet classroom, only the rustling sound of pen tips writing could be heard. The atmosphere of answering questions was tense and solemn, reminding Cheng Zhanxi of her distant student days, making her unconsciously hold her breath.
In contrast, Yu Qingtang slowly patrolled the classroom, her expression revealing no emotion.
Cheng Zhanxi thought to herself: A top scholar is indeed different. Does she perhaps miss the exam setting?
After the exam ended, the two went to the examination affairs office to hand in the papers.
Cheng Zhanxi asked, "Teacher Yu, have you ever gotten second place?"
Yu Qingtang said nonchalantly, "No."
Cheng Zhanxi smiled, "That's amazing."
Yu Qingtang said, "I graduated many years ago." Meaning, don't praise things from so long ago.
Cheng Zhanxi quickened her pace by two steps, got in front of her, and walked backward facing her, holding the bag of exam papers to her chest. She said, "Teacher Yu is also an excellent homeroom teacher now."
Yu Qingtang smiled.
"Teacher Cheng." A male voice suddenly came from beside her.
Cheng Zhanxi stopped and turned to look.
Yu Qingtang, however, let her smile fade, watching the young male teacher in blue jeans and a black leather jacket approach, instinctively feeling hostile.
Lu Yubin: "Hello."
Cheng Zhanxi nodded, "Hello." She stood beside Yu Qingtang, not hiding her aloofness and coldness.
Lu Yubin looked embarrassed and, trying to make small talk, said, "Going to hand in the papers?"
Cheng Zhanxi: "Yes, they're waiting for them over there. We won't disturb you, Teacher."
Cheng Zhanxi took Yu Qingtang's hand and walked away.
After encountering Lu Yubin, Yu Qingtang's mood visibly dropped. She didn't know Lu Yubin, who taught biology to the first years, but she could tell he was trying to chat up Cheng Zhanxi. This was just what she saw; Cheng Zhanxi's life was so rich and colorful, who knew how many unseen instances there were.
They all liked Cheng Zhanxi. She was just an inconspicuous one among them. Now, relying on her status as a friend, she stayed with her. In the future, if Cheng Zhanxi had someone closer, would she still treat her like this?
There were no evening self-study sessions during the final exams, and the math exam hadn't started yet. Yu Qingtang passively had a lot of free time. She went grocery shopping, bought snacks, and lazed around at home watching TV with Cheng Zhanxi, freely wasting time. Except for going back to her own apartment across the hall to sleep at night, Yu Qingtang wished she could be permanently attached to 2102, or more precisely, to Cheng Zhanxi.
On Friday, Cheng Zhanxi gave her the painting she had requested. The paint was still very wet, and Cheng Zhanxi told her to place it in a well-ventilated area.
On Friday night, Yu Qingtang almost found an excuse to stay and sleep in 2102, to sleep in the same bed as Cheng Zhanxi—on the last day before Cheng Zhanxi left. She hugged her pillow and hesitated at her own doorway for a long time, but ultimately didn't take that step.
She returned to her study, where Cheng Zhanxi's self-portrait oil painting was displayed. Yu Qingtang looked at the woman with peach-blossom eyes and clear, bright pupils, who was smiling at her, for a long time, and her mood gradually calmed down.
This was enough. She couldn't be too greedy, wanting beauty to stay with her forever. What in the world lasts forever?
At least this time, she had left her with an unforgettable memory, as well as her painting and her photograph.
Cheng Zhanxi's flight was on the weekend. Yu Qingtang took her to the airport.
Yu Qingtang couldn't remember what Cheng Zhanxi had said to her in the taxi, nor what she had replied. She held Cheng Zhanxi's hand, restraining her strength so as not to hurt her knuckles. Her mind was muddled, and she looked down at the hem of Cheng Zhanxi's clothes, not even daring to let her gaze rest on her face.
The taxi stopped in front of the terminal building, having reached its destination.
Cheng Zhanxi saw the numbers on the meter through the gap in the protective barrier. Because her left hand was being held very tightly, it also affected her right hand's movement to get her phone.
Cheng Zhanxi scanned the QR code to pay. The driver got out, opened the trunk, and helped her take out her luggage. The two people in the back seat were still in the car. Cheng Zhanxi softly called the woman beside her, "Yu Qingtang?"
Yu Qingtang looked at her, her voice slightly adrift as she asked, "What's wrong?"
"We're here," Cheng Zhanxi said, looking at her with some concern.
"Where are we?" Yu Qingtang finished speaking and then, answering her own question softly, said, "We're at the airport, right?"
"Yes, we should get out now." Cheng Zhanxi opened the right-side car door and led Yu Qingtang out of the car.
The driver pushed the suitcase over.
Cheng Zhanxi: "Thank you, Master."
"You're welcome." The driver got back in the car and drove the taxi away. The parking spot was quickly taken by the next vehicle.
Cheng Zhanxi placed one hand on the handle of her suitcase and looked through the glass into the bustling airport lobby.
"Shall we go in?"
"...Mm." Yu Qingtang hesitated for a second outside the door, then followed her into the airport lobby.
There were still two hours before boarding. Cheng Zhanxi unhurriedly went to the counter to check in and also check her luggage. The young lady at the counter took her ID card. Cheng Zhanxi tilted her head towards the preoccupied Yu Qingtang and said, "Do you want to come to the Capital City for a few days? I can send you back in a few days."
Yu Qingtang shook her head, looking down at the tips of Cheng Zhanxi's shoes.
Cheng Zhanxi pinched her face, making her look up. "What's wrong with you?"
Yu Qingtang still shook her head. "Nothing."
Cheng Zhanxi said willfully, "I'm not going back."
Yu Qingtang's heart stirred, but reason overcame emotion. She coaxed softly, "No, didn't you say you have work?"
"I'm not doing it. I'm not short of money anyway," Cheng Zhanxi said, deliberately pouting.
"You promised."
"Can't I go back on my word?"
"No, you can't." Yu Qingtang's voice was still soft as she reasoned with her, "A person cannot stand without credibility. Promises must be kept."
The young lady at the counter interrupted the lovebirds, saying in a formulaic tone, "Ms. Cheng, your check-in procedures are complete."
"Thank you." Cheng Zhanxi instantly showed a polite smile to the counter staff, put away her ID and boarding pass, and pulled Yu Qingtang to the side.
She swung Yu Qingtang's wrist, continuing to be willful, "I really don't want to go back. I can't bear to leave you."
Yu Qingtang coaxed her in a soft, gentle voice.
After being coaxed for a long time, Yu Qingtang's low spirits improved, while Cheng Zhanxi, who had been pretending, found her feigned reluctance turning real, feeling an unwillingness to leave many times stronger than before.
Twenty minutes before boarding, Yu Qingtang urged her repeatedly, and Cheng Zhanxi was reluctantly half-pushed by her to the security checkpoint.
Yu Qingtang straightened her collar and fastened the buttons of her overcoat one by one.
The airport had air conditioning, so the temperature wasn't low. Besides, she would have to take off her coat for the security check, so the buttons would have to be undone anyway. Cheng Zhanxi looked down at her serious and focused actions, not interrupting her.
There were five buttons in total. No matter how slowly Yu Qingtang fastened them, she reached the last one. She kept her head down, motionless for a long time, then her hand returned to Cheng Zhanxi's collar, methodically tidying it a second time. She looked up into Cheng Zhanxi's eyes, as if she had a thousand words to say, but in the end, only uttered one sentence: "Safe journey, take care of yourself."
"You too," Cheng Zhanxi said. "Remember to miss me. Send me a message when you miss me. If I don't answer the phone, it means I'm busy. I'll call you back when I'm free."
Yu Qingtang hummed softly in agreement.
Her fingertips gently brushed aside the stray hairs on the woman's forehead, caressing from her side profile down to her chin. Cheng Zhanxi's beautiful and radiant face was reflected in her dark eyes, as if she wanted to engrave this scene deep into her heart.
"Yu Qingtang," the woman called her softly.
"Hm?"
Cheng Zhanxi lifted her eyelids and looked deeply into her eyes.
Without warning, Yu Qingtang fell into the woman's deep gaze, her mind going blank for a moment.
The features in the dark eyes gradually magnified, filling her pupils.
Yu Qingtang felt a warmth on her lips.
Her eyes widened. She saw Cheng Zhanxi's closed eyes in front of her, her lightly trembling eyelashes.
The warmth on her lips continued, a steady stream of heat transferring to Yu Qingtang's slightly cool lips.
Yu Qingtang's long lashes gently closed, and she too closed her eyes.
Passersby in the airport cast glances, either surprised or blessing, at the two women kissing at the security checkpoint.
Cheng Zhanxi didn't deepen it; it was just a simple light press of their lips, but it lasted for a good ten seconds or more.
She straightened up, holding her ID and boarding pass, and looked at Yu Qingtang seriously, saying, "See you next semester."
Yu Qingtang's heartbeat ran wild, her ears buzzed, and it took a long time for Cheng Zhanxi's face to come into clear view. She responded with an "Mm."
Before walking into the security checkpoint, Cheng Zhanxi turned back and said again, "Yu Qingtang." She said, "I'll be back soon."
Yu Qingtang waved at her, her eyes glistening with a layer of moisture.
Cheng Zhanxi walked very slowly, full of reluctance, but her figure still gradually disappeared from sight.
Yu Qingtang squatted down, buried her face in her arms, and bit her lower lip hard, tears streaming down.
A passing girl squatted down beside her and kindly offered a tissue.
Yu Qingtang shook her head, politely declining. She stood up, wiped the tears from her cheeks with her sleeve, and left the airport.
Cheng Zhanxi found her boarding gate in the departure lounge. People were already queuing for ticket inspection. Cheng Zhanxi boarded in order and sat in her seat. She kept feeling like she had forgotten something. She took out her phone and stared at the chat window with Yu Qingtang for a long time before remembering that Yu Qingtang had never said "goodbye" to her.
Cheng Zhanxi's chest ached dully.
She still doesn't believe I'll come back.
Yu Qingtang got into a taxi home. The phone in her pocket vibrated.
[Cheng Zhanxi]: Remember the first wish I made on my birthday?
Yu Qingtang's eyes were slightly red. She breathed softly, looking at the message without moving.
The top of the screen showed "The other person is typing..."
Cheng Zhanxi's second message quickly followed.
[Cheng Zhanxi]: My first wish is: I hope Yu Qingtang will never leave me.
Yu Qingtang's eyelashes were moist. She tapped into the chat box. The cursor blinked, but her hand didn't touch the keyboard.
[Cheng Zhanxi]: Can you promise me?
Yu Qingtang's fingertip landed on the virtual keyboard.
Cheng Zhanxi stared at the intermittent "typing..." indicator. A minute later, Yu Qingtang replied.
[Yu Qingtang]: Yes.
[Cheng Zhanxi]: You can also make a wish to me, anything at all.
[Yu Qingtang]: I have no wishes.
Cheng Zhanxi pressed her hand to her heart, the pain making it almost impossible to breathe. After a while, she leaned back into her seat.
The plane was about to take off. The in-flight announcement and flight attendant reminded passengers to turn off their mobile phones and fasten their seatbelts. Cheng Zhanxi sent a message, "About to take off, will let you know I've landed safely," turned off her phone, and closed her eyes.
...
Capital International Airport, domestic arrivals exit.
A handsome man with broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and long legs, his figure well-maintained, had an elegantly dressed, exquisitely made-up noblewoman on his arm. A handsome young man wearing silver-rimmed glasses, and a middle-aged butler in a white shirt, black vest, and black trousers stood respectfully to the side, wearing white gloves, his hands behind his back, posture ramrod straight.
This group of people standing at the exit instantly attracted everyone's attention.
Some young girls looked at the handsome young man, their cheeks slightly flushed, a shy smile appearing on their faces.
People started coming out of the exit one after another. Mrs. Cheng, Song Qingrou, glanced inside, a hint of eagerness in her eyes, but her voice was still gentle as she asked, "Why isn't Xixi out yet?"
Father Cheng, Cheng Yi, patted her hand. "Don't worry, she won't get lost."
Cheng Yuanxi said, "I'll give my sister a call."
He took out his phone, dialed, and listened for a moment, then looked at his parents with a slightly complicated expression.
Song Qingrou asked nervously, "What's wrong?"
Cheng Yuanxi said, "The line is busy."
Song Qingrou sighed, "A grown daughter is no longer under her mother's control." After arriving, she didn't call her parents first, but her sweetheart.
After Cheng Zhanxi informed Yu Qingtang of her safe arrival, she then dialed her family's number.
Cheng Yi's phone rang.
Cheng Yuanxi and Song Qingrou looked at him at the same time.
Cheng Yi took it out, saw the caller ID, and couldn't stop his eyes from crinkling with a smile.
A trace of resentment flashed in Cheng Yuanxi's eyes, but he didn't dare say anything.
Song Qingrou cleared her throat and held out her hand.
"My dear wife, please." Cheng Yi respectfully handed her the phone.
Cheng Zhanxi heard the call connect and said, "Dad... Oh, it's Mom. I've arrived, almost at the exit. Picking up my luggage took a while. Have you been waiting long?"
Song Qingrou said gently, "No, we just arrived too."
Cheng Zhanxi smiled and started running, pushing her suitcase.
"I'll be at the exit right away!"
Song Qingrou heard the sound of the suitcase's swivel wheels rapidly gliding across the floor tiles, and her heart leaped. She quickly said, "Walk slowly, don't run." "I won't fall, I see you!" Cheng Zhanxi raised the hand holding her phone and shouted, "Dad! Mom!"
Cheng Yuanxi stood in front of his parents and waved vigorously.
In that short time, Cheng Zhanxi had already come out. Uncle Deng, the butler, took the suitcase from her hand. Cheng Zhanxi threw herself into the arms of her brother, who was closest. Cheng Yuanxi lifted her off her feet and spun her around twice. Cheng Zhanxi laughed and patted his shoulder before he put her down, holding her wrist and looking her up and down.
Cheng Yi and Song Qingrou both gathered around, examining her from head to toe.
Cheng Zhanxi wore a smile, like a puppet, letting them turn her around.
Song Qingrou's eyes reddened. She dabbed the moist corners of her eyes with a handkerchief she carried with her. "You've lost weight..."
Cheng Zhanxi winked at her dad. Cheng Yi quickly put his arm around his wife's waist and coaxed, "Let's talk about it at home. We'll make some delicious food to help you gain it back."
Cheng Yuanxi also said, "Yeah, didn't Aunt Yun make a lot of dishes? Let's go home first."
The father and son successfully coaxed Song Qingrou. Cheng Yuanxi squatted down in front of Cheng Zhanxi. Cheng Zhanxi leaned onto the young man's broad back, and Cheng Yuanxi easily lifted his sister onto his back. Looking at his parents walking a few steps ahead, he tilted his head to Cheng Zhanxi and said, "Sister, why do I feel like you've gotten heavier?"
Cheng Zhanxi pinched his ear.
Cheng Yi turned back and, blatantly lying, said, "Don't bully your sister."
Cheng Yuanxi also earnestly admitted his mistake, "Understood, Dad."
Cheng Yuanxi's steps were steady, and Cheng Zhanxi, lying on his back, hardly felt any bumps. She pulled the young man's ears, fiddling with them back and forth, then moved to rub his face.
Cheng Yuanxi tutted, "You're blocking my eyes."
Cheng Zhanxi said "Oh," and covered his eyes completely with her palm.
Cheng Yuanxi, faced with complete darkness: "..."
The siblings arrived at the car a little later than their parents. Uncle Deng, the butler, dressed in a white shirt, black vest, and tailcoat, stood tall beside the open car door, one hand on his chest, his head slightly bowed.
Cheng Zhanxi gave a slight nod and bent down to sit in the back seat of the extended black Bentley.
Cheng Yuanxi followed her in.
Uncle Deng closed the car door with his white-gloved hand, making only a very soft sound.
It was quiet inside the car. Song Qingrou took the blanket her husband handed her, unfolded it, and draped it over Cheng Zhanxi. She lovingly stroked Cheng Zhanxi's smooth face and said gently, "You must be exhausted from the flight, right? Sleep for a while. I'll wake you when we get home."
Cheng Zhanxi nodded obediently and yawned.
She took her phone, glanced at it, and confirmed there were no messages from Yu Qingtang before closing her eyes and lying down.
Song Qingrou gave her husband a look—Did you see that?
Cheng Yi sighed.
Cheng Yuanxi took off his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose.
His sister was back, but her heart was still elsewhere.
The thick sun-blocking film on the car windows didn't let any sunlight in, and Cheng Zhanxi slept soundly. The black extended Bentley drove all the way to a sprawling estate on the mountainside in the eastern part of the city, a place of green hills, clear waters, birdsong, and fragrant flowers. The black lacquered iron gates slowly opened from both sides. Along the wide road, servants in the gardens and on the lawns were attending to their duties. Hearing the car, they looked up and watched as it drove into the depths of the estate, hidden by lush greenery.
Cheng Zhanxi was woken up by her brother. She hung her arms around Cheng Yuanxi's neck, and he half-carried her out and placed her on the ground.
A neat row of people stood at the entrance—all servants of the Cheng family.
The Cheng family had many servants, and a separate building had been constructed behind the main house for them to live in. Usually, everyone was together, and the Cheng family members weren't pretentious, especially with some of the older servants who had watched the siblings grow up, whom they addressed as "Uncle" and "Aunt." Several of Cheng Zhanxi's "elders" were standing among them.
Cheng Zhanxi was wide awake now. "There's no need for such a grand welcome, is there?"
Uncle Deng said, "They came on their own. They said they missed you, Miss."
Cheng Zhanxi smiled, "Alright then." She went up and hugged them one by one, affectionately calling out, "Aunt Qiu, Uncle Fang, Aunt Min..."
After all the commotion, Cheng Zhanxi stepped into her home.
The first thing she smelled was the aroma of food.
Cheng Zhanxi turned back, made a "shh" gesture, and quietly opened the kitchen door and went in.
The aroma in the kitchen was even stronger—soup, stir-fried dishes. A smile played on Cheng Zhanxi's lips as she tiptoed behind the live-in housekeeper and suddenly threw her arms around her shoulders, shouting in her ear, "Aunt Yun!"
Aunt Yun flinched, nearly dropping the spatula in her hand into the pot. She turned off the stove and looked back, her expression a mixture of amusement and exasperation.
Cheng Zhanxi burst out laughing.
Cheng Zhanxi came out of the kitchen, her cheeks puffed out, smiling like a cat that had stolen a fish.
Cheng Yuanxi sat on the sofa with his long legs crossed, tossing a washed grape into his mouth. "Did Aunt Yun give you a special treat again?"
Cheng Zhanxi swallowed the beef in her mouth and said, "Of course."
Cheng Zhanxi sat down on the loveseat. A servant placed a glass of freshly squeezed juice on the coffee table in front of her. Cheng Zhanxi said thank you, picked up the juice, took a sip, and looked content.
Song Qingrou immediately said with heartache, "Just drinking a glass of juice makes you look like this. My dear daughter, how much hardship did you endure outside?"
Cheng Zhanxi almost spat out the juice in her mouth. Amused, she said, "Mom, if you keep this up, I won't know what expression to make. I didn't suffer, really. If you don't believe me, bring a scale. I've actually gained weight." She ate with Yu Qingtang every day; a beauty made food more appetizing, greatly increasing her appetite.
Song Qingrou was still very sad.
She hadn't seen Cheng Zhanxi for too long, so she was inevitably exaggerating a bit.
Cheng Zhanxi got up, walked over, pushed her dad aside, and snuggled into Song Qingrou's embrace, acting like a sweet, doting daughter.
Aunt Yun opened the kitchen door. "Sir, Madam, Young Master, Young Miss, dinner is ready."
The food was set on the table. Cheng Zhanxi said, "Don't start eating yet, wait for me a moment."
She picked up her phone, took a picture, and without shying away from her parents, tapped into her chat with Yu Qingtang and sent the photo.
"Alright." She took a soup bowl and served her parents each a bowl of soup.
Cheng Yuanxi: "What about me?"
Cheng Zhanxi gave him her empty soup bowl.
Cheng Yuanxi smiled and served soup for himself and his sister.
The Cheng family observed the rule of not speaking during meals, but today was an exception. Cheng Zhanxi peeled crabs while answering questions from her parents and brother: how things were in Sicheng, whether being a teacher was tiring or difficult, if the students were obedient, if she encountered any mischievous ones. Cheng Zhanxi said everything was fine, not tiring or difficult, the students were all obedient, there were some mischievous ones, but they had learned their lesson, there was one named Xiang Tianyou...
Cheng Zhanxi had just extracted the meat from a crab claw when a bowl appeared beside her hand, half-filled with white, fluffy crab meat.
Cheng Zhanxi smiled, her eyes crinkling. "Thank you, Brother."
Song Qingrou had been leading up to it for a while and finally got to the main point: "That... how is your pursuit of that person going?"
Cheng Zhanxi said, "Almost there. It should be fine by the time I go back next."
Song Qingrou exchanged a glance with her husband and said in an unreadable tone, "I really want to know who this extraordinary person is, to make my daughter chase for so long without success."
Cheng Zhanxi looked at her and smiled, "Mom, have you forgotten that Dad pursued you for three years?"
Song Qingrou's expression softened, the corners of her lips turning up.
Cheng Yi said gently, "Your mother was worth it."
Cheng Zhanxi said, "She is also worth it."
The Cheng family was known for producing devoted lovers. Cheng Yi and Song Qingrou were famous model-couples, the kind featured in magazines. Going further back, Cheng Zhanxi's grandparents and great-grandparents were all deeply devoted couples, steadfast in their love. High society was often hypocritical, making true affection seem rare. The Cheng family, generation after generation, had maintained an upright family tradition, which continued to this day.
Marrying into the Cheng family not only brought support for one's company but also a deeply loving and unwavering husband/wife. How wonderful was that? But the premise was that the Cheng family had to approve of you.
It was said that when Cheng Yuanxi was just born, those wanting to arrange a child betrothal wore out the Cheng family's doorstep. Among them were the Third Young Master of the Wei family and his wife, Yu Ci. Back then, Wei Tingyu was high-spirited and handsome, while Yu Ci was gentle, lovely, and immensely talented. The couple were both outstanding individuals, not just relying on their family's prestige, but possessing their own brilliance.
When Cheng Yuanxi had his first birthday celebration, the Third Young Master Wei came with his wife to congratulate them. The hall was full of dignitaries, a gathering of prominent figures. When the two of them entered from the doorway, they had an ethereal, fairy-like presence.
The entire hall fell silent.
Not only the guests present at the time, but even Cheng Yuanxi, still in swaddling clothes, was captivated and reached out his hands for Yu Ci to hold him.
At that time, Yu Ci was not yet pregnant. She picked up the baby boy and, while teasing Cheng Yuanxi, jokingly said, how about arranging a child betrothal, if she were to have a daughter in the future.
For a long time afterward, Song Qingrou remembered the way Yu Ci looked up and spoke to her: delicate eyebrows drawn with a charcoal pencil, exquisite eyes, nose, lips—everything was beautiful, too beautiful. A fairy descended to earth would look just like that.
So, that day, she agreed.
Song Qingrou considered herself somewhat part of the literary and art circles and had a friendship with Yu Ci, who was a painter. After impulsively agreeing, she didn't regret it too much. The Third Master Wei and his wife were too good-looking; their daughter would surely be as beautiful as a celestial being. What if her son fell in love at first sight when he grew up? Even if not love at first sight, what if they gradually grew to like each other through long-term association?
Taking a step back, if he really didn't like Miss Wei, then Song Qingrou would just have to swallow her pride and go back on her word. What was the big deal?
Modern people still engaging in arranged marriages—it was too feudal, unacceptable.
But Song Qingrou calculated everything, except that Yu Ci would die, and die on the operating table.
After Yu Ci's death, the Third Young Master Wei secluded himself and almost cut off all contact with the Cheng family. The Cheng family never even had the chance to meet his daughter, the Seventh Miss Wei. This half-joking, half-serious marriage arrangement was thus shelved until last year when the Wei family suddenly brought up the old matter, demanding the Cheng family fulfill the agreement. Only then did Song Qingrou vaguely remember, oh, I arranged a marriage for my son.
Let's not talk about what happened later. Cheng Yuanxi turned out to be gay, and Cheng Zhanxi directly fled, not even going to meet the fiancée. The Cheng family felt ashamed towards the Wei family. When Wei Tingyu came to visit, Song Qingrou could barely lift her head, feeling even more in the wrong because of Yu Ci's early death. Otherwise, if they could have confronted the matter openly, with both parties to the engagement present, breaking it off would be breaking it off. Even if Yu Ci wanted to pull her hair, she wouldn't resist, but she was dead.
Especially with Wei Tingyu's current situation, she was even more worried and didn't know what to do.
Cheng Zhanxi had always been concerned about this engagement. Although her parents wouldn't force her, it was still an unstable factor. What if she brought Yu Qingtang to the Capital City to play, ran into friends from their circle, and they, upon seeing her and Yu Qingtang, said, "Is that your fiancée, Miss Wei, beside you?"
Yu Qingtang would turn her head, looking at her in disbelief: "What Miss Wei? Which Miss Wei? You already have a fiancée?"
Cheng Zhanxi would instantly be in a "chasing wife to the crematorium" scenario, not even ashes remaining.
Or perhaps, she would bring Yu Qingtang to her home to meet her parents, and the Wei family would show up, demanding she marry into the Wei family.
Cheng Zhanxi, again, in a "chasing wife to the crematorium" scenario.
As long as Yu Qingtang came to the Capital City, the probability of Cheng Zhanxi ending up in the crematorium was as high as 99.9 percent.
Therefore, before that day arrived, Cheng Zhanxi had to eliminate all potential hazards and present a completely unattached, innocent self to her.
Cheng Zhanxi finished eating the crab, washed her hands, and came back. She asked, "A while ago, Yu Jianxing visited me and said she hadn't heard about me breaking off the engagement. Mom, didn't you say you'd handle it for me? If my girlfriend finds out I have this mistaken engagement, your daughter's lifelong happiness will be gone."
Song Qingrou's face immediately filled with worry, and she put down her chopsticks.
Cheng Zhanxi: "?"
Cheng Yi put the chopsticks back into his wife's hand and said, "It's a long story. Let's eat first."
After dinner, the family sat on the sofa in the living room. The servants, including the housekeeper Aunt Yun, had withdrawn, leaving only the four members of the Cheng family.
Cheng Zhanxi: "What's wrong? Did something unexpected happen?"
Cheng Yi had just started to speak when Song Qingrou said, "Let me say it. It's all my fault for being infatuated back then."
Cheng Zhanxi burst out laughing. How could there be a story about infatuation?
Song Qingrou didn't mention the part about impulsively arranging the marriage. She said, "Something unexpected happened."
Cheng Zhanxi guessed, "Uncle Wei doesn't agree?"
Song Qingrou nodded.
Cheng Zhanxi was completely puzzled. "Why? Does he insist on marrying his daughter into our family?"
Song Qingrou nodded again. "He can't find a better family for now." In the entire Capital City, there might not be a better family than the Chengs.
Cheng Zhanxi's eye twitched; she caught the key word. "For now? What's wrong with him?"
Song Qingrou sighed, her eyes tinged with sadness as she looked at her and said, "Your Uncle Wei... he doesn't have much time left."
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