“I’m leaving too.”
Xiao Jingwen acted as though he hadn’t heard Lin Xi’s form of address at all. He simply stood up without a care.
Normally, there was no need for the younger Xiao son to come along for an engagement proposal. The elders were more than enough. Yet he had insisted on coming, and now he wanted to leave early too.
Commander Xiao frowned and was just about to reprimand Xiao Jingwen for his lack of manners when Xiao’s mother tugged at his sleeve and gave him a meaningful look.
Xiao’s mother said, “Then let all four of the young people go. The adults can discuss the marriage ourselves.”
“It’s a good opportunity for Mingze to take Lin Ran out and let her pick out a watch.”
Lin Ran was still completely stunned that Xiao Jingwen hadn’t been harsh with Lin Xi. It was only when she heard her name that she belatedly came back to her senses.
Realizing that Xiao’s mother was telling Zhao Mingze to take her shopping, she looked shyly at him.
“Mingze, ge.”
Just thinking about being able to go shopping with Zhao Mingze and make Lin Xi jealous made her feel thrilled!
Zhao Mingze’s fist tightened at his side.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Director Jin knew perfectly well that the person he had his eye on was Lin Xi!
Yet she hadn’t even bothered to fight for him and had simply decided his marriage with Lin Ran.
What did she mean by saying that he had no elders, so the Xiao family had to decide his marriage?
Was this how they were going to decide it?
Were they afraid that the Lin family didn’t know he was an orphan with neither father nor mother? Why did they have to specifically mention that there was no one left in the Zhao family?
Hah.
They were simply trying to distance themselves from him, making it clear, both explicitly and implicitly, that he, Zhao Mingze, was only an adopted son and that the Xiao family was not his backing!
“Mingze?”
Seeing that Zhao Mingze had remained silent for so long, Xiao’s mother prompted him.
There was unmistakable impatience in her tone.
What was wrong with this child?
Having no sense of responsibility was one thing, but the marriage had already been settled, and now he was actually showing them attitude right in front of his future father-in-law’s family.
Did he not understand that, under the current circumstances, they were the ones asking the Lin family to marry their daughter to him?
If the Lin family changed their minds and made a big fuss about this, his future would be ruined!
Although Zhao Chuan had died in disgrace, he had nevertheless been Oldest Son Xiao’s comrade for so many years. Since he’d left behind a child, they would take care of him as much as they could.
Xiao’s mother urged him again.
“Mingze, go on. The marriage is already settled. Why are you still being shy?”
The four of them walked out together.
Of the four people, three were people Lin Xi absolutely did not want to see.
She couldn’t believe how terrible her luck was.
She walked quickly ahead, making it obvious through her actions that she had no intention of walking with them.
Lin Ran saw through her intentions and jogged a few steps to catch up, then sneered quietly, “What? My dear sister, did you lose to me when it came to choosing a marriage partner, and now you’re throwing a tantrum?”
“Throwing a tantrum?”
Lin Xi laughed.
She stopped and looked back.
Zhao Mingze’s disgust toward Lin Ran was obvious even to the naked eye, so he had crossed the road and walked on the opposite side.
Lin Xi raised an eyebrow and asked Lin Ran, “What exactly am I supposed to be jealous of?”
“Jealous that you drugged a man into a fake marriage, and now he has to marry you while holding his nose and suppressing his disgust?”
“If you don’t have a mirror, don’t you have urine? Is urine matte or something? Why don’t you take a good look at yourself?”
“You!”
Soldiers had sharp hearing. Seeing Zhao Mingze getting closer and closer, Lin Ran was afraid he might hear them, so she didn’t dare talk back.
She merely sneered, curled her lips, and leaned close to Lin Xi’s ear again.
“My dear sister, go ahead and keep putting on a tough act. It’s fine. I’ll gladly accept your husband for myself… Ah!”
Lin Ran’s scream overlapped with the crisp sound of a slap.
Right there in the middle of the street, Lin Xi had actually dared to hit her.
Lin Ran stared at her in disbelief, clutching her cheek.
“Are you crazy?!”
After drinking the spiritual spring water for two days, this body was clearly much stronger.
At the very least, her wrist no longer hurt when she swung her hand.
Lin Xi looked at the distinct palm print on Lin Ran’s face, noticeably deeper than the previous two times, and was quite satisfied.
“You’re still talking about gladly accepting my husband? Your appetite is really something. Why don’t you gladly accept your own father too?”
After throwing out that line, Lin Xi turned and walked away.
She knew Lin Ran wouldn’t dare chase after her.
Just as Lin Ran had said herself, they were on a public street.
For all these years, Li Yufen had spared no effort to build Lin Ran’s image as a sweet, sensible, gentle, and virtuous girl in public.
As for Lin Xi?
She already had a terrible reputation.
She was practically standing in the ruins already. There was nowhere further for her reputation to fall.
If things really came to blows, the person who would suffer would be the one with the good reputation.
As for her, no matter how outrageous she acted, people would only think she was behaving exactly as expected.
Thinking about it this way, Lin Xi suddenly felt that being a spoiled, overbearing young lady was incredibly satisfying.
She walked to the roadside and casually picked a restaurant.
She was just about to push the door open when a hand came from behind and wrapped around hers on the door handle.
“Mind sharing a table today?”
That familiar male voice.
Xiao Jingwen again.
In broad daylight, Lin Xi immediately pulled her hand back and instinctively looked around.
Lin Ran and Zhao Mingze had disappeared somewhere.
She clenched her fist and threatened Xiao Jingwen, “Stay away from me, or I’ll slap you too.”
“Mm.”
Xiao Jingwen responded indifferently.
He pushed open the restaurant door with one hand but didn’t enter. Instead, he leaned against the door and casually tilted his chin toward the inside.
“Sit down and talk?”
Even if she didn’t sit, this man was clearly going to follow her anyway.
Lin Xi paused, then found the table in the farthest corner and sat down.
“What exactly are you trying to do?”
“I like you.”
“I want to marry you.”
The same words as last time.
Lin Xi didn’t want to repeat her reasons for refusing a second time.
“I already told you last time. I’m not getting married.”
“Why?”
Xiao Jingwen leaned back in his chair with his arms crossed, staring straight at her.
“Are those three reasons you gave me last time the only ones? Is there anything else?”
His relentless questioning made Lin Xi feel as though she were being interrogated at a military tribunal.
No.
Even an interrogation wasn’t this intense.
She raised her eyes to look at him.
Xiao Jingwen was actually smiling at her.
There was a hint of amusement in the curve of his lips.
“What if I can resolve those three reasons you gave for rejecting me?”
Resolve the reasons she had rejected him?
Before Lin Xi’s brain could process what he meant, Xiao Jingwen lowered his eyes, took a passbook from his pocket, and slid it across the table to her.
“Lin Xi, that day you said my military rank and money were nothing but status and empty titles to you.”
“I want to tell you that’s not true.”
“There’s 13,200 yuan in this passbook. My monthly salary is 112 yuan. Our Xiao family’s military allowances are handed over to the family, and I won’t keep a single cent for myself.”
It was only money.
Lin Xi curved her lips and was just about to speak when Xiao Jingwen seemed to know exactly what she was going to say.
He didn’t give her the chance.
“I know you don’t lack money. What I mean is that this is only part of my sincerity.”
“In other words, whatever you want, as long as it’s within my ability to give it to you, I will.”
“All of it.”
Lin Xi looked at Xiao Jingwen.
Even his way of confessing was as domineering as the way he’d gripped her chin that night and made her call his name.
How could there be a man like this?
She gave a helpless little laugh and shook her head.
Xiao Jingwen watched her, his Adam’s apple moving up and down.
“Second.”
“That day, you said my family background would be a shackle for you.”
“That one’s easy to solve.”
Xiao Jingwen looked at Lin Xi.
“If I guarantee right now that no one in my family can control me, and no one will be able to control you either, would you think that’s just empty words?”
Lin Xi raised an eyebrow.
Her answer was obvious.
Xiao Jingwen nodded.
“Fine. Then I’ll guarantee it to you another way.”
“I’m currently stationed in the Tibetan region on the frontier, while my family is all in Beijing. Doesn’t that make my point more convincing?”
“The premise of that being convincing is that I give you the chance to pursue me,” Lin Xi corrected him.
She didn’t believe Xiao Jingwen hadn’t thought of that.
He was deliberately phrasing it this way simply because he wanted to set a trap for her.
Even after she’d exposed his intentions, Xiao Jingwen showed not the slightest embarrassment.
He smiled and asked, “Lin Xi, don’t you think we’re actually quite compatible?”
“You don’t like being controlled, and I happen to be able to have your back.”
“As long as you agree to be with me, I guarantee that from now on, you can slap whoever you want. No one will be able to bully you.”
When Xiao Jingwen said this, a fierce edge appeared in his eyes.
It was the savage gaze of a great beast, filled with ambition and raw bloodlust.
That look…
It really was exactly as he’d said.
No one would be allowed to bully anyone who belonged by his side.
Lin Xi propped her chin on her hand and stared at Xiao Jingwen with interest.
To be honest, this man was incredibly attractive, from his looks all the way to his personality.
“And my sincerity.”
Since Lin Xi wanted to look, Xiao Jingwen let her look openly.
His gaze was unwavering.
“Give me a chance. Let’s see how things go between us.”
Xiao Jingwen said, “I’ll be staying in Beijing for a month this time. During this month, don’t avoid me.”
“If, after the month is over, you still feel we’re not right for each other, I won’t pester you again.”
Getting involved with a man like a wild wolf probably wouldn’t make it easy to get away afterward.
Lin Xi didn’t want the trouble.
She still intended to refuse him.
But once again, Xiao Jingwen saw through her thoughts before she could speak.
“Lin Xi, you said it yourself that day. We’re each fifty percent responsible.”
“Can we take responsibility together?”