However, even if a pie really fell from the sky, Shen Xuezhi didn’t believe it would ever land on her.
A man as outstanding as Li Chengyuan could choose anyone he wanted. How could it possibly be her?
She knew her own place.
With her background, she simply wasn’t good enough for him.
Li Chengyuan was responsible and decent, but that didn’t mean she could take advantage of that and push her luck.
He had saved her life, yes—but she couldn’t use that as leverage to force him into marriage. She couldn’t do something like that.
“No need,” Shen Xuezhi shook her head. “You don’t have to take responsibility for me.”
Li Chengyuan pressed his lips together and said nothing more.
They had only just met. If there was any “feelings” between them, it would be impossible.
His earlier suggestion of responsibility had mostly come from a soldier’s instinct—to take responsibility.
And perhaps… a faint, barely noticeable heartbeat of emotion he himself hadn’t yet recognized.
In truth, after learning that she was Zhou Weidong’s fiancée, Li Chengyuan had already dismissed the idea.
But just now, for reasons he couldn’t explain, he had brought it up again.
Maybe it was because she was alone in a strange city, living in a poor, run-down rental in an unsafe area… He knew she was looking for work, trying to stay near the military district.
If she married him, life would become much easier for her.
He could even arrange for her to work in the cultural troupe instead of doing exhausting restaurant work like this.
But all of these thoughts only passed briefly through his mind.
Since Shen Xuezhi had refused, there was no need to say anything further.
Men like Li Chengyuan, who had long held positions of authority, had their pride.
He would only offer something once.
If she didn’t want it, he would let it go.
“By the way…” Shen Xuezhi hesitated. “Chief, you’re already this age and still haven’t married?”
The corner of Li Chengyuan’s mouth twitched slightly.
“This age?” he repeated inwardly. Did she think he was that old?
“I haven’t married,” he said flatly. “I’ve been busy with the army. In recent years, I’ve been on the battlefield even more.”
“You soldiers protecting the country are truly amazing,” she said sincerely.
She understood it well—having once been engaged to a soldier herself.
Military life was harsh, almost no holidays, constant duty, and during wartime, life and death were uncertain. In such conditions, few people had the luxury to think about marriage.
Only recently, after being moved into a support role, had Li Chengyuan started to be pressured by his family.
Even so, he remained busy, with little time to meet women.
Even the blind dates arranged for him were just perfunctory meetings.
In his world, career always came first.
Reaching the position of chief at such a young age was not only due to ability and family background—but also his ambition.
In his life plan, he only needed to marry and have children before thirty.
He still had two years left. No rush.
Seeing the time, Li Chengyuan glanced at his watch.
“The driver has finished work. I’ll take you back.”
“No need, it’s really close. I can go back myself,” Shen Xuezhi quickly refused and said goodbye.
Not long after she left, she was stopped.
“Why were you having dinner with Chief Li? How do you even know him?” Zhou Weidong asked sharply, his face dark and cold.
“What does it have to do with you? We’re not getting married anymore—stay away from me!” she said impatiently and walked past him.
“Stop!” He blocked her path. “You don’t explain, I won’t let you go!”
She looked at him coldly. “What, I can’t even eat with another man now? Do you live by the sea? Why do you care so much?”
“I’m your fiancé! Don’t I have the right to know?” he snapped. “You shameless woman! If you leave me, who else would marry you?”
She almost laughed.
Where did his confidence come from?
Did he really think she couldn’t survive without him?
Just moments ago, Chief Li had even asked whether he should take responsibility for her.
Of course, she would never tell him that.
Instead, she said coldly, “Chief Li helped me. I treated him to a meal. What’s wrong with that? You should worry less about me and more about your sick nephew.”
Zhou Weidong’s face changed instantly.
“What did he help you with?”
She replied indifferently, “You still owe me two hundred yuan of dowry money. Since you can’t pay it back right now, I asked Chief Li to advance your salary. We’re even now.”
“What?!” His face went pale.
That money was needed for the hospital fees!
“How can you be so heartless?!” he shouted angrily. “That’s a matter of life and death! If anything happens to my nephew, Yu Wei will hate you forever!”
“Let her hate me then,” she said coldly. “I don’t care.”
“You’ll get your dowry back later when I get paid. Why can’t you just wait? This is a special situation,” he said, trying to reason with her. “Yu Wei is my sister, she’s family. I don’t want you two to have conflict later.”
“Who said I’m going to be your family?” she snapped. “Stop dreaming—I’m not marrying you!”
“Stop talking nonsense! You’re just trying to get my attention!” he said angrily. “Besides, we’ve been together so long—if you don’t marry me, who will you marry?”
For a moment, a face flashed in her mind—Li Chengyuan.
She shook it off immediately.
“I’d rather stay single forever than marry you.” She pushed him away and ran off quickly.