“I’m perfectly sober.”
Qin Shuzhi said with a serious expression, “I’m not here to scam a marriage or swindle money. I have a proper job—I’m a high school teacher. My family lives here in town—my parents and a younger brother. I own a car and a house in my name, and my income is roughly…”
She listed her occupation, family structure, and personal assets one by one.
Finally, she added urgently and earnestly, “Don’t worry, there’s nothing wrong with my health…”
Shi Yuanxing looked at the woman who was volunteering herself, his gaze deep as a whirlpool. “Are you… doing this to spite your ex-boyfriend?”
Qin Shuzhi was taken aback for a moment, then said firmly, “No. He’s not worth it.”
She had already wasted three years of her youth on Shen Yichen, and she regretted it so much it felt like she’d swallowed a fly. How could she possibly ruin her own life again because of that man?
Shi Yuanxing looked at her and asked softly, “Then… why?”
Qin Shuzhi was silent for a moment before confessing, “I’m in a hurry to get married because I don’t want to be a burden to my family. Of course, that doesn’t mean I’d blindly pick someone to register a marriage with. As for why I chose you…”
She looked at Shi Yuanxing. “It’s because I think you’re a good person. Even though we’ve only met once, I feel like you’re someone… suitable to spend the rest of my life with.”
He had just said that getting married meant being responsible for someone for a lifetime.
That showed he had a strong sense of responsibility.
Moreover, his way of handling things and his demeanor were both very refined.
They say you should marry someone who is inherently of good character, and now she believed that wholeheartedly.
Although this Mr. Shi might not dote on her the way her father doted on her mother, putting her mother first in everything, she was certain he was a hundred times better than that bastard Shen Yichen.
A man who was filial to his elders and considerate and attentive—his character probably wouldn’t be bad.
Hearing the praise, a flicker of emotion stirred in Shi Yuanxing’s eyes, but he still asked cautiously, “This is a whirlwind marriage. Are you… sure you won’t regret it?”
“No.”
Qin Shuzhi straightened her back and said solemnly, “I am someone who holds absolute seriousness and loyalty toward marriage.”
Then her head drooped again. “Of course, we’ve only met for the second time, so it’s rather abrupt and presumptuous of me to say all this. I’m sorry. If you’re not interested, just pretend I never said anything…”
“I’m willing.”
At the man’s resolute words, Qin Shuzhi suddenly lifted her gaze and stared fixedly at him.
Shi Yuanxing cleared his throat and introduced himself formally: “My name is Shi Yuanxing, 27 years old. I was abroad before and only returned to the country two months ago. I don’t have a job in China at the moment. My family consists of my grandmother, my father, and an older sister. As for my assets… I apologize, I haven’t had time to tally them up yet. But as for money, I can hand it all over to you after we’re married.”
Qin Shuzhi quickly waved her hands. “No, no, you don’t need to give me your money.”
He lived in an old house on the outskirts, had no job at the moment—he was probably short on funds, which was why he said he hadn’t had time to tally things up.
Qin Shuzhi didn’t care about any of that.
He’d only been back in the country for two months, so it was normal for him to still be job hunting. Besides, she wasn’t marrying him for money.
Shi Yuanxing suddenly thought of something and added, “Oh, of course, I’m also in very good health.”
Qin Shuzhi was taken aback, recalling the words she had blurted out moments ago out of nervousness, and couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh. Then she heard Shi Yuanxing say again:
“Also, I am absolutely loyal and serious about marriage—and about you.”
Meeting his devout gaze, Qin Shuzhi’s heart raced a little, but she still confirmed, “So, you’ve accepted my proposal?”
Proposal?
Her choice of words made Shi Yuanxing smile faintly.
“Yes, it’s my honor.”
His voice, magnetic with a hint of delight, reached her ears, and Qin Shuzhi’s heart inexplicably skipped a beat.
“If there’s no problem, shall we head to the Civil Affairs Bureau after we finish eating?”
They were going to get their marriage certificate just like that?
Why did it feel like he was even more eager to tie the knot than his grandmother?
But Qin Shuzhi was in a hurry too, and she nodded immediately. “Okay.”
And just like that, in a matter of minutes, they had settled the matter of their marriage.
Afterward, neither of them seemed to have much appetite—within five minutes, they both set down their chopsticks.
Shi Yuanxing, though anxious himself, still asked politely, “Are you done eating?”
Qin Shuzhi nodded emphatically. “Mm.”
Shi Yuanxing said, “Then shall we go to the Civil Affairs Bureau now?”
“Mm-hmm. Let’s each go home to get our documents, then meet at the bureau.”
But Shi Yuanxing said, “I’ll go back with you to get yours.”
Qin Shuzhi was surprised. “Don’t you need to get your own documents?”
“I’ll have someone bring them over.”
“…”
Watching his demeanor, Qin Shuzhi had the strange impression that he was afraid “the duck would fly away before it reached his mouth.”
An hour and a half later.
The two arrived at the Civil Affairs Bureau, where a young man delivered Shi Yuanxing’s documents and then left.
Coming out of the bureau, both of them now held a marriage certificate in hand. Qin Shuzhi stared at the red booklet in her hands, and the first thought that flashed through her mind was:
Mom won’t have to worry about my marriage anymore.
She knew that although her mother placed great importance on her marriage, she wouldn’t be fixated on whether the person she married was Shen Yichen or someone else.
And she believed that Shi Yuanxing… would surely win her family’s approval.
Shi Yuanxing looked at his wife, who had been staring at the marriage certificate without moving for quite a while, and asked, “What are you thinking about?”
Qin Shuzhi looked up at him and smiled. “I’m thinking, if I suddenly bring such a handsome husband home, what kind of reaction my parents will have.”
It seemed she had no intention of hiding him away.
Shi Yuanxing’s handsome brows instantly lit up with delight. “So when do you plan to bring your husband home?”
“If you’re not in a hurry for me to meet your family, I’d like to go to my parents’ house with you tonight—is that okay?”
She wanted to tell her family about breaking up with Shen Yichen as soon as possible, not willing to wait a single moment longer.
Shi Yuanxing nodded, his voice low and pleasant: “I’ll follow Mrs. Shi’s arrangements.”
Hearing the address “Mrs. Shi” for the first time, Qin Shuzhi’s heart gave a sudden leap.
From today on, she was Mrs. Shi.
“Then I need to prepare gifts for meeting my in-laws in advance.” Shi Yuanxing mused, then asked her, “What do your parents and your younger brother like?”
He didn’t have a job yet, and Qin Shuzhi didn’t want him to spend too much. “Our family doesn’t put much emphasis on formalities. We can just go to the supermarket and buy some fruit and gifts.”
Shi Yuanxing looked at her with an expression that said, “That’s way too perfunctory.”
“Meeting your parents for the first time—besides letting them see how handsome I am, I also need to show them my sincerity.”
Shi Yuanxing’s tone sounded like he was joking, but the look he gave her was earnest and sincere. “That way, they’ll feel at ease entrusting you to me.”
Qin Shuzhi felt a warmth in her chest, then heard him add, “Besides, from now on, they’ll be my family too, so it’s only natural that I take the time to understand their preferences.”
Hearing this, Qin Shuzhi’s eyes grew slightly hot.
Even during the three years she’d been with Shen Yichen, he had never been this attentive to such details.
Shi Yuanxing, on the other hand, was not only sincere in his attitude but also thoughtful in his considerations—clearly showing that he took this marriage seriously.
Qin Shuzhi’s satisfaction with her husband rose another notch on top of an already perfect score.
“My dad enjoys a good drink, but my mom keeps a tight rein on him, so he rarely gets the chance,” she happily shared her family’s preferences. “My mom loves beauty and skincare, and recently she’s become obsessed with some foreign skincare brand… As for my younger brother, nothing in particular, except he has this little quirk—he loves collecting all kinds of fountain pens. Though he’s on a business trip right now and isn’t in Jiangcheng…”