Mrs. Liang was overjoyed by this scene. She had always adored Su Zhaotang since childhood, when she looked like a delicate porcelain doll, and found her even more delightful now that she had grown up.
And so, the two families settled on the marriage arrangement.
At this point, Zhou Lingjing’s Father chimed in, “You two should find some time to go get your marriage certificate as soon as possible, to avoid any unexpected changes. Our family is very satisfied with Zhaozhao. Feelings can be nurtured after marriage—isn’t that what’s popular nowadays, marrying first and falling in love later?” His words were filled with undisguised affection for Su Zhaotang, his future daughter-in-law.
After hearing this, Zhou Lingjing seemed lost in thought. After a moment, he looked up at Su Zhaotang and said, “I have a business trip to Germany the day after tomorrow afternoon. If you’re okay with it, we can find some time tomorrow to go get the certificate.”
Su Zhaotang was taken aback. She hadn’t expected things to move so quickly.
She gently bit her lower lip, her long, curled eyelashes casting shadows on her cheeks as she lowered her gaze. As if mustering her courage, she suddenly looked up and replied to Zhou Lingjing, “Okay.”
After all, whether she got the certificate sooner or later, she’d have to do it eventually, Su Zhaotang thought to herself.
After the meal, the two families walked out of the restaurant together. Zhou Lingjing’s Mother, perceptive as ever, said to her son, “You should take Zhaozhao home. Your father and I are meeting an old friend with Zhaozhao’s parents, and Zhaozhao didn’t drive here.” They really had arranged to meet that old friend tonight—after all, that person had helped them tremendously in business over a decade ago, saving the group billions in losses.
“Auntie, there’s no need to trouble Jing Gege. I can just take a taxi,” Su Zhaotang quickly said.
“It’s no trouble at all. He has nothing to do tonight, and this is a good chance for you two to spend some time together,” Mrs. Liang said warmly, patting Su Zhaotang’s hand.
Zhou Lingjing, of course, understood what his mother was up to. He stepped forward and said to Su Zhaotang, “Let me take you home. It’s not safe for you to take a taxi alone at night.”
Since Zhou Lingjing had said so, Su Zhaotang obediently got into his car.
She naturally took the passenger seat—after all, she wouldn’t dare treat Young Master Zhou as her chauffeur.
In the confined space of the car, the atmosphere suddenly turned awkward. Moreover, as soon as Zhou Lingjing got in, Su Zhaotang felt enveloped by a strong, masculine scent mixed with the faint aroma of sandalwood. Combined with his naturally cool and aloof aura, it made her feel flushed and flustered.
Once Su Zhaotang fastened her seatbelt, she didn’t know what to say. After all, they hadn’t seen each other in so many years, and she was no longer the three-year-old child she once was.
So, she lowered her head and fiddled with the small pendant on her bag, tugging at it absentmindedly, refusing to speak to Zhou Lingjing.
The car slowly started moving.
“Don’t you have anything you want to ask?” Zhou Lingjing’s low, lazy voice sounded beside her ear.
Su Zhaotang turned to look at him, and her eyes were met with his handsome profile. The shadows cast by the streetlights outside accentuated the sharpness of his features.
She stammered in reply, “I don’t know what to say.”
Zhou Lingjing wasn’t surprised by her answer. He chuckled nonchalantly, “It seems we’ve grown distant now that we’re older. When you were little, you never hesitated to call me Jing Gege.”
“Can a brother be the same as a husband? Who can adjust so quickly when suddenly having to marry you?”
Su Zhaotang shot him a coquettish glare, retorting stubbornly.
“What did you say? Husband? The little girl changes her tune quite fast,” Zhou Lingjing teased her intentionally. Sure enough,
the next second, Su Zhaotang’s face flushed crimson. She fumed, “I was just making a comparison, I didn’t call you that!”
“Alright, alright, I won’t tease you anymore,”
If he teased her any further, the little girl might really get upset. Zhou Lingjing knew just how far to push—at least the atmosphere in the car was much better than when they first started.
Zhou Lingjing’s luxury sedan slowly came to a stop in front of the Su family villa.
Night had fallen, and the streetlights on either side of the road cast soft beams of light, adding a touch of tranquility and mystery to this affluent neighborhood.
He stepped out of the car and, like a gentleman, walked to the passenger side to open the door for Su Zhaotang. Watching her slender, straight legs slowly step out of the car, Zhou Lingjing offered his arm for her to hold onto for support.
Once Su Zhaotang stood steadily and obediently before him,
she smiled slightly at Zhou Lingjing. “Thank you for driving me back.”
He lowered his head and slowly spoke:
“Remember to bring all the documents tomorrow. I’ll come pick you up, and we’ll go to the Civil Affairs Bureau together. Now, take out your phone.”
“What do you need my phone for?” Su Zhaotang asked, looking puzzled.
“To add WeChat, Miss. Otherwise, how will we stay in touch?”
Zhou Lingjing’s voice trailed off with a hint of laughter, clean and light, like a feather gently brushing against the strings of her heart.
Obediently, she took her phone out of her bag and opened WeChat. With a “beep,” the two were connected on WeChat, marking the beginning of the intersection of their lives from then on.
“Should I go in now?” After adding him, Su Zhaotang waved her phone-holding arm at him, blinking her eyes as she asked.
“Mhm, goodnight,” Zhou Lingjing replied softly.
Zhaotang waved goodbye. He watched her petite figure gradually shrink until it disappeared from sight before finally driving away.
The next morning, the sun was bright, and the sky was a clear, washed blue. Sunlight spilled across the earth, draping everything in a golden coat, bringing warmth and comfort.
Sunlight slipped through the gaps in the curtains, quietly creeping into Su Zhaotang’s room.
Mother pushed open the door, tiptoed to the bedside, and gently nudged Su Zhaotang, saying softly:
“Sweetheart, wake up. Get ready ahead of time so Lingjing doesn’t have to wait for you. Otherwise, you’ll be rushing again.”
Su Zhaotang slowly opened her eyes at her mother’s call, stretched, rubbed her eyes, and sat up.
Mother gently stroked her face. “Hurry and get ready, okay? It’s not polite to keep others waiting.”
“He might not even have left yet. Why are we in such a hurry?”
Su Zhaotang, still drowsy, clung to her mother, acting spoiled.
“Stop being cheeky and get up quickly,”
she pulled her daughter, who was clinging to her, away.
“The sooner you two get your marriage certificate, the sooner I’ll feel at ease. Zhou Lingjing is such an outstanding man—so many socialites are vying for him. If it weren’t for the agreement between our families, you might not even have been able to marry him, sweetheart.”
Hearing her mother say this, Su Zhaotang pouted and quietly replied, “It’s not that exaggerated.”
After a flurry of activity, Zhou Lingjing’s message quietly arrived:
“I’m at your doorstep.”
“I’m almost ready,” Su Zhaotang replied, sending a cute bunny sticker.
To take her ID photo, Su Zhaotang deliberately wore a pure white dress, looking both gentle and charming.
Her makeup was light and elegant, like a gentle spring breeze brushing across her face. Her cheeks carried a faint blush, her eyes bright and spirited, her eyeliner smooth and natural, her lashes fluttering softly. The entire look was neither heavy nor flashy, giving off a fresh and refined feeling.
She checked her makeup and outfit in the mirror repeatedly, only stepping out of the room once she was sure everything was perfect.