“Everything a normal married couple does, I will do…”
From the first meeting arranged by both families to getting the marriage certificate, Su Qiu and Zhou Jingqian took only half a month.
On the night after receiving the certificate, Su Qiu lay in bed, holding the marriage certificate up to her eyes.
So this was it—she was married. From their first impression of each other at the initial meeting, to the harmonious conversations between their elders, to the business partnership binding their two families together.
Everything went so smoothly it was like stepping out the door, slipping on a banana peel, and landing right inside the restaurant you’d been craving.
If there was anything different about this marriage…
Su Qiu looked at the other person sharing the red-background photo on the marriage certificate.
She knew too little about him.
Between them, not only had they reached the marriage certificate stage, but they would also be living together next, and doing many more things as husband and wife.
It’s fine, Su Qiu reassured herself. Nothing in this world is too difficult—especially when it comes to a handsome man.
Half a month ago, Su Qiu had been stuck on a plot point in her script. She’d tried doing a handstand on the bed, knocking a wooden fish three hundred times, and vowing to eat only vegetarian for a month—still, not a single spark of inspiration emerged.
Her brain seemed to have secretly consumed two jars of paste behind her back.
Su Qiu had never been good at multitasking, and yet everything had to pile up at once.
She closed her laptop, tilted her head, and leaned weakly against the shoulder of the elderly woman beside her, like a willow swaying in the breeze.
“Grandma, my head feels a bit big.”
“It’s not big at all—small, and round!”
The old woman patted her granddaughter’s head, laughing that this perfectly shaped round head was all thanks to her watching over the baby’s sleeping position when she was born.
The old woman chattered on, her topic drifting from her granddaughter’s little round head all the way to the first tomato plant she’d cultivated in the countryside when she was young, and the few small, round red tomatoes it had produced.
Eventually, the old woman realized she’d wandered off track: “Anyway, he was on a business trip abroad yesterday, but when he heard you’d finally come back from the film set, he flew all the way back to Ning City this morning just to see you.”
“Xiao Qiu, don’t feel pressured. Just treat it as having a meal with me and your father, and making a new friend on the side, alright?”
If it were her biological father trying to persuade her, Su Qiu could have deflected with a few words, but she was most defenseless against her grandmother’s gentle, soft-spoken coaxing.
Xiang Yiming and Su Jin had divorced many years ago, and Su Qiu had always lived with her father and grandmother.
Su Qiu had only been eight then. At night, when she missed her mother and couldn’t find her, she could only pout and cry loudly.
Xiang Yiming couldn’t soothe her, so he pulled out his phone and called his ex-wife. But Su Jin had already flown abroad, leaving only a calm sentence on the phone: “Xiao Qiu will have to get used to it sooner or later.” Then she hung up.
During that period, Su Qiu cried herself to sleep and woke up with tears in her eyes.
But just as Su Jin had said, as time passed, she got used to it. She accepted it.
Xiang Yiming had built his business from scratch and was busy with work outside. It was the old woman who stayed by her little granddaughter’s bedside night after night, holding her, soothing her.
She raised her granddaughter, acting as both mother and grandmother.
Looking at the white hair at her grandmother’s temples, Su Qiu rubbed her round head against her grandmother’s shoulder again and again.
Grandma was getting old. Last year she’d been ill, having walked through the gates of death. Since waking up from that hospital bed, she’d started worrying about her granddaughter’s marriage.
Su Qiu gently fiddled with the pearl necklace around her grandmother’s neck: “Alright, I’ll meet him.”
Hearing her finally agree, the old woman was overjoyed and immediately went downstairs to arrange lunch—only to nearly twist her ankle on the stairs.
“It’s fine, it’s fine!” The old woman waved off the anxious housekeepers: “You all go prepare lunch to welcome my future grand… to welcome Ning City’s most impressive and accomplished young President Zhou!”
Su Qiu, who had been about to rush out of the master bedroom to steady her grandmother: “…”
Just a moment ago it was “making a new friend,” and now he’s already the future grandson-in-law.
Grandma had her surgery last year. Though it was successful, she had aged considerably since.
But the old woman clearly still thought she had the constitution of an eighteen-year-old, bouncing around all day, scaring the housekeepers throughout the villa half to death.
At ten in the morning, Xiang Yiming rushed back from the company just as Su Qiu was coming down the stairs.
Seeing his daughter’s expressionless face, he thought she’d changed her mind at the last minute.
Xiang Yiming was usually stern-faced, with thick brows and deep-set eyes, carrying the imposing air of a Guan Gong statue. Employees at the company would quietly detour around him, whispering as they went:
“The CEO hasn’t smiled in a long time.”
“That’s because the young miss hasn’t come to the company to visit him in a long time.”
“Xiao Qiu, Qiuqiu, where are you going?”
The moment he faced his daughter, the authoritative voice that could silence the entire company with a single hum involuntarily turned syrupy sweet.
Su Qiu looked up at her father, habitually wiping away the goosebumps on her arm, then shifted the bag of rabbit feed in her arms: “Feeding the rabbits.”
“Oh, go on then, go on!” Xiang Yiming was visibly relieved, the corners of his mouth lifting as his Guan Gong face bloomed into a doting father’s smile.
Su Qiu kept two little rabbits at the southern end of the garden—one white, one gray. The white one was called Little White, and the gray one was called Little Gray.
After pouring out the rabbit feed, Su Qiu crouched in front of the hutch, watching them eat while simultaneously bothering them as they did.
She stroked one rabbit’s soft, velvety ears, then gently poked the other’s round, plump little face.
The rabbits were hungry and had no time for their mischievous owner, so they just kept munching away with soft, rhythmic sounds.
Su Qiu’s mood instantly lightened. She couldn’t help but laugh out loud, the corners of her mouth curving upward and her eyes sparkling with bright, cheerful delight.
Once the rabbits had eaten their fill, she scooped Little Gray up into her arms.
Little Gray wore the expression of one who had seen it all before—once fed, it switched into full “give-up and go with the flow” mode, splaying all four paws and flopping directly onto its owner’s lap: Come on, pet me!
Su Qiu’s laughter grew even lighter and more carefree. She didn’t notice the footsteps approaching from the side until a shadow slowly fell over her, blocking the sun.
She instinctively looked up, her gaze colliding with a tall, imposing figure.
The girl’s clear, round apricot eyes instantly clouded over with a hint of confusion and wariness. The Little Gray rabbit in her arms also tensed its ears slightly.
It was only natural to be instinctively on guard against a strange, tall man. At the same time, his almost unfairly handsome face stirred a flicker of curiosity in Su Qiu’s heart.
After a moment’s hesitation, Su Qiu guessed who he was.
Realizing that she was still crouching on the grass and that it seemed rather undignified, she hurriedly tried to stand up—but she moved too quickly, and her vision suddenly went black.
Before Su Qiu could stumble back down, a warm, large hand had already steadied her arm.
With his other hand, he swiftly caught Little Gray as it slipped from her embrace.
Little Gray was timid. Being held in a stranger’s palm frightened it so much that it shot up onto the roof of the hutch in a flash, then leaped down and scurried back into its own little nest.
Su Qiu wished she could crawl into a nest too, just to escape this moment of embarrassment.
“…Thank you,” Su Qiu said, eyes lowered. As she spoke, she noticed a rabbit hair stuck to the corner of her mouth and quietly reached up to wipe it away.
“You’re welcome. My sister gets dizzy sometimes too when she stands up too quickly.” The man withdrew his hand and took a calm half-step back.
His voice was low and warm, and his words offered her an easy way out. Su Qiu’s embarrassment quickly faded.
This was a man who knew how to save someone’s face.
“You are…?” Su Qiu looked up. Even though she had already guessed who he was, the proper formalities still had to be observed.
“Hello, I’m Zhou Jingqian.”
Zhou Jingqian extended his hand toward her. The sunlight behind him spread out, outlining his tall, straight shoulders.
The hand he offered was the same one that had caught the rabbit moments ago—long fingers, knuckles tinged with a healthy pale pink, and a large palm. No wonder he’d been able to scoop up Little Gray in one go.
Su Qiu placed her hand in his.
Their fingertips touched briefly, strangers to each other, then each withdrew their hand as if nothing had happened.
Little White and Little Gray were a bit shy around strangers. They had both retreated into the hutch, but before long, they cautiously poked out half of their fluffy heads, then immediately zipped back inside.
Su Qiu: “…”
She hadn’t raised rabbits—she’d raised two turtles hiding in their shells.
“It’s sunny outside. Why don’t we go inside and sit? This way, please.” Su Qiu made an inviting gesture and led the way.
“Alright.” Zhou Jingqian nodded and followed a step behind her.
The garden path was paved with light gray stone bricks. The young man and woman kept a steady one-step distance between them.
Zhou Jingqian looked at the girl’s long black hair in front of him, but in his mind, he recalled the glimpse of her snow-white nape when she had bent down to play with the little rabbits earlier.
The living room was filled with the sound of cheerful, animated conversation.
Last year, Old Madam Xiang and Old Madam Zhou had been hospitalized in the same hospital.
In their younger years, they had been mere nodding acquaintances. But as it turned out, in their old age, they hit it off instantly, finding endless things to talk about when chatting about everyday life.
Both of them, troubled by their own poor health, also fretted over the marriages of their grandchildren, whom they had raised with their own hands.
During their time in the hospital, whenever the topic came up, the two old ladies would exchange a knowing glance.
As luck would have it, Su Qiu and Zhou Jingqian frequently came in and out of the hospital to visit their respective grandmothers—yet somehow, the two young people never once crossed paths there.
It was as if fate had deliberately made them two parallel lines that never intersected.
But even parallel lines were no problem. With the two old ladies around, even steel-straight lines could be bent until they converged.
Before entering the living room, Su Qiu secretly glanced at the man behind her out of the corner of her eye, then quickly rubbed her mouth with her hand to make sure there were no stray pet hairs left behind. Satisfied, she relaxed.
“Grandpa, Grandma, hello. I’m Xiao Qiu.”
With her hands folded neatly in front of her, Su Qiu greeted the two elders.
Grandpa Zhou was kind and warm, and Grandma Zhou praised Su Qiu effusively—what a pretty girl, so sensible and thoughtful.
As she spoke, a glassy jadeite bangle worth three million at Poly Autumn Auction slipped onto Su Qiu’s wrist.
Su Qiu froze.
Zhou Jingqian caught a rabbit with his bare hands; Grandma Zhou slipped on a bangle without a word. It seemed that fast hands were a family trait of the Zhous.
Su Qiu tried to decline the expensive gift, but Old Madam Zhou’s eyes were full of affection: “Take it, take it. A gift from an elder must not be refused. This is the meeting gift Grandma prepared for you long ago!”
Old Madam Zhou had long taken a liking to Su Qiu.
Despite her advanced age, her eyes remained sharp, and she could tell at a glance that the girl had a pure and sincere nature.
In today’s flashy world, living in the circle of wealthy families and working in the entertainment industry—a place of fame and fortune—she still managed to keep such a clean heart. That was truly rare.
A gift for a meeting, a gift for a meeting.
If she couldn’t be a granddaughter-in-law, she’d be a granddaughter.
After a few more pleasantries, Su Qiu sat down on the single sofa, facing Zhou Jingqian across the tea table.
It was only then that Su Qiu began to take him in.
The man wore a black suit, his shirt crisp and his collar buttoned neatly. His only accessory was a silver Vacheron Constantin watch on his left wrist.
His features carried the steadiness of a mature man, with a hint of coolness in his brow that he kept well-contained, showing no sharpness at all.
The words “refined elite” immediately popped into Su Qiu’s mind.
Zhou Jingqian was said to be a diamond-level bachelor in Ningcheng’s wealthy circles—well-born, handsome, and never short of admirers.
This was Su Qiu’s first time seeing him.
In fact, before she was set up to meet him, she hadn’t even known he existed in Ningcheng.
After all, Su Qiu never dabbled in the drinking, partying, and socializing of the second-generation rich crowd. Her social circle was very simple.
Moreover, Su Qiu took her mother’s surname, didn’t flaunt wealth, didn’t race cars, never made headlines, and hadn’t inherited the company. Few knew she was the only daughter of the Xiang Group.
Zhou Jingqian was polite, thoughtful, articulate, and modest in tone—truly living up to his name.
Seeing the smile lines on her father’s and grandmother’s faces grow deeper, Su Qiu knew how pleased they were with Zhou Jingqian’s conversation.
Out of professional habit, Su Qiu sat across from him quietly observing, thinking to herself that Zhou Jingqian was probably someone very skilled at controlling his emotions.
No matter how turbulent his inner world, his surface remained calm and composed. Such people seemed gentle, but in truth, they were the hardest to let others in, and the hardest to truly open up to.
Sensing the unabashed gaze on him, Zhou Jingqian lifted his eyes lightly mid-conversation and returned the look.
Their eyes met, and Su Qiu kept staring at him, her round eyes bright, like a little rabbit hooked by something novel.
It wasn’t until she suddenly realized she was still staring that she whipped her gaze away, pretending to be busy smoothing the hem of her clothes.
Su Qiu had a face that looked younger than her actual age—an oval shape, full and soft, without the leanness of sharp bone structure. Her skin wasn’t pale white but a warm milky apricot tone.
She radiated a healthy glow that came from being well cared for by her family.
Perhaps it was that foundation of being nurtured by love that even her pets turned out round and glossy.
When he’d received the little gray rabbit, Zhou Jingqian had thought a lead ball had landed in his hands.
Su Qiu kept her eyes lowered, still slowly rubbing the hem of her clothes. As she rubbed, the dim lightbulb in her head that had been dark for days suddenly flickered on.
The light came on, the fog cleared, and the script that had been stuck for days suddenly surged forth with a clear direction and structure!
Su Qiu almost wanted to stand up immediately, barely able to contain the joy bubbling inside her.
But remembering the occasion, she forced the excitement down.
Still, she couldn’t help it—she quietly pulled out her phone and sent a message to their three-person group chat.
Soon, her phone rang.
“Sorry, I need to take this call.”
Su Qiu stood up with a smile, looking at everyone with those round eyes of hers, which made whatever she said naturally easy to believe.
Phone in hand, Su Qiu slipped back up to the second floor via the back staircase, ducked into her room, opened her laptop, and her fingers flew across the keyboard.
Once inspiration struck, Su Qiu’s world shrank to just herself, thoughts surging forth unstoppably.
The other two in the group were still chatting.
Hao Hao: [So? Did you get away?]
Jian Yin: [So is this Mr. Zhou really that hard to look at?]
Hao Hao: [Impossible. Last year at my husband’s company annual gala, they invited Zhou Jingqian. The big shot only showed up for less than ten minutes, but I saw him in person—gorgeous, few words, stunningly handsome!]
Jian Yin: [Then why did Xiao Qiu ask us to call her?]
Su Qiu sent a meme of a keyboard smoking from frantic typing.
On the other end, Hao Hao and Jian Yin both exchanged knowing smiles.
Once, the three of them had gone to an escape room—an abandoned hospital theme. Hao Hao and Jian Yin had been scared witless by an NPC nurse ghost dropping from above, screaming and running forward.
The NPC chuckled smugly, about to winch herself back up, when she suddenly noticed one person still standing there, completely still.
The NPC froze for a moment, but she didn’t forget her “job.” She immediately bared a bloody grin and lunged at Su Qiu with a howling shriek.
Su Qiu raised a hand: “Please wait a moment.”
NPC: “…”
Su Qiu happened to be stuck in a hospital scene at that moment, and seeing this NPC’s distinctive appearance, her inspiration “dinged” and sparked.
A smile curved at the corner of Su Qiu’s mouth. Taking advantage of the eerie green atmosphere light in the other woman’s hand, she studied her carefully.
The NPC felt unsettled by her gaze, momentarily unable to tell who was more frightening.
After a few seconds, Su Qiu smiled with satisfaction. “Alright, now you can scare me.”
NPC: “…”
Another time, the three of them went to the amusement park to ride the drop tower. The moment it shot to the top, Hao Hao and Jian Yin were both screaming with their eyes squeezed shut.
Su Qiu closed her eyes too, but her mind was occupied with the script she needed to revise. It wasn’t until she got off the ride that she belatedly said, legs trembling, “That’s so high.”
One might say she was slow on the uptake, yet the characters and stories Su Qiu wrote were each more vivid and brilliant than the last. At just twenty-six, she was already a screenwriter whose name people in the industry remembered.
From “Su Qiu? Who’s that?”
to “Oh, it’s Teacher Xiao Su!”
Unknowingly, half an hour had passed.
The butler came upstairs and lightly knocked on the door. Only then did Su Qiu reluctantly glance at her document before getting up and heading downstairs.
Grandma was pushing Old Madam Zhou’s wheelchair through the garden for a stroll.
Her father was playing chess with Old Master Zhou in the tea room. Only Zhou Jingqian sat alone in the living room on the first floor.
It seemed this matchmaking meeting had reached the stage where the two of them were conversing privately.
Su Qiu walked over and offered a sincere apology first, her voice soft and gentle: “Sorry to keep you waiting. My phone call just now… was a bit urgent.”
Zhou Jingqian smiled slightly, his tone warm. “I understand. When I’m busy, I lose track of time too.”
Su Qiu sat down on the sofa across from him as usual. “I heard from Grandpa Zhou that you usually drink Maojian tea.”
As she spoke, she glanced to the side, and the servant immediately brought over the brewed tea, along with a glass of freshly squeezed juice with two scoops of coconut jelly added.
Su Qiu took two sips through the straw, and the coconut jelly slid into her mouth along with it.
She chewed slowly, making no sound at all except for the occasional slight movement of her chin.
Zhou Jingqian looked over and was reminded of the little rabbit he’d seen eating in the garden not long ago.
He lifted the Ru ware tea cup and took a light sip—orchid fragrance at the base, with a sweet aftertaste as it went down.
Then, both of their cups landed back on the coffee table at the same time.
The Ru ware tea cup was simple and steady, while the glass cup with the rabbit print was youthful and fresh—like a silent contrast between the two.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
This was also Su Qiu’s first matchmaking meeting, and she hadn’t done any preparation beforehand, so she truly didn’t know what to talk about.
However, she discovered that even in silence, sitting face-to-face with Zhou Jingqian like this didn’t make the atmosphere awkward.
From the garden, the two old ladies’ hearty laughter drifted in. Zhou Jingqian and Su Qiu turned their heads almost in sync, looking out through the floor-to-ceiling glass.
Su Qiu only watched for a moment before her gaze returned to Zhou Jingqian’s profile.
In the light and shadow streaming through the window, he sat there like a piece of jade basking in the spring sun—steady and refined.
In that instant, it was as if the clouds parted in Su Qiu’s mind, and inspiration came flooding in once again.
She let out a small, incredulous gasp.
So this “eye chemistry” thing… could actually be this nourishing?
This lunch, held under the guise of a matchmaking meeting, went more harmoniously than expected.
After all, it was their first meeting—the goal was simply to put faces to names. The formal meal between the two families was set for half a month later.
By that day, Zhou Jingqian’s parents and younger siblings would be returning from abroad.
That half month in between was reserved for the two parties to each weigh their thoughts.
However, Zhou Jingqian was very busy.
That very afternoon, he flew abroad to discuss business.
Su Qiu was even busier. During her burst of inspiration, she returned to her room and started writing her script. Afternoon tea and dinner were both brought to her room by the servants.
During that time, the old lady came in and asked her, “Xiao Qiu, you’ve met him now—what do you think of Zhou Jingqian?”
Su Qiu’s eyes were glued to her document, slightly bright. “He’s great!”
The old lady laughed. “I’m not asking how your script is going. I’m asking what you think of Zhou Jingqian.”
Only then did Su Qiu look up. She thought for a moment and answered seriously, “He’s great too.”
The old lady let out a relieved sigh, smiled, and ruffled her granddaughter’s hair, reminding her not to stay up too late writing.
Downstairs, mother and son had another conversation.
Xiang Yiming genuinely admired Zhou Jingqian from the bottom of his heart—especially the fact that he hadn’t relied on his family’s business, but had registered his own company right after graduating from university and grown it step by step to a public listing.
That drive gave Xiang Yiming a feeling of regretting not having met him sooner, and he even felt the two of them were as compatible as friends across generations.
The old lady shot her son a sideways glance. “What ‘friends across generations’? You two are a generation apart. You’re genuinely old—he’s what you call steady.”
Xiang Yiming: “…That’s exactly why I value his steadiness. Xiao Qiu has a soft nature; she needs someone by her side who can shoulder things.”
The old lady nodded. “When you and I both kick the bucket, at least Xiao Qiu won’t be left alone in this world.”
Xiang Yiming was caught off guard by his mother’s blunt words. He glanced upstairs first, then lowered his voice and said, “Mom, if Xiao Qiu heard that, she’d definitely cry in your arms. Besides… Xiao Qiu still has her mother.”
“She?”
The old lady uttered just one word, yet its weight was heavy, and the smile on her face faded along with it.
Half a month passed quickly.
The Zhou family’s ancestral home was located in the outskirts of Ningcheng, a scenic and tranquil area nestled among hills and waters.
The car drove along a winding asphalt road, with trees casting shade on both sides, and the air carried the fresh fragrance of the mountains.
Grandma said, “You’ve been staring at the computer all day. Look at some green and give your eyes a wash.”
Su Qiu obediently turned her head toward the window and seriously washed her eyes.
The security guard at the guardhouse saw the approaching car and raised his hand to signal passage. The Bentley sedan glided smoothly in and finally came to a stop by the fountain pool.
Su Qiu got out of the car, and her gaze first landed on two villas standing on the left and right not far away.
The Zhou family’s old lady and old gentleman apparently lived separately from their son’s family.
Zhou Jingqian’s father, Zhou Jianming, wore black-framed glasses and had a refined temperament—he didn’t look like a businessman but more like a university professor teaching history.
Zhou Jingqian’s mother, Liang Jing, had a gentle and graceful demeanor. Time seemed to have only brushed lightly across her face, and one could still see her youthful beauty even now.
The couple lived in Singapore with their twins. Su Qiu didn’t get to see the twins this time—apparently they happened to have exams.
However, she did receive gifts from the twins, which was very thoughtful.
Liang Jing really liked Su Qiu. She warmly stepped forward and linked her arm through Su Qiu’s: “Xiao Qiu, finally I get to meet you.”
Su Qiu smiled and looked up: “Auntie Liang, hello.”
Everyone went inside, took their seats, and exchanged pleasantries.
But as the conversation went on, Su Qiu noticed something subtle.
There seemed to be a faint layer of formality between Zhou Jingqian and his parents. Their exchanges appeared calm and polite, yet always stopped just short of being truly intimate.
Liang Jing said, “Jingqian, why don’t you take Xiao Qiu for a stroll in the garden?”
Zhou Jingqian nodded, his gaze shifting to Su Qiu.
Su Qiu understood and rose to her feet. Zhou Jingqian waited until she drew near before turning and walking outside.
The Zhou family’s garden was so vast it felt somewhat empty. Looking out, there was only neatly trimmed lawn and rows of tall, upright trees—orderly and proper, yet lacking the charm of everyday life.
The Xiang family’s garden was completely different. There was a grape trellis, and Grandma had planted loquat trees, persimmons, mulberries, blueberries, windmill jasmine climbing all over the walls, and a castle-shaped rabbit hutch that Su Qiu had built with her own hands.
Su Qiu looked here and there, and her pace unconsciously slowed.
She turned to look at Zhou Jingqian beside her.
Last time they walked in the garden, they had maintained a social distance of one step apart. This time, Su Qiu noticed he deliberately adjusted his pace—neither too fast nor too slow—so that they always walked side by side.
Sunlight fell on Su Qiu’s face, and in the glow, the fine down on her skin was visible. Her eyes were large and glistening, like a lake holding a layer of light.
She didn’t speak, but Zhou Jingqian somehow understood what she meant: “Go inside and sit?”
A slight smile curved at the corners of Su Qiu’s lips, and she immediately nodded.
The two returned to the other villa. In a corner of the living room sat two wheelchairs—this was where the old gentleman and old lady lived.
Su Qiu thought for a moment, then tentatively asked, “Do you live in this villa?”
“Mm. I lived with my grandparents growing up and only moved out after university.” Zhou Jingqian answered calmly.
Su Qiu nodded, reached out to take the tea the servant had brought, and held it with both hands to her lips. Her thick lashes fluttered gently with each sip.
After she had drunk enough and set down the cup, Zhou Jingqian spoke unhurriedly: “Miss Su, there are some things I’d like to say upfront.”
Su Qiu nodded, placed her hands on her lap, straightened her back slightly, and looked at him with earnest eyes: “Please, go ahead.”
Zhou Jingqian candidly explained why he wanted to get married—it was much as Su Qiu had expected.
Last year, the Zhou family’s old lady had fallen seriously ill and nearly lost her life. Her greatest worry was Zhou Jingqian’s marriage.
Su Qiu’s grandmother had also been ill, but her surgery was successful, and now she could run and jump. Zhou Jingqian’s grandmother, however, was in a wheelchair, and reportedly would go abroad for a second surgery in the second half of the year.
Su Qiu nodded after hearing this.
What a coincidence—our reasons for getting married are the same.
“I’m not opposed to marriage, and I’m willing to build a family with another person,” Zhou Jingqian paused, looking at Su Qiu, “but at present, I don’t have the time to cultivate feelings.”
Zhou Jingqian’s company had just gone public, and this was its busiest period. His schedule was already booked through next year—he simply couldn’t spare the energy for anything else.
Su Qiu nodded again, a faint smile rippling in her eyes.
Another coincidence—she’d been very busy lately too.
Her new script was already in its final stages. The script she wrote last year had already completed casting by the investors and was about to enter production. Once filming started, she’d have to be fully immersed in the crew.
“I will be responsible for my marriage. Whatever normal couples do, whatever a normal husband needs to do to cooperate with his wife—I will do all of it.”
Su Qiu suddenly asked, “What kinds of things?”
“Every moment in life when you need me.” Zhou Jingqian paused. “And… marital obligations.”
Since they were getting married, they wouldn’t live apart. A man and a woman alone under the same roof—who could guarantee they’d never cross that line?
Su Qiu’s gaze lingered on Zhou Jingqian’s face for a moment. At least, she couldn’t guarantee it for herself.
And he said he would cooperate with her—not that she needed to cooperate with him.
Su Qiu lowered her eyes, her fingertips tapping lightly on her knees.
Whether it was Zhou Jingqian as a person, or their identical reasons for getting married, he was a very suitable partner for a “cooperative marriage.”
Seeing Su Qiu suddenly fall silent, as if she had entered a meditative trance, Zhou Jingqian was unsure whether creative types were accustomed to thinking quietly like this.
So he had the servant refill her cup and waited patiently for a moment before speaking: “Miss Su, is there anything you’d like to ask me?”
“Yes.” Su Qiu looked up.
“Please, go ahead.”
“When do you have time to get the marriage certificate?”
Zhou Jingqian raised an eyebrow slightly, surprised that someone with such a youthful, unassuming face could be so decisive and straightforward when it came to making a decision.
Zhou Jingqian paused briefly, appearing to think it over, and after two seconds said: “Now.”