Shen Xichuan narrowed his eyes slightly but didn’t deny it, nodding in acknowledgment. “It’s her.”
“You rascal.”
Team Fan stared at him in astonishment. “Don’t tell me you…”
Shen Xichuan cut off his speculation with a resigned tone. “We were high school classmates. It’s not what you’re thinking.”
Team Fan’s eyes widened. “High school classmates?”
“Mm.” Shen Xichuan nodded. “Later, we even attended a matchmaking session together.”
“Matchmaking?” Team Fan’s shock continued.
Shen Xichuan silenced the questions in Team Fan’s mind with one sentence. “She was the matchmaking candidate my mother introduced to me.”
Team Fan opened his mouth, about to say something, but upon hearing this, he swallowed his words. If she was the one introduced by his mother, there shouldn’t be any issues.
Team Fan gave him a helpless look. “You always like to scare people like this.”
Shen Xichuan, holding the application form, was in a good mood and let out a light chuckle. “Not bad.”
Seeing his expression, Team Fan quickly waved his hand. “Go on, get out of here. I’ll give you a day off tomorrow.”
Shen Xichuan raised an eyebrow. “Thanks, Team Fan.”
…
After leaving the station, Shen Xichuan drove straight back to his apartment.
There was still one document missing—the household register.
The man paused for a moment, then called Shen Yankai.
The first call went unanswered.
Patiently, he dialed again.
Just as the call was about to disconnect automatically, Shen Yankai finally picked up. “I was in a meeting. What do you need?”
Shen Xichuan stood on the balcony, gazing at the night view of Nan City. “Brother, is the household register with you?”
Shen Yankai, flipping through documents, answered reflexively, “Yes, why?”
As soon as he finished speaking, he seemed to realize something. “What do you need the household register for?”
Shen Xichuan curled his lips. “To register our marriage.”
Shen Yankai: “…”
Having been busy all day, his thoughts were momentarily muddled. He pinched the bridge of his nose and asked again, “What did you say you need the household register for?”
Shen Xichuan replied with patience. “I’m registering my marriage tomorrow. The household register is the only document I’m missing.”
After hearing this, Shen Yankai closed the file, his expression turning serious. “You’re getting married? To whom?”
“Xiao Chuan, don’t mess around. You know Mom is only pushing you to marry in hopes that you’ll back down when faced with the difficulty. You…”
Shen Xichuan cut him off directly. “Brother, I’m not messing around.”
Shen Yankai fell silent.
Shen Xichuan continued, “I want to marry her.”
The “her” was unmistakably Xu Jialan.
Shen Yankai was silent for a few seconds. “Are you sure?”
Shen Xichuan chuckled softly. “Yes, I’m sure.”
“Xiao Chuan, you need to understand that marriage isn’t a joke. If you’re doing this because of Mom…”
“Brother, I’m really not messing around.”
Shen Xichuan looked at the distant nightscape, his gaze carrying a hint of imperceptible tenderness. “I genuinely want to marry her. It’s not for any other reason.”
Ever since they reunited—when he rescued her from the fire and held her slender frame in his arms—his dormant heart had suddenly begun beating wildly.
That was why he specially bought flowers to visit her in the hospital.
Later, during the matchmaking session, they met again.
Her every smile and expression seemed etched into his mind, impossible to shake off.
It was at that moment he thought to himself: if he really had to marry someone, he hoped it would be her.
After listening to him, Shen Yankai remained silent for a long while before finally speaking. “I’ll have my assistant bring the household register to you later.”
Shen Xichuan smiled. “Thanks, Brother.”
“No need to thank me. Bring your wife home for a meal when you have time.”
A rare smile touched Shen Yankai’s face.
“I’m quite curious to see what kind of woman could make you fall.”
A faint smile played on Shen Xichuan’s lips. “Alright.”
After a pause, he added, “But I hope you’ll keep our marriage registration from Mom and the others for now.”
Shen Yankai sighed. “You should know I can’t hide it for long.”
Something as significant as marriage will eventually come to light.
“I know. Just keep it quiet for now. We’ll tell them later,” Shen Xichuan said.
“Fine.” Shen Yankai agreed.
The household register arrived half an hour later.
The doorbell rang.
Shen Xichuan emerged from the bedroom wearing simple loungewear.
Shen Yankai’s assistant stood outside.
“Second Young Master,” the assistant said respectfully, “President Shen asked me to deliver this to you.”
Shen Xichuan took it. “Mm, thanks for your trouble.”
“It’s my duty.” The assistant seemed flustered by the gratitude.
…
The next day.
The weather was splendid, with clear skies stretching for miles.
Shen Xichuan arrived early at Xu Jialan’s residential complex entrance.
He checked the time – 8:00 AM.
The Civil Affairs Bureau opened at 9:00.
Pulling out his phone, he typed a message: “I’m waiting at the complex entrance.”
Xu Jialan had barely slept all night.
She had just finished washing up and was about to apply makeup to conceal her dark circles when his message arrived.
Seeing it, she immediately called him.
Shen Xichuan raised an eyebrow and answered. “Awake?”
“Why are you here so early?” Xu Jialan asked.
He chuckled lightly, resting his arm lazily on the car window. “Afraid someone might jilt me, so I came early to block the escape route.”
His voice carried an indescribable magnetism.
Xu Jialan’s cheeks warmed as she softly retorted, “I wouldn’t run away.”
After a pause, she added, “It might take me a while to come down.”
“Take your time, no rush. I’ll wait,” he said languidly.
“Okay.”
Shen Xichuan glanced around the complex’s surroundings. “Haven’t had breakfast yet?”
Xu Jialan hesitated. “No.”
“What would you like to eat?” Shen Xichuan asked.
She faintly heard a car door open and close.
Surprised, she asked, “Are you going to buy me breakfast?”
Shen Xichuan hummed in affirmation and repeated, “What would you like?”
“Steamed buns and soy milk,” she said.
“Alright.”
After hanging up, Xu Jialan pressed a hand to her chest as if trying to calm her racing heart.
In the mirror, the corners of her mouth lifted slightly, softening her usually cool expression.
…
After ending the call, Shen Xichuan walked to a breakfast shop near the complex.
Business was thriving.
Steam rose everywhere.
Aromas of various foods intermingled in the air.
The man wore a white shirt with black jeans and black boots.
His long, slender legs drew numerous glances.
He scanned the menu on the wall but didn’t immediately join the queue.
After waiting nearly half an hour, he checked his phone as if replying to a message, then finally stepped forward to buy two breakfast sets.
Several girls who had been watching him whispered among themselves for a long time.
Finally, one gathered courage and approached. “Hello, could we exchange WeChat contacts?”
Shen Xichuan glanced sideways, his peripheral vision catching his lit phone screen, without looking directly at the girl.
His voice lowered slightly, “Sorry, I’m married.”
The girl: “?”
She looked embarrassed, “S-sorry.”
The girls who heard his answer all looked disappointed.
Why is it that all the good men either have girlfriends or are already married?