As expected!
When Li Huanying saw the video, she was furious. She couldn’t believe that her usually obedient son would play such a trick on her!
On the surface, he agreed to go on blind dates with the girls she arranged; behind their backs, he continued seeing his little girlfriend.
Hmph. It seems that if she didn’t take some drastic measures, he would never obediently comply. Li Huanying sneered inwardly.
The young couple, immersed in their sweetness, had no idea they had already been “sold out.”
Especially Jiang Hao, who was completely determined to win over Zhou Nuan. After dinner, no matter how much Zhou Nuan resisted, he dragged her to the cinema.
They were watching the current hit movie, based on real people and events—The Dumpling Queen.
The film tells the story of the founder of a famous Hong Kong dumpling brand, who, after divorcing her husband, lived alone with her two daughters in a foreign city while building her business.
The story was moving, filled with tear-jerking moments. Zhou Nuan, initially reluctant, gradually became fully absorbed and emotionally touched.
Jiang Hao, however, was different.
He brought Zhou Nuan to the movie with ulterior motives.
After nearly a year of dating, they had yet to cross the final boundary beyond hand-holding, hugging, and kissing.
It wasn’t that Jiang Hao didn’t want to, but Zhou Nuan held her ground.
Every time things got intense, she would firmly refuse.
In her words, she wanted to save her first time for her wedding night.
Jiang Hao had complaints about this but was powerless against her.
What kind of era is this, that her thinking is still so traditional and conservative?
Perhaps the more unattainable something is, the more one desires it.
At the beginning, Jiang Hao only liked her for her pure and pretty appearance, treating it lightly.
Growing up in his privileged environment, he knew clearly that he and Zhou Nuan were unlikely to last.
But as their relationship deepened, he truly began to fall in love with her.
Unlike his previous girlfriends, Zhou Nuan was not interested in his family background or his money.
During their relationship, although Jiang Hao paid for most things, Zhou Nuan would also voluntarily share some expenses; whenever he gave her gifts, she would reciprocate.
In short, though there was a big financial gap between them, she never took advantage of him.
Moreover, Zhou Nuan was gentle, considerate, strong, independent, and diligent.
All qualities his ex-girlfriends lacked.
Those girls either pursued him for his family status, hoping to rise socially, or like him, relied on their own family privileges without striving for more.
So he slowly became deeply attached. Even knowing the relationship might not last, he wanted to try.
At that moment, Zhou Nuan’s mind was entirely on the movie; Jiang Hao’s was entirely on her.
“Warm,” he whispered, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind, one hand wandering inappropriately.
“What are you doing? This is a public place, mind your manners!” Zhou Nuan pulled his hand away.
Though absorbed in the film, she remained rational and composed.
Jiang Hao tried several times, only to be firmly rejected each time.
Fearing a scene and unwanted attention, he finally gave up and focused on the movie seriously.
When the movie ended, Jiang Hao drove Zhou Nuan back to her rented apartment.
She unbuckled her seatbelt, preparing to get out.
“Warm,” Jiang Hao said reluctantly, looking at her, “aren’t you going to invite me up for a bit?”
“It’s inconvenient. There are people in the apartment!” Zhou Nuan understood what he was thinking and refused again.
“Then how about a hotel?” Jiang Hao persisted, “Warm, I really… want you. Just once, please?”
“Jiang Hao, how do I make you understand?” Zhou Nuan’s face grew serious, “It’s just… not that time yet.”
“Why are you so conservative? We’ve been together almost a year,” Jiang Hao said, feeling aggrieved.
“I want my first time to be with my future husband. Understand?” Zhou Nuan stared into his eyes, implying meaning.
In other words, it wasn’t her being traditionally conservative—it was that Jiang Hao hadn’t shown her that possibility or hope.
In nearly a year of dating, he had never mentioned introducing her to his family.
So she rejected any attempts at intimacy beyond limits.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be responsible for you,” Jiang Hao said without hesitation, pounding his chest in promise.
“Really?” Zhou Nuan gave a bitter smile. “But Jiang Hao, up till now, your parents don’t even know I exist.”
“Warm, you’re so amazing, my parents will surely like you,” Jiang Hao reassured her, though his confidence was lacking.
He recalled how Li Huanying forced him to go on blind dates recently.
“Forget it, let’s not discuss this,” Zhou Nuan sighed, wanting to change the topic.
“But Warm, I really want to…” Jiang Hao was reluctant to give up.
He knew time was short. If his parents found out he was still seeing Zhou Nuan, they would explode. Yet he couldn’t let go.
Zhou Nuan was the one he had invested the most time, energy, and emotion into.
If his friends knew he had been dating her for almost a year without “getting the girl,” they would surely laugh at him.
“Jiang Hao, if you really want to, it’s not impossible,” Zhou Nuan said, yielding slightly, “but at least, you have to let your parents know I exist, and promise we can date, right?”
She expected at least a half-hearted promise, but unfortunately…
“Warm, are you really this practical?” Jiang Hao’s eyes showed a hint of hurt. “Don’t you have any thoughts for me in that way at all?”
“Jiang Hao,” Zhou Nuan closed her eyes, trying to control her emotions, “are you even listening? If you keep this up, I… I’ll really get angry!”
“Alright, alright, I won’t say anything,” Jiang Hao wisely shut up as he saw her truly about to lose her temper.
Having dated her for so long, he had learned a bit about her temper. When stubborn, she was immovable—like trying to pull three bulls with a single rope.
“Then at least let me hug you?” he asked as a compromise.
This time, Zhou Nuan did not refuse, leaning gently into his embrace.
“Warm,” Jiang Hao lowered his head, aiming for her lips.
“I need to get upstairs and review for the exam!” Zhou Nuan pushed him away just in time and quickly got out of the car.
Watching her hurried departure, Jiang Hao’s eyes darkened with intensity.