Chapter 382: Chapter 344: You’re Going to Live with Me
But she really couldn’t bring herself to ask, and besides, once married, that would be considered a marital duty, unavoidable.
"If you’re unwilling, I won’t force you," Bai Chengxi said insightfully, speaking indifferently: "Any other questions?"
"No more," Zhuo Yuqing shook her head awkwardly, "You’ve written it very clearly."
"Then let’s sign it."
Zhuo Yuqing picked up her pen, flipping to the last page, she saw his signature, bold and flamboyant characters, ’inheritance’ from Cheng, ’stone’ from Xi, Bai Chengxi.
She stared blankly at his name, as Bai Chengxi lightly tapped on the table with his finger: "Any problems?"
"No." Zhuo Yuqing awkwardly averted her gaze and signed her name in another column, her heart not without hesitation, but since the decision was made, there was no reason to change it. He needed a woman to marry to appease his family elders, and she needed a man because her heart had grown cold; each had their needs, there was nothing to regret.
After dinner, Bai Chengxi drove Zhuo Yuqing back to her apartment. As she got out of the car, he suddenly rolled down the window and said: "Tomorrow morning at nine, I will pick you up here."
"No need, I’ll go on my own."
"I’ll pick you up," Bai Chengxi’s tone this time did not invite discussion, but made the decision for her, "You still have one night to think about it, once you’re in my car tomorrow, there’s no room for regret."
After saying this, he rolled up the window, the car turned around and exited the neighborhood, and soon, the black Bentley disappeared into the night.
Zhuo Yuqing watched the slowly fading headlights and sighed silently. She didn’t rush back, but sat down on the front steps, resting her chin in her hand, staring dreamily at the few pitiful stars in the sky.
At nine o’clock the next morning, Bai Chengxi arrived at Fujia Garden on time. As soon as his car stopped, Zhuo Yuqing walked out with a backpack, wearing a hoodie today.
Zhuo Yuqing opened the car door and sat in, only to find Bai Chengxi staring intently at her, she quickly touched her face: "Is my mascara smudged?"
Since getting married meant taking photos, she had deliberately applied light makeup.
Hearing this, Bai Chengxi focused on her eyelashes for a while, then chuckled softly: "No, you look lovely."
"Really? Thank you." Zhuo Yuqing blinked at him, happily reaching for the seat belt,
Bai Chengxi expertly fastened her seatbelt for her, not forgetting to ask: "Did you bring everything you need?"
"I brought everything."
"Do your parents agree?"
"They should," given Bai Chengxi’s family background, her parents should have no reason to object, regardless, she had resolved to act now and explain later.
"That’s good, let’s go." He turned the key to start the engine.
When they reached the Civil Affairs Bureau, there were already a dozen couples lined up, Bai Chengxi extended his hand toward her, "Give it to me."
"What?" Zhuo Yuqing looked at him puzzled.
"Your documents."
"Oh." She quickly handed over all her various documents to him.
Bai Chengxi turned to join the queue, leaving her with the words: "You sit down, come over when it’s our turn."
"It’s boring waiting alone, I’ll come with you."
Bai Chengxi looked at her watery eyes and nodded: "Okay."
It was only while filling out the forms that he realized Zhuo Yuqing was much younger than he thought, he assumed her youthful appearance was just that.
Huh, still a child.
Fate is often strange, just like how Bai Chengxi felt he could marry Zhuo Yuqing the first time he saw her. His grandmother was pressing hard, and he hadn’t found a suitable marriage partner over the years, finding even the idea of dating troublesome. Hence, he preferred a decisive move – to simply find a girl and get married, whether there was affection or not was another matter.
His first impression of Zhuo Yuqing met all these criteria, it wasn’t love at first sight, but there was a certain appeal.
Once the process was completed, two bright red marriage certificates were printed out, Bai Chengxi handed one to Zhuo Yuqing, "From now on, you are Mrs. Bai."
Zhuo Yuqing was yet to get used to her new title, she opened the little red book and saw the photos of them standing side by side looking at the camera, their faces seriously lacking any typical sweetness, which was somewhat amusing.
"Pack up a bit, I’ll have someone pick you up this evening. From today on, you will live with me."
"Today?" Zhuo Yuqing’s hand holding the marriage certificate trembled slightly, she was nervous because Bai Chengxi was basically a stranger to her.
Zhuo Yuqing returned to the magazine office, somewhat distracted, and kept surreptitiously checking the little red booklet in her bag. Finally, she edited and sent out a message: "I got married."
Gu Qili received this message while she was eating.
"Cough cough." She almost choked on her rice from excitement, turning her head to cough.
A hand reached over to pat her back, looking at her disapprovingly: "Eat properly, look at this later."
"No, this, this is just too shocking, it’s Tang Tianyou’s sister, she actually got married, how, how is that possible." Gu Qili lost her appetite, clutching her phone and quickly replied: "With whom?"
Zhuo Yuqing simply replied with four words: "Just met him."
"Just met and got married, that’s too rash." Gu Qili muttered to herself, suddenly sensing an ominous gaze looking at her.
She didn’t think she said anything wrong and blinked at him.
Mu Shuoqian picked up a napkin from the side and handed it over: "Seems like someone else got a certificate with me right after meeting me."
Ugh, did he have to bring that up?
"Regret it?" His expression looked very serious.
She might have regretted it once, but now only felt grateful. If she hadn’t agreed to him back then, would they have missed each other? Despite the pain, their trials made their love even stronger.
Gu Qili shook her head: "I hope Yuqing also finds her happiness; she truly is a very good girl."
"Eat your meal, worry less about others." Mu Shuoqian handed her the chopsticks with an unspoken command in his eyes.
Gu Qili could only obediently continue her meal.
"Are you not going back tonight?" Gu Qili cleaned up the table while Mu Shuoqian was sitting on the couch watching TV.
He now came here every day, nominally living across the street, but he never actually stepped into that house,
When she brushed her teeth, an extra cup appeared. When she washed her face, there was a tube of men’s face wash. Even her wardrobe was half occupied by his clothes,
"Mu Shuoqian, you always leave Niannian alone in Jingshan; that’s not good." Gu Qili looked somewhat headache-ridden at the freshly bathed man, "He’s so young, he really needs company."
"If you want me to go back and be with him, I can." Mu Shuoqian, drying his hair, sat next to her and casually pulled her into his arms: "Unless you agree to come back to Jingshan."
"We are already divorced." Gu Qili teased him, flicking his sharp nose with a smile.
"Then let’s remarry tomorrow." Mu Shuoqian, looking dissatisfied, lowered his head and nibbled at her tender neck threateningly, "So we can live together without any doubts."
"Who wants to remarry you? Keep dreaming." Gu Qili huffed, stood up to leave, but he pulled her back into his arms,
Lost in their kiss, Mu Shuoqian’s phone suddenly rang,
"Son, what exactly is going on between you and Gu Dezhong’s daughter?" Qiu Lan’s voice was hostile and sharp due to her anger, "Are you trying to kill me with stress?"
"There are some things, I think you shouldn’t ask me, you should ask your good friend Cheng Menghong." Mu Shuoqian sat down on the sofa and lit a cigarette.
He knew that once Qiu Yufei ran off, she would definitely complain to Qiu Lan. He wasn’t afraid of her complaints because the truth was clear, and Qiu Lan wasn’t a fool either.
"What do you mean, you still remember Cheng Menghong?" Qiu Lan felt it strange, she had lost contact with Cheng Menghong after leaving Aus City, and hadn’t heard from her since, Mu Shuoqian was only a little over five years old at that time, how could he possibly remember Cheng Menghong.
"She is at Yunshan Liaoyang Hospital in San Francisco, you can find someone named Cheng Jinyang, he will take you to meet her."
"Cheng Jinyang? Menghong’s brother?"
"Gu Dezhong is not our enemy, he’s innocent."
Having said that, Mu Shuoqian hung up the phone. He was sure that Qiu Lan would investigate for herself.