Chapter 110: Must Meet the Parents
When Su Zhaozhao heard him say that, she immediately grabbed Xie Huaizheng and told the photographer, "Okay, please take two pictures for us."
Xie Huaizheng looked at Su Zhaozhao. "I’m not used to having my picture taken."
"It’s fine. It’s our first date, so of course we have to take a photo to remember it. It’s just a shame my outfit is a little too dull."
Because she had just attended a funeral, she was dressed all in black.
Xie Huaizheng ruffled her hair. "It’s fine. You’re beautiful, so you look good in anything."
Su Zhaozhao immediately smiled at Xie Huaizheng.
"Alright, you two stand together. Smile a little."
Su Zhaozhao held the bouquet of flowers in front of her and stood beside Xie Huaizheng, who positioned himself slightly behind her.
A moment later, the flash went off. The photographer said, "Alright, all done!"
The photo developed very quickly.
It was a Polaroid camera, so the picture developed right after it was taken.
Su Zhaozhao took the photo and looked at the image of her and Xie Huaizheng.
Soon, the image fully emerged. It was a bit blurry, but it was good enough that you could clearly see her and Xie Huaizheng’s faces.
In the photo, she was beaming, her eyes crinkling into crescents.
Xie Huaizheng was more reserved, but you could tell his expression was a few degrees softer than usual.
The beautifully blooming flowers added a splash of color to the scene.
"Sir, we’d like to take one more," Su Zhaozhao said, linking her arm through Xie Huaizheng’s and pulling him over to a nearby tree.
"Let’s take it right here."
Su Zhaozhao leaned on Xie Huaizheng’s shoulder and flashed a peace sign.
Xie Huaizheng was originally looking at the lens, but he could feel the joy radiating from the girl beside him.
He couldn’t help but drop his gaze to look at Su Zhaozhao.
That very moment was captured.
The photographer quickly called out, "Oops."
"Sir, why weren’t you looking at the lens? If you don’t look at the lens, the picture is ruined!"
"It’s fine," Su Zhaozhao said. "My boyfriend is so handsome, he looks good even when he’s not looking at the camera."
Hearing Su Zhaozhao’s words, Xie Huaizheng couldn’t help but smile.
When the image on the photo developed, Su Zhaozhao had a moment of realization.
"Why were you looking at me instead of the camera?" she asked, looking up at Xie Huaizheng with her eyes full of laughter.
But Xie Huaizheng snatched the photo from her hand. "One for each of us. This one’s mine."
He paid the photographer and turned to leave.
Watching Xie Huaizheng walk away, Su Zhaozhao quickly chased after him. "Hey! But I like that one! The way you’re looking at me is so gentle. A picture of our Camp Commander Xie looking this tender is something I definitely need to keep safe."
"No," Xie Huaizheng said, unable to stop a light cough.
’How awkward.’
He usually wore a cold expression. He wasn’t even used to himself being this gentle.
’But it’s something I can admire in private.’
’Su Zhaozhao looked so adorable in this photo.’
Since Su Zhaozhao couldn’t get the photo from Xie Huaizheng, she gave up trying.
’Oh well, the one I have is pretty good, too.’
On the way back, Su Zhaozhao was so tired she fell asleep again.
She only woke up when Xie Huaizheng called her name.
Xie Huaizheng thought Su Zhaozhao looked like a child when she slept. He loved watching her sleep so peacefully.
’Thinking of this, he wished they could get married as soon as possible so they could live together.’
’Then he could look at Su Zhaozhao whenever he wanted, and he’d be able to do... other things, too.’
’Things they couldn’t do right now...’
Desire sprouted in his heart, and a restless heat coursed through him.
After taking Su Zhaozhao back to the guesthouse, Xie Huaizheng smoked four or five cigarettes on his way back to suppress the restless urge within him.
Su Zhaozhao was completely exhausted from their day out. Upon returning to the guesthouse, she put the flowers in a vase and nourished them with spiritual spring water. Then, after a quick shower, she collapsed onto the bed and fell fast asleep.
「Meanwhile.」
Xie Huaizheng called home. Since Su Zhaozhao wanted him to speak with his family first, he decided he might as well.
It was Huang Jiqin who answered the phone.
"You rotten kid! You’re about to get married and you couldn’t even be bothered to call and tell us."
Xie Huaizheng sighed. It seemed Li Jian Country had already told his parents about this before he could.
"Mom, let me explain," Xie Huaizheng said. "Zhaozhao is my fiancée. You all knew she was coming to see me, and wasn’t the old man hoping we’d get married soon? It was just too rushed, that’s all. I didn’t have time to notify you."
"So you admit it’s rushed? You didn’t even bring your fiancée home for us to meet, and you just went ahead and filed the marriage application? This is the most important decision of your life, and you’re being so careless? Is the young woman even okay with this?"
It wasn’t that Huang Jiqin was unhappy with her future daughter-in-law. After all, ever since Zhang Jingshu had returned from West State, she had been singing the girl’s praises nonstop. It even made Huang Jiqin want to go to West State just to meet her.
Besides, she was naturally thrilled that Xie Huaizheng was finally willing to get married.
But to get married just like that, without a peep to anyone?
Wasn’t this treating it all like a game!
And even though this girl was the granddaughter of Old Sir Xie’s comrade-in-arms, the old man and his friend hadn’t seen each other in years.
Don’t the two families need to sit down and discuss it?
If they just let Xie Huaizheng marry the girl and bring her home like this, how would they ever face her family?
People would say that a family like theirs had no respect, marrying someone’s daughter without observing a single proper step.
Huang Jiqin felt it was unfair to the young woman.
"I feel the same way, but I still think it’s best not to tell her parents. She doesn’t have a good relationship with them. She came to see me in secret, behind her family’s back. So, when we get married, I don’t want her parents to find out either."
Xie Huaizheng recalled the resistant look on Su Zhaozhao’s face when she mentioned her parents, and her reaction later when she found out the political review would require notifying them.
She had looked so worried then.
He had promised her he wouldn’t let her parents come and trouble her.
"Xie Huaizheng, are you out of your mind? No matter how badly her parents treat her, they’re still her parents! And how old is she? She’s never even left Jiang City before. Be careful, or word will get out that you’ve duped an ignorant young girl into marriage."
Huang Jiqin was exasperated with Xie Huaizheng.
"Besides, Old Sir Xie was the one who arranged this match. He said you have two choices: either you have that young lady come meet us, or you talk to her parents. Otherwise, you can forget about getting married!"
The implication was clear: if Su Zhaozhao really didn’t want to inform her parents, she would have to be the one to persuade his family.
Xie Huaizheng raised a hand and rubbed his aching temples.
’Getting married is such a complicated affair.’ Xie Huaizheng had never realized it before.
But now, he was finally finding out.
’It isn’t just about two people; it’s about two families.’
"Fine. I’ll discuss it with her and see what she wants to do."
After Xie Huaizheng finished speaking, he hung up the phone.
He let out a long breath.
’Would Su Zhaozhao be willing to go meet his family?’
’Still, for some reason, he had a feeling that Su Zhaozhao would be more willing to meet his family than to let her own parents find out.’
Meanwhile, Huang Jiqin hung up the phone, shaking her head and sighing.
Old Sir Xie was already watching Huang Jiqin with expectant eyes. "Well? Did the boy budge?"
"He said he would discuss it with the young lady," Huang Jiqin replied.