Chapter 104: She Was a Little Panicked
She probably didn’t like her hometown.
Xie Huaizheng first placed a piece of meat in Su Zhaozhao’s bowl. "Eat up," he said.
To Li Jian Country and his wife, the scene was utterly bizarre.
The couple exchanged a glance, and Li Jian Country couldn’t help but tease, "Huai Zheng, I never thought I’d see such a gentle side of you."
After all, the young man was usually cold as ice toward him.
He was excellent at his job, but his reports and mission executions were always delivered with a frosty demeanor.
Of course, Xie Huaizheng wasn’t just like that with him; he treated everyone the same way.
He’d always thought the young man was completely clueless when it came to romance. Who would have guessed that now, with Su Zhaozhao, he’d be proactively serving her food and even reminding her to watch out for fish bones?
But when Xie Huaizheng lifted his gaze to him, he said, "Well, I can’t exactly be gentle with an elder like you. What would that look like?"
Li Jian Country was speechless. "...What would it look like? I just want you to be a little nicer to me."
’I’m a man beloved by many,’ he thought, ’but Xie Huaizheng has never shown me the proper respect.’
’Then again, he’s like that at home, too...’
Even Old Sir Xie couldn’t control him.
’Oh well. I’ll call Old Xie tonight and tell him. That’s sure to cause some major waves.’
’But I do like this future daughter-in-law of Old Xie’s.’
Su Zhaozhao ate with gusto. She wasn’t a picky eater, and besides, the food here was even tastier than the meals at the military base’s canteen.
Seeing how much Su Zhaozhao was eating, Wang Anning kept encouraging her to have more.
"You poor girl, you’re too skinny. Eat more, don’t be shy."
Wang Anning adored Su Zhaozhao. She was well-behaved, knew just the right sweet things to say, and had high emotional intelligence. In short, she was perfect in every way.
For someone so young to be so poised and at ease—there probably wasn’t an elder alive who wouldn’t be charmed by a girl like Su Zhaozhao.
"Thank you, Aunt Ning," Su Zhaozhao said to Wang Anning.
The food at Li Jian Country’s home was exceptional. ’I wonder where they found this cook,’ Su Zhaozhao thought. ’It tastes like it was made by a professional restaurant chef.’
’How nice it must be to enjoy food this delicious every day.’
Su Zhaozhao finished a large bowl of rice and ate plenty of the other dishes as well.
She ate until she was stuffed. When she saw Xie Huaizheng about to place more food in her bowl, she quickly stopped him. "No more, I can’t eat another bite."
Seeing from her expression that she wasn’t joking, he ate the portion himself.
Eating too much at night wasn’t good anyway; it could lead to indigestion.
The small interaction between the two at the dinner table made Wang Anning smile.
’Ah, young love is so sweet.’
Li Jian Country suddenly asked Su Zhaozhao, "Zhaozhao, you and Huai Zheng are getting married. Do your parents know?"
Su Zhaozhao froze. She hadn’t expected him to ask such a question so suddenly. She shook her head. "They don’t know."
A knot of anxiety formed in her stomach, and she unconsciously tightened her grip on her chopsticks.
’Wait, in this era, can you not get married without your parents’ knowledge?’
’Hold on, do you need the family register for it?’
’Oh god, in my time, all you needed was an ID card to get married whenever and wherever you wanted!’
’If that’s the case, I’m screwed.’
’If that good-for-nothing father and my cruel stepmother found out...’
’I’d be so screwed.’
’Not to mention I took the family’s money.’
Li Jian Country let out a soft "Oh?" and immediately turned to look at Xie Huaizheng.
He’d thought Xie Huaizheng was a special case, but it turned out Su Zhaozhao was the same.
No wonder they were together. Weren’t they a match made in heaven?
Xie Huaizheng glanced at Su Zhaozhao, saw her nervousness, and the corners of his lips curved up.
’Call her bold? She had dared to take on a murderer.’
’Call her timid? Look how easily frightened she is now.’
’But teasing Su Zhaozhao was a privilege reserved for him, and him alone.’
Xie Huaizheng lifted his gaze to Li Jian Country. "We’re in an age of free love. Do we really need parental consent to get married?"
"Of course not. Besides, with your outstanding qualifications, Zhaozhao’s parents certainly wouldn’t object. But when the time comes for Zhaozhao’s political background check, it will definitely extend to her parents."
Hearing Li Jian Country’s words, Su Zhaozhao couldn’t help but look at Xie Huaizheng.
’Oh, god. The more Uncle Li talked, the more awkward she felt.’
’Wouldn’t object? They were screaming to break off the engagement from the very beginning, insisting the Xie Family wasn’t good enough for them!’
’And the background check... if they really went to investigate that pair of worthless parents, I’d be finished.’
’The original owner’s stepmother took money from another man, and what happened?’
’Instead of getting married, she took the money and ran off to find Xie Huaizheng.’
’If they found out I’m marrying Xie Huaizheng, they would object vehemently. They might even come here and cause a scene.’
’Then this perfectly good marriage would be completely ruined.’
Xie Huaizheng sensed the tension radiating from the young woman beside him. He didn’t understand why she was so worried.
Still, he answered Li Jian Country for her. "Don’t worry, Uncle Li. You don’t need to trouble yourself with our affairs."
With that, he pulled Su Zhaozhao to her feet. "We’ve finished our meal and you’ve met each other, so Zhaozhao and I will be heading back now."
"So soon? Why not sit down for a cup of tea and a chat?" Li Jian Country asked.
"It’s getting late. Zhaozhao has been out all day and is tired. Some other time, perhaps."
Su Zhaozhao snapped out of her daze and added, "Yes, I am feeling a bit tired. I’m sorry. We’ll come visit properly another day."
"Alright, get home safe, you two," Wang Anning said with a smile, taking Su Zhaozhao’s hand. "Zhaozhao, you’re about the same age as my daughter, but you’re so much more mature. Oh, when my daughter is back for summer break, you two should spend some time together."
"Okay, Aunt Ning. I’ll be going now."
Su Zhaozhao waved goodbye to Li Jian Country and Wang Anning.
Li Jian Country said to Wang Anning, "Something feels a bit off."
He replayed Su Zhaozhao’s reaction in his mind. She had seemed nervous.
"What’s off now?" Wang Anning chuckled. "You and your suspicions."
"The girl’s relationship with her family doesn’t seem very good. When I mentioned them just now, she didn’t seem pleased. And she got very tense when I talked about telling her parents."
"You think her family disapproves? That she secretly ran away to marry Huai Zheng?"
Li Jian Country nodded. "I think it’s possible. Well, regardless, I’ll chat with Old Xie first. That boy, Huai Zheng, might not want to tell his parents, but as an old friend of the family, now that I know, I can’t keep it from them!"
Meanwhile, Su Zhaozhao and Xie Huaizheng had left Li Jian Country’s home.
Outside, the sky had already turned dark.
Between eating and talking, the meal had stretched on for over an hour.
It had been quite a long time.
By the time Su Zhaozhao snapped out of her thoughts, she realized Xie Huaizheng had led her to a deserted, pitch-black corner.
Then, the man pulled her against him, caging her in his arms.
His large hand tightened around her waist as his tall frame leaned in, completely blocking the sliver of moonlight before her.
The man’s cool scent, mingled with the faint smell of tobacco, was intensely masculine as it enveloped her.
Su Zhaozhao panicked slightly. "You—"
Before she could finish, Xie Huaizheng lowered his head and pressed his lips to hers.