Chapter 111: Xu Jiaming Found Her
Old Sir Xie sighed. "I really didn’t expect this. That rascal Xie Huaizheng usually looks so heartless, like he has no interest in relationships. But what happens? In the end, once he meets someone he likes, he’s this impatient."
At this, Old Sir Xie couldn’t help but laugh.
"I’d love to see what that rascal is like when he’s in love. That Li Jian Country said he’s very gentle with the girl? He even puts food on her plate at the dinner table? And he gets anxious if someone just asks her a couple of questions?"
As Old Sir Xie spoke, a smile he couldn’t contain spread across his face.
’That rascal is actually quite sensible. It seems all those years in the military really did shape him up.’
In truth, it didn’t matter how Xie Huaizheng usually treated him.
After all, the two of them, grandfather and grandson, were used to each other.
But if he was that aggressive toward a girl, he’d probably have a hard time finding a partner.
"Huai Zheng has really matured. To think he’s even considering starting a family now. Once he’s married and has kids, he won’t be as restless as before," Old Sir Xie said cheerfully, the wrinkles on his face deepening as he smiled.
And how could Huang Jiqin not feel the same sense of relief?
She had given birth to three children in total.
Her eldest son and her daughter were both very sensible and had never caused her this much worry.
They had all started their own families and careers, had respectable jobs, and moved out to live independently.
Xie Huaizheng was the youngest, and also the one who worried her the most.
Before, they thought it wasn’t good that he was so old and still unwilling to date.
Now, they’d heard he had started seeing someone—and she was even the granddaughter of the Old Sir’s comrade-in-arms.
’A perfect match. This is great.’
However, the fact that he was thinking about marriage so quickly made Huang Jiqin a little uneasy.
In her eyes, Xie Huaizheng always did things unexpectedly, which wasn’t a good thing.
That’s why she wanted Xie Huaizheng to bring Su Zhaozhao over for them to meet.
’If that’s not possible, then I’ll just go meet the girl myself.’
She was worried that Xie Huaizheng had tricked the girl. Otherwise, why would a perfectly fine young woman be willing to marry him so quickly?
Although her son was indeed very handsome, it was still strange to be talking about marriage after dating for less than a month, right?
She was afraid the young lady had been deceived.
Meanwhile, Su Zhaozhao was completely unaware of all this.
When she woke up, she looked at the flowers Xie Huaizheng had given her.
At first, the flowers had been a little wilted, but after being nourished by the spiritual spring water, they looked even fresher than when she had first bought them.
’The spiritual spring water really is a wonderful thing.’
Even flowers on the verge of withering could become so stunningly vibrant.
Su Zhaozhao leaned on the desk, observing the bouquet.
She could feel Xie Huaizheng’s thoughtfulness.
’This man, who seems so stern and cold on a daily basis, had meticulously arranged a bouquet to give her. How could she not be moved?’
Su Zhaozhao’s hand gently stroked the petals as she couldn’t help but think about marrying Xie Huaizheng.
’There definitely won’t be any problems between her and Xie Huaizheng.’
’But Xie Huaizheng’s family, and the original owner’s parents... that’s another story.’
In the novel, the male lead’s parents were supposedly educated and reasonable people. They never made things difficult for the female lead, nor did they show the slightest disdain for her poor family background.
They even thought her status was a good thing.
A girl from a poor mountain village who was diligent and strove to better herself—she was exactly the kind of daughter-in-law they liked.
In fact, they were thankful the male lead hadn’t married that supporting female character who had beauty but no substance.
And now, the male lead was going to marry her—the supporting female character with beauty but no substance.
’She didn’t know what the male lead’s parents would think. In any case, she should have Xie Huaizheng inform them first.’
Su Zhaozhao knew that all she had to do now was wait for news.
With that in mind, Su Zhaozhao changed her clothes and prepared to go out for a meal.
But just as she opened the door, she saw a man leaning casually against the railing of the balcony.
When he saw her, he waved and greeted her, "Zhaozhao, good afternoon. Did you just wake up? I’ve been waiting for you for an hour."
He glanced down and tapped his watch—a silver mechanical timepiece that was clearly expensive.
It glinted under the sunlight.
Su Zhaozhao took two steps back, her body tensing. "Why are you here?"
’Oh my god! Why is Xu Jiaming here?’
Su Zhaozhao’s heart nearly leaped out of her chest in fright.
"Because I wanted to see you, of course," Xu Jiaming said with a grin as he walked toward Su Zhaozhao.
Su Zhaozhao retreated, and he advanced again.
Finally, unable to bear it any longer, Su Zhaozhao put out a finger and lightly poked his chest. "Stop. Can you maintain a normal social distance?"
’If she hadn’t told him to stop,’ she thought, ’Xu Jiaming would probably have pressed right up against her.’
’This is just too...’
Hearing Su Zhaozhao’s words, Xu Jiaming let out a soft chuckle, but he didn’t move any closer.
"I’m going back to Shencheng City tomorrow. We won’t be able to see each other for a long time after that."
He said this with a hint of melancholy and sadness in his voice, as if he were genuinely upset.
He naturally had the looks of someone delicate and gentle—a deathly pale complexion, a frail body, and a pair of shimmering, light tea-colored eyes.
’So docile.’
So when he wore such an expression, for a moment, Su Zhaozhao found she couldn’t bring herself to say anything harsh.
But after snapping out of it, Su Zhaozhao couldn’t help but bite her lip.
’What a wolf in sheep’s clothing!’
’She’d seen this kind of tactic plenty of times while binge-watching dramas and reading novels.’
’Besides, in the novel, Xu Jiaming always put on this same pitiful expression whenever he faced the female lead.’
Therefore, Su Zhaozhao said, "Is that so? Well, I wish you a safe trip. Where’s Jiaxin? Didn’t she come with you?"
’She actually really wanted to ask him why he had come looking for her, and how he had found her.’
’But then she remembered he was a gloomy, ghost-like character; in the novel, he knew the female lead’s every move.’
’Finding her would be easy for him.’
’As long as he had money and was willing to spend it, there was probably nothing he couldn’t do.’
"She has an exam today," Xu Jiaming said, a strange look in his eyes.
He also seemed a little surprised that Su Zhaozhao hadn’t asked him why he was here.
’Was it because she already understood him?’
’That she knew he would always accomplish whatever he set his mind to?’
For some reason, he realized that from the moment Su Zhaozhao saw him, her gaze hadn’t been that of someone looking at a stranger.
It was as if she had known him for a long time.
’But when could it have been?’
’She’s from Jiang City and had never left before this.’
’Could it be that they met when he was visiting Jiang City before?’
’But he had no memory of it.’
’But she had remembered him for so long...’
A sudden thrill pulsed through Xu Jiaming’s blood.
It made him grab Su Zhaozhao’s arm. "Zhaozhao, I know why you’re marrying that man. Aren’t you just trying to escape the engagement your family set up? I can solve that for you. Come with me to Shencheng City."