Chapter 206: Marriage
Initially, Lian Li’s plan was to return to Taipei in two weeks, but now she happened to be in Shanghai.
Flying from the Capital City could only take her to Taoyuan Airport; from Shanghai, flying directly to Songshan Airport from Hongqiao Airport was very convenient, arriving in about an hour and a half.
Moreover, after learning about Ji Tan’s story, her mood was somewhat complicated, and she thought of returning to Taipei early.
Lian Li knew that Jin Shi Yue appeared lazy and casual, but was actually very busy with official duties. She had originally planned to return to Taipei by herself, but now she wanted him by her side.
After going abroad, opportunities to meet would only become fewer, so it was better to cherish the present.
Lian Li wouldn’t say things like ‘It’s fine if you’re busy.’ After asking, she stared intently at Jin Shi Yue, her eyes full of anticipation for his answer.
“You want me to go?” A hint of a smile flashed in Jin Shi Yue’s eyes. He leaned back against the sofa, his body relaxed, and asked her leisurely.
Lian Li nodded: “Yes.”
After speaking, she felt that “yes” was too shallow and added, “Very much.”
Lian Li’s almond-shaped eyes were moist and bright, blinking as she looked at him, as if holding countless stars within them. Her gaze was sincere, and her words were even more moving.
Jin Shi Yue couldn’t help but be slightly stunned.
Lian Li rarely expressed her emotional needs; this seemed to be the first time.
“Whether I go or not depends on whether you want me to,” Jin Shi Yue’s smile deepened in his eyes. He glanced at her from under his eyelids, his voice casual, “If you want me to very much, then I have no choice but to go.”
Lian Li also smiled, her eyes curved like crescent moons, her cheeks radiating a heartfelt smile.
They looked at each other and smiled. Jin Shi Yue raised his hand and flicked her nose with his finger: “Eat breakfast.”
Lian Li’s legs had gone a bit numb from sitting cross-legged. As Jin Shi Yue stood up and left the sofa, she extended her hand to him.
“What for?” Jin Shi Yue crossed his arms, looking at her lazily, as if he knew the answer.
“My legs are numb,” Lian Li said, “I can’t get up.”
“To say you want your boyfriend to carry you so elegantly.” Jin Shi Yue raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of playfulness in his words.
Lian Li blinked her eyelashes and was about to retort when she heard Jin Shi Yue say with a smirk, “You already have me, so just say it if you want to be carried.”
Lian Li, who had opened her mouth, closed it again.
Jin Shi Yue bent down, his strong, sturdy arms hooking around Lian Li’s waist and the back of her knees, easily lifting her off the sofa.
Lian Li wrapped her arms around his neck, looking at his sharp jawline, her eyes slowly darting around.
She had actually just wanted him to help her up, not to carry her.
But if he was going to carry her, then so be it.
In the restaurant, they sat at the dining table to eat. Lian Li slowly drank her milk, occasionally glancing at the garden view outside the one-way glass.
After the meal, Jin Shi Yue got busy with work, while Lian Li curled up on the sofa, playing a simulation management game.
Growing vegetables, raising animals, fishing… a series of leisurely and carefree activities. Perhaps due to her anxious mood, she didn’t have much patience for fun this time.
Lian Li put down the game and asked Tao Su for a laptop, logged into her email and WeChat, and prepared to browse the information Professor Lu Huier had sent.
Few people knew about the relationship between Lian Li and Ji Tan.
In the small WeChat group, Zhong Yang was still tagging Lian Li, organizing a get-together at a clubhouse: 「@Li Mei, come out and play! 」
Xue Shufan: 「Junior Sister is very busy and doesn’t have time, unlike you, a rich young master, who is idle all day. 」
Zhong Yang: 「What a pity, without Li Mei, there’s much less fun. 」
Xue Shufan: 「*Eye roll.jpg* Can you stop smiling before you say that? 」
Zhong Yang and Xue Shufan often bickered in the group, but offline, they were as polite as strangers.
Fierce online, cold in reality.
At some point in the conversation, Zhong Yang suddenly said: 「Crown Princess Xue, I heard you’re getting married, is it true or not? 」
Lian Li was about to exit the chat page when she saw this message. Her finger paused on the screen, waiting for Xue Shufan’s reply.
After half a minute, Xue Shufan replied: 「Remember to give me a big red envelope. 」
Senior Sister is getting married?
How come Junior Sister doesn’t know.
Lian Li, full of doubts, took out her mobile phone to video call Xue Shufan.
On the weekend, Xue Shufan was resting. She was lying on her big bed at home, her long hair messy, and answered her junior sister’s video call.
“Didn’t you wake up earlier?” Lian Li asked.
Xue Shufan ran her fingers through her hair, making it look neater and more presentable. She yawned: “I took a nap.”
Oh.
Lian Li immediately got straight to the point and asked directly, “Are you getting married?”
“Yes, soon,” Xue Shufan did not deny it.
Lian Li was slightly surprised: “To that male doctor you went on a blind date with last time?”
Xue Shufan nodded again, confirming.
“Didn’t you say he could be your friend, but not your boyfriend or husband?” Lian Li still remembered Xue Shufan’s words, saying they got along very well, their values and topics of interest were almost identical, and they could talk endlessly, but they couldn’t be a couple or spouses, there was no spark of love.
Lian Li said that an ordinary life was true happiness.
Xue Shufan said that an ordinary life didn’t mean ordinary love; those were two different things.
Lian Li didn’t understand.
“It’s not a real marriage,” Xue Shufan said on video, standing by the coffee machine and pouring a cup of hot coffee, “It’s a fake marriage.”
Lian Li was even more confused: “Why would you get married falsely?”
Grandma Xue had passed away a long time ago, so it wasn’t to please an elder. As for a marriage alliance, Xue Shufan had long since severed ties with the Xue family, so she wouldn’t compromise herself for the Xue family.
“To deal with my aunt and uncle,” Xue Shufan took a sip of coffee, her mind clearing up a bit, “They’re always urging me to find a reliable man quickly, probably worried I’ll die from an experiment one day.”
Xue Shufan’s life was not monotonous; it was extremely rich, capable of both doing experiments and having a blast. Not only her aunt and uncle worried about her, but Lian Li also worried about her senior sister.
Lian Li pondered for a moment and said, “The male doctor agreed to a fake marriage?”
“He agreed,” Xue Shufan said, “He only graduated with his doctorate a couple of years ago and is completely focused on his work at the hospital, with no time to deal with his family.”
Lian Li commented: “You two are like you’re competing in a marriage.”
Xue Shufan laughed heartily: “Anyway, the wedding will be handled by both sets of parents. We’ll just wait for the wedding day, attend, and go through the motions.”
Lian Li asked about the wedding date. Xue Shufan said she wasn’t sure yet, but it would definitely be when she was free.
Lian Li mused and changed the subject: “I’m not returning to the Capital City for now. I’ll fly directly from Shanghai to Taipei next week.”
“How long are you planning to stay in Taipei?” Xue Shufan asked.
“At least a week, and no more than a month.”
“OK, remember to bring a gift for your senior sister.”
Lian Li smiled: “Of course.”
Xue Shufan lowered her eyes, looking at the foam floating on her coffee, and thought about Jin Yan Ting’s feelings for Lian Li.
Junior Sister probably didn’t know about this. Should she tell her?
Never mind, it’s all in the past.
“By the way,” Xue Shufan suddenly said, “Junior Sister, do you know that the Second Young Master cannot leave the Capital City freely right now?”
