"Do you hate me that much? You'd rather stay single forever than consider settling down with me?"
Ge'er told the truth.
"I don't hate you, otherwise I wouldn't be interacting with you at all, not even as friends. I just can't bring myself to like you."
"I've told you, you're not my ideal type."
Shang Jincheng almost blurted out, "Then should I change my profession? Change to be what you like, work hard to be what you like, isn't that enough? Just give me a chance, at least test me, before considering divorce?"
Before the words could be spoken, Ge'er's phone rang.
Flipping it over, she saw it was a video call from Jiang Nan Fang.
Shang Jincheng swallowed his words back. Seeing her answer, Jiang Nan Fang's voice came through.
"Sweetie, are you off work yet?"
"Sigh, ever since you and Tiantian moved out, Daddy and I have felt so lost. We worry about you constantly, whether you're eating well, sleeping well, or living well."
"I just spoke to Tiantian. She's still working overtime at the company. Don't be like her."
"Our family doesn't need you to work so hard. Wealth can't be accumulated all at once, and personal abilities need to be shown gradually. Don't rush. Taking care of your health is the priority... Where are you?"
Ge'er said she wasn't as foolish as Tiantian, working herself to death for a job every day.
"I'm eating out. I'll be back soon, don't worry."
Jiang Nan Fang wasn't easily reassured. Hearing she was eating out, she asked who she was with, male or female.
Ge'er said it was Shang Jincheng, and then turned the camera to face him. "Say hello to my mommy."
Shang Jincheng instantly switched to a smiling face and waved at the camera.
"Hello, Auntie. Long time no see."
When they were studying, he and Jiang Jing Yu were good friends. They often visited each other during holidays and he had frequently troubled the Zhan family.
But after Lu Jiaying had an accident, Jiang Jing Yu stopped interacting with them much.
In recent years, he had only visited their home a handful of times, but Jiang Nan Fang still had a fairly strong impression of him.
"Jincheng, long time no see. How long has it been since you last visited? Are you busy with work?"
Shang Jincheng said it was alright.
"Mainly, Jing Yu doesn't live with you anymore, so I felt awkward about bothering you. But if Auntie likes, I can visit with Ge'er in the future."
Jiang Nan Fang was extremely enthusiastic. "That would be great. Even though Jing Yu is married, Tiantian and Ge'er are still here. You can come over to see them. You're welcome! Just let me know before you come, and Auntie will prepare a feast for you."
After hanging up, Ge'er couldn't be bothered to say anything more to him. They finished their meal in polite silence, and she immediately wanted to go home.
Shang Jincheng knew that talking more would be useless, so he could only drive her.
No matter how slowly he drove, they still arrived downstairs.
Ge'er got out of the car without looking back, and before going inside, she reminded him.
"See you tomorrow morning at eight o'clock at the Civil Affairs Bureau. Whoever doesn't show up is a coward."
Watching her back as she elegantly entered the lobby, Shang Jincheng felt a pang of heartache.
Was he really so beneath her, so unworthy of Zhan Jing Ge's attention?
There were plenty of women outside who wanted to marry him.
After finally obtaining the marriage certificate, he never expected it would be on the verge of divorce before he could even truly cherish it.
He was unwilling to lose her like this. After much thought, he sat in his car and called Jiang Jing Yu.
Tong An'an had just given birth, and Jiang Jing Yu, as a new father, was in a state of excitement.
He left work on time every day, returning home to his wife and children.
He hadn't received a call from Shang Jincheng in a long time, so seeing his name was quite unexpected.
"Something wrong?"
"Something is wrong." Shang Jincheng said, "It's a matter of utmost urgency. Can you come out to meet me?"
No matter how urgent the matter, it couldn't be more urgent than him accompanying his wife and child. Jiang Jing Yu refused unceremoniously.
"What big deal can't be discussed over the phone? I can't go out. Tell me."
"This matter really can't be explained over the phone. If you can't come out, I'll come to you. Can you give me half an hour?"
Since he had humbled himself to this extent, how could Jiang Jing Yu refuse?
Soon, Shang Jincheng appeared at his doorstep.
Jiang Jing Yu invited him in. After he closed the door, before he could turn around, Shang Jincheng handed him two small, fiery red booklets.
"Take a look at this."
Jiang Jing Yu was no stranger to such documents and his heart leaped.
"Whose marriage certificates? You got married? So suddenly? To whom? You came here just to tell me this?"
As he spoke, he lifted the cover of the marriage certificate to look inside. Before he could even clearly see the bride's face, Shang Jincheng knelt before him with a thud.
As he knelt, Jiang Jing Yu also clearly saw the bride in the photo and her name.
Zhan Jing Ge.
He had actually registered his marriage with Ge'er! What was going on?
No wonder this scoundrel said it was urgent and had eloped with his sister. How could this be tolerated?
"You two... what's going on?"
Jiang Jing Yu raised his eyebrows, about to settle the score.
Shang Jincheng lowered his head and confessed.
"Don't get angry first, let me finish speaking."
"I admit it. Registering the marriage with Ge'er was sudden, but it was premeditated."
"It's not for any other reason, purely because I like her. Jing Yu, I think you've sensed it for a long time. I like Ge'er, and have for a very, very long time. If it weren't for you, I would have pursued her long ago!"
Jiang Jing Yu did know about this.
Ever since middle school, when Ge'er grew into a graceful young lady, he noticed Shang Jincheng often loitered around Ge'er, and always liked to visit the Zhan family, shamelessly trying to impress her.
However, his academic performance was poor, and Ge'er didn't like him. Jiang Jing Yu also felt it would be awkward to turn his buddy into his brother-in-law and had warned him not to harbor any ideas about his sister.
Later, he frequently changed girlfriends, and Jiang Jing Yu thought he had given up on that idea. He never expected...
After Shang Jincheng finished speaking and saw he wasn't angry, he continued.
"I was indeed a scoundrel before, interacting with many other girls, but there was no other way."
"I didn't like studying. Besides flirting with her sisters and showing off in front of her, I couldn't find any other way to interact with her."
"I know that was wrong, but doesn't everyone have an awkward teenage phase? I regret it now... What's done is done, and saying more is useless. I'm here to guarantee you that I will be devoted to her from now on and will never mess around."
"Otherwise, I'll accept whatever you want, even if you kill me or dismember me. I won't say a word."
Seeing that he had gone this far, and looking at the booklets in his hand, Jiang Jing Yu was confused.
"You came here in the middle of the night in a hurry just to promise me you'll treat her well from now on?"
"You married her, not me. As long as she's willing, no one can stop you. You don't need to do this with me."
"Or perhaps, knowing you got her too easily, your conscience is bothering you? Are you afraid I'll scold you? Afraid my dad will come after you?"