As the man, he had to take responsibility for the woman.
Zhan Jingrui understood that if he didn't state his position, his parents would have to use the excuse that he was still in school when asked.
But now that he had graduated, it would be rude to continue to evade the question.
Zhan Jingrui had it all figured out.
Due to his relationship with Chu Xi, the Zhan and Chu families had cooperated extensively in business in recent years. They were recognized as a powerful alliance in the entire business circle, and his marriage to Chu Xi was only a matter of time.
He might have to settle down before his career was even established, right after graduation.
However, settling down wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
He had known Chu Xi for so long and understood her well.
Beautiful, gentle, intelligent, and sensible. She was perfect without a single flaw. No one in the world was more suitable for him.
If their parents were also looking forward to it, he would be willing to give her an answer sooner.
That evening, the whole family returned to welcome Zhan Jingrui home. No one brought up the matter of marriage, but he brought it up himself.
"I'm not young anymore. Chu Xi and I have been dating for many years, and our relationship has always been very stable. So, I think we should pick a suitable time and prepare. We plan to get married."
Although Zhan Beijue and Jiang Nanfang did not say anything overly excited, their eyes clearly showed their approval of the matter.
As parents, they worried about their children no matter the time.
It seemed that only when their children got married could they truly put their minds at ease.
With so many children in the family, resolving one at a time was good.
The couple secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Jiang Nanfang calmly agreed, but Zhan Jingrui added a condition.
"But I have a condition."
"I don't like Nancheng, you know that. After staying with you for a few days, I will go to Sucheng with Chu Xi, and we probably won't return to Nancheng after marriage."
As they said before, with so many children in the family, there was no end to their worries. As long as they lived peacefully and happily, Jiang Nanfang and Zhan Beijue didn't care where they stayed.
Therefore, this was not a condition for them at all.
"It just so happens that the company in Sucheng needs a stable and capable person in charge to stabilize the situation. It's good for you to go to Sucheng."
Zhan Beijue agreed immediately.
"Rest for a few days, then report to the company in Sucheng. Be humble, learn from your seniors, and don't put on airs just because you're my son."
Three days later, Zhan Jingrui and Chu Xi went to Sucheng.
They first visited the Chu family and then went to visit Hu Jiasheng's home.
Hu Jiasheng had retired since Lu Jiaying's incident.
After witnessing two tragedies in succession, he had relapsed into depression and was in great pain during that period.
Now, investing, spending time with the elderly, and looking after children, a leisurely life suited him better.
He had returned to Sucheng and was still living in his old place.
Zhan Jingrui had not returned since graduating from high school. Seven years had passed in a blink of an eye. Returning to this familiar place and passing by that familiar house, it was impossible not to be touched.
Everyone said that first love was a cinnabar mark in every man's heart that could never be erased, even if it wasn't perfect.
But precisely because it was imperfect, the impression it left in the heart was even deeper.
Although Zhan Jingrui hid it well, he didn't look at He Yao's house any more than necessary as he passed by, nor did he inquire about her family.
But as soon as he returned to this place, the Pandora's box of memories involuntarily opened.
Those past events were so vivid, as if they had happened just a moment ago.
If people hadn't kept saying that he was 25 years old in their conversations, he would have felt like that 18-year-old boy.
Zhan Jingrui did not own property in Sucheng. It was inconvenient to stay in a hotel on the first day of his arrival, so he stayed at Hu Jiasheng's house.
After dinner, they went to Hu Jiasheng's study to chat. Hu Jiasheng suddenly brought up He Yao's family.
"Do you remember the family across the street?"
He gestured with his chin towards He Yao's house. Zhan Jingrui then had an excuse to look that way.
The house was beautiful and grand, with lush greenery, just like their side.
"What is it, Uncle?"
"Nothing much. A few years ago, it was bought by a young man about your age. After buying it, he visited our house and said he was your old classmate, named Xu Zheng. Do you know anyone by that name?"
Xu Zheng? Of course, he knew someone by that name.
Zhan Jingrui didn't have many friends when he studied in Sucheng, but he sat next to Xu Zheng for several years.
This person was annoying, and it was thanks to him that Zhan Jingrui noticed He Yao. The impression was unforgettable.
Whether it was genuine deep and unique feelings for Xu Zheng or an inherent desire to see the house, Zhan Jingrui, accompanied by Hu Jiasheng, went across the street.
The house was brightly lit. Within seconds of ringing the doorbell, a servant opened the door.
Within a minute, Zhan Jingrui saw his former annoying deskmate again.
Seven years had passed, and he had changed so much.
He had transformed from the chuunibyo youth of the past into a social elite.
Wearing a shirt, suit pants, and a slicked-back hairstyle, his demeanor was much more mature than Zhan Jingrui, who had just left the ivory tower.
Seeing his old classmate visiting, Xu Zheng was so happy that his mouth almost split open.
He very politely invited Zhan Jingrui in to tour the house, talked incessantly about the development of Sucheng over the years, reminisced about their time as deskmates, and then invited him to stay for a drink.
"We were young back then. If you said you couldn't drink, we wouldn't have. Now we're men in our twenties and thirties. A couple of drinks shouldn't be a problem, right?"
"It's been seven years, and if you refuse me as soon as you arrive, you'll be looking down on me. Scholar, do me a favor. Tonight, we won't stop until we're drunk."
With mixed feelings, Zhan Jingrui had no desire to sleep. He asked Hu Jiasheng to go back first and sat down face-to-face with Xu Zheng.
Listening to Xu Zheng chat about all sorts of things, Zhan Jingrui remained uninterested.
At this moment, he finally understood that the reason he was willing to approach Xu Zheng was because he wanted to hear something about He Yao from him.
Back then, she had hurt him first and then left without saying goodbye, causing Zhan Jingrui immense psychological damage.
His pride didn't allow him to inquire deliberately, so he had been thinking about it silently all these years.
He just wanted to hear a few words about her from others. As long as he confirmed that she had suffered retribution and was not doing well, perhaps the knot in his heart for many years could be untied.
Unfortunately. Even an informant like Xu Zheng didn't know anything about her.
"Do you remember He Yao? She used to live in this house back then. She was so beautiful, and I even had a crush on her for a while. That girl with bad grades."
"You didn't care about anything back then, and you had Chu Xi in your heart, so you probably don't remember."
"Alas, she's still my dream goddess. I don't know what happened. As soon as she stopped going to school, no one could contact her. I've been thinking about her constantly and still can't forget her."
Hearing this, his goal for the day was achieved.
Since he didn't know either, there was no need to stay any longer.