"Someone who's usually so carefree and doesn't care what others think, how can he be so cowardly when faced with this?"
"We live our lives, and he lives his. As long as we don't care, does it matter what others think?"
While that was said, it was far easier said than done.
Xiang Yang couldn't avoid interacting with his sister and Lu Ming Zhe forever.
Every time they interacted... she could imagine the scene.
"Stop talking and let me up."
"If you feel unwilling because I broke up with you, you can dump me now. The two of us really can't be together anymore."
Xiang Yang didn't let go.
"Did Lu Ming Zhe say something to you behind my back?"
"No, he's not that kind of person. I just feel it's not suitable."
"Nonsense!"
Xiang Yang gritted his back teeth, then suddenly stood up, supporting her legs.
"Actually, you don't care about Lu Ming Zhe's opinion, you care about my sister."
"You feel you can't face her, having had a past entanglement with her husband and now with her brother."
"Then I can tell you clearly, you're overthinking it. My sister doesn't have many talents, but the one she's best at is considering others."
"Besides, she knows better than anyone what your marriage with Lu Ming Zhe was like. She definitely won't have an opinion about this."
"Stop using this as an excuse to brush me off, I'm taking you somewhere."
Chen Jiaojiao gasped and flailed her legs, wanting to be put down.
"Didn't you sprain your ankle? Hurry and put me down."
Sister Man and Zhou Jinbei were also startled. Sister Man, especially, rushed forward to stop him.
"My dear brother, do you really not care about your life? You just had medicine applied, the doctor told you to rest, put her down quickly!"
"Even if you don't worry about your own future, consider me, okay? My mother is lying in the hospital, and the expenses are astronomical. If you lose your job, we'll have to beg for food. Do it for me, please?"
Chen Jiaojiao felt even more embarrassed to be carried by him. Xiang Yang just held on tightly.
"Unless you agree to come with me, I won't let you down today, even if I have to break this leg."
How could this guy be so good at emotional blackmail? Chen Jiaojiao was speechless.
"Okay, okay, let's talk properly. Put me down first."
"You promise me."
"Put me down first."
He walked away carrying her.
Amidst the exclamations of everyone, Chen Jiaojiao could only agree.
"I promise, I promise, stop walking!"
Xiang Yang put her down.
Sister Man quickly pulled up his pant leg to examine his ankle, which was so swollen she couldn't see the bone.
"We still have to record a rehearsal video later. Your foot is this swollen, and you still want to go out running? Are you trying to kill me?"
"Don't worry, I won't delay the rehearsal. You don't want me to delay the rehearsal, do you? Let's go."
Xiang Yang grabbed Chen Jiaojiao and walked out.
As they passed Zhou Jinbei, Zhou Jinbei gave him a charming smile.
"Hello, I'm Zhou Jinbei. I support you and Jiaojiao, good luck!"
Yesterday's vows, the analysis of pros and cons for Chen Jiaojiao, all flew out of the window in the face of Xiang Yang's looks and voice.
After they had walked quite a distance, looking at their perfect couple's backs, she was still sighing.
"They're so well-matched. Chen Jiaojiao has really struck gold this time. It was worth knowing Lu Ming Zhe."
Chen Jiaojiao drove, with Xiang Yang in the passenger seat, holding her hand and urging her to go to the notary office.
"Why go to the notary office?"
"To do a prenuptial asset notarization. I want to transfer five million to you as your prenuptial property."
Xiang Yang said, "I don't have a house or a car, so I can only give you all my assets to show my determination. Don't say it's too little."
Chen Jiaojiao was speechless again. "I didn't mean it was too little..."
"That means you're worried about me. I know. If you're worried about me, then accept me. From now on, cook and make drinks for me every day, and call to care about me."
"...I don't know what kind of evil has befallen you, but I want to remind you, Xiang Yang, marriage is not a child's play. I've already played this game once..."
"I know, that's why I'm especially serious and never play around."
"Think about it, with this little money, all given to you. What if I play around and divorce you, I'd be penniless. I wouldn't be that foolish."
"..."
He put away his joking tone.
"Actually, I've wanted to marry you for a long time, but you said you didn't want to, and I didn't dare to force you."
"I love the feeling of being with you so much. Before, my sister and Lu Ming Zhe spent every day together behind your back, eating and living together, being affectionate. It felt like home, and I was envious."
"After meeting you, I realized I could have that too."
"I used to be a very dejected person, often alone, feeling that life was boring and tasteless. You made me fall in love with life, how can you abandon me again?"
"Consider it my plea, if you like me too, don't waste time and life like my sister and them, let's face our hearts, okay?"
What he said made sense, and his attitude was very firm. To be honest, Chen Jiaojiao was truly moved.
However, the thought of facing Xiang Wan later still made her feel extremely awkward.
"Then let's not let them know. Before, they were secretly in contact behind your back, consider it your revenge. Now, we'll be secretly in contact behind their backs."
"If you want to go public, we will. If not, I'll play with you for a lifetime. As long as you agree to be mine, I'll cooperate with whatever you want to do."
Xiang Yang finally drove the car to the entrance of the Civil Affairs Bureau.
"Think carefully. Once we get the marriage certificate, it's for a lifetime. Once we go in, there's no turning back."
Xiang Yang said, "How about you record a video for me? If I go back on my word later, you can post this online and ruin my reputation."
The two got out of the car with surging enthusiasm, holding their documents and slowly walking inside.
Chen Jiaojiao suddenly remembered, "You're not old enough, are you? I remember the marriage law says men must be 22 years old."
Xiang Yang handed her his household registration book to look at. He had already passed the age.
"When my household registration was done, they added two years to my real age. Otherwise, how would I have the confidence to insist on marrying you?"
This guy always had a backup plan.
Chen Jiaojiao realized she was truly being manipulated by him.
It was only seven o'clock. Apart from the cleaning lady, the hall was empty.
They took a number and were the first in line.
Chen Jiaojiao was bare-faced today. Now that she had time, she took out things from her bag to fix herself up and put on light makeup. She also did some for Xiang Yang.
Covering his dark circles, evening out his skin tone, fixing his hair, and then they looked at each other, both extremely satisfied.
The staff started working precisely at eight o'clock, and they received their marriage certificates at 08:10.
As soon as they walked out of the hall, Sister Man called.
"I'm at the entrance. I saw Jiaojiao's car. Did you guys really go in?"
"We've already got the certificate."
Sister Man resigned herself. "I don't ask for anything else, just one thing from you, Brother Xiang. Can we keep it a secret for now?"
"Yes. We don't plan to make it public yet. Except for you and Miss Zhou."