"That joke isn't funny at all," she said, her voice tinged with annoyance as she glared at him.
"I'm not joking."
... The air grew quiet.
On the man's handsome face, there was indeed an expression of seriousness and commitment.
Su Yue suddenly felt a pang of fear and guilt, and she lowered her head, speaking weakly:
"I'm sleepy... let's go to bed."
At the same time, her mind was in a state of utter chaos.
He was actually bringing up the matter of engagement so earnestly??
She was only twenty years old; these things were too distant for her, and she couldn't imagine it.
Especially with him.
Knowing she would react this way, Chen Ziming chuckled softly and lowered his head, his gaze searching for her eyes.
He then spoke in a low voice:
"You don't just want a hug; I haven't had enough of holding you."
"I don't want you to hold me now, I want to sleep." Feeling his breath on her ear, her unease grew, and her voice weakened.
The man let out a soft, breathy chuckle. He steadied his hand on her curved hip, then stood up.
"What are you doing..." Startled by his movement, Su Yue clutched his neck tighter, looking at him and asking hurriedly.
"Humoring my baby to sleep." He walked to the bedside, laid her down, and then got into bed himself.
She let out a soft sigh of relief.
She willingly snuggled into his embrace, listening to the steady, powerful beat of his heart. Sleepiness washed over her like a mountain, and she soon fell into a deep slumber.
Half an hour later.
The man gently kissed her forehead and called her name a couple of times, but there was no response.
So, he quietly got up and dressed.
He drove to the nearby Xiaolou Zhuang Police Station.
The interrogation of Ying Xue had already concluded; now it was Zheng Yan's turn.
The former had confessed thoroughly.
"Officer Chen is here." Liang Mu answered his call and waited at the entrance.
"Yes, you've worked hard today."
"It's my duty."
As they spoke, the two entered the police station.
Director Zhang had specifically stayed to oversee this case. Seeing him arrive, he rose from his office to shake his hand.
"Hearing about you is one thing, but seeing you in person is another. Ziming, your image and demeanor truly live up to your reputation," he said with a smile.
"Thank you, Director Zhang, for your praise," he replied politely, then lowered his voice and asked:
"The procuratorate, have they contacted you."
"They have, rest assured, intentional injury and instigating crime – they won't escape it."
Liang Mu also felt a sense of relief.
"Thank you for your concern," Chen Ziming's expression softened slightly as he nodded to the director in thanks.
"It's just upholding the law, not hard work," Director Zhang said with a smile, waving his hand.
The phone on his desk rang; it was to inform him that Zheng Yan's record was also ready and he needed to go over.
"The interrogating officer said Zheng Yan was clamoring to see you."
Liang Mu looked at the director's retreating back, his thoughts swirling.
"She's not worthy," his face turned cold, and his voice was equally frigid.
"Indeed, she doesn't warrant anyone's effort," Liang Mu mused, then added, "But her father will likely approach Chairman Meng to discuss this."
"Let him." He spoke indifferently, a hint of disdain in his eyes.
He clearly didn't take Zheng Yan's father seriously.
The case was quickly concluded. It was already two in the morning when Chen Ziming drove Liang Mu back to the hotel.
It was evident that his mood had improved significantly.
"Officer Chen, I actually have a question," Liang Mu said, also smiling happily at the change, and slowly asked.
"Go ahead."
"Yueyue is very outstanding, and it's clear you like her very much. But she's still so young, and you haven't been together for long. You brought her to meet everyone; is it a firm decision that you intend to marry her, or do you not care about your friends' opinions?"
The gatherings they held were such that if a woman was brought, she was invariably a potential marriage partner.
She was, Lü Shichen was, and although Xu Weiqi wasn't yet engaged to Ren Siyuan, it would be soon.
The girlfriends they had dated before, if they weren't people they intended to marry, they would never have brought them.
This was why the rule of receiving gifts from newcomers was established by Liang Mu.
"Who says we haven't been together long."
The car pulled into the hotel entrance and stopped at the drop-off point.
Seeing this, Liang Mu prepared to get out of the car.
But then he heard the man say, somewhat casually:
"I've liked her for five years."