PART 2
She didn’t remember, but when Gu Youchen said it, she felt like it had happened.
She agreed like that? To such a big decision?
Ning Qingqing’s face was full of hesitation, “I probably just went along with you…”
Gu Youchen’s car had already reached the road opposite the Civil Affairs Bureau. He stopped, not rushing to get out, but turning to her,
“Qingqing, can I know why you broke up with that person?”
Ning Qingqing still held the household registration book, her expression momentarily dazed, “I don’t want a relationship without a future.”
Perhaps pent-up emotions finally found an outlet, being asked allowed her to speak, and it felt natural.
“It was my birthday yesterday, I spent it alone, and today I resigned from Shen Corporation, and I broke up with him.”
Gu Youchen didn’t press further but waited for Ning Qingqing to continue.
Ning Qingqing looked at the Civil Affairs Bureau across the road, feeling indescribable emotions, “Actually, it wasn’t because of my birthday, he wasn’t bad to me.”
Ning Qingqing looked up and asked Gu Youchen, “I asked my best friend about this, and she supported me. But she’s a girl, her way of thinking is different from yours. Can you, from a man’s perspective, help me analyze this, am I too desperate to get married?”
Gu Youchen seemed to understand, “Desperate to get married?”
Ning Qingqing lowered her eyelashes, “We’ve been together since high school, nine years. In school, it was enough to be happy together, I never thought about anything else.
In my first year at work, I was busy adapting to my new life, and everyone was young, and no one mentioned the future.
But we graduated two years ago. Now everyone’s work and relationships are stable. Given our financial situations, we don’t need to struggle to buy a house, shouldn’t we consider stabilizing our relationship?
For the past six months, people have been frequently asking when I’m getting married. At first, I didn’t think that far ahead, but I found out he was completely avoiding the issue.
Once, a mutual friend asked him, I was there, he laughed and changed the subject.
Later, his friend asked him separately; he said he’d talk about it later, in a perfunctory tone, and I overheard it.
So I knew he hadn’t planned on marrying me.
I’m young, but I don’t want an uncertain future, so I told him last week that I wanted an answer on my birthday.
But he didn’t show up.”
Gu Youchen finally understood how Ning Qingqing had spent yesterday.
He felt a tinge of jealousy towards Shen Zhiqian.
But more than that, he felt sorry for this foolish girl.
Ning Qingqing said with self-deprecation, “He didn’t take it seriously. I waited all day yesterday, but all I got was disappointment.”
She realized she had talked a lot and felt embarrassed, but still asked:
“I just want to know, from a man’s perspective, am I pressuring him to marry me? Do I seem desperate to get married?”
“No. You just want a tangible future,” Gu Youchen said gently:
“If he had a plan, even if it was to get married at 30, if he told you clearly, you would have been willing to continue, right?”
Ning Qingqing nodded, feeling touched, “That’s it, I don’t want an uncertain future.”
“So—” Gu Youchen’s hand, which had been resting on the dashboard, tightened slightly. He felt blood rushing from his heart, he suppressed the turmoil in his heart, looking at Ning Qingqing, patiently guiding her,
“I share your view, if you’re not going to get married, there’s no need to date, so dating is for marriage.
Since we’re going to get married eventually, why not expedite the outcome we both want?”
Ning Qingqing blinked, following Gu Youchen’s logic, finding it reasonable.
Gu Youchen’s tone was unhurried, “The result is good, the process will be more secure. I think we both don’t want a relationship without a future.”
Ning Qingqing nodded slowly; she felt it made sense.
Gu Youchen opened his car door and got out.
Only now did he exhale gently, quickly adjusting his composure, opening Ning Qingqing’s door, “Qingqing, let’s go.”
Ning Qingqing followed him out of the car, and they walked across the road side by side. She didn’t speak, still thinking about Gu Youchen’s words.
She felt they were right, but sensed something had been overlooked.
But the moment she started thinking, she felt dizzy again, almost bumping into someone.
Gu Youchen pulled her arm, gently pulling her towards him. Up close, Ning Qingqing smelled his scent.
A strange scent of frost, snow, and pine, pleasant.
“Mr. Gu.” At that moment, Gu Youchen’s secretary came and handed him the household registration book.
Gu Youchen took it. Seeing the secretary staring at Ning Qingqing, he said directly, “I’m getting married, this is my wife.”
“Oh, oh, congratulations, Madam!” The secretary quickly nodded to Ning Qingqing, completely unaware that their boss had a girlfriend, let alone was already at the stage of getting married!
Big news! The secretary’s cheeks flushed; she wanted to share this secret back at the company!
Ning Qingqing was led into the Civil Affairs Bureau by Gu Youchen.
It wasn’t a special date, so there were few people. Only two couples were at the front window, and the waiting area was empty.
Ning Qingqing didn’t know how she ended up at the registration window. There was a pen and paper in front of her.
She picked them up blankly, seeing Gu Youchen already filling out the forms.
She picked up her pen and started to fill out hers, watching the forms get collected and entered into the system.
“Go take a photo, please!” The staff member pointed to the photography area.
In the studio, the two sat side by side, a half-person’s distance apart.
The photographer, rarely seeing such high-value couples, couldn’t help but smile:
“You two are sitting so far apart, I don’t know how to shoot this. Are you shy? Handsome man and beautiful woman, get closer! We’re not taking wedding photos from the 40s and 50s, this is 2022, you can tilt your head a little…”
He even demonstrated.
Ning Qingqing moved closer.
Gu Youchen, after she settled, sat next to her, their clothes touching.
“That’s right! Both smile, I’ll adjust the position,” the photographer stood behind the camera, “Why isn’t the beautiful lady smiling?”
Ning Qingqing forced a smile.
She suddenly realized this was a marriage, a major life event, how did she end up here so confused? What if she suddenly wanted to run away?
However, with a click, the photo was taken.
The photographer was satisfied, “The handsome guy is great, he looks so happy! But the beautiful lady is a little nervous.”
Then, he showed the picture to the two of them.
Ning Qingqing saw herself and Gu Youchen sitting close together, the man’s head slightly tilted towards her, his lips curved in a smile.
She saw Gu Youchen smile for the first time. Although the curve of his lips wasn’t very wide, it inexplicably brought a sense of joy.
His refined and sharp brows and eyes softened instantly like melting snow, unexpectedly revealing a pure, youthful vibe.
Beside him, Ning Qingqing’s lips were raised even higher than Gu Youchen’s, but she looked a little dazed.
“I look so silly in the photo,” Ning Qingqing mumbled involuntarily.
Girls all love beauty. Whenever they take pictures, no matter what kind of photos, they always want to look beautiful.
However, the man beside her chuckled softly, “No, you’re quite cute.”
Ning Qingqing looked up, “Are you laughing at me?”
“No,” Gu Youchen said seriously, “I’m telling the truth, you’re quite cute.”
Ning Qingqing paused slightly. Why did she feel like Gu Youchen was deliberately teasing her? Was it her imagination?
Over by the window, the photos had been delivered. The staff efficiently cropped them and, after Gu Youchen paid, placed the two blank booklets into the printer.
With a whirring sound, one red booklet was printed, then another.
The staff attached the photos, stamped them, and handed over the two red booklets. “Congratulations to the happy couple!”