Chapter 17: Flash Marriage 3 PART 1
“Ah?!” Ning Qingqing was completely stunned. “Who’s getting the marriage certificate?”
When she used the video recording to shame those two unpleasant women, her mind was still clear, but now, perhaps the alcohol was hitting her, and her brain had completely shut down.
The man beside her extended his hand, “You should have heard Shen Zhiqian mention me at the hospital, but let me introduce myself. My name is Gu Youchen.”
Ning Qingqing looked at the man’s clearly defined hand, hesitantly extending her own, “My name is Ning Qingqing, nice to meet you, Mr. Gu.”
The next second, her hand was clasped in his. She didn’t know why, but her palms were sweating all day, while Gu Youchen’s were dry and warm.
After a moment, he released her hand. “Didn’t they say no one would marry you? I’ll marry you to show them.”
He took the bag of snacks from the still-bewildered Ning Qingqing, naturally holding it in his hand:
“Now, let’s go to your place to get your household registration book, then to the Civil Affairs Bureau. My assistant will bring my household registration book; it’ll be more efficient.”
The man had already started walking, and Ning Qingqing could only follow him.
He noticed the girl’s dazed expression from the corner of his eye. Her eyes were still red, like a wronged little rabbit, and her cheeks were flushed from the alcohol, making her look incredibly cute.
Gu Youchen deliberately slowed his pace, matching Ning Qingqing’s rhythm.
They walked one in front of the other, until they reached the school gate.
Gu Youchen’s car was parked on the road next to the school gate; it now had two parking tickets. One every two hours, 200 yuan each.
He walked over, took down the tickets, glanced at them, and opened the passenger door.
Ning Qingqing stared at his actions, her gaze still on the bag of snacks in Gu Youchen’s hand.
Gu Youchen’s lips slightly curved, “I’ll return it to you after we get in the car.”
Ning Qingqing didn’t know why she got into the car. Actually, since Gu Youchen appeared, the world had become surreal.
She even thought she was dreaming, because this was like a standard slap-in-the-face plot from a novel.
The wealthy woman and her sister-in-law looked down on Cinderella, insulting her, but then a prince arrived, taking Cinderella away, slapping them hard!
After getting in the car, Ning Qingqing quietly pinched her calf.
It hurt.
Do dreams hurt too? She rubbed her heavy head.
Gu Youchen closed the door and went around to the driver’s side.
After getting in, seeing Ning Qingqing hadn’t fastened her seatbelt, he leaned slightly, then paused.
He sat up straight, saying, “Qingqing, fasten your seatbelt.”
This was the first time he called her that, at least that’s how it sounded to her.
Ning Qingqing nodded quickly, mechanically pulling out her seatbelt and fastening it.
The man started the car and asked, “Qingqing, where do you live?”
Ning Qingqing, like a puppet, gave her apartment address.
She sat in the passenger seat, dazedly watching the retreating scenery, completely unable to understand why she was going to her apartment with Gu Youchen to get her household registration book.
Her apartment was close to the high school. It was only 3:30 pm, and the roads were clear, so before she could sort things out, they arrived at her apartment complex.
It was a strange car, so the security guard didn’t let them pass. Gu Youchen lowered the passenger window and greeted the guard.
The guard saw it was the man from last night.
And the car, wasn’t it the one he had stopped last night?!
This guy was chasing a girl, and now he’s gotten her?
What about her previous boyfriend? He remembered him; he was handsome and had several cars, all over a million yuan.
The security guard watched Ning Qingqing with gossip in his eyes, smiling, “Good afternoon, resident!”
Ning Qingqing nodded, completely missing the guard’s eagerness to chat.
The gate opened, Gu Youchen drove in and asked, “Qingqing, which way?”
Ning Qingqing returned to her mechanical mode, numbly giving directions.
They reached Ning Qingqing’s parking spot. Gu Youchen parked the car, went to the passenger side, and opened the door for her.
They entered the elevator together.
The building’s property management was excellent; the elevator was spotless, the metal mirror reflecting the two figures standing side by side.
The man beside her was still a stranger. They had only met a few times, and had only just introduced themselves today.
This was seemingly the first time they were standing together like this.
A lot of random thoughts and guesses filled Ning Qingqing’s mind, but her alcohol-hazed mind was still numb, hindering her judgment.
The elevator ‘dinged’, indicating their floor.
They walked out, Ning Qingqing went to her door and unlocked it with her fingerprint.
Gu Youchen noticed her nervousness.
He said, “Qingqing, I’ll wait for you at the door, just come out when you have the household registration book.”
Ning Qingqing didn’t know why she was listening to Gu Youchen, but she did as he said.
The household registration book was in her small drawer where she kept important documents. When she opened it, the first thing she saw was a transparent sealed bag containing a standard two-inch white background photo of Shen Zhiqian.
It was a photo Shen Zhiqian and she had taken for passports, and she had some extra copies.
Last night, while tidying up, she hadn’t checked this drawer, so she hadn’t seen it.
Seeing his photo, perhaps because of her current daze, she didn’t feel as heartbroken as last night.
Ning Qingqing threw the photo into the trash can, feeling it wasn’t enough, she picked it up, tore it up, and threw it again.
As if she had finally vented, she felt a little happy.
Taking the household registration book, Ning Qingqing went out.
Gu Youchen was waiting at the door. Because the door wasn’t closed, he could see the layout of Ning Qingqing’s living room.
It had a warm and soft style, just like the impression the girl had left on him when they first met.
Seeing she had the book, he said, “Let’s go.”
Ning Qingqing, still dazed, followed.
They got back in the car and drove to the Civil Affairs Bureau in Gu Youchen’s neighborhood.
It was a little further away. The breeze through the window helped Ning Qingqing’s mind start to clear.
As the navigation map showed them getting closer, she finally reacted, “Wait.”
Gu Youchen turned slightly, “What’s wrong, Qingqing?”
Ning Qingqing gripped the car door handle, as if gathering courage.
She said, “Mr. Gu, are you taking me to the Civil Affairs Bureau to get a marriage certificate?”
Gu Youchen nodded, noticing the girl was gradually becoming clearer, his tone serious, “Mm, Qingqing, you forgot, you agreed to it on the stands.”
Ning Qingqing was stunned again; she didn’t remember being blackout drunk.
“When did I agree?” she asked, puzzled.
“I told Xue Wenlan and her daughter that I would marry you, and you nodded,” Gu Youchen said earnestly, “Qingqing, you should keep your promises.”
Ning Qingqing blinked lightly, trying to recall.