Xu Ke felt her heart plunge into another state of extreme contradiction—relieved yet burdened. Lin Ge’s open-mindedness made her feel guilty, although she hadn’t done anything to wrong him. But his rational calmness also made her feel a subtle unease. If she saw a photo of him kissing another woman, she would be jealous and would definitely ask questions, not achieve such calm serenity. She would prefer him to be angry, to question her, rather than this calm demeanor. She liked when they were honest with each other, presenting their true selves, whether it was personal strengths or weaknesses, emotional joys or sorrows. After all, concealing and enduring over a long time was not the foundation for a lasting marriage. However, Lin Ge was introverted and reserved, always keeping his thoughts deep within. Did he really not mind at all?
She sat on the bench in the lobby, briefly explaining the situation of that day to Lin Ge, then looked into his eyes and softly asked, “Lin Ge, would you like to marry me sooner?” Lin Ge hesitated, as if wanting to say something, then after a while, he said, “Xiao Ke, I really want to marry you, but are you sure it’s not because of him?” Xu Ke’s heart pounded. She had already asked herself this question and considered it for a day. Undeniably, Shen Mu’s appearance was a catalyst, but he was definitely not the fundamental reason. She pondered for a moment, then slowly said, “Lin Ge, I’m very traditional; I’ve always longed for marriage. I’ve always hoped for a lively, happy family because my mother and I lived such a lonely life. From the day I started being with you, I had the intention of marrying you. It’s not because of his appearance that I want to marry you. I really want to settle down quickly and bring my mother here.”
