My Alleged Husband

Chapter 49: Chapter 48: Bringing Up Old Matters_1

Zhang Zhentian was elated for a long time after hearing Xia Jing’s response. He hugged her tightly, refusing to let go. Xia Jing didn’t want to leave Zhang Zhentian’s embrace either; she found it so comfortable and secure. She longed to be held like this by Zhang Zhentian forever, but when she glanced at the sky outside, she felt it was getting late. Though reluctant, she steeled herself to push Zhang Zhentian away, grabbed her things, and ran out. Zhang Zhentian knew Xia Jing was just shy, so he did not chase after her. As Xia Jing ran down the stairs, her cheeks looked exceptionally enchanting under the moonlight.

With a smile on his face, Zhang Zhentian remained in his bedroom. He leisurely walked to the window and looked down at Xia Jing, who was standing at the doorway of his house. When Xia Jing looked up and saw Zhang Zhentian watching her from above, she bashfully lowered her head and hurriedly ran off. Seeing Xia Jing’s actions filled Zhang Zhentian’s heart with joy. He thought, ”After such a long pursuit and so many trials, I have finally won her over. I hope no more mishaps occur.”

Zhang Zhentian watched Xia Jing’s receding figure for a long time before turning back to his bed. He unlocked his phone and browsed through the photo album, where he saw pictures of himself and Xia Jing together, and felt a sweet sensation in his heart.

Zhang Zhentian lay in bed for a long while, unable to fall asleep, as he remembered kissing Xia Jing that day. He thought about how she agreed not to leave him anymore, and how his father also consented to their relationship. He felt overwhelmed with happiness.

As he lay in bed, Zhang Zhentian couldn’t help but think, ”If only I could marry Xia Jing and bring her home tomorrow, then I wouldn’t have to worry about her leaving me. If only Xia Jing hadn’t left tonight, then I could have held her all night long. The feeling of holding her today was truly wonderful. Sigh, I will go see Xia Jing tomorrow!”

Before long, as these thoughts filled his mind, Zhang Zhentian fell asleep, a slight smile still on his lips. Old Master Zhang woke up after a while and thought his son might still be awake, so he went to Zhang Zhentian’s bedroom for a chat. To his surprise, upon entering, he heard the sound of Zhang Zhentian’s snoring.

Old Master Zhang approached Zhang Zhentian’s bed and patted his shoulder, but there was no response. Upon closer inspection, he realized that Zhang Zhentian was smiling in his sleep. Sitting by the bed, he muttered, ”Ah, there’s really truth to the saying that a grown son can’t be kept at home. Judging by Zhentian’s look, he must have made up with Xia Jing. Silly boy, cherish her well and don’t let her suffer any grievances.”

After speaking his mind, Old Master Zhang left Zhang Zhentian’s bedroom alone.

Having hurriedly run out of Zhang Zhentian’s home, Xia Jing went straight back to her place. Sitting on the sofa and hugging a pillow, she murmured to herself, ”Just one hug from Zhentian today, and all my anger vanished. What a pity it is that he can’t hold me like that every day. I never realized how firm his chest is—just thinking about it is making me drool...”

Feeling sleepy as she pondered this, Xia Jing took a bath and then went to bed, falling asleep as soon as she lay down.

Early the next morning.

Zhang Zhentian woke up as soon as daylight broke. By the time he got downstairs, Aunt Xu had already prepared breakfast. Aunt Xu was about to ask Zhang Zhentian to wake Old Master Zhang for breakfast when Zhang Zhentian spoke first, ”Aunt Xu, please go ahead with your work. I will go wake Dad for breakfast!”

”Mhm!” Aunt Xu responded to Zhang Zhentian.

Zhang Zhentian ran upstairs, knock knock knocking on Old Master Zhang’s door, ”Dad, are you up yet? Aunt Xu asked me to call you down for breakfast!”

”I’m up, I’m up!” Old Master Zhang responded, getting up immediately upon hearing Zhang Zhentian’s voice.

Zhang Zhentian didn’t go downstairs; instead, he stood waiting at the doorway of Old Master Zhang’s room. He wanted to ask his father whether he could marry Xia Jing as soon as possible.

After getting dressed and freshened up, Old Master Zhang opened his door, startled to find Zhang Zhentian standing outside. He had thought Zhang Zhentian had already gone down, yet there he was. Addressing Zhang Zhentian, he asked, ”Zhentian, why are you standing here?”

Zhang Zhentian was straightforward when he replied to Old Master Zhang, ”Not doing much, just waiting for you!”

Upon hearing this, Old Master Zhang knew that Zhang Zhentian must have something to tell him; otherwise, Zhang Zhentian wouldn’t have been standing at his door waiting for so long.

”Come inside and talk about it!” Old Master Zhang invited Zhang Zhentian into his bedroom.

Zhang Zhentian wasn’t shy at all as he walked right in and asked his father, ”Dad, I want to ask if you would let me marry Xia Jing as soon as possible?”

Zhang Zhentian didn’t feel the slightest bit embarrassed as he asked Old Master Zhang directly, who, upon hearing it, felt very troubled.

Zhang Zhentian seemed to sense his father’s difficulty and asked, ”Dad, is there a problem?”

”Zhentian, it’s not that I can’t agree to your marriage with Xia Jing happening soon. To tell you the truth, I also hope you can marry such a good girl as Xia Jing early, but have you thought about it, there are some things Xia Jing hasn’t done yet!” Old Master Zhang sighed and looked at Zhang Zhentian with some difficulty.

Zhang Zhentian was so amused by Xia Jing’s reaction last night that he hadn’t yet registered what Old Master Zhang was referring to. He asked, ”Dad, what are you talking about? Is there something Xia Jing hasn’t finished?”

Old Master Zhang didn’t know how to explain it and began to wonder if Zhang Zhentian had amnesia. It hadn’t been that long, and yet Zhang Zhentian seemed to have completely forgotten these matters.

”Zhentian, surely you haven’t really forgotten that Xia Jing hasn’t apologized to Li Jiayuan yet. Therefore, you can’t marry Xia Jing just now. Only when Xia Jing apologizes to Li Jiayuan and Li Jiayuan personally tells me that she has forgiven Xia Jing can you two get married!” After saying this, Old Master Zhang looked at the blank expression in Zhang Zhentian’s eyes. Zhang Zhentian was about to speak when Old Master Zhang cut him off, ”No pleading, these are the family rules. Even if I don’t oppose your relationship, if you want to enter the Zhang Family’s home, you must follow the Zhang Family’s rules.”

After saying this, Old Master Zhang didn’t give Zhang Zhentian any chance to speak and turned to go downstairs.

While Zhang Zhentian was still thinking about how to explain his father’s words to Xia Jing, she called him and said, ”Zhentian, I’m preparing to apologize to Li Jiayuan because otherwise, your uncle won’t agree to let me step through the Zhang Family’s door. So I hope you won’t interfere with this matter; I can handle it by myself, okay?”

Zhang Zhentian didn’t know what to say; he couldn’t influence Xia Jing’s decisions, so he could only respect her.

”Okay, I won’t interfere. My dad said that as long as you apologize to Li Jiayuan, and Li Jiayuan personally tells him she forgives you, he’ll agree to our relationship. So, Xia Jing, please make sure you get Li Jiayuan’s forgiveness, okay?” Zhang Zhentian pleaded with Xia Jing.

”I will!” Xia Jing answered Zhang Zhentian, thinking to herself: Having come this far, giving up is not my style, Xia Jing. Besides, I’ve put in so much to be with Zhang Zhentian; giving up now would be such a waste. As long as I secure Li Jiayuan’s forgiveness, everything else should be manageable. Come on, Xia Jing, there’s nothing you can’t do for your love!

Xia Jing comforted herself and gathered courage in her heart; she was ready to go apologize to Li Jiayuan the next day. To have her marriage blessed, she sought Li Jiayuan’s forgiveness once more!