My Alleged Husband

Chapter 52: Chapter 51 Proposal_1

Xia Jing called Zhang Zhentian after coming out from the secret base, telling him that Li Jiayuan had forgiven her. She arranged a meeting with Zhang Zhentian and agreed to meet at the Star Coffee Shop at four o’clock in the afternoon.

Four o’clock in the afternoon, at the Star Coffee Shop.

As soon as Zhang Zhentian entered, he saw Xia Jing sitting there alone, drinking coffee. He hurried over, ”Xia Jing, you came so early? It seems I’m the one who is late.”

Zhang Zhentian greeted Xia Jing with a beaming smile, to which Xia Jing responded with a gentle smile of her own, making Zhang Zhentian’s face instantly flush.

”Waiter, a coffee without sugar!” Xia Jing called out to the waiter.

Zhang Zhentian was delighted inside and said to Xia Jing in a soft and gentle voice, ”Xia Jing, you still remember what kind of coffee I like.”

Zhang Zhentian thought Xia Jing would reply: Of course, how could I forget my boyfriend’s preference? But Xia Jing’s response made Zhang Zhentian’s originally sunny face instantly turn gloomy.

”Who dares to forget Young Master Zhang’s preferences? That would be seeking death, wouldn’t it?” Xia Jing said to Zhang Zhentian with an unchanged expression.

”Uh, well, since you’ve put it that way, what else can I say? By the way, Xia Jing, you said on the phone that you had something to tell me, what is it?” Zhang Zhentian’s eyes were full of curiosity.

”I’ve discovered a secret, Li Jiayuan likes Xiao Wei, and it seems Xiao Wei also has feelings for Li Jiayuan. I want to ask for your opinion, what do you think about me setting up Li Jiayuan and Xiao Wei together?” Xia Jing asked Zhang Zhentian.

As soon as Xia Jing mentioned the matter of Xiao Wei and Li Jiayuan, she felt excited and thought that Zhang Zhentian would also be happy, but to her surprise, Zhang Zhentian just perfunctorily responded, ”Is that all? I thought it was something serious, calling me out like this.”

Xia Jing detected from Zhang Zhentian’s tone that he wasn’t very happy, which she found inexplicable. She didn’t understand why Zhang Zhentian became unhappy upon hearing her talk about setting up Li Jiayuan and Xiao Wei together. She thought, Could it be that Zhang Zhentian likes Li Jiayuan?

The more Xia Jing thought about it, the more displeased she felt, and with anger, she questioned Zhang Zhentian, ”Zhentian, why are you unhappy when I talk about setting up Li Jiayuan and Xiao Wei? You couldn’t possibly like Li Jiayuan too, could you?”

With a smile playing at the corners of his mouth, Zhang Zhentian asked Xia Jing, ”Xia Jing, are you jealous?”

Xia Jing was startled and felt like she had fallen into Zhang Zhentian’s trap, ”Who, who said that? Who said I’m jealous? Love whomever you want.”

No sooner had Xia Jing finished speaking than she turned her head to the side. Zhang Zhentian’s smile grew even wider.

”Xia Jing, how could I possibly like Li Jiayuan? The one I like is only you!”

”If you don’t like Li Jiayuan, then why did you get unhappy when you heard what I had to say?” Xia Jing argued unreasonably.

”It’s not because of that I am unhappy. I’m unhappy because I thought you called me out to discuss our marriage, but you never mentioned our marriage at all. Instead, you start with Li Jiayuan. How could I be happy about that?” Zhang Zhentian revealed his true feelings to Xia Jing, who, upon hearing it, felt quite embarrassed.

Time flew by, and at nine o’clock in the evening, Xia Jing and Zhang Zhentian were strolling by the lake. Suddenly, Zhang Zhentian pulled out a bouquet of roses from behind and knelt on one knee. He gently took Xia Jing’s hand and asked her with deep emotion, ”Xia Jing, would you marry me?”

There he was, gazing at Xia Jing as he took a ring out of his pocket. He was proposing to Xia Jing.

Xia Jing was moved by Zhang Zhentian’s proposal. She was both happy and conflicted. Happy because she and Zhang Zhentian had finally reached this day—hadn’t they gone through so much just to be able to spend a lifetime together? But at the same time, Xia Jing was torn because, even though she had always hoped to be with Zhang Zhentian, now that the day had actually arrived, she realized she was not yet ready to become Zhang Zhentian’s wife.

Xia Jing looked at Zhang Zhentian and said nothing for a long time. Her tears fell like raindrops onto the roses that Zhang Zhentian held. Zhang Zhentian didn’t understand why Xia Jing was crying; he waited for her to agree to his proposal, but no matter how long he waited, she didn’t speak.

”Xia Jing, what’s wrong? Do you not want to marry me or what?” Zhang Zhentian couldn’t help asking.

Watching Zhang Zhentian kneel for so long, Xia Jing’s heart couldn’t bear it. She sighed and said, ”Zhentian, you should know very well that I have put in so much effort just to be with you, right?”

Zhang Zhentian was pleased with Xia Jing’s answer, but it was this very response that made him even more confused.

”If that’s the case, why won’t you accept my proposal?” Zhang Zhentian asked Xia Jing.

”It’s not that I won’t accept, Zhentian. I just haven’t figured out how to fulfill the responsibilities of being a wife and a daughter-in-law. I admit I really do hope to be with you, but it should be when I’m ready. You proposing to me so unexpectedly, I just can’t react all at once. Could you give me a little more time to think about it?” Xia Jing explained.

Zhang Zhentian finally understood. It wasn’t that Xia Jing didn’t want to be with him; it was because Xia Jing wasn’t ready to become a bride in the Zhang family, nor to be his wife. She was worried that if she accepted his proposal, they would have to set a date for the wedding, which was why she couldn’t bring herself to accept right away.

”Xia Jing, I understand your concerns. You can rest assured, I’m only proposing today. You decide when we get married. As long as you agree, we can marry anytime. I can wait for you to be fully prepared to marry into our Zhang family!” Zhang Zhentian assured Xia Jing earnestly, afraid that after enduring so many trials, they might not end up together. He feared rejection and continued to kneel, holding the ring up to Xia Jing.

After much thought, Xia Jing finally said to Zhang Zhentian, ”Zhentian, I accept your proposal, but can we wait a bit longer to get married?” She had no choice but to internally sigh, realizing that she couldn’t bear to let him suffer even the slightest bit of discomfort.

”Okay, you call the shots. Did you really accept?” Zhang Zhentian asked Xia Jing in disbelief.

”Yes, I’ve accepted!” Xia Jing responded with tears in her eyes.

Zhang Zhentian carefully slid the ring onto Xia Jing’s finger, his heart racing with excitement. He thought to himself, ”I’ve finally put the ring on your finger, and now you’ll never be able to leave my side for the rest of our lives!”

Lost in thought, Zhang Zhentian began to smile goofily. Xia Jing pat his head, and he snapped back to reality. He stood up and picked up Xia Jing in a Cinderella carry, shouting towards the shimmering lake water, ”She said yes, she said yes, Xia Jing accepted my proposal, I, Zhang Zhentian, have finally won her over! Yeah!”

Xia Jing, watching Zhang Zhentian, thought he really was like a child, so overjoyed.

Zhang Zhentian, seeing the faint smile on Xia Jing’s lips, couldn’t resist and kissed her. Xia Jing didn’t push him away; she slowly responded to Zhang Zhentian, and as he felt her reciprocation, his joy grew even more!