When She Stops Being Dramatic

Chapter 263: Chapter 106: The Top Star of the 1960s Art Troupe (45)

With that, he flung his sleeves and left.

Ning Yourong watched his retreating figure, then turned to her stunningly beautiful stepdaughter and her defiantly unruly future son-in-law, a sour feeling welling up inside her.

She forced a smile. ”Ranran’s father just has a temper like that. He’s mad because you two didn’t tell him first.”

”How about this? We’ll find a day that works for everyone, and you, young comrade, can come with Ranran for a proper meeting with the parents. Once your parents have also given their approval, we can arrange a time for both families to meet and discuss the wedding arrangements.”

”Our Ranran was pampered growing up. She’s never had to lift a finger. And as the only daughter in the family, she can’t just be married off casually. It has to be a grand celebration.”

He Qingran also smiled. ”Stepmother, just how grand are we talking? A betrothal gift of a thousand yuan or so? A bicycle, sewing machine, watch, and radio all included?”

”In that case, I wonder what kind of dowry the family will be providing for me?”

Ning Yourong’s expression froze. ”What a shameless girl, asking for your own betrothal gift?”

He Qingran said coolly, ”I already bought my own bicycle. My work unit has a radio, I don’t need a watch, and I don’t know how to use a sewing machine. So those status symbols are unnecessary.”

”Brother Kun said he’ll give me his entire salary for my personal savings, and that’s enough. Unless, Stepmother, you’d like to add to it?”

Ning Yourong said, forcing herself, ”Of course. You’re a daughter of the He Family. The family will naturally provide a dowry.”

He Qingran nodded. ”Alright then. Stepmother, you go home and convince Dad. In that case, I’ll bring Brother Kun over for dinner next Sunday. You’re the most capable person I know, so I’m sure you can manage that, right?”

”Your son is still young, while my brother and I are grown up now. We’re not people you can control anymore. If you stay in your place, we can turn a blind eye and let the past be the past. Otherwise... what you did to us, we’ll be sure to ’take good care’ of your son in return. Oh, right, you’re pregnant with another one, aren’t you?”

Ning Yourong stared at her in disbelief, hissing through gritted teeth, ”You wouldn’t dare. He’s your brother too.”

”Why wouldn’t I dare? After what you’ve done to us, you expect us to care about sibling bonds? Stepmother, do you take us for fools?” He Qingjun sneered, cracking his knuckles as he spoke. The sharp CRACK made it clear he wasn’t someone to be trifled with.

Ning Yourong bit her lip, finally realizing that her stepdaughter and stepson had grown beyond her control. She nodded with great difficulty. ”Fine. I will convince your father. We’ll handle this amicably.”

When they had arrived, they had counted on their status as elders. They believed that as long as they stubbornly refused, He Qingran’s marriage would be impossible.

But they never imagined He Qingran would be willing to throw all caution to the wind. Once a person has nothing left to fear, they have no weaknesses to exploit.

Ning Yourong was filled with regret. ’Didn’t this count as suffering a double loss?’

But the pretty words had already been spoken, so she could only grit her teeth and see it through.

Xia Zhaoyun smiled and added a final remark, ”Director Huo will surely be there as the matchmaker to witness everything. Aunt He, you’d better not be too cheap and become a laughingstock for outsiders.”

Ning Yourong nodded and left with a stiff smile.

She had barely gotten far before He Qingjun burst into unrestrained laughter. ”When I was little, I thought my life was hopeless. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized they’re not so tough after all.”

”Sis, don’t worry. I’m definitely going to join the army, and I’ll be like Sister Yunyun’s husband—I’ll become a King of Soldiers in the special forces. Then let’s see who dares to bully you!”

After the meal, the little ones were so sleepy they could barely keep their eyes open.

He Qingran said with a smile, ”I’m going to be busy with the city-wide announcer recruitment drive soon, so I plan to stay in the dormitory for a while. That way, I won’t have to worry about commuting back and forth unsafely when I work late.”

Liu Mingkun asked in surprise, ”You never told me about this! If I’d known, I would have asked around for you.”

”The city is my turf, you know...”

He Qingran shot him a glare. ’I only just decided on this goal myself, I’m still running around like a headless chicken! Can’t he see I just made up an excuse to give the newlyweds some time alone?’

Liu Mingkun, completely clueless, just scratched his head and grinned.

Huo Tianhao squeezed Xia Zhaoyun’s hand, which was trembling slightly with excitement.

’He... he’d been single for all twenty-four years of his life, and then suddenly, within a single month, he’d not only found a partner he was completely smitten with, but they had even registered their marriage.’

’The two of them had only shared a few small kisses, but it was like trying to quench a thirst with poison—it only tormented him more, making him feel like a volcano on the verge of erupting. He felt restless all over.’

Outwardly, however, he nodded with a perfectly straight face. ”Every work unit in the city has an announcer. The position is fairly relaxed, but the pay and benefits are good, so the competition is fierce.”