Chapter 48.3

As Meng Zhengrong drove home, he spotted a decent-sized supermarket in the distance, and an idea struck him. He immediately turned the steering wheel and parked in the supermarket lot.

Xu Yuan got out of the car, puzzled. “What are we doing at the supermarket?”

She had a bit of a trauma from shopping there, recalling the last time when Meng Zhengrong insisted on cooking, wondering what kind of antics he was up to this time.

Meng Zhengrong led Xu Yuan to the supermarket, bypassing the aisles and heading straight for the checkout counter.

Just as Xu Yuan was about to ask him what he was up to, Meng Zhengrong squatted down, looking innocently at the small shelf of items and asked her, “Which flavor do you like?”

Xu Yuan had been in this era long enough to understand certain things. Her eyesight was good, and she read some words on the small boxes, immediately grasping the situation.

She couldn’t understand her taste anymore; how could she be attracted to such a shameless person?

Unbeknownst to her, she wasn’t as shy as she thought; otherwise, she wouldn’t have stood there, quietly judging Meng Zhengrong.

Without saying a word, Meng Zhengrong began picking some items. At the checkout line, people noticed how he had almost emptied the shelf of condoms, leaving it bare in one spot. Although no one commented, it felt uncomfortable under their scrutinizing gazes.

Throughout the process, Meng Zhengrong tried to engage Xu Yuan in conversation, but she repeatedly rejected him. When he was checking out, she walked off to the parking lot alone.

After paying, Meng Zhengrong hurried to the parking lot, climbed into the car, and complained, “Why didn’t you wait for me?”

“What are you buying so much for?” Xu Yuan genuinely didn’t want to deal with him but couldn’t help asking.

“Just a few boxes,” Meng Zhengrong rummaged through the bag. “They won’t last long anyway.”

Xu Yuan wanted to scold him but feared that once the conversation started, Meng Zhengrong’s shamelessness would only escalate, leaving her at a disadvantage. She could only grit her teeth and say, “Don’t ask me to join you next time.”

Meng Zhengrong didn’t know why he wanted to tease Xu Yuan; he just wanted to say something cheeky. Seeing her blush or get flustered made him happy. He took the opportunity to retort, “I have to consider your preferences, right?”

Xu Yuan couldn’t hold back and retorted with something utterly lacking in elegance, “Consider my ass!”

Meng Zhengrong reached out to pat her head, saying, “Alright, I’ll go buy them by myself next time. Is that okay?”

Xu Yuan recalled a post she had seen online and replied, “Actually, I can take pills too.”

Once the words left her mouth, she felt she had changed.

She thought she was being overly dramatic, actually testing Meng Zhengrong.

Previously, she found such tests utterly boring, akin to asking someone who they would save if they fell into water with their mother—a pointless question.

But in this situation, even she couldn’t help but want to know his answer.

Perhaps this was a woman’s nature; sometimes, she knew there would be no answer, and even if she got the answer she wanted, it wouldn’t necessarily be genuine. Still, she couldn’t help but ask.

If the response didn’t satisfy her, she would become furious or sad; if it did, she would feel happy and elated.

Before she could say, “Forget I said anything,” Meng Zhengrong seriously placed his hand on her shoulder and said, “Listen, as long as you don’t want to get pregnant, using a condom or getting temporarily sterilized is fine, but you absolutely can’t take pills.”

Though some people now claim that some birth control pills have no adverse effects and might even be beneficial, in Meng Zhengrong’s mind, taking pills was just wrong.

Xu Yuan maintained a calm expression, replying, “Okay, I understand.”

Outwardly, she appeared calm, but inwardly, she felt like a little girl who had received a satisfying answer, secretly rejoicing and feeling happy.

Ah, dating was really awkward for her.

After returning home, Meng Zhengrong seriously placed the condoms he bought in the drawer of the bedside table. While Xu Yuan was taking a shower, he sat on the bed, contemplating.

The key question arose: which one to use tonight?

Thinking about it, it felt wonderful to finally cross that line. He would sleep even better tonight, eagerly anticipating the night to come. Meng Zhengrong loved this feeling.

Yesterday had been so sudden; he hadn’t prepared anything. Today, he needed to be well-prepared.

Like a cheerful little bee, Meng Zhengrong busied himself getting red wine, going down to the garden to pick flowers, scattering petals on the bed and the carpet, trying to create an atmosphere.

He had been careless; he should have bought a bouquet of roses on his way home.

Oh right, he also needed candles.

Meng Zhengrong rummaged around and found a few candle lamps. After lighting them, he turned off the room lights, creating a cozy ambiance.

Then he quickly showered in the guest bathroom next door, wrapping himself in a towel.

He had it all planned out; when Xu Yuan came out of the bathroom, they would share a glass of red wine, chat, cuddle, kiss, and then the main event would follow.

After waiting anxiously for Xu Yuan to come out of the bathroom, Meng Zhengrong walked over with two glasses of red wine in hand.

He saw Xu Yuan clutching her stomach, not even looking at him, collapsing onto the bed with an expression of despair.

“What’s wrong?” A sense of foreboding crept into Meng Zhengrong’s heart.

Xu Yuan frowned. “Why are the lights off? Hey, what’s up with the flower petals?”

Meng Zhengrong: “…”

Xu Yuan looked at him, then around the room, and immediately understood everything. She felt a playful urge, grabbed Meng Zhengrong’s hand, and placed it on her stomach, pretending to be pitiful as she leaned against him, saying, “Zhengrong, my period came. I feel terrible.”

Meng Zhengrong: “…”