Chapter 18: Engagement

“So, the three of you took the civil service exam together?” Chen Jin inquired in a neutral tone after Song Wennuan hung up with Bi Qiao’an.

“Uh, yeah,” Song Wennuan responded, confused. “Didn’t you see us studying for it?”

“I knew about you and Shanshan,” Chen Jin clarified. “I just wasn’t aware Qiao’an was participating too.”

Without overthinking her motives, Jiang Shanshan chimed in, “We basically tagged along because Qiao’an mentioned a guaranteed local residency as an incentive. I probably wouldn’t have participated otherwise. It was quite difficult, though, and I’m not sure if I passed.” She trailed off with a shrug.

“Why wasn’t I informed? You all went ahead and excluded me like this!” A wave of anger washed over Chen Jin. Why hadn’t they included her? What was the deal with Bi Qiao’an anyway? They all shared a dorm, so why exclude her?

Seeing genuine irritation, Song Wennuan gently probed, “Ah Jin, if I had told you, would you have taken the exam?”

“No!” Chen Jin declared, her tone leaving no room for doubt.

“Isn’t that so?” Song Wennuan felt a flash of irritation at Chen Jin’s pretentious behavior. No one would have stopped her from joining them if she was truly interested. Didn’t she see them cramming at the dorm every day for the past week? Then, she suddenly can’t sit still upon knowing Qiao’an also participated? Just what did Qiao’an do to provoke you?

“Hmph,” Chen Jin scoffed, “even if you pass, the salary is only five or six thousand yuan a month. Shen Group pays twelve thousand.” A hint of contempt laced her voice. Previously, she was just caught off guard and hadn’t reacted well. Now that she’d calmed down, Bi Qiao’an didn’t seem so impressive after all.

Song Wennuan and Jiang Shanshan exchanged glances, silently rolling their eyes.

Unaware of the simmering tension in the dorm, Bi Qiao’an slept soundly until almost noon the following day when Shen Yanming finally woke her for lunch.

“I’ll take you back to school later, and you can stay in the dormitory for a few days,” he explained. “I’m heading to the Southern Province to collect supplies.”

The unexpected announcement caused Bi Qiao’an to hesitate, her chopsticks suspended above the broccoli on her plate. “How long will you be gone?”

“I’m not sure yet,” he admitted. “I also need to assess the security concerns. I’ll try to return within a week. Take care of yourself.”

“Okay,” she simply nodded.

After their meal, he dropped her off at school. Passing a bakery, she impulsively popped in and emerged with a cake, eight egg tarts, and four milk teas; the perfect offering to mend fences with her roommates after her extended absence.

Sure enough, Jiang Shanshan instantly enveloped her in jubilant welcome the moment she entered. “Yaaay, look what we’ve got here! Qiao’an is truly the worm in my stomach, sensing my precise cake cravings lately! Gosh, how I adore you…c’mere and gimme sugar~”

Awkwardly helping to detach a clingy Jiang Shanshan before Bi Qiao’an suffocated, Song Wennuan interjected mildly, “Whoa, Shanshan, take it easy! Talk about perfect timing though. You literally just complained about wanting sweets last night.”

“Hehe, what serendipity!” Bi Qiao’an chuckled, finally extracting herself and distributing the treats to distract everyone. “Enough jabbering, let’s just dig in, ladies!”

Jiang Shanshan, lacking any sense of etiquette, took charge of slicing the cake.

Chen Jin politely accepted her slice, took a bite and her brow furrowed as she chewed thoughtfully. “Qiao’an, I heard you took the exam yesterday too. How was it?”

“It was okay,” She replied indifferently. “I filled in all the answers, anyway.” Chen Jin’s sudden interest in her participation in the civil service exam was strange considering their interactions had been minimal lately. It didn’t really matter – Bi Qiao’an was just relieved Chen Jin hadn’t taken the exam herself.

“If I had known you were taking it, I might have signed up too,” Chen Jin sighed dramatically. “Maybe all four of us could have passed together!”

Sure enough. It was the right decision not to inform Chen Jin. It had likely spared everyone a great deal of potential misery.

“Hehe, I just wanted a secure job with minimal stress. With your looks and talent, you’re better suited for a major corporation where your skills can truly shine. No need to stifle yourself amongst us common folk!” As long as she could get rid of Chen Jin, Bi Qiao’an was happy to offer any amount of flattery.

Expectedly, the praise immediately lifted Chen Jin’s spirits. “Aw, you’re so sweet,” she simpered, the false modesty failing to conceal her obvious pleasure.

“We all agree!” Bi Qiao’an hastily reinforced the sentiment, joined by Jiang Shanshan and Song Wennuan’s enthusiastic chorus of affirmation. She secretly prayed that Chen Jin would continue to bask in her own delusions and far removed from her own life.

“Speaking of happy news, Xiao Fei and I booked our engagement ceremony on May 20th… So save the date!” Chen Jin’s abrupt announcement stunned the others.

“Huh, so soon?… You gonna be a grad bride, then?” Jiang Shanshan couldn’t help but ask.

“Well, Xiao Fei’s grandfather recently passed away,” Chen Jin explained. “His family suggested we either get married within a year or wait three years before marrying. Xiao Fei and I discussed it, and we decided to get engaged first to honor the tradition. We can then save up for a down payment and buy a house before actually getting married.”

Song Wennuan tilted her head, seeking clarification. “So it’s not necessarily a wedding within a year? You’ll get married whenever you’re ready to buy a house?”

“That’s what I think, but Xiao Fei believes that we can reasonably afford a mortgage before the end of the year if we budget carefully.” Chen Jin beamed. Xiao Fei’s higher salary was a major factor in securing her agreement.

“Congratulations on the joyous news!” Bi Qiao’an offered her sincere blessings. Let Chen Jin and Xiao Fei embark on their path of mutual destruction, far away from her! She took comfort in the fact that, with their impending marriage, they would be less likely to target and manipulate any other naive individuals.

“You guys make such an enviable golden couple…” Jiang Shanshan lamented with a touch of wistfulness. Lady Luck clearly favored Chen Jin.

“We’re happy for you both! Feel free to call if you need any assistance!” Ever the thoughtful one, Song Wennuan radiated genuine support.

“Thank you!” Chen Jin accepted their well-wishes graciously. As she enjoyed another sweet bite of cake, she envisioned herself freely spending her own income after officially starting work…

Bi Qiao’an, meanwhile, became lost in introspection. Ah yes, Xiao Fei’s family had that custom. Back then, he had also tried to rush their wedding and kept urging her to move together into her house after marriage, but she didn’t agree. Their relationship cooled after that, and they broke up after graduation.

Thinking about it now, Xiao Fei probably hadn’t genuinely loved her in her previous life. Adults tended to be practical, even in choosing partners. Analyzing things rationally, her house and her presumed Shen Group career prospects likely played a heavy role in his initial confession.

In her previous life, their breakup likely resulted from his realization that he couldn’t gain any further advantages from her. In this life, without those assets, Xiao Fei had changed his target.

For Xiao Fei, choosing Chen Jin was also a wise decision. She was beautiful and competent. As an orphan, Chen Jin would wholeheartedly focus on building their family. Just like now, she readily agreed to take out a loan to buy a house with Xiao Fei. Someone else might have demanded a large dowry from his family.

Yes, things aligned perfectly for the newly engaged couple! Bi Qiao’an wholeheartedly washed her hands off any entanglement in the future.

Now on campus, Bi Qiao’an’s days flowed by quickly. Her classmates buzzed with interview schedules and graduation preparations while she awaited her civil service exam results.

Shen Yanming remained away, though their daily phone calls kept her connected. His initial week-long projection had stretched to almost a month.

Once when loneliness and yearning gnawed at her, she asked for his location so she can join him, but he insisted she enjoy her remaining university days rather than tag along on his likely stressful itinerary.

Chen Jin’s engagement party was a modest affair held at a hotel banquet. Attending in person offered Bi Qiao’an her first encounter with Xiao Fei’s family, which seemed pleasant and unassuming as both parents were actually city school teachers. She mused, in a sense, they trained him well.

As she watched Xiao Fei’s parents warmly greet Chen Jin, she couldn’t help but sigh in her heart, ‘What a picture-perfect union!’