Chapter 34

On a desolate winter night, the rain poured relentlessly, and the sky was blanketed with thick, impenetrable clouds, as though draped in a dense black veil, devoid of even the faintest glimmer of starlight.

Inside the car, however, the silence was almost oppressive.

From the corner of her eye, Cheng Li noticed Rong Qi’s hands gripping the steering wheel, his knuckles nearly white.

The grip was so tight that the protrusion of his finger bones was alarmingly pronounced.

It was then that Cheng Li realized she might have asked something she shouldn’t have.

On reflection, it made sense.

Asking about his ex-girlfriend wouldn’t matter much since she wouldn’t know the person anyway. Even if he mentioned a name, it would be just a stranger’s, without a face to associate with it. It wouldn’t affect either of them.

But high school memories were different.

If he truly had someone he liked back then, Cheng Li would inevitably find herself reminiscing about that person and their interactions.

Moreover, they were still part of their high school classmates’ group chat.

Recently, someone had even suggested a gathering at their old school to celebrate its centennial anniversary this year.

If Rong Qi were to mention a name, Cheng Li would be curious enough to dig deeper.

Even if tonight was meant to be a moment of honesty, there were limits to what should be revealed.

When Rong Qi looked at her with a complex expression and slowly met her gaze, Cheng Li abruptly interrupted, “Forget it. You don’t have to tell me. It’s all in the past. Let’s just move on.”

Yes, move on.

“Forget the unpleasant things from before and embrace a new life,” Cheng Li said, taking a deep breath as though reassuring herself as well.

But after she spoke, she didn’t notice.

In a moment beyond her sight, Rong Qi lowered his gaze, gradually dimming the light that had just surfaced in his eyes.

In truth, he wanted her to know.

The person he liked in high school was her.

*

At the Jiangchi Automobile Factory, a team of over a dozen engineers had been working tirelessly for a week.

The first batch of Jiangchi’s E3, their inaugural smart electric vehicle equipped with the Fanhai autonomous parking system, was finally assembled in the workshop.

This marked the first step in Jiangchi’s transformation from a traditional automaker into a pioneer of smart vehicles.

The E3’s main selling point was its advanced ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System), touted as the most cutting-edge in the market.

Recently, Cheng Li had been spending far less time at the company, dedicating almost every day to the factory.

Although the parking system was just one software component of the smart vehicle, its success was crucial.

Jiangchi planned to participate in next year’s Smart Vehicle Challenge, a national competition showcasing both mass-produced and soon-to-be-released smart vehicles.

Last year, two models equipped with Pegasus Navigation’s systems swept the competition.

This achievement had significantly boosted Pegasus Navigation’s valuation during their latest round of funding.

The industry saw it as proof of the company’s capability to deliver market-ready products.

Although Fanhai didn’t yet have the reputation of Pegasus Navigation, Cheng Li firmly believed their autonomous parking system was the best.

With the cars now assembled, the next step was test driving.

While the coming days promised to be monotonous, Cheng Li felt it was all worth it for the chance to showcase Fanhai’s autonomous driving technology.

Progress at the Jiangchi factory wasn’t the only thing going smoothly.

Fanhai had also been invited to the year-end Artificial Intelligence Conference.

As a participant, they would present their products at the exhibition.

Cheng Li wished she could split herself in half—managing the factory operations while also preparing for the conference.

Although such events often spotlighted larger companies, smaller firms seized the opportunity to showcase their best technologies to attract investors and gain public attention.

As the head of the technical department, Cheng Li was responsible for everything the team presented.

This meant her daily routine involved working at the factory during the day and returning to the office to work late into the night, often not getting home until eleven or twelve.

Rong Qi’s earlier suggestion to move in together had been temporarily shelved due to her packed schedule.

Cheng Li simply couldn’t handle adding the task of moving to her already overwhelming workload.

Besides, moving out of her familiar environment to a new place felt like a significant psychological hurdle.

As a result, the plan had been unconsciously delayed again.

*

It was a rare weekend when Cheng Li finally had time to rest at home.

She slept in until well past 1 p.m.

Upon waking, she noticed several messages from Rong Qi, asking if she was up.

Feeling guilty, she quickly called him back. The line connected almost immediately.

“Just woke up?” Rong Qi’s low, gentle voice came through.

Still groggy, Cheng Li lay on her bed and mumbled, “Why does your voice sound so nice?”

Rong Qi wasn’t accustomed to interacting with many women outside of work, leaving his understanding of them rather limited.

Most of his insights came from occasional comments by Jiang Zhe.

He wasn’t sure if other women were as blunt as Cheng Li, often leaving him momentarily speechless.

“Should I say thank you?” Rong Qi replied, dragging his tone slightly, trying to appear nonchalant—as if her compliment didn’t matter much to him.

But he couldn’t stop the faint upward curve of his lips.

Cheng Li laughed softly, “No need to thank me. Just telling the truth.”

Rong Qi’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

Cheng Li then asked, “Did you call for something?”

“My grandparents have returned,” Rong Qi said.

Cheng Li was now fully awake.

She immediately understood why Rong Qi had called her.

Previously, after Ms. Ling learned about their marriage, Rong Qi suggested that once his grandparents returned to Shanghai, they should also inform the elders about it.

Compared to Ms. Ling’s shock and disbelief, his grandmother would likely only feel happiness.

Though it sounded simple, the thought of meeting her in-laws as a “new daughter-in-law” made Cheng Li extremely nervous.

“Don’t worry. I haven’t told them yet,” Rong Qi reassured her. “Come over later, and we’ll tell them together.”

Cheng Li tilted her head back. “How could I not be nervous? What happened with Ms. Ling last time still haunts me!”

“My grandmother likes you so much; she’ll only be thrilled,” Rong Qi said, his voice calm and soothing.

His words eased her tension a bit. As she got out of bed, she said, “Alright, I’ll hang up now. I need to start getting ready.”

“Getting ready?” Rong Qi chuckled on the other end. Cheng Li paused, thinking she had misunderstood something. Then he said slowly, “Do you really need to go out of your way to dress up?”

Cheng Li’s movements toward the bathroom paused briefly. She asked softly, “Is that supposed to be a compliment?”

“What do you mean ‘supposed to be’? I’m sincerely complimenting you,” Rong Qi replied, his tone casual yet straightforward.

Cheng Li laughed but quickly ended the call.

A man who doesn’t shy away from his feelings—how endearing.

Even though Rong Qi’s compliment was earnest, Cheng Li couldn’t bring herself to slack off in her preparations.

Remembering the scolding she had received from Ms. Ling when they were caught off-guard last time, she felt it was important to present her best self when sharing this happy news with his grandparents.

She decided that careful preparation was a must, ensuring this moment would be a pleasant memory for everyone involved.

Considering the elderly’s likely preference for simplicity, Cheng Li applied a light base layer of makeup and opted for a soft mauve lipstick to brighten her look without being too bold.

For her outfit, she meticulously chose an almond-colored knit dress paired with a pale pink wool coat.

Before leaving, she stood in front of the mirror, checking herself from every angle to make sure everything was perfect.

The walk to the villa garden took only a few minutes, but to Cheng Li, it felt much longer.

Upon reaching the door, she hesitated, debating whether to call Rong Qi first.

Before she could decide, the villa’s black door swung open from inside. Rong Qi stood in the doorway, one hand in his pocket. Looking up, he asked, “Why are you standing there for so long instead of coming in?”

“I was just about to knock,” Cheng Li replied, feeling a wave of relief at seeing him.

She stepped into the house, brushing past Rong Qi as the breeze lifted her hair slightly.

A faint fragrance lingered in the air, catching his attention.

They entered the villa one after the other. Hearing the commotion, his grandmother came over almost immediately. “Li Li’s here! I just got back to Shanghai, and you’ve already come to visit me. You’re so thoughtful.”

The tension Cheng Li had felt before entering melted away at his grandmother’s warm smile.

Rong Qi said directly, “You sit with Grandma for a bit. I’ll go get Grandpa.”

In no time, Rong Qi had his grandfather join them.

The two elders sat down, still puzzled, clearly unaware of what was about to unfold.

Rong Qi sat down next to Cheng Li. As he did, the sofa cushion sank slightly, causing her body to tilt toward him.

She leaned against his shoulder briefly before steadying herself. But this only made her press closer against him.

Noticing this, Rong Qi glanced at her. Embarrassed, Cheng Li immediately tried to move away, but before she could, Rong Qi casually reached out, took her wrist, and gently pulled her back toward him.

His hand slid from her wrist to her palm, enveloping it in his grasp.

Cheng Li froze. Was he being this bold in front of his grandparents?

The two elders also noticed their subtle actions.

His grandmother looked at their clasped hands and asked, “What’s going on here?”

“Grandma, there’s something I need to tell you and Grandpa,” Rong Qi said, his tone calm. Turning to Cheng Li, he met her gaze before speaking again. “Cheng Li and I are married.”

For a moment, the living room fell silent, so quiet that even a pin drop could be heard.

No one spoke.

After what felt like an eternity, his grandmother finally snapped out of her shock. Still processing, she asked, “Married? The two of you?”

Rong Qi didn’t bother with lengthy explanations. He reached into his pocket and pulled something out.

When he placed it on the table, Cheng Li realized it was their marriage certificate.

This man…

He carries their marriage certificate with him?

Rong Qi seemed to catch her confusion. Without waiting for her to ask, he explained, “I brought it so Grandpa and Grandma could accept it more quickly.”

His grandmother reached out for the marriage certificate on the coffee table.

She squinted as she opened it, prompting his grandfather to lean over for a closer look.

His grandfather, already wearing reading glasses from earlier, inspected the document closely before explaining, “It’s a marriage certificate, complete with an official seal. The photo is of the two of them.”

“When did this happen?” his grandmother asked in astonishment.

Rong Qi replied, “Around the time you were sick. Actually, the blind date partner I mentioned before was Cheng Li.”

“Oh!” His grandmother’s face lit up with a smile as she recalled. “You said the young woman was tall, well-educated, and beautiful. Of course, it was Li Li!”

Grandma Xiang held onto the marriage certificate as if it were a treasure, marveling repeatedly, “Oh my, why didn’t you tell me sooner? I haven’t prepared anything!”

“Grandma, there’s no need for that,” Cheng Li quickly reassured her.

Grandma Xiang looked at her with sincerity, saying, “That won’t do. This visit is different from before. Now it’s official, and as the groom’s family, we should prepare a welcome gift and a meeting token.”

After that, Grandma Xiang couldn’t sit still and began bustling around.

She sent Grandpa Rong to the nearby bank to withdraw cash, saying it was for Cheng Li’s meeting gift.

When Cheng Li’s repeated refusals failed, Rong Qi had no choice but to accompany his grandfather to the bank.

Meanwhile, Grandma Xiang went upstairs and brought down a small box.

“I didn’t have time to prepare anything special, but luckily, these pearl earrings were left behind by Rong Qi’s mother,” she said as she opened the box.

Inside was a pair of pearl earrings, perfectly round and luminous, their luster undiminished by time.

“They’re beautiful,” Cheng Li said in awe.

Grandma Xiang handed her the box. Cheng Li was about to decline when Grandma Xiang said, “When Rong Qi’s mother was ill, we sold everything we could, even the house, to pay for her treatment. But she couldn’t bear to sell these earrings. She said she wanted to leave them as a keepsake for her future daughter-in-law.”

It was the first time Cheng Li had heard about Rong Qi’s parents.

The mention of this topic dimmed Grandma Xiang’s previously cheerful demeanor, and tears welled up in her eyes.

Alarmed, Cheng Li tried to comfort her. “Grandma, don’t cry.”

“These are happy tears. I was always afraid I wouldn’t live to see this day,” Grandma Xiang said softly. “His mother didn’t live to see him get married, and I feared I wouldn’t either. But I did.”

Cheng Li spent quite a while soothing her.

Before long, Rong Qi returned with Grandpa Rong.

It turned out there was a bank just a few hundred meters away, so they were back quickly with the money.

“Good thing we still had some red envelopes at home,” Grandma Xiang said with a smile as she stuffed the cash into an envelope and handed it to Cheng Li.

The envelope was thick and heavy.

After some thought, Cheng Li decided not to refuse and accepted it.

Holding the jewelry box and the red envelope, Cheng Li showed the box to Rong Qi and said softly, “Grandma just gave this to me.”

“My mother’s pearl earrings,” Rong Qi remarked, recognizing the box immediately.

Shortly after, he asked quietly, “Want to come upstairs with me?”

Though unsure of what was upstairs, Cheng Li nodded.

Rong Qi led her to a room at the end of the hall and pushed the door open.

On the table stood a black-and-white photograph of a woman of exceptional beauty. Her hair was neatly pinned up, and her gentle smile radiated grace and elegance, like a classical beauty from a painting.

Cheng Li was mesmerized by the photo.

“That’s my mother,” Rong Qi said softly. “I took her surname, so Grandpa and Grandma Xiang are her parents.”

There had been plenty of opportunities for Cheng Li to ask about his parents, but she had always chosen to wait for him to share when he was ready.

“She’s so beautiful,” Cheng Li said.

Rong Qi chuckled lightly. “Everyone who met her said that.”

“She passed away when I was fifteen,” he said, his tone calm and accepting, as though he had made peace with the loss long ago.

But Cheng Li’s heart ached.

Fifteen.

At that age, she had been locked in petty battles with her mother over allowance money, while Rong Qi had endured the pain of losing his.

Her chest felt tight with sorrow, and her eyes grew damp.

Though not typically someone given to tears, Cheng Li found herself deeply moved by the photograph of the smiling woman—so warm and beautiful, yet gone too soon.

She turned to look at the man beside her. His gaze rested on the photograph, a yearning flickering in his clear, cool eyes.

Perhaps he, too, wished his mother could have witnessed his marriage and this moment of his life.

Without hesitation, Cheng Li reached out and gently hugged him. His lean frame was firm beneath her touch.

As soon as her arms encircled him, Rong Qi raised his hand and pulled her fully into his embrace. His warmth and presence surrounded her, engulfing her entirely.

She stayed still, resting against his chest.

Rong Qi pressed his cheek against her neck, his warm breath cascading over her skin—hot and fervent.

*

That evening, they returned to Cheng Li’s family home.

To Cheng Li’s surprise, her mother, Ms. Ling, showed little reaction to Rong Qi’s visit.

In recent days, her attitude toward them had been neutral: neither supportive nor opposed, merely observing from the sidelines.

After they sat down, Rong Qi looked at Ling Shuanghua and said, “Ms. Ling, I know this situation has been difficult for you to accept. The fault lies entirely with me—it was my idea to marry and my rash decision.”

Ling Shuanghua glanced at him but refrained from saying anything harsh.

“But now that Cheng Li and I are married, we are committed to making it work. I understand you may have reservations about everything I’m saying, but please trust that I will cherish her, grow alongside her, and face life’s challenges together with her.”

“We will share a lifetime.”

Although the setting was Cheng Li’s familiar living room, at that moment, it felt as though she were standing in a wedding hall.

The man beside her was solemnly making his wedding vow.

Ms. Ling looked at the two of them for a long moment before turning to Cheng Li and saying in a low voice, “You’re lucky. Even in a flash marriage, you managed to find someone like Rong Qi.”

Cheng Li: “…”

“Stay and have dinner,” Ms. Ling said to Rong Qi. After that, she got up and left the room with her usual pride.

This meal was probably the most awkward one Cheng Li had eaten in recent memory.

The reason? The household’s resident chef seemed to have an off day.

Cheng Li leaned toward Cheng Dingbo and whispered, “Dad, did you forget to put salt in this dish?”

After dinner, Cheng Li was just about to find an excuse to send Rong Qi on his way when Ms. Ling suddenly spoke up.

“Where are you living now?” she asked Rong Qi.

Rong Qi replied, “I live on my own, though sometimes I stay at my grandparents’ house.”

“So, you have a marital home,” Ms. Ling said with a satisfied nod. Then, without hesitation, she pointed at Cheng Li. “Take her with you, then.”

“What?” Cheng Li was stunned.

Ms. Ling turned to her. “Who gets married and still stays at their parents’ house? Since Rong Qi already has a marital home ready, what are you waiting for?”

Cheng Li stared at her, wide-eyed.

Ms. Ling shot her a glance and urged, “Why are you standing there like that? Go pack your things.”

Cheng Li looked at Rong Qi in disbelief.

He gave her a calm smile and said softly, “Should I help you pack?”

Author’s Note:

Rong Qi: Thank you, dear mother-in-law.

Cheng Li: I must be adopted. Rong Qi is clearly the real child here.