Gu Xiaoxi quickly stopped her mother. “She didn’t succeed this time. If we go to her now, she won’t admit it.”

“Before, I wasn’t sure why she did this, but now I understand. She might have used my name to meet Lu Jiansen, wanting to marry him, which is why she tried to send me to the countryside.”

Gu Yimin also realized what was going on. “So, the reason you agreed so quickly to marry that guy today is because of this, right?”

Gu Xiaoxi lowered her eyes slightly and nodded. “Yes. Compared to being forced to go to the countryside, marrying and following him to the military base isn’t so bad. Besides, Lu Jiansen is in the same unit as my brother.”

Jiang Xiuqing sighed. No wonder her daughter had been acting so strangely today. It turned out she had been carrying this burden since yesterday.

“Xiaoxi, go back to your room and sleep. Wake up early tomorrow!” Gu Yimin wanted to talk more with his wife, so he sent his daughter away.

Gu Yilan also wanted to help, so she stayed to listen.

Gu Xiaoxi was indeed tired. After washing her face, she went back to her room to sleep.

…

The next day.

Gu Xiaoxi was shaken awake by her aunt.

“Xiaoxi, Xiaoxi, wake up! Lu Jiansen and his family are already here!”

Gu Xiaoxi rubbed her eyes groggily, sitting up and taking a moment to gather her thoughts.

“What time is it?”

How could Lu Jiansen and his family be here before she was even fully awake?

Gu Yilan sighed. “It’s 7:30 in the morning. Your fiancé came by car. He said there’s a mission in the military, so he has to return early. But the marriage report has already been approved.”

“This… this fast?” Gu Xiaoxi thought it would take at least a few days.

“Yes! That guy’s plan is to have the engagement this morning, take you to get the marriage certificate in the morning, and hold the wedding banquet in the evening.” Gu Yilan had already rolled her eyes several times outside.

That Lu Jiansen was way too eager to marry Xiaoxi!

He even wanted to take Xiaoxi with him to the military base tomorrow!

Gu Xiaoxi had thought her decision to marry was quick, but she hadn’t expected Lu Jiansen to make things move even faster.

She quickly got up, washed up, and changed her clothes.

In the living room, Wei Mingyu was awkwardly trying to smooth things over with Gu Xiaoxi’s parents.

“Future in-laws, Xiao Sen really has no choice. As a soldier, he must follow orders. This mission came suddenly, and he has to leave within the specified time.”

Lu Jiansen immediately chimed in, “I’ve already applied for housing in the military. I’ll have my comrades clean and set it up in the next couple of days. By the time we arrive, everything should be ready. Please rest assured and entrust Xiaoxi to me!”

Gu Yimin was silent for a long time before finally nodding with a heavy heart.

“After breakfast, you and Xiaoxi can go get the marriage certificate.”

“Yes!” Lu Jiansen breathed a sigh of relief.

He had been worried that his future father-in-law would object to such a hasty marriage!

Once the elders had settled everything, Gu Xiaoxi, who had slept in, had no say in the matter.

Jiang Xiuqing hurriedly stuffed a bun into her daughter’s hand, handed her the household register, and pushed her out the door to go get the marriage certificate with Lu Jiansen.

Gu Xiaoxi was still in a daze even as she got into the military vehicle.

She looked at Lu Jiansen, who was focused on driving, and asked curiously, “What did you say to my parents?”

Lu Jiansen glanced at her and replied softly, “I have an urgent mission and need to return to the base immediately. Your parents understood. They’re very kind. I’ll take good care of you and will also be filial to them!”

Gu Xiaoxi found his words quite comforting.

If he could keep his promises, she would also strive to be a good wife!

As the car got closer to the Civil Affairs Bureau, Gu Xiaoxi actually felt more and more at ease.

The man beside her seemed to give her an indescribable sense of security!

…

After the news of their engagement spread, Old Man Gu and Old Lady Gu were utterly shocked.

How could they be getting engaged after just one night?

Gu Xiaomei was equally surprised. She nudged her mother’s arm. “Should we go take a look? I just heard from Auntie Xu next door that Gu Xiaoxi has found herself a soldier.”

Old Lady Gu’s hands trembled slightly, and she glanced nervously at her husband.

“Could it be that guy with the surname Lu?”

Old Man Gu’s face darkened, but he didn’t say anything, lost in thought.

Gu Xiaomei, however, spoke quickly. “Yes, I heard it’s someone with the surname Lu, and he’s even an officer! That Gu Xiaoxi is really lucky! Mom, let’s go take a look. They’re getting engaged, but they didn’t invite us. Who do they think they are?”

Old Lady Gu swatted her hand away. “You go take a look and come back to tell me.”

She had secretly kept many of the gifts from that guy with the surname Lu, as well as the 100 yuan that Dachuan had asked him to bring back. If they went over now, wouldn’t the truth come out?

The gifts were one thing, but back then, when the guy with the surname Lu had asked to meet Gu Xiaoxi, the old man had called over their eldest granddaughter, Xinli.

“Mom, I’ll go take a look for you.” Gu Xiaomei loved joining in on the excitement and quickly left.

Over at Uncle Gu’s house, the atmosphere was quite gloomy.

Liu Chunhua was both scared and angry, and she couldn’t help but poke Gu Xinli’s forehead several times.

“Tell me, hasn’t this just handed everything to that wretched Gu Xiaoxi on a silver platter?”

“I just heard from Director Wang outside that the one engaged to Gu Xiaoxi is Lu Jiansen, and his uncle is the deputy mayor who just took office in our city last year…”

Gu Xinli’s eyes darkened as she swatted her mother’s hand away. “It’s not like I wanted this to happen. I’m being sent to the countryside the day after tomorrow. Give me more money.”

That guy with the surname Lu was ruthless—he actually reported her!

The neighborhood committee had told her that if it weren’t for the fact that he wanted to marry Gu Xiaoxi and didn’t want to go too far, she wouldn’t just be sent to the countryside; she’d be doing hard labor.

Some lousy man who’s into Gu Xiaoxi—she didn’t care!

If she ever got the chance, she’d make them pay!

After all, she still had that mysterious jade pendant with a space inside, complete with a lake for raising fish. She wouldn’t starve in the countryside.

Liu Chunhua felt a headache coming on at the mention of money. “Your eldest and second brothers just got married. Where would we get any more money? Why don’t you go catch some more fish and see if the state-run restaurant will buy them.”

Though unhappy, Gu Xinli nodded.

If her third uncle hadn’t been so useless, failing to get Grandma’s private savings and instead burning down the house, would she have to go through all this trouble to catch fish?

It seemed that from now on, she’d have to rely on herself!

She was the chosen one, destined to live a better life than Gu Xiaoxi!

She was absolutely confident of that!

…

Civil Affairs Bureau.

After smoothly obtaining their marriage certificate, Gu Xiaoxi occasionally stole glances at the man beside her.

From now on, this person was her husband!

If she hadn’t spoken up to stop him when he barged into her bathroom that day, who would he have married instead?

Lu Jiansen glanced at the little girl beside him, took the marriage certificate from her hand, and carefully put it away. He said in a low voice, “There’s still time. Let’s go to the photo studio and take a picture.”

“Oh! Okay!” Gu Xiaoxi nodded.

The girl beside him was so obedient that Lu Jiansen couldn’t help but smile slightly.

Before this, he had never imagined that one day he would decide to marry a girl in an instant.

That night, he had a strong feeling—it had to be her!