Chapter 36: Maybe We Shouldn’t Get Married, Just Enjoy Love

Fortunately, Xie Zhi, with his sharp eyes, quickly blocked the situation. He hurriedly pulled the girl into his arms, looking at Jiaojiao, who was shocked, with an angry tone: “What are you doing?”

Xie Zhi protected her in his arms, stood up, and cast a cold glance at Wen Jing, his tone laced with disdain.

“Wen Jing, I used to treat you like a sister, so I tolerated you a bit, but I don’t want to talk about what happened later. I have a wife now, why are you still clinging to me? Are you really that desperate for a man?”

At that moment, Xu Jiaojiao let out a soft hum, instantly capturing all of Xie Zhi’s attention.

“Xiao Jing, you should go back now, and don’t come around anymore.”

Wen Jing looked like she was about to cry. She had always been the center of attention, rarely facing setbacks. She slapped herself on the face in a crazed manner.

“Xie Zhi, please forgive me. I’m so sorry. I just like you too much.”

If it had been any other man, they would have been deeply moved, but even Ming Zhen was slightly touched. Seeing the girl so infatuated with her son, she wiped away a tear.

“Xiao Jing, you shouldn’t come here anymore. Xie Zhi has Jiaojiao now.”

Xu Jiaojiao nestled in Xie Zhi’s arms, but she wasn’t happy. She could tell that his mother didn’t like her very much, and watching her constantly scolded, she quickly intervened. It seemed that Xie Zhi’s family was full of problems.

Wen Jing threw herself into Ming Zhen’s arms, crying uncontrollably, while Wen’s mother pretended to wipe tears, secretly smiling with satisfaction.

“Auntie, I like him. We grew up together, so why doesn’t Xie Zhi choose me?”

“Xiao Jing, you can’t force feelings. You’ll meet someone better in the future.”

Xie Zhi’s forehead tensed in discomfort. He was done with showing any kindness to this woman. Yet, they were still causing a scene, making it so Jiaojiao couldn’t even enjoy her meal. He had finally reached a peaceful moment with Jiaojiao, and now this.

With a cold expression, Xie Zhi swiftly poured the remaining wine in his glass onto Wen Jing’s face, showing a hint of detached indifference: “Are you done being crazy?”

“We still need to eat. Mom, if you’re going to let her keep making a scene, I’ll take Jiaojiao out to eat instead.”

Ming Zhen awkwardly smiled at Jiaojiao, but the girl sensed a hint of guilt in her smile. Her tone softened: “Auntie, are you hoping that Xie Zhi can have both me and Wen Jing tangled up in his life?”

Ming Zhen, stunned by Jiaojiao’s words, almost couldn’t speak. She realized that she had been allowing Wen Jing’s tantrums, perhaps even hoping for her to end up with Xie Zhi. Now that Jiaojiao had laid it out so plainly, her eyes turned cold as she looked at her son.

With a strained smile, she turned away, her expression sour: “Xiao Jing, you should go back now.”

“Xie Zhi, do you have no shame? How could you throw wine on Xiao Jing? Is it wrong for her to like you?”

“Apologize to her right now.”

Jiaojiao, watching this shameless scene, felt exhausted. She didn’t want to live in a household like this, with constant quarrels that gave her a headache. She stood up and grabbed her bag.

Her voice returned to its previous coldness, like when she had distanced herself from Xie Zhi before: “Xie Zhi, if after marrying you, I have to deal with this every day, then maybe we should forget about the marriage.”

The moment she finished speaking, Jiaojiao turned and walked toward the door, relieved that her mom had given her a lot of money.

“Jiaojiao, Jiaojiao.”

Everyone was stunned by her sudden departure. Xie Zhi’s eyes were filled with a strange, almost eerie anger. He shot a glance at his mother before decisively running after her.

Xie Zhi’s father, watching his wife looking so dejected, sighed deeply. “I really don’t know what to say to you. After all the trouble, you’ve made everything so complicated just because our son came back for a visit.”

“Moreover, when Xie Zhi returns to the city, it’ll be Jiaojiao’s father who calls the shots. If you offend her family, just wait and see your son live his life as a farmer in the countryside.”

Ming Zhen’s lips trembled, but she didn’t say anything, regretting mentioning Xie Zhi’s return to her parents.

But she still didn’t throw Wen Jing and her mother out. Instead, she warmly invited them to eat.

Xie Zhi silently followed the girl, not trying to stop her. He stepped forward and smiled as he held Jiaojiao’s hand, “Jiaojiao, there’s a place that serves amazing food. Let’s go.”

Xu Jiaojiao suddenly stopped, turned to look at him, and took a deep breath. “Xie Zhi, your mother doesn’t like me. She probably threw away everything my mom brought. The herbs and everything.”

“I saw you picked them up. I’ll go get them and we can go to Yun City tomorrow to see my older brother.”

“I’ll go with you. Jiaojiao, don’t leave me. Don’t leave me,” Xie Zhi said, looking heartbroken, trying to hug her.

Xu Jiaojiao stepped back, creating distance between them. The warm breeze blew on her face, making it hard to keep her eyes open.

“Xie Zhi, I’m not someone who will let a stranger criticize me for my whole life. We can keep dating like this, but marriage can wait a few more years,” she said coldly.

Xie Zhi’s face showed pain, disbelief in his eyes. His voice turned desperate: “Jiaojiao, what do you mean by that? What do you mean, no marriage?”

“Xie Zhi, I can’t get along with your parents. Where would we live after I marry you? On your meager salary from school? Right now, we both rely on our parents to live and get married, so there’s no need to rush.”

After saying this, Jiaojiao regained her usual soft smile, wrapping her arms around Xie Zhi’s neck, her warmth brushing against him. “For now, we can just enjoy our love. I’ll write a letter to my parents.”

Xie Zhi felt as if a knife had pierced his heart. He regretted bringing her here. He thought that meeting his parents would bring them closer to marriage, but instead, it felt like the beginning of their separation.

His arms tightened around her wrist, not allowing her to escape: “Jiaojiao, I’ll make it clear to them. Don’t leave me.”

“Xie Zhi, until you’re capable, let’s not get married.”

Before the words even left her lips, his rough kiss descended upon her. Xu Jiaojiao frowned, the pain almost unbearable as she struggled to escape.

But his grip was too strong, and she couldn’t break free. His voice was sticky and possessive: “Jiaojiao, you’re mine. You’ll never escape from me.”

His obsessive words made her heart sink. She couldn’t bear to imagine what her life would be like with him. He was a man—a typical male protagonist with money and sincerity.

But at least for now, Jiaojiao didn’t like how he viewed their relationship as a lifetime commitment.