Courtyard Houses: Starting with the principle of hard work paying off

Chapter 122 Romantic Encounters, A Fateful Choice! (8k)

New Year's Eve.

The entire courtyard was brightly lit, and every household was enjoying their New Year's Eve dinner, with laughter and joy filling the air.

Only the Li family in the front yard remained completely silent.

At this very moment, Li Hongbing is still working enthusiastically in the kitchen of Fengzeyuan.

Today, most people went to work as usual and went home to have their New Year's Eve dinner, but they were the exception.

On the last day of work, which happened to be Lunar New Year's Eve, Fengzeyuan Restaurant was busiest, with many celebrities and wealthy families booking their New Year's Eve dinner there.

This wasn't just the case at Fengzeyuan; it was the same at other restaurants and eateries throughout Beijing.

For this reason, I get off work much later than usual.

Li Hongbing didn't think much of it. Even though it was a holiday today, he would be eating New Year's Eve dinner by himself.

In terms of relatives, he only had one older sister, Li Hongmei.

Now that Li Hongmei is Zhao's daughter-in-law, although she and Zhao Weiguo live separately outside, she will definitely have to go back to her parents-in-law's house for New Year's Eve dinner.

In terms of seniority, Li Hongbing has Guo Youzhong as his mentor, but the two are in similar situations now.

"Come over for lunch tomorrow, come early."

"it is good."

After leaving Fengzeyuan, the master and apprentice pushed their bicycles. Guo Youzhong swished his leg onto the bike, turned back to remind Li Hongbing, and only after hearing his reply did he ride away.

Because of the nature of his work and the time constraints, Guo Youzhong couldn't go home to have New Year's Eve dinner with his family. So, in the afternoon, Guo's wife prepared dumplings in advance, cooked them at home, and specially delivered two portions over.

Guo Youzhong and Li Hongbing, the master and apprentice, each had a portion, which was considered an early New Year's Eve dinner.

Tomorrow at noon will be the real family reunion dinner.

Guo Youzhong not only called Li Hongbing, but also all of his former apprentices.

Guo Youzhong has always done this.

The fact that an apprentice has graduated does not mean the end or estrangement of the master-apprentice relationship.

From the day they became disciples, they were destined to be family, completely bound together.

This is why so many artisans have such strict requirements for accepting apprentices and place such importance on examining their character.

If one is not careful, and brings in a scoundrel who betrays his master and ancestors, it will be more than just a matter of damaging one's reputation.

After watching Guo Youzhong leave, Li Hongbing did not go home immediately. Instead, he pushed his bicycle and wandered aimlessly through the streets.

By this time, all the shops along the street had closed.

At this point in time, they are probably all at home with their families.

Feeling the festive atmosphere of Lunar New Year's Eve and thinking about the myriad lights in Beijing at this moment, Li Hongbing felt an unparalleled sense of peace.

Having unexpectedly arrived in this era, having an older sister like Li Hongmei, and meeting a mentor like Guo Youzhong, Li Hongbing is undoubtedly lucky.

Over the past six months, Li Hongbing has been working hard to integrate into this era and has gradually found his own sense of belonging.

As he walked, Li Hongbing suddenly noticed that a shop not far ahead still had its lights on.

Upon closer inspection, it became clear that this was Chen Xueru's Chen's Cloth Shop.

Somewhat curious, Li Hongbing pushed his bicycle forward and soon saw Chen Xueru drinking alone inside through the open gate.

Upon discovering this, Li Hongbing hesitated for a moment, but ultimately couldn't resist parking his bicycle at the entrance and going inside alone.

"Sister Xue Ru, it's the Lunar New Year, and you're still so dedicated, running the shop all by yourself?"

Logically speaking, even if Chen Xueru had already had a family reunion dinner at this time, there was no need for her to come and open a shop now.

There were hardly any people on the street, so where would any guests come from?

"Red Soldier?"

Chen Xueru, who was drinking alone in silence, looked up when she heard the voice and saw Li Hongbing standing in front of her. She was stunned for a moment, then smiled and waved to him, slightly drunk: "You've come at the right time, come and have a couple of drinks with me!"

"Okay!"

Upon hearing this, Li Hongbing did not refuse and walked over directly to sit down on the chair next to her.

I didn't do anything when I got back, but on this festive day, I thought I'd find someone to chat with.

"Come on, cheers!"

Chen Xueru got up to get a small wine glass, poured it full for Li Hongbing, then lifted her chair, said those words, and downed it in one gulp.

Seeing Chen Xueru drinking so heavily, Li Hongbing was stunned for a moment, and then he saw her choke on the alcohol.

"Cough...cough..."

Seeing Chen Xueru coughing incessantly, Li Hongbing quickly put down his wine glass and went over to pat her back.

Li Hongbing didn't know if this tactic would work, but seeing Chen Xueru's condition, he couldn't just do nothing.

for a while.

Seeing that Chen Xueru had finally come to her senses, Li Hongbing breathed a sigh of relief.

Having just recovered, Chen Xueru refilled the glass and then raised it to Li Hongbing again: "Come on, let's drink again!"

"Sister Xue Ru, is something on your mind?"

Judging from Chen Xueru's behavior just now, she seemed like a complete novice, not someone who drank often, yet she kept pouring herself drinks. It was hard for Li Hongbing not to be suspicious.

If it were just a few drinks and some casual conversation, Li Hongbing wouldn't have thought much of it, but Chen Xueru's current condition was clearly not right.

"Stop talking nonsense! Are you even a man? If you are, drink with me!"

After saying that, Chen Xueru didn't wait for Li Hongbing and put the wine in her mouth again.

"Sister Xue Ru, please stop drinking."

There is clearly something wrong with this situation.

If he hadn't seen it, it wouldn't have mattered. But since he had, Li Hongbing couldn't just watch Chen Xueru keep drinking, so he snatched her wine glass away.

"Give me back my wine!"

Seeing this, Chen Xueru became somewhat anxious.

"Sister Xue Ru, you're drunk."

"I'm not drunk!"

"You're the one who's drunk!"

"This is only my second drink, how could I be drunk?"

"Give me wine!"

"..."

Just as Chen Xueru got up to snatch the wine back from Li Hongbing, the alcohol hit her hard, and she fell directly into Li Hongbing's arms.

Li Hongbing was dumbfounded by this situation.

This wasn't something I did on purpose to take advantage of.

He had only come in to say hello, but Chen Xueru took the initiative to invite him to have a drink. Li Hongbing had just sat down and hadn't even taken a sip of wine when she did this.

Li Hongbing was also bewildered.

He got drunk way too quickly.

Helpless, Li Hongbing saw that Chen Xueru in his arms was drunk but not completely unconscious, so he said, "Sister Xueru, where do you live? Let me take you home!"

Chen Xueru was drunk. As a person with a conscience, Li Hongbing couldn't just leave her alone in the store, so he thought of taking her home.

"Home? I don't want to go home, I don't want to go home..."

Upon hearing Li Hongbing mention home, Chen Xueru, who had been somewhat docile, immediately became resistant.

finally.

Having no other choice, Li Hongbing knew there was a room upstairs for resting, so he could only take Chen Xueru up there first.

"Don't go!"

Just as Li Hongbing finished covering Chen Xueru with the blanket and was about to leave, Chen Xueru suddenly grabbed his hand and pleaded, "Hongbing, can you talk to me for a bit?"

"Fine!"

Chen Xueru wasn't completely drunk yet. Judging from her appearance, she must have encountered something. Li Hongbing's heart softened, and he agreed.

As soon as Li Hongbing agreed, Chen Xueru fell silent.

Li Hongbing did not urge him.

After waiting for a while, Chen Xueru finally spoke, her eyes reddening:

“Hongbing, do you know? My dad is sick…”

"I originally thought it was just a common illness, but I didn't expect it to be so serious."

“Starting last month, he’s been pressuring me to get married and has been arranging blind dates for me…”

"I really don't want to get married so early. I just want to run our family shop well and make Chen's Cloth Shop a well-known brand."

"I actually don't like that guy surnamed Hou..."

“But I asked the doctor, and the doctor said that my dad might only have six months, or even a few months, left.”

"Today is Chinese New Year, and I should have been at home having New Year's Eve dinner with my dad, but..."

"I know I shouldn't..."

"Hongbing, what do you think I should do?"

"..."

Through Chen Xueru's intermittent narration, Li Hongbing finally figured out the ins and outs of the matter and understood why Chen Xueru acted this way.

It’s really...

Such incidents are actually quite common.

Anyone who encounters this will find themselves in a difficult situation.

Chen Xueru asked Li Hongbing what she should do.

Li Hongbing didn't actually know either.

No matter what choice you make, there will be sacrifices and regrets, which may even last a lifetime.

"Red Soldier..."

"Ok?"

"Do you think I'm pretty?"

"Not pretty?"

"Pretty!"

"Then how about you be my boyfriend?"

"..."

Li Hongbing was dumbfounded.

I don't know how we ended up talking about this.

This luck with women...

It came a bit suddenly.

at the same time.

Chen Xueru looked at Li Hongbing with a somewhat dazed expression. When Li Hongbing remained silent, she suddenly wrapped her arms around him and pressed her alluring lips directly onto his face.

"Sister Xueru..."

Chen Xueru's sudden attack caught Li Hongbing completely off guard.

Chen Xueru then became even bolder, and Li Hongbing, being a man after all, acted impulsively and kissed her as well.

Just as they were getting emotional, their eyes met and they suddenly calmed down.

"Sister Xue Ru, you should rest now, I'm going back."

As the two parted, sensing the awkward atmosphere in the room, Li Hongbing left those words and went downstairs.

Staying any longer would only make things more awkward.

Chen Xueru's initiative just now was clearly influenced by alcohol. Both of them made mistakes, so naturally they couldn't let those mistakes get any bigger.

If you do it, you have to be responsible to Chen Xueru.

If Chen Xueru had been fully conscious just now, even if things had happened suddenly, Li Hongbing would have rushed forward without hesitation.

It's impossible for Li Hongbing not to be attracted to a beautiful woman with such a refined temperament as Chen Xueru.

However, Li Hongbing had a conscience and a sense of responsibility, especially in this era, and he couldn't bring himself to take advantage of a girl.

All of this happened at night.

For Li Hongbing, it happened too suddenly, without any preparation, like a dream, very unreal.

After going back.

Li Hongbing went to bed early, but tossed and turned and couldn't fall asleep, with Chen Xueru's image constantly appearing in his mind.

Insomnia.

This was the first time Li Hongbing had experienced insomnia since arriving in this era.

It wasn't until late at night, when Li Hongbing could no longer resist the drowsiness, that he finally fell into a deep sleep.

……

"That's strange, why did Hongbing get up so late today?"

"Yes, he would usually be up and exercising by now."

"Hey! What's so strange about that? Today is the Spring Festival, the first day of the holiday. Can't people even take a break?"

"Too!"

"It's normal to get up early every time, but to sleep in on the first day of the Lunar New Year."

"This is what celebrating the New Year should be like; even the Red Army soldiers can't escape the traditions..."

"..."

The next morning, Li Hongbing did not get up early for his usual morning exercise, which surprised his neighbors in the front yard.

only.

As everyone finished cooking and eating breakfast and began visiting each other, Li Hongbing was still not up, which aroused everyone's curiosity and puzzlement.

"He must have been exhausted last night. I heard that all the restaurants and eateries in the city were packed on New Year's Eve. Fengzeyuan was probably even more overcrowded. Hongbing came back much later than Shazhu last night..."

While everyone was discussing it, Yan Bugui offered his analysis and speculation.

It just so happened.

Chen Xueru, dressed in a winter cheongsam, walked in from outside, attracting everyone's attention.

"Are you Manager Chen of Chen's Cloth Shop?"

Just as everyone was looking at Chen Xueru, Aunt Yan suddenly stepped forward and tentatively spoke.

"Auntie, do you recognize me?"

Although she had been here once before, Chen Xueru had no recollection of Aunt Yan, and was momentarily stunned.

“Hongmei told me that I saw you when you came to deliver clothes to Hongmei before.”

Seeing that Chen Xueru had acknowledged her identity, Aunt Yan smiled. As if remembering something, she quickly reminded her, "You're here to see Hongmei, right? She's married now and doesn't live here anymore."

"I know this."

Hearing Aunt Yan's reminder, Chen Xueru was taken aback for a moment, then realized that Aunt Yan had misunderstood her purpose. She smiled and explained, "Auntie, I'm not looking for Sister Hongmei, I'm looking for Li Hongbing."

"Are you looking for Hongbing?"

"The Red Army soldiers haven't gotten up yet!"

"Manager Chen, what do you need Hongbing for?"

"Manager Chen, are you here for a visit?"

"That's really early!"

"..."

Not only Aunt Yan, but everyone else in the yard was stunned.

Previously, Li Hongbing and Li Hongmei had both bought clothes and fabrics from Chen Xueru's Chenji Cloth Shop. Most of the women in their courtyard knew this, but no one expected that the siblings Li Hongmei and Li Hongbing would have such a good relationship with Chen Xueru.

Before they had even finished exchanging New Year's greetings with their own neighbors, Chen Xueru had already arrived.

"I'm not visiting, I'm here to see my boyfriend!" Seeing their misunderstanding, Chen Xueru smiled and replied on the spot.

"Object?"

"Manager Chen, are you looking for your girlfriend? Why are you in our courtyard?"

"wrong……"

"Manager Chen, you just said you came to see Hongbing. Your boyfriend... could he be Hongbing?"

"This……"

"..."

Chen Xueru's words left everyone speechless.

Yan Bugui, who reacted the fastest, came up with this analysis, which made everyone even more unsettled.

"Sir, you're right, my boyfriend is Li Hongbing from your compound."

Upon hearing Yan Bugui's analysis, Chen Xueru's smile widened, and she publicly admitted to the matter.

"This...this...really?"

Yan Bugui, who had clearly guessed correctly, was even more astonished when Chen Xueru admitted it.

Seeing this, Aunt Yan couldn't help but say, "Manager Chen, are you mistaken? Li Hongbing from our courtyard is only sixteen years old!"

Dating at sixteen wasn't unusual back then; many people even got married at that age.

However, since the Marriage Law was enacted, this age has been considered too early.

"Ma'am, you're mistaken. He's already seventeen."

Seeing their reaction, Chen Xueru wasn't angry and calmly corrected them.

"Seventeen... Oh, today is the first day of the lunar new year. After the New Year, Hongbing will be seventeen years old now."

Reminded by Chen Xueru, Aunt Yan realized what was going on and immediately asked, "Manager Chen, how old are you this year?"

Now that the conversation had reached this point, Aunt Yan couldn't help but inquire further.

Chen Xueru looks very young, but her clothes and style are more mature. She looks older than Li Hongbing no matter how you look at it, which is why everyone reacted so strongly when Chen Xueru said that she was Li Hongbing's girlfriend.

"Twenty, I'm three years older."

Chen Xueru knew why everyone had reacted that way, but she remained calm and gave everyone the answer they wanted to know.

"Twenty? This... Manager Chen, when did you and Hongbing start dating?"

A three-year age difference isn't too outrageous. Although it's usually the man who is older than the woman, this isn't unacceptable, so Aunt Yan inquired again.

This gossip is pretty big!

We've known each other for a while, but we've only been dating for a short time.

When she said this answer, Chen Xueru couldn't help but laugh out loud, for some reason.

As Aunt Yan and the others inquired about other details, Chen Xueru remained patient and answered their questions one by one.

at last.

The door to the east wing opened, and seeing Li Hongbing rubbing his eyes as he appeared, Aunt Yan couldn't help but excitedly say, "Hongbing, your boyfriend has come to see you."

Aunt Yan's shout immediately woke Li Hongbing, who was still feeling a bit sleepy, up quite a bit.

Object?

Where did he get a girlfriend?

This Aunt Yan is talking nonsense early on the first day of the Lunar New Year.

however.

When Li Hongbing's gaze swept across the room and he saw Chen Xueru standing opposite him, smiling broadly at him, he was completely taken aback.

Unable to believe it, Li Hongbing thought he was still half asleep and hallucinating, so he quickly rubbed his eyes.

"Sister Xue Ru, what brings you here?"

When Li Hongbing looked at it again, his entire brain went blank.

"Go in and talk!"

As soon as Li Hongbing went out, Chen Xueru pushed him back inside.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Chen Xueru followed them inside and closed the door tightly behind her.

Chen Xueru's actions caused an uproar outside.

"Oh dear, in broad daylight..."

"So what? They're dating, what's wrong with them whispering to each other?"

"Then you don't need to close the door!"

"What's it to you if they close the door? Do you expect me to listen to everything they say?"

"Hey! That's not what I meant!"

"Stop gossiping. Have you forgotten what happened to Jia Zhangshi? If you offend Li Hongbing again, you'll be in big trouble..."

"..."

……

"Sister Xue Ru, what's wrong...?"

Looking at Chen Xueru in front of him and recalling what happened last night, Li Hongbing couldn't help but feel a little guilty.

Li Hongbing had just woken up after suffering from insomnia for most of the night.

His mind was still a little foggy; he had no idea what had just happened outside.

at the same time.

When her gaze fell on Li Hongbing, a hint of shyness flashed in Chen Xueru's eyes. Although she maintained a calm expression on her face, she was not so at ease inside.

Chen Xueru gritted her teeth and asked Li Hongbing directly, "Li Hongbing, I came here today to ask you if you would be willing to be my boyfriend?"

Upon hearing this, Li Hongbing was completely taken aback by Chen Xueru's direct approach.

"Sister Xue Ru, you've been drinking again?"

Thinking Chen Xueru was just talking nonsense while drunk, Li Hongbing couldn't help but probe.

Knowing why Li Hongbing asked that question, Chen Xueru looked directly at Li Hongbing and said seriously, "What I said last night was drunken talk, but not now."

Chen Xueru's actions left Li Hongbing speechless.

He wasn't a novice.

This is my current body, but it wasn't in my previous life.

The reason why Li Hongbing seemed so at a loss last night was mainly because he wasn't prepared.

Li Hongbing was only sixteen at the time, so he didn't start thinking about his personal life so early.

I may have thought about it a little, but I haven't really entered the stage of making a clear decision.

I've been busy procuring supplies, leveling up my skills, and preparing for Li Hongmei's wedding, so I haven't had much time for this.

In this era.

The issue of conduct is a rather serious one.

With these people in the courtyard, Li Hongbing didn't intend to do anything reckless or chaotic.

Finding a suitable wife, having a few children, and living a good life is enough.

There are so many beautiful women in this world, it's impossible for Li Hongbing to take all of them into his arms.

Putting aside the question of the magnitude of the risk, even with a system, Li Hongbing couldn't do it.

One should learn to be content.

When Li Hongbing first met Chen Xueru, he did feel a flutter in his heart, but he suppressed it.

Chen Xueru is beautiful, has a great temperament, and her figure and appearance are impeccable.

As for the three-year age difference, it has never been an issue for Li Hongbing.

Li Hongbing was considering Chen Xueru's identity, or rather, her family background.

It's not a big deal now, but it will have some impact when the wind picks up.

Regarding finding a wife, Li Hongbing had not yet selected a specific candidate, but he did have some general criteria.

Given his circumstances and conditions, he will definitely not have trouble finding a wife in the future. However, knowing that he will experience a special period later, Li Hongbing will naturally consider his family background in his subconscious, preferring someone with a "red and righteous" family background.

Although he did not experience that period, Li Hongbing had read a lot of relevant materials and learned about some history, so he couldn't help but feel awe.

It was precisely for this reason that he suppressed his initial attraction to Chen Xueru with reason. Although they later got to know each other and became friends, Li Hongbing did not deliberately approach or pursue her.

Being friends with her is fine, but marrying her as a wife carries certain risks.

To some extent, Chen Xueru has been eliminated from Li Hongbing's options.

This is also the main reason why Li Hongbing behaved the way he did last night in the face of everything that happened.

If you really don't choose her, then naturally you shouldn't have any other thoughts.

It would be impossible to say that Li Hongbing had absolutely no feelings for Chen Xueru.

Otherwise.

After crossing the line last night, Li Hongbing returned, but he didn't toss and turn all night, unable to sleep.

I never expected that Chen Xueru would come looking for me this morning, claiming to be her boyfriend.

“Li Hongbing, although I drank last night, I wasn’t completely drunk. When I asked you if we were going to date, you didn’t object and even kissed me. You’re the first man to touch me, so I’ll take that as a yes.”

“After you left last night, I thought about it for a long time, which is why I came here.”

"I already acknowledged you as my boyfriend when we were outside, but if you don't agree, that's okay. When we leave later, I'll explain to them that we've broken up."

"I came here today because I want an answer from you: are you willing to be my girlfriend?"

"..."

Seeing that Li Hongbing remained silent, as if he was thinking about something, even though Chen Xueru had made double preparations before coming, she was still a little anxious.

Upon hearing Chen Xueru's bold and outspoken remarks, Li Hongbing was taken aback.

What made Li Hongbing fall silent just now was simply Chen Xueru's background.

Putting aside the issue of background, Chen Xueru would be an excellent choice, and Li Hongbing would not hesitate at all.

Compared to Chen Xueru, her future self seemed rather timid and hesitant.

In fact, as a business owner, Chen Xueru's background is far from being as problematic as that of a capitalist like Lou Zhenhua. There are certainly some risks involved, but they are not as serious as they seem.

In the TV series, didn't she also get through those years peacefully?

I couldn't fight against the tide of the times, but I never thought of doing so. If it was just about protecting Chen Xueru, I might not have been unable to do it.

Chen Xueru's attitude just now made Li Hongbing's heart soften a little.

During this period, Chen Xueru had indeed left some impression on him, and last night she added even more.

"Sister Xue Ru, can I ask you a question?"

Li Hongbing looked up at Chen Xueru and asked.

"Just ask!"

Seeing that Li Hongbing did not refuse outright, Chen Xueru, who had been prepared to be rejected and humiliated, breathed a sigh of relief.

Why did you choose me as your partner?

Li Hongbing asked very directly.

Now that you've started considering this issue, you should clarify all your questions.

I know why you asked that.

Upon hearing this, Chen Xueru gave Li Hongbing a deep look before speaking: "I am the only daughter in our family. My father is currently experiencing health problems. Because I am a girl, he still feels that I cannot protect our Chen family's ancestral cloth shop. That's why my father wanted to find me a man to rely on before he passed away."

But I don't need to. I, Chen Xueru, can manage our family's cloth shop business well without relying on a man.

From a very young age, I ran a cloth shop with my father, learning how to do business and tailoring, including the purchasing and sales of goods in the shop. I did just as well as others.

If it were just to find a partner to appease my dad, I wouldn't have kept rejecting the blind dates he introduced me to..."

At this point, Chen Xueru paused, her gaze returning to Li Hongbing's face. With a slightly flushed expression, she spoke again: "Li Hongbing, your act of bravery in rescuing someone from the water shows that you are a kind and courageous person."

The fact that you treat your sister well shows that you care about and love your family, and that you have a sense of responsibility and commitment.

You also know how to make clothes, you're talented, and we get along well. We're sure we'll get along well in the future.

And you're good-looking, which is what I like...

"I, Chen Xueru, only want to find someone like you to be my husband; I don't care about anyone else."

After Chen Xueru said these things, Li Hongbing realized that he had been overthinking things.

But if Chen Xueru only wanted to date him to appease her family, even if Li Hongbing had feelings for Chen Xueru, he would never compromise himself.

Although marriages in this era don't involve much love and affection, many people simply choose to live together because the conditions are right.

After marriage, love may develop, or it may just become familial affection, but in the end, they all live a peaceful and stable life together.

When it comes to choosing a partner to spend his life with, Li Hongbing doesn't set excessive restrictions, but the partner must be someone who suits his taste and whose heart is also with him.

Sleeping in the same bed but dreaming different dreams is just torture for both of them.

Do you have any other questions?

Seeing Li Hongbing shake his head, Chen Xueru took the initiative again and said to Li Hongbing, "I know you don't have a girlfriend right now. Why don't you give me a chance and let's try dating? If it doesn't work out, I won't bother you!"

Chen Xueru was completely going all out.

She needed an answer from Li Hongbing today, no matter what.

"Row!"

Under Chen Xueru's tense gaze, Li Hongbing finally nodded.

Chen Xueru is a proud person, and her statement just now can be described as quite humble.

Li Hongbing decided to give it a try.

Give Chen Xueru a chance.

Give yourself a chance as well.

In this day and age, it's truly remarkable that a girl like Chen Xueru could achieve this much.

"you sure?"

Seeing that Li Hongbing agreed, Chen Xueru became a little uncertain and confirmed it again.

"Sister Xue Ru, I'm sure."

Li Hongbing answered affirmatively.

Having decided to take this step, Li Hongbing naturally wouldn't hesitate any longer.

Even Chen Xueru dared to forge ahead. If he still doesn't dare to face his true feelings and remains hesitant, it would be somewhat shameful.

Dating someone now doesn't mean you'll definitely get married.

But if they decide to become husband and wife in the future, Li Hongbing will support Chen Xueru and protect her from all harm.

"Don't call me 'sister,' from now on just call me Xue Ru!"

Chen Xueru was delighted, but when she heard Li Hongbing address her, she couldn't help but frown.

Li Hongbing is three years younger than Chen Xueru.

Although Chen Xueru had accepted the fact when she came to see him today, he still cared about it.

Every time Li Hongbing calls her "sister," she can't help but think of this incident.

See this.

Li Hongbing realized this and couldn't help but laugh, which earned him a coquettish rebuke from Chen Xueru.

"Li Hongbing, now that we're a couple, I'd like to ask you a question."

"what?"

"Have you ever had any feelings for me, even the slightest?"

"Have!"

"Really?"

"real!"

"..."

(End of this chapter)