Han Tao walked back holding water, the fries, and the burger Qi Qi had ordered. He saw Wang Qi Qi staring intently at a particular spot. Following her gaze, he noticed a family of five. Knowing Qi Qi as well as he did, he figured she was looking at the fair-skinned, delicate little girl across the way. "In the future, we'll have a beautiful little girl just like that," he murmured, already anticipating what their child with Qi Qi would look like, filled with such hopeful joy.

Wang Qi Qi nodded. "Our child will definitely be beautiful. We can take them out to play just like that then." Besides, children that age were the most fun. Even if they threw small tantrums occasionally, it was certainly better than the worries that came with them growing up, plus the sweetness of them calling you 'Mom' and relying on you so completely. The more Wang Qi Qi thought about it, the more having a child sooner seemed like a wonderful idea.

"Mmm, then you'll be carrying one child, I’ll be holding another, and one will be sitting in the stroller." The thought of that scene filled Han Tao with driving motivation. For the sake of a happy and beautiful future life, Han Tao felt truly blessed. Having never experienced paternal love himself, he was determined his own child would never have such a regret. "Our children will be very happy, and we will grow old together, right?" Han Tao knew Wang Qi Qi carried some anxieties, always feeling a faint barrier between herself and everyone, including him. But then, seeing her laughing wholeheartedly while playing with Shi Man and the others, he’d think he was overthinking it. Seeing how much Qi Qi loved children just now, a sudden thought struck him: perhaps once Qi Qi had a child, that faint barrier would disappear entirely?

Han Tao set the food down on the blanket, drew Wang Qi Qi close, and kissed her cheek. "Let’s get married after graduation, and then we’ll have a baby." Although Han Tao spoke calmly, he actually had no idea how she would react, his mind racing to anticipate her response and how he might reason with her.

The first thought that crossed Wang Qi Qi’s mind upon hearing Han Tao was, "You’re not going to propose to me, are you?"

Han Tao had mentally run through many possible replies from Wang Qi Qi—agreement, refusal, changing the subject—but he had never expected such a swift reaction, let alone her asking that very question. "If you think I'm proposing, then I am proposing."

Ahhh, this answer left Wang Qi Qi utterly speechless. Since when did simply thinking it was a proposal make it one? Wang Qi Qi pouted her head away from Han Tao. "How can this scene be a proposal? There are no flowers, no ring, and certainly no candlelight dinner." Even if he was usually unromantic, Wang Qi Qi still hoped for a surprise when it came to a proposal. However, she truly doubted this guy could manage any surprise; just managing to pull off the basic scenario she pictured would be good enough. She honestly couldn't ask for more than that.

Han Tao actually had plenty of ideas for a proposal. Dai Lijun had suggested things like heart-shaped candles on the beach or an underwater proposal. The suggestions were nice, but Han Tao felt they weren't quite right. After much deliberation, he decided gathering some intelligence from Qi Qi’s own mouth would be more reliable. If he planned something elaborate and it was a total surprise, that was great, but Qi Qi had to like it. If he stepped on a landmine, it would be better to stick to a conventional proposal. He certainly didn't want Qi Qi to be unsatisfied and refuse his proposal, especially after seeing her throw a small tantrum earlier today. This solidified his resolve.

"Ah, is that all you want?" Heavens above, those were the most basic requirements! Han Tao realized it wasn't such a high-difficulty task after all. He figured he could manage by finding a restaurant with a nice atmosphere and decent food to complete the mission successfully. Yet, for some reason, he felt Qi Qi wasn't telling the whole truth. Staring into her eyes, he noticed the helplessness there, and suddenly he understood. It wasn't that Qi Qi had no requirements for a proposal; it was just that she didn't think he could come up with anything romantic, so she defaulted to the bare minimum.

Wang Qi Qi suddenly remembered something. "Oops, I’m proposing, aren't I? I remember someone saying he was going to marry into the family, right?" Since he was marrying in, then she should be the one proposing. "Tao, what do you think of my proposal idea just now? If you think it’s good, should I arrange a candlelight dinner at home tomorrow, buy a bouquet of roses, and get a ring?"

Han Tao didn't particularly care whether he married in or she married out, but when it came to the proposal, he felt, "The proposal should still be done by the man. I don't want you telling the younger generation later that Grandma proposed to Grandpa." Besides, how would he ever face Dai Lijun if he knew? "Don't worry, I'll give you a huge surprise."

Wang Qi Qi saw Han Tao was set on doing the proposing and shrugged, signaling she had no objections. "If you insist on proposing, just know I don't like the most basic kind of proposal. As for other methods, as long as it’s not too bizarre, I won't have any issues." Wang Qi Qi thought to herself that her demands regarding how to propose were genuinely low.

"Rest assured, rest assured." With a general scope established, Han Tao felt relieved. Since Qi Qi’s requirements weren't high, he knew he could handle it. He already had a rough draft forming in his mind, which he would discuss thoroughly with Feng Xuanxiang when they got back. As for Dai Lijun, who was with them, Han Tao felt such an important matter shouldn't be complicated by involving him; otherwise, things would only get worse. Han Tao still believed consulting Feng Xuanxiang was the more dependable route.

Wang Qi Qi and Han Tao played until the sky grew dark. The two packed up some food and slowly cycled home. "I wonder if Dai Lijun is starving," Wang Qi Qi mused, looking at the packed burgers, chicken wings, fries, and barbecue, thinking this selection should satisfy the guy’s needs.

"Don't worry, he won't starve to death. Once we get back, we just can't look like we feel guilty about him, or else..." Han Tao thought of the guy as a resilient sort; no matter how much he was struck down before, he could quickly bounce back.

Even without Han Tao saying it, Wang Qi Qi understood. "If he starts putting on an act, I won't give him any of this. I can just eat it for lunch tomorrow."

Dai Lijun rubbed his stomach. "Stomach, oh stomach, just hang in there a little longer. We’ll have good food soon." Dai Lijun sighed for the nth time and checked the time—it was almost eight o'clock, and why weren't they back yet? Dai Lijun suspected they were deliberately coming back late, wanting to be full of food and unable to eat the good things, just like the day he came over. Thinking this, Dai Lijun resolved to hold out and not succumb to the bread in front of him.

Dai Lijun tried hard to focus his gaze on the computer screen, hoping to alleviate his hunger pangs by chatting with his girlfriend, Lu Qiaowei. But the problem was his stomach kept rumbling. Finally, with resignation, Dai Lijun picked up a piece of bread and slowly started eating it, comforting himself that he wasn't giving up the feast; he was just eating bread now to keep his stomach from getting too empty and missing out on the main meal. Thinking this, Dai Lijun felt slightly better.

Not long after Dai Lijun finished the first piece of bread, his stomach continued to protest. As he debated whether to eat another, he heard footsteps coming up the stairs. He knew it had to be Qi Qi and Han Tao returning. He placed a hand on his stomach and whispered mournfully, "Stomach, I know you’re hungry, but you don't like the bread I ate. Just bear with it. There’s nothing to be done, Qi Qi let the bad guy Han Tao drag her out..." Dai Lijun sounded truly pitiful, with a slight quiver of tears in his voice, enough to make any easily moved person weep.

Wang Qi Qi and Han Tao were still a short distance from the door when they heard the complaining. They exchanged a look and simultaneously turned around. "Tao, I just remembered there's that movie today. Didn't you say it was really interesting? You’re free today, so let’s go see a movie."

Han Tao readily agreed. "John saw it and said it was good. Daizi is in a bad mood right now; he might even have cried. Let's not disturb him; he’d probably be too embarrassed for us to see him cry."

"Exactly, exactly." Wang Qi Qi practically skipped down the stairs. Humph, make him feel guilty first? Impossible.

Dai Lijun was stunned when he realized Wang Qi Qi and Han Tao had heard his pitiful complaints yet ignored him completely and were planning to go to the movies instead. "Ahhh, you two are too mean!" Dai Lijun abandoned his complaining, realizing that if he whined more, the wicked couple would definitely go out.

In truth, Wang Qi Qi and Han Tao didn't have the energy to go to a movie. They had an appointment with the property developer for 10 AM the next morning to look at the house, so they needed an early rest today. When Dai Lijun chased them to the door, he saw Han Tao grinning, holding up a huge plastic bag. At that moment, he knew the couple had tricked him again. He could only console himself by looking at all the delicious food and letting them off the hook.

Dai Lijun snatched the bag and started making a dash for the sofa. "Daizi, don't you dare eat on the sofa!" Wang Qi Qi yelled immediately. This guy was truly careless when eating. Several times, he had dropped crumbs and debris all over the sofa and the floor while eating, which Wang Qi Qi had spent ages cleaning up. And today’s food was oily; she didn't want to put in that much effort.

Dai Lijun had no choice but to change direction and sit at the dining table. "Was the market fun? When did you leave?"

"It was alright." Wang Qi Qi washed her hands and snagged a few skewers of barbecue from the bag. "Lots of people, good for a family outing. They even had a band playing; it was quite lively."

"A band?" Dai Lijun was surprised that a spontaneously organized gathering even featured a live band. That seemed too high-class. "Next time there’s an event like that, call me." Even without a band, Dai Lijun would have wanted to go, if only to avoid having to wait until this late hour for food.

As Han Tao and Wang Qi Qi pushed their bikes, ready to leave, Dai Lijun stood by the second-floor window and asked, "Are you leaving already? Will you be back for lunch?" Han Tao had told Dai Lijun yesterday about viewing the house today and had asked if he wanted to come along. Dai Lijun thought about it for a long time but ultimately decided against joining; he truly couldn't go two consecutive days off without a long lie-in.

"If we finalize the house, we’ll eat out somewhere nice for lunch to celebrate," Wang Qi Qi thought. If they actually signed the contract, it would be a truly memorable day. It would mean they had purchased property in a foreign land, symbolizing a fresh start, a definite foothold in this country.

Dai Lijun grunted, rubbed his eyes, and closed the window, preparing to go back to sleep. "Be careful on the road."

Wang Qi Qi and Han Tao arrived at the house entrance right on time. When their figures appeared, the real estate agent's expression shifted subtly for a moment. He hadn't expected to be showing this property to clients who didn't look like they were in the market to buy a house. Still, he quickly composed a professional smile. "Hello, are you here for the viewing appointment? I'm Sandy."

Wang Qi Qi hadn't noticed the brief flicker of discomfort on Sandy’s face, but Han Tao had. His brow furrowed slightly, but once he saw the agent quickly regain his composure, he relaxed as well. "Hello, we just want to see it in person."

Sandy led them inside, offering brief explanations along the way. "This property had an initial order placed, and some arrangements were made according to that person's request. However, due to a job transfer, they withdrew their offer."

Wang Qi Qi had toured it before but hadn't thought much of it. She knew some communities came with basic finishing touches upon handover, but she hadn't expected it to be a canceled order from an existing buyer. "Then let's take another look."

Han Tao was indifferent to the history, and Wang Qi Qi’s face remained neutral, so he wouldn't voice his likes or dislikes either. "Oh, then let's look around more." However, he thought the foreigner was quite honest; if he hadn't mentioned it, Han Tao wouldn't have known.

Han Tao noticed the kitchen was quite nice, with a large oven. He opened it and looked inside. "It’s bigger than the oven we ordered for your sister last time. You can bake your favorite cakes here from now on."

Wang Qi Qi was honestly quite satisfied with the kitchen facilities—a sterilizer and an oven were both present, right next to the dining table—a perfect American-style big kitchen that she loved. Conversely, making Chinese food would mean a heavier cleaning load. "There's a large window on the side; we could plant some flowers and greenery out there." Although there was a perimeter wall, it wasn't high, and the house was slightly elevated. Standing by the window, they could see the main road outside, meaning people outside could see in, too.

Walking into the living room, Han Tao saw the large floor-to-ceiling windows opening onto the backyard. "It's nice, good sunlight, though it feels a bit exposed..."

"We have curtains. I like it," Wang Qi Qi said. She pictured nesting in the living room, basking in the winter sun with a fireplace going. "In winter, I can put a recliner here." Wang Qi Qi gestured near the fireplace. "There’s also a small room downstairs; what are you thinking of doing with it?"

That room was technically a family room, but Wang Qi Qi felt there was no need for a family room when they had a living room, and they rarely had guests over. "How about we turn it into a study and game room combined?" Wang Qi Qi suggested. That way, they'd have a place for the kids to play later on.

A study? Han Tao offered no opinion on this suggestion. After quickly touring the first floor, they went upstairs. The second floor had three rooms, and honestly, none of them were large. Apart from the master bedroom having an ensuite bathroom and a slightly spacious small walk-in closet/study, the others were genuinely quite small. "Compared to Mark’s house, this one is really small." Although he kept reassuring himself that they didn't have much money, and it was just the two of them, so they didn't need a huge house—no need to achieve everything at once. Han Tao recalled that when he first mentioned buying a house, many people at his workplace were surprised; buying so early seemed astonishing when many people in their forties were still renting.

"The attic is nice. Let’s be clear, it’s mine," Wang Qi Qi reminded him again as she led Han Tao toward the attic.

Han Tao thought about how they had argued yesterday just over an attic. "Got it, I won't fight you for the attic." He thought that no matter how good this attic was, it wouldn't compare to the one they were currently in—it lacked a terrace.

Sandy, trailing behind them, was completely lost. He couldn't tell from their expressions whether they were happy or unhappy, so he kept glancing at the couple. He was worried about whether this property would sell smoothly; he hadn't closed a deal this month and hoped this sale would go through.

Han Tao had initially been interested in this house's attic, but the moment he stepped onto the landing and pushed the door open, he felt a twinge of regret. The upper parts on both sides of the room featured large glass windows. His first thought was to put a bed under one window (Qi Qi had once mentioned liking to look at the stars from bed), and a bathtub under the other glass panel. But then he considered that if he put a desk under the window, the light would be excellent, as the attic only had these two light sources; other areas were honestly quite dim.

Wang Qi Qi didn't overthink it. "How is it?" she asked, standing in the center of the space.

Han Tao pursed his lips. "I think it's a bit dark for light, even with windows on both sides. And how's the ventilation?" Air circulation couldn't be poor.

"The windows can be opened," Wang Qi Qi chirped, jogging to a window and pushing it outward with some effort. "I plan to put the bathtub under one window, and the other side will be arranged as a workspace."

As for the sleeping area, Wang Qi Qi had a plan figured out. "I plan to put a Japanese-style tatami setup here. If I need to work, I'll pull out the desk; when I want to sleep, I'll lower the table." For the remaining space, Wang Qi Qi intended to build bookshelves along the wall and leave the central area open for yoga practice.

After listening to Wang Qi Qi describe her vision, Han Tao muttered, "Can I regret this? Isn't such a large space a waste if it's just for you?" Although the space was only the size of their current kitchen, living room, and bathroom combined—and it was truly an attic space, sloped on both sides and higher in the middle—those two windows made the attic feel much more vibrant.

Wang Qi Qi knew he would regret it. "You often come home very late; giving it to you would be the biggest waste." Wang Qi Qi wasn't yielding an inch. Hmph, they hadn't even secured the house yet, and he was already coveting her space. If they moved in, he’d probably try to turn the whole thing into his own sanctuary.

Seeing Wang Qi Qi uncompromising, Han Tao fell silent. He figured he could just shamelessly ask to use it later; surely Qi Qi wouldn't deny him?

Han Tao turned to Sandy, who was following them, and asked, "I think this house is good. Roughly how much is it?"

Although Sandy couldn't understand their preceding conversation, he knew things were likely half settled when Wang Qi Qi was gesturing and measuring around the attic so animatedly. If they weren't satisfied, there would be no point in planning the attic layout. "Although this house has had a lot done to it, because the previous owner defaulted, the cost of the fixtures is waived." Sandy then quoted a price. "This price is the most favorable."

Wang Qi Qi and Han Tao exchanged a glance. Wang Qi Qi had looked into the market rates, and this price was genuinely a good deal, only slightly more than a shell unit. It was definitely cheaper than if the fixtures were factored in, but that was unavoidable for a unit that was nearly move-in ready—it had to have a price advantage. Wang Qi Qi nodded at Han Tao, signaling that the price was acceptable.

Though Han Tao hadn't plunged into the property market, he had a general grasp of prices. "What’s the down payment? I currently..." Han Tao briefly explained his situation. "I'm still a bit short on cash. Do you think getting a loan would be easy?"

Sandy had been cheerful initially; this property was finally moving. While the complex had a good environment, the renovations done according to the previous owner’s taste didn't suit many buyers. The developer was already planning to remodel if it didn't sell soon. He never expected to manage to sell it to this young couple, but the next thing they said made him hesitate. "That presents a slight problem." Securing a loan for someone who wasn't a US citizen was difficult. "I need to check with my company."

"Tell me the outcome, whatever it is, so I can figure out a solution." After touring the area, Han Tao found the environment excellent. From his brief chat with the agent, he gathered that most buyers here worked in the IT industry—which made sense, given the high concentration of IT companies nearby. This suggested a good quality of residents and, therefore, better future security.

“A reply will be forthcoming by tomorrow at the latest.” Sandy felt the loan process was slightly troublesome, but likely manageable. “We might require some documentation from your company then.”

Han Tao understood immediately. “Rest assured, I’ve already cleared this with the company.”

Sandy hadn't expected this young Asian man to have already calculated these contingencies; moreover, the company was willing to provide documentation for him—that wasn't easy to come by. Still, the fact that the company was willing to hire him as a full-time employee while he was still studying abroad indicated the young man must possess some real talent; otherwise, why would the boss agree to pay extra? (To be continued...)*RT