Transforming Chi Wu from a child she watched grow up into the man she was destined to share her life with, to cherish and support through thick and thin, was the most frustrating endeavor for Cheng Ying; such profound affection wasn't something she could simply command into being just by declaring her liking for him.

Ever since their engagement, whenever Cheng Ying saw Chi Wu, her cheek muscles would involuntarily twitch, a slight, involuntary tremor. Thankfully, she wasn't overweight, otherwise, the sight would have been quite the spectacle.

Faced with the prospect of sharing a dwelling with him, Cheng Ying felt nothing but a profound, inescapable weariness; she had already resolved that if this young man tried any untoward advances, she wouldn't hesitate to deliver a few well-placed kicks.

It turned out Chi Wu was surprisingly perceptive. Beyond just firmly gripping Cheng Ying's hand, he made no further moves. When they awoke, he seemed even more soundly asleep than she was.

Had it not been for remembering that particular morning, Cheng Ying would genuinely have thought this boy utterly clueless about the dynamics between men and women.

Cheng Ying studied Chi Wu intently; this young man was truly a picture of restraint—unbelievable.

She was then relieved, no longer burdened by the awkwardness of cohabitation. Naturally, she let the matter drop, and after that incident, the twitching in Cheng Ying’s cheeks ceased whenever she looked at Chi Wu.

Furthermore, when they got engaged, Chi Wu promptly left for university, sparing Cheng Ying the inconvenience of having an extra person around.

From the moment they met, their relationship was characterized by periods of separation and reunion. Cheng Ying had grown accustomed to this rhythm and didn't perceive this current parting as any different from the others. Yet, the look in Chi Wu's eyes as he sat in the car made Cheng Ying feel an undeniable urge to say something, but the words caught in her throat, leaving her speechless.

Watching him, Cheng Ying truly felt a pang of guilt; it seemed his feelings hadn't evolved the way hers had.

After Chi Wu left, Cheng Ying resumed her usual life with the Old Madam. A subtle strangeness lingered in Cheng Ying's heart, but she stubbornly refused to believe she could develop genuine romantic feelings for Chi Wu.

Cheng Ying was inherently possessive; anything that belonged to her, even if she currently held no value for it, was absolutely off-limits to others.

This deeply ingrained mindset stemmed from the psychological shadows cast by her own family background. Consequently, when suitors began appearing around Chi Wu, Cheng Ying’s attitude shifted into something profoundly complicated.

In the past, when Chi Wu received piles of love letters, Cheng Ying could joke about it lightly, but now, she couldn't stand to see anyone pursuing him.

Cheng Ying thoroughly analyzed her own psyche, perhaps concluding she harbored some form of affectionate fraternal complex.

Cheng Ying was in a foul mood, which naturally carried over when Chi Wu returned for the winter break, dampening her spirits further.

Unfortunately, both were busy, leaving no time to discuss such trivial matters. Moreover, Chi Wu’s behavior around Cheng Ying ensured she couldn't suspect him of harboring romantic intentions elsewhere. He'd linger around her for ages after a quick peck on the cheek, savoring the moment before darting away. Cheng Ying half-joked that if a French kiss were involved, this boy would probably need two days to prepare beforehand.

Cheng Ying could even treat Chi Wu’s purely opportunistic actions as a jest, sometimes wondering if he’d circle around her a few times beforehand the next time he intended to steal a kiss, creating a strange sense of anticipation.

Unconsciously, Cheng Ying’s thoughts began to revolve around Chi Wu, woven through various everyday occurrences and his presence in her life—after all, she couldn't imagine her life without Chi Wu’s "Yingzi," and they still held the status of fiancés.

At some point, the Old Madam stopped pressuring Cheng Ying, and she found herself engaged in conversations with Chi Wu that stretched past half an hour; it felt as if they had endless things to discuss.

It wasn't until Cheng Ying visited Chi Wu at his university that she learned he spent those long half-hours chatting with her while standing outside in the biting cold at the gatehouse.

Cheng Ying’s heart felt a sudden emptiness, a strange numbness. Summer was manageable, but did Chi Wu really stand there in the winter cold just to talk to her? Seeing him then softened her heart, making it incredibly tender.

It was an inexpressible feeling. Unconsciously, she became far more lenient toward Chi Wu. Upon returning home, Cheng Ying made special arrangements to procure a massive mobile phone from the South.

Even Cheng Ying herself felt the price was exorbitant, but for Chi Wu, she was willing to pay it.

Seeing Chi Wu’s difficulty commuting back and forth, Cheng Ying acted with an almost careless generosity, acquiring him a car with the highest safety rating available.

Sometimes Cheng Ying felt like she wasn't dating or spending time with a fiancé; she was raising a son. Only a mother would be so extravagant, ensuring her child had the very best.

Cheng Ying mused that in her lifetime, apart from Chi Wu, she would never be this generous to a third man.

Later, the Old Madam fell ill, leaving Cheng Ying with little time to cultivate her feelings with Chi Wu or to fully appreciate the steadfastness of his love.

Cheng Ying abruptly brought up the topic of marriage with Chi Wu. She genuinely hadn't considered that he might offer any response other than agreement. Yet, Chi Wu spoke up, offering a different answer. Cheng Ying was momentarily stung by shame; only she understood the depth of her sudden emotional drop. She even entertained the thought that Chi Wu might be regretting the engagement, perhaps only now realizing the true nature of his feelings.

Cheng Ying was furious. She spent an entire evening rearranging the planned layout of various saplings in her garden space, but even that couldn't alleviate the vexation simmering inside her.

At that moment, Cheng Ying questioned what Chi Wu truly represented to her. Was he still just the child she’d watched grow up?

Could she still walk away from him as easily as she’d considered when they first got engaged? The question itself shocked her when it surfaced.

Who would she give him to? To whom would she willingly relinquish him? The answer was startlingly obvious.

Cheng Ying’s heart raced—a mix of excitement, mortification, regret, and a sliver of triumph. It was a profoundly complex emotional cocktail.

When she next saw Chi Wu, Cheng Ying maintained her composure. She had no intention of dissecting her inner world for anyone, but she showed Chi Wu greater attentiveness. Sometimes before sleeping, she would think of him; on sleepless nights, she would pull out his personal development records just to amuse herself. Thus, time flew by quickly, and the separation during his university years was hardly an ordeal.

For people like them, who knew what they wanted and possessed unwavering willpower, this period served as a tempering of their character, future, and affection.

Cheng Ying enjoyed this feeling immensely. However, the Old Madam's health continued to decline. Cheng Ying understood what her grandmother yearned to witness.

Before fully grasping her own emotions, Cheng Ying could easily declare, "Let’s get married."

Now that she understood her feelings, Cheng Ying hesitated, as if the words could no longer be spoken lightly. Her scrutiny of Chi Wu’s responses deepened. Cheng Ying couldn't pinpoint when she had become so timid, but the words simply would not leave her lips.

When Chi Wu finally proposed, "Let's get married," Cheng Ying was genuinely elated, as the Old Madam truly wished to see her settled and perhaps with a couple of children. Yet, a certain corner of her heart remained uneasy.

Cheng Ying knew she was being overly sensitive, an indulgence in her own neuroses—what did it matter?

But Chi Wu, that astute young man, perceived even this small hesitation. He declared, "Regardless of the circumstances, marrying you is a joyous occasion for me and my lifelong aspiration."

Cheng Ying’s lips, which had been slightly parted, tightened. Only she knew how ecstatic her spirit felt. Hmph, the nerve to say something so heartfelt, she thought, yet she acknowledged that women, including herself, adored hearing such declarations. For Cheng Ying, the marriage ceremony itself paled in significance compared to Chi Wu’s words.

With that declaration from Chi Wu, everything else truly became secondary.

That evening, Cheng Ying solemnly recorded Chi Wu's words and actions for the day into her journal, then carefully tucked the book away.

Only after they had made most of the necessary arrangements did they inform both sets of parents. The Elder Madam of the Cheng family’s delight was entirely within Cheng Ying’s expectations. Cheng Ying was also grateful that the Chi family offered no objections. She understood the high expectations the Chis held for Chi Wu; after all, in that era, very few people married right after graduation. The elders believed marriage, family, and children would cause a young man just entering society to lose his drive.

Cheng Ying surmised the Chi family had considered the Cheng family’s specific circumstances.

Later, when the Chi family raised the issue of children, Cheng Ying dismissed it entirely. With Chi Wu’s assurance, such matters were hardly problems.

The only thing that caused Cheng Ying embarrassment was the issue of Chi Yong and Yang Zhi.

When they first got engaged, Cheng Ying had never seriously contemplated that she and Chi Wu would actually marry. Therefore, she had always viewed Chi Yong as a potential stepfather figure. Now, realizing she was about to become the daughter-in-law to her former potential stepfather was a jolt that numbed her nerves.

In the village, the situation of a mother marrying a son's father—it sounded far better than it looked, a situation of "mother and son marrying father and son." Cheng Ying consoled herself belatedly: it was just embarrassing, and the loss of face had already occurred during the engagement; any shame now was belated. A thick skin often served one well.

Aside from feeling slightly awkward around Chi Yong, Cheng Ying paid little mind to the other details.

The simplicity of the wedding arrangements was precisely what Chi Wu and Cheng Ying desired. While their studies were a factor precluding a grand affair, Cheng Ying also wished to spare the Old Madam unnecessary strain; more people meant more worries for the elderly woman. To have the closest relatives witness her settled commitment and offer genuine blessings was all Cheng Ying felt a wedding needed; everything else was mere formality.

Even this modest wish was spoiled by the arrival of the Eldest Aunt, who left Cheng Ying quite vexed. Cheng Ying was not naturally magnanimous, and she harbored a deep resentment toward this aunt.

How many times does one get married in a lifetime? Must she insist on bringing misery to others?

Seeing Cheng Ying’s displeasure, Chi Wu promptly retrieved both of their household registration books and took her to register the marriage. Cheng Ying felt that as the clerk stamped their marriage certificate, it mirrored the moment the priest asked the bride and groom if they were willing to stay together through life and death.

The intensity with which they stared at that red stamp was their answer to the priest: We do.

Cheng Ying glanced at Chi Wu, noticing his equal concentration on the progress of the red seal. Instantly, her recent irritation dissolved, finding completion.

The Eldest Aunt and her behavior suddenly seemed insignificant. Once that stamp fell, her wedding to Chi Wu was truly complete.

At that moment, Cheng Ying longed to grab Chi Wu and kiss him. Unfortunately, Chi Wu was uncooperative. He clutched the marriage certificate as if it were a priceless jade artifact, rushing straight home without even sparing Cheng Ying a glance.

Cheng Ying wanted to tell him he had his priorities reversed: the purpose of obtaining the marriage certificate was to bring home a wife, not to admire a red stamp.

However, seeing Chi Wu’s sheer delight, Cheng Ying didn't disrupt the atmosphere. She said nothing, instead sharing his happiness as they gazed upon their marriage certificate. R1152