When Lu Zihao didn't reply, Long Jinjing let it go and didn't dwell on it. She was too happy right now to overthink his silence. Any negativity had no room in her current mood.
For her, regardless of who proposed between the two of them, the most important thing was that they were now an officially engaged couple. Next was marriage and the man would finally become her husband. The status of their child would also be secured. She no longer had to worry about her baby experiencing the same discrimination that she faced as an illegitimate child.
Even if Lu Zihao didn't love her yet, she would just continue wooing him and make him fall in love with her. At least, from how he had been acting lately, he was trying to treat her better and to open up more to her. His effort was there. She only hoped that he would continue to try to reciprocate her feelings even after they married.
Most importantly, she prayed that he would continue being faithful to their relationship regardless of whether he loved her or not. So far, he looked like he wouldn't cheat on her. Hopefully, this would continue throughout their marriage.
While Long Jinjing was basking in her happiness, Lu Zihao was dealing with mixed emotions. It wasn't because he was unhappy about being engaged. In fact, he already expected this outcome after learning that Long Jinjing had gotten pregnant with his child. It was just that this wasn't how he had imagined the two of them getting engaged.
After his careless move of trying to get her to register their marriage at the Civil Affairs Bureau without informing her beforehand, he had been learning how to make it right from listening to the advice of the original Lu Zihao's remnant and his brother-in-law, Jin Liwei. He wasn't a romantic person. Therefore, it was a huge challenge for him to learn how to romance his own woman.
He didn't have the sensitivity to perceive the difference between a woman's true feelings and what she was showing on the outside. Like his sister, he preferred straightforwardness when dealing with people. He didn't like wasting his time guessing a person's true thoughts and feelings except when he was required to predict a target or an enemy's next moves during a mission.
Unfortunately for him, Long Jinjing wasn't his target or enemy. She was his woman. Things weren't black and white with her. There were many developments in their relationship that he was still figuring out like his confusing feelings for her.
A part of him wanted to keep her at a distance to protect her from the true gravity of the danger surrounding his road to revenge. But there was also a part of him that wanted to keep her close to him.
She was like an addiction that he couldn't kick off no matter how much he tried. Since he was unable to stay away from her, then it was better to keep her by his side no matter how dangerous it was for her.
Just like what the little devil Bacon told him before, he should grow stronger in order to protect his woman better especially now that they were expecting a child together. This was the road he had chosen to take, so he would see to it until the end. There was no going back now.
While driving, he left one hand on the steering wheel while his other hand reached for Long Jinjing and clasped their hands together. Then he lifted her hand and kissed it. He heard her gasp, so he glanced at her from the corner of his eyes and saw her blushing.
They didn't chat that much during the drive but the silence was rather comfortable. Both of them were preoccupied with their own thoughts.
Finally, they reached Orchidia Beauty. Lu Zihao unbuckled Long Jinjing's seatbelt and was about to kiss her when she grabbed his head with both hands and made the two of them stare into each other's eyes. He raised an eyebrow.
"I love you so much, Nikolai."
"I…" He didn't know how to respond.
She didn't mind it. The bitter pain she used to feel whenever he didn't say that he loved her too didn't come today. She was too happy to feel it. She leaned forward and initiated a hot kiss. He responded immediately and tried to take control but she didn't let him.
The success of her proposal left her feeling high and courageous. She fought for control and felt triumphant when he finally yielded to her. Then she slowed down the pace and the intensity, turning the hot kiss into something sweet and lingering instead.
When it was over and their lips separated, she caressed his face, tracing his long, jagged scar and smiled softly.
"I'm so happy," she whispered. "Thank you for accepting my proposal."
His gaze deepened but he still didn't say anything.
"Why don't we go to the jewelry store after you pick me up after work? I'll buy you an engagement ring. You can choose the design you want."
Lu Zihao scowled. "No need."
She pouted.
He sighed and gave her a quick peck. "Go inside now. You're late."
"Okay."
He waited until she entered the building before driving away. A black cat appeared on his dashboard monitor. He ignored the little devil but the constant staring bothered him.
"What?"
Bacon swished his tail. "Why didn't Uncle Zihao tell Aunt Jinjing that you're waiting for the diamond ring you commissioned to be finished before you properly propose to her?"
"Because it's a secret."
"Oh."
"I'm not giving you hush money."
"It's fine. Bacon already received quite a number of red packets. I feel satisfied. For now."
Lu Zihao snorted but was inwardly relieved that the little money-grubbing devil wasn't trying to extort money from him like usual. It seemed that his brother-in-law was succeeding in educating the rascal.
"Aunt Jinjing's proposal has already spread among the people at home. Mother, Father and Great-grandfather Lu don't know about it yet because they're still in the meeting. But the ones who witnessed it and heard about it all say that Aunt Jinjing has more guts than Uncle Zihao. Bacon thinks so, too."
"Dammit."
The black cat AI tilted his head to the side. "Will Uncle Zihao still propose to Aunt Jinjing even when you're already engaged?"
