Thinking about it carefully, Lu Zhou was thirty years old.
As per the saying, “in youth we learn; in age we understand”.
In other words, it was time to consider starting a family.
Although his mother and father had stopped urging him to marry, Lu Zhou could still feel that they were far more anxious than they seemed. The reason why they didn’t say anything during phone calls was that they were worried that it might affect his career.
He could see the eagerness and willingness in her lovely eyes.
Lu Zhou stared at her teary eyes and whispered the words, “Will you marry me?”
It seemed like time had stopped at this moment.
Her white and flawless cheeks were dyed with a layer of red.
Her eyes began to tear up as she started to panic from happiness. Chen Yushan dodged Lu Zhou’s eyes and whispered in a low voice, “… Are we going too fast? We got together in December, and it hasn’t even been half a year now.”
“But we’ve known each other for nearly nine years.”
“But… if I promise you so quickly, will you… not cherish me?”
Seeing how silly Chen Yushan was being, Lu Zhou couldn’t help but smile as he joked, “Do I look like a bad person?”
“No…” Chen Yushan shook her head immediately, but soon, her cheeks blushed again. She said, “Sometimes.”
What is that supposed to mean?
Lu Zhou pretended not to hear the second half of the sentence. He continued to speak in a gentle tone, “Then what do you have to worry about?”
“It’s not that I’m worried… It’s just that, we should be like everyone else. We should meet our parents first, leave behind more fond memories, then finally walk into the palace of marriage.” Chen Yushan shyly lowered her head and said embarrassedly, “Then you will love me more.”
Are there different amounts of love?
Lu Zhou didn’t know the answer.
For him, Chen Yushan was his first love. Prior to this, he had no experience in this area, nor was he particularly interested in it, thus he hadn’t done any research.
However, he was able to understand the feelings of anxiety and happiness in her heart, as well as the troubles and losses from the change of identity. Once a couple entered into the palace of marriage, many things would change.
Perhaps like she said, love could only be cemented through time.
After thinking for a moment, Lu Zhou smiled softly as he looked at the pretty face.
“How about this…
“If you’re not ready, we can get engaged first.
“By December 10th of this year, we will have been together for a full year.”
Chen Yushan had a sweet and shy look on her face as she asked quietly, “Engaged?”
“Yeah, you don’t want to?”
“No! It’s just that, in the future… does that mean I’m a fiancee?”
“Sure.”
“Fiancee…” It seemed like she had a soft spot for this word. A silly smile appeared on her face as she said, “Haha, this title… makes me feel good.”
“Then it’s settled.” Lu Zhou looked at her charming and lovely face. He smiled and stretched out his right pinky as he said, “Come on.
“Come… Pinky swear.”
“Pfft… how immature.”
Despite this, Chen Yushan happily stretched out her right pinky and hooked it tightly with Lu Zhou’s pinky.
“It’s a promise! Whoever breaks the promise has to cut off their pinky.”
Lu Zhou smiled and nodded.
“Promise!”
He had never broken or regretted a promise before.
Whether it was his career or personal life.
In this empty office room, the two of them had finally made a life-long decision. They didn’t notice that there were two pairs of eyes hiding outside the office, watching what was happening inside.
They weren’t hiding per se.
However, the atmosphere in the room was so lovely that they didn’t want to disturb the couple.
Zhao Huan and Kong Jie, the two assistants, stood by the window outside the office and witnessed the whole thing. Their eyes were glowing.
Oh my god, Academician Lu is not single anymore?
No wonder he barely comes to his campus office!
This is an insane rumor!
When Kong Jie saw the two kissing each other, she quickly pulled Zhao Huan aside and quietly whispered, “Don’t tell anyone this. Academician Lu hasn’t even told us about her. I guess he doesn’t want others to disturb them.”
“Yeah!” Zhao Huan nodded earnestly as she said, “We shouldn’t spread this kind of gossip! After all, we don’t have his consent.”
While Lu Zhou and Chen Yushan exchanged vows, the two people outside the window also vowed that, unless Academician Lu or his fiancee disclosed the secret, they would not talk about it to anyone else.
If anyone broke the promise, they would go to hell.
Afterward, the assistants went to the library, whereas the couple went back home.
Then…
Everyone knew that women loved to gossip.
The next day, the entire Jin Ling University heard the news that Academician Lu was no longer single…
…
“Have you heard? Academician Lu is no longer single!”
“F*ck! Academician Lu found a significant other? Really?!”
“Of course it’s true! Apparently, his fiancee is his old classmate… The two were in his office, and some strange things happened… Even their marriage date is set!”
“What are the strange things? Explain it clearly!”
“From wearing school uniforms to wedding dresses, this is too romantic.”
“Is this true or not?! My God Lu has a partner now!”
The next afternoon at a cafeteria in Jin Ling University…
Lu Zhou stood in front of the service window as he listened to the chattering voices behind him. He didn’t even notice that he had ordered pork instead of beef.
These people…
Do they not notice their surroundings when they’re gossiping?
After rushing through his lunch, Lu Zhou was about to call Chen Yushan and ask what was going on, but his phone rang first.
He took out his phone and saw that his “fiancee” was calling.
Without hesitating, Lu Zhou immediately answered the call.
As soon as he put the phone to his ear, he heard Chen Yushan’s voice.
“Did you post something on Weibo?”
“No.” Lu Zhou said, dumbfounded, “I was going to ask if you posted on WeChat.”
Chen Yushan blushed.
“I’m too embarrassed to post that stuff on WeChat.”
Compared to the girls who liked to show public affection, she was more conservative and shy in terms of her relationship. She didn’t like showing affection to her circle of friends.
“Speaking of which, does anyone on your side know?”
Chen Yushan replied, “Well, my roommate at the University of Pennsylvania is a good friend of mine. She just called to congratulate me, saying that she thinks we are a good match…”
Her voice became quieter and quieter; Lu Zhou could barely hear her.
“Roommate at U Penn? How did this spread so fast?!”
It’s only been a day!
It hasn’t even been 24 hours! How did it spread across the Pacific Ocean?
Chen Yushan suddenly realized something as she spoke.
“Wait a second, you haven’t been on Weibo yet?”
“Weibo?”
“Yeah.” Chen Yushan, who was holding her mobile phone, nodded and said nervously, “Go and read the trending page.”
With a confused expression on his face, Lu Zhou opened the Weibo app.
The moment he saw the trending page, he froze.
