Sure enough, the next second Min Xuehua grabbed Lin Zhi's hand, beaming with joy: "Then it's settled. Once I get that idiot to nod his head, I'll arrange for you two to get your marriage certificate abroad."
"Get a marriage certificate?" Lin Zhi's eyes widened in disbelief; she couldn't believe these words came from Min Xuehua's mouth.
Teachers never make jokes like that.
"Yes, Lai Lai has found a partner like you, so I'd better hold on to you for her."
"Wait, wait..." Lin Zhi was a little dizzy. How did things suddenly escalate to the topic of getting a marriage certificate?
"You're aware of our relationship?"
"Yes, Lai Lai told me everything!"
Lin Zhi glanced at Jiang Lai and gave her a sharp look. The latter looked away guiltily and picked up her phone, scrolling through something.
So this is Jiang Lai's way of getting revenge on her. Not only did she tell Min Xuehua without even discussing it with her, but she also didn't even inform her beforehand, making her anxious and restless all night.
"So... Auntie knows too?"
"She knew about it even before I did!"
Lin Zhi breathed a sigh of relief. Although she had been terrified all night, she was actually quite happy at this moment. She didn't know if it was because Jiang Lai valued her or because of her teacher's approval. Perhaps the most important thing was that she felt a kind of love from Jiang Lai that she had never felt before.
"Teacher, I'm so sorry. I hurt you so much back then, and now I'm dragging your daughter down this path of no return with me... I..."
Min Xuehua knew Lin Zhi would say that. This child still hasn't been able to get over her guilt after all these years. It's also her fault. Back then, she didn't know anything and said such harsh words to Lin Zhi. She has always been too proud to apologize to Lin Zhi, so she always helps her openly or secretly.
“We were all wrong back then. The teacher hit you, but don’t blame the teacher. Those were just words spoken in anger. You don’t need to take them to heart. If you hold a grudge, that’s what really hurts the teacher.”
My eyes welled up with tears, and they streamed down my face before I could even think.
Seeing this, Jiang Lai quickly handed over a tissue, pulled the person into her arms, and couldn't help but complain to Min Xuehua: "Mom, why did you make her cry during the New Year?"
Min Xuehua was both amused and exasperated: "They've already taken the lead so quickly."
Lin Zhi playfully pushed Jiang Lai away, saying, "It's not the teacher's fault, it's my own problem."
Everyone knows that Min Xuehua won't apologize, yet Lin Zhi is the one who receives an apology from her. This shows how much importance she places on Lin Zhi, but Lin Zhi feels unworthy of it.
"Would you be willing to marry into our family?"
Lin Zhi hesitated, and it was this hesitation that made Jiang Lai feel a little sad. But then she thought that Min Xuehua had gone too far. How could she ask someone to get married after only dating for a short time?
Min Xuehua sighed: "I understand your concerns, so I won't bring it up again. As long as you two are doing well, that's all that matters."
“No,” Lin Zhi explained, “Next year I will be thirty years old. I really want to marry Lai Lai, no matter which country we are in. But Lai Lai is still too young. She has just started her life. She has her own career to pursue. I don’t want to confine her too early. Moreover, after what happened today, I also realized that someone is trying to harm her. If we go abroad to get our marriage certificate without catching that person, it will be handing that person leverage over her. If that’s the case, I would rather be the one behind her.”
Jiang Lai never expected Lin Zhi to think so much for her. What woman doesn't want her happiness to be acknowledged, and who doesn't want to wear a pure white wedding dress? But she was willing to stay behind the scenes, even if she was nameless and without real status.
Min Xuehua understood what she was saying and sighed repeatedly, "Isn't this just wasting your youth?"
Lin Zhi said frankly, "My youth is long gone. As long as Lai Lai doesn't give up on me, I'll stay with her forever." After saying that, she looked up and met Jiang Lai's gaze, and they smiled at each other.
Jiang Lai sat down, holding Lin Zhi's hand tightly: "Actually, I'm not afraid, but I can't rest easy until the person who messed with me is found."
"I will catch her," Lin Zhi said.
Min Xuehua combined the two ideas and offered a solution: "Then let's wait until this person is caught. I'll persuade your dad, and Xiaozhi will also talk to her parents. Once these three things are resolved, it will be a good time. As long as you keep a low profile and don't flaunt your relationship in front of the public, there won't be any problems. Although China is more feudal than other countries, it's not unacceptable. Even if your intimate interactions are photographed, you can gloss over it. The feelings between girls are the hardest to define."
Jiang Lai exclaimed, "Mom, you're my idol! How do you know so much?"
Min Xuehua wasn't buying it: "Come on, when you were little you said your idol was your dad."
Jiang Lai stuck out her tongue: "Well, I like acting but I don't like directing."
"Hmph, I made a film with a gay theme ten years ago. I was just the assistant director back then, and I was abroad. You guys don't even know?"
Jiang Lai and Lin Zhi both shook their heads: "We haven't paid attention to these things."
Seeing that it was already eleven o'clock, Min Xuehua realized that she should give the children their own space: "It's too late, go to sleep, I won't disturb you anymore."
Jiang Lai muttered resentfully, "I've already disturbed you."
"Lai Lai, come out with me for a moment."
"oh."
After closing the door, Min Xuehua sighed with relief.
Jiang Lai asked, "What's wrong with you?"
Min Xuehua shook her head: "Lai Lai, do you know why your mother didn't stop you?"
"Isn't it because you're open?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Min Xuehua slapped Jiang Lai: "You remember this, I only agreed because she is Xiao Zhi. I know what kind of person she is, and I trust her. If it were someone else, I wouldn't agree so easily."
She wanted to say she wouldn't agree, but fearing her daughter would think she was old-fashioned, she phrased it more tactfully.
Little did Jiang Lai know that this was not what she cared about at all. She confidently assured her, "Don't worry, Mom. If my future partner is not her, you can punish me according to family rules."
"Where did this family rule come from?"
Jiang Lai said with a grin, "What you say and do is our family law."
"Alright, remember your words, don't let her down. Xiao Zhi is such a pitiful child."
"She doesn't need our pity, Mom. She's a strong person."
Min Xuehua nodded in satisfaction: "I know my student. Go back and rest. Don't bother him anymore."
"Who's been tormenting her?"
Min Xuehua snorted: "You've already taken off her underwear, and you haven't even taken advantage of her?"
Jiang Lai blushed instantly, her face burning brighter than the sunset: "No...no."
Min Xuehua nodded, with an expression that said, "You're playing games that I've already played."
Jiang Lai: ......
After being interrupted, it was difficult for the two to spark any more romance. They tidied up and prepared to go to bed. Jiang Lai had just kicked off her slippers and hadn't even put her other leg on the bed when Lin Zhi's phone suddenly rang.
Both of them were stunned. It was a WeChat call. Jiang Lai leaned over to take a look and her face turned green.
Fang Wei.
Jiang Lai straightened up, crossed her arms, and looked Lin Zhi up and down. Lin Zhi shrugged, about to hang up, but Jiang Lai stopped her.
"Go ahead and answer it."
"It's too late."
"What if there's an emergency?"
"Then have her agent call me."
"If you won't answer, I will." With that, she tried to snatch the phone.
Lin Zhi hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly answered the phone.
The person on the other end was initially delighted, their voice trembling slightly: "Sister Lin, Happy New Year. Did I disturb your rest?"
Sister Lin...
Have you ever seen pig liver?
That's Jiang Lai's expression right now.
Lin Zhi moved her phone away and whispered, "It's probably for a recording."
Jiang Lai nodded, signaling for her to reply.
Lin Zhi: "Happy New Year. I was just about to go to sleep. What's up?"
Fang Wei: "Oh, it's nothing. It's just that the production team gave out phones today, and we could only call one person, so I thought of you."
The last two sentences were the key points, which Lin Zhi understood, and Jiang Lai understood even more clearly.
"Oh, how have you been lately? Is everything going well? Why didn't you call your family for the New Year?"
"Everything is great. Everyone is very motivated. They even received cell phones on New Year's Day. Today is the reward day for the top five."
Jiang Lai showed her phone; the memo read: She's showing off her achievements to you.
Lin Zhi smiled silently and said nothing.
Jiang Lai continued typing rapidly on the screen: I'm number one in acting class.
Lin Zhi rolled her eyes, as if silently saying: I know, I know, aren't you tired of bragging for so long?
Then came an awkward silence, with rustling sounds and suppressed laughter audible from the other end.
After a long pause, Fang Wei stammered, "Will you come to the next performance?"
Lin Zhi was in charge of this project, so it was only natural for her to go.
Jiang Lai mouthed, "Go."
Lin Zhi repeated Jiang Lai's words like a broken record: "We will go, good luck to you guys."
When the time came, Fang Wei reluctantly said goodbye to Lin Zhi and hung up the phone.
Jiang Lai: "Sister, are you attracting all sorts of suitors outside?"
Lin Zhi put her phone on the bedside table, pulled the covers over herself, and lay down: "Don't talk nonsense, nothing's wrong."
Jiang Lai pressed on, saying aggressively, "But she used her only chance on you!"
Lin Zhi had nothing to say about this.
"So...I was wrong?"
"Mistakes will be punished."
"How should they be punished?"
Jiang Lai smiled mischievously, crossed her arms, and took off her coat, revealing her inner beauty. Compared to her A-cup breasts, her abs were more attractive. One glance was enough to make one unable to look away, and one couldn't help but reach out and touch them; they were still quite firm.
Lin Zhi: First of all, I am not lewd, and secondly, I really am not lewd.
Lin Zhi withdrew her hand and lay down in bed: "I'm tired, I want to sleep. Today's ups and downs were too much, it's all too stimulating."
Jiang Lai leaned down: "Then let's make it even more exciting."
Lin Zhi looked away and refused, "No, I've already done it."
"We'll do it, even if it's necessary!"