Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space-Chapter 634 - 511: Deceiving Oneself

Watching Lin Lishan leave, Zhang Guoqing quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Having a mother-in-law constantly chattering in front of his son must be really tough on him.

He gave Ping’an a thumbs up—Great job! Unshakable morale.

Zhang Yuntao couldn’t hold back anymore once Lin Lishan left, standing eagerly at the living room door, staring at the East Wing. After a while, he finally saw Zhao Yuanyuan and Zhou Jiao come out.

—He put on a fawning silly smile, raising both hands and waving them at her continuously.

Li Qinglin, standing nearby, couldn’t help but rub his forehead, avoiding the scene. With this foolish behavior, he couldn’t believe that Zhang Shazi could restrain himself at school. No wonder Zhao Yuanyuan was too scared to talk to him!

Even Zhou Jiao, standing across from him, was taken aback, genuinely surprised. Could this guy be wearing his heart on his sleeve too much? If they make up, wouldn’t it be all fireworks?

Zhang Yuntao quickly shuffled over to Zhao Yuanyuan’s side and said in a low voice, "Yuanyuan, when did you get here? Why didn’t you let me buy the ticket, what if something happened on the way?"

Zhao Yuanyuan glanced sideways at him with a stern face. After contemplating the questions she still needed to ask later, she finally said, "I was right behind you, watching you get on the bus."

Zhang Yuntao got excited, saying happily, "Yuanyuan, you talked to me. Why didn’t you call out to me? I was worried you weren’t doing well at home. I put food stamps and money in your bag, did you see? Yuanyuan, there are some oil sticks you like today, eat more later, look how much weight you’ve lost..."

This silly appearance, truly a disgrace! Zhou Jiao quickly ran a few steps forward; if she listened any longer, her goosebumps would drop all over the place.

"It’s time. Son, good job! Come, Daddy will support you as you walk slowly. Lin Zi, how about my son Ping’an? Isn’t he great? I’m not bragging, there’s nobody like him."

"Hello, Uncle."

"Ping’an has grown quite a bit." Li Qinglin watched the happy scene of the family of three in front of him, his mind flashing back to a tearful face saying ’I really wish for a child,’ so painfully it was almost suffocating.

Zhang Guoqing, noticing his sudden pale face, was startled and rushed forward to support him, "Lin Zi, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?"

Li Qinglin took a breather and smiled, "Lately my stomach’s been bad, can’t skip meals. I need to have breakfast."

"Really? Shall we go to the hospital to check?"

Li Qinglin smiled, "Just let me eat till I’m full and I’ll be fine. You don’t know what I’ve been eating at school, and I drank last night, I’m really famished."

Zhang Guoqing gazed into his eyes, silent for a moment, "Lin Zi, no matter what happens, just give a shout. The three of us have agreed to share burdens together."

Li Qinglin felt a pang in his heart, lowered his head, gripping his arm tightly, "Alright. Xiao Wu, I’ve been craving porridge."

"Sure." Zhang Guoqing squeezed his hand firmly, and shouted outside to the babbling Zhang Yuntao, "Taozi, you and your wife hurry up, breakfast is getting cold."

At the dining table, Zhang Guoqing fed his son while keeping an eye on his two childhood friends—Zhang Yuntao bickering, Li Qinglin back to his usual self, "Where are we going to hang out next, any plans?"

"I’ll listen to Yuanyuan."

"Ha... Buddy, enough already. Are you trying to show off to a single guy like me? The weather’s too cold, nowhere fun to go, we’ll stay one day and leave tomorrow. I must go back to accompany family, and Taozi and his wife should start preparing for their marriage. We’ll come over during next summer break and stay a while."

Zhao Yuanyuan quickly persuaded, "Lin Zi, just three days, three days. I was planning to go shopping."

"Nowadays you need coupons to shop, one day today plus tomorrow is enough for you to shop. Trust us, we older brothers won’t deceive you, go back and settle the engagement first, then you can play as much as you want after."

Zhao Yuanyuan muttered, "Who’s getting engaged with him."

Li Qinglin raised his hand to stop Zhang Guoqing and his wife’s efforts to make them stay, "There’s no need for politeness. You have school matters, they have things to attend to too, and as for me, I didn’t go home over the summer, now my mom must be hoping every day for my return. We’ve got a long journey ahead."

Zhang Guoqing chuckled, "I won’t keep you then. Don’t decide just yet, let’s wander around first. Later, I’ll go send a telegram to Auntie with you, and Taozi and his wife can stay at home with Jiao Jiao."

Li Qinglin nodded. The two of them just made such a decision, neither of the small couple opposed, smiling at each other—this pair is no problem!

Once Zhang Guoqing and the others left, Zhou Jiao took her son, Zhao Yuanyuan, and Zhang Yuntao to her study in the East Wing, chatted with them for a while, and then made an excuse to leave.

Inside the study, once seeing Zhou Jiao close the door, Zhang Yuntao immediately shuffled over to Zhao Yuanyuan, squatted down, and looked up at her, "Wife, can we stop arguing?"

Zhao Yuanyuan glanced at him, lowering her gaze, "Who’s arguing. I just want you to think it over. I don’t want a future where we’re bickering and you mock me for lacking self-esteem."

Zhang Yuntao’s eyes lit up, "Silly girl, if I hadn’t thought it through would I rush to propose? Would I swear in front of Uncle Zhao? Yuanyuan, I really like you. You know I’m slow to react, haven’t liked anyone else either. Watching other male classmates courting you made me feel sour, thinking my buddy was being snatched away."

Finished, he saw her seriously listening.

He grinned wide, "Xiao Wu was right, if I didn’t like you, why would I bathe with you? With another girl, I’d have been scared off..."

Zhao Yuanyuan immediately pinched his ear, angrily whispering, "You fool, why tell them everything? How am I supposed to face people?"

Zhang Yuntao secretly slapped his mouth, quickly coaxing her, "Don’t be mad, I didn’t say anything, they truly don’t know. I didn’t say we’ve accomplished anything. Just told them we played in the water on the mountain, and I fell for you, so I asked my parents to propose, wanting an early engagement. But you didn’t agree, I sought their advice. Xiao Wu was just teasing me, I didn’t admit to anything."

After Zhang Yuntao finished and felt the strength pulling on his ear lessen, he breathed a sigh of relief, secretly deciding to remind the two brothers not to slip up. This matter, purely a cover-up.

"Really?"

"Really, truer than gold. Even when your dad teased me, I didn’t spill a word. Just said you’re quite popular, should confirm the relationship sooner."

Zhao Yuanyuan gave him a smile, "Smart you! Remember, never say anything, or I’ll never forgive you. You have no idea how suspicious my mom looks at me. Luckily, I cleverly fooled her."

Zhang Yuntao, basking in sunshine, happily stood up and hugged her, sitting himself on the chair.

"Don’t get any ideas."

"Silly girl. Why would I dare in a place like this? Just holding you. Wife, you have no idea how I’ve suffered these days, constantly missing you, afraid you’d get pregnant and not tell me."

Zhao Yuanyuan strangely looked at him, "Are you nuts? You yourself told me to study. I didn’t think about that, I was just worried my mom would notice."

Zhang Yuntao chuckled, stroked her face; with such innocence and gullibility, what if he wasn’t careful? That day he initially remembered contraception, later forgot. He only said that out of fear she’d be frightened. Why else rush to propose? Worrying she’d get pregnant was the reason.

"Listen to me this time going back. We can’t get a marriage certificate now, so let’s have a wedding first. That way, even if there’s a child, we won’t ruin our reputation."

Zhao Yuanyuan shook her head, "Wedding arrangements don’t matter as long as it’s up to you, but don’t even think about fooling around. I don’t want to get pregnant before graduation, or there’s nothing to discuss."

"Alright, I’ll listen to you from now on. Once the wedding’s done, I’ll buy a small courtyard in the provincial city, we can go home and live by ourselves, I’ll cook for you."

Zhang Yuntao secretly rejoiced. As long as she agrees to have a wedding, that’s enough. Once they’re married, can they just chat under the covers? As for having kids, that will wait until after graduation, enjoy a few years of relaxed life first.