The 1970s: Married First, Fell in Love Later-Chapter 99 - 98: Is This All the Patience You Have?

Chapter 99: Chapter 98: Is This All the Patience You Have?

Zhang Qian took two picture frames out of her bag.

"Oh, right. The photos are developed. I had two copies made, one for you and one for your brother. I even got you frames so you can display them at home."

Xue Yue picked one up and looked at it. The photo was well-taken, and the frame was nice too. ’She took their picture and even went out of her way to frame it. She’s so thoughtful.’

"As for the one of me and your brother, I won’t give it to him. He probably doesn’t want it anyway," Zhang Qian said, pursing her lips.

Xue Yue looked at her and asked seriously, "Do you really like my brother?"

Zhang Qian nodded. "I do. I feel like he’s exactly my type in every way."

A smile touched Xue Yue’s eyes. "Well, I, for one, approve of you being my sister-in-law. So keep at it. My brother’s actually a real softy. You can’t be too polite with him. Just tell him what you’re thinking directly."

Zhang Qian replied, "I think I’m being pretty direct! I already asked him if he wanted to date me, but he never gave me an answer."

"But he didn’t reject you either, did he?"

Zhang Qian was surprised. "Can I really think of it that way?"

Xue Yue nodded. "Of course. No rejection is a silent approval. Anyway, from what I know of my brother, he definitely doesn’t dislike you."

"Really?"

"Mhm. Besides, you’re so good-looking and have a great personality. What reason would my brother have not to like you?"

Hearing this, Zhang Qian’s eyes lit up. She threw her arms around Xue Yue, lifted her up, and spun her in a circle.

It startled Xue Yue, who quickly grabbed Zhang Qian’s shoulders and patted her.

"Hey! Put me down, put me down!"

Zhang Qian finally set Xue Yue down and said, a little embarrassed, "I was just so excited. From now on, you’re my own sister."

Xue Yue couldn’t help but laugh. "This is just my guess, you know. If you want the real answer, you still have to ask my brother."

But now, Zhang Qian’s confidence was soaring.

She lifted her chin and said proudly, "You’re already on my side. As for your brother, it’s only a matter of time before he’s mine."

Xue Yue nodded. "As long as you have that confidence. I’ll be waiting to call you sister-in-law, then."

"Just you watch."

Zhang Qian stayed at Xue Yue’s place until evening before leaving.

The next day at noon, Zhang Qian took Xue Yue’s advice and went to find Xue Xingzhou.

"Want to get lunch together?"

Xue Xingzhou looked at her, completely unsurprised. "What’s the reason today?"

Zhang Qian shrugged. "Do I need a reason to treat you to a meal? Does ’I’m pursuing you’ count?"

Xue Xingzhou glanced at the people coming and going. Seeing that no one was watching them, he shot a look at Zhang Qian but didn’t say anything.

Zhang Qian clicked her tongue and looked at him. "You’re not going to deny me even this chance, are you?"

Xue Xingzhou raised an eyebrow slightly. "I wouldn’t do that. I have to eat anyway. Now that someone’s offering to pay, only a fool would refuse."

Zhang Qian nodded. "Good. Let’s go."

After they finished eating and came out, Zhang Qian finally stated her purpose for being there.

"I came today because I want to ask if you have any feelings for me at all. You should be able to tell that I like you, and I’ve expressed it many times, but you’ve never responded. If you like me or even if you hate me, just make a peep. Don’t leave me overthinking this every day."

"Squeak—"

Xue Xingzhou actually let out a squeak.

Zhang Qian was stunned. It took her a moment to process it before she said, somewhat angrily, "What is that supposed to mean?"

A playful smile touched Xue Xingzhou’s lips. "Didn’t you tell me to make a peep? Is this all the patience you have?"

Zhang Qian was too angry to even look at him.

Xue Xingzhou took two steps toward her and patted her on the head. "Alright, don’t be mad. Didn’t I already agree a long time ago? It’s your own fault for being dense."

Zhang Qian looked at him. "When did you agree?"

Xue Xingzhou sighed. "I accepted your gifts, I wore the shirt you bought me, I ate your food, and I even took a picture with you. Isn’t that an answer?"

Zhang Qian thought about it and realized he was right. He had agreed long ago; she was just the one who hadn’t understood.

"So, you mean we’re a couple now?"

Xue Xingzhou raised an eyebrow. "What else?"

Zhang Qian looked at him, unable to hide the smile spreading across her face. Finally, she burst out laughing.

The corners of Xue Xingzhou’s mouth curved up as well as he just watched her.

After her laughter subsided, she threw her arms around Xue Xingzhou, then tilted her head up and kissed him on the chin.

Xue Xingzhou was taken aback for a second, then he wrapped his arms around her too.

Zhang Qian sighed contentedly. "I don’t care. Anyway, you’re mine now. From now on, I’ll hug you when I want, kiss you when I want, and come find you whenever I want."

As she spoke, Zhang Qian started laughing again, her heart bubbling with pure joy.

Xue Xingzhou chuckled. "If Master knew I stole his daughter away, would he break my legs?"

Zhang Qian thought about it and realized it was a real possibility.

She let go of Xue Xingzhou and said to him seriously, "Then let’s not tell him for now. I’ll break it to him slowly when the time is right. We don’t want to give the old man a heart attack. He’s too old for that kind of shock."

Xue Xingzhou nodded. "Okay. Whatever you say."

Hearing Xue Xingzhou’s words, Zhang Qian suddenly felt that everything she had done before was worth it. In this moment, it had all paid off.

Zhang Hongjie had only one son and one daughter. His son worked out of town, leaving him with just his daughter by his side. He doted on her like the apple of his eye. He would never in his wildest dreams imagine that his own apprentice had stolen that very apple of his eye. If he found out, he would surely jump up in a rage.

When Xue Yue found out that Zhang Qian and Xue Xingzhou were dating, she was overjoyed.

For one thing, her brother had finally found a girl he liked. On top of that, she liked the girl too. If Zhang Qian really did become her sister-in-law in the future, they would get along well. She wouldn’t have to worry about them fighting and putting her brother in an awkward position.

One day, Wang Shumin came looking for Xue Yue and happened to find Xue Xingzhou there with Zhang Qian.

Only then did Wang Shumin realize that Xue Yue had an older brother, which meant that she had a male cousin.

She looked at Xue Xingzhou with some curiosity, but she was too shy to call him "cousin."

Instead, it was Zhang Qian who, upon learning of their relationship, pulled Wang Shumin aside to chat.

As expected of someone who worked at a newspaper office, Zhang Qian managed to get the gist of Wang Shumin’s family situation out of her with just a few words.

Xue Xingzhou and Xue Yue listened quietly.

"So you have a brother too, and he’s a soldier! That’s great. But how did you end up being sent to the countryside all the way out here? With your family’s connections, even if you had to go, they should have been able to find you a decent place near Beijing City, right?"

Wang Shumin nodded. "That was the original plan, but my mother wanted me to come here. She said she had an acquaintance here. I figured being an educated youth is the same everywhere, so it didn’t matter to me."

Xue Xingzhou narrowed his eyes. ’The acquaintance Li Wanqing mentioned must be Zheng Guofeng. After all, she didn’t know his own mother was here at the time.’

"Is it Zheng Guofeng from the ’cowshed’?" Xue Xingzhou asked.

Wang Shumin looked at him, stunned for a moment, then nodded.