Chapter 41: A Difficult Situation for Both Parties

  All day long, Cheng Zhiyi didn't know how many times she read Xu Shaoyan's text messages. Even when the court was in session, she couldn't help but think about it, pondering and hesitating - what kind of response should she give to Xu Shaoyan?

  Her emotions told her that she liked Xu Shaoyan, at least when she thought of him, her heart would soften, as if a sweet spring was flowing in her heart. She liked his thick black sword eyebrows, liked his gentle shallow smile, and liked the way he looked at her with deep affection...

  Yes, she has already fallen in love with that sentimental and persistent man! However, another rational Cheng Zhiyi told herself - she and he are absolutely impossible!

  She never thought of marrying into a wealthy family, being a proud canary raised in a cage with money, enjoying wealth and glory but not freedom. Ordinary as she is, she can only ask for an ordinary man, an ordinary love, and an ordinary life. The story of the prince and Cinderella is just a beautiful fairy tale, and she has long passed the age of believing in fairy tales!

  She didn't want to marry into a wealthy family and be looked down upon, she didn't want to let freedom wear the shackles of money, she didn't want to be a Cinderella who cut off her feet to fit into glass slippers, wounded and bleeding profusely with every step. The dance on the knife's edge may have a tragic beauty, but no one dares to keep dancing for long!

  Perhaps, at this moment, Xu Shaoyan truly likes her. She is also willing to believe his promise, believing that he will be wholeheartedly good to her, holding her in the palm of his hand and protecting her with all his might, building a castle for her where no harm can reach. However, how long can that love, supported by impulse and passion, last?

  Perhaps, three to five years later, the passion will fade away, love will fade away, she will no longer be his beloved, nor will she be his only one. At that time, in his eyes, she is just a useless old woman with a yellow face, a nagging old woman, nothing more! When excited, love her like a treasure, when tired, abandon her like a worn-out shoe, isn't this the usual thing between people from ancient times to the present?

  Besides, after many years, could she tolerate his overnight business trips and excuses for socializing? Don't forget, he's the heir of the "Tian Cheng Group", one day he'll become a ruthless businessman, chasing fame and profit, running around everywhere!

  Her mind was like a pendulum, constantly swaying back and forth until after work, sitting on the bus ride home, Cheng Zhiyi carefully sorted out her thoughts again, finally knowing what kind of answer to give Xu Shao Yan, and also understanding where she should go.

  Yes, she understood her true feelings - she really liked Xu Shaoyan! However, after weighing the pros and cons, reason finally overcame emotion. She told herself that she absolutely could not be with Xu Shaoyan! Before falling deeply in love, before getting hurt, she wanted to withdraw and retreat completely!

  Yes, after a while, her liking for Xu Shaoyan will gradually fade away, and at that time, he will become a light and casual stroke in her life. At least for now, she absolutely cannot let her childish emotions run wild, absolutely cannot hand over her lifetime of happiness to that devil called impulse!

  After getting off the bus, standing at the alley entrance, she lifted her head to look at the bloody sunset on the horizon. The corner of Cheng Zhiyi's mouth slightly rose, revealing a relieved smile, and then, with an extremely light step, she walked towards the happy harbor.

  The table was already set with fragrant dishes, and as soon as Mo Wei smelled the stir-fried "flower" clams, she excitedly rushed down from upstairs like a hungry cat: "Dinner's ready, dinner's ready!"

  For more than two months, Mo Wei has been living in the Cheng family. After returning from Hunan, she was convinced that it was her parents who 'forced' Shi Yi Xin to death, so she had already made up her mind not to forgive them! Originally, Mo Wei planned to rent a house outside and live there, but her parents were worried about her safety, so they secretly asked Mrs. Cheng to keep Mo Wei at the Cheng's home, so that Mrs. Cheng could take care of her and also be able to inquire about Mo Wei's recent situation at any time.

  Before long, Cheng Papa also came back. The whole family sat down to eat together noisily. Because Cheng Papa was also a teacher at Bai Shui City's First Middle School, Mo Wei and he always had endless things to talk about. As the two of them were chatting about some interesting events in school, Cheng Zhi suddenly said something astonishing...

  "Mom, arrange it for me, I'll go on a blind date." Cheng Zhiyi finally made up her mind - yes, she couldn't really stay unmarried all her life, could she? Since that's the case, why not just obediently follow her parents' arrangements, and nicely go on a blind date to find an ordinary man to marry?

  With a "pu" sound, Mo Wei couldn't help but spit out the soup in her mouth. Fortunately, she turned her head in time and stained the floor instead of this table's "hard-earned" meal.

  "Cough...cough..." Mo Wei was obviously choked badly, coughing so hard that tears streamed down her face. "You...you can't be serious? How...how could you suddenly lose your mind?"

  Cheng Dad was also shocked by Cheng Zhiyi's words and didn't say a word for a long time, just looking at her with an expression that said "there must be something fishy going on". Cheng Mom was half happy and half worried, happy that the child had finally come around, but worried that the child... hadn't been stimulated by something? To think that in the past, whenever she mentioned "blind dates", Cheng Zhiyi would definitely sulk for half a day without talking to her. As a mother, she really had no way to express her concerns!

  "Yiyi, what's wrong?" asked Cheng Mama anxiously while carefully observing Cheng Ziyuan's expression.

  "It's all over!" Jing Yiyi raised her head and smiled calmly, saying helplessly, "As you said, I can't stay unmarried for the rest of my life! Next year I'll be 29 years old, don't I want to hurry up and get married? Otherwise, you'll nag me every day, my ears are almost growing calluses..."

  "Great! Great! Great!" Hearing her baby 'girl' unexpectedly say such a thing, Mrs. Cheng was so excited that she almost jumped up, hurriedly nodding like a garlic press, solemnly patting her chest and guaranteeing, "I'll take care of this! Mom will arrange it for you tomorrow night!"

  "Tomorrow night? That's too soon!" Mo Wei widened her eyes, looking at Cheng Mama in disbelief - oh my god, is Zhi Yi really Cheng Mama's biological daughter?! Looking at how anxious she was, it seemed like she couldn't wait to marry off Zhi Yi tomorrow! Why are all mothers in the world like this?! Waaah...

  "No, no!" said Mrs. Cheng hastily, waving her hand. "I don't know how many people have offered to help introduce Ziyue, but I was afraid she wouldn't be happy, so I didn't dare mention it! Let me tell you, the resources at my disposal are quite rich, enough to build a huge database - why not, I can also arrange one for you? Best of all, this year we can marry off both 'daughters'!"

  It seems that Mama Cheng was too excited and even forgot to eat dinner, going on and on about it.

  "...this is great, Aunt Chen next door has mentioned it to me countless times, she has a friend's son in the Rize District Tax Bureau...also a civil servant...one year younger than Zhiyi...the young man looks good too, and he's gentle and down-to-earth..."