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“For a long time, I forgot about time, forgot what life itself looked like... until I met her, and everything changed.”
“Designer Luo looks very happy today. Is there some good news?”
“I’m going to be a dad!”
Shi Min was awakened by a burst of laughter beside her. An arm was draped over her, holding her tightly, while Luo Mingjing himself was smiling, letting out a series of chuckles in his sleep.
Shi Min chuckled softly: “Lost his mind with joy?”
It was the first time she had seen someone so happy that they actually laughed out loud in their sleep.
Luo Mingjing opened his eyes, the unsuppressed smile still on his face. He looked bewildered for a moment, then hugged Shi Min and rubbed against her, saying, “Happy.”
“What were you dreaming about? You laughed out loud.”
“...I don’t remember the content,” Luo Mingjing said, “But I’m going to be a dad!”
That was the main point.
Shi Min: “It’s not a dream, it’s real.”
“Really, really...” Luo Mingjing happily embraced her, rubbed against her, kissed her, and closed his eyes again.
The person he longed for in his dream was right beside him, and the happy event in his dream was reality.
This was the happiest moment.
________________________________________
During the day, the two finally went for a hospital check-up. The moment they got the results, Luo Mingjing was utterly stunned.
He leaned against the wall, calming himself for a long time. Shi Min pulled him home, and he followed, trembling. After that, he hugged Shi Min and slowly began to smile.
He asked, “Are we getting married?”
“No rush,” Shi Min said. “I’m consulting a lawyer. I’ll show you the prenuptial agreement tomorrow. The child can come quickly, but marriage can’t be rushed.”
Luo Mingjing: “You don’t need to give me anything more. It’s already enough, Shi Min. Thank you for being willing to accept me, for giving me a home, for giving me a child.”
“Are you happy?”
“Happy,” Luo Mingjing said, trembling with joy. “Truly, truly happy.”
“Good that you’re happy.”
However, Luo Mingjing suddenly furrowed his brows and whispered, “Shi Min, are you... not afraid that I’ll be like my dad?”
“I trust my judgment of people,” Shi Min said. “You are the best. Don’t be influenced by your family. You’re clear-headed and capable.”
In this world, there are thousands of men who break their vows of love and betray their marriage contracts, but no matter when, Luo Mingjing will not be one of them.
Shi Min said confidently, “You are a man who keeps his promises, and a man who believes in love. Luo Mingjing, you won’t be like your father.”
“I won’t, I absolutely won’t...” Luo Mingjing held her and slowly said, “You know me, you trust me. You saved me... Meeting you was the luckiest thing that ever happened to me.”
________________________________________
Back at the art studio, Shi Chu learned the news of his sister’s pregnancy.
The young master’s narrow phoenix eyes widened, and he immediately launched a sofa cushion attack.
It wasn’t just hitting Luo Mingjing; Shi Chu was fair and slapped heads indiscriminately, so Shi Min couldn’t escape either.
Luo Mingjing was a bit anxious, stretching his arms to shield Shi Min from the soft cushions, saying, “Shi Chu, don’t be crazy, just talk!”
Shi Chu roared at Shi Min: “Who told you to be so quick!! Don’t you know you’re supposed to wait for the older ones in the family to go first?! Always trying to get ahead! What’s the rush?! Are you planning for my child to call your child ‘boss’?! Shi Min, you’re too mean!”
Luo Mingjing was astonished: “So that’s what you’re mad about...” He thought Shi Chu, as a brother, was going to beat him up out of anger.
Shi Chu: “Otherwise, what would I be mad about? I was wondering why I suddenly felt the urge to call you ‘brother-in-law’ this afternoon! Turns out it was all preparing for this!”
Shi Min: “You were the one who was eager for me to ‘try’ back then, and now you’re the one saying I’m too quick. Aren’t you a bit hypocritical? Or rather, did I step on your tail? Are you and Yang He planning to forever support each other from afar, just pretending to be the most familiar strangers for a lifetime?”
At this remark, Shi Chu was struck with sorrow and fell speechless.
He pointed at Shi Min and said, “Just you wait. I’ll show you what it means not to trample on a big brother’s dignity.”
________________________________________
After Shi Chu returned home, he didn’t announce Shi Min’s pregnancy, but he solemnly told his parents: “Tomorrow, your daughter might bring two people to meet you.”
“...Who?” Mrs. Zhang was puzzled, while Little Brother Shi looked thoughtful.
Shi Chu, never one to miss a good show, said, “One, if there’s no mistake, is your son-in-law, that long-haired, troublesome, pitiful big-eyed kid. The other one isn’t decided yet; you can ask Shi Min yourselves tomorrow, I’m not entirely clear, but I can guarantee it’ll surprise you.”
So, Mrs. Zhang called Shi Min. Shi Min thought for a moment and then said, “No need to worry, it’s very normal. I’ll bring them home to meet you tomorrow.”
The next day, Luo Mingjing, dressed neatly in a shirt and black trousers with his hair properly tied, bought a pile of gifts and followed Shi Min to visit the elderly couple.
Before entering, Shi Min asked him, “Do you know what to call them this time?”
“Mom and Dad,” Luo Mingjing nodded.
After entering, Luo Mingjing sat upright and addressed the parents earnestly: “Hello, Dad, hello, Mom. My name is Luo Mingjing. I’m twenty-seven years old, from Haishi. My current profession is a women’s wear designer. I own a two-story art studio at the alley entrance, two cats, and 17% of Luozhou shares, but due to family reasons, I will relinquish this shareholding before marriage.”
Mrs. Zhang: “Mar-marriage?”
“Shi Min and I met half a year ago. Although it hasn’t been long, it’s enough. I love her very much and admire her greatly. I want to form a family with her.”
“Oh... oh, please continue,” Mrs. Zhang composed her slightly surprised expression and motioned for Luo Mingjing to go on.
Shi Min sat beside him, smiling.
“After discussing, we decided to register our marriage on the day I receive my diploma and hold the wedding on our one-year anniversary of meeting,” Luo Mingjing said. “We hope for your approval, Mom and Dad.”
Mrs. Zhang covered her mouth, seemingly whispering something. Luo Mingjing then added, “...Also, Shi Min and I are having a child. The due date is October this year.”
Mrs. Zhang: “Huh?”
The usually quiet Little Brother Shi had an “I knew it” expression.
“Shi Min?!” Mrs. Zhang turned to her daughter. “Really?!”
“Can pregnancy be fake?” Shi Min said helplessly, “It’s almost eight weeks.”
Mrs. Zhang’s mouth remained agape for a long time, as if she were petrified. Shi Min reached out and patted her shoulder. Mrs. Zhang began to tear up: “Why didn’t you say so sooner? I wasn’t even ready to be promoted!”
Mrs. Zhang cried more and more sorrowfully. Luo Mingjing was too scared to speak, his lips tightly pressed, his expression flustered and helpless.
Shi Min calmly comforted him: “My mom can’t accept the reality of becoming a grandmother. Don’t panic.”
Mrs. Zhang wiped her tears and scolded, “You shut up!” Ever since Little Brother Shi told her that her daughter planned to marry, Mrs. Zhang had been mentally preparing herself. According to her plan, she might become a grandmother next year. She didn’t expect that, just when she finally prepared herself, her daughter told her, “You’ll be a grandmother this September, get ready.”
Mrs. Zhang grieved for her lost youth. Although she was old, she always refused to admit it. Her son and daughter hadn’t started families, allowing her to catch her breath and remain in the myth of an ageless goddess, deceiving herself that time was slow.
However, now, the ageless goddess was gone forever. This former children’s show host, “Sister Dongdong” in the hearts of countless young people, was about to become “Grandma Dongdong.”
Luo Mingjing felt slightly guilty. Fortunately, Mrs. Zhang’s emotions came and went quickly. She wiped her tears and was still a formidable big sister.
“I’ll go get you some rice,” Mrs. Zhang said, standing up and patting her new son-in-law’s shoulder. “Little one, welcome.”
At that moment, Luo Mingjing felt that all the hardships and grievances he had suffered before, that seemingly endless dark period of his life, had suddenly vanished.
Shi Min’s goodness must be hereditary.
________________________________________
Mrs. Zhang served rice, and Little Brother Shi called out to the two, taking charge of the finishing touches. He asked, “For the prenuptial agreement, remember to get it notarized promptly before registering the marriage.”
“Mm, the first draft is ready. I’ll show it to him tonight when we get back,” Shi Min said, then asked him, “Dad, are you satisfied?”
“I’ve always trusted your judgment,” Little Brother Shi smiled slightly, extending his hand. Luo Mingjing shook it. “Welcome.”
“Thank you... Dad.”
After dinner that night, Shi Chu returned. Upon seeing Luo Mingjing in a white shirt with his hair tied up, he teased, “Oh, you’ve come to cross the threshold, have you!”
Everyone else, except Luo Mingjing, gave him a roll of the eyes.
After dinner, Mrs. Zhang asked Luo Mingjing not to rush back. She pulled Little Brother Shi upstairs.
Shi Min said, “My mom’s looking for a ‘crossing the threshold’ gift for you.”
Upon hearing this, Shi Chu immediately scurried upstairs to eavesdrop. Luo Mingjing said, “Isn’t that a bit much... I feel a little awkward.”
“Aren’t you marrying me? It’s proper,” Shi Min joked. “Just take whatever my mom gives you. Don’t be polite with her.”
Soon after, they heard Shi Chu say, “Mom, you weren’t like this before?! Didn’t you say that was for your daughter-in-law? You’re giving it to him? Can a grown man wear it on his hand?”
Mrs. Zhang said anxiously, “You shut up! He can hear you. Close the door, close the door!”
Luo Mingjing was silent for a moment, then said, “...How about I tell Mom not to prepare anything? It should be me giving you... I’m sorry, Shi Min, this should have come from my family.”
“Unfortunately, my family can’t really be called a family,” he thought. Perhaps only Shi Min wouldn’t mind a person like him.
She wasn’t afraid of him being dragged down by his original family, nor was she afraid he’d be like his irresponsible deadbeat father.
“I don’t lack anything,” Shi Min smiled. “But you do. In the future, treat my mom as your mom, and my home as your home. Just be at peace, no need to be a stranger.”
Ultimately, Luo Mingjing, looking bewildered, carried a set of pearl and jade jewelry given by Mrs. Zhang and followed Shi Min back to the art studio.
It was a box containing a black pearl necklace, earrings, and bracelet. Shi Min glanced at it and suddenly chuckled: “It really was for a daughter-in-law... but it suits you perfectly.”
“Let’s discuss something first.”
“Go on.”
“...The wedding... I don’t want to dress up as the bride.”
Shi Min suddenly burst into laughter: “If you hadn’t mentioned it, I wouldn’t have thought of it.”
“No!” Luo Mingjing said. “I’m not selling wedding dresses! I won’t wear one! I’m the groom, Shi Min, the groom!”
“Okay, groom.”
Luo Mingjing felt relieved. He rested his chin on his hand, looking at Shi Min: “The groom has something to give you.”
Shi Min raised an eyebrow: “You’ve already given me a child, what else do you want to give?”
“Give me half an hour,” Luo Mingjing said. “I’ll give you a sky full of stars.”