1267 I Want to Make You Stay 145 (1/2)
”Xiaoxi sleeps next to Yiheng every day, and she even said that she's going to marry him when she grows up. She also said that Yiheng promised to marry her when they're older. I find this matter to be very important. We must take it seriously.”
An Xiaoning smiled and said, ”I think you're just worried about ruining Xiaoxi's reputation. We shall betroth them to each other if they don't have any objections, then.”
Jin Qingyan asked, ”What happens if there are changes after the engagement? For example, if Xiaoxi and Yiheng fall in love with others in the future, or if one of them has a change of heart. What do we do when that happens…?”
Long Tianze looked at them and said, ”I asked to betroth them precisely because I'm worried about that. I just want to create a safety net for the two of them. What happens to them in the future will depend on themselves. Besides, divorce is so common nowadays, isn't it? Such stuff are unpredictable.”
”Alright. Xiaoning, bring the children here,” said Jin Qingyan.
”Sure.” An Xiaoning stood up immediately and headed upstairs.
A few minutes later, the three children arrived downstairs.
A strange tension filled the living room.
”Yiheng, do you fancy Xiaoxi?” An Xiaoning asked.
”I do.”
”Are you going to marry her when you guys grow up?”
”Of course.”
An Xiaoning asked, ”Xiaoxi, what about you?”
Long Xiaoxi exclaimed eagerly, ”Godma, I fancy him! I'm willing to marry him!”
The four adults burst into laughter. Mei Yangyang could not stop laughing for she was extremely amused by how eager her daughter was.
”Yiheng, do you know what it means to be engaged to each other?”
Jin Yiheng answered, ”Yes, it means to make a promise to marry each other in the future.”
”Yes, I'm asking you now, are you willing to get engaged to Xiaoxi right now?”
Jin Yiheng turned to glance at Long Xiaoxi before looking at his parents again. ”But, Mommy, aren't we allowed to get engaged only when we're adults?”
”During the olden days, some children do get betrothed to each other. However, such outdated practices have become obsolete with time as society progresses. In such practices, girls who come from poor families will usually be sold to the boys' families. In other cases, close friends tend to arrange a marriage between each other's children too. I'm asking you now, are you willing to be engaged to Xiaoxi?”
Jin Yiheng smiled at Long Xiaoxi before answering, ”Yes, I am.”
Long Tianze heaved a sigh of relief and said, ”Yiheng, you must think through it carefully.”
”Godpa, I've already thought through it carefully.”
The four adults looked at each other, and the matter was finally settled.
Long Tianze had a sleepless night that night, whereas Mei Yangyang managed to catch a few hours of sleep. He constantly tossed and turned in bed, as if his daughter was about to get married.
As soon as daybreak arrived, he got out of bed. Mei Yangyang asked, ”Why are you up so early?”
”Did you forget that we agreed to hold a ceremony today? We have to invite a lot of guests.”
”I think we should just hold a small ceremony and keep it within our social circle. It won't be that appropriate to announce it to the whole wide world.”
”We must invite our closest friends and family to an extravagant ceremony.”
”We don't even have the time to get the gowns and attires tailor-made. Why can't you just wait for everything to be prepared before holding the ceremony?”
”No, we must hold it today. We've already decided on the location last night. Hurry, get out of bed and take the children out to shop for some clothes.”
Mei Yangyang had no words for his overeagerness. She got out of bed and said, ”I should just knock you out.”
——
The weather was fair this morning, as opposed to the drizzles the night before.