When Love Lasts

Chapter 17. Let's Go on a Date

Author's note : I supposed to post this chapter few days ago but the shocking news of Ma-Jie made me startled. So I postponed the chapter release a bit. Rest in peace Ma-Jie (6/7/23). Thank you so much to bring Word Of Honor into our life with the best talent and crews. 

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Chapter 17 : Let's Go on a Date

"A-Shu, let's go on a date."

As soon as Zi Shu heard Ke Xing's word, he felt that his throat suddenly blocked the food that he was about to swallow, resulting him to choke a little. He coughed few times as he patted his own chest gently.

Ke Xing reached out to and caressed his back while offering a glass of water.

"Wh-what did you just say?" Zi Shu turned his head towards Ke Xing once he calmed enough.

"Let's go on a date."

"Uhm..." Zi Shu stared at Ke Xing, "Why...so sudden..." he bit his lips since he didn't even know what to say. He was too startled by the sudden invitation.

"I just think that I have to make it right."

Zi Shu looked puzzled, "Make what right?"

"Our relationship. A couple usually start their relationship with a date. Shouldn't we have one too?" Ke Xing replied innocently.

Zi Shu pursed his lips, trying to suppress the heat that started to spread on his cheeks. He couldn't let Ke Xing see him blushing.

"Well...we're engaged for so long...and dating..." he hesitated, "dating should be done in the earlier stage of relationship. We skipped that process already."

"Are you saying that you won't have a date me?"

Ke Xing looked down to his lunch box, eyelids drooping. It seemed that he suddenly lost his confident. When he looked up to Zi Shu, his eyes were round that made him looked like a lost puppy.

Since when did this cold person changed so much. Ke Xing indeed became warmer to Zi Shu and Cheng Ling. They've been through many things together and in Zi Shu's eyes, Ke Xing was like a solid rock where Zi Shu would find a shelter. However, looking at him with such a low confidence talking about dating, was something that Zi Shu never expected.

A date. It never crossed Zi Shu's mind. It wasn't like he would refuse the idea. It was just when he accepted Zao An's proposal to engaged with Ke Xing, he never thought he should start their relationship by dating. He thought the marriage will definitely happen. They only need to wait for the right time. He didn't even expect Ke Xing to brought up this topic.

In the past, Ke Xing had always thought that their marriage was based solely on his grandfather's pity for him. The fear that Ke Xing would feel lonely if one day Zao An passed away was the reason Zao An arranged their marriage. And Ke Xing had always against that idea. Zi Shu didn't know if Ke Xing's view of their arranged marriage had changed. They had never talked about their marriage after Zi Shu moved into the Wen mansion.

"I..." Zi Shu sighed softly, "That's not what I mean. I just..." he paused as he looked into Ke Xing's expectant eyes, "I just not expecting you to initiate it."

"So...let's have dinner this Saturday. What do you say?"

Zi Shu smiled and nodded.

~o0o~

Saturday arrived in a blink of eye. Zi Shu was looking at himself in front of the mirror, busy comparing one shirt with another. Ever since Ke Xing asked him out, he had been looking forward to it. Ke Xing didn't spill anything about their first date, even when he asked what kind of outfit he should wear.