Romantic Collaboration

Part 7

15

"Ming Chen, do you hate me?"

"Not really." Ji Ming Chen turned his head and saw me, suddenly smiling. He then turned to Lin Yao and said, "Miss Lin, my fiancée is here, we'll be going now."
Ji Ming Chen grabbed his boxing gloves and walked toward me. Lin Yao looked at me over Ji Ming Chen's shoulder, and suddenly asked loudly:

"Ji Ming Chen, after all these years we've been together, what does it even count for?"

Ji Ming Chen took the water I handed him and replied, "It counts as time."

I couldn't help but laugh out loud and stuck out my tongue.
Ji Ming Chen put his arm around my shoulders, and we turned to leave together. "Zhan Fei said he'd treat us to dinner later. Do you like Cantonese food?"

"Sure," I said. "Sorry for eavesdropping on your conversation."

"What do you mean by eavesdropping? You were clearly listening to our conversation openly," Ji Ming Chen smiled at me, his dimples faintly visible. "Zhan Fei was worried you'd misunderstand when you saw Lin Yao, but now that's all cleared up."

For some reason, in that moment, he reminded me of a big cat with its tail up.

Dinner was pleasant for everyone, and as Zhan Fei left, he added me on WeChat and pulled me into their little group chat.

I looked at the people in the group, a bit surprised. "Luo Bing He is also your childhood friend?"

Luo Bing He's younger brother was my first love. Back then, we were young and reckless, and the breakup was a huge dramatic mess.

I felt a little guilty.

Ji Ming Chen responded with a hum, then quickly realized and added, "His younger brother attended high school abroad. I don't really have much contact with him."
I glanced at his expression. "Are you feeling uncomfortable?"

"To be honest, just a little." Ji Ming Chen held my hand. "But they're the past, and I'm your future. I'll do my best to make sure you'll never regret it."

16

The engagement party was held at a seaside hotel, and the day before the engagement, both families had dinner together.

Our two families had always maintained a cooperative relationship, and the connection between us had been consistently good. After the meal, Ji Ming Chen's mother placed the jade bracelet, which she had worn for many years, on my wrist.

It was truly too valuable, both in terms of its worth and the sentiment behind it.

She simply touched my face gently and smiled, saying, "You two take good care of each other."

After seeing off both families, we stayed at the seaside hotel. After taking a shower, we played Super Mario in our pajamas.

Halfway through the game, I rested my head on Ji Ming Chen's lap. His leg muscles tensed for a moment before relaxing.

I turned my head toward his stomach and laughed.

Ji Ming Chen sighed helplessly, "Tuan Tuan, you're getting more and more outrageous."

Tuan Tuan was my childhood nickname, given because I was chubby like a tuanzi [1] when I was little. My family had called me that during dinner earlier.
Feeling a bit embarrassed and annoyed, I pinched his abs.

Ji Ming Chen leaned back and fell directly onto the carpet. I laid on top of him, asking, "You don't like it?"

"To say I don't like it would be too hypocritical," Ji Ming Chen wrapped his arms around me. "I just feel like we're moving too fast."

I poked his chest, "Why did you agree to the arranged marriage in the first place?"

Ji Ming Chen held my hand and looked into my eyes. "I know it might make you uncomfortable, but I still want to be honest with you. In the beginning, it really was just because it seemed suitable."

"My last relationship was too exhausting. It felt like the whole world was against it, and my immaturity made my parents sad."

Ji Ming Chen gently squeezed my fingertips. "I just wanted a relationship that both of our families could approve of, something smooth and easy."

"When our parents first suggested the arranged marriage, I had actually met you once at my ranch." Ji Ming Chen continued, "At that time, you had just returned to the country and immediately picked the wildest horse in the ranch. I watched the whole process from the second-floor terrace as you tamed that horse."

"Wen Dong, you're incredibly captivating." Ji Ming Chen lowered his gaze and gently kissed my fingertips. "You're strong and full of vitality. Every day spent with you feels worth living seriously."

My face began to turn red little by little. Ji Ming Chen kissed my forehead, "Tuan Tuan, this is the best decision I've ever made in my life."

________
Footnote:

[1] Tuanzi (团子) is a round, ball-shaped snack, often made from glutinous rice.