However, once an opportunity is missed, it’s missed. Although there was some regret, what everyone was most focused on was… Jing Yicheng had started working again! Could this mean the reopening of the research institute was just around the corner?!
This was absolutely great news!
Everyone was instantly energized. Whether through phone calls, messages, direct inquiries, or subtle probing, they all wanted a definite answer. Unfortunately, Jing Yicheng couldn’t be bothered and ignored them all. Only his assistant, overwhelmed by the constant harassment, let slip a single sentence: “This depends on the boss’s mood.”
If the boss was in a good mood, perhaps he’d put aside past grievances, reopen the research institute, and take orders to make life easier for everyone. But if his mood wasn’t good… ha, forget about the research institute; even agricultural machinery wouldn’t get done!
As for Jing Yicheng’s mood, it was absolutely tied to a certain someone.
The assistant stopped short after this hint, but everyone understood immediately. They began strategizing furiously, thinking about how to curry favor with Xu Chenghao.
Xu Chenghao, however, was completely unaware of any of this. He was baffled by the sudden friendliness from various parties that Li Nian reported and couldn’t figure out what these people were thinking. Could it be the same as last time—coming for Jing Yicheng?
If they really were coming for Jing Yicheng, Xu Chenghao was instead worried that anything he did might implicate him. So, he specifically sought Jing Yicheng out to discuss the matter.
To his surprise, the other party waved it off without a care and said, “Don’t worry about it. If they’re trying to curry favor with you, just accept it all. No need to feel burdened.”
“Then what about you?”
“Of course, I wouldn’t say this if I couldn’t handle it,” Jing Yicheng reassured him. “Don’t worry about it.”
“Alright.”
Since Xu Chenghao couldn’t really understand their work or social circles, he naturally accepted whatever Jing Yicheng said. Besides, if he thought about it this way, he was actually benefiting from the situation.
Feeling pleased with himself, Xu Chenghao hung up the phone and got back to work. Just as he signed his name and closed the folder, the door clicked open, and Li Nian walked in.
“The approval process this time was the fastest in recent years. It was shortened by threefold! I asked around, and the people at the hall said you’re considered a VIP, and your applications are given priority. As soon as you submit, you go straight to the top of the queue,” Li Nian said as he walked over. He plopped down across from Xu Chenghao with a serious expression and asked, “You still haven’t figured out the reason for this, have you?”
Xu Chenghao replied, “I have. It’s all thanks to Jing Yicheng’s connections.”
“President Jing?” Li Nian was caught off guard. Stroking his chin, he thought for a while before saying, “I didn’t expect President Jing to have such good connections.”
Xu Chenghao mercilessly exposed the truth: “Not really. This is probably because they need something from him.”
Hearing this, Li Nian immediately nodded in agreement. “That’s definitely it.”
Compared to believing that the stoic Jing Yicheng could have good interpersonal relationships, everyone found it more plausible that people were only trying to curry favor with him because they needed something. At least the latter seemed more realistic.
After finishing their discussion about Jing Yicheng, Li Nian couldn’t help but shift to gossip mode. “So, have you met the parents? What did Uncle and Auntie say? Did they pull the classic ‘I don’t approve’ line?”
Xu Chenghao answered each question in turn: “He’s met them. They didn’t say anything, so I guess that counts as tacit approval. After all, my parents are easygoing and good-tempered. There’s no way they’d do something to make things difficult for me.”
Li Nian grinned. “Congrats, congrats! That’s basically their blessing. Getting married and registering your marriage is just around the corner.”
Xu Chenghao pondered for a moment and then shook his head. “There’s no rush for now. I’ll wait a bit longer.”
Li Nian was confused. “Wait? What are you waiting for?”
Xu Chenghao fell silent. He wanted to wait until he had completed all the chili pepper tasks and successfully freed himself from the system before getting married. That would mark a truly new beginning for him. He figured that once there was no turning back, the burden in his heart would also ease a little.
Especially since the system kept emphasizing not to make any rash decisions before the final step, Xu Chenghao couldn’t help but worry that some big twist might still be waiting. If the tasks failed, would he face erasure? Forced extraction? In any case, as long as the system wasn’t dealt with, there were too many uncertainties. For now, he didn’t want to rush into marriage and risk any unnecessary harm while things remained unpredictable.
But this was something Xu Chenghao couldn’t explain out loud, so he just stayed silent, offering no response.
Outside the office…
Jing Yicheng, who had originally come to the company intending to surprise Xu Chenghao, frowned slightly when he overheard the conversation. Haohao didn’t want to get married? What was he waiting for? And why did he fall silent in the end?
Jing Yicheng wanted answers, but inside the office, Li Nian had already tactfully shifted the topic to work-related matters.
Jing Yicheng, clearly invested in the issue, raised his hand and knocked on the door to announce himself. Then, he turned the handle and strode in confidently. “Haohao, I’m here.”
Xu Chenghao was a bit startled. “So soon?”
“I was already parking in the underground garage when you called,” Jing Yicheng explained, nodding briefly at Li Nian while exuding an unmistakable air of authority as the rightful partner.
Sensing potential danger and fearing he’d be drowned in PDA, Li Nian quickly stood up and said, “You two chat. I’ll get back to work. See you later.”
“See you later.”
Once Li Nian was gone, an awkward silence hung in the office for a few seconds. Xu Chenghao quickly picked up on Jing Yicheng’s unhappy mood and asked with concern, “Why are you upset? Did this matter cause trouble for you?”
Jing Yicheng shook his head, then nodded slightly, and said in a low voice, “The trouble is what you’re doing to my heart.”
Xu Chenghao grimaced. “Can you stop with the cheesy lines already?”
Unable to resist, Jing Yicheng leaned in and gave him a playful nip. “It is trouble, you little rascal.”
Xu Chenghao wiped his face and decided to focus on work. Just as he opened his computer, he heard the person sitting behind him murmur, “Why don’t you want to get married?”
Xu Chenghao froze.
Jing Yicheng rested his chin on Xu Chenghao’s shoulder, his voice light and probing. “What are you waiting for?”
Xu Chenghao’s mind raced, conjuring countless excuses and reasons in an instant. Yet, when he finally spoke, all he said was, “That’s my secret. But I promise the wait won’t be long—at most… at most six months.”
Jing Yicheng looked a little aggrieved. “But I want to get the certificate, get married, and tell everyone I’m yours.”
Xu Chenghao: “You can already tell everyone now. It’s just a matter of timing for us.”
Jing Yicheng wasn’t happy with that answer. He sat there with a long face, silent for a long moment. Xu Chenghao felt guilty and turned around to coax him. “Don’t be upset. I said it’ll only be six months at most. By then, everything will be settled.”
Jing Yicheng still didn’t speak. He didn’t want to wait and was growing increasingly curious about Xu Chenghao’s secret.
The more he didn’t know, the more curious he became —especially when the secret concerned his happiness and future. But Xu Chenghao was unusually firm about this, making it clear he’d only reveal the secret when he was ready and insisting that the marriage and registration would have to wait until then.
The two were at an impasse. Finally, Xu Chenghao realized that if this continued, it might escalate into an argument. So, he decisively shifted the focus, redirecting the “fire” toward someone else. “Alright, stop being upset. We’re going to the Ruan family’s old house later. This’ll be the first time you’ve seen Ruan Chenxuan since meeting the parents. Aren’t you going to take the opportunity to show off?”
Jing Yicheng paused, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly. “You’re really good at changing the subject.”
“Of course,” Xu Chenghao said with a smirk. “So, what are you planning to do? Bring your A-game or hold back a little?”
Jing Yicheng finally let out a reluctant hum of acknowledgment, the tension easing slightly. But the curiosity about Xu Chenghao’s secret lingered in his heart, unresolved.
The author has something to say: Ruan Chenxuan, such a pitiful guy. 😭
Thank You for the new chapter ❤⃛ヾ(๑❛ ▿ ◠๑ )