Girl, There's Something Wrong With You - Chapter 11

After finishing dinner, the two left the restaurant. Just as Cheng Jinyang was about to hail a cab, he heard Xing Yuanzhi say, “Walk with me?”

“Sure.” He quickly responded, smiling, “It’ll help with digestion.”

The main point of a man and woman “taking a stroll” together, of course, wasn’t for digestion or exercise, but to find some time to be together.

Leaving the restaurant, the traffic on the road outside seemed sparse, with not many pedestrians around. The streetlights cast a dim glow, and the distance was shrouded in the dark curtain of the night.

Thus, the whole world seemed to quiet down, creating a unique tranquility that belonged to the night.

Xing Yuanzhi walked ahead, still wearing her pure white dress. This choice wasn’t for aesthetics but simply because white clothes show dirt easily, making it clear whether they were clean or not.

Surprisingly, Ah Zhi wasn’t carrying an umbrella today, nor was she wearing dustproof gloves or a veil, making Cheng Jinyang feel that her demeanor seemed a bit more approachable.

But girls indeed can change significantly during adolescence. For instance, Cui Xiaoniang used to be a little demon who loved to lie and tease others, but after going through life and death with him on the battlefield, she probably felt the harsh sting of reality and quickly became normal.

Perhaps Ah Zhi’s mysophobia had also unconsciously faded away?

Thinking this, Cheng Jinyang smiled and walked forward, extending his hand to Ah Zhi.

How could a stroll not include holding hands? Right? They’re about to get engaged, and he hasn’t even held his fiancée’s hand yet.

Such a pitiful man could never be me!

Xing Yuanzhi lifted her left hand, seemingly intending to place it in his palm. However, after a moment of internal struggle, she put it down again, showing an apologetic smile:

“My hand isn’t washed, it’s a bit dirty.”

Cheng Jinyang: …………

I get it, you think my hand is dirty.

The two walked one after the other on the road. Xing Yuanzhi was half a step ahead, while Cheng Jinyang, falling behind, watched her hair cascading like a waterfall.

Ah Zhi’s hair was a perfect example of long, straight, black hair, just reaching her shoulder blades. It wasn’t tangled or split, smooth and shiny, with a quality that seemed like a special effect in a shampoo commercial.

Cheng Jinyang had seen the shampoo and conditioner Ah Zhi used in the bathroom before, seemingly custom-made by herself, stored in small unmarked bottles.

Inside was a clear amber liquid, exuding at least three distinct orchid fragrances, with a very distinct layering of scents, neither chaotic nor cloying.

Following behind, he could smell the faint, refreshing fragrance from Ah Zhi, certain that if it weren’t winter, it would surely attract a swarm of butterflies.

“Speaking of which, it’s been a while since we last walked together like this,” Xing Yuanzhi said calmly.

Has it? Cheng Jinyang thought for a moment and remembered that before Miss Wang joined them, they occasionally strolled by the riverside near their neighborhood after dinner. Back then, Ah Zhi was fully armed, making the residents think they were filming some sort of martial arts movie.

“Yeah, it’s quite rare,” he nodded.

“Do you still hate me?” Xing Yuanzhi asked.

Cheng Jinyang: ?

“I once asked to break off the engagement,” Xing Yuanzhi said softly.

“Oh, that.” Cheng Jinyang drew out his words, “I’ve long forgotten about it.”

“Liar,” Xing Yuanzhi said.

Although you no longer deliberately call me Ah Zhi, I know you still remember it in your heart. Because that incident constantly reminds you… I wasn’t initially with you because of feelings.

“I’m not lying,” Cheng Jinyang said, “Besides, breaking off the engagement isn’t a big deal.”

“Really?”

“If I were in the girl’s position, I wouldn’t marry someone I didn’t know just because of a piece of paper,” Cheng Jinyang replied. “Especially when that person was a penniless orphan with no parents.”

“Stop,” Xing Yuanzhi felt a bit uncomfortable.

After a while, she murmured, “I admit that when I changed my mind and decided not to break off the engagement and be with you, there were some considerations of interest, but…”

She wanted to say, “But now there are real feelings,” but couldn’t muster the courage to say it. And what would Jingyang’s reaction be if she did?

“I know,” Cheng Jingyang nodded, seemingly unsurprised.

So Xing Yuanzhi’s heart sank.

“But isn’t that normal? For most people, initially choosing to be with someone is purely for practical reasons, right?” Cheng Jingyang chuckled, “Good looks, talent, wealth… These very pragmatic criteria for choosing a partner are fundamentally about ‘benefit’ for oneself.”

“But I don’t think there’s anything to blame. After all, if when we first met, Ah Zhi, you were an old, ugly, fat and broke woman, I would have also chosen to break off the engagement without hesitation.”

“Is that so?” So Xing Yuanzhi felt her heart, which had sunk to the bottom, warm up slightly.

Then she felt inexplicably annoyed.

But at this moment, if she were to get angry, it would break the atmosphere of their heartfelt conversation.

So she gritted her teeth and forced a smile, “That’s great, luckily I was young, beautiful, and rich at that time, so you agreed to live with me. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have made it this far, right?”

“Exactly,” Cheng Jingyang smiled gently, “I’ve heard in psychology, everyone’s subconscious has a list of potential partners who meet their criteria. The depth of our feelings just determines who from that list can stay until the end.”

“However, if the other person doesn’t meet your criteria from the start, they wouldn’t have been on that list. Even if feelings develop due to other reasons while spending time together, it can’t be called love.”

“So Ah Zhi, maybe someone else’s starting point is ‘he looks good,’ while ours was ‘he helps me grow.’ But regardless of the reason, it only created an opportunity for us to build a long-term relationship.”

“When the opportunity arises, its mission is already complete. What exactly that opportunity was doesn’t matter, because it’s what we call fate. In this world of billions, the chance for two suitable people to meet is so precious. Why bother about the specifics of that fate?”

“Don’t easily squander this fate, and our future. We need to continue walking together, that’s what matters most right now.” Cheng Jingyang stopped under the street lamp, then reached out to Xing Yuanzhi, smiling, “And I believe, you’ll always be by my side, right?”

“Hmm.” Xing Yuanzhi looked at him silently, emotions stirring in her widened eyes.

After a long while, as if holding back tears, she gently nodded and subconsciously placed her hand in his palm.

And he held it tightly.

Yes!

Finally got Ah Zhi’s hand!

Cheng Jingyang was immediately ecstatic.

Throughout the rest of the way, Xing Yuanzhi repeatedly tried to pull her hand away, only to be refused by someone who said, “You promised to stay with me,” until they reached the door of the family estate… and that night, half a bottle of hand sanitizer was used up in the bathroom.