"Xiao Mo, is that you? Do you need something from me?" Zi Yunsui asked, looking at Hua Xiaomo.

Hua Xiaomo looked back at Zi Yunsui, unsure what expression to wear. However, regarding what happened that night, I feel it’s necessary to say something. But some things, once they’ve occurred, should be faced, right? No matter how much I try to avoid it, it isn’t good for anyone.

"Zi Yunsui, if you have time, let’s go get a marriage certificate!" Hua Xiaomo suddenly blurted out.

I don’t even know why I’ve made such a decision. I’ve thought it through very clearly. Maybe Candy and I do need a man by our side. Otherwise, wouldn’t something always be missing? Moreover, after meeting Qi Longbing this afternoon, I suddenly understood a lot of things. Since what was missed is missed, there’s no going back. Now I have to live my life well and also take care of Candy.

Upon hearing this, Zi Yunsui was rendered speechless. He remembered very clearly what she had said to him just that day.

She had told him to forget what happened that night, but now, she was asking him to register their marriage?

"Xiao Mo, what do you mean by this?" Zi Yunsui was suddenly astonished. He looked at her, unable to continue working. At this moment, her words represented such a drastic shift that he couldn’t quite adapt.

What on earth happened? Why has her attitude changed 180 degrees so suddenly?

Hua Xiaomo looked at Zi Yunsui and forced a smile.

"Zi Yunsui, I know you’ve always been good to me and Candy, and I’ve always been grateful." Hua Xiaomo paused, having decided this was the only way she could phrase it. "Since that... incident... happened between us, I feel it’s necessary to take responsibility towards you."

But he’s a successful managing director, after all. If he marries me, especially since I already have a child, he’d be the one making a huge concession, wouldn’t he?

"If you don’t mind, then let’s get married," Hua Xiaomo said again, seeing the astonished expression on Zi Yunsui’s face. She felt it was necessary to make herself clear.

Zi Yunsui looked at Hua Xiaomo, feeling that her proposal was suddenly a bit crazy.

Although he genuinely wanted to be Candy’s father and her husband, to take care of her, if it meant forcing her, he would rather not have this outcome.

"Xiao Mo, I hope you’re not making this decision on a whim. Have you really thought it through?" Zi Yunsui asked, looking at Hua Xiaomo with a strange feeling.

Hua Xiaomo looked back at him, her face bearing a reluctant smile. But is this really my most genuine inner thought? Perhaps, today, upon meeting Qi Longbing, I suddenly made up my mind to get myself married off. Yes, I’m already 26 years old. At this age, it’s time to start a family. What needs to be done should be done, right? Isn’t that the path a woman should take? It’s not about how successful I am professionally; if my family life fails, then my life will be considered a failure too.

"Yes, I’ve thought it through. But if you’re unwilling, I won’t force you. We are both responsible for that incident. If you really don’t want to, I won’t force you," Hua Xiaomo reiterated.

Maybe deep down, I want him to reject me? Oh well, the words are already out there. Now, it all depends on his response.

At that, Zi Yunsui looked at Hua Xiaomo for a very long time before standing up, his hands in his pockets.

His hair brushed against the corners of his handsome eyes. He walked towards her, stopping just a few steps away. He looked at her face, his expression both open and hesitant.

Finally, he spoke.

"Xiao Mo, what you told me today took me by surprise, and it was unexpected, but I am very, very happy." Zi Yunsui looked into Hua Xiaomo’s eyes. There was so much he wanted to say, but at this moment, he didn’t know where to begin.

"How about tomorrow then? Let’s get the certificate tomorrow morning at 10 o’clock, okay?" Zi Yunsui asked Hua Xiaomo with a smile, suddenly feeling a weight lift from his heart.

This is the best outcome, isn’t it? Only I can give her and Candy the most stable and happiest life.

Hua Xiaomo looked up at him, no longer hesitant, a hint of subdued light in her eyes. "Okay then, I’ll wait for you at 10 o’clock tomorrow."

She smiled, though the smile on her face seemed a little forced, it wasn’t overtly obvious. She then turned to leave, but just then, Zi Yunsui’s voice stopped her.

"Wait a minute, Xiao Mo." Zi Yunsui looked at her retreating figure, noticing she seemed slimmer than before. She probably hasn’t fully recovered yet!

Hua Xiaomo turned back in surprise, looking at him. "Is there something else?"

Zi Yunsui smiled, walked to his desk, and from a drawer, pulled out an exquisite little box. He then walked over and handed it to her. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Xiao Mo, I actually bought this a long, long time ago, but I never had the courage to bring it out. Today, when you said those things, my heart was practically leaping out of my chest with excitement. So I feel I should bring this out now."

Zi Yunsui looked at Hua Xiaomo, his eyes glistening with a moist sheen; he was deeply moved. He had indeed bought this ring a very, very long time ago; perhaps he’d had it ready ever since Candy was born.

But he had never found the right moment, nor did he know how to tell her. Every time he tried, she would either joke it off or say that they were just friends and it was highly unlikely. This always left him feeling hurt and deflated.

He himself found it strange when those feelings for her first developed. But they had arisen very naturally, not like a sudden, abrupt urge to marry her.

It was more that, from the time they started as partners, co-founding their company, to when it succeeded and they earned their first profit, and then countless more sums of money after that, he felt the two of them had become inextricably bound together.

There seemed to be no force that could separate them. So, from that time on, he had truly wanted to become a real family with her.