Chapter 20
Edward Quan ·
“Hey.”
He smiled.
“Hmm?”
“I have a question.”
He looked at me.
“Go ahead.”
I asked seriously:
“If we get married someday…”
He paused.
Baozi immediately looked up.
I continued:
“Can you promise me something?”
Gu Mingzhe looked at me.
His eyes were gentle.
“What is it?”
I took a deep breath.
Then said:
“No matter what happens…”
He nodded.
“Mm-hm.”
“Even if I say the wrong thing…”
“Mm-hm.”
“Even if I give you a headache…”
“Mm-hm.”
I looked at him.
Very seriously.
“You still can’t deduct my attendance bonus, okay?”
Gu Mingzhe: “…”
Baozi: “…”
Sausage vendor: “…”
Three seconds later.
Gu Mingzhe burst out laughing.
He took my hand.
And answered gently:
“I promise.”
I immediately smiled.
“Good!”
Baozi suddenly raised his hand beside us.
“I have a request too!”
I crouched down.
“What is it?”
The boy said seriously:
“I want to eat two sausages every day from now on!”
I immediately objected.
“No! Too many aren’t good for you!”
Baozi turned to his dad.
“Dad!”
Gu Mingzhe smiled.
“Listen to your sister.”
The boy pouted.
I felt triumphant.
But just then, a familiar voice rang out behind us.
“Song Ruoxi!”
I jumped.
And turned around.
My father stood not far away.
My mother was beside him.
He looked at me.
Then at Gu Mingzhe.
Finally, he sighed.
“I came to pick you up.”
I was confused.
“Why?”
He answered seriously:
“I want to talk to your boyfriend.”
I panicked immediately.
“Dad!”
He raised a hand.
“Relax.”
I breathed a sigh of relief.
But then he continued:
“I just want to ask him one thing.”
Gu Mingzhe politely stepped forward.
“Hello, sir.”
My father looked at him.
For a long time.
Then asked seriously:
“Are you sure you want to date my daughter?”
Gu Mingzhe nodded.
“I’m sure.”
My father sighed.
“Have you thought it through?”
“Yes.”
“You won’t regret it?”
“No.”
My father fell silent.
Then slowly reached out and patted his shoulder.
“Well…”
He looked at Gu Mingzhe with deep sympathy.
“Good luck, son.”
Me: “…”
DAD!
WHY DO YOU SAY THAT AS IF HE’S GOING OFF TO WAR?!
Gu Mingzhe laughed.
He bowed his head.
“Thank you, Dad.”
I was stunned at once.
Wait a minute.
Dad?
Who had he just called Dad?
My father was stunned too.
My mother laughed.
Baozi clapped.
And me—
Song Ruoxi.
Twenty-five years old.
The woman who once made an entire tactical team deploy with a single phone call.
For the first time in my life—
I had absolutely no idea what to say.
But just three seconds later—
I found my voice again.
“GU MINGZHE!”
“WHO SAID YOU COULD CALL HIM DAD SO SOON?!”
He laughed.
“Am I not allowed?”
My face turned red.
“Of course not!”
He tilted his head.
“Then when will I be allowed to?”
I was speechless.
Baozi immediately jumped in:
“When you get married!”
Me: “…”
My father: “…”
My mother: “…”
Gu Mingzhe: “…”
One second later—
Everyone burst out laughing together.
The evening sunlight fell outside the shopping mall.
A gentle breeze passed.
I looked at the people standing beside me.
And suddenly realized—
Happiness didn’t have to be anything grand.
Sometimes—
It was just an ordinary afternoon.
An eighteen-yuan sausage.
A child who loved to laugh.
A man who was always patient.
And a family who, even when I gave them headaches, never stopped loving me.
I smiled.
Then remembered something.
“Oh, Dad!”
He immediately turned around.
“What now?”
I said cheerfully:
“There’s something I still haven’t told you!”
My father’s expression changed at once.
“NO!”
I jumped.
“But this is really important!”
“I DON’T WANT TO HEAR IT!”
“Just listen to me first!”
“SONG RUOXI!”
I sighed.
Honestly.
Adults.
They’re always telling their children to be honest.
But as soon as I try to tell the truth—
They refuse to listen.
I turned to Gu Mingzhe.
He was laughing.
I asked in annoyance:
“What are you laughing at?”
He took my hand.
And replied gently:
“Nothing.”
“Then why are you laughing?”
He looked at me.
His gaze was tender.
“Because I was thinking…”
I looked up.
“Thinking what?”
He smiled.
“Thank goodness you weren’t on time for work that day.”
I paused.
Then laughed.
“That’s right.”
If I hadn’t stopped that day—
If I hadn’t crouched down to ask a crying child what was wrong—
If I hadn’t made the phone call that confused an entire city—
Maybe I would still be living an ordinary life.
Unaware of the secrets that had been buried.
Without meeting the family I had lost.
Without Baozi.
And without him.
I squeezed Gu Mingzhe’s hand gently.
And smiled.
“So, from now on…”
He looked at me.
“Yes?”
I said seriously:
“If I ever find another lost child, I’ll still help.”
He nodded.
“I know.”
I continued:
“But next time…”
He smiled.
“What?”
I took a deep breath.
“I’ll definitely learn how to talk to the police properly!”
Gu Mingzhe burst out laughing.
My father immediately shouted from behind:
“YOU FINALLY GET IT!”
I turned around.
“Dad!”
He looked at me.
“What?”
I answered seriously:
“But I still think I was perfectly clear that day!”
My father: “…”
My mother: “…”
Gu Mingzhe: “…”
Baozi: “…”
After a long while—
My father slowly raised his head to look at the sky.
Then sighed.
“Forget it.”
“I give up.”
I was confused.
“Give up on what?”
He looked at me.
For a long time.
Finally, he only said:
“Just live happily.”
I smiled.
“Yes!”
And this time—
I didn’t say anything else.
Because I understood.
Some things don’t need to be said.
Just hold hands.
And walk forward together.
That’s enough.
THE END
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