Chapter 67: Extra Three

Ji Su's thoughts were too tangled to notice that the car had slowly come to a stop.

Gu Zhao didn't remind him either; he was savoring the two of them alone together in the narrow space of the car, where even the breath between them carried that sweet, pleasant scent.

It wasn't until a horn sounded from behind that Ji Su startled back to himself: 'Are we here?'

'Mm.' Gu Zhao rested one hand on the steering wheel. 'We're here.'

Ji Su paused his wandering thoughts and offered a quiet word of thanks: 'Lawyer Gu, thank you for driving me back.'

'No need to thank me.' Gu Zhao glanced at him from the side. 'Tonight's proposal — please, Teacher Ji, give it serious consideration.'

Ji Su's lashes trembled: 'Okay…'

Gu Zhao, in a calm tone, pitched himself once more: 'I have stable work, stable emotions, no bad habits whatsoever. I'd make a decent marriage partner.'

Ji Su lifted his gaze to meet his: 'Lawyer Gu, I'll think about it seriously.'

Gu Zhao's eyes were dark: 'Alright.'

Back home, Ji Su turned on the living room light and stood in the entryway for a long while before finally slipping off his coat and hanging it on the rack.

He walked to the sofa, sat down, leaned back against the cushion, and stared up at the ceiling in a daze.

A moment later, the phone on the coffee table buzzed.

Ji Su stretched out an arm, fished up the phone, and opened WeChat.

Qiao Jin: [Susu, is Gu Zhao's Villa project finished?]

Ji Su: [Yes — how did you know?]

Qiao Jin: [I just heard it from Zhou Yang.]

Qiao Jin: [That's not the point. The point is — any new developments between you and Lawyer Gu?]

Ji Su: [There is…]

Qiao Jin: [What kind of developments?]

Qiao Jin: [Spill it, quick!]

Ji Su: [He said tonight that he wants to marry me.]

Qiao Jin: [Holy shit!!!]

Qiao Jin: [Gu Zhao actually went and proposed to you?]

Ji Su thought it over — using the word "proposal" to describe it didn't seem quite accurate.

After all, Gu Zhao had only asked whether he'd consider marrying him; it wasn't the usual flow of dating followed by a proposal.

Qiao Jin, unable to wait for his reply, impatiently dialed his voice call.

Ji Su pressed answer: 'Xiao Qiao, calm down.'

'No way! There's no way I can be calm about this!' Qiao Jin's loud, excitable voice came through. 'What on earth did I miss? When did Lawyer Gu confess to you? How did it suddenly leap all the way to a proposal?'

'It's not what you're thinking.' Ji Su raised a hand to pinch the bridge of his nose. 'I'm just as surprised.'

Qiao Jin was baffled: 'Huh? Then what is it?'

'I think he's just being pressured by his family to marry, and happened to run into me.' Ji Su paused, then felt that wasn't quite right either. 'But my conditions are far inferior to his in every way — why would he think I'm a suitable marriage partner?'

'No — Lawyer Gu's conditions are certainly superior, sure, but you're not a bit worse than him!' Qiao Jin registered ten thousand objections. 'Aside from your family of origin not being as good as his, in looks or in work ability, where exactly are you inferior to him?'

Ji Su laughed: 'At least he has a house and a car.'

'It's not like you can't afford a house — you just haven't bought one yet!' As Qiao Jin rambled on, she noticed the topic had drifted. 'Wait — back to the proposal. Did you say yes to him?'

'Not yet.' Ji Su let out a slow breath. 'He said he'd give me time to think it over.'

'Not! Yet!' Qiao Jin seized on the keyword with precision. 'So deep down you want to say yes — it's just a matter of time, right?'

Ji Su was faintly startled: 'Did I say that?'

'You really did! A person's first reaction never lies.' Qiao Jin counseled him with earnest patience. 'Susu baby, if it were anyone else I'd absolutely tell you to be cautious, but with a man like Lawyer Gu, missing him would really be a shame.'

Ji Su was somewhat at a loss: 'But can you really get married without any emotional foundation?'

Qiao Jin asked: 'Didn't you say Lawyer Gu has feelings for you, and you don't dislike him either?'

Ji Su answered: 'Yes.'

'Then that's that!' Qiao Jin slapped the table. 'Feelings can be cultivated slowly. You two — one handsome, one beautiful — living under the same roof long-term. What's there to fear about feelings not developing?'

Ji Su: '…'

Put that way, it did seem to make a certain sense…

Ji Su chatted with Qiao Jin for quite a while before hanging up.

He hesitated a moment, then tapped into his chat with Gu Zhao and began typing.

Ji Su: [Lawyer Gu, are you home yet?]

Almost the next second, the other party called back.

Ji Su's hand gave a jolt; he steadied himself and answered: 'Hello, Lawyer Gu.'

'Just got home, and your message came right in.' Gu Zhao's low voice came through the line, sounding all the more magnetic for the current. 'Does this count as a meeting of minds?'

Ji Su pressed his lips together, unsure how to respond.

Gu Zhao didn't mind, and shifted the subject: 'Teacher Ji, how's your thinking going?'

Ji Su didn't catch on: 'Thinking about what?'

Gu Zhao patiently repeated: 'The matter of marrying me.'

Ji Su blurted out: 'Didn't Lawyer Gu say you'd give me time to consider?'

'I did.' Gu Zhao replied. 'It's been fifty-eight minutes since we parted. How's your thinking going?'

Ji Su: '…'

Who on earth counts the time they're given to think in minutes?

Gu Zhao said, unhurried: 'If Teacher Ji hasn't decided yet, I'll come ask again in a bit.'

Ji Su was somewhat helpless: 'Lawyer Gu's "in a bit" — it wouldn't happen to be an hour from now, would it?'

'Worthy of Teacher Ji.' Gu Zhao laughed softly. 'You know me well.'

Ji Su said nothing; both ends of the call fell silent, leaving only the sound of breathing, close enough to touch.

'Lawyer Gu.' After a moment, Ji Su took the initiative to break the stillness. 'Do you really want to marry me?'

Gu Zhao answered without the slightest hesitation: 'Of course I want to marry you.'

'Then let me tell you some things first — things I haven't told you before.' Ji Su made up his mind. 'My parents divorced when I was six, and not long after, both of them remarried. I grew up with my father.'

Gu Zhao listened quietly: 'Mm.'

'After my father remarried, he had a younger son — my half-brother on my father's side.' Ji Su drew a deep breath. 'A few years ago, for various reasons, I cut ties with my family. It wasn't until last year that I paid off my debts, so I haven't bought a house or a car, and there's not much money left in my hands.'

'It's alright.' Gu Zhao made a promise. 'I have everything. From now on, what's mine is yours.'

Ji Su's heart gave a sudden leap: 'You don't mind my family at all?'

'I don't mind.' Gu Zhao answered in a low voice. 'My parents also left me when I was young. The only elder in my family is my maternal grandfather, and his one wish is to see me married.'

Ji Su was stunned for a few seconds, then hurried to apologize: 'I'm sorry — I didn't know…'

'It's alright.' Gu Zhao's voice was very low, carrying a faintly bewitching quality. 'Ji Su, we'll have a home of our own.'

Ji Su's throat tightened, and for a moment he lost his voice.

At that instant, he seemed to understand a little — that Gu Zhao, like him, carried a particular, private devotion to the idea of "home."

Gu Zhao went on: 'After we're married — if you want to live in the Villa, we'll live in the Villa; if you want to live near the company, we'll buy another place. As long as you like it.'

"Good." Ji Su finally found his voice. "Actually, we could live in the city during the workweek and go back to the Villa on weekends."

Gu Zhao was silent for a few seconds, and when he spoke again, his voice was slightly hoarse: "You agreed?"

"Mm." Ji Su sat up straight. "Let's get married, Gu Zhao."

*

Ji Su knew Lawyer Gu's efficiency was always high, but he hadn't expected it to be this high.

The next day, the moment work ended, Lawyer Gu showed up at his company and took him straight to a shopping mall.

Ji Su hadn't yet found his footing: "Lawyer Gu, are you buying something?"

Gu Zhao strode forward on his long legs and walked into the store: "Not for me — for us."

Only then did Ji Su realize they had walked into a jewelry shop.

"I originally planned to have the rings custom-made, but there might not be enough time." Gu Zhao explained as they walked. "So I'm bringing you to pick out two finished ones first, to see if there's a style you like."

Ji Su was a little dazed: "This fast?"

Gu Zhao smiled: "I don't think it's fast."

The next steps proceeded at an even faster clip.

Ji Su had assumed they would do a prenuptial property notarization before getting their marriage certificate — after all, it was one of the standard procedures for getting married.

But Gu Zhao wanted to skip that step: "After we're married, what's mine is yours and what's yours is mine — no need to be so particular about it."

"Marital property doesn't need to be divided too carefully, but it's still better to notarize the premarital assets." Ji Su explained. "This is to protect Lawyer Gu's interests."

The money he had saved, Lawyer Gu certainly wouldn't care about — but Lawyer Gu's personal assets needed protection.

Gu Zhao countered: "Protect what?"

As a lawyer, Gu Zhao couldn't possibly not know what a prenuptial agreement protected. Ji Su half-joked: "Lawyer Gu, aren't you afraid I'll run off with half your assets?"

Gu Zhao showed an ambiguous smile: "Not afraid."

Ji Su's heart gave a jolt — somewhere deep down he felt it wasn't that simple, but backing out now was clearly too late.

On Monday, the two of them found time to go to the Civil Affairs Bureau and get their marriage certificate.

These days, there were far more people getting divorced at the Civil Affairs Bureau than registering marriages — and especially with two handsome men coming in to get their certificate, it drew everyone's attention.

After finally finishing the registration, Ji Su walked out of the Civil Affairs Bureau, looking at the red booklet in his hand; the diamond ring on his ring finger refracted dazzling light in the sun.

Only at this moment did he finally have a tangible sense of it — that he was truly married to Gu Zhao.

On the way back to the company, Gu Zhao asked casually: "When would be convenient for you to move in?"

Ji Su lifted his lashes: "What?"

"I'm asking — which home do you want to move into?" Gu Zhao's fingertip tapped the steering wheel. "I'm free this week, I can help you move."

"Oh..." Ji Su thought for a moment. "The place you're living now is pretty close to our company — can I move in there first?"

"Sure." Gu Zhao's lips curved slightly. "As you said — we'll live in the city normally, and go to the Seaside Villa when we have time."

"Okay." Ji Su nodded. "This Saturday I'm off — I'll contact a moving company then."

"No need, I'll arrange it." Gu Zhao replied. "Just pack up your things."

Saturday afternoon, Ji Su officially moved into Gu Zhao's Residence.

A four-bedroom, two-living-room house, with plenty of space. The decor wasn't really to his taste, but the paintings and ornaments on the walls were identical to those in the Villa, adding a touch of warmth and brightness to the otherwise cool, hard palette.

Gu Zhao carried a massive suitcase in one hand and walked straight toward the Main Bedroom.

Ji Su followed him inside, and stopped in his tracks when he saw the large bed in the room.

Gu Zhao set down the suitcase: "What's wrong?"

Ji Su asked softly: "This is the bedroom you sleep in, right?"

"Yes — and yours too." Gu Zhao paused briefly. "You want to sleep in separate rooms?"

Ji Su shook his head: "No."

"I thought so too." Gu Zhao laughed. "What newlyweds sleep in separate rooms?"

Ji Su's cheeks grew warm, his lashes lowered, and he gave a vague, muffled response.

Gu Zhao had already cleared half the wardrobe in advance. After hanging his clothes in the closet, he prepared to put his toiletries in the bathroom.

Walking into the bathroom, he saw a pair of blue toothbrush cups and toothbrushes on the washstand — clearly newly bought.

Ji Su's heart softened, and his gaze unconsciously gentled.

Gu Zhao seemed to truly look forward to his arrival, and had made many preparations for it.

After finishing with the luggage, Ji Su walked out of the bedroom and caught the fragrant aroma of food.

Gu Zhao was busy in the Kitchen, his shirt sleeves rolled up to reveal long, strong forearms, his movements elegant and orderly.

Ji Su said in surprise: "Lawyer Gu, you can cook too?"

"I can." Gu Zhao glanced back. "But as for how good it is — that needs Teacher Ji to verify."

Gu Zhao had made four dishes and a soup — all of them dishes Ji Su usually liked to order when they ate out.

Ji Su tried a piece of sweet-and-sour pork ribs and praised them effusively: "Lawyer Gu, with these skills you could open a restaurant."

"Really?" Gu Zhao replied lightly. "Too bad I don't want to open a restaurant — I only want to cook for you."

Ji Su's heart skipped a beat, then began pounding disobediently.

Gu Zhao placed another piece of ribs in his bowl: "Eat more."

After dinner, Ji Su took the initiative to help clear the table, putting all the dishes into the dishwasher.

It was getting late, and he was tired from moving all day. He showered when he got back to the room, then lay down on the bed.

The bed was large. Ji Su gently sniffed the pillowcase — there was a faint, cool fragrance on it, the scent of Gu Zhao.

The sound of running water came from the bathroom. He lay on his back, hands and feet arranged neatly.

Before long, Gu Zhao came out of the bathroom too — this time his sleepwear was properly buttoned up.

Ji Su's body stiffened, and he inconspicuously scooted a little toward the edge of the bed.

Gu Zhao walked to the bed, and when he sat down, the mattress dipped slightly under his weight.

Ji Su grew more nervous and continued to scoot toward the edge.

Gu Zhao said suddenly: "Move any further and you'll fall off."

"Mm-hmm..." Ji Su cleared his throat tactically. "I'm afraid of crowding you."

Gu Zhao looked down at him, then suddenly leaned over and covered him.

Ji Su instantly held his breath, his eyes widening, instinctively raising a hand to push against the chest pressing down on him.

Even though the two of them were now legally married, he didn't seem quite ready to take the next step.

And hadn't Lawyer Gu said they would take their time developing feelings after the wedding? How could he, just married—

"Don't be afraid." Gu Zhao stopped his advance, his dark gaze settling on Ji Su's face. "Until you agree, I won't do anything to you."

Ji Su's ears turned crimson, so nervous he could barely form words: "No... I... I didn't mean that..."

"Then what you mean is—" Gu Zhao's dark eyes narrowed slightly, his voice slightly hoarse. "Right now is fine?"

Ji Su's cheeks were so hot they were practically smoking. With a forceful push, he shoved Gu Zhao away and turned his back: "I'm tired, I want to sleep first."

Gu Zhao was pushed back onto the bed, ground his molars quietly, then let out a low laugh.

Enough — the person was already on his bed; no need to rush this moment.