Hu Lei planned to sleep until noon because her bed warmer had returned. When he had been away, she had had difficulties sleeping in because her body was always cold in the early morning hours. Now that he was back, she could leech of his warmth and sleep as much as she liked.Unfortunately, the said bed warmer did not understand her intentions. In spite of travelling the previous day, he woke up quite early. His movements caused the boneless Hu Lei who was clinging to him like an octopus to wake up.
"Let"s keep sleeping." She tightened her small but tough arms and legs around him without opening her eyes.
Zhong Feng looked helplessly as she burrowed closer and tucked her head below his head. Seeing her unwillingness, he decided to let her sleep for a little longer.
Two hours later, Hu Lei woke up and found that she was alone in the bed. She felt refreshed and renewed. It had been a while since she had slept like a little pig, just the way she liked.
Zhong Feng stepped out of the walk-in closet and found her awake but still in bed. Looking at her, he could tell that she did not have any intention of leaving the warmth of the covers. She lifted her head higher like a meerkat as soon as she saw him and stared at him, up and down.
For once, he was not wearing a black suit. Instead, he was dressed in a dark maroon suit which made his enchanting face and lean body even more appealing. Black always gave him an air of alienation. The maroon had a seductive air.
"Why are you dressed so nicely? Are you going to work?" She asked suspiciously. "Remember that you promised to accompany me for a few days."
Zhong Feng walked to her and settled beside her.
"I am naturally dressed up because we are going out." He pulled her like a wrapped dumpling towards himself.
Hu Lei felt the old sloth disease in her body protest at those words. She really had no strength to do anything.
"Can"t we just be lazy homebodies?" she asked with a cheeky and ingratiating smile.
"That is impossible. We are going to register our marriage today." Zhong Feng declared.
Hu Lei felt her residue sleepiness disappear. Had she heard it right? He wanted to register a marriage immediately? She looked at him and realised that he was completely serious.
"Why do we have to get married immediately?" She asked in a whining tone.
Zhong Feng concealed his emotions with lowered eyelids as she spoke. He had found Hu Lei with almost insurmountable difficulty and he had managed to court her until she accepted his proposal. If he delayed in striking while the iron was hot by making this matter official, would he not be a fool?
Moreover, this was not the only reason he intended to accelerate the legalisation of their relationship. He was concerned about what Helen Brown had said when she had visited that military base. It was possible that those people would attempt to come for his Hu Lei. Currently, he was not clear on the real ident.i.ty of the enemy, so it was difficult to guard against their attack.
However, if she had the status of his legal wife, they would have to think twice, regardless their ident.i.ty. After all, his status in the country was not small. As long as Hu Lei was under his protection, there would be no careless moves made against her, at least, for the time being. He would not allow anything to happen to her.
"You have not changed you mind, have you?" He lifted his lowered eyes and looked at her with dripping sadness.
Hu Lei could not resist the look in his eyes which seemed to call out to her very soul. She wanted to pluck the moon for him when he had that kind of gaze. She shook her head to clear the enchantment. This man was obviously using a honey trap on her. She would definitely not fall for it.
"No, it is not like that. I just feel like I cannot a competent wife right now. It won"t make a difference if we do it later." She hurriedly offered before she was conquered by the beauty.
"It will make a difference to me." The sadness of the immortal-like being became even more intense.
"Don"t feel bad. It is just that if I get married now, I will become an auntie. You know that I have always wanted to experience normal life. How can an old auntie live it up?" She changed her tactics.
"I understand." He paused and seemed to think for a while. "We can register our marriage and maintain the status quo. Once you feel that you are ready to be an auntie, we can have a big wedding."
Hu Lei listened to his words and found that they were logical. More importantly, it was the perfect compromise. Though she wanted to live it up, her heart already belonged to him, with or without a legal doc.u.ment. It would not hurt to indulge him a little after her episode of domestic violence.
"Alright, let"s do it." She declared with an enthusiastic nod.
Zhong Feng smiled to himself.
"Excellent! I will make the necessary preparations while you get ready." He stood up swiftly and left the room as if he was afraid that she would change her mind.
Hu Lei tilted her head with a frown. Why did it feel like she had been tricked and entrapped? However, she could not find anything wrong with what had happened. Maybe, she was overthinking after watching too many dramas. She shrugged her shoulders and hopped off the bed.
Zhong Feng and Hu Lei left the civil bureau a couple of hours later. The handsome man had a lingering smile, and he looked self-satisfied for some reason. On the other hand, Hu Lei was frowning while looking at the proof of their legal marriage.
"I thought this would be a little more complicated." She mused. "Should people be allowed to get married this easily?"
Zhong Feng smiled a little more at her scrunched up little nose. He had taken care of all details, so all she had to do was be there and provide her signature.
"Would you have preferred if there was a special examination or some rituals?" he asked while starting the vehicle.
Hu Lei thought about it for a moment.
"Well, not for me… I feel that people would appreciate a marriage more if there was some kind of test, maybe an obstacle course." She mulled about it.
Zhong Feng laughed at the thought. Was marriage a fitness program? How would an obstacle course help? However, he was in a good mood.
"I can have one built for our wedding." He told with a small pat on her head.
Before Hu Lei could respond, his phone rang. He did not like using the phone while driving. However, when he realised that the caller was his mother, he could not ignore.
"h.e.l.lo."
On the other end, Chu Ling sighed.
"Can"t you respond with a little more enthusiasm?" She chided softly.
"I am driving right now." He did not know what she meant by enthusiasm, but he could at least explain it like this.
"Come for dinner tonight. You have not visited your old parents in a long time. I will not accept your refusal." Chu Ling spoke in a guilt-inducing tone which was unique to mothers.
Zhong Feng was silent for a moment.
"Alright..." He finally said.
After the call, he looked at Hu Lei who looked guilty and nervous. It was obvious that she had overheard the conversation.
"Would you like to visit your in-laws?"