Cheng You emerged from the house and found that Qi Chengyan was still waiting for her.
"Let's go, I'll walk you back," he said, turning away with a composed expression.
Cheng You followed him, looking up. "Qi Chengyan, do you know what Grandma told me?"
"No," he replied.
She curved her lips into a smile, her delicate face filled with cunning. "Grandma said if I ended up with you, you'd abandon me when you returned to the city!"
Almost simultaneously, he forcefully denied it, "I won't!"
"I think you won't either. Grandma said this is a gamble, and if I lose, I'll be like the village widow Lin, growing old alone. I don't want that."
He emphasized again, "I won't."
"Oh~ So you really want to be in a relationship with me, right?" She tilted her head, looking at him.
Qi Chengyan suddenly stopped, looking at her with a mix of helplessness and seriousness.
"Cheng You, don't joke about such things," he said, like a teacher admonishing a student. He was very serious about marriage and would not change his mind once he decided on someone. He would give his utmost sincerity and commitment, but Cheng You was young and seemed fickle, capable of changing her mind at any moment. His various flirtations felt like a game to amuse her.
Cheng You pouted her red lips, feeling a little wronged. "I'm not joking! Have you ever seen me joke about this with anyone else?"
The lines on Qi Chengyan's face softened slightly. Then, like a pedantic scholar, he said, "Since you know this, you should understand the distinction between men and women. Many things cannot be done before marriage."
Cheng You sometimes found him incredibly dull. Wouldn't a relationship between a man and woman naturally involve a process? If the process was just like being ordinary friends, where was the fun? But Cheng You knew he was just putting on a facade of seriousness.
"Qi Chengyan, what things can't be done? Are you referring to when I kissed you last time?" she asked playfully.
If it weren't for the darkness, Cheng You would have seen his earlobes turn red.
Qi Chengyan frowned, his entire body tensing. He reprimanded softly, "Cheng You!"
"I know, I have to be reserved! You've said it so many times. But when you like someone, you want to kiss and hug them. Don't you want to kiss me? Then you definitely don't like me! If that's the case, I don't want to like you anymore!"
Cheng You threw a little tantrum, swinging her braid, and turned to leave. The next moment, her wrist was grabbed. She was pulled into a firm embrace, spun around, and pinned against the wall. In the darkness, Cheng You could still see his dark, deep eyes, tinged with a hint of coldness.
"Say that again!" He was angry. Cheng You could feel it from his rapid breathing and tense muscles. His eyes stared at her like a falcon, as if he wanted to devour her, sharp and aggressive.
"Say it again," his low voice whispered in her ear.
Cheng You's red lips parted slightly, and she felt her own heartbeat quicken. Thump, thump.
"You... you're so domineering. If you don't like me, you won't even let me not like you."
He was silent for a moment, his voice tinged with suppressed emotion. "No."
*No*, he didn't dislike her. This was the first time he had paid so much attention to a young woman. It was also the first time he realized a young woman could have so many facets. Cunning was her, cute was her, vulnerable was her too. Every face was deeply etched into his mind.
Cheng You couldn't help but laugh. The happiness felt as sweet as honey.
"What do those two words mean? I don't understand," the girl's voice was soft, her trailing accent like a small hook that successfully snagged someone's heart.
Qi Chengyan sighed silently, lowered his gaze to her fair little ear, and on impulse, bit it. Cheng You cried out, her round eyes wide with panic, as if an electric current had coursed through her. Realizing what he had done, Cheng You pouted and hit him.
"You're a hooligan!"
Qi Chengyan held her fist. It was so small; he could grasp it with one hand. "Didn't you say it yourself?" That when you like someone, you want to kiss and hug them.
Cheng You's cheeks flushed, and she pouted, "Let go, hooligan!"
"Doing these things with your boyfriend isn't hooliganism."
Cheng You huffed coyly, "I haven't agreed to be your girlfriend yet!"
Qi Chengyan leaned in, possessively gripping her chin, and said in a low voice, "Then who do you want to be in a relationship with?"
"Cheng You, a relationship and marriage between men and women is a very serious matter. You've done these things to me, so you can't do them with anyone else, understand?"
Cheng You was taken aback. "I know. I haven't done this with anyone else, only with you."
Qi Chengyan seemed satisfied. He rubbed her soft chin and released her. His action was like that of teasing a cat. Soon, he let go of Cheng You, stepped back, and resumed his usual serious demeanor.
"Cheng You, my name is Qi Chengyan. I was born in July 1951, from Yan City. I have an older sister. I joined the army at sixteen and was selected for the special forces two years later. A year ago, due to... a leg injury, I was discharged. For certain reasons, I chose to sign up for the countryside. I don't know if I'll return to the city in the future, but no matter what, I, Qi Chengyan, will not abandon my wife. This is my promise to you. Now, I am proposing to date you with the intention of marriage. Will you be my girlfriend?"
Cheng You was stunned. She hadn't expected him to become so serious so suddenly, so much so that she hadn't recovered. After a few moments of waiting, Qi Chengyan's imposing aura subsided.
"You don't want to?"
Cheng You quickly replied, "No, it's not that! I was just thinking about how to introduce myself. I'm eighteen years old this year, and you already know about my family situation. I don't have any other glorious experiences to introduce." She frowned, troubled.
Qi Chengyan raised his hand and placed it on her head, gently stroking her hair a few times. "There's no need for introductions. We'll have plenty of opportunities to get to know each other in the future." He had introduced himself to Cheng You to give her a sense of security, to assure her that the possibility of him abandoning her did not exist.
Cheng You's face turned rosy as she looked at him. "So, are we considered a couple now?"
"Yes."
Cheng You extended her hand towards him, smiling. "Can we hold hands now that we're a couple?" In reality, relationships nowadays weren't as bold as Cheng You's. But it was night, and everyone had gone home. It was precisely because she knew no one could see her that she dared.
Qi Chengyan hesitated for a moment, then extended his hand. His dry, broad palm enveloped her tender, white hand. They walked forward under the moonlight. For a moment, Cheng You felt as if she could walk with him for a lifetime, until they were old. She turned her head to look at his profile. He would be a good boyfriend, wouldn't he?