NOVEL NEXT Chapter 65 - II
“Of course, I do,” Zhao Hong replied, his gaze perplexed.
Shi Yi then asked, “If you really like him, why didn’t you stay with him?”
“It might have a negative impact on his reputation. I don’t want to tarnish his good name.” Zhao Hong explained thoughtfully.
Pei Xing shook his head, patting Zhao Hong’s shoulder, and suggested, “You’ll be leaving in a few days, and you might not have another opportunity to visit Xizhou after you return. Why not take advantage of this opportunity and bring him with you? Look how happy Li Ruo being with you.”
“Marry him?!” Zhao Hong seemed dumbfounded. He couldn’t believe it. “Does he really like me?”
Shi Yi sighed, raising his hand to his forehead. He looked at Zhao Hong and said, “Go tell him now that you want to marry him. I can guarantee he’ll say yes.”
Zhao Hong was momentarily stunned, unsure how to respond.
.
Upon returning to his private room, Zhao Hong was met with Li Ruo inside, drinking directly from a wine bottle. He reached out to take the bottle from Li Ruo, concerned for his health.
“Drinking so much isn’t good for you,” Zhao Hong commented.
Li Ruo questioned, “I thought you were leaving. Why are you back?”
“I might have to return to Beijing in a few days,” Zhao Hong explained.
Li Ruo responded, “I see. When will you be back?”
Zhao Hong then explained, “Nanyi has come seeking peace, and there is war in the north. Many things are happening, so I might not be able to come back again.”
Li Ruo was visibly affected by this news, and the loss in his eyes was clear. His response was strained as he attempted to keep his composure.
Zhao Hong continued, “Do you want to come with me?”
Li Ruo looked at Zhao Hong with disbelief, wondering if he was serious.
“I’m worried about you staying here alone. If you come with me, I can take care of you.” Zhao Hong added.
Li Ruo hesitated, then replied, “No need. I can take care of myself.”
Zhao Hong decided to take a bold step, asking, “Do you want to marry me?”
Li Ruo looked at him in shock. There was a moment of silence before they both spoke simultaneously.
Li Ruo questioned, “Is what you said true?”
Zhao Hong responded, “Yes, I want to marry you as my wife. Are you willing?”
Li Ruo was surprised by this proposition, and Zhao Hong appeared a bit nervous as he awaited Li Ruo’s response.
Li Ruo didn’t respond immediately but looked at Zhao Hong before asking, “Do you really like me?”
Zhao Hong hesitated but then decided to be honest. He looked up at Li Ruo and said, “I like you very much.”
Li Ruo’s face lit up with a smile. He reached out to touch his serious face and said, “You’ve finally come to your senses.”
Zhao Hong reassured him, “If you marry me, I will be devoted to you, and there will be no one else.”
Li Ruo kissed him on the cheek and then embraced him warmly. Zhao Hong felt overwhelmed by the softness in his arms. He held Li Ruo but was too nervous to do more.
Li Ruo leaned in, kissed his cheek again. Zhao Hong’s heart was beating hard and didn’t dare to touch the warm body in his arms. “This is against the rules. We’re not married yet, so we shouldn’t be so close.”
With a mischievous smile, Li Ruo settled on his lap, kissed his face, and asserted, “I don’t care about rules. We are both orphans without parents, and we are not under anyone’s control. You said you want to marry me, so I will treat you as my husband.”
Zhao Hong’s face turned red, his arms trembling as he held Li Ruo. The warmth and closeness between them were making him feel overwhelmed.
“Even so, we must respect the rules.” Zhao Hong insisted, struggling to maintain propriety.
This time, Li Ruo didn’t respond with words. Instead, he kissed Zhao Hong’s cold lips and teased them with the tip of his tongue.
With that kiss, Zhao Hong’s restraint was shattered. His heart raced, and his hands tightly gripped Li Ruo’s waist as he pressed him closer. One hand cupped Li Ruo’s head, deepening the kiss.
Li Ruo responded passionately, melting into the embrace, his legs wrapped around Zhao Hong’s waist.
Breathing heavily, Zhao Hong reluctantly tore himself away from Li Ruo’s intoxicating lips. “It’s still too early for us. We can’t be intimate yet.”
Li Ruo, his face flushed, pressed his face against Zhao Hong’s chest. “Then why don’t we get married tomorrow?”
Thinking about their situation, it was better for Li Ruo to have a wedding in his familiar town with all of his friends here.
Zhao Hong came up with an idea. “I will prepare for our wedding tomorrow.”
Li Ruo, delighted, raised his head, kissed Zhao Hong’s lips, and nestled against his chest. He happily agreed.
The smile on Zhao Hong’s lips never fades.
.
With their wedding preparations underway, Zhao Hong and Li Ruo became more and more excited about their future together. When Shi Yi and Pei Xing learned about their impending wedding, they were quite surprised by how quickly things had progressed.
The wedding was relatively simple, and they invited some friends to witness their union. With Pei Zhengchen acting as their elders, Zhao Hong and Li Ruo became husband and wife.
On the third day of their wedding, Zhao Hong received an official order. Li Ruo closed his teahouse in Xizhou and packed his belongings, ready to follow Zhao Hong back to Shangjing. They were about to start a new chapter in their lives together.