After Lin Mei explained these things, Lin Zhengde and Xiao Yue understood why Xing Zheng had such an attitude towards his parents. If a child was not valued from a young age, it was difficult for them to be close to their parents even after adulthood. Xiao Yue became worried, "He has gone through so much since childhood, won't there be any psychological issues with his personality?"
"With his parents treating him like that, does he know how to interact with children?" Lin Zhengde had the same concern. Parents' thoughts were all alike. Lin Mei was an only child, and they couldn't help but worry.
"He... he will learn." Although she said this, Lin Mei wasn't very confident. Although Xing Zheng had recovered from his illness, his attitude towards children... she couldn't be sure. How could someone who had never experienced a normal family atmosphere since childhood learn to love children in such a short time? She hadn't even seen children in his world.
Lin Zhengde and Xiao Yue decided to talk to Xing Zheng about it. Before long, Xing Zheng returned. Seeing them waiting on the sofa, Xing Zheng knew they had something to say. He sat down opposite them, "They were presumptuous today. If they said anything unpleasant, I apologize."
His attitude was very proper, and Lin Zhengde and Xiao Yue did not blame him. Moreover, Xing Sha and Xie Qin Jia had not said anything excessive, and their attitude was very enthusiastic. It was evident that they liked Lin Mei very much.
"Hua Mei told us about your family situation, and we understand," Lin Zhengde said to Xing Zheng. "But, she and her mother are a bit worried if you will have problems interacting with children in the future."
Xing Zheng immediately understood. Lin Zhengde and Xiao Yue were worried that having grown up in such a family environment, he would not be able to interact normally with children. "I dare not say I will do as well as her, but I will try my best. I really want children."
From the first time Lin Mei became pregnant, he had been looking forward to their child. With a child, they would have their own home. He couldn't enjoy his parents' love, but he could be a parent and love their child.
"Well, your word is enough," Lin Zhengde was not trying to make things difficult for him, he just wanted him to state his position. "If you have the intention, you will always learn."
Xing Zheng nodded. He looked at Lin Mei beside him and held her hand. The events of tonight reminded him. "Teacher Lin, Teacher Xiao, I want to get the certificate with her first."
Lin Mei froze, staring at him in surprise. They had never discussed marriage before, and he had brought it up so abruptly...
"Regarding marriage, you two should discuss it yourselves." Lin Zhengde and Xiao Yue did not want to interfere too much. Lin Mei looked so surprised, she must not have discussed it yet. "Don't rush, there's plenty of time. Think about it slowly. Marriage can't be rushed."
Currently, Lin Mei was pregnant, and a wedding couldn't be held. Since they had to wait until the child was born, it didn't matter when they got the certificate. Before going to bed, Xing Zheng discussed getting the certificate with Lin Mei. He held her in his arms and whispered into her ear, "Choose a date, and we'll go get the certificate, okay?"
Lin Mei remained silent. Xing Zheng couldn't wait and asked again, "Don't you want to marry me?"
"I haven't thought about it." This was the truth.
In the past, their relationship had always been ambiguous, and it had started twistedly. How could she have imagined marrying him? They had only been dating like ordinary couples for a few months, far from the stage of marriage. Now, her body was in this condition... How could she take a wedding photo with this face?
"If you don't marry me, who do you want to marry?" He was not very satisfied with this answer, so he bit her earlobe and wrapped his hand around her body, pulling her closer.
She had always had little resistance to him, and within a few moments, she leaned into his arms. This reaction encouraged him. He laughed and teased her, "You're like this without me even doing anything. Besides me, who else has this ability? Hmm?"
"If you don't marry me, who do you want to marry?" he pressed her, kissing the skin behind her ear.
Lin Mei shivered, her cheeks burning, and a blush spread across her body. Tears welled up in her eyes. Xing Zheng turned her body and saw her tears. He leaned down to kiss them away, "Why are you crying? I haven't even started teasing you yet."
Since she found out she was pregnant, they hadn't been intimate. She didn't know how much he suffered every night holding her, nor how many times he had gotten up.
"I don't want to take photos like this, it's too ugly." Lin Mei finally revealed her inner turmoil. Xing Zheng heard this and pressed his lips against the scar on her face, kissing it gently, as if kissing something fragile, devoutly and tenderly.
After he kissed her, her tears fell again, tracing down her cheeks and into his lips. He continued his actions, kissing and saying, "I think it's beautiful, and that's what matters."
"Tomorrow I'll cut a few more scars on my face to match you." He wasn't joking; this idea had already occurred to him earlier.
"No," Lin Mei refused him. "If you become ugly, I won't like you anymore."
Xing Zheng cupped her chin. "You like this face?"
"Is there a problem?" Seeing him so awkward, Lin Mei's mood improved considerably. "Doesn't many people like this face?"
Initially, she was attracted by his looks. Liking handsome men was a human instinct, and many women pursued him. She had seen several of them.
"The competition is so fierce, aren't you considering getting a stamp first?" he said, indirectly bringing up marriage again.
Lin Mei pushed him away. "That's not how it works. You haven't even proposed, and you want to take advantage."
"Yes, you're right." He was persuaded. "If I propose, will we get the certificate?"
"Propose first, then we'll talk," Lin Mei kept him guessing, unwilling to say. She still longed for romance in her heart. If they were to get married, there must be a formal proposal; it was a necessary sense of ritual. She couldn't just marry him without hesitation if he asked, that would be too undignified.
After that day, Xing Zheng truly began planning the proposal. However, when Lin Mei asked him, he refused to reveal a single word. "If I tell you now, there will be no surprise."
Although he said that, Lin Mei was still eager to know. Because of the proposal, her attention was diverted quite a bit, and her mood and mental state had improved significantly compared to before. When she went for consultations, the therapist said she was visibly improving.
Zhou Yue even praised her strong willpower, being able to recover to this state without medication. Lin Mei's performance also showed him what it meant to be "stronger for motherhood."
When Lin Mei went for her consultation this time, Zhou Yue was outside and started chatting with Xing Zheng. He sighed, "Lin Mei is stronger than I imagined. Her recovery is much faster than I predicted." And this was without medication.
Xing Zheng replied, "Mm, she's very capable."
"How are her parents?" Zhou Yue joked with Xing Zheng, "Have you won over your in-laws?"