Chapter 37  

Jia Shao was lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling with her eyes opened. The dazzling sunshine flowing through the window made her unable to sleep.

Or it should be said that after returning home last night, she had never slept.

The look in Zhen Lang's eyes last night still lingered in her mind......the look of fury, helplessness, and pity.

Her fingers touched her lips and she could still feel the heat on the spot where he had bitten her.

Her memory once again brought her back to the scene of last night's sudden kiss. She was completely suppressed by him and at that moment, she even felt his mighty power which made her unable to resist......and made her forget to resist.

Damn that Zhen Lang! He is getting married and he still wants to mess with feelings of other people!

Jia Shao turned over and buried her head in the quilt, punching her fists fiercely into the pillow.

Sleep, sleep! She must not think of anything else!

Shrinking herself into a ball, Jia Shao twisted and twisted under the quilt as if she had lice crawling all over her body. No matter how much she turned, she could not sleep and decided to raise her ass high in the air like an ostrich with her head buried under the quilt.

Suddenly, she felt a chill and the quilt was pulled off her. Jia Shao turned over and looked to the side of the bed to see who had interrupted her entanglement with the quilt. Then she weakly opened her mouth to speak. "Ma, what is the matter?"

Jia Mama was standing beside the bed carrying the little doll with one hand while her other hand was holding two stalks of green onions. She was using the green onions to tap on Jia Shao's head. "Get up. Do something for me."

Jia Shao lay weakly on the soft bed and opened her dull big eyes. "Today you want me to help you make dumplings or buns? Or do you want me to wash vegetables or meat?"

"None of them!" Jia Mama who was holding the green onions poked at Jia Shao. "Today, a vaccination is scheduled for the baby. I'm not free, so you have to take him."

"Oh!" Jia Shao stroked her head and sat up on the bed. From her mother's hands, she took the baby, hugged him in her arms and playfully teased him. The baby held on to her and climbed up to give her a string of sweet kisses.

After the two people had a bout of playing, then Jia Shao got up from the bed to clean herself. She put a beautiful flowery hat on the baby before carrying him out to go for his vaccination appointment.

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"Wa!........"

On the street where people were coming and going, heart-wrenching cries came from a little doll. The baby was leaning on Jia Shao's shoulder and his eyes were overflowing with tears, forming a string of teary beads sliding down his face. He sniffed and his breath was staggered. Occasionally, his snot would blow a bubble and Jia Shao's shoulders were full of his tears and snot.

Holding the baby, Jia Shao patted his back and said soothingly. "Be good, don't cry. Auntie will give you a lollipop."

The baby clung to Jia Shao's neck and opened his mouth wide to cry with a grievous expression. Jia Shao pulled out a lollipop, tore off the wrapping and shook it in front of him. His pitiful cries gradually subsided.

Fat little hands made grabbing movements in the air towards the lollipop that Jia Shao was holding in her hand and at the same time, he was calling out.....yi-yi-ya-ya. Jia Shao shook the lollipop in her hand attracting the baby's complete attention.

The little hands managed to catch hold of her fingers with difficulty and the red, tender little mouth closed over the lollipop together with his tears and snot.

Jia Shao took out a paper towel to carefully wipe off the snot and tears on the baby's face, little by little. Then she looked up to search for a trash bin. When she lifted her head, her eyes rested on the gold characters shining brilliantly in the sunlight.

"The Department of Civil Affairs is here as well?" Jia Shao scratched her head and asked herself foolishly.

In recent years, due to urban planning, many government buildings had relocated and Jia Shao had occasionally heard her parents mentioned it. She had not really paid attention until now when she realized the Department of Civil Affairs had moved to the building next to the hospital where the baby had his vaccination.

Cradling the baby, she sat on the bench in front of the Department of Civil Affairs. Jia Shao was holding the lollipop while the baby was slowly licking it and she unscrewed a bottle of mineral water to slowly drink from it.

"After you finish the lollipop, we're going home. When you reach home, you must bawl your eyes out for your Yi-po* to hear. Her heart will definitely ache for you, do you understand?" Jia Shao pinched the baby's cheeks and was not bothered whether the baby really understood what she was telling him.

(Yi-po is the Sister of the maternal grandmother.)

Relaxing in the cool wind that was blowing, Jia Shao's eyes roamed around the place. There were a lot of people coming in and out of the Department of Civil Affairs. From time to time, she could see couples walking hand in hand enter the building and there were also couples who walked away in different directions after coming out. There was laughter and there was sorrow. In front of this huge entrance, the different aspects of life could be viewed vividly and thoroughly.

Suddenly, she froze.

In the distance, a man and a woman were walking out of the parking lot. They were talking and laughing as they walked towards the entrance of the Department of Civil Affairs. Zhen Lang was dressed in a silvery-grey suit looking tall and slim. Bai Wei wore a short pink cheongsam and she looked graceful and elegant.

The two people walked shoulder to shoulder and their figures looked so perfect together. Suddenly their figures stood out brightly, dimming the background behind them and people could not help but look back to admire them.

Why did she have to run into them again?

Jia Shao's gaze followed them and watched them until they disappeared into the building.

She could not help but stand up.

Could not help but follow them.

Could not help but search for the two people.

And she foolishly followed them into the hall.

A row of counters ran from one end of the hall to the other end in the large hall. A large group of staff was manning the counters and some of them were shuttling between the counters while some were answering questions and there were also people filling up forms. There was a huge mix of sounds coming from the crowd.

The baby turned his head to look around with curiosity as he was being carried in Jia Shao's arms and her gaze never wavered as she stared fixedly at the person in front of them.

She saw Bai Wei take out a registration booklet from her bag and concentrated her attention on the form she was filling up.

Is she going to let them get married just like this? Is she going to let this guy get away after being bullied by him for the last 20 years? Last night, he had molested her and today he is marrying someone else. Is she going to let him off so easily?

Deep inside her, there seems to be a small devilish voice that was enticing her......constantly talking in her ear........

Pull a trick on him again!

Let him lose face again!

Let him be a laughing stock in front of people again!

There seems to be an invisible hand that was pushing her body forward......and forward.......until she was finally standing in front of Zhen Lang and Bai Wei.

Zhen Lang's face was turned sideways, looking at Bai Wei filling up the form when he noticed Jia Shao standing beside him.

She was wearing a baggy T-shirt, crumpled and creased as a result of carrying the baby. There were some black stains on the shirt which looked like traces of chocolate and some wet marks on the front of the shirt. She had put on a pair of casual shorts exposing her bare legs and a pair of flip-flops.

She was in a sorry state and also a messy one as well.

Zhen Lang's eyes flashed and his lips twitched. "Why are you here?"

"I......" Jia Shao only realized now that wherever Zhen Lang goes, he would attract people's attention. The moment she appeared, she had become the focus of everyone's stolen glances.

Since she had come this far, she decided to carry on.

Putting the little doll on the counter, Jia Shao suddenly raised her chin. "You came with her to apply for the certificate?"

Not waiting for an answer, her voice became a little louder as it rang out. "You are applying for the certificate with her, then what about me?"

Her voice was not too loud but it was enough for everyone in the hall to hear.

Instantly, the people who were writing, filling up forms, printing documents, all stopped whatever they were doing. Even a couple who was busy quarreling on the opposite side stopped and turned around to look at them.

"Didn't you say you were going to get engaged with me? Didn't you say you wanted to buy me a ring? Just a week later, you brought her here to apply for the certificate?" Jia Shao's tone went up a little higher. "Answer in front of the baby. Have you ever said those words?"

"In front of the baby?" Zhen Lang threw a glance at the little doll sitting on the counter who was swinging his chubby little legs with his big head raised up showing a curious look. "You brought the baby here to look for me?"

"That's right!" Hearing his reply, Jia Shao felt very happy. In fact, she was waiting for this kind of reply from him and the expression of 'grief and indignation' on her face became more intense. "If I had not brought the baby for his vaccination, I wouldn't have known that you have brought someone else to apply for a certificate. You have deceived my feelings. What will happen to me and the baby in the future?"

That sentence immediately caused an uproar from the crowd in the large hall.

"Wa.......they already have a child and he is marrying someone else. This is too much!"

"That's right. He looks like a gentleman but he actually deceives people's feelings."

Even the woman, who was quarreling with her husband, could not help but join in. "Although my husband is lazy, he is true to me."

"That's correct." The husband snorted proudly. "You are too weak as a woman. If my wife is in your place, she would have pressured him for a marriage certificate and not give him any chance. You must also bear some responsibility."

The woman stood up and strode over to Jia Shao. Giving her a heavy pat on her shoulder, the woman said. "Miss, I support you. Ask him for compensation and make him responsible."

"Bai Wei!" Jia Shao grabbed Bai Wei's hand and pointed her finger at Zhen Lang. "This guy is not a good man. You must not believe him. He will deceive your feelings and women revolve around him constantly. He attracts the opposite sex, blows hot and cold and switches partners constantly........."

The more Jia Shao talked with enthusiasm, the more people gathered around and the crowd grew bigger. Even the busy staff strained their necks from behind the counters, whispered and discussed among themselves.

The baby clapped his hands happily and saliva dribbled from his mouth. Jia Shao lowered her head to carefully wipe his mouth and taking the opportunity to sniff pitifully, she said in a hoarse voice. "We have known each other for more than 20 years and we had lived together for several years. I know what kind of a person he is."

They have known each other for more than 20 years and had lived under the same roof. She did not lie. Even the earlier part mentioned, she also did not lie. Zhen Lang had actually said he wanted to get engaged with her, right? He had also said he wanted to buy a ring for her. Everything she said was the truth.

Jia Shao rubbed the corner of her eyes with her finger and using her finger as a cover, she snuck a look at Zhen Lang.

He looked completely calm without any intention of defending himself or showed any annoyance. While discussions among the crowd of people were still going on, Zhen Lang was steadily staring at Jia Shao and that calmness in his eyes made her feel nervous.

With her understanding of him, if he did not have a well-thought-out plan, he would not have that kind of expression on his face.

"Wait." Bai Wei waved the form in her hand and said hastily. "Jia Shao, this must be a misunderstanding. I'm here with Zhen Lang......"

Her hand was held down calmly by Zhen Lang and facing Jia Shao, he asked. "Any more?"

"You......you......you......" Under his intense gaze, Jia Shao was at a loss for words.

His eyes narrowed and the warning in his voice was apparent. "What else do you wish to say? Finish it once and for all."

"Hey, how can a man like you act like this? Eating on the sly without wiping your mouth*. You already have a child and you still dare to threaten people."

(Eating on the sly without wiping your mouth means being unfaithful and did not make an effort to cover up the deceit.)

The husband who was filing for a divorce suddenly rushed over. "From your clothes, it can be seen you're rich. Do you think that being rich, gives you the right to deceive a woman's feelings? If you say anymore, I'll bash you!"

"That's right.........scum!"

"Sure enough, a handsome and rich man is nothing good!"

"Just bash him! Disgusting!"

Everyone directed all their criticism at Zhen Lang and their words were sharp and cutting. Even Jia Shao shrank her neck involuntarily and felt that this trick had gone too far.

On the contrary, the person who was caught in the middle of the storm was extremely calm and even the faint smile on his lips did not diminish.

Jia Shao subconsciously moved backward and she had the urge to sneak away.

"That......" She reached out to pick up the little doll. "I......I have to go. Everyone can continue......continue......."

Someone had already stood behind Jia Shao and blocked her escape route. "Miss, we will be your strong backing. Make him responsible for this."

"That's right. Make him responsible." A group of women started to talk simultaneously and even the staff watching at the side said to Bai Wei. "Do you still dare to marry such a man? Maybe he will bring the child home and you will instantly become a stepmother."

At this time, Jia Shao discovered that the three of them were already surrounded by a crowd of people three-layers thick and it was completely impossible for her to sneak away.

A calm voice sounded in her ear. "How do you want me to be responsible?"

"Ah?......" Jia Shao scratched her head. She had only wanted to prevent Zhen Lang and Bai Wei from marrying. What kind of responsibility does she want from him?

Both her hands started to tremble. "No need. I don't need you to be responsible."

"No!!!" The word was actually roared out by the group of women standing behind her in unison and it was so strong that it nearly shook Jia Shao from the second floor to the first floor.

"Tell him to marry you!!!"

"That's correct. No matter what, the child must have an identity first!"

"If you're his wife, you will get at least half of his assets when you file for divorce. You will definitely be better off. Look how miserable you are......T-shirt and slippers while he is in his expensive western suit. Tell him to give you alimony!"

"Yes! Yes! Anyway, you can't be any more miserable than you are now. Marry him, at least you'll get the status as his wife and make him take responsibility!"

Jia Shao gaped and listened to the loud and lively discussion going on behind her. She had an impulse to either dig a hole and bury herself or drill a hole in the ceiling to make her escape.

She hugged the little doll in her arms and there was a dull look on her face which made her look even more miserable and pathetic.

The man in front of her suddenly beamed a big smile and held out his hand in front of her. "Okay, I will take responsibility. Take out your identity card."

"What do you want to do?" She subconsciously put her hand to the back pocket of her shorts to pull out her wallet but the kind sister who was standing behind her had already helped her to take it out and threw it on the counter.

"Quickly! Fill up the form!"

"Wait! Wait!" The man who was filing for divorce suddenly spoke. "You can't just get married like this. You must make this man put down in writing what he is willing to give you as proof and get it notarized. He must state how much he will give every month for household expenses, for raising his child and what guarantee he will give you as his wife."

Dozens of fingers simultaneously pointed at Zhen Lang. "Write!! "

Zhen Lang thought for a while. "I'll give you all my bank deposits, is that alright?"

"Yes!!!" A group of voices chorused

"How about changing my name on all my real estates to your name?"

"Yes!!!" The group of voices chorused again and someone even helped to press down Jia Shao's head to 'nod' in agreement.

"All the stocks and shares under my name will be transferred to you, is that alright?"

"Yes!!!"

Zhen Lang's pen quickly slid over the paper. "Let's go. We'll get this notarized."

As a result, the most spectacular scene emerged in the Department of Civil Affairs' history. A woman in messy attire and an elegant man in an expensive suit were escorted by a group of people who had never met before, marched to the Notary Office.

Jia Shao was practically forced to put down her fingerprints when someone grabbed her hand to 'help' her. She did not have time to even think about how much she had earned from this matter and was stunned when a piece of paper was shoved in front of her face.

The marriage application form!!!

"That......" While Jia Shao was reading the information on the form, Zhen Lang had already filled it up without any error. Only her signature was required. "The registration booklet is needed to get married. I......I didn't bring it."

There was a weird smile on Zhen Lang's lips. "Your registration booklet? I have it!"

He......why is her registration booklet with him?

Before she could query, Zhen Lang had put his arms around her waist and under the gaze of countless people.......he kissed her lips.

His kisses were deep and affectionate and his heat instantly softened her body. She only knew that his tongue was exploring, roaming over her lips and teeth, and a surge of power melted her.

His taste was more intoxicating than wine and his kisses assimilated into her soul. Jia Shao could only feel her mind flying away and only her body was subconsciously responding.

Zhen Lang gently moved away from her lips and looked at the blurry eyes of the woman in his arms. Then he leaned into her ear. "Sign!"

Reeling from his potent kiss, she picked up the pen in a trance and signed......