Chapter 5: 005

Chapter 5

Facing Master Fu's eager eyes, Zhen Bao chose to remain silent.

Master Fu could see that Zhen Bao was not consenting, but was silently refusing. Since the child was unwilling, Master Fu could not stubbornly cling on either. He patted his thighs and shook his head, "Forget it, let's not talk about this for now. Bao Bao, come with grandpa to your grandfather's grave to burn some incense sticks. It's far away and we don't get to see him often. It's not easy to visit him once." After speaking, he turned his head to look at his grandson, "Go get the Lao Bai spirit from the car. Zhen Commander used to love drinking that the most."

Fu Ming Shi strode past Zhen Bao without even glancing at her.

Zhen Bao was still looking at the ground, also not casting a single glance at him.

Master Fu walked over with a smile, and whispered as if sharing a secret, "Bao Bao, tell grandpa the truth, do you think Ming Shi looks decent?"

Zhen Bao glanced at him and slowly nodded her head. Even if Fu Ming Shi was ugly, out of courtesy, she could not denigrate his grandson in front of Master Fu.

Master Fu stroked his beard and laughed, "Then I'll also tell you the truth. This child Ming Shi has had a cold temper since young. He is only passionate about his work. He's already 28 this year but has never been in love before. I tried arranging blind dates for him but he avoids them like the plague. This time, he came by himself after seeing your photo, without me having to put in much effort. In my opinion, he must have taken a liking to you already."

But Zhen Bao thought about the prenuptial agreement. Fu Ming Shi did not like her, he was just too filial to the elderly.

"You're also at the age to fall in love. Do you have someone you like?" Master Fu started probing into Zhen Bao's life.

Speaking of this topic, Zhen Bao felt a little embarrassed and shook her head. She was a good student who studied hard and did not date early. After dropping out of school, some people pursued her but Zhen Bao felt they did not meet her expectations and firmly rejected them. These two years, Granny Guo kindly tried matchmaking for her a few times but for various reasons, Zhen Bao did not fancy any of them. She was not in a hurry either, many of her peers were still studying.

"You've never dated before, the two of you are even more well-suited." Stealing a glance at his grandson who was carrying two bottles of wine back, Master Fu teased Zhen Bao meaningfully.

Zhen Bao smiled awkwardly.

"Let's go, we can chat while walking." Master Fu beckoned for Fu Ming Shi, who was waiting over there, to go ahead of him as he took the lead in striding out the door.

Zhen Bao noticed the paper ingots for burning in Fu Ming Shi's hands and grabbed a lighter to put in her pocket.

On the way, Master Fu told Zhen Bao many old stories between him and Commander Zhen. Zhen Bao listened with great interest, finding him increasingly amiable. Reêad latest novels at novelhall.com

Fu Ming Shi walked behind the two, carrying things. Seeing Zhen Bao smile at the old master once again, he pondered and spoke to Zhen Bao for the first time since being bitten by the goose, "This morning, why didn't you let me in the door?" Other than the somewhat ridiculous marital requirements, he didn't think he had offended her. Seeing her well-behaved manner before the old master, it meant she acknowledged the relationship between their families. There was no reason to respect the old master yet be rude to him.

"Master Fu, please don't be like this. I'll go with you." Zhen Bao's eyes were red from crying.

"Really?" Among the persuasion by the two young ones, only Zhen Bao's words entered the old master's ears.

Zhen Bao wiped her eyes and nodded.

Master Fu was overjoyed, not the joy of making money or even winning the lottery, but the joy of fulfilling a long-held wish - no longer needing to feel ashamed before his comrade, no longer needing to feel guilty in conscience. It was as if dying now, in this lifetime he no longer had any regrets.

"Ming Shi, quickly kneel down, you two kowtow to the Commander together." Swaying as he stood, Master Fu shakily pulled at his grandson.

Fu Ming Shi looked at the hot tears in the old man's eyes, then at Zhen Bao kneeling there with lowered head. He took a deep breath, and let go of all his previous aversion toward this feudal and backwards custom, along with his doubts about Zhen Bao's qualifications and dissatisfaction with her personality.

Since the old master was so adamant, and since Zhen Bao had softened her stance and agreed for the old master's sake, against her true wishes, as a man, what more could he not let go of?

The old master was insistent. If the netherworld truly existed, if Commander Zhen below could really see all this, having proposed the childhood betrothal in the first place, he would surely be willing to entrust his granddaughter to Fu Ming Shi's care now, right?

Glancing at Zhen Bao, Fu Ming Shi suddenly grabbed her left hand and pulled her along to kowtow to the gravestone, solemnly vowing, "Elder Zhen, Commander Zhen, please rest assured, I will take good care of Bao Bao. As long as Bao Bao does not despise me, I will spend my whole life devoted to her alone in this lifetime."

The old master had broken his word before, but he would keep his word.

After getting engaged, Zhen Bao would slowly grow to like him. Even if he still did not have feelings for her, he would work hard to be a good husband, and would never use the excuse of finding true love to look for someone else outside. If Zhen Bao looked down on him, then after the old master recovered, he would respect Zhen Bao's wishes and cancel the engagement, setting her free to find her other half.

After kowtowing, Fu Ming Shi slowly straightened up, still holding onto Zhen Bao's hand.

Zhen Bao stared blankly at him.

Why was he being so serious? Didn't they agree to get engaged first and let the feelings develop naturally? But Fu Ming Shi's tone just now, unexpectedly made her feel like he intended to spend his whole life with her as husband and wife. When they had just met two days ago...

Zhen Bao gently pulled her hand free, thinking to herself that later she would also have to write up an agreement, lest Fu Ming Shi mistake the play for reality.

She did not want his money. As long as he did not get handsy with her, things would be fine.