1 Can We Get Married?

'Dong! Dong! Dong!'

The abrupt knock on the door startled Zhou Xia who was watching a horror movie on the sofa. She was so frightened her hair stood on end. At this moment, there was a sudden flash of lightning outside the window. The rain poured down, and the thunder rumbled in the sky, making her ears buzz.

She wore the slippers she had left on the carpet and went to the door with an unpleasant expression.

She asked carefully, "Who is it?"

"Zhou Xia, it's me, Shen Lin." A familiar yet strange voice came from the door. Zhou Xia looked through the peephole.

Outside the door, the man's white shirt had long been drenched by the rain. It stuck tightly to his skin and outlined his already excellent muscle lines. His head was lowered, and water was dripping from his hair.

Zhou Xia was a little surprised and did not know how to react.

Why did Shen Lin come to her? It had been eight years since the two of them had last seen each other. The man's slightly childish face had transformed into a more profound and handsome face. The slender figure in her memory had also become a lot stronger.

Zhou Xia opened the door and let him in. She handed him a towel and motioned for him to dry his wet hair. "It's so late. What's the matter?"

Shen Lin looked at the woman in front of him. He said nervously, "I want to ask you for a favor." His voice was a little hoarse as he stared at her with his deep eyes.

"What is it?"

She waited for a while but did not receive an answer. She only saw Shen Lin's furrowed eyebrows. His face was dark, and his lips were pursed into a thin line. He seemed to be in a difficult position.

The two of them had been separated for so long, but his dark, deep, and reticent personality had not changed at all. It seemed as though it was a struggle for Shen Lin to utter even one more word. 

"Tell me, what's the matter?" Zhou Xia urged.

"Please marry me, will you?"

Zhou Xia was dumbfounded. 

This person was really... Either he didn't open his mouth, or the moment he opened his mouth, he would always make some shocking requests.

Zhou Xia even suspected that she had misheard the other party's words because the thunder outside was too loud. "I... marry you?"

She was not a fool who could not understand what Shen Lin was saying. She just wanted to confirm if Shen Lin really did ask what she had heard.

Shen Lin did not say anything. He just nodded. The voice-controlled lights in the corridor dimmed. There was no emotion in his deep eyes. Under the faint light, only his long eyelashes could be seen. His thoughts couldn't be fathomed.

"Why?" Zhou Xia had to admit that even though they had not seen each other for eight years, Shen Lin's appearance still made her heart throb. However, it was not enough to make her lose her mind.

"My mother's health is deteriorating."

He spoke the truth.

"I understand." There was no need for Shen Lin to explain further. Zhou Xia had already understood his intention.

Although she rarely stayed at home after she went to college and never saw Shen Lin and his mother, Zhou Xia heard from her own mother that Shen Lin's mother had heart disease.

Shen Lin was brought up by his mother. They had been relying on each other. Therefore, Zhou Xia understood Shen Lin's intention to comfort his sick mother.

In any case, Shen Lin's mother was a gentle and kind woman. His mother used to treat Zhou Xia well.

When she had been 'together' with Shen Lin behind everyone's back, Shen Lin's mother was the only one who knew about it.

Back in school, Zhou Xia would ask Shen Lin for help whenever she had any difficulties in her studies. Every time she went, Shen Lin's mother would find an excuse to leave the house so that they could have some time alone.

However, there was no love story between her and Shen Lin at that time. They did not have any romantic relationship. They were just ordinary students.

Shen Lin's mother's health worsened day by day. Hence, his mother moved from home to the sanatorium for treatment. Shen Lin went to Yanbei City to attend university. The relationship between Shen Lin and Zhou Xia was broken.

"Marry me, will you?" Shen Lin's voice was deep. He spoke faster. He seemed a little anxious.

"Let me think about it." Zhou Xia was still hesitating.

Shen Lin took out a black leather wallet from his pocket. He took out two cards and handed them to Zhou Xia.

"This card contains all my savings. The password is 921201. This is my salary card, and the password is the same. You should know what my job is. The salary isn't much, but it's enough for support. There's also a fully paid car and a house with a settled downpayment. The housing loan and accumulated funds can cover a large part of it, and the remaining amount has to be paid back every month."

It was Zhou Xia's first time hearing Shen Lin speak so much in one breath. She rubbed the card in her hand. It was still wet. She was surprised and a little uncomfortable.