ASTRP -Chapter 247 Side Story (Part 2)

“I want to see Jingqi get married in my lifetime. When are you planning to marry him?”

“Cough…”

Feng Jingge almost choked. Xiao Jingqi thoughtfully patted her back and even poured her a glass of water.

“Come, drink some water. It’ll make you feel better.”

“Thank you.”

Mrs. Xiao watched their interaction with a smile full of warmth.

“Jingge, I know bringing up marriage so suddenly is a bit abrupt, but I—”

“Mom!”

Xiao Jingqi interrupted her. “There’s no rush about this. It’s her first time visiting our home, it’s not appropriate to talk about marriage right away.”

“There will be plenty of chances to talk about it later. Let’s eat first!”

Seeing Feng Jingge a little embarrassed, Mrs. Xiao smiled and nodded.

“Alright, alright. We’ll talk about marriage later.”

The meal ended on a fairly pleasant note. Xiao Jingqi drove Feng Jingge home afterward.

In the passenger seat, Feng Jingge quietly looked out the window the entire way.

She thought—if Xiao Jinghan could come here, how wonderful it would be.

Then she could see his mother, herself… and their child together.

Xiao Jinghan, how are you doing now?

I miss you so much…

“Thinking about him?”

Xiao Jingqi suddenly asked.

Feng Jingge didn’t hide it. “Yes. I miss him. I really want to see him.”

“If you’re destined, you’ll meet again,” he said lightly.

Who knows…

The car fell silent again. Feng Jingge suddenly turned to him.

“You said your mother has cancer?”

“Yes.” His voice slowed slightly. “Why? Do you think I’m lying?”

“No, I just feel Auntie looks quite healthy. She doesn’t look like someone who’s sick.”

Feng Jingge did have medical knowledge.

Even though she couldn’t cure cancer, someone in the late stage… would not look like that.

“Auntie really doesn’t look like she has cancer.”

“You mean… my mother is lying?” Xiao Jingqi’s eyes narrowed slightly. “That she’s pretending to be sick?”

Feng Jingge quickly shook her head.

“No, that’s not what I mean. I just think she looks very healthy.”

“Maybe… it’s because she put on makeup.”

Makeup?

Xiao Jingqi’s eyes darkened slightly.

He knew his mother very well—she never wore makeup.

And she truly didn’t look like someone seriously ill. He had never doubted her before.

Unless… she was pretending to be sick to make him marry early?

If that was the case…

He turned to look at Feng Jingge, his gaze deepening.

Feng Jingge… if it’s you, marrying you doesn’t seem unacceptable.

Xiao Jingqi had always been extremely averse to women.

Except for his mother, he kept all other women at a distance.

Until that old man brought Feng Jingge to him.

She felt… different.

At the very least, he didn’t reject her.

That was why he suggested she pretend to be his girlfriend.

Was it because she was Xiao Jinghan’s woman… that he didn’t dislike her?

Soon, the car reached Feng Jingge’s home.

When she got out, she suddenly paused and turned back.

“About your mother wanting us to get married… how are you going to explain that?”

Xiao Jingqi didn’t answer immediately. He looked at her very seriously.

“Feng Jingge, let’s make a deal.”

“What?”

“Three years. If Xiao Jinghan still hasn’t come back within three years, then we get married.”

Feng Jingge froze. “Do you even know what you’re saying?”

“I do.” His tone was calm. “I just think it’s not easy for a woman to raise a child alone.”

“Also, if a child grows up without a father, other kids will laugh at him.”

“He’ll grow up unhappy, and it may affect his mental health.”

“My mother likes you. Even if she’s pretending to be sick, she’ll treat you well.”

“And I won’t treat you badly either.”

“As for the child, I’ll treat him as my own.”

“After all, he is also related to me…”

“Feng Jingge, don’t refuse me right away. I’m not rushing you to answer.”

“Think about it. During this time, I’ll still come see you.”

“Don’t worry—just as a friend.”

—

Feng Jingge lay on her bed, her mind still replaying Xiao Jingqi’s words.

He had also said the marriage would be fake.

If Xiao Jinghan came back, they would divorce immediately.

He just didn’t want to see her struggling alone raising a child.

Didn’t want the child to be laughed at.

After marriage, he wouldn’t cross any boundaries.

They would simply live under the same roof as friends—only acting in front of his mother.

“Baby… should I agree?”

She placed her hand on her abdomen.

As soon as she finished speaking, she felt a slight movement under her palm.

She froze.

She was only six months pregnant—how could she already feel fetal movement?

Or… was the baby responding to her?

She asked again.

“Baby, if I should marry Xiao Jingqi, move once.”

She waited.

No movement.

Just as she was about to pull her hand away, her stomach moved again.

“Baby… are you telling me to agree?”

Another gentle movement.

“You actually agree… then I’ll listen to you.”

In the end, Feng Jingge agreed to the proposal.

Although there was no love between them, he had a point.

A child shouldn’t grow up without a father.

Maybe… within three years, Xiao Jinghan would come back.

Three years wasn’t short, yet not long either.

For Feng Jingge, however, it felt like an entire lifetime.

But three years passed—and the person she longed for never came.

Today was her wedding day with Xiao Jingqi.

She sat in front of the mirror, dressed in phoenix bridal attire.

Looking at her carefully made-up reflection, she felt no joy at all.

Although over the past three years, Xiao Jingqi had indeed kept his promise and treated her like a friend.

Still… there was no love between them.

And he was Xiao Jinghan’s younger brother—she was essentially his sister-in-law.

“Mommy, you look so beautiful…”

A two-and-a-half-year-old boy in a little suit ran in.

His dark, deep eyes sparkled as he looked at his beautiful mother.

Seeing him, Feng Jingge lifted him onto her lap.

“Xiaohan, Mommy is getting married today. Are you happy?”

“I’m happy! Mommy is marrying Daddy, of course I’m happy!”

In his heart, Xiao Jingqi was his father.

Feng Jingge had once considered telling him the truth, but feared he wouldn’t be able to accept it.

And Xiao Jingqi… had truly treated him like his own son.

Mrs. Xiao, too, adored the child immensely.

“Miss Feng, it’s time.”

“Come, put on the red veil.”