MGASC -Chapter 213 The Rough Man Suddenly Starts Caring About His Looks

It had snowed lightly just yesterday. When the trees shook, snowflakes fluttered down, landing on their faces and hands, icy and biting cold.

“Zhang Ling, what do you mean? If you look down on me, why did you go out with me last night? You went out, and now you come back saying this? What, have I treated you badly? Or do you think being with someone like me is beneath you?”

Zhang Ling wanted to shake her head.

But all he got was her silence.

That silence was like a wordless verdict.

“Were you serious about what you just said?” he asked hoarsely, his gaze darkening.

The suffocating pressure in his voice was terrifying.

Zhang Ling nodded.

Better short pain than long suffering. Rather than wait until after marriage and be despised or tortured over whether she could bear children, it was better to end things now.

It wasn’t that she lacked confidence in herself. It was that she believed men’s so-called love was like clouds in the sky—unpredictable and impossible to grasp.

Back then, Xu Liang had fallen out with his family, crying and insisting on marrying her. They had indeed been happy for a while after marriage. But once they learned she couldn’t have children, Xu Liang had initially been patient, comforting and encouraging her. Over time, though, his patience wore thin. Add to that her parents constantly leeching off them, and Xu Liang no longer spoke to her with the tenderness he once had.

He mocked her, belittled her, even humiliated her in front of his parents. In the end, he even laid hands on her…

Perhaps love always begins beautifully. If everything goes smoothly, a couple might naturally grow old together.

But if one side encounters a problem, it becomes a tremendous test of the marriage.

Facts had proven that when it came to children and bloodlines, men held a deep-rooted obsession.

Jin Quan didn’t share a deep bond with her; they had only met a few times. He could easily find another woman to marry and have children with.

She didn’t want to hold him back. Nor did she want to once again stake her future on something as intangible as love.

For the first time in front of him, Zhang Ling showed a stubborn expression. “Jin Quan, you don’t know me. Maybe… you should ask around—”

“Zhang Ling, it’s not like I can’t find a woman!” Jin Quan suddenly cut her off. “I don’t do shameless things like pestering a woman who doesn’t want me! I’ll ask you one last time—are you taking back what you just said? If you do now, I’ll pretend you never said it. But if you insist on rejecting me…”

A flash of cruelty and resolve crossed his brows. He stared at Zhang Ling as if trying to drill a hole through her face.

But after waiting a long time, he never heard her say she regretted it, never heard her say she would take it back.

He let out a cold laugh and suddenly released her.

“Fine. From now on, I’ll stay far away from you. And you’d better stay out of my sight!”

A layer of frost and snow had settled on his shoulders and head, as if his hair had turned white.

Would this be what he looked like when he grew old?

Zhang Ling stood there in a daze as he walked away.

She turned back toward home, unable to describe what she was feeling—some disappointment, some anger, some regret.

But she did not regret her decision. Jin Quan was right. It wasn’t as if no one wanted him; he had plenty of choices.

And as for her—even without a man, she would never cry and cling like she once had.

Having a family and a lover was one way to live. Without them, she could live well on her own too.

Recently, her pastry skills had improved rapidly. Though Li Enhua was young, he was a patient teacher.

He constantly praised Zhang Ling’s nimble hands and said she would definitely become an outstanding pastry chef in the future.

No one had ever acknowledged her like that before—not for her looks, not for her personality, not for any identity attached to her—but for who she was as a person.

Lately she had been thinking: besides being someone’s daughter, someone’s wife, someone’s sister, someone’s aunt, someone’s mother—what else could a woman be?

Perhaps she could simply be herself.

…

Early the next morning, Lin Tianyue stood in front of the mirror bustling about. He changed clothes several times, shaved, and even put mousse in his hair.

Each time he changed outfits, he asked Lin Xun for his opinion. “Son, does Dad look handsome in this? Or this one?”

Compared to him, Zhang Qiao was much more casual.

She slipped on a pair of jeans, a shirt, and a white sweater over it. She tied her hair into a ponytail and put on light makeup—simple and fresh.

Lin Xun couldn’t offer any useful advice and looked helplessly at Zhang Qiao.

Zhang Qiao came over, linked arms with Lin Tianyue, and pulled him toward the door. “Let’s go. You’re handsome enough already. Lin Tianyue, you’re paying so much attention to your looks—if people didn’t know better, they’d think you had someone on the side.”

Lin Tianyue looked slightly embarrassed. “We’re going to register our marriage. Of course I have to look neat and proper.”

In the end, he was also wearing jeans, a shirt, and a V-neck vest. After all the picking and choosing, it turned out to match his wife’s outfit pretty well.

Maybe it was fate.

This was the one!

The two of them went to register their marriage, carrying Xia Xia with them.

The three boys had been watching TV. Hearing the door open, they all came out together to see them off.

The three of them nudged and jostled one another, as if brewing up something.

Zhang Qiao and Xia Xia looked at them curiously.

Lin Tianyue said, “If you’ve got something to say, spit it out. Stop dragging it out!”

Seeing this, Lin Ran quickly shoved Lin Jin.

Lin Jin awkwardly rubbed his little nose. “Um… Dad, Mom, you and little sister have fun out there.”

Zhang Qiao: Dad, Mom?

At only twenty-one years old, she felt as if thunder had crashed over her head.

As soon as Lin Jin finished speaking, he bolted. It was Lin Ran’s turn. He rubbed his hands together. “Dad, Mom, you go celebrate happily today. I… I’ll heat up leftovers for the other two at noon!”

Lin Ran ran off too, leaving all the pressure on the eldest, Lin Xun.

Lin Xun was never good with words. Now, with his dad, Zhang Qiao, and Xia Xia all staring at him without blinking, his face turned as red as a monkey’s backside. He wanted nothing more than to turn and run.

Damn Lin Ran—always showing off—insisting they officially change how they addressed her today.

If he had known, he would have gone first. Who knew being last would be this embarrassing?

“Dad… um, Mom, I wish you… a happy wedding. And… may you have a son soon!”

Seeing Xia Xia frown unhappily, he hurriedly corrected himself. “No, I mean… have a few more!”

Scratching his head, Lin Xun lowered it and was about to run.

Zhang Qiao, whose back was also damp with sweat, called out, “Lin Xun, wait a second!”

Facing away from them, Lin Xun muttered, “Uh… is there something else?”

Zhang Qiao’s face was red from being called “Mom” by three young men. Seeing Lin Tianyue laughing, she gave him an annoyed punch.

Still, on the day she and Lin Tianyue were registering their marriage, the three boys had suddenly changed how they addressed her—something she had never expected. It felt awkward, but also touching.

At least it showed they acknowledged her.

Since they acknowledged her like this, she certainly couldn’t disappoint them.

Besides, her good sons Lin Jin and Lin Ran had already hinted at it so clearly.

“Lin Xun, you… go call the other two and get changed quickly. We’re all going together!”

Lin Tianyue and Lin Xun: “Together?”