Tomorrow, we'll go and reapply for our marriage certificate!

"Come over here!"

Seeing that her mother's attitude seemed to be softening a little—she even took out a quilt for Cheng Xueming—Feng Jiayou tiptoed behind, sneaking over to eavesdrop at the corner of her parents' room.

She seemed to catch something interesting and beckoned for Cheng Xueming to hurry over and listen as well.

But eavesdropping on his future in-laws? Was that something a prospective son-in-law, who hadn't even officially joined the family yet, should be doing?

Cheng Xueming quickly waved his hand—absolutely not! Instead, he motioned for Feng Jiayou to come over and help him make the bed, so they could chat and he could finally figure out what was going on.

Ever since he'd stepped into the Feng family home, Cheng Xueming had been the ignored protagonist. He needed her to explain things clearly to him, so he could be prepared for what might come next.

After all, the ordeal of today was far from over.

"My parents have basically agreed!"

When Cheng Xueming refused to come listen, Feng Jiayou eavesdropped a bit longer and then came over, her face alight with barely contained joy as she whispered.

"Agreed to what? What's going on, exactly?"

Cheng Xueming had his suspicions, but he still wanted to hear the specifics from her.

"It's all because of you! One night and you got me in trouble!" she said, her tone half-blaming, half-teasing. "You know how strict my family is! When my parents found out, they nearly beat me to death!"

Her exaggerated expression made Cheng Xueming want to laugh, but she quickly recounted her standoff with her family in simple terms.

She also told him about the two-week period her parents had set, a test to see whether Cheng Xueming would shoulder his responsibilities—a wager of sorts.

"I'm sorry, you’ve been wronged. I should have come sooner."

After hearing everything, Cheng Xueming pulled her into his arms, comforting her gently.

"So, Cheng Xueming, what's your stance? Do you want this child or not?"

As soon as she finished, she grew anxious. She'd fought with her family to keep the baby. But if Cheng Xueming didn't want it, she would truly be left stranded.

"Silly girl! You've risked everything, even fallen out with your family to keep this child—how could I not want her? If I didn't, I wouldn't have come all the way from Northern Shaanxi!"

How could he not want his own child? Even though he wasn't prepared to be a father—he’d never been one in his past life—now that it had come to this, it was fate. There was no way he could turn away.

"Oh, so you made the long journey from Northern Shaanxi because you wanted her, did you?" she teased, her tiny nose wrinkling as she pouted and broke free from his embrace. "Fine, once I've had the baby, you can take him back to Northern Shaanxi. The two of you can go live there together. I’m just the extra one, right?"

"Uh?! Is that what I meant? I came all this way because I was worried about you! I just told your parents how I feel, too! If we're going back, all three of us will go together—after the baby is born, we’ll come back and take the entrance exams. You said it yourself, we’re capable enough!"

Cheng Xueming rubbed his forehead. The baby hadn’t even been born yet, and she was already jealous of her own child.

"That’s more like it."

Feng Jiayou’s face lit up again as she clung to his arm, nuzzling up and down—he seriously suspected she was trying to seduce him.

"But why do we have to go back to Northern Shaanxi and then come back here to take exams? Since you’re already in Beijing, why not just prepare for the exams here?"

Her logic was sound. Cheng Xueming had come to Beijing intending to make a living—he hadn’t planned to turn around and go back so soon. Besides, he wasn’t sure if Feng Jiayou would really go back with him. She’d only just managed to escape the rural melting pot of Northern Shaanxi and return to the city—no way would she willingly go back after just three months.

And if she did, who knew if she’d ever get back to Beijing again?

So, for her sake, Cheng Xueming knew he needed to find work in Beijing, settle down nearby, and take good care of both mother and child.

As for preparing for the entrance exams in Beijing, he honestly had no intention of doing that. In his previous life, he’d studied hard for ten years and graduated from a top university. He felt he’d already been through that, and there was no need to waste more time on campus.

Besides, with his current qualifications, he didn’t even have a junior high school diploma—he wasn't eligible for the college entrance exam.

That was why he hadn’t taken the exam with Feng Jiayou this year.

Now she was bringing it up again, urging him to take the entrance exam in Beijing, even aiming for Peking University.

It all felt a bit unrealistic.

"Are you still worried about your academic qualifications?"

Seeing Cheng Xueming hesitate, Feng Jiayou said, "Don't worry, I’ve checked everything since I returned to the city! Qualifications aren’t that important. We can pull some strings and get you registered for the entrance exam. When the spring exam starts next year, I’ll make sure you’re eligible!"

She wasn’t wrong. According to the policy, you had to have a high school diploma or equivalent to take the college entrance exam. For members of the "Old Three Classes," the requirement was relaxed to junior high.

In the first few years, however, there were so many aspiring young people that academic qualifications were barely enforced. Anyone could take the exam—as long as you passed, you could go to university.

Feng Jiayou’s determination to help Cheng Xueming get registered for the exam was a way to reciprocate. In their village, Cheng Xueming had helped her secure exam eligibility, allowing her to return to the city and escape the furnace of rural Shaanxi.

So, she’d been eager to help him gain the same opportunity in Beijing.

But there was one problem.

"You want me to take the exam in Beijing, but my household registration is in a rural area of Northern Shaanxi!"

Without a Beijing household registration, how could he sign up for the entrance exam here?

Though the college entrance exam now had a unified national admission line, with no city–rural distinction, and nowhere near the fierce regional competition of decades later, Feng Jiayou clearly wanted him to take the exam in Beijing.

"You silly thing! In a few days, once we get our marriage certificate, you can transfer your household registration here!"

Feng Jiayou looked at him with a sly, triumphant smile, clearly expecting the question.

"What, marrying me is such a hardship for you? Cheng Xueming, can you give me a straight answer? Do you want me and our baby or not?"

Seeing his stunned face and silence, she grew annoyed again.

"Uh...I just wondered...would your parents agree?"

Marriage? Such a big step, and they hadn’t even discussed it! Of course Cheng Xueming was taken aback.

"I just want to know if you agree. I’ll deal with my parents later! I’m already like this, Cheng Xueming—don’t tell me you want to be a heartless scoundrel and abandon us?"

She looked pitiful as she gently stroked her belly, accusing him.

"Nonsense! To be a heartless scoundrel, you at least need the qualifications! I was afraid you’d get into Peking University, return to the city, and then abandon me—so I rushed here, terrified you wouldn’t even see me!"

Cheng Xueming flicked her cute nose, countering with a laugh.

"Hmph! If I were going to abandon you, I wouldn’t have written you that letter!"

"So…you agree?"

Feng Jiayou pouted, her eyes shining as she fixed her gaze on him.

"How could I not? From now on, you’re in charge of our home—whatever you say, I’ll support it with both hands!"

"Good! Then tomorrow we’ll go to the local office and get our marriage certificate!" Feng Jiayou beamed with happiness.

"It’s a reissued certificate," Cheng Xueming reminded her.

"Yes, a reissue! I’m already yours, so it’s a reissue!"

Seeing her sly, triumphant expression, Cheng Xueming realized—had he just been tricked into marriage?

…