Chapter 304: You Don't Trust Me

Xia Xi instinctively glanced at Xu Yanfeng; they were discussing the serious topic of getting their marriage license when she suddenly broke off to answer the phone, as if trying to avoid the issue.

Xu Yanfeng didn't think much of it, glanced at the name showing on her phone screen—it was someone she knew—and lifted his chin slightly: "Answer the phone first; maybe they have something urgent for you."

"Should I answer it?"

"Go ahead."

Xia Xi pressed the answer key, and a cheerful, clear voice immediately came from the other end: "Xi, didn't you see the group messages? I've tagged you several times, but you haven't replied."

"Sorry, what's up?" Xia Xi explained, "I just got back from a business trip abroad, arrived home not long ago, and haven't had a chance to check the messages."

"No problem, I know you're busy." Zhao Lei said with a smile, "I'm getting married on May Day; if you're free, could you come be my bridesmaid? Wu Qinglu and Wang Qiuyu will be there too. We dorm girls haven't gotten together in a while."

Back then, Xia Xi left in a hurry; she and her dorm mates never even took a graduation photo together, which she still regrets. Taking this opportunity to get together would make up for that regret.

"Congratulations, congratulations." Xia Xi genuinely felt happy for her, but she was curious: "Who's your husband? At the last class reunion you were still single—how did you get engaged so quickly?"

"It's not that fast." Zhao Lei calculated the dates for her: "That class reunion was last September."

Xia Xi silently counted in her mind—it had only been about half a year.

"My husband is my mother's friend's son; you've never met him. I'll introduce you at the wedding." Zhao Lei said, "Just tell me—will you come?"

Xia Xi: "I should be free during the May Day holiday, so I can come. But I'll skip being a bridesmaid—I'm already a mother."

"What's wrong with being a mother?" Zhao Lei didn't mind those old customs, "My wedding, my call!"

Xia Xi felt both amused and touched, but she still thought it wasn't quite proper; perhaps the elders cared more about such things.

After chatting back and forth for a while, seeing Xia Xi's firm stance, Zhao Lei didn't want to press her and gave in: "Okay, okay, I'll just rope in a cousin to make up the numbers. Remember to come early that day to hang out. Oh, and don't forget to bring your boyfriend and baby—more people, the merrier."

After the call ended, a warm smile lingered on Xia Xi's face for quite a while.

She opened the dorm group created during their university days. The group had never been disbanded; before, they would occasionally chat in there, sharing updates, complaining about work woes, exchanging travel tips… but she had never participated.

One afternoon, the other three members chatted intermittently, sending over a hundred messages. The topic revolved around Zhao Lei's wedding: how to set up the door-blocking games for the bridesmaids, and where to hide the wedding shoes suitably.

Having overheard part of Xia Xi and Zhao Lei's conversation, Xu Yanfeng asked, "Your roommate is getting married?"

"Yeah." Xia Xi scrolled her finger across the screen, scrolling up to view the group messages, "Do you want to go with me? On May Day, I don't know if you're free."

Xu Yanfeng lifted his eyelids to look at her and chuckled: "You want me to accompany you to the wedding?"

Xia Xi said: "They already invited my boyfriend and child, and you aren't my boyfriend?"

Xu Yanfeng put his arm around her shoulder: "Sure, I'll accompany you."

Xia Xi glanced at him sideways, half-smiling: "Don't make it sound like you're doing it reluctantly."

"Not reluctant." Xu Yanfeng shook his head: "Not at all reluctant; I'm quite happy to."

Xia Xi was willing to bring him out in public; how could he feel reluctant? Even if he weren't free during the holiday, he'd make time.

Having just walked in on the two kissing, Aunt Zhang became a bit cautious; before leaving the kitchen, she gave a soft cough as a heads‑up, then went to the living room, saw Xu Yanfeng embracing Xia Xi, paused, and said, "Dinner's ready."

At the dinner table, Xia Xi brought up the topic that Zhao Lei's call had interrupted: "Getting the marriage license—I think it's a bit too soon."

Xu Yanfeng paused his chopsticks mid‑dish, looked at her seriously, and asked: "Too soon?"

"Why not? We've only just reconciled."

"In my view, this isn't 'reconciliation'; it's a long‑distance relationship." Xu Yanfeng said with a straight face, "We've only been apart for six years."

"…"

His words nearly made Xia Xi choke with laughter.

Xu Yanfeng pushed the bowl of soup he'd just served toward her, saying with reason: "Look at your roommate, Zhao Lei, right? She moved fast—she was single last September and is getting married this May Day."

"What's there to compare?" Xia Xi hastily swallowed the winter melon in her mouth to avoid being choked again, "She said her husband is her mother's friend's son; maybe they've known each other since childhood."

Xu Yanfeng offered no comment on her assumption.

Xia Xi didn't mention that she was considering his family situation; she gave him a piece of ribs and coaxed, "Can I just experience the feeling of dating again? Talking about marriage right after we got back together makes me feel like I'm rushing a task."

If she said that, Xu Yanfeng couldn't refute it—after all, it wouldn't be fair to shackle her with a marriage certificate just because he felt insecure, thereby depriving her of the right to date as she pleased.

But—

On the other hand, there's a loophole in what Xia Xi said.

Xu Yanfeng said: "If you want to experience the feeling of dating, why would you think that after we marry I couldn't give you that feeling? Do you not trust me, or…"

"Just eat, I'm going to get indigestion."

Xia Xi leaned over and directly snatched the rib from his bowl, stuffing it into his mouth.

On May Day, Xia Xi woke up early, picked out a canary‑yellow knit top, paired it with a denim half‑skirt, did a quick light makeup, turned around, and saw Xu Yanfeng emerge from the closet wearing a white shirt and black suit.

Although she was used to seeing him in formal attire, she still felt a sudden brightening. His hair was jet‑black, his features—whether viewed individually or together—were outstanding; paired with a properly fitted suit, it added a touch of austere, cool allure.

Xia Xi rose from the vanity, pursing her lips in a smile.

Xu Yanfeng looked a bit puzzled, lowered his gaze to his outfit, and asked, "Is there something wrong?"

"We're going to a wedding, we shouldn't steal the spotlight." Xia Xi stepped up to him, her fair hand resting on his collar, undid his tie, draped it over her arm, and casually undid a button: "No need to be too formal; a little casual is fine, otherwise it'll look like we're crashing the wedding."

Xu Yanfeng: "…"

Zi Heng also finished changing, bouncing out of his room: "Mom, I'm ready."

He had heard they were going to his mother's university roommate's wedding today and was really looking forward to it.

Youyou had originally agreed to go along, but then she heard somewhere that a new castle attraction had opened at an amusement park, insisted on wearing a princess dress to take photos and check in, and her aunt agreed to take her there, so she backed out of attending the wedding.

Xu Yanfeng bent down, scooped Zi Heng up in one arm, and whispered, "Son, let's work something out: when we get to a public place later, could you call me Dad?"

Xia Xi came out with her bag, just happened to hear Xu Yanfeng's words, and her expression froze.

Zi Heng sat on Xu Yanfeng's forearm, looking at his face: "What's in it for me?"

Xu Yanfeng: "?"

Do you really need to offer a benefit to get a child to call his biological father Dad? Isn't that just common sense?

Forget it; I won't stoop to a kid's level—feelings still need to be built up gradually.

"You tell me what benefit you want." Xu Yanfeng made a promise: "Just say it, I'll satisfy you."

Zi Heng pondered, about to speak, when he caught sight of Xia Xi watching from the side; feeling a bit embarrassed, he hesitated a few seconds, then leaned over to Xu Yanfeng's ear and whispered.

Xu Yanfeng listened, raised his eyebrows, smiled lightly and replied: "Do you need to say that? Even if you didn't say it, I would definitely agree. Otherwise, you could change your request."

Zi Heng shook his head: "I didn't expect it to be just this."

Xia Xi was curious what Zi Heng had said; if she asked him directly, Zi Heng would surely be unhappy—he had obviously seen her just now and that's why he didn't speak directly. She decided to ask Xu Yanfeng later.