Though both were reconciliations through handshakes, the attitudes were entirely different.

After seeing everyone off, Zhou Cheng felt deeply satisfied.

Today, when he and Xia Xiaolan forgave Gao Fei and Fang Shizhong, it wasn’t out of compromise or necessity – it was from magnanimity.

They no longer cared about those two; everyone was at different levels now, so why bother with petty grievances?

Though only 20 days had passed, the effect was completely different.

Others might not truly believe his wife was perfect in every way, but they had no choice but to actively engage with her now, all because he had been promoted again!

The 24-year-old Zhou Cheng felt a slight surge of pride.

This pride came from knowing he now could protect his wife.

“Darling, thank you for your hard work today!”

Zhou Cheng guided her to sit on the sofa, kissed her, then took out her hand cream and carefully applied it to both her hands.

“What’s there to thank me for? Washing a few dishes won’t tire me out. I barely did anything all afternoon – the sisters-in-law prepared all the food.”

After the meal, some guests volunteered to stay and help, moving tables and clearing dishes. Since Xia Xiaolan was the host, she couldn’t just sit idle, so she went to help wash dishes too.

Everyone had chatted and laughed while working together – some washing, some scrubbing. In total, Xia Xiaolan hadn’t worked for more than half an hour.

Yet Zhou Cheng was acting so concerned as if she’d done hours of heavy labor.

“Do you think I’m being wronged? What’s there to feel wrong about? I’m not some delicate young lady who’s never touched dishwater. I ate the dinner too, so of course I should help with the dishes.”

Even the most doting husband had to maintain appearances in such situations.

Zhou Cheng couldn’t possibly pull Xia Xiaolan away and leave all the dishes to others. That would have made tonight’s dinner pointless – people would certainly gossip about him afterward.

Do you think you’re the only one who loves your wife?

Should other men just give up on life?

Zhou Cheng wasn’t quite at Old Tang’s level yet.

Old Tang had reached a state where he could simplify the complex and act as he pleased, doing whatever made him happy.

But Zhou Cheng was different – at 24, he held his current position with only the Political Commissar above him. Everyone else around him held lower positions but was older, all watching to see how he would handle things.

He crouched down and pressed Xia Xiaolan’s hand to his face. “Still, you were wronged. These hands are meant for holding pens.”

This was too much!

Everyone needs to eat, drink, and handle daily necessities. It was just washing dishes – Xia Xiaolan herself didn’t mind at all.

Yet Zhou Cheng insisted she was wrong, and one application of hand cream wasn’t enough – he had to apply a second layer.

Zhou Cheng’s fingertips were slightly callused as he meticulously applied the hand cream. The first application was tender, but during the second, Xia Xiaolan sensed something different. While Zhou Cheng seemed unaffected, Xia Xiaolan maintained her composure even as her ears burned hot.

Winter had come – could spring be far behind?

If Zhou Cheng got nosebleeds, how could she not have feelings too?

When a couple in love was alone together, wouldn’t it be abnormal not to want to kiss and embrace?

Xia Xiaolan wanted to cry. “Zhou Cheng, after Spring Festival when school starts, I’ll only be in the second semester of my third year!”

Why did the architecture program have to be a five-year degree?

How much longer would she have to wait?!

Zhou Cheng chuckled softly.

Xia Xiaolan grew angry with embarrassment: “Don’t laugh!”

What was there to laugh about? The desire for food and sex were basic human needs. Before, Xia Xiaolan hadn’t been in a hurry to marry – it was Zhou Cheng who couldn’t wait to get their marriage certificate as soon as they reached the legal age.

Now Xia Xiaolan was the anxious one because Zhou Cheng was too principled – he firmly supported intimacy only after marriage.

Previously, Xia Xiaolan hadn’t been eager to marry because she felt a marriage certificate wouldn’t change much.

But she wanted to “drive the car,” while Zhou Cheng insisted on having a proper license first.

Now the tables had turned, with Xia Xiaolan growing anxious. Thinking about not even being done with her third year, how much longer would she have to wait?

Truly, she wasn’t joking – when school started, she would definitely ask about the school’s policies.

As a family member, couldn’t there be some flexibility?

Zhou Cheng was thinking about this too: “Though your program is five years, you start internships after the fourth year, right? And I’ve seen how flexible your internships are, so let’s hold on a bit longer until you finish the fourth year.”

The internship would be easy to arrange. Though Xia Xiaolan was in architecture, she wasn’t counting on a school-assigned job.

During her fifth-year internship, she could negotiate with the school to arrange her internship at “Qihang.”

She was Qihang’s boss herself, so of course Qihang would accept her.

As long as she finished her fourth year, it would be like graduating early from Huaqing, since she’d have a lot of freedom during the internship period.

Was Zhou Cheng suggesting they get married as soon as she finished her fourth year?

That would be a whole year earlier.

Though it still felt like a long wait, at least now there was hope to look forward to.

Xia Xiaolan suppressed her wandering thoughts, trying to focus on discussing serious matters with Zhou Cheng.

Zhou Cheng already knew about Xia Ziyu becoming Du Chengrong’s fifth concubine, and he was somewhat wary of Du Zhaohui. That playboy Du Zhaohui was smarter than Xiaolan’s previous suitors.

Whether it was Zhu Fang, Ke Yixiong, or even Tang Yuanyue, they had all openly shown their interest in Xiaolan.

But Xiaolan would never care about them.

It was just her nature – her life was too full already, and she had given all her care and love to him, with none left to spare for other men.

No matter how elaborate their pursuits of Xiaolan, she was unlikely to be moved – if anything, she’d probably find it annoying.

But Du Zhaohui… this playboy might seem foolish, but he was quite shrewd.

He had never confessed or revealed his feelings, yet he followed Xiaolan around, constantly trying to please her. Xiaolan believed it was just Du Zhaohui seeking benefits.

Benefits were part of it.

But beyond benefits, there was quite a bit of genuine feeling.

Zhou Cheng had seen it long ago.

Xu Zhongyi had seen it too, which was why he had dragged Du Zhaohui into things.

It wasn’t Xu Zhongyi asking Du Zhaohui for help – Du Zhaohui had eagerly volunteered himself.

Zhou Cheng saw it all clearly, but he couldn’t say anything.

Should he tell Xiaolan to stay away from Du Zhaohui?

Xiaolan hadn’t thought in that direction at all – if Zhou Cheng brought it up, it would be like insulting his wife’s character!

“It’s your fault for meeting Xiaolan too late.”

In matters of love, talk of honor was nonsense.

Zhou Cheng understood Du Zhaohui well – if their positions were reversed, he wouldn’t give up either.

This made Zhou Cheng even more determined not to let go.

He kissed Xiaolan’s hand. “What do you think of my plan?”

“Finishing the fourth year before getting married… hey, is this your proposal? It’s not very sincere!”

Xia Xiaolan tried to pull her hand away, but Zhou Cheng held on.

He took out a small square box from his pocket, and Xia Xiaolan froze completely.

“Is this—”

Opening the box revealed a brilliant diamond ring.

The design wasn’t flashy, nor was the size, but the quality and cut were top-notch.

Zhou Cheng shifted from crouching to one knee:

“I bought this secretly while in America. I’ve wanted to take it out for so long but never felt the timing was right. I know you’ve waited for me for a long time, and I’ve waited for you for a long time too… We can’t get our marriage certificate yet, but may I put this ring on your finger first?”

Xiaolan had waited for him for so long.

Waited for him to grow from immature to mature.

He had also waited for Xiaolan for so long, watching her soar higher and higher while he took great strides to catch up, wanting to protect her.

At 24, Zhou Cheng had reached a position where others had to treat him with careful consideration, not just because of his surname and family background.

Zhou Cheng felt he now had the right to present this ring.

Zhou Cheng was proposing to her!

No flowers, no balloons, no carefully planned routine, not even any witnesses.

The place wasn’t luxurious either – just the apartment the army had assigned to Zhou Cheng.

Xia Xiaolan hadn’t expected this at all, and at this moment, she seemed to have lost the ability to speak.