Chapter 771: The Wedding Draws Near

They had sorted through every matter in the most meticulous detail. After this whole affair, the future the three of them were building was finally starting to look like a real “home.”

It was no longer just a collection of vague, ethereal descriptions.

It wasn’t about where to go for their honeymoon, whether to get a dog or a cat, or promising to always be patient with each other no matter what… Those were all just abstract concepts.

Ultimately, life had to be about the specifics.

Specifics like: Who had the final say when it came to supporting the family? Who had to be more accommodating during the pregnancy? Who got to call the shots? From Monday to Sunday, who would Chen Yuan sleep with each night? It was even detailed down to which nights were just for sleeping and which were for making love—and no sneaking in any extra love-making…

Through the trio’s joint planning, a clear, almost tangible vision of their married life…

…gradually began to take shape.

In the days after learning of Jiang Ning’s pregnancy, the three of them told no one, quietly keeping the secret from their families. After patiently and thoroughly sorting everything out…

…the time finally came on June 18th.

June 18th.

“I’ve moved all my stuff back from the office. It’s a shame. I just moved in not long ago. My grand vision collapsed before it even had a chance to begin.”

“Relax…” Jiang Yao casually picked up a book, tracing the gold-stamped title, *A Brief History of Time*, before tossing it aside. She said softly, “Your main job right now is to make a parenting plan, play some soothing music for the little baby, and learn a few nice nursery rhymes. As for any grand ambitions, you should just toss them far, far away.”

“It’s still an embryo. It can’t understand anything.”

“Do you think you can tell if an embryo is a boy or a girl? I’m honestly a little curious.”

“That’s not important.” Jiang Ning shook her head.

Just as the clutter in the room suggested—she had already resigned, handing over all her responsibilities to the right people.

Now, Jiang Ning truly had the time to relax and learn some pleasant nursery rhymes.

CLICK—

The door opened, and Chen Yuan strode inside.

“Is everything packed up?”

“Mhm, all done.”

“So, should I make the call now?” Chen Yuan fumbled in his pocket for his phone.

It wasn’t hard to see a subtle nervousness in his expression.

“Wait.” Although she didn’t know why she wanted to wait, Jiang Ning still raised a hand to stop him.

“Okay, we can wait. But I’ll be the one to tell them, so Ningning, you don’t need to be so nervous,” Chen Yuan said after a pause.

“How could I not be nervous? Once we tell your parents, everything changes… What do you think their reaction will be?”

“My guess is they’ll rush over here without a moment’s delay.”

“Then… hubby, are you ready?”

In the past few days, the word “hubby” had started to roll off the sisters’ tongues more and more easily. They had completely adapted to the term of endearment.

And Chen Yuan could tell which sister was which simply from the tone they used to say “hubby.”

He didn’t even have to turn his head to know if it was Jiang Ning or Jiang Yao calling him.

“I’ve been preparing for days.” Chen Yuan took a deep breath, his face filled with a resolute determination.

“Then make the call.”

The moment she finished speaking, as Chen Yuan took out his phone and started dialing, the two sisters exchanged a look and scurried over to his side like a gust of wind, tilting their heads to listen in.

BEEP BEEP BEEP—

The call connected.

“Hello… Mom?” Chen Yuan asked tentatively.

“What is it? I’m in the middle of cooking…”

A cacophony of clanging and clattering came from the other end of the line, loud enough to hurt his ears. Liu He’s tone was full of impatience, and he thought he could even hear her yell, “Chen, hurry over, your son’s on the phone!”

“Mom… stop what you’re doing for a second. I have something very important to tell you. Jiang Ning is…” Chen Yuan glanced at Ningning beside him and couldn’t help but smile. “She’s pregnant with my baby.”

Instantly, Jiang Ning’s cheeks flushed red.

On the other end of the line.

A few seconds of silence.

“WHAT?!?!”

An ear-splitting shriek came through the phone.

It was so loud that Chen Yuan instinctively pulled the phone away from his ear.

…

It happened so fast. Chen Yuan never would have imagined that just a few hours after he hung up, Liu He would actually hop on a plane and fly straight to Mingzhu City.

She dropped everything.

She didn’t even pack a suitcase.

Grabbing just a few essentials, Mr. Chen and Liu He had rushed over in a flurry.

By the time the two of them arrived in Mingzhu City, it was just early evening.

The sun was setting as Chen Yuan drove along the elevated highway. Soothing music played in the car, and from the back seat, Liu He kept patting his shoulder.

Her voice was filled with unconcealable excitement.

“Yuan, you’ve finally done something to make your mother proud! I never thought I’d get to hold my precious grandchild so soon. The day I finally become a grandma… Am I dreaming?”

“You didn’t have to fly over immediately, Mom!” Chen Yuan said helplessly.

“At a time like this, what was I supposed to do? Not rush over to see my precious daughter-in-law? Stay home and keep working?! I can’t wait to retire already.”

“Let’s wait for Yuan to explain the details,” Mr. Chen said. Although his face was beaming with joy, he hadn’t lost his wits.

“Well… we only found out a few days ago ourselves,” Chen Yuan said, gripping the steering wheel. He thought for a moment. “No one expected it. Ningning originally went to the hospital for a check-up, but the doctor had her get an ultrasound. When the report came back, she couldn’t believe it.”

“Is she healthy? No problems?”

“Everything’s fine. She quit her job, so she can rest at home without any worries.”

“Aiya!” Liu He slapped her thigh—or rather, Mr. Chen’s thigh—and said urgently, “Then we have to hold the wedding right away! We don’t have this custom of getting married just because of a baby. People will make fun of us.”

“Since you’re both here, Mom, Dad, we can all discuss how to handle the marriage proposal. Should I take you to see Ningning right now?” Chen Yuan asked, turning his head slightly.

“Go to the in-laws’ place?”

“Yeah, I’m living there now. Ningning and Yaoyao’s mother doesn’t know about this yet.”

“No, no, no, we absolutely can’t go.”

Liu He’s reply was quite unexpected.

She immediately explained why.

“There are rules for a marriage proposal. You can’t meet beforehand. The first time we go, we must bring gifts for the proposal. Otherwise, it shows no sincerity. Wouldn’t that be an insult to their family?”

“Then should I have Ningning ask what gifts would be appropriate?”

“That’s even worse! Now you listen to me…”

His mother had already figured out the whole procedure, and now was her time to shine.

And so, Chen Yuan had no choice but to first get Mr. and Mrs. Chen settled in a hotel and have Jiang Ning and Jiang Yao sent over.

They met up at the hotel.

When Liu He saw her favorite daughter-in-law, she was incredibly enthusiastic, grabbing Ningning’s hands and refusing to let go.

Liu He had always complained that Chen Yuan wasn’t putting enough effort into this matter, and now he had gone and done something this major.

More importantly…

That evening, Jiang Zhengfeng, who had also heard the news, rushed all the way from Kyoto. He was, after all, the biological grandfather of the baby-to-be.

“We’ll do it. The wedding must happen, and there must be at least two ceremonies. One in our hometown, Qishui County, for all the aunts and uncles who watched Chen Yuan grow up. The other will be in Kyoto, on a much grander scale. As a fairly senior leader in the corporation, Yuan also needs to invite those old geezers from the board of directors.” A rare, affectionate look appeared on Jiang Zhengfeng’s face.

He couldn’t help but rub his hands together in anticipation.

In truth, the love for a grandchild can be even stronger than for one’s own child.

Jiang Zhengfeng had been estranged from Chen Yuan for so long; he didn’t want his future grandson or granddaughter to be distant from him as well.

That child would have the blood of the Jiang Family flowing in their veins.

‘I never thought… the day would come when I’d be surrounded by children and grandchildren.’

Jiang Zhengfeng was filled with emotion.

“Then we’ll all go together with the gifts for the proposal,” Chen Yuan arranged.

“I’ll call someone right now to prepare the gifts.”

Mr. Chen and Liu He didn’t need to worry about the betrothal gifts. Jiang Zhengfeng had already prepared for this long ago; he just needed to have someone take a shopping list and buy everything.

Besides the smaller gifts, there were of course big-ticket items like a house and a car.

Jiang Zhengfeng then wanted to ask the two sisters for their opinion on where they wanted to live in the future.

“There’s no need, Uncle… We don’t lack a place to live, so there’s no need to be so extravagant. I appreciate the thought,” Jiang Ning said, quickly waving her hands in refusal.

“Ningning, you can’t just accept the sentiment. The place you live in with your family and the small family you’ll have with Chen Yuan in the future are two different things. You must have a house in your names. That will be your own home. The property deed will have all three of your names on it—the meaning is completely different. It gives you security in life,” Liu He explained.

“But housing prices are so expensive right now…” Jiang Ning hesitated.

In Mingzhu City, a house in a decent location could easily cost tens of millions. Although Chen Yuan would have a share in it too, Jiang Ning felt like accepting was asking for too much.

It just didn’t feel right.

“Just agree,” Chen Yuan said at the crucial moment.

“Alright then, we can all go look at houses later. There’s no rush.”

“Then it’s decided,” Jiang Zhengfeng said with a smiling nod.

After discussing for a while longer, everyone decided that they would go to the Jiang Family’s home together on the morning of the day after tomorrow, June 20th, to make the formal marriage proposal.

The sisters would first go home and explain the situation to Jiang Ruxue. Then, on the day of the proposal, they would set the wedding date.

After that, they could notify their friends and family and start preparing for the wedding.

The discussion concluded.

Chen Yuan and the two sisters took their leave. Liu He told them not to worry about her and Mr. Chen, saying it was more important for them to go back to the Jiang Family home and discuss the serious matters at hand.

The three of them went downstairs together.

After getting out of the elevator, Jiang Ning looked up at Chen Yuan and noticed a faint, lingering smile on his lips.

“You look so happy. What are you thinking about?” she asked softly.

“I was just thinking about how surprised my childhood friends will be when they find out I’m getting married soon. Just imagining their reactions, I can’t wait to see them.”

“Alright, I guess Yaoyao and I should start thinking about how to tell our friends, too.”

Marriage was undoubtedly a major milestone in one’s life.

It meant entering a new phase of life, making a lifelong promise to the one you love.

From the day he first met Jiang Ning and Jiang Yao to this moment, with their wedding day drawing near, Chen Yuan suddenly realized just how much time had passed…