41: Chapter 41 Pretending to be a Boyfriend

Ji Guangli's hand trembled slightly under Cao Kun's palm; she didn't pull it back immediately.

She just lifted her eyes. Those usually calm and composed eyes were now filled with a frustration, struggle, and a hint of inexpressible embarrassment that Cao Kun had never seen before.

She was silent for a few seconds, as if organizing her words, or perhaps gathering her courage.

Finally, she let out a soft sigh, her voice much lower than usual, laced with weariness.

"It's my family... they called me."

Cao Kun frowned slightly. "Is something wrong at home? Is it your parents' health?"

He knew Ji Guangli's family burdens were heavy.

Ji Guangli shook her head, then nodded, her expression complex. "Their health... is the same as always. It's something else." She paused, took a sip of red wine, then continued, "They... have arranged a marriage prospect for me."

"A marriage prospect?" Cao Kun was stunned, then felt an inexplicable tightness in his chest.

"Mm," Ji Guangli lowered her gaze, her fingers unconsciously rubbing the stem of her wine glass.

"The man is from the neighboring village. We were junior high classmates. His family... is said to be quite well-off. His father is in the transport business, on a fairly large scale."

"Ah, I see. So... what do you think about it?"

Cao Kun's feelings were a bit complicated.

He was very conflicted right now.

He liked Ji Guangli and wanted to give her a future.

But he knew he couldn't have only Ji Guangli as his woman.

He wanted to ask if she minded having 'sisters,' but he felt their relationship wasn't at that stage yet.

He could only bring it up later, so he was very concerned about Ji Guangli's thoughts right now.

Ji Guangli said without hesitation, "I really dislike that person. His family has money, but he himself... never was a good student. Relying on his family's wealth, he liked to bully others. Even in junior high, he formed gangs."

"I've heard he's even more of a playboy now, changing girlfriends faster than changing clothes. My parents... they only see his family's conditions. They think if I marry into that family, I can live a good life and also help support our home."

Her voice was full of helplessness and disappointment at her parents' short-sightedness, but even more so, a sense of powerlessness at being held hostage by familial bonds.

Cao Kun understood. A typical rural marriage mindset—material conditions come first. Character, feelings, those can take a back seat.

Looking at Ji Guangli's tightly furrowed brows and the resistance in her eyes, the inexplicable tension in his heart relaxed a little.

As long as Ji Guangli didn't like the other guy, it was fine. He was truly afraid she might like him; then he really wouldn't know what to do.

"If you don't like him, can't you just explain it clearly to your parents? It's not the old society anymore; can they still arrange marriages?" Cao Kun said.

"I did say it," Ji Guangli smiled bitterly. "But my parents wouldn't listen. They think I'm not young anymore, that drifting around outside isn't a long-term plan, and that meeting someone with such good conditions is a blessing."

"They even said he doesn't mind our family's heavy burdens... Everything they say is framed as being for my own good, for the family's good. I..."

She couldn't continue. That feeling of being torn between her own wishes and family responsibility was tormenting her.

Cao Kun's mind raced, and an idea popped up. He tightened his grip on Ji Guangli's hand, his eyes sparkling as he looked at her. "Guangli, I have an idea."

"What idea?"

"Just tell your parents you already have a boyfriend! And your boyfriend's conditions are especially good—has a car, a house, is devoted only to you, a hundred times better than that junior high classmate."

"Then they won't have anything to say, right? They might even be happy for you!"

Ji Guangli was stunned. Looking at Cao Kun's excited expression, her cheeks warmed slightly. "You... you mean, let me lie to them?"

"How is that lying? It's a strategy! A white lie!"

Cao Kun said righteously, "Do you really want to go back and meet that playboy? Or get bombarded by your parents' calls every day?"

Ji Guangli thought seriously. This seemed to be the only way to temporarily relieve the pressure from her parents right now.

But... "Will that really work? What if they ask for details, or... insist on meeting him?"

"So let them meet!" Cao Kun patted his chest. "I'll pretend to be your boyfriend. I'm this handsome, drive such a nice car, live in such a good house. Taking me back will definitely make your parents proud! Let them hold their heads high in the village! See who dares gossip behind your back then!"

He deliberately exaggerated, wanting to cheer Ji Guangli up.

Seeing him so earnest, looking like he was ready to charge into battle for her, the softest part of Ji Guangli's heart was touched.

During this time together, the sense of security Cao Kun gave her was real.

Perhaps... she could give it a try?

"Then... I'll try?" she said hesitantly.

Ji Guangli directly took out her phone and went to a quiet spot nearby to call her family back.

Following the script Cao Kun suggested, she told her parents she was actually already dating a boyfriend with excellent conditions—had a car, a house, took very good care of her—and asked them not to worry about the arranged match anymore.

Her parents on the other end were first shocked, then overjoyed with disbelief!

Their daughter had quietly found such a good match?

Especially Ji Guangli's mother, who was so excited her voice changed pitch, repeatedly asking for details.

Coincidentally, it was just after dinner, and several families from the neighborhood were visiting the Ji Family, chatting.

In her excitement, Mrs. Ji's voice grew louder, and the neighbors heard most of it.

"What? Guangli found a boyfriend? And he has a car and a house?"

"Oh my! This is incredible! That Guangli girl is really something!"

"I always said, Guangli is so pretty and capable, she'd definitely find someone good!"

"Now the Ji Family has finally turned things around! Let's see who dares gossip anymore!"

The rumors of the past few years were instantly overturned.

Before, many people in the village had talked behind Ji Guangli's back.

A pretty girl working alone in the big city, not bringing a man home for years, no news of marriage—some with dark minds speculated she was being kept, or was someone's mistress.

These rumors reached Mr. and Mrs. Ji's ears, causing them no end of silent anger and making them feel they couldn't hold their heads up.

Mr. Ji's health was already poor, and this had worsened his condition before.

Now, their daughter personally admitting she had a boyfriend with superior conditions was like a shot of adrenaline for the old couple!

Amidst the neighbors' envy, surprise, and even somewhat sour congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Ji straightened their backs a little more, their faces glowing with a long-lost, heartfelt radiance.

However, after the initial euphoria, new demands followed immediately.

Mrs. Ji said eagerly on the phone, "Lili, such good news, why didn't you say so earlier! Quick, when will you bring your boyfriend back for mom and dad to see? Let those snobby people in our village see for themselves how good the man our daughter found is!"

"Yes, yes, bring him back! You must bring him back!" Voices of neighbors egging them on could even be heard over the phone.

Ji Guangli panicked.

She hadn't expected her parents' reaction to be so big, nor that so many neighbors were present.

Now she was in a bind. If she said she was lying, the face her parents had just gained in front of the neighbors would shatter instantly, likely followed by intensified ridicule and pointing fingers. Her parents' health was poor, especially her father's—how could he withstand such a blow?

She hemmed and hawed, making excuses that her boyfriend was busy with work and didn't have time recently.

But Mrs. Ji was unusually firm. "No matter how busy, can't he spare a couple of days to come home? Lili, are you lying to mom? Or... does that man not take you seriously at all?"

"Don't be foolish! If it's true, bring him back for us to see, and we'll be at ease. If it's fake... you'd better start getting to know the one from the neighboring village properly. His family's conditions aren't bad either..."

Hearing the suspicion and implicit pressure in her mother's words, Ji Guangli's mind was in turmoil.

She hurriedly said she would call her boyfriend and ask if he had time.

After hanging up, she sank into even deeper anxiety.