68: Chapter 68 I Want to Marry You

"I told you I was going to lose control, yet you still teased me." His voice was as low as rolling thunder as he supported the back of her neck and pressed her towards him.

Their lips met, eager yet restrained.

Xu Wanning hugged his neck tightly, afraid of falling. Without support behind her, her sense of security was halved; even with Lu Chengyue holding her up, she still felt empty.

Lu Chengyue swept through eagerly, and only when he finally felt a trace of satisfaction, combined with his reason incessantly telling him it was time to return to the Fire Station, did he let her go and set her down.

But he didn't release her completely; he cupped her face in his hands, wiped the traces from her lips with his thumb, lowered his head to kiss the tip of her nose, and said, "Goodnight."

This time, he really turned and left.

Xu Wanning stood where she was, unable to even react or respond. She touched the tip of her nose; the warmth of his lips still lingered there.

Just as she entered the house, her phone rang. It was a call from Lu Chengyue. "Ningning, I'm sorry. I was too rough just now."

Xu Wanning shook her head. "It's okay, my lips aren't broken."

She had watched TV before where the main characters' lips would always get cut from being too intense. What was this compared to that? Even in their past life, at their wildest moments, Lu Chengyue had never hurt her.

Lu Chengyue sighed slightly, his voice hoarse. "Next time, I will definitely control myself."

Xu Wanning chuckled. "Okay." She decided not to say that he didn't need to control himself; she was just a normal person, and if he didn't control himself, she might 'die'.

Lu Chengyue was very self-reproachful. "I'm sorry."

Xu Wanning sat on a bench in the yard. "Why are you apologizing? You didn't hurt me today. This level doesn't count as losing control."

Lu Chengyue gripped the steering wheel tightly. He was now firmly convinced that she was a seductive little enchantress.

"Go back inside, it's cold out." The temperature in Jing City in May wasn't very high, and there was still a slight chill in the mornings and evenings.

"Then say something sweet, and I'll go inside." She might not be able to see him starting tomorrow, and she couldn't bear to hang up just like that.

Lu Chengyue was silent for a moment. He didn't understand what was considered "sweet," nor did he know what to say, but he knew he couldn't ask that directly.

Eventually, he could only say what he wanted to say most at that moment. "Ningning, I want to see you every day."

Xu Wanning leaned on the table and laughed. "In a few days, it will be possible."

She thought about how, once The Apocalypse truly arrived and she obtained her Ice Ability, she would join Lu Chengyue's team to help clear out zombies, so they would be able to see each other every day.

Lu Chengyue continued, "I want to see you the first thing when I wake up every morning."

"That's possible too."

"I want to..." Lu Chengyue paused.

Xu Wanning propped herself up, puzzled. "Want what?" Why did he stop? Was it hard to say?

Lu Chengyue suddenly spoke up. "I want to marry you."

Xu Wanning's heart began to beat violently. The surroundings seemed to go quiet in an instant; she couldn't even hear the rustling of the wind through the leaves.

"A-Yue, what did you say?" Was she hallucinating? It must be a hallucination.

In the car, Lu Chengyue was also incredibly anxious. Not getting a response from Ningning, he thought she felt it was too fast. "It's nothing. If you don't want to, just pretend I didn't say anything. We can take it slow."

Xu Wanning's voice sounded soft, with a hint of coaxing. "A-Yue, say it again. I want to hear it."

Lu Chengyue heard that there was no reluctance in her tone, so he gathered his courage and said it again. "Ningning, I want to marry you."

Tears instantly fell from Xu Wanning's eyes. In their past life, their biggest regret was that they never managed to get married.

After The Apocalypse, where would there be a Civil Affairs Bureau? All men and women who were together could only ever be considered boyfriend and girlfriend.

It wasn't until then that everyone realized how much they wished to have a marriage certificate to prove that the relationship between them was that of husband and wife, not just lovers.

"Are you crying?" Lu Chengyue's voice became alarmed.

"No." Xu Wanning quickly composed herself. "It's the wind. It's blowing." A-Yue still had a mission tonight, she couldn't let him worry.

Lu Chengyue breathed a slight sigh of relief. "Go inside."

Xu Wanning stood up and curled her lips into a smile. "A-Yue, I want to marry you too."

Lu Chengyue instinctively hit the brakes, and the sound of rapid braking rang out.

"A-Yue, are you okay?" Xu Wanning was extremely worried; she shouldn't have said it right then.

From the other end of the phone came Lu Chengyue's very soft, cautious question. "Are you serious?"

They had only been together for a short time, and they were already talking about marriage? Wouldn't she think it was too fast?

"Do I look like I'm joking?" Xu Wanning repeated very solemnly, "A-Yue, I am willing to marry you. I want to marry you. Did you hear that? Have you forgotten? I've even accepted your betrothal gift."

"I heard it." Lu Chengyue's joy was transmitted through the phone. "Ningning, let's go get our marriage certificate tomorrow."

He knew it was too fast, but if they didn't go tomorrow, there might not be a chance in the future. They could get the certificate first, and hold the wedding later once things settled down. He would also make up for it with a grand proposal.

"Okay." Xu Wanning agreed softly. She had thought there would still be regrets in this lifetime; she didn't expect things to progress so quickly in the end.

"A-Yue, I like you." She didn't seem to have formally said she liked him before.

Lu Chengyue, parked on the side of the road, covered his chest. The thumping of his heart made him uncontrollably tremble. "Ningning, I like you. I like you very, very much."

From the first time he saw her, he had been attracted to her. Through their time together, he became increasingly focused on her and fell deeper and deeper. He knew he couldn't escape, and he didn't want to; he was happy to be trapped.

He wanted to tell her that liking her wasn't just an impulse or empty words, but a genuine feeling from the bottom of his heart, but he was too nervous to open his mouth.

"I know. I can feel it." Xu Wanning covered her heart.

Although they were far apart, they were doing the same action.

Lu Chengyue calmed down for a moment. "Ningning, go inside, be good."

"Okay, I'll wait at home for you to come pick me up tomorrow morning to get the certificate." Xu Wanning hung up the phone with a smile.

Worried that the city might actually be locked down tomorrow and they wouldn't be able to get the certificate, she sent a message to The Great Leader. [The Great Leader, I want to get my marriage certificate tomorrow. Can I go out?]

[Yes, you can go out with the pass provided by the housekeeper. However, it's only open in the morning tomorrow, so go early. Congratulations. I wonder which young talent has won your favor.]

[Lu Chengyue from the XX Fire Station.] Xu Wanning deliberately stated his full name; she had her own selfish motives.

[Understood. Go ahead with peace of mind tomorrow.] The Great Leader's reply came back, the meaning very clear: he would help speak to the Fire Station.

Xu Wanning sent a message to Lu Chengyue. [Martial law is in effect tonight, but The Great Leader said we can go out with a pass. I'll drive to pick you up tomorrow.]

Lu Chengyue, having just arrived at the Fire Station, saw the message and smiled. [Okay.]

He had originally planned to rush to ask the station chief for leave, fearing it wouldn't be granted, but now it seemed that wouldn't be necessary.