Chapter 1707: Engagement (Part 4)

When Duan Xi saw Shu Jiao come in, he immediately put down the book in his hand, stood up, and called out, "Aunt Shu."

Shu Jiao nodded, her gaze shifting from him to the book he was holding. She originally thought he was reading some pop magazine or the like, but was surprised to see it was a college textbook. She exclaimed in surprise, "Xiaoxi, classes haven’t started yet, have they?"

Duan Xi explained, "I want to graduate as soon as possible, preferably within a year."

Shu Jiao was even more shocked and asked, "Why?"

She had never heard of anyone completing four years of coursework in one year, not even Ruan Hao, who took two years to finish.

"I want to enter society early; Jiaojiao needs someone to take care of her." Duan Xi didn’t hide his intentions but answered directly. Of course, more importantly, he needed to finish college in a shorter time than Ruan Hao did so that Ruan Jiaojiao would know who was truly the best.

Shu Jiao opened her mouth, momentarily at a loss for what to say. All she thought was that her daughter really had foresight; such an outstanding young man must be secured early; otherwise, if someone snatches him away in the future, she’ll definitely regret it.

It’s often said that mothers-in-law appreciate their sons-in-law more and more; this saying is spot-on.

She said warmly, "But don’t overwork yourself; take care of your health. You just finished military training, and your body is in a state of extreme fatigue, so you should rest well."

Duan Xi nodded.

Knowing she had come over for more than just a small talk, he proactively asked, "Aunt Shu, is there something you wanted to discuss?"

In some sense, Duan Xi was like a child raised by the Ruan Family, so Shu Jiao didn’t beat around the bush and spoke directly, ending with, "We’re all confident leaving Jiaojiao with you. As for the engagement, traditionally it’s better if the man’s side brings it up, so Auntie thought you might discuss it with your father first."

After Shu Jiao finished speaking, she kept her gaze on Duan Xi, waiting for his response. But when Duan Xi didn’t reply for a long time, she felt a bit worried until she heard Duan Xi ask, "Once we’re engaged, does it mean no one can ever separate us again?"

Duan Xi had lived in this world for ten years; he was already in college and naturally knew what engagement meant. It’s just he couldn’t help but ask.

When he asked, there was something in his eyes that moved Shu Jiao.

Even after ten years, while outsiders might not know, surely the Ruan Family understood.

Shu Jiao wasn’t someone who easily gave in to emotions, but at that moment, a thought couldn’t help but surface: the young man before her must be deeply in love with her daughter.

She can’t even imagine what would happen if one day they truly weren’t together.

And she felt a deep sense of relief, her daughter hadn’t let the young man’s deep love go to waste; they cherished each other and had not let each other down — how wonderful.

She nodded, nodded emphatically, "Yes, you’re still young now. Get engaged first; when Jiaojiao comes of age, you can marry."

"Alright, I’ll talk to Duan Qianyang," Duan Xi said, seeming not rushed at all, projecting a sense of maturity. At least that’s how Shu Jiao perceived him when she left.

But in reality?

As soon as Shu Jiao left, Duan Xi couldn’t even concentrate on reading; he took out the bulky cellphone from the drawer and called Duan Qianyang.

He rarely called Duan Qianyang; his lifetime calls could be counted on one hand, so Duan Qianyang was always delighted to receive his calls, this time was no exception.