To get married?

  Yun Zhen was shocked to the core. This wasn't something he expected to hear from Su Jingyi. If she had said that she was unsatisfied with how the work went for her, he would certainly be willing to make some revisions to ensure she would be satisfied with the arrangements, forbidding her to leave the company.

  However, hearing the truth that she intended to leave the company to get married? This… how was he supposed to find a compromise and make her stay? He'd never thought this would be the reason why she filled for resignation.

  While it was easy for a man like Yun Zhen who didn't get pressured by his family to settle down and produce an heir, it might be different for Su Jingyi. Although he and Su Jingyi knew each other for a long time, they rarely talked about what they planned to do in the future or when they planned to settle down.

  Yun Zhen had no doubt that Su Jingyi would want to have a family on her own, given how family-oriented she was and how good she was dealing with young children in the past. Even his spoiled rotten nephews and nieces get along with her and wouldn't give her a hard time whenever they came for a visit.

  Su Jingyi was already thirty-one this year, and it was only natural for her to want to get married and have a family on her own—something Yun Zhen knew he couldn't help her with at all. This was not something he could interfere with or make his business.

  Yun Ling threw a questioning look on his way, but Yun Zhen had no idea about it at all. He also wasn't aware if Su Jingyi was seeing someone or not. Not that he didn't care about her personal affairs, but the woman never mentioned anything about her dating life; neither did she show any intention of thinking about settling down anytime soon.

  "Ah, Miss Su got proposed to? Are you seeing someone right now?" The women surrounded Su Jingyi at once, eager to hear the romantic story behind their director's decision.

  "No. No. It's nothing like that. I'm not seeing anyone at the moment." Su Jingyi made it clear, which made the mood of her co-workers sullen in disappointment. Ah, they all assumed that she and Yun Zhen had gone past being friends and were eager to get married now… by allowing Su Jingyi to leave the company first to lessen the talks about them.

  Somehow, her answer made Yun Zhen calm down. As long as Su Jingyi wouldn't be settling down with a new husband, there was still a chance for her to change her mind.

  'So it was like that…' He thought to himself. So this meant that work was the least of Su Jingyi's priorities for now.

  "Aww, so does this mean Director Su is planning to go out on dates to get a husband?"

  "Hmm?" Su Jingyi nonchalantly took a sip from her drink before answering the question.

  "I'm not. My family is the one making preparations to find me a suitable husband," she told them.

  With the kind of personality she had, Su Jingyi would have a hard time finding a suitable husband on her own… and given the way her parents nagged her to get married excitedly asking for a grandchild before they passed away, it would be more frustrating.

  It wasn't like she had never considered having a family on her own. It was just she was so occupied with work that she barely had time to meet someone and to spare for dating. Anyway, this would be a perfect time for her to move on and start a new life without Yun Zhen.

  "Oh, what a filial daughter you are, Director Su. Are you sure it's okay for you to find a husband through a marriage arrangement? Don't you think it's better to get married out of love?" someone asked Su Jingyi.

  "No, I think that's fine. As long as my husband and I respect each other and know our boundaries, I don't mind being in an arranged marriage," she admitted.

  It was impossible for her to marry out of love. In fact, Su Jingyi believed that people who were able to find someone and marry out of love were very lucky. However, in her opinion, passionate love would rarely last. There would be a time that it would slowly diminish.

  Su Jingyi wanted nothing like that. That was why if she was to marry, respect and honesty should be the foundation of her marriage. If there was a day that her husband would fall in love with another woman, she would be willing to give back his freedom for the sake of his happiness.

  When the party ended, Su Jingyi rubbed her forehead and sighed to herself. Her work colleagues had bid goodbye and part ways with her. As she stood at the sidewalk, waiting for a cab to pass and to hail; Yun Zhen's car suddenly stopped in front of her.

  "Get in the car." She heard Yun Zhen say as he rolled the window down to look at her.

  Su Jingyi hardened her jaws and contemplated if she should turn him down, but even before she could utter the words, Yun Zhen beat her into it.

  "Get in the car, Su Jingyi. I won't repeat myself the next time."

  Su Jingyi huffed and opened the door, sliding inside as Yun Zhen moved to the other side of the back seat. She noticed his sour mood since earlier and wondered if he was still upset over her decision to resign.

  When they arrived at her apartment building, Yun Zhen walked with her until they reached her door. He'd been silent the whole time.

  "Su Jingyi," he called her once she unlocked the door.

  "Yes?" Su Jingyi blinked at him, wondering what was going on with this blockhead.

  "You can marry me instead."