Left alone with two boxes of condoms on the small table, he stared at them. The rare silence that Meng Shang usually enjoyed now made him more uneasy.
He wasn't embarrassed by the items themselves—they were standard contraceptives, sometimes needed for hospital checkups, and he'd gotten them for free years ago.
It was just...
He sighed. His distinct fingers picked up the box, turning it over in his hand. He studied the colorful packaging: manufactured earlier this year. It seemed not many people wanted to get married these days.
Meng Shang's fingertips pressed down, turning pale from the pressure. Clearly, he was troubled by these things.
If he hid them and she found them, he'd never be able to explain. If he left them out, it might seem like he was hinting at something...
Especially after that teasing earlier, Meng Shang looked at the two boxes like they were his own chastity veil.
Jiang Ruoqi came out of the examination room to that scene.
Meng Shang was impeccably dressed: a light-colored turtleneck under a dark wool coat. He hadn't even taken off his coat indoors, still neat and sharp.
He was always focused when reading something, scrutinizing every word, frowning if he couldn't figure it out. Jiang Ruoqi figured he looked the same way when reading his patients' test results.
Very precise and upright, Dr. Meng. Hard to think of desecrating him.
Of course, that was until she saw what he was holding.
Meng Shang sensed a shadow and looked up to see Jiang Ruoqi standing before him, holding her coat. She wasn't looking at him but at the box in his hand, tilting her head.
Caught red-handed, Meng Shang hastily put it down, utterly hopeless.
But Jiang Ruoqi walked over, crouched down to eye level with the box, examined it, then looked up at him.
"What are you studying? The wrong size? Or don't you like the flavor?"
"They... gave it to me. A gift." Meng Shang struggled to keep his voice steady, but the rising and falling pitch betrayed his emotions.
"I know. I read the guides. I was just thinking that if the test results didn't come with any, I'd go ask for some."
Meng Shang: "..."
He stood up, grabbed her arm, and pulled her into his seat, his voice low: "What do you need that for?"
She had a point. Even imported products weren't always safe; she didn't dare trust domestically made free ones.
Jiang Ruoqi thought for a moment: "Since we're already here."
Well, she treated the checkup center as a tourist spot.
"I'll put those away. No need to be embarrassed."
Jiang Ruoqi had a small bag, about two palms big. Usually, it was just decorative, but now it was perfect for her freebies.
Meng Shang defended himself: "I'm not embarrassed."
Jiang Ruoqi nodded knowingly. She knew he was thin-skinned, so she humored him.
Forget it. Meng Shang gave up.
To prevent her from saying anything more outrageous, he steered the conversation away: "Where to next?"
Jiang Ruoqi stood up, holding her coat: "Let's go outside to talk."
The waiting area was still crowded with people, making conversation inconvenient.
Meng Shang followed her out of the center, leaving the warm air conditioning behind, hit by a chilly draft.
Seeing her still holding her coat, he reminded her: "It's cold outside. Put your coat on."
Jiang Ruoqi nodded, slung her bag over her elbow, and searched for the collar of her coat. Somehow, Meng Shang took her coat, shook it open, and gestured for her to put her arms in.
Startled, Jiang Ruoqi complied, saying naturally: "I asked inside. The results should be out in 30 minutes. It's... 11 a.m. As for next steps, I'd like your opinion, Dr. Meng."
She put on the coat. With him standing behind her, the two overlapped. She turned, taking half a step forward, one looking down, the other looking up; they were so close they could see themselves in each other's eyes.
"What?" Meng Shang breathed in the woody scent of her perfume, not understanding her sudden seriousness.
"Theoretically, we're in time to register today. So would you consider going to the civil affairs bureau with me today?"
"Aren't you going to think it over a bit?" Meng Shang felt this was way too fast.
He thought she deserved more time. He'd planned to take her to see his grandmother first, to reassure the elderly, and to give her enough time to back out.
In his view, family problems could all be discussed. She didn't need to act on impulse and find someone to marry just to solve things.
"Why would I hesitate?" Jiang Ruoqi countered.
She did have some decision-making paralysis, but it depended on the matter. Marrying Meng Shang wasn't something she'd hesitate over.
Besides, she was stubborn. Once she decided something, she pushed for it relentlessly. She didn't understand why Meng Shang thought there was room for hesitation.
Meng Shang considered: "Like observing a bit more to see if I'm reliable? You just rented an apartment less than a month ago. If we marry now, you'll move into my place. Wouldn't that be a waste of two months' rent?"
He explained seriously. Jiang Ruoqi found it amusing. She guessed he worried she was acting on impulse, driven by a momentary urge, and wanted to prevent her from making a decision she'd regret.
If she were aiming for a lifelong marriage, she'd be cautious too. But she wasn't. She just wanted to solve her current problem and find a clean companion to alleviate loneliness.
Since that person was Meng Shang, even if she wasted a few years, she figured she wouldn't regret it.
"If I hadn't confirmed you were reliable enough, I wouldn't have proposed marriage. So spending time on further observation is unnecessary. I don't like to procrastinate. When I encounter a problem, I solve it. I won't hesitate, and I won't regret it."
"As for the apartment... I'll keep it. I'm alone in Xinhai. If we ever have a fight, I'll have a place to go. Consider it my maiden home."