Using power to force marriage

After hanging up the phone, Ruan Fu opened the door and went out to apologize to her family.

She admitted her mistake and promised never to be so willful again.

Her parents knew that the pressure of senior year was immense, and they should have calmed down and had a proper talk with her last night instead of scolding her as soon as she walked in the door.

Both sides have seriously reflected on their actions, especially Ruan Fu, whose attitude needs to be corrected as the college entrance examination approaches.

on Monday.

Zhao Jingnian and others waited outside the Ruan family manor to find her so they could go to school together.

As soon as Ruan Fu stepped out of her house, she eagerly asked, "Tell me quickly, who is the girl you like?"

Zhao Jingnian habitually slung her schoolbag over his shoulder and led her to school.

"Don't worry, I'll tell you when the school opens."

It's a ten-minute walk from home to school.

Ruan Fu, itching to ask, sat down in the classroom and blinked her bright, watery eyes, asking, "Can you tell me now?"

"Don't rush, wait until you finish today's class properly."

He finally made it to the end of the school day, and then he said...

"Don't rush, I'll tell you if you improve by ten places in Friday's quiz."

She patiently waited another week, and after the quiz, she really did improve by ten places.

"Now you can tell me, right?"

Zhao Jingnian then said, "Don't rush, wait..."

Ruan Fu had been kept in suspense for a week, and she could no longer bear it.

"I can't wait any longer!" She laughed in exasperation. "Are you trying to play Pinduoduo with me here?"

One cut, then another, and there's always another cut waiting for her.

"This time it's for real. I'll tell you after the college entrance exam. This is the final blow."

Zhao Jingnian's serious demeanor seemed quite credible, so she reluctantly decided to believe him one more time.

"You promised to tell me after the college entrance exam. If you dare to lie again, I won't talk to you anymore."

He nodded and promised, "I won't lie."

-

During the three days of the college entrance examination, Ruan Fu was in particularly good condition.

She had a good mindset and didn't feel that the college entrance examination was any different from usual. She wasn't nervous and just treated it as a small test.

Stepping out of the examination room, she was full of confidence, feeling as if she could write with divine inspiration.

Zhao Jingnian bought movie tickets in advance, as a new movie was being released these past two days.

It's a youth campus drama, and many high school seniors made plans to watch it together after their exams.

Ruan Fu always kept in mind the promise Zhao Jingnian made to her, that he would tell her who the girl she liked was after the college entrance examination.

If you dare to cheat again, she'll get angry.

"I'll definitely tell you today, but you have to come to the movies with me first."

Ruan Fu thought that since she had already waited so long, one more movie wouldn't make a difference.

The movie received very good reviews, and she happened to want to see it too.

The two went to the mall cinema together.

There were many people watching the movie today, mostly students who had just finished the college entrance examination, and quite a few young couples holding hands.

Now that the college entrance exams are over, they no longer need to sneak around; they can openly hold hands and go to the movies.

Zhao Jingnian went to pick up the tickets and buy milk tea, while Ruan Fu found a seat in the cinema's waiting area and waited for him.

Soon, he came to find her with milk tea and popcorn.

As Ruan Fu lined up to enter, a strange sense of unease welled up inside her.

"Zhao Jingnian, you already have a girl you like, so it's a bit inappropriate for you to go to the movies with me."

When she said this, her eyes were unfocused and she seemed very downcast.

Zhao Jingnian was amused by her expression. "What's inappropriate about it? It's not like it's your first time watching a movie."

"That's different. You didn't have a girl you liked before, but now you do."

She bit the soft flesh of her lip. "I don't want to watch it with you."

We were about to go in, and now she's saying she doesn't want to watch? It's too late.

Zhao Jingnian took her hand and led her into the venue.

Ruan Furen was already seated, but her mind was still not at ease.

"Who is the girl you like? Why didn't you watch it with her today?"

Zhao Jingnian's lips curled into a mocking smile. "She's here."

Ruan Fu frowned in confusion. "Where?"

"In this movie theater."

Upon hearing this, she looked around in surprise, "In the same theater as us?"

Zhao Jingnian nodded, "Mm."

Ruan Fu's heart suddenly raced. A terrible thought flooded her mind: could the person he liked be...?

"I'll introduce you to her after the movie."

He was about to ask him to confirm when he heard his words, and his guess was instantly shattered.

Ruan Fu felt a chill run down her spine; she had guessed wrong.

"Oh," she replied curtly, then fell silent and focused on watching the movie.

The movie was very good, and Ruan Fu quickly became immersed in the plot, losing all interest in thinking about his sweetheart.

Two hours later, the movie ended and the lights in the theater came on.

Ruan Fu's heart suddenly began to race. "Where...is the girl you like?"

Zhao Jingnian turned to meet her gaze. "Do you think she'd say yes if I confessed my feelings to her?"

Strangely enough, upon learning that he was going to confess his feelings, Ruan Fu felt a strange, melancholic feeling well up inside her.

"How would I know?"

Her gaze swept over Zhao Jingnian's impeccably handsome face. "Probably. You're so handsome, you're good at studying, you have a good character, and you're quite caring. Girls would all like you."

She rattled off a list of his many good qualities. Hearing Ruan Fu praise him, Zhao Jingnian smiled and said, "Girls all like that, does that include you?"

Ruan Fu gasped, her heart clenching suddenly. "What did you say?"

He clenched his fist in front of her, his eyes filled with anticipation, and said, "I said, I like you."

After saying that, he opened his palm, palm down.

A beautiful silver necklace hung on his middle finger and slipped from his palm.

The crowd in the theater had dispersed, leaving only the two of them. They were so quiet that they could clearly hear each other's breathing and heartbeats.

Ruan Fu's gaze was fixed on him. The necklace hanging on Zhao Jingnian's finger was the style she had casually mentioned a while ago.

I came across it while scrolling through short videos and casually sent it to Zhao Jingnian.

Soft and Soft: [This butterfly necklace is so pretty! Don't you have a girl you like? You could buy it as a confession gift; she'll definitely love it.]

At that time, she was wholeheartedly trying to help Zhao Jingnian and give him advice. Little did she know that the girl he liked was actually her.

Ruan Fu opened her eyes wide and looked up at him in disbelief.

"Is it me you like?"

"It's you, it's always been you."

The necklace was bought with all the prize money he won during his three years of high school competitions. It was personally chosen by Ruan Fu, so there's no need to worry that she won't like it.

Zhao Jingnian spoke earnestly, his eyes burning with passion, "Xiao Fu, I don't want to be your childhood friend or anything like that. I like you, and I want to be your boyfriend."

Ruan Fu's ears were already flushed, and her breathing was erratic.

She gave him a reproachful look, thinking how dare Zhao Jingnian play tricks on her.

"Xiao Fu, we've grown up together since kindergarten. Every day, I've held your hand as we went to and from school. I want to continue holding your hand as we go to university, and I want to walk hand in hand with you for much, much longer."

I always thought Zhao Jingnian was an introverted person who wasn't good at expressing his feelings, but I never expected him to be so eloquent when it came to sweet talk.

"Little Fu, would you be willing to have a relationship with me that lasts forever?"

I remember the last time I heard him call me "Little Sister Fu" was when I was in elementary school. As I grew up, I always felt it was strange to call someone "little sister". After I started experiencing romantic feelings during puberty, I didn't want to call anyone "little sister" anymore.

Ruan Fu smiled brightly when she heard the long-lost "Little Fu Sister".

"Brother Jingnian, I'm willing to have a relationship with you that will never end."

Having received a reply, Zhao Jingnian put the necklace on her.

The cicadas chirped melodiously, the summer breeze was scorching, and the two walked hand in hand in the orange-red sunset.

"Jingnian, do you know what university is like?"

"Having you by my side is what happiness looks like."

—End of article • June 30, 2026

*

In the "what if" scenario, Fufu and Xiao Zhao grow up together, study together, get into the same university, and have a sweet romance. If all goes well, Xiao Zhao will propose to Fufu on graduation day, and they will be happy forever. Okay, that's all for the "what if" side story for now. I originally planned to write 10 chapters of the "what if" story, but because I have to go out for training on July 1st, the schedule was sudden, so I only managed to update these few chapters.

If I have time later, I'll write a few more chapters about college romance, but I definitely won't have time right now. Also, I won't be able to write the extra chapters about the older siblings I promised you princesses, and I'm very sorry. This book doesn't have any drafts saved up; I'm writing it every day after get off work, squeezing in time for each chapter. The readership isn't great, and I've considered giving up many times, but seeing readers consistently following the story and leaving comments every day has given me the motivation to keep going. I'm truly, truly grateful; thank you to every princess who loves this book!

As I mentioned before, after the book is finished, I'll be giving away small gifts to the lucky readers who have followed and interacted with me the whole time. The lucky winners will be announced on Big Eyes's page, @BalalaChenya. My next book will probably start early next year, with the same peacock-like male and wooden-tongued female protagonist, still a sweet and romantic story set in a wealthy family, a marriage of convenience that blossoms into love. If all goes well, it will still be written on this account. Finally, thank you again for your support and love. Remember to leave a rating, I love you all!!