Tenant’s Secret Love

Chapter 86: Engagement plans

As I was about to urge Violetta, she finally said to me, “Since you asked me to guess, I assume you have a girlfriend.”

“It seems that the tonic I prepared for you is not necessary, and you got it right.”

Violetta ignored my teasing and said to me after a long while, ‘It was fast. You haven't been back to Xuzhou for long.”

I was quite moved and said, ’Yes, I didn't expect it to be so fast either. Maybe it's because the family arranged the blind date, and the purpose was very clear, so it was faster.”

“Haha, does Lucas, who hangs out in nightclubs all the time, also go on blind dates?”

Violetta's words made me feel inexplicable, and it took me a long time to say, “When a person is squeezed to a certain extent, they will undergo a qualitative change. Now, when I think back on my past life, I always feel that it was so miserable, so I really like the way I have changed after being squeezed, and I like my current life.”

“So do you love her?”

I was taken aback. I suddenly remembered that Renee had asked me the same question when we spoke on the phone yesterday. I tried desperately to remember what I had told Renee, but I couldn't remember.

So I said, “I guess I do. She gives me a very comfortable feeling, and I want to spend my life with her.”

“Well, I know what kind of life you've always wanted. As your friend, I wish you the best.”

“Thanks.”

“You're welcome.”

Violetta hung up after saying that, and I was unable to react in time. I was momentarily lost in thought, and it took me a long time to hang up the phone.

The night was bottomless, and I was really tired. In a daze, I really hoped that a gust of wind or a nap would be enough to end my life.

...

A week passed in the blink of an eye. During this week, I quickly adapted to the working environment at Orson Advertising and began to take charge of planning some projects. I was surprised at how well I was doing. Maybe this was the qualitative change that came after being squeezed. Even though my name is still Lucas, I am indeed no longer the Lucas I was in Suzhou.

On this evening before work ended, the company was in a festive mood because Orson Advertising and Times Department Store had officially signed an agency contract for annual advertising business, which would increase the company's revenue by millions.

In the evening, the whole company went out for a celebration dinner. Everyone had a great time, including me, who sang one song after another in the karaoke bar, playing to my strengths, and drank bottle after bottle of beer, until I forgot all my past sorrows, until I forgot my own name, until all that was left in my eyes was Daphne, who was listening to me sing from a distance.

After leaving the karaoke bar, Daphne and I held hands as we strolled down the street, which was already deserted.

As we walked, Daphne said to me, “Lucas, do you know that when Times Department Store handed over its advertising business to our company, they didn't even try to negotiate the price down. Everything turned out just as you predicted.”

This result was indeed within my expectations. I smiled without saying anything, just let go of Daphne's hand and put my arm around her waist as we continued walking in the shadows cast by the street lamps.

We walked in silence for a while, and we were both a little tired. We sat on a bench by the street, and I smoked while Daphne snuggled up against my shoulder. At that moment, we really looked like a young couple about to start a life together.

I leisurely exhaled the smoke from my cigarette, and then removed the transparent film from the pack and covered my eyes with it. I wondered if the Castle in the Sky would appear in the moonless sky tonight.

Daphne next to me asked curiously, “Lucas, what are you looking at?”

“A crystal clear city!”

Daphne looked up and followed my gaze to the sky, and asked puzzled, ”Are you drunk?”

I took off the transparent film covering my eyes and looked at Daphne. Her words made me realize that it seems that every time I drink, I will be eager to find that city in the sky, but what is the inevitable connection between this city in the sky and being drunk? I racked my brains but couldn't figure it out!

Daphne didn't pursue the matter any further, snuggled up in my arms, and said to me, “Lucas, you need to keep up the good work. The company's executives are very satisfied with you, especially Director Zhou of the Planning Department, who has praised you several times in front of me, saying that the planning solutions you have come up with are very constructive and talented!”

I nodded, and took another long drag on my nearly-finished cigarette. In the rising smoke, I seemed to see the future taking shape.

...

Time has moved forward another month, and my life has completely entered a stable orbit due to the passage of time. I can't even remember what happened in Suzhou anymore.

During this month, Mr. and Mrs. Harlan and Natalie only occasionally contacted me, as did CC and Robben. Violetta hasn't contacted me since our last phone conversation about opening a music bar.

And the beautiful woman who had countless arguments with me over an old house never even called each other.

So the memories of Suzhou gradually faded in the fleeting moments...

It was another nice evening. Daphne and I took our respective families to Hot Pot City for hot pot. During the month, Daphne and I had rapidly grown closer.

Without hesitation, I can say that, excluding the women I met or had a relationship with in a chaotic situation, Daphne is my second girlfriend in the true sense of the word, and I have every intention of marrying her and having children with her.

During the meal, the families of both sides naturally talked about Daphne and my marriage.

Daphne's mother asked me, “Lucas, do you and Daphne have your own ideas about getting married?”

I put down my chopsticks, looked at Daphne, and then said, ”Daphne and I have gotten along very well over this period of time, and I also feel that we can get married and live together. Daphne and I have discussed it and are prepared to get engaged after the New Year. Of course, this is our idea, and we would also like to hear the opinions of your elders.”

The two families exchanged glances, and then my mother said on behalf of our family, “We have no objections to Lucas and Daphne getting engaged. We are really happy to see that they get along well and plan to get engaged!”

After my mother finished speaking, Daphne's father also immediately expressed his opinion, saying, “We also mean the same thing. The two children have first set a wedding date, and we have also had a worry off our minds!”

My mother nodded in agreement, ”Lucas, tomorrow happens to be a rest day, so you take Daphne to the mall to look at engagement jewelry.”

I nodded in agreement, and this meant that Daphne would officially become my fiancee, and for the first time in my life, I felt infinitely close to marriage.

...

That night, after I got home, I washed up and lay in bed. I couldn't help but think about the woman I called my tenant. If I hadn't met her, what kind of life would I be living now?

At this moment, I would still be in Suzhou. I would probably be the team leader of the planning department at Poly Department Store. It might be a good life.

After all, I only used the word “maybe” because I enjoy my current life and don't want to think too highly of that hypothetical life.

I extinguish my cigarette and pick up my phone from the table. I want to give Renee a call, simply out of concern for her well-being. After all, we haven't been in touch for over a month, and I hope she's managed to resolve the power struggle within Jumei.