Chapter 1: Betrothed

"No! I want to be the bride." A childish voice erupted in a beautiful garden, his adorable pout on his rosy cheeks and his big round eyes although glaring, melted the hearts of people present there beside him.

"Xiao Luo, why do you want to be the bride? You are a man!" This time it was a girl's voice that sounded in the garden, her little hands on her hips, glaring furiously with her big brown eyes at the boy before her.

"What difference does it make? I like Zhen Yu. More than you!!" With that said the little boy dashed inside the house and went upstairs to his mother's room.

The confused little girl, dressed in white and pink, could only blink as Xiao Luo ran after shouting that sentence, leaving her on stand. 

"Hahaha...these children are really getting along with each other. Look at their cute pouts, ah, I think I will get diabetes from all their sweetness." A young man bursting into wide laughter, adored the scenery happening in the garden.

A young woman in a gray hat interjected, "What are you talking about? I don't see them getting along well, instead they seem to be in an argument." Although what she said may sound discourteous, however she too was smiling with her eyes, seeing her daughter's 'cute' glare.

"Then, why don't we go and see what they are arguing about?" An Yang suggested. His eyes lingering towards the house in which his son ran, sighing in his heart, 'This child again got angry and went to his mother to complain.'

The trio rose from their seats, pacing towards the little.

"Tingting, what happen? Why are you angry? And why did Xiao Luo run away? Did you two argue?" Yue Yan hurled a barrage of questions at her little daughter.

The young man in his casual white t-shirt and black trousers, beside her, has a relaxed, effortless hairstyle that falls naturally over his forehead, complementing his bright, handsome face. Even without any styling, his look has an innate charm that captivates anyone. 

He prompted, "Don't ask her so many questions at a time? Ask one by one or you will scare her." In the end of his sentence, he glanced at An Yang who was nodding.

"Zhen Liang, why don't you go and look where your son is now? Instead of advising me." Yue Yan annoyingly said to him, her eyes resembling her daughter's glare that is thrown at Zhen Liang.

The young man, Zhen Liang's eyes flash with an amusing glint as he leaned close to An Yang, saying in a pitiful tone, "Ah Yang, look at her, she is again giving me a harsh glare. Now, I didn't even say anything bad."

 "You..." Yue Yan's anger rose after seeing a 25-year-old man acting hurt with that large grin on his face.

"Both of you stop arguing and you, Xiao Liang, stop leaning on me." Pushing Zhen Liang away from him, he continued, "We should first hear Tingting."

At this, the trio looked at the little girl who was silent this whole time.

Throughout the duration of their conversation, Rui Ting's mind was occupied with the thoughts of Xiao Luo sentence, 'He likes Zhen Yu more than me? No, I like Zhen Yu more and he also likes me, we play every day. Yes, I should go and tell him.'

The little Tingting, after making a decision, said, "Mom, I want to marry Zhen Yu." The little girl declared. The sparkle glow in her eyes was clearly visible and her little fist clenched in determination.

"Cough...cough...what did you say?" Zhen Liang choked on his saliva, taken by surprise at the Tingting's words.

Whereas both Yue Yan and An Yang stood dumbfounded, their eyes widened in shock and the words stuck in their throats.

Meanwhile, in the house, Xiao Luo's big round mint eyes curved in affection and a bright smile casting shine to his face, said "I want to be your bride. Marry me." 

"Cough...cough...wh-what did yo-you say?" Zhen Yu's face reddening in an instant, like his father, he choked on his saliva after hearing a sudden marriage proposal. 

Flustered Zhen Yu said "We are both men!! How can we marry each other?!" The little Yu face was red like a tomato, hand fidgeting, not knowing what to say when his friend just came and said that to him.

"Hahaha...Xiao Luo, do you really want to marry Ah Yu?'" Xiao Luo's mother, who was weaving a hat, laughed after hearing her son's confession.

Little Yu was helping Lian Hua in weaving when Xiao Luo dashed in, and he didn't even look in the direction of his mother and went straight up to confuse Zhen Yu.

"Yes, I do." Xiao Luo, turning to his mother, said with absolute certainty. 

Lian Hua put down her half-done hat, and reached Xiao Luo's head, patting him endearingly. She said, "If you truly want it then I can arrange your marriage however, I also want to hear the opinion of little Yu." 

Zhen Yu, standing there like a statue, came back to his senses when Lian Hua entered his vision.

"Little Yu, do you like Xiao Luo?" She asked in her soft and soothing voice that feels like a gentle lullaby that wraps around you like a warm blanket.

"...Yes." Zhen Yu recalled the time of them playing, laughing and running together and he also remembered how Xiao Luo protects him. He really likes Xiao Luo and so he answered Lian Hua's question.

Hearing Zhen Yu's reply, Xiao Luo hugged him, saying cheerfully, "Me too, I also like Yuyu a lot." Nuzzling to flustered Yu, Xiao Luo's adorable smile intoxicated his mother, and she too smiled.

Lian Hua asked another question, "Little Yu, would you like to marry my son? You don't have to say yes if you don't want it, just answer me with honesty."

"...But...we are both men, how could we marry each other?" Zhen asked the doubt in his mind.

Mother Lian, smiled at his question and took little Yu's small hands in her hands, her eyes filled with warmth as she said, "Little Yu, two men can marry each other as long as they want to. If you two like each other enough to live your life together then what is there that can keep you from marrying each other?" 

Zhen Yu tried to understand it however didn't get it completely though he now knows that two men can marry each other if they like each other. 

"...Then, I do want to marry Xiao Luo." In his flustered and stuttering voice, he said.

"Okay, how about we wait till both of you grow up and hear how you feel about each other then? Till then, you two are only engaged, alright? Should we go and tell others who are in the garden?" Lian Hua suggested and seeing both of them nodding, she held their hands and headed to the garden.