Chapter 382: Chapter 381: You Are Not Suitable
"Aunt!"
Li Pingting couldn’t help but call out.
"Shut up, no need to say more. I’ve made my decision, and it’s not your place to question it."
Li Fufeng gave Li Pingting a glare and said, "Young Master Xu has traveled a long way to get here. It must have been quite exhausting. Pingting, take him to rest first. I’ll go and sort out the wedding arrangements to ensure everything is done properly."
With that, she turned and walked out.
Li Pingting bit her lip in discontent and mumbled, "Yes, Young Master Xu, please follow me."
Under Li Pingting’s guidance, Xu Lingjun was brought to a rather elegant room nestled in the mountains, with ancient cypresses outside the window, enhancing its serene beauty.
But upon entering the room, Xu Lingjun was still utterly baffled...
A wedding?
Isn’t this old lady’s thinking a bit too erratic?
He had merely come to visit Li Jingjun, and if possible, it would be great to define their relationship.
After all, he had read countless novels where many female protagonists were immediately arranged for marriage upon returning home, only to be coincidentally discovered by the main character during their engagement or wedding... Haha, as if there are so many coincidences. Aren’t those authors worried that the readers would wonder what if the main character arrived late?
Xu Lingjun was genuinely concerned about such an unintended surprise.
He absolutely trusted in Li Jingjun’s loyalty to him, but that didn’t prevent him from wanting to make his mark on her in front of her family... This could prevent her family members from getting any unnecessary ideas.
In fact, from Xu Lingjun’s perspective, an engagement between them at most was already quite remarkable.
Yet who knew the old lady was even more aggressive than he was, barely uttering a few words before talking about holding a wedding and having them consummate the marriage.
"Have a good rest."
Li Pingting said stiffly before turning to walk away.
"Aunt, wait a moment."
Xu Lingjun hurriedly called out.
Li Pingting turned back in anger and bitingly said, "Don’t think just because you’re Jingjun’s husband you can call me Aunt."
"I just wanted to ask, what does the old lady mean by this?"
Xu Lingjun said confusedly, "Is she... is she really going to have me and Jingjun married now?"
Li Pingting sneered, "You seem pretty happy?"
Xu Lingjun replied, puzzled, "If we’re truly getting married, I’d naturally be happy, but isn’t it a bit too fast?"
"Wasn’t it you who said you didn’t have long to live and wanted to see your lover one last time? My aunt has some sympathy for someone like you. Since you’re in love with Jingjun, she would naturally consider leaving a descendant for you."
Li Pingting said, "But it’s impossible now. Currently, Jingjun is at a critical stage and can’t get pregnant. Perhaps later she’ll need to personally... ahem... personally collect your sperm to be preserved for when she plans for a baby in the future."
"That... I didn’t mean it that way."
Only then did Xu Lingjun understand Li Fufeng’s line of thought.
It was clear she believed the Polar Star Battlefield was extremely perilous and hence wanted to leave behind an heir.
"In fact, this isn’t so unusual when you think about it. After all, who knows Jingjun better than us, her closest family? She may seem silent, but she’s very independent... If she’s truly fond of you, trying to force her to marry someone else might backfire. Given that, marrying the two of you seems quite reasonable."
Li Pingting explained, "My aunt is very old-fashioned. But precisely because she’s old-fashioned, if Jingjun completes the tasks assigned to her, she’ll grant Jingjun much freedom, like choosing her husband from candidates she approves of, rather than one my aunt designates. Apparently, my aunt is quite satisfied with you."
Xu Lingjun couldn’t help but quirk his mouth and show a slight smile upon hearing her words.
Mmhmm... I knew no woman could truly dislike me.
Previously, I thought coming here would be a rough ordeal, but who knew I’d gain the approval of her family so smoothly.
Li Pingting said discontentedly, "But I’m not satisfied with you, not at all."
"Well..."
Xu Lingjun contemplated saying, "You don’t seem to be in charge here."
But considering Li Jingjun might have trusted her deeply enough to give her the phone to reply to him, he decided not to hurt her pride.
"I know my opinion might not count for much, but I just don’t want—"
Li Pingting started breathing heavily, coldly saying, "I especially don’t want Jingjun to find a Martial Artist as a husband. I don’t want Jingjun to end up like her parents, both marching to the battlefield and dying on the Polar Star Battlefield, leaving behind a lonely child... I raised Jingjun myself, and because of that, I understand all too well how pitiful an orphan without parents can be — like a small child crying at night for their mom and dad... I don’t want her children to suffer the same fate."
Xu Lingjun was taken aback by her words, realizing the reason for Li Pingting’s cold demeanor towards him since his arrival.
The root cause lay here.
He gently suggested, "But Jingjun is excellent. If you don’t want her to marry a Martial Artist, do you intend for her to marry an ordinary man?"
"Surely you don’t naively believe that only powerful Martial Artists are considered exceptional, right?"
Li Pingting responded, "Don’t forget, Martial Tao and technology each have their own weight. Someone to match Jingjun doesn’t necessarily have to be just a powerful Martial Artist; an outstanding scholar can equally match her excellence..."
She smirked, "Let’s not mention other things, but recently, the Empire just specially certified an honorary academician. It’s said he’s just over eighteen, around Jingjun’s age, and there’s talk he might become the future Pavilion Master of the Zhanzheng Academy. I’ve already sent people to investigate the life and character of this academician. If suitable, I will absolutely request my aunt to retract her decision. As for you..."
Li Pingting gave Xu Lingjun a critical once-over and said, "I admit your talent isn’t bad, but the other person is even more outstanding than Jingjun. Jingjun might even find it a stretch to be with him. Do you think you’re more exceptional than an academician?"
Xu Lingjun: "....................."
Scratching his nose sheepishly, he conceded, "At the very least, I won’t be worse than him."
Initially, he was a bit angry after hearing Li Pingting’s words; after all, having such concerns was one thing, but actively seeking a partner for his girlfriend was quite another—did she really take him for a pushover?
But after hearing her out, he suddenly felt something peculiar.
Dammit...
This chick must be a bit dim-witted, right?
You’re praising a bald man in front of a monk—should I curse you, punch you, or thank you for the compliment?
"Hmph... I won’t give up. A wedding? That’s only because the old lady doesn’t know there are better and more suitable options, otherwise she would never choose you."
At this point, Li Pingting couldn’t help but feel a bit guilty and added, "Sorry, it’s not that I have anything against you. You’re excellent, but considering Jingjun and the future of our Li Family, I don’t want her to find another Martial Artist husband. I know I shouldn’t meddle in these matters that aren’t my concern, but knowing it’s not ideal, I naturally have to try to change it."
She looked at Xu Lingjun, her eyes full of apology, "It’s not that I can’t understand your feelings for Jingjun or think you’re unworthy, but it’s just not suitable. A son-in-law of the Li Family isn’t like others elsewhere; they also bear responsibilities and must go to the battlefield... With your skill level..."
"Hold on!"
Xu Lingjun looked at Li Pingting in confusion and asked, "What did you just say? Son-in-law? I’m marrying into your family?"
Li Pingting asked in surprise, "You didn’t know?"
Xu Lingjun inquired, "If I’m marrying in, what about my current wife?"
Li Pingting widened her eyes in shock, "You have another wife?"