"I..." I hesitated, unsure whether to first lie to Brick to escape this ordeal or risk being turned into a vegetable and confess my true feelings.

"Wang Hao..." Taozi gently took my hand, urging me with her eyes to tell this lie. At the same time, she was also hopeful.

Taozi was hoping for this lie, satisfied with this brief happiness.

How could I hurt her heart again at this moment? I made up my mind and blurted out, "Okay."

After saying those words, I strangely felt relieved. Oddly enough, was I also looking forward to being with Taozi?

"Really, you agree?" Taozi looked at me with joy, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes.

She knew it was a lie, so why was she so happy?

I nodded, hoping this girl could be a little happier for a while longer. Even if, not long from now, sadness would come again.

"That's right." Brick put down the brick he was holding, rubbing his rough hands together with a happy expression. "Kid, my sister is a top-notch girl in the world. Having her is your blessing!"

That was true, so I nodded along.

"I hope you two will be well, forever." Brick smiled warmly, linking mine and Taozi's hands together.

Looking at Taozi's shy face, I felt happy in my heart. At least at this moment, I was truly happy.

To have a girl like Taozi was undoubtedly the happiest thing in this life, but...

I shook my head, unwilling to think too much. I just needed to enjoy this brief happiness. Taozi was doing the same, enjoying this fleeting joy. We both knew that leaving Brick's rented room would mean parting ways. Only Brick didn't know, this stubborn boy just thought we were really going to be together, smiling at us constantly.

"Come, follow me." Brick took mine and Taozi's hands, leading us to the table.

"Brother, what are you doing?" Taozi asked, puzzled.

Brick grinned, taking out several red candles from a drawer and sticking several "double happiness" characters on the wall. Both Taozi and I were dumbfounded, not knowing what trick Brick was up to. Could it be... I didn't dare to think further, that would be too absurd!

"Why not get married now?" Brick arranged everything and said with a smile, "Words alone aren't enough, bowing as witness. After bowing, you'll be husband and wife, not allowed to be attracted to anyone else!"

"Brother, we're only sixteen!" Taozi said helplessly, "Isn't it too early for marriage? Where did you learn all this? Hurry up and stop, it's embarrassing if someone finds out!"

I vigorously nodded beside her, fully agreeing with Taozi's words. Getting married? What nonsense! Taozi was such a smart girl, how could she have such a silly brother? Probably learned it from movies or TV shows!

Brick ignored his sister's words, but turned angrily to me, "What, you don't want to marry my sister?"

I was sweating profusely, "It's not that I don't want to, it's just too early. We're still students. Besides, marriage requires a marriage certificate to be legally binding. If we just bow, it doesn't count as marriage..."

"Stop spouting nonsense!" Brick interrupted me, "I'm asking you, do people consider the wedding date based on the day they got the certificate or the day of the ceremony?"

I thought carefully and said, "It's based on the day of the ceremony." Some people get the certificate before the ceremony, while others get it after, but regardless, the wedding date is always based on the ceremony day.

"Yes, that's the custom in China! The day of the ceremony is the big day!" Brick said decisively, "As long as you and my sister bow, even without the certificate, you're considered husband and wife! If anyone disagrees, I'll immediately hit them with two bricks on the head!"

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

I was about to say that such matters should be informed to our parents, but after hearing Brick's last sentence, I shut my mouth. I was really afraid this goofy kid would hit my parents with bricks. This farce was getting bigger and bigger...

I looked at Taozi for help, and she immediately understood my meaning, saying, "Brother, what you're doing is ridiculous. I don't agree. Let Wang Hao go now. Anyway, he has promised to be with me."

I looked at her gratefully. There weren't many girls as understanding as her. But Brick picked up the brick from the ground again, saying fiercely, "I don't care. If Wang Hao doesn't bow with you today, I'll turn him into a vegetable! Sister, I've always listened to you in the past. But today, I'm thinking of your lifelong happiness, so don't blame me. Sooner or later, you'll understand my painstaking efforts! Don't you really like this guy? You said he had unique insights into Shakespeare, and he's humorous, gentle, and affectionate. He's an excellent husband!"

I stared at Taozi in disbelief, completely unable to believe that Taozi would praise me like this. This was the first time anyone had praised me like this in my life! Thinking back on the time I spent with Taozi, I was indeed quite verbose (or you could say rogue), changing from my previous silent and reserved character into a complete rascal. But I pursued Taozi because I wanted to annoy Xia Xue!

However, knowing that Taozi praised me like this, I felt happy in my heart. I'm humorous, I'm witty, I'm gentle, I'm affectionate...

"Though you say that, it's still... too early..." Taozi seemed very speechless.

"Not early at all." Brick said, "In ancient times, many girls were married off at sixteen or seventeen. You're just catching up with a good time. Wang Hao, come and bow now, or I'll turn you into a vegetable!" With that, he shook the brick a few times.

I was really afraid of Brick's brick. While I was still at a loss, Taozi pulled my hand again, signaling me with her eyes. I understood her meaning. It seemed that I had to bow with her and temporarily fool his silly brother.

Taozi and I stood side by side at the table, feeling a bit like a marriage ceremony with the red candles on the table and the "double happiness" characters on the wall.

For some reason, I felt a faint excitement in my heart, and my palms were all sweaty.

"That's right." Brick was very happy, shouting loudly, "First bow to heaven and earth!"

Taozi and I knelt down in unison, bowed to the table, and then stood up.

"Second bow to the parents!" Brick shouted, then quickly brought a chair and sat in front of us.

Taozi and I knelt down to Brick again, bowing our heads to him.

"Good, good, good." Brick laughed heartily and continued, "Third bow as husband and wife!"

Although I knew it was all fake, just a game, this whole thing was a ridiculous farce. But when it came time to bow as husband and wife, my heart couldn't help but be stirred with excitement. Taozi and I stood facing each other. I looked at Taozi's beautiful face, her slightly flushed cheeks, her thin red lips, her delicate nose, her crescent-shaped eyes, and I almost got lost in them... Are Taozi and I really going to bow as husband and wife? After we bow, will we really be husband and wife?

Taozi and I slowly bent down. Unfortunately, we were too close, and our foreheads bumped, causing both of us to grimace.

"Hahaha, good, good, good!" Brick jumped up, clapping his hands. "From today onwards, you two are husband and wife!"

Brick's "husband and wife" snapped me back to reality, making me suddenly realize that this was still just a farce. So I said unkindly, "Shouldn't we be heading to the bridal chamber now? Shouldn't you leave us alone?"

Taozi's face reddened even more, softly saying, "Wang Hao, what are you saying..."

Brick scratched his head, looking quite embarrassed. I deliberately continued, "Since we've already bowed, Taozi and I are now husband and wife. It shouldn't be a problem for us to share a bed. Do you have any objections?"

Sure enough, Brick hesitated and said, "This won't do. You're both only sixteen, still far too early for that..."

I echoed his tone, saying, "What's wrong with being sixteen? In ancient times, many people were married and had children at sixteen." Finally, I felt a sense of relief using his own logic against him.

Taozi chuckled and exclaimed admiringly at my quick wit.

Brick stomped his foot and said, "Fine, you can share a bed, but be careful not to make any babies. After all, you're still... " He stopped halfway, probably afraid I would retort with the same threat. "Oh!" Brick turned and hurried out the door, disappearing in no time.

I dumbly stared at the open door. I hadn't expected Brick to actually let me share a room with his sister. What kind of brother was he? It was both infuriating and amusing.

"Don't mind him," Taozi said. "My brother is like that, single-minded once he sets his mind on something."

I sighed, looking at her. "I really didn't know Brick was your brother. Otherwise, I wouldn't have dared to provoke you."

Taozi blushed and said, "No one at school knows about this. I hate it when he gets into fights, but his temper is bad, and he's always ready to fight someone. So I just don't tell anyone he's my brother, to avoid trouble."

With Taozi's understated demeanor, she really didn't want others to know she had such an outspoken brother. But Brick seemed to have no lackeys; according to Yucheng Fei, he was a loner. For someone like him to become one of the top bosses in the city, calling him stupid didn't seem quite appropriate. It was just speechless.

"I've been hit hard by your brother these past few days," I rubbed my head, which Taozi had bandaged up nicely. It looked like a mummy. I hadn't seen myself in the mirror, but I probably didn't look much different from a mummy.