Chapter 103: Preparing the Betrothal Gifts

While Zhong Xiao was speaking with Hou Manling in the hospital room, Zuo Lan made a trip back to the Song household.

After a night spent at the hospital, she was exhausted and had been looking forward to some rest. But as soon as she stepped into the house, she saw Song Tingshen sitting upright on the sofa, his posture rigid and formal.

“What are you doing sitting here? Why aren’t you washing up and going to bed?” she asked.

Song Tingshen said nothing.

Zuo Lan waited for his response, but when none came, she approached him with some suspicion, gazing at her son.

“Shen’er, what’s wrong?”

Song Tingshen still seemed lost in thought, as if his mind hadn’t returned to the present. His eyes stared straight ahead.

Zuo Lan’s heart leapt into her throat.

So much had happened lately; things had only just started to calm down. She dreaded the thought of something else happening to Song Tingshen now.

She’d always been vaguely worried ever since his inexplicable amnesia, fearing there might be some lasting effect on his brain. Now, seeing her son sitting there in a daze made her all the more anxious, not knowing what to say or do.

“Shen’er, Shen…”

Suddenly, Song Tingshen looked up. A flicker of emotion passed through his eyes. His voice, hoarse and faintly trembling, broke the silence.

“Mom, I’m getting married.”

Zuo Lan stared at him for several seconds in stunned silence.

Well, it was certain now—her son’s brain was indeed not well; the aftereffects had emerged.

Zuo Lan’s heart raced. She grabbed Song Tingshen’s arm, her tone grave. “Come on, Shen’er, we’re going to the hospital.”

They needed to have his head checked properly.

How could he suddenly start talking about marriage out of nowhere?

She remembered a soldier at the military district who’d suffered a head injury and fallen into a coma. After being rescued, the first thing he said upon waking was, “Wife, I want my wife.”

The medical staff present had exchanged bewildered glances, unsure what to say—after all, the comrade wasn’t even married.

Later, when he was fully conscious, no matter how they teased him about it, he never admitted to saying such a thing. But the story became a running joke among them all.

Now Zuo Lan feared Song Tingshen was just like that soldier—talking nonsense in his sleep.

He’d better be taken to the hospital for a thorough checkup.

But no matter how many times Zuo Lan tugged at him, Song Tingshen wouldn’t budge.

Instead, he stood up on his own and said to her, “Mom, listen carefully. I’m not joking. Zhong Xiao and I plan to marry. We had a marriage agreement before, didn’t we?”

“Now that Zhong Xiao has come to Taizhou Island and is staying with us, it’s time to fulfill that agreement.”

“The next thing we need to do is prepare everything for the wedding—starting with the betrothal gifts, the three big items and one that makes noise, the ninety-two-legged furniture, and anything else that needs to be ready.”

Zuo Lan was utterly bewildered by Song Tingshen’s words, blinking in confusion, unable to process what she’d just heard.

Song Tingshen frowned. “Comrade Zuo Lan!”

Startled by his tone, Zuo Lan immediately snapped to attention and responded instinctively, “Here!”

But as soon as she realized what she’d done, she raised her hand and gave Song Tingshen a swat on the back of his head. “You brat! Who are you calling Comrade Zuo Lan?”

Song Tingshen cleared his throat and said, “Did you hear what I just said clearly?”

Seeing that he wasn’t joking at all, Zuo Lan’s expression gradually turned serious. At last, she asked, “Does Xiaoxiao know about this? Has she agreed?”

“She has,” Song Tingshen replied.

No sooner had he spoken than the sound of the front door opening reached them.

Mother and son turned to look.

It was Zhong Xiao, just back from the hospital.