Chapter 333: Promises and Family Bonds

Lin Xiao Li clenched her fists lightly,

“Zheng Ran, your mom wants to ask you! Are you really planning to stay with them forever? Does that mean you’ll go to their parents and propose marriage? You’ll openly say you want to marry their daughters—and all four of them at once?!”

Lin Zheng Ran nodded: “Yes.”

Lin Xiao Li shot back: “Zheng Ran, there’s no way parents would agree to something like that! I’m a mom too, so I get how it feels to have a daughter. This just won’t work!”

Lin Zheng Ran said casually:

“I know there might be challenges, but we’ll overcome them, right?” He raised his hand:

“We can’t just run from problems. I’ve taken this path, so I have to face it. Mom and Dad, you always taught me to tackle difficulties head-on, didn’t you? And you say it’s impossible,

but think about everything I’ve done so far—was any of it possible at first glance? Not a single one seemed doable.”

Heqing stepped closer, cutely and firmly clenching her little fists in front of her chest:

“Auntie, I’ll work hard to convince my mom and grandma! Plus, Lin Zheng Ran helped them recently, so I believe it’ll work out.”

Lily stepped forward to stand by Lin Zheng Ran, proudly and loudly saying: “Without Zheng Ran, I wouldn’t have gotten my stage opportunities these past few years. My parents know what he means to me, so if we talk it out, they’ll agree.”

Han Wenwen moved closer, covering her face with a smile: “I don’t have that issue, really. No one cares about my stuff anyway. I won’t have anyone at my wedding, so it’s fine.”

“Uncle and Auntie, don’t worry,” Jiang Jingshi said. “We’ve all thought this through since agreeing to Zheng Ran’s idea, and we’re in it for the future.”

Lin Xiao Li backed up a step, her confidence waning under their united front:

“Even if their parents agree, aren’t you worried about what others will think? As long as you’re with Zheng Ran, that’s all that matters?”

Her weak question met with the four girls nodding firmly.

Lin Xiao Li’s spirit dropped further; she leaned back against her husband as Lin Ying Jun stood to support his wife.

Her voice softened: “What about the kids? You can’t register them without a marriage certificate.”

Han Wenwen raised her hand: “Auntie, I should correct that. Lately, the birth rate in China seems to be dropping, and we talked about it during our trip. Zheng Ran brother guessed that soon, kids might be registered even without marriage.”

Lin Zheng Ran nodded: “That’s what I said. Dad, as a civil servant, you must have heard about these discussions.”

Lin Ying Jun grimaced.

“Well,” he admitted, having discussed such trends with colleagues, and it was likely that Zheng Ran’s prediction could come true.

Lin Xiao Li turned to her husband with a pitiful look: “Husband, say something to help me! Is this really going to happen?”

Lin Ying Jun replied awkwardly: “Wife, we don’t need to debate this. It’s possible in the future, and Zheng Ran is right.”

Lin Zheng Ran settled back on the sofa and sighed:

“Mom, I know you’re saying all this because you’re worried I can’t handle so many girlfriends and might hurt Heqing, Han Wenwen, Lily, or Jiang Jingshi’s feelings someday.

But think about it differently—if I picked just one and let the others go, how would they feel? They’d be disappointed in me, though I’d never do something so heartless anyway.”

Lin Xiao Li asked, puzzled: “Huh? Why?”

Lin Zheng Ran popped another cherry tomato into his mouth.

Jiang Jingshi chimed in: “It’s true. Though I don’t love the idea of him dating so many, if he suddenly dropped anyone, it wouldn’t be like him. Zheng Ran isn’t the type to abandon people.”

Han Wenwen understood:

“That’s why we’re all so devoted to Zheng Ran brother and okay with his ways—because we know he’ll never leave us. It’s this total sense of security. He’s proven it, so we let him be.

If he were the kind to ditch girls on a whim, we probably wouldn’t have fallen for him in the first place.”

Heqing blushed: “At least, that’s what I love most about Zheng Ran brother—he never abandons his girlfriends.”

Lin Zheng Ran looked up at his mom while chewing the cherry tomato:

“Yeah, that’s basically it. So, in the end, I’ll win this discussion because I’d never abandon girls who like me. That’s just wrong, and since I won’t do it, I won’t lose.”

Lin Ying Jun felt a surge of pride for his son.

Though his actions were unconventional, he was his kid through and through—bold and responsible!

He added: “Zheng Ran, I can’t argue with that. A real man never abandons his family; that’s low. You’re spot on, and I support you!”

Lin Zheng Ran smiled and gave his dad a thumbs-up.

Seeing the scales tip in their favor, Heqing added fuel to the fire:

“Auntie Lin, please let us be with Lin Zheng Ran! We all want happiness and not to be left behind.”

The others chimed in: “Yes, Auntie, please agree.”

“This…” Lin Xiao Li looked at these girls she’d watched grow up, suddenly feeling a bit wronged:

“How did I end up as the bad guy? I’m not trying to keep you from Zheng Ran; I’m just looking out for you girls.

I never thought you’d all be so determined and think so far ahead. I… what can I do?”

She huddled against her husband and whispered: “Fine, do what you want. I support you; don’t look at me like that. I’m not the villain.”

The four girls froze for a moment, exchanging glances.

Then they beamed with joy.

Lily asked eagerly: “Really, Auntie? That means you agree!”

Lin Xiao Li nodded slowly: “I agree. As long as you’re happy, that’s what matters. Since you’re all set on this, I’ll trust you’ll live happily.”

Lin Zheng Ran signaled to the four girls with a look.

They quickly caught on and rushed to Lin Xiao Li and Lin Ying Jun, happily saying:

“Thank you, Uncle and Auntie!”

“Now you’ll have four daughters-in-law. Don’t worry; we’ll all live happily together!”

“Auntie, you’re so open-minded. No wonder you’ll be our future mother-in-law.”

Lin Xiao Li brightened at the praise, though she sighed inwardly.

As the mom letting her son juggle four relationships, she figured she was one of a kind. But as an elder, what else could she do faced with their words?

Happiness was key, and not everyone’s life had to follow the same path.

Lin Ying Jun suggested: “Alright, with the talk done, how about Uncle and Auntie cook a big meal? Let’s all have a family dinner tonight!”

The four girls responded together.

Lin Zheng Ran, back on the sofa, popped another cherry tomato into his mouth. Today’s tomatoes his mom bought were delicious indeed.