Resurrection Empire

Chapter 1117 - 433: Restoring Law and Order, Drastic Measures in Troubled Times, the Shy Ma Xiaoling (Part 3)

Ren Zhong was taken aback, feeling that something wasn’t quite right.

Just then, Ma Dafu came running from afar, puffing heavily.

The chubby white-haired old man shouted breathlessly, "Ma Xiaoling, don’t get excited! Things aren’t how you think they are!"

As soon as Old Ma finished speaking, he saw Ren Zhong beside him and his face turned sour again.

Ma Xiaoling turned around, first looking at her plump father, then at Ren Zhong, who stood aside, looking confused and slightly helpless, and said, "What do you mean ’not how I think’? What else could it be?"

At this point, Old Ma finally arrived, glanced slightly guiltily at Ren Zhong, then looked at his daughter, who was like a volcano about to erupt, sighing helplessly, "You’re so impatient. Let me finish what I was saying!"

Ren Zhong cleared his throat twice, intervening, "No, Old Ma, Ma Xiaoling, what exactly were you talking about just now?"

Ma Xiaoling: "About an hour ago, I received a transfer order from Ju Qingmeng, the president, asking me to serve as the chief member of some Moral Committee. Personally, I think this job is good, punishing evil and fighting indefinitely. But then my dad came and told me, you think I’m getting old and should get married, right?"

Ren Zhong sighed helplessly and nodded, "According to Source Star’s human average life expectancy, at twenty-four, you’re indeed past the age for marriage talks. If you keep on like this, it’s not a solution."

Ma Xiaoling spat, "Marry? Marry my ass! Not a single one catches my eye. I’d rather stay single forever than settle. Dad, don’t try to force me, and Ren Zhong, don’t you dare either!"

By this point, Ren Zhong had roughly figured out what was going on in Ma Xiaoling’s mind.

Apparently, having received incomplete information, she misunderstood Ren Zhong and Ma Dafu’s intentions as setting up an "arranged marriage" for her, forcibly pairing her with some young talents within the Groups.

Ren Zhong’s real intention in giving her a heavy responsibility was likely to exchange it as a condition to make her submit.

After all, everyone knows Ma Xiaoling’s fiery temper, and no one can force her.

But only Ma Xiaoling herself knows her real thoughts.

Her heart, from beginning to end, is occupied with just one person.

And she prides herself on knowing Ren Zhong very well.

She never considered Ren Zhong would make a move on her.

She felt it was absolutely impossible.

So when her father brought up this matter, her only reaction was that Ren Zhong wanted to marry her off.

No way any uncle could endure this, nor any aunty, so as soon as Ren Zhong returned, she burst out immediately.

What Steering Man of the Ren Group, what Savior of Starfire Town, what First Continent’s number one power, what Tenth Extreme under the Nine Major Groups, what the most powerful self-made man on Source Star—none of Ren Zhong’s accolades worked on her.

If she wasn’t willing, not even a king could force her.

Meanwhile, Old Ma’s lips were trembling.

He wanted to repeat exactly what Ren Zhong said at the time, but felt with Ren Zhong himself here, there was no need for him as a father to play matchmaker, which smacked of selling his daughter.

Old Ma couldn’t bring himself to speak.

However, Old Ma was also observing Ren Zhong’s state at the moment.

Ren Zhong, at this time, was also somewhat embarrassed.

Back then, Ma Xiaoling’s six hundred and twenty-three confessions broke down Ren Zhong’s defense, and he inwardly decided to give Ma Xiaoling a fulfilling resolution.

Before setting off to the Tracker Spaceship, he mustered the courage to slightly reveal his thoughts to Old Ma.

The following one or two days, Ren Zhong was busy and didn’t have time to further this matter, planning to put it aside for now, wait until he was free, then discuss with Ju Qingmeng, who was eager for him to expand his spouse count, before finding a way to slowly communicate with Ma Xiaoling.

Who would have thought, Old Ma, this usually reliable old Mayor, would let slip, only speaking half a sentence, causing a misunderstanding and igniting Ma Xiaoling’s explosive temper?

Ren Zhong found himself in a dilemma.

He was actually quite tempted to tell Ma Xiaoling outright, for goodness’ sake, don’t hold back, you’ve confessed to me six hundred and twenty-three times.

I know what you’re thinking better than you do.

Yet, in this timeline, the confession hadn’t happened.

This talk seemed rather absurd.

Ren Zhong couldn’t bring himself to speak, suddenly feeling a bit flustered.

Seeing his expression, Ma Dafu felt quite astounded.

He’d known Ren Zhong for years.

From the very beginning, this young brother’s persona was calm even before a collapsing mountain, composed and poised, with deep foresight, missed no plans, seldom showing such embarrassed and helpless state.

But inexplicably, Old Ma also felt a sense of gratification.

Old Ma is a Mayor willing to disregard life and death for Starfire Town’s people, but when it comes to his daughter’s happiness, he’s just an ordinary father.

Back then, Ren Zhong pretended to be his prospective son-in-law.

Later on, Old Ma felt Ren Zhong’s ambition was too great to control, further dragging Ma Xiaoling into huge crises.

For a time, Old Ma even deliberately tried to keep his daughter away from Ren Zhong, this troublemaker.

But in the end, Old Ma accepted fate; a grown daughter can’t be kept, can’t be managed.

Old Ma always feared Ren Zhong didn’t have genuine romantic feelings for Ma Xiaoling.

He didn’t want to see his daughter suffer grievances.

Now, he felt reassured.

Old Ma cleared his throat lightly, and said, "Daughter, you misunderstood Ren Zhong."

Ma Xiaoling: "What do you mean?"

Ma Dafu: "He wants you to marry him."

In the next instant, Ma Xiaoling stared in shock and turned to glare at Ren Zhong, "Really?"

Ren Zhong’s eyes flickered at first, but eventually mustered the courage to look straight at her, "Yes. After all, I figure, probably only I can tame you."

"Pah! Go to hell! I have plenty of people who want me!"

Boom!

In just a blink, Ma Xiaoling zoomed off to the distance, disappearing over the horizon.

Ren Zhong distinctly saw her face turn red, like Earth’s sunset in his dreams as she turned away.

How bashful.

Ren Zhong thought again, I have indeed taken this step.

Hopefully, it’s a decision no one regrets.