Chapter 237 Extra 8

Chapter 237: Extra Story 8

One was smitten, and the other was just as eager.

As expected, Han Zhang and Shen Qinglan hit it off at the restaurant entrance and quickly grew close, soon starting to secretly see each other, both on the same page!

It wasn't that they thought their relationship had to be kept under wraps.

Rather, since Shen Qinglan was a young lad, before things were officially locked in, if Han Zhang made a big show of courting him and it didn't work out, Shen Qinglan would have no graceful way to back out.

After all, even though the dynasty had changed and the winds of change from Hua State's new ideology had swept the whole country, old-fashioned ideas don't just vanish overnight. Shen Qinglan still took a young lad's reputation very seriously.

Han Zhang didn't think Shen Qinglan was being dramatic about it either—in fact, he actually got a kick out of the whole secret-romance thing.

That whole will-they-won't-they, teasing tension during dating? Total rush!

Han Zhang didn't hide his identity either. Once they got familiar, he told Shen Qinglan the truth about who he was, with no plans to test him by hiding who he was.

Because he just liked Shen Qinglan, plain and simple. Whether Shen Qinglan was after him for himself or for his power and status, he couldn't care less.

No point overthinking it—Han Zhang always went with his gut.

But then again.

Shen Qinglan, who could make a man who'd been single for decades fall head over heels at first glance, obviously had something special about him.

Shen Qinglan's heart was genuinely clean and see-through, and once he set his mind on someone, this lad would dive in headfirst like a moth to a flame, giving his all, heart and soul.

And that kind of burning, pure love was exactly the kind of fatal attraction a man like Han Zhang had zero defense against.

Things moved at warp speed—from first meeting to pledging themselves to each other in just two months flat.

So... by the time Old Mr. and Mrs. Shen noticed their lad acting off, Shen Qinglan had already picked his wedding date!

The Shen household went absolutely ballistic. Old Man Shen was so mad his beard was shaking, and he nearly keeled over right then and there. Clutching his chest and jabbing a finger at Shen Qinglan, he fumed in frustration:

"Lan Geer! So this is your idea of sacrificing yourself for the family? This is what you meant by going out to find your old man a 'better connection'? I must've been senile to actually buy your bullshit!"

He was a fool, a total fool.

Knowing Lan Geer's personality, he'd actually bought the idea that the kid would tough it out and sacrifice himself for the family?

This little terror—he should be thanking his lucky stars if he didn't drag the whole Shen family into a ditch!

"Tell me, who's this bastard who's led you astray? Even if it kills me, I'll drag that son of a bitch out and give him a piece of my mind!"

Old Man Shen was shaking with rage, grinding his teeth.

Mother Shen didn't take his side this time either, standing firmly with her husband, looking worried:

"Lan Geer, our family's situation isn't what it used to be—your father and I don't have the standing to back you up anymore. Marriage isn't some game! A man who can sweet-talk you into throwing all decorum out the window and swearing you'll marry him before you're even engaged—how am I supposed to feel good about that?"

Her Lan Geer was too innocent; he must've been fooled by smooth talk!

The rest of the Shen family agreed—a man who could charm a decent young lad into turning down everyone else was no gentleman.

The whole family was in a panic.

Shen Qinglan, however, remained perfectly calm, his cheeks rosy from all that love lately, his eyes practically glowing with that unmistakable lovestruck look.

He quickly poured tea for his parents to calm them down: "Father, Mother, what's the hurry? I haven't finished speaking yet. Besides, do you really think I'm some dummy who'd get swept off my feet by a few sweet nothings?"

The Shen family: "..." ...aren't you?

Old Man Shen sputtered, exasperated: "Then tell us—what's the name of this man you've fallen for? And where is he from? Dangling this in front of us—can you blame your mother and me for being anxious?"

Having finally gotten the whole family on the edge of their seats, Shen Qinglan proudly lifted his chin, grinning with such smug sweetness, like a little peacock showing off its feathers:

"His name is Han Zhang—the First Chief of Hua State!"

At those words, the entire hall was stunned.

Old Man Shen's eyes went wide as he asked in disbelief:

"You mean the ten-level Power user those Hua people talk about, the top Chief of their whole nation, basically their version of an emperor—Chief Han, Han Zhang?"

"That's right, and I'm about to become the Chief's husband."

Shen Qinglan lifted his chin even higher, practically radiating 'I'm the shit, I'm a legend' energy, his pretty eyes crinkling into happy crescents.

After all, Han-ge had told him that the moment he saw him at the restaurant entrance, it was love at first sight—one look and his fate was sealed!

This time, not just Old Man Shen, but even the usually unflappable Mother Shen was left speechless.

After the Shens triple-checked that Shen Qinglan wasn't lying—that he'd really gone out and gotten Hua State's top Chief, Han Zhang, completely wrapped around his finger, head over heels and totally lost—nobody knew what to say.

Finally, Second Brother Shen snapped out of it first, paused for a beat, then gave a genuine thumbs-up in awe:

"Lan Geer, as expected of you..."

He truly never imagined his younger brother had such ability—not climbing at all, but when he did, he climbed to the very top!

Once they'd fully recovered from their shock, Old Man Shen's anger vanished, his headache cleared, and he seemed to have shed a dozen years.

"Excellent! Excellent! My Lan Geer truly has skill!"

Old Man Shen slapped his thigh, grinning ear to ear. "Now let's see how that old thing Kong Hongshou shows off his family's fine match in front of me!"

"This marriage—I approve! Wholeheartedly approve! Lan Geer, you said Chief Han will come to propose—when? Tell your father quickly, so I can prepare properly and not lose face..."

Old Man Shen rubbed his hands together, his wrinkles blooming into a grin, his expression unable to hide a fawning quality.

Shen Qinglan, however, was delighted by it and raised an eyebrow with a proud, coquettish encouragement:

"That's right, that's the look! Father, I love seeing you fawn over me—keep it up from now on!"

Old Man Shen: "..."

Utterly topsy-turvy! Utterly topsy-turvy!

Of course, Old Man Shen might have been put in his place, but when it came to doting on his own lad, he was more than willing.

Wasn't it just a bit of bowing and scraping?

As long as it meant promotion and fortune, he, Shen Houde, could bend and stretch with the best of them!

Unsurprisingly, Han Zhang's proposal visit to the Shen household went very smoothly.

Well, there was one small hiccup.

That was... Han Zhang was indeed a bit older, so much so that Shen's parents really had to call him "big brother"!

But given his status as the chief, the longer lifespans of Power users, and the fact that he did look relatively young and handsome, not like some old geezer.

Shen's mother, though disheartened, forced herself to overlook this "minor flaw."

In short, the engagement went off without a hitch!

And as for the wedding... Knowing his husband loved to show off, Han Zhang went all out on the wedding's grandeur.

The magnificent ceremony gave Shen Qinglan a real moment of glory, leaving him so delighted that the corners of his mouth were still turned up when he entered the bridal chamber.

"Husband, I loved today's wedding so much! The carriage that came to pick me up was so majestic, the procession was so impressive, and the flowers and decorations were all just what I wanted... Today, I was really, really happy."

In the bridal chamber, Shen Qinglan wrapped his arms around Han Zhang's waist, leaned into his chest, and smiled with pure joy.

Han Zhang held him close, a satisfied smile in his eyes: "Glad you like it; my husband deserves nothing but the best."

He always felt he owed his husband a grand, spectacular wedding.

Now that his husband was so happy with his arrangements, all was well.

Red candles flickered, the room was warm, and the spring night was all too short...

Life after marriage was sweet and blissful, and since both were in excellent health, kids naturally came quickly.

The first was a boy, and the second was a set of twins.

The three kids were named Xiao Tao'er, Xiao Qingdu, and Xiao Bai Tun.

This time, since Han Zhang had arrived in his physical body with a higher power level than in his previous transmigration, Xiao Tao'er and Xiao Qingdu both successfully inherited and awakened their powers.

Power users live longer than ordinary people. Although Shen Qinglan had no powers, with Han Zhang constantly using his own strength to keep him healthy and extend his life, Shen Qinglan naturally wasn't going to die young.

In this lifetime, their family of five lived happily and stayed together much longer.

It was also worth mentioning that during the adult college entrance exam in the third year after Hua State was founded, Han Zhang spotted a man who looked strikingly like him, about seventy or eighty percent similar, and the man's name was Han Qinzhang!

With such a similar face and name, Han Zhang got curious and did some digging...

Unexpectedly, the investigation revealed he had a blood connection to the Han family!

A final lineage test confirmed that his grandmother was a daughter of the Han family who had gotten separated from them during their downfall and accidentally transmigrated to another world.

Han's grandfather was his biological great-uncle, and Han Qinzhang was his biological cousin!

What was Han Zhang supposed to do?

After digging deeper, he found that the Han family was not only tight-knit but also full of talented people—a perfect ally. Of course, he claimed the family connection.

After all, one tree doesn't make a forest; if his and his husband's kids were going to expand their territory in the future, they'd need trustworthy helpers like these.

So, the Han family, who were barely scraping by: "..."

Haha, a windfall from heaven, a huge, amazing joy!

-- End of Side Story --