Chapter 42 unspoken understanding

"He wouldn't think that way. I was the one who initiated this; it has nothing to do with you!" Mary declared, patting her chest. "Don't worry. I..."

"Hey, why are you oversimplifying things?" I sighed. "An elder brother is akin to a father, and you hold a special place in your brother's heart. Besides, we've known each other for less than a week and have already progressed this far, which is quite fast for most people. If your family were ordinary, it wouldn't matter, as there would be nothing to gain. But the issue is, I'm a poor boy dating you, and in the eyes of others, I'm punching above my weight, harboring ulterior motives. Do you understand?"

"What's the problem with that? I have friends who got married in the afternoon after a morning blind date. We are slow in comparison!"

I was at a loss for words. Were all modern women this open-minded?

"And, I've said it before, whether I'm worthy or not, it's not for others to decide, it's up to me!"