"Yes." Ji Ting nodded firmly. "A spouse counts as immediate family. That way, if he gets sick and needs surgery, I'll have the right to sign the consent forms."
Director Chang frowned, blinking several times in confusion. "You-you want to register your marriage just for that?"
Ji Ting gave it some serious thought. "Not entirely."
Jiang Mingde's mouth fell slightly open as he leaned forward, as though trying to confirm whether everything he had heard was real. When Ji Ting had said he would make a call to check the other day, Jiang Mingde had assumed he was just putting on an act. Who knew the kid had actually followed through?
"In that case, I think this matter..."
"Wait!" Jiang Mingde suddenly interrupted Director Chang, staring blankly. "From what you're saying, is the government actually going to amend the marriage law for Ji Ting?"
Director Chang explained, "No, nothing like that. The government is simply willing to recognize Little Ji's marriage as legal, regardless of his spouse's gender."
Jiang Mingde could hardly believe his ears. "They can even do that?"
"Why couldn't they?" Director Chang smiled. "Don't worry. Given Little Ji's contributions to scientific research, this is an absolutely trivial request."
Once again, Jiang Mingde's understanding of the world had been upended. He had no idea what to say, yet for some reason, he also felt like laughing.
Just then, Ji Ting spoke. "Uncle Chang, when can the two of us register our marriage?"
Director Chang opened and closed his mouth, seeming hesitant to speak. "Little Ji, look, you're only twenty this year. You'll be twenty-one next year, and you won't reach the legal marriage age until the year after that."
Realization dawned on Ji Ting. He had kept assuming he was still his original age and had overlooked that