Shang Chen Zhou did not respond.
Fang Xihe snatched his chopsticks away.
A piece of cauliflower fell onto the table.
“Only after you agree will you eat.”
Shang Chen Zhou lifted his dark eyes to look at her. “Are you sure you’ve thought this through? I said I would only give you this one chance.”
Fang Xihe answered without hesitation. “I’ve thought it through very clearly. I don’t want a divorce.”
Shang Chen Zhou paused for a moment before speaking in a low, hoarse voice. “Alright.”
Fang Xihe tilted her head to look at him. “What do you mean by ‘alright’?”
“It means no divorce.”
Only then did Fang Xihe return the chopsticks to him. “Eat, eat quickly. It’s going to get cold.”
Shang Chen Zhou had been eating takeout for several days. Finally having home-cooked food again, the burning discomfort in his stomach was soothed.
After he finished eating, Fang Xihe packed up the food containers.
“Where is the bathroom? I’ll wash these lunch boxes.”
Shang Chen Zhou threw the tissue into the trash and reached out to take them. “I’ll wash them.”
Fang Xihe snatched them back. “I’ll do it.”
She walked out carrying the insulated lunch box.
Shang Chen Zhou froze for a moment, then followed her out.
Fang Xihe looked around, unsure where to go.
A voice came from behind her. “Turn right.”
“Oh.”
She walked right to the end and found the bathroom, then stood by the sink washing the lunch boxes.
She took out tissues from her pocket and wiped the water off carefully.
When she turned around, she saw Shang Chen Zhou leaning against the wall not far away, studying her.
Fang Xihe’s heart skipped a beat.
He still doesn’t trust me.
But that was normal. Her sudden change made anyone suspicious.
She still had time. She would slowly handle him.
Wasn’t it just being “love-brained”?
She could act it out.
She smiled and walked over, hooking her arm through his.
“Let’s go back.”
“Are you still going to work? I’ll stay with you.”
“I’m not busy.”
He had stayed at the company to give her space to think. Now that she had decided, there was no need for him to stay there anymore.
Fang Xihe smiled. “Then we go home?”
Shang Chen Zhou nodded.
Back in the office, he shut down his computer, tidied his desk, and left with her.
In the elevator, Fang Xihe glanced at the man in front of her, thought for a moment, then stepped forward and held onto him again.
Shang Chen Zhou looked down at her hand, then up at her face.
She smiled sweetly at him.
When the elevator doors opened, she still did not let go.
They walked out of the building.
At the entrance, the security guard smiled and greeted Shang Chen Zhou. “Mr. Shang, is this your girlfriend? She’s very beautiful.”
Shang Chen Zhou replied, “She is my wife.”
The guard froze briefly, then laughed. “So young and already married? When did you get married?”
“Recently.”
“Oh, congratulations!”
“Thank you.”
On the way out, Fang Xihe waved goodbye to the guard.
On the way to the subway, she asked, “Are you close with the security guard?”
“Not really.”
She didn’t dwell on it and instead talked about dinner.
“What do you want to eat?”
“Anything.”
“Hotpot then.”
“Alright.”
“Then we’ll buy vegetables and meat at the market later, and a hotpot base. We’ll cook at home. Eating out is too expensive—it costs two to three hundred for the two of us, but at home it’s less than one hundred.”
Shang Chen Zhou’s eyes darkened slightly, a faint sense of guilt rising.
Fang Xihe was in a good mood and chatted with him on the subway occasionally. He would also respond.
Back near the apartment, they went to the market and bought meat, vegetables, and hotpot base.
When Fang Xihe was paying, she turned around and found Shang Chen Zhou missing.
She looked around everywhere.
He came out from the corner carrying a large watermelon.
In this season, watermelon was expensive—this one cost quite a bit.
Fang Xihe couldn’t help complaining. “You should’ve just bought oranges. Why did you get watermelon? It must’ve been expensive.”
“Just eating it occasionally.”
She wanted to say more, but he took the vegetables from her.
“Let’s go home.”
Back at the apartment, he went to take a shower.
Fang Xihe changed into a soft beige home outfit, washed the vegetables, and arranged them on the table.
When he came out, she turned and looked at him, momentarily stunned by his appearance.
Even in the simplest T-shirt and pants, he looked like a model.
She quickly snapped out of it, slightly embarrassed.
But since she had decided to act like a “love-brained” girlfriend, she boldly kept looking at him again.
He avoided her gaze and went to the balcony.
Neither of them was hungry yet, so they planned to eat hotpot later.
At some point, Fang Xihe noticed Shang Chen Zhou had fallen asleep on the sofa with his book beside him.
He must not have rested well these past few days.
She gently nudged him.
He opened his eyes, exhaustion in them.
“Go sleep on the bed,” she said softly.
He stood up and went to the bed.
She thoughtfully pulled the blanket over him.
Then she went back to the sofa and fell asleep while scrolling on her phone.
When she woke up again, she was already on the bed.
She turned to look beside her—he was gone.
The bathroom door opened, and their eyes met.
“What time is it?” she asked.
“Four o’clock,” he replied.
“Already so late…”
She washed her face and came out to see the hotpot set up on the small table, steam rising.
A warm feeling filled her chest.
This is what life feels like.
Warm, comforting, full of everyday warmth.
He leaned out from the kitchen. “Do you want garlic in the dipping sauce?”
“Yes, more garlic. And coriander and green onions.”
They ate hotpot together.
“It would be nice if we had beer. Hotpot with beer is perfect. I forgot to buy it.”
“I’ll go buy it.”
Before she could say anything, he was already out the door.