She froze and didn’t move for a long time.
Seeing this, Shang Chenzhou turned his head slightly, raised his brows, and walked toward her.
Only then did Fang Xihe snap back to reality.
“What are you doing here?”
“To pick you up from work. It’s too dark. It’s not safe.”
Something seemed to hit Fang Xihe’s heart—sour and numb at the same time.
No matter how late she worked in the past, she always went home alone.
No one had ever worried about her safety enough to come pick her up.
Shang Chenzhou was the first.
Even though she knew he was likely being influenced by the plot right now—and that the one he liked was still the original host of this body—Fang Xihe still felt moved.
Then she thought about how she had deliberately worked overtime to avoid intimate contact with him.
A faint sense of guilt rose in her.
“Thanks. Let’s go.”
Shang Chenzhou nodded.
They had only taken a couple of steps when a black Maybach suddenly stopped in front of them.
A tall, thin man got out and walked straight to Fang Xihe.
“Xihe, get in. I’ll take you home.”
In her mind, Fang Xihe immediately identified who this was.
The violent ex-boyfriend from the original plot—Chen Feng.
A local rich second-generation heir in Jiang City.
From their very first blind date, he had shown strong interest in her, constantly trying to please her.
He had also sent her many messages over the past few days, which she ignored. She didn’t reply to his calls either.
Fang Xihe glanced nervously at Shang Chenzhou.
His expression was blank, but there was a trace of coldness in his eyes.
She hurried to clear things up.
“No need. We’re not close.”
Chen Feng looked at her in confusion.
“Xihe, you’ve been acting strange these past few days. I sent you so many messages and you didn’t reply, I called you and you didn’t pick up. Why are you suddenly so cold to me?”
“Don’t talk nonsense. I’m not close to you. Please stop harassing me in the future!”
Fang Xihe felt like she was going to die inside.
She didn’t even dare look at Shang Chenzhou’s face.
It felt like being caught cheating by her husband.
The original host had really dragged her into this mess.
Chen Feng frowned.
“Xihe, you clearly showed interest in me before. Why are you suddenly changing?”
“I didn’t! Don’t talk nonsense!”
“Xihe…”
She cut him off again.
“You misunderstood. I have no interest in you. Stop spreading rumors.”
Chen Feng then looked at Shang Chenzhou. He had already sensed this man was not ordinary.
Her sudden change in attitude must be because of him.
“Xihe, who is this man?”
Fang Xihe hooked her arm through Shang Chenzhou’s and lifted her chin.
“My husband.”
Chen Feng froze for a moment, then laughed.
“What are you joking about?”
“I’m not joking. I’m married. Please stop bothering me in the future.”
Chen Feng still didn’t believe it.
It had only been a few days since they last met—how could she suddenly be married?
“Xihe, even if you want to reject me, at least find a better excuse.”
Before Fang Xihe could speak again, Shang Chenzhou put his arm around her shoulder, his possessiveness unmistakable.
“My wife rejecting you—what other reason do you need?”
Chen Feng’s expression changed instantly.
Shang Chenzhou led Fang Xihe away.
At the roadside, he was about to call a ride when—
“Let’s take the subway,” Fang Xihe stopped him.
Are you kidding? A taxi back from here cost over a hundred yuan.
Shang Chenzhou had already ordered a car, but this area was remote and no driver accepted the request.
Annoyed, he cancelled it and instead each of them took a shared bicycle to the subway station.
Chen Feng drove his Maybach after them and rolled down the window.
“Xihe, get in. I’ll take you home. It’s too cold and tiring to ride a bike.”
Shang Chenzhou gripped the handlebars tighter, his face turning colder.
Fang Xihe shot Chen Feng a glare.
“Get lost. Who wants your car? What’s so great about having a car? I like riding a bike!”
Chen Feng insisted.
“No matter what, I can’t stand seeing you suffer.”
Fang Xihe really wanted to slap this self-righteous man.
He was ruining everything.
She shouted angrily:
“Are you insane? Drive your car away and stop bothering me!”
“Xihe, get in. I feel sorry for you like this.”
At that moment, Shang Chenzhou suddenly stopped, took out his phone, and said coldly:
“I’m calling the police. Someone is harassing my wife.”
Chen Feng’s expression changed immediately. He stepped on the gas and sped away.
The wind from the car nearly blew Fang Xihe over.
She cursed inwardly.
Crazy.
She turned to look at Shang Chenzhou.
He was expressionless, lips pressed tightly together.
Was he angry?
He must be angry.
Another man openly trying to take his wife—how could he not be?
Anyone would be angry.
Shang Chenzhou put away his phone and continued riding forward.
Fang Xihe caught up.
“You didn’t actually call the police, did you?”
“Why? Afraid I’d arrest him?”
“Of course not! Call them if you want—people like that deserve it!”
Shang Chenzhou glanced at her but said nothing.
At the subway station, they returned the bikes.
On the train, Fang Xihe moved closer to him.
Softly she asked, “Are you angry?”
Shang Chenzhou turned to her, eyes sharp.
“What do you think?”
“You should be angry…”
“But don’t listen to him. I’m not close to him.”
“Is that so?”
“Of course.”
“I saw you accept his flowers.”
Fang Xihe froze.
“When?”
But he didn’t answer anymore.
The train arrived, and they got on.
On the way back, she explained again.
“That was all a misunderstanding. I threw them away immediately.”
Shang Chenzhou looked at her without responding.
Fang Xihe didn’t know if he believed her.
The train jolted, and she lost her balance.
A man beside her almost bumped into her, but a hand pulled her back.
She looked up.
“Thank you.”
Shang Chenzhou let go and looked away.
Back at the apartment.
Shang Chenzhou went to shower.
After he came out, he was in gray pajamas, hair still damp, sitting by the bed reading a book.
She climbed into bed hesitantly.
“Don’t be angry anymore.”
He put down the book and lay down.
“Sleep.”
She bit her lip and turned off the light.
Lying in the dark, she thought—
He wasn’t going to forgive her, was he?
If she were him… she probably wouldn’t either.