Fang Xihe lowered her head, biting her lip in frustration.
The voice call had been turned off.
But Shang Chenzhou had probably heard everything.
What kind of situation was this? She hadn’t even managed to coax him yet, and now a new misunderstanding had arisen.
Bracing herself, she looked up.
Shang Chenzhou’s expression was blank as he took off his coat and hung it on the wall.
Fang Xihe got out of bed and walked toward him.
But he didn’t spare her a glance. He passed by her, went to the wardrobe, grabbed his sleepwear, and entered the bathroom.
Fang Xihe opened her mouth to speak, but the words caught in her throat.
Pressing her lips together, she went into the kitchen and reheated the food from the fridge.
When Shang Chenzhou came out of the shower and saw the steaming dishes laid out on the table, he paused for a moment.
Just for a moment, before shifting his gaze away and heading to the balcony.
Fang Xihe waited for him to finish hanging the clothes and come back. Then she stepped forward with a bright smile.
“You haven’t eaten yet, right? I cooked this after coming back. I was planning to wait for you, but you said you were working late. I didn’t finish, so I reheated it for you. Go eat while it’s hot.”
Shang Chenzhou replied coldly, “I already ate.”
Fang Xihe said, “Even if you did, you can still have a little more. My cooking is actually pretty good.”
Shang Chenzhou suddenly turned to look at her. “Didn’t you say you couldn’t cook?”
Fang Xihe: “…”
The original host really didn’t know how to cook.
She coughed lightly. “I learned from online videos.”
Shang Chenzhou stared at her.
Fang Xihe gave an awkward smile.
He didn’t press her further. In truth, he had come straight home from the company and hadn’t eaten at all.
He sat down at the dining table and picked up his chopsticks.
After taking a bite, his movement paused.
Fang Xihe sat across from him. “Is it not good?”
Shang Chenzhou was sparing with words. “It’s good.”
It really was.
If Fang Xihe made this, she had quite a talent.
Fang Xihe let out a breath of relief.
Shang Chenzhou finished all two dishes and the soup.
Fang Xihe was puzzled. Didn’t he say he had already eaten? Why was he eating so much?
But she didn’t ask. She picked up the dishes to wash them, only for Shang Chenzhou to take them from her.
His tall figure carried the dishes into the kitchen and started washing them.
Fang Xihe stood at the doorway, picking at her fingers. After hesitating for a long time, she spoke.
“We haven’t told my family about our marriage yet. My mom didn’t know, that’s why she said those things. Don’t take it to heart.”
Shang Chenzhou paused, his fingers curling slightly before continuing to rinse the bowl.
After washing up, he cleaned his hands and turned around.
Fang Xihe unexpectedly met his dark eyes. She coughed awkwardly and looked away.
Shang Chenzhou narrowed his eyes.
In a low voice, he asked, “Why haven’t you told your family?”
Fang Xihe replied, “We got married so suddenly. I haven’t figured out how to tell them yet.”
“And my mom… it’s not a good time right now. She’ll argue with me.”
Shang Chenzhou didn’t press further.
Some things didn’t need to be spelled out.
Even from the few words he had overheard when he entered, he already had a general idea of what kind of person his mother-in-law was.
In the end, it came down to one thing—he had no money right now.
Fang Xihe didn’t want her family to know about their marriage.
Fang Xihe added, “Don’t be angry. I won’t go meet that person.”
Shang Chenzhou clenched his hand.
Was he angry?
Of course he was.
But what right did he have to blame Fang Xihe?
Seeing him remain silent, Fang Xihe felt guilty.
If she put herself in his position if she heard her mother-in-law telling Shang Chenzhou to go on a blind date she would be angry too.
She should be angry.
That was the reaction of a normal wife.
Damn this perspective-taking.
Why did she have to think like that? Now she felt even more guilty.
“Shang Chenzhou, don’t be angry. I’ll find a chance to tell my family about our marriage.”
Shang Chenzhou took two steps toward her. He was much taller than her, his gaze deep and unreadable.
Fang Xihe felt inexplicably nervous.
He stared at her trembling eyelashes, her fair cheeks, and raised his hand, moving closer.
Fang Xihe stepped back, forcing a laugh. “It’s getting late. Let’s sleep.”
After saying that, she hurried to the bed and pulled the blanket over herself.
Shang Chenzhou lowered his hand, a hint of dimness in his eyes.
He had to admit something.
Fang Xihe resisted his touch.
The night before, he had known she was pretending to sleep.
Once might be shyness, but multiple times meant rejection.
He brushed his teeth, turned off the lights, and lay down on the bed.
They each occupied one side, with enough space between them for another person.
Fang Xihe didn’t even dare to breathe loudly.
Thinking of Sun Shasha’s words.
She got nervous just from Shang Chenzhou getting close. How could she possibly kiss him, hug him, let alone push him down?
That was way too difficult.
The room was quiet.
Fang Xihe didn’t know if he had fallen asleep.
Holding the same position became uncomfortable. She couldn’t help but turn onto her back.
She sneaked a glance to the side.
It was pitch dark. She couldn’t see anything.
He should be asleep by now, right?
Later, Fang Xihe drifted off in a haze.
In the middle of the night, Shang Chenzhou had just fallen asleep when Fang Xihe suddenly moved closer. She draped a leg over him and hugged him tightly.
His whole body stiffened as he looked down at the person in his arms.
Wasn’t she rejecting physical contact with him?
Then what was this?
“Xihe.”
He called out.
The person in his arms didn’t respond.
“Xihe, let go.”
After a while, Shang Chenzhou realized she was asleep.
Moving close to him was an unconscious action she was probably treating him like a plush toy she often hugged.
They had shared the bed for three nights. This was the fourth.
Before, Fang Xihe slept very properly.
So why tonight…
A soft fragrance drifted into his nose. Her soft chest pressed against him.
For him, it was torment.
He tried to pull her away, but after several attempts, he failed. Every time he managed to loosen her grip slightly, she would cling back even tighter.
Murmuring in her sleep, she said, “Mei Mei, don’t run…”
Shang Chenzhou gave a helpless smile.
So she really was treating him like a toy.
Mei Mei probably the toy. It couldn’t possibly be a man’s name.
The next morning, before Fang Xihe even opened her eyes, she felt herself hugging something warm. She thought it was Mei Mei.
She had dreamed about Mei Mei last night.
Mei Mei was the strawberry bear plush she had won at Disneyland.
Comfortably, she tightened her arms and clamped her legs around “Mei Mei.”
Suddenly, a low groan sounded by her ear.
Deep and magnetic.
Fang Xihe’s eyes flew open. The first thing she saw was a man’s prominent Adam’s apple.
Her gaze slowly moved upward to his sharp jawline, full lips, straight nose.
Finally meeting Shang Chenzhou’s dark, unfathomable eyes.
Her heart skipped a beat as she froze.
How did this happen?
From the situation, it was obvious she had taken the initiative to cling to Shang Chenzhou.
Oh god. A bolt of lightning might as well strike her dead.
Shang Chenzhou gazed at her calmly, not moving, not speaking, as if watching a show.
Fang Xihe silently removed her leg, let go of him, and rolled to the side with her eyes closed almost rolling off the bed.
With a startled cry, she steadied herself, jumped out of bed, and dashed into the bathroom.
I’m dead, I’m dead!
How did she end up hugging Shang Chenzhou in her sleep?
So embarrassing!
Shang Chenzhou looked at the bathroom door and rubbed his temples tiredly.
He had only fallen asleep in the latter half of the night.