Fang Xihe shook her head, feeling unsure, then nodded again.
If it were the original Fang Xihe, she would probably be scared.
Shang Chenzhou’s gaze softened. He wanted to reach out to her, his hand stretching halfway before retreating.
Fang Xihe resisted any physical contact with him.
She paused, watching Shang Chenzhou’s actions, a bit surprised.
Shang Chenzhou’s phone rang, and he stepped aside to answer it.
“Tell Han Junshao I have something to do and can’t make it.”
He hung up the phone.
Fang Xihe said, “I’m fine now, you go handle it. Don’t worry about me.”
Shang Chenzhou turned his head and looked at her intently for a moment.
He said, “I already sent someone.”
Fang Xihe did not say anything else.
The atmosphere in their little home felt a bit awkward afterward.
Shang Chenzhou sat at the dining table working on his laptop.
Fang Xihe sat on the sofa reading a novel.
She tried to focus, but her eyes kept drifting toward Shang Chenzhou.
The man had his back to her, focused on typing on the computer.
After a while, Fang Xihe realized it was time to prepare lunch. She got up and went to the kitchen, taking out the remaining ingredients from the small fridge.
Shang Chenzhou glanced at the kitchen and fell into thought.
The slender figure with her back to him was washing vegetables at the sink.
Han Junshao had asked him why he liked Fang Xihe.
He had asked himself the same question.
Even he did not have an answer.
It was as if his mind had been controlled. Fang Xihe said she liked him and wanted to be his girlfriend, and he inexplicably agreed.
Afterward, he felt it was strange but quickly fell into the role of a boyfriend.
When he heard friends speak poorly of Fang Xihe, he became angry.
When he saw Fang Xihe accept gifts from other men, he thought about marriage and keeping her by his side.
He had always been rational and indifferent in matters of emotion.
He did not understand why Fang Xihe was so special that she made him behave in ways he normally would not.
Gradually, he accepted that he liked Fang Xihe.
He told himself his behavior in recent times was jealousy.
But Fang Xihe seemed off.
She had pursued him first, yet now she deliberately avoided him.
He could sense that Fang Xihe was dodging him.
Could it be, as Han Junshao and the others suggested, that Fang Xihe did not truly like him and was just teasing him?
That also did not make sense.
If Fang Xihe were just teasing him, why agree to marriage?
Right now, he had no money and no house and could not provide Fang Xihe with a rich material life.
Why did she agree to marry him?
Fang Xihe turned and saw Shang Chenzhou frowning in thought.
She poured a cup of hot water, added a few goji berries, and placed it beside him.
“Drink some goji berry water. It nourishes the liver and eyes and relieves dryness and fatigue.”
Shang Chenzhou looked up at her, then down at the cup of water.
He picked it up and took a sip.
“Thank you.”
Fang Xihe glanced at his computer screen, filled with dense lines of code.
It appeared to be game code.
Shang Chenzhou’s startup company initially focused on developing games. In the novel, his company gained several rounds of financing with one game and later soared in value.
After returning to the wealthy family, Shang Chenzhou did not abandon his company.
Han Junshao continued to run it, later integrating AI technology and robotics.
Eventually, the company went public.
Fang Xihe stared at the screen for a moment and asked, “Is this a mobile game?”
Shang Chenzhou was surprised. “You can read it?”
Fang Xihe said vaguely, “I can understand some of it.”
She had majored in computer science and worked at an internet tech company after graduation.
Although she had not developed games professionally, she was familiar with the code.
Facing Shang Chenzhou’s inquisitive gaze, Fang Xihe chose to evade, “I will go cook.”
Shang Chenzhou stood up. “I will do it.”
Fang Xihe pressed him into his chair. “You focus on your work, I will do it.”
She had grabbed his arm. Through the shirt, his skin felt warm, muscles firm.
Fang Xihe withdrew her hand and said awkwardly, “I am free. I will do it.”
She quickly headed to the kitchen.
Shang Chenzhou watched her back for a moment, thoughtful.
Fang Xihe prepared three dishes and one soup.
Stir-fried cauliflower with meat, hot and sour shredded potatoes, stir-fried lettuce, and mushroom soup.
The small apartment was filled with the aroma of food.
Shang Chenzhou glanced at the kitchen, a hint of distraction in his eyes.
Fang Xihe turned and called, “Put away your computer and come eat.”
Shang Chenzhou closed the laptop, placed it on the sofa, and went to help serve the dishes.
His tall and broad figure stood beside her, and Fang Xihe felt a bit of pressure.
The man was very tall and exuded a strong presence.
After a while, they sat down and quietly ate.
Fang Xihe had a small appetite and did not eat much, while Shang Chenzhou silently finished all the dishes.
Fang Xihe curved her lips slightly, feeling accomplished.
A cook’s greatest satisfaction was seeing all her hard work eaten clean.
Shang Chenzhou went to wash the dishes himself.
Fang Xihe sat on the sofa playing with her phone. Feeling empty, she wanted some fruit.
She put her phone away, put on a long down coat, and prepared to go out.
Shang Chenzhou heard the movement and turned his head.
“Going out?”
“Yes, to buy some fruit.”
Shang Chenzhou wiped his hands, picked up his coat, and said, “I will go with you.”
Fang Xihe froze. “No need. You focus on your work, I can go myself.”
Shang Chenzhou already had his coat on and bent down to put on his shoes.
Fang Xihe pressed her lips together, saying nothing more.
She finished putting on her shoes and went out, taking the elevator.
They walked side by side on the street.
Fang Xihe glanced at the tall man beside her.
His features were sharp and cold, expressionless.
A classic novel male lead personality.
Yet this face was pleasing to look at.
Suddenly, a loud honk came.
Fang Xihe had no time to turn before she collided with a hard chest.
A faint scent lingered.
The smell of laundry detergent.
Fang Xihe froze and stepped out of Shang Chenzhou’s arms.
She saw a speeding delivery scooter rushing by.
The meal delivery must have been almost late.
This kind of situation often happened on the street.
Although she knew the rider had his reasons, riding like that was really dangerous.
She could only sigh at the hardships of life.
Fang Xihe turned and thanked Shang Chenzhou, “Thanks for catching me.”
Shang Chenzhou said nothing, maintaining his usual cold demeanor.
A regular novel male lead attitude.
At the intersection, a truck was selling fruit. Fang Xihe picked a bag of the cheapest oranges.
While Shang Chenzhou paid, she could not help but glance at the pots of strawberries on the truck.
Shang Chenzhou paused for a moment and said, “Boss, give me a pot of strawberries.”
The boss smiled and picked a pot of strawberries, ready to put it in. Fang Xihe hurriedly stopped him. “Boss, we don’t need it.”
The boss looked at Fang Xihe, then at Shang Chenzhou.
“Young lady, these strawberries are very sweet, just picked this morning.”
Fang Xihe said, “I am buying oranges today. I will try strawberries next time.”
The boss prepared to put the strawberries back.
Shang Chenzhou said, “Boss, pack them. How much in total?”
Boss: “Forty-two yuan.”