Shang Chenzhou did not reply.
Fang Xihe grabbed his chopsticks. A piece of cauliflower fell onto the table.
“Promise me and then eat.”
Shang Chenzhou lifted his dark eyes to look at her. “Are you sure you have thought this through? I said I would only give you this one chance.”
Fang Xihe replied without thinking, “I have thought it through very clearly. I do not want a divorce.”
Shang Chenzhou paused for a moment, then spoke in a low voice. “Alright.”
Fang Xihe tilted her head. “What does alright mean?”
“It means I will not divorce you.”
Fang Xihe finally handed the chopsticks to him. “Eat quickly. It will really get cold.”
Shang Chenzhou had eaten takeout for several days. Finally eating home-cooked food, his burning stomach felt comforted.
After he finished, Fang Xihe collected the lunch box.
“Where is the restroom? I will clean the lunch box.”
Shang Chenzhou threw the paper towel into the trash and took the lunch box. “I will wash it.”
Fang Xihe snatched it back. “Let me wash it.” She carried the thermal lunch box out.
Shang Chenzhou paused briefly and followed.
Fang Xihe looked around, unsure which way to go.
A voice came from behind. “Go right.”
“Oh.”
She walked to the right holding the lunch box, reached the end, and found the restroom. She washed the lunch box at the sink.
She pulled out a small packet of tissues from her pocket and wiped the water off.
When she turned around, she saw Shang Chenzhou leaning against a nearby wall, studying her.
Fang Xihe’s heart skipped a beat. He still did not believe her. It was understandable. Her sudden change was so extreme that suspicion was normal. But there was still time. She would slowly win him over. Acting love-brained was easy. She could play the part well.
She smiled and walked over, looping her arm through Shang Chenzhou’s.
“Let’s go home.”
“Do you still need to work? I will accompany you.”
“No, I am not busy.”
He stayed at the office to give Fang Xihe time and space to think. Now that she had decided, he did not need to stay.
Fang Xihe smiled. “Then shall we go home?”
Shang Chenzhou nodded.
Back in the office, he shut the computer, tidied the desk, and left with her.
In the elevator, Fang Xihe glanced at the man in front of her, thought for a moment, then stepped closer and held onto him.
Shang Chenzhou lowered his eyes to the fair hand on his arm, then lifted his gaze to her face.
Fang Xihe smiled sweetly at him.
The elevator doors opened, and she did not let go.
They walked out of the office building together.
The security guard at the entrance smiled and greeted Shang Chenzhou. “Mr. Shang, this is your girlfriend? She is really beautiful.”
Shang Chenzhou said, “She is my wife.”
The security guard froze, then laughed. “I did not expect you to be married at such a young age. When did you get married?”
“Not long ago.”
“Oh, congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
As they left, Fang Xihe waved to the security guard.
On the way to the subway, Fang Xihe asked, “Are you very familiar with the security guard?”
Shang Chenzhou said, “Somewhat.”
Fang Xihe let it go and started discussing what to eat for dinner.
“What do you want to eat?”
“Anything.”
“Let’s have hotpot.”
“Okay.”
“We can buy vegetables and meat at the market and a hotpot base to cook at home. Eating out is too expensive. It would cost two or three hundred. At home it will not even cost a hundred.”
A shadow of guilt crossed Shang Chenzhou’s eyes.
Fang Xihe was in a good mood, chatting occasionally with him on the subway. He responded when she spoke.
Near the apartment, they went to the market to buy meat, vegetables, and hotpot base.
While Fang Xihe paid, Shang Chenzhou disappeared. She looked around. He came from around the corner carrying a large watermelon.
Watermelons were expensive at this season. This one must have cost several dozen yuan.
Fang Xihe could not help commenting, “You could have bought oranges instead. Why a watermelon? It is so expensive.”
Shang Chenzhou said, “Once in a while.”
She was about to say something more when he took the vegetables from her hands.
“Let’s go home.”
Fang Xihe stopped talking. She was not one to ruin the mood. They had bought it. She would eat it later.
Back at the apartment, Shang Chenzhou went to shower.
Fang Xihe changed into a beige fleece outfit, washed the vegetables, and arranged them on the dining table.
The bathroom door opened, and Shang Chenzhou came out.
Fang Xihe turned and was struck by his handsomeness. He was like a male lead in a novel, a walking clothes hanger. Even a simple T-shirt and pants looked like a model on a runway.
Ignoring his indifferent eyes, he looked like a little puppy.
Shang Chenzhou was only twenty-three, in his prime physically.
Fang Xihe scolded herself for thinking such thoughts. Her mind had been polluted by Sun Shasha.
Shang Chenzhou felt uncomfortable under Fang Xihe’s intense gaze and cleared his throat.
Fang Xihe realized this and felt a bit embarrassed. But thinking about her love-brain persona, she boldly looked at him again, scanning him from head to toe.
Shang Chenzhou avoided her gaze and went to the balcony.
They were not hungry and planned to eat hotpot later. The ingredients were ready. When they were hungry, they could start.
Fang Xihe lay on the bed scrolling on her phone while Shang Chenzhou sat on the sofa reading.
After some time, Fang Xihe looked up and saw him asleep, book aside. He had probably not rested well at the company.
She got up and gently touched his arm.
Shang Chenzhou opened his eyes. Fatigue was visible in his dark eyes.
Fang Xihe whispered, “Go sleep in the bed.”
After a moment of silence, he stood and went to the bed.
Fang Xihe pulled the blanket over him.
He watched her for a moment, then closed his eyes.
Fang Xihe returned to the sofa and continued scrolling. She fell asleep without realizing it.
When she woke, she found herself in bed.
Looking beside her, Shang Chenzhou was not there.
The bathroom door opened and their eyes met.
Fang Xihe paused. “What time is it?”
Shang Chenzhou said, “Four o’clock.”
“So late.”
Fang Xihe mumbled and went to wash her face.
Shang Chenzhou turned on the induction cooker and started cutting the watermelon.
Fang Xihe came out and looked at the small table with steam rising from it, feeling a bit dazed.
This was what a warm home felt like. It warmed her heart.
Shang Chenzhou peeked from the kitchen. “Do you want garlic in the dipping sauce?”
Fang Xihe nodded. “A lot, and some coriander and green onions too.”
They ate hotpot around the small table.
“It would be perfect with beer. Hotpot and beer, the more you drink the better. Too bad we forgot to buy some.”
Shang Chenzhou stood. “I will go buy it.”
Before Fang Xihe could say anything, he had already closed the door and left.