Fang Xihe returned to her desk with a dark expression.
The round-faced girl at the next workstation leaned over. “Xihe, don’t keep taking leave, be careful, or the ‘Extinction Nun’ will really fire you.”
“Extinction Nun” was the nickname everyone secretly gave to Zhao Jing.
Her fearsome reputation preceded her.
The original owner’s dream was to marry into a wealthy family, so her mind wasn’t on work. After getting past the probation period, she often arrived late, left early, and frequently took leave.
In the past month alone, she had taken leave to go on blind dates four times.
Yesterday she had taken half a day off, and this morning another half day.
No wonder the “Extinction Nun” was angry.
Fang Xihe figured that by the time her salary arrived this month, there probably wouldn’t be much left.
The round-faced girl’s name was Sun Shasha.
“Xihe, what did you do this morning? Another blind date?”
Fang Xihe held her forehead. The original owner had already told Sun Shasha about the blind dates.
“No, I had some personal matters,” she said.
Sun Shasha frowned. “You just graduated why are you in such a rush to go on blind dates?”
Fang Xihe felt awkward. This was all the original owner’s doing, not hers.
She forced a laugh and explained, “My mom’s forcing me.”
Sun Shasha looked at her with sympathy.
Fang Xihe didn’t want to talk with Sun Shasha any further she felt embarrassed.
She buried herself in work.
Although she had often complained about being stuck at this lousy job, once she sat at her desk, she threw herself into it wholeheartedly.
This job wasn’t difficult for her. By the afternoon, she had figured out the workflow and even sorted and archived the customer records for future reference.
By 5:30, it was time to leave.
Fang Xihe packed up and got ready to leave, only to notice that a circle of coworkers was still at their desks.
She glanced toward the office door.
Zhao Jing hadn’t left either.
Then she looked back at Sun Shasha.
On Sun Shasha’s computer screen was a small window she was reading novels on Tomato Fiction.
Uh…
Fang Xihe scanned the rest of the office and saw a male colleague playing Dou Di Zhu.
Sigh yet another invisible overtime culture.
She had no intention of lingering.
Grabbing her bag, she swaggered out.
A group of colleagues watched her leave.
Fang Xihe pretended not to notice.
Outside the industrial park was a row of shared bicycles; she grabbed one and rode to the subway station.
She checked her phone to see which line would take her to the apartment.
Line 5 was direct.
Shang Chenzhou’s apartment was right next to the subway, much more convenient than the original owner’s previous shared housing.
During rush hour, the subway was packed.
Fang Xihe got pushed into a corner.
After half an hour, she finally arrived at her stop.
Standing under the apartment building, she hesitated.
She didn’t feel like going up she would have to face Shang Chenzhou.
She felt a little nervous.
She regretted not staying late at the office instead.
After lingering for ten minutes, she slowly went upstairs.
Just as she was about to enter the access code, the door opened from the inside.
Shang Chenzhou’s tall figure was there, backlit by the warm yellow light.
Fang Xihe looked up and froze.
So handsome!
She had to admit the male lead was truly handsome, just like her dream man.
Shang Chenzhou took the bag from her hands.
He bent down and placed a pair of white rabbit-fur slippers in front of her.
“Come in.”
Fang Xihe stared at the slippers.
The same pair she had worn yesterday.
Shang Chenzhou had specially prepared them for the original owner.
So considerate.
She slipped on the slippers and entered, closing the door behind her.
Shang Chenzhou hung her bag and then headed to the kitchen.
A savory smell hit her, making her mouth water.
She stood by the kitchen doorway.
Shang Chenzhou placed plate after plate on the dining table.
It was a lavish spread probably to celebrate their marriage.
He was quiet and reserved, but very practical.
He turned and said, “Wash your hands and eat.”
Fang Xihe didn’t hesitate she washed her hands and sat at the table.
Shang Chenzhou served her some rice.
“Thank you.”
Fang Xihe asked, “Can I start eating?”
He nodded.
“There’s no need for so many formalities eat if you’re hungry.”
She smiled slightly and dug in.
She was starving.
All she’d eaten that day was one bowl of wontons and some cookies Sun Shasha had handed her at work.
Shang Chenzhou was startled by her enthusiasm.
“Slow down no one’s taking your food.”
Her mouth full, she mumbled, “I’m starving.”
He placed fish and vegetables onto her plate.
After eating her fill, Fang Xihe took a sip of water he handed her.
“Thanks.”
Shang Chenzhou frowned.
Fang Xihe had already said “thank you” to him many times.
After dinner, she tried to wash the dishes.
Shang Chenzhou stopped her. “I’ll do it.”
Fang Xihe realized this man had some big-man tendencies.
She didn’t insist.
She went to prepare for a shower.
But then she noticed her washed clothes drying on the balcony, neatly hung with clothespins the bed linens she had changed were also washed and hanging outside.
The balcony wasn’t enclosed, separated only by sliding doors.
No need to guess Shang Chenzhou had done all this.
So diligent!
She imagined the mother she had never met must have been gentle and virtuous, raising Shang Chenzhou to be so capable.
Smart, skilled, diligent.
She had never seen such a perfect man.
Just then, a thought struck her. Her mind went blank.
She dashed to the sliding door.
Sure enough, hanging there were some thin pieces of fabric.
Her bra and underwear.
Fang Xihe’s face flushed crimson ears burning.
She pictured Shang Chenzhou seriously hanging her intimate clothes.
She couldn’t take it she was going crazy!
Later, she tried to convince herself: These aren’t mine they belong to the original owner… not me…
“What are you doing on the balcony?”
Shang Chenzhou spoke as he approached.
Fang Xihe quickly jumped inside, slamming the sliding door.
Shang Chenzhou stopped in his tracks, staring at the red on her face.
He coughed awkwardly.
“I saw your clothes were wet, so I hung them outside.”
Fang Xihe didn’t dare meet his gaze and didn’t want to discuss this further.
Flustered, she said, “I’m taking a shower. Where’s my suitcase?”
“Under the bed.”
She bent down to reach for it, but Shang Chenzhou lifted her up, looking at her flushed face. In a low voice, he said, “Your clothes are in the wardrobe.”
“Oh.”
Fang Xihe freed herself and opened the wardrobe.
Her clothes were neatly hung.
No need to guess it had to be Shang Chenzhou who did it.
From behind came a low, magnetic voice: “Intimates are in the drawer.”
Fang Xihe opened the drawer.
Her bras and underwear were neatly stacked bras on the inside, underwear on the outside.
Her head went black.
She wanted to scream: Male lead, why are you so considerate?
Closing her eyes, she hastily grabbed a random bra and a set of pajamas and rushed into the bathroom.
The door slammed shut.
Shang Chenzhou tugged at the corner of his mouth, slightly amused.
Why was she so easily flustered?