She froze, not moving for a long while.
Shang Chenzhou turned to look at her, one brow lifting slightly as he walked toward her.
Fang Xihe snapped back to her senses.
“Why are you here?”
“I came to pick you up after work. It’s too dark, not safe.”
Something seemed to strike Fang Xihe’s heart, leaving it tingling and aching.
No matter how late she had worked in the past, she had always gone 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 probably being controlled by the plot right now, and the one he liked was the original host.
Fang Xihe still felt moved.
Thinking about how she had deliberately stayed late at the company to avoid close contact with Shang Chenzhou, she felt a little guilty.
“Thank you. Let’s go.”
Shang Chenzhou nodded.
They had only taken two steps when a black Maybach suddenly pulled up in front of them.
A tall, thin man stepped out of the car and walked up to Fang Xihe.
“Xihe, get in. I’ll take you home.”
Fang Xihe had already recalled who this man was.
The abusive man the original host had taken a liking to Chen Feng.
A local from Jiangcheng, a rich second-generation heir.
From their first blind date, he had shown strong interest in the original host, constantly trying to please her.
Over the past two days, he had sent her many messages. She hadn’t replied. He had called too, but she hadn’t answered.
Fang Xihe turned her head carefully to look at Shang Chenzhou.
He stared at Chen Feng expressionlessly, a coldness in his eyes.
Fang Xihe quickly distanced herself. “No need. We’re not familiar.”
Chen Feng looked at her in confusion. “Xihe, you’ve been acting strange these past few days. I sent you so many messages, you didn’t reply. I called you, you didn’t pick up. Why are you suddenly so cold to me?”
“Don’t talk nonsense. I’m not close with you. Please don’t harass me again!”
Fang Xihe was about to die of embarrassment.
She didn’t even dare look at Shang Chenzhou.
It felt like being caught cheating by her husband.
The original host had really done her in.
Chen Feng said, “Xihe, you showed interest in me before. Why the sudden change?”
“Don’t make things up. When did I ever?”
“Xihe—”
Fang Xihe cut him off. “You must have misunderstood. I don’t have any feelings for you. Don’t say such things.”
Chen Feng looked at Shang Chenzhou. From the start, he had felt this man’s presence was extraordinary.
Fang Xihe’s sudden change in attitude must have something to do with him.
“Xihe, who is this man?”
Fang Xihe hooked her arm through Shang Chenzhou’s and lifted her chin. “My husband.”
Chen Feng froze, then laughed.
“Are you joking?”
“I’m not. I’m married. Please don’t bother me again.”
Chen Feng still didn’t believe her.
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, you should come up with a better reason.”
Fang Xihe was about to speak.
Shang Chenzhou raised his hand and wrapped it around her shoulders, possessiveness evident.
“My wife rejecting you what reason do you need?”
Chen Feng’s expression changed.
Shang Chenzhou held Fang Xihe and led her away.
They stood by the roadside as Shang Chenzhou prepared to call a car.
Fang Xihe stopped him. “Let’s take the subway.”
No way—taking a cab home from here would cost over a hundred.
Shang Chenzhou had already placed the order, but the industrial park was remote, and no one accepted it.
Irritated, he canceled the ride. The two of them each borrowed a shared bicycle and rode toward the subway station.
Chen Feng drove his Maybach after them, rolling down the window. “Xihe, get in. I’ll take you home. Riding a bike is tiring, and it’s cold outside.”
Shang Chenzhou tightened his grip on the handlebars, his face turning icy.
Fang Xihe glared at Chen Feng. “Get lost. Who wants to ride in your car? So what if you have one? I like riding a bike.”
Chen Feng said, “Whether you’re married or not, I can’t stand seeing you suffer like this. Get in.”
Fang Xihe really wanted to slap this self-righteous jerk.
He was going to get her killed.
She turned and shouted, “Are you insane? Drive your car and get lost. Stop bothering me.”
“Xihe, just get in. It hurts me to see you like this.”
Shang Chenzhou suddenly stopped, took out his phone, and made a call. “I want to report this. Someone is harassing my wife.”
Chen Feng’s expression changed. He stepped on the gas, and the car shot off with a roar.
The gust of wind nearly knocked Fang Xihe over.
Idiot.
She cursed inwardly and turned to look at Shang Chenzhou.
His face was expressionless, lips pressed tightly together.
He must be angry.
Definitely angry.
Another man flirting with his wife right in front of him how could he not be?
If it were her, she would be angry too.
Shang Chenzhou put away his phone and continued riding.
Fang Xihe caught up with him. “You didn’t actually call the police, did you?”
Shang Chenzhou glanced at her. “What, afraid I’ll have him arrested?”
Fang Xihe waved her hands quickly. “Of course not. You should report him. People like that arrogant bastard deserve to be taught a lesson by the police.”
Shang Chenzhou looked at her for a moment but said nothing more.
They arrived at the subway station and returned the bikes.
Fang Xihe followed Shang Chenzhou inside.
While waiting for the train, she moved a little closer to him.
In a small voice, she asked, “Are you angry?”
Shang Chenzhou turned his head, his gaze sharp.
“What do you think?”
Fang Xihe replied awkwardly, “You have every right to be angry.”
“But don’t listen to that man’s nonsense. I’m not close with him.”
“Is that so?”
“…Of course.”
“I saw you accept flowers from him.”
Fang Xihe was startled. “When?”
But Shang Chenzhou didn’t answer.
The subway arrived just then. After boarding, they found a place to stand.
Fang Xihe took the initiative to stand in front of him.
She explained, “That was all a misunderstanding. I threw the flowers away right after accepting them.”
Shang Chenzhou looked at her without speaking.
Fang Xihe had no idea whether he believed her.
The original host had secretly registered on a matchmaking website, gone on dates with several men, had two meals with Chen Feng, and even accepted flowers from him.
If Shang Chenzhou found out about all this, would he strangle her?
No. She absolutely couldn’t let him know.
After watching her for a moment, Shang Chenzhou shifted his gaze to the advertisement screen above.
Fang Xihe’s heart was in turmoil.
The carriage suddenly jolted, and she staggered to the side.
A middle-aged man stood beside her just as she was about to crash into him, a hand pulled her back.
She looked up at Shang Chenzhou. “Thank you.”
He let go of her, his gaze turning elsewhere.
They returned to the apartment.
Shang Chenzhou took his clothes and went into the bathroom to shower.
Fang Xihe sat on the small sofa, staring at the bathroom door.
When Shang Chenzhou came out, he was wearing gray sleepwear, his hair still damp.
He didn’t look at her. He took his freshly washed underclothes to the balcony to hang them up.
As he came back in, his phone rang, and he stood by the window to answer it.
Fang Xihe went to shower first.
After she finished, dried her hair, and came out, Shang Chenzhou was sitting at the head of the bed reading a book.
She walked over, lifted the blanket, and got into bed.
After hesitating for a moment, she spoke, “Don’t be angry anymore.”
Shang Chenzhou put down the book and lay down.
“Sleep.”
Fang Xihe bit her lip, turned off the light, and lay down.
Was he not planning to forgive her?
If she put herself in his place, she wouldn’t forgive either.