The car fell into an eerie silence.
Zou Beiqi didn’t feel like he had done or said anything wrong at all, but Heng Shi’s face looked even colder than usual, clearly showing that he didn’t think this had anything to do with him.
“Your concern is really cheap,” Heng Shi blurted out without mercy.
“I don’t care about just anyone.”
“For example?”
Zou Beiqi thought about it seriously. “I wouldn’t care about people I’m not familiar with.”
“Do you mean you and Lin Huixi were very familiar with each other at the beginning?”
“That’s different. I didn’t go out of my way to look for her; we basically just ran into each other by chance.” Zou Beiqi paused. “It’s about the same as those enthusiastic people in society who donate to charity.”
“Oh. Does that mean you and I are very familiar with each other?”
Zou Beiqi thought this question was inexplicable. They had already gotten their marriage certificate, after all. “We’ve been getting along for almost two months, no matter how you look at it, right?”
“Two months. How much do you actually know about me?”
“You do R&D work at Yanxin Pharmaceuticals, you don’t eat street food, you’re a workaholic, you think health is very important, you can fall asleep quickly, and you look stern and unapproachable, but actually you can also be soft-hearted.” Why does this sound so much like the compatibility quizzes or couple mutual-interview games on variety shows? Zou Beiqi thought. In reality, he knew a lot more than he could say aloud, after all, he was just a bored, straight college student who used to have nothing to do in Marxism classes except flip through entire Danmei m-preg novels. “To be fair, you talk about me, too.”
Heng Shi hesitated for a moment. “You love eating street food, you like photography, you plant flowers and herbs, and you often don’t care about yourself while still having the energy to worry about others.”
Zou Beiqi chewed on that last sentence for a long time without understanding whether Heng Shi was praising him or mocking him.
“Satisfied?” Heng Shi followed up with that single line.
“You look like you don’t have a very good impression of me.”
“Think whatever you want.”
Ever since his stitches were removed, Heng Shi threw himself back into his busy work. Probably related to the matter discussed with Sheng Wanzhong back at Lin Huixi’s place, Heng Shi had been busier than ever lately, even sleeping at the company for several nights.
Zou Beiqi had originally thought that top executives could just sit back and watch their subordinates run around, but now it seemed that being a boss wasn’t easy either, let alone a high-level executive in the R&D department.
He had originally wanted to send a few comforting messages, but Heng Shi’s ice-cold “keep your distance” flashed in his mind. He abruptly closed the chat window and instead navigated to Yan Ze’s avatar: [How is Heng Shi doing recently?]
Yan Ze: [According to his schedule, he has been very busy lately. But when I’ve seen him during this time, his complexion hasn’t been too bad.]
[Mr. Zou, please rest assured. Mr. Heng knows his limits and won’t exhaust himself to the point of ruining his health.]
Zou Beiqi: [Can I go see him?]
Yan Ze: [My point is, unless you give advance notice.]
[Except for a few important laboratories, Yanxin Pharmaceutical’s industrial park is open to outside visitors. As long as you don’t get lost within the park.]
Zou Beiqi stared blankly at that last sentence. To be honest, that was somewhat of a challenge for him. Yanxin Pharmaceutical’s campus in Liwan City included multiple cafeterias, various office buildings and functional spaces, as well as multiple laboratories, which only made things worse for someone who was already terrible with directions.
Why did he have to go see Heng Shi anyway? Wasn’t a grown man capable of taking care of himself?
The image of his father’s exhausted figure conveniently flashed into his mind. Zou Beiqi subconsciously massaged his temples; he probably really was, just as Heng Shi said, afflicted with a sickness where he felt uncomfortable if he didn’t worry about other people.
He had Xiao Li drive him to Yanxin Pharmaceuticals, dropping him off at the entrance of the industrial park. As Zou Beiqi tried his best to search his memory for the route while walking forward along the path, he somehow wandered around in circles and ended up right back near a building that looked familiar.
He originally intended to ask a passing coworker for directions, but after pondering for a long time, he realized he didn’t even know how to describe the research lab where Heng Shi frequented year-round.
Biting the bullet and walking blindly would be too foolish, and there was a high probability he wouldn’t reach it anyway. After much deliberation, he messaged Heng Shi: [Where are you?]
Heng Shi: [The office building.]
He wasn’t even in the lab. [I got lost in the park.]
Heng Shi: [What are you here for?]
Zou Beiqi: [To visit.]
He thought about it and sent another line: [I heard Yanxin’s cafeteria is very good.]
Heng Shi: [Where are you?]
Zou Beiqi: [If I knew, I wouldn’t be lost.]
Heng Shi: [I know you can’t name it. Describe it.]
Zou Beiqi: [I can see a sign with corporate culture written on it, and next to it is a tall white building.]
Heng Shi: [I know. Wait for me.]
Zou Beiqi didn’t have to wait long in place before a suit-and-tie-clad Heng Shi appeared before his eyes. The temperature outside was quite high, and a fine layer of sweat had already broken out on Zou Beiqi’s forehead. Heng Shi raised a hand to wipe it away for him, but seemingly realizing the action was inappropriate, he quickly pulled his hand back. “Have you been walking for a long time?”
Before Zou Beiqi could answer, Heng Shi’s phone rang, followed by an unhesitating rejection of the call.
“Is it okay?”
“It’s fine. Someone else is urging me back to a meeting.” Heng Shi beckoned to Zou Beiqi. “Come over. I’ll take you to the cafeteria.”
Zou Beiqi obediently followed by Heng Shi’s side. Indeed, just as Yan Ze had said, Heng Shi didn’t look like he lacked energy at all. His complexion was normal; he must have been eating and sleeping properly every day.
“What are you looking at?” Heng Shi seemed extremely sensitive to other people’s gazes.
Zou Beiqi sheepishly withdrew his gaze. “Nothing.”
Even though the word “disbelief” was clearly written all over Heng Shi’s face, he didn’t press the matter further.
Yanxin had several cafeterias, and the one Heng Shi brought Zou Beiqi to was the largest one in the entire park with the widest variety of food. “Don’t eat random things.”
“Are you heading back to your meeting?”
“Mn.” Having answered that, Heng Shi hurried out of Zou Beiqi’s line of sight. The latter raised his eyes to look at the surrounding shops and stalls, which indeed dazzled him. He rubbed his lower belly, recalled Heng Shi’s warning, and carefully wandered around the major food windows. Options that were low in oil, salt, and sugar while still stimulating his appetite were few and far between. In the end, he only ordered a light-flavored, sweet, and savory bowl of soup.
He finished his lunch in the cafeteria and checked the time; it was clearly nowhere near time for Heng Shi to get off work.
Zou Beiqi had only come this trip to confirm Heng Shi’s condition. Logically speaking, once his goal was achieved, he should have gone home, but for some reason, the idea of waiting for Heng Shi to finish work popped into his head.
Just like back in school when they would wait for good friends to leave school together, as Heng Shi’s spouse, he wanted to wait for his husband to finish work, or rather, he should wait for him to finish work.
It seemed they had zero husband-and-husband romance, but they had cultivated at least a little bit of friendship.
Yet, was a grown man like him really going to tag along with someone else’s schedule?
He ultimately attributed the reason to having a far too strong sense of belonging to the identity of Heng Shi’s husband.
When the time was almost right, he messaged Heng Shi to ask if he was about to get off work, and the other end replied quickly: [Almost. What’s wrong?]
Zou Beiqi: [I’m in the cafeteria.]
Heng Shi: [Still eating?]
Zou Beiqi: [.]
[I’m not a pig. I don’t have the ability to eat here continuously for several hours.]
Heng Shi: [?]
Zou Beiqi: [I’m waiting for you.]
Heng Shi: [No need, go back and rest.]
Zou Beiqi: [Waiting for you isn’t tiring.]
Heng Shi: [Why?]
Zou Beiqi: [I don’t know. I just feel like waiting for you is better.]
Heng Shi: [I’ll be there soon.]
Zou Beiqi scrolled through his phone for a bit before Heng Shi soon took a seat across from him, pulling the electronic device out of his hand to lock the screen: “Try to play on your phone less.”
“That little bit of food. You must be hungry.”
“Mn, wait for me.” Finished speaking, Heng Shi stood up and walked over to the food stalls to buy his meal. Before long, he returned to the table, both portions being light in flavor.
Zou Beiqi couldn’t help asking: “Do you usually eat this blandly?”
“Mn, it’s healthy.”
It really sounded like a reason Heng Shi would use.
Zou Beiqi popped a piece of pork into his mouth, but the moment he bit down, he realized something was wrong. Although the surface had changed color, the inside didn’t seem fully cooked.
“Is something wrong with the food?” Heng Shi noticed his action.
“It doesn’t seem cooked.”
“Let me see.” Heng Shi took the spoon from his hand, put it directly into his mouth, bit down on the piece of pork, and quickly spat it out. “It’s not fully cooked. Don’t eat it.”
“Oh.” Zou Beiqi’s gaze lingered on the spoon for a long time. Previously when he brought food over, Heng Shi had asked if there was another pair of chopsticks just because he had eaten from them. Eating something he had already tasted was handled quite naturally just now.
He probably figured that since there was a first time, a second time didn’t matter anymore.
Zou Beiqi was finally dropped off by Heng Shi at the park entrance, and afterwards driven back by Xiao Li.
He was taking pictures in the villa’s backyard when, just as evening arrived, he found that his raven-like premonition had come true. Just a couple of days ago he was thinking about how much concern he could show if Sheng Wanzhong got hurt, and today he received news that Sheng Wanzhong had actually gotten injured.
The reason he knew was because Sheng Wanzhong had posted a Moments update with a picture of his finger wrapped in gauze: [Friends, don’t climb roadside walls randomly! Watch out for broken glass on top!]
To be a paparazzi photographer, one had to climb walls? This was already the work of a secret agent.
Since they shared a friendship, he felt it was still necessary to show concern, so he commented under Sheng Wanzhong’s post: [Are you okay?]
Reply: [All good, all good! I won’t die!]
Zou Beiqi happened to have some free time. After much thought, he went to a nearby neighborhood supermarket to buy some fruit, planning to make a house call as a gesture of human courtesy. Sheng Wanzhong didn’t seem to expect him to come; his face filled with both surprise and delight as he took the fruit and ushered his visitor inside.
“Is the injury alright?”
“It’s really nothing, just a minor scrape. It’ll heal in a bit.” Sheng Wanzhong glanced at his own dining table. “If I had known you were coming, I wouldn’t have ordered takeout and instead cooked a few good dishes for you.”
“It’s fine, don’t put your hand through the trouble.”
“How can that do? Since you’ve come, you have to eat a meal before leaving. Wait for me.” Sheng Wanzhong finished speaking and bustled into the kitchen. Zou Beiqi followed him in, asking if there was anything he needed help with.
Sheng Wanzhong originally wanted to send him outside to wait, but realizing he genuinely had many tasks that were inconvenient to do with one hand, he let the other person handle simple chores, telling him not to force it if it proved too difficult.
Just as Zou Beiqi finished helping peel some potatoes, the phone in his pocket vibrated once. He instinctively pulled it out to check and saw it was from Heng Shi: [Where are you?]
Zou Beiqi: [At Sheng Wanzhong’s house.]
Heng Shi: [Went to eat?]
Zou Beiqi: [Not entirely. He got hurt, so I came to check on him and eat along the way.]
Heng Shi: [Oh.]
Zou Beiqi: [Why did you suddenly ask about me?]
Heng Shi: [I didn’t see you in the backyard. You aren’t at the villa.]
Zou Beiqi: [Are you home?]
Heng Shi: [Mn. In the backyard. Your little sapling isn’t growing very well.]
[Image]
Zou Beiqi tapped to open the photo, only to discover it was the small sapling he had planted in a pot; it looked withered and lacked vitality. He never let the gardeners touch his potted plants, tending to them personally almost all the time.
Aside from that, Heng Shi’s fingertip, oozing a tiny drop of fresh blood, seemed to have accidentally wandered into the frame.
Zou Beiqi: [What happened to your hand?]
Heng Shi: [Scratched by a tree branch.]
[Going to write an experiment report later. Won’t sleep tonight, find me anytime if something comes up.]
Zou Beiqi: […]
[Yan Ze said you’d take care of yourself.]
Heng Shi: [The report can’t be delayed.]
[When are you coming back?]
Zou Beiqi typed without thinking, already nearing thirty yet still leaving people worried. [Soon.]
Heng Shi: [Mn, best if you are.]
[Don’t stay at other people’s houses for too long.]