“No need, I already ate before coming.”
Zheng Shuyuan firmly declined Shen Zhiyi’s offer.
“I’d like to have a chat with you, Miss Shen. I hope that’s convenient for you.”
“It is.”
Shen Zhiyi nodded.
“Shuyuan.”
“I know, Mr. Pei. I won’t say anything I shouldn’t.”
Shen Zhiyi followed Zheng Shuyuan downstairs.
They had almost reached the entrance of the residential complex before Zheng Shuyuan finally spoke.
“Miss Shen, I don’t know if you’re staying by Mr. Pei’s side on a whim or if you’ve genuinely changed. If it’s just a whim, I think you should move out as soon as possible. For Mr. Pei, it’s better to endure short-term pain than long-term suffering…”
If it were the original owner, she might have already lost control of her emotions upon hearing Zheng Shuyuan’s words.
But at this moment, she remained calm.
“You can assume I’ve changed.”
“If you’ve truly changed, then I apologize. I was judging a noble person with a petty mind.”
“No need. I have my own reasons for staying with Pei Xu. Don’t think of me as some noble person.”
Zheng Shuyuan looked at Shen Zhiyi. Although her face was the same, he felt that something about her was different.
“Why did you buy a white cane for Mr. Pei?”
“To make life easier for him in the future. He has to face reality and live his life.”
Zheng Shuyuan recalled Pei Xu’s once spirited and confident demeanor, then thought of the Pei Xu he had just seen at the doorway. His heart ached.
“Mr. Pei needs to go to the hospital for a check-up every month. Please remember to take him. Don’t worry about the money, I’ll handle it…”
“No need, I have money.”
Zheng Shuyuan clearly didn’t quite believe Shen Zhiyi’s words.
“You’re not planning to skip the check-ups to save money, are you? Although Mr. Pei’s condition is complicated, it doesn’t mean his eyes won’t recover.”
“I never said I wouldn’t take him for check-ups. Pei Xu gave me so much money; I wouldn’t even skip his medical appointments.”
Seeing how serious her expression was, Zheng Shuyuan decided to trust her this once.
“If you have time, please take Mr. Pei to the hospital for a check-up this week. Please take good care of him. Thank you.”
Zheng Shuyuan’s final request came from the heart.
“Of course. After all, I am his wife.”
As soon as Shen Zhiyi reached the entrance of the building, she saw Pei Xu standing in the shade by the doorway, holding his white cane.
“Why did you come down?”
“What did Shuyuan say to you?”
Zheng Shuyuan harbored some resentment toward Shen Zhiyi, and Pei Xu was worried he might have said something inappropriate.
After all, Shen Zhiyi had been sulking with him before Zheng Shuyuan arrived.
“He didn’t say anything else. He just asked me to take you to the hospital for a check-up this week.”
Noticing some white dust on Pei Xu’s black T-shirt—likely from brushing against the wall while coming downstairs—Shen Zhiyi brushed it off.
“Let’s go. It’s too sunny outside. Better go home and enjoy the air conditioning.”
“Okay.”
Pei Xu replied but didn’t move.
“You go first. The steps are narrow, and it’ll be too crowded if we walk together.”
Pei Xu turned around, using his white cane to feel the way ahead.
The steps in this old residential complex were uneven—some low, some high.
Just as his feet and mind adjusted to the height of one step, the next one would change.
Pei Xu lifted his foot a little too low, causing him to lean forward.
Shen Zhiyi quickly reached out to steady his arm.
“Be careful, the stairs in old residential areas are tricky. Take your time, no rush.”
Pei Xu’s sudden move earlier had given Shen Zhiyi quite a fright, causing sweat to break out all over her body.
She wanted to suggest that Pei Xu move out of here and into the spacious apartment under her name.
But Shen Zhiyi knew Pei Xu would definitely refuse.
Since she had already guessed his decision, there was no need to waste words on certain matters.
“Did Shuyuan only ask you to take me to the hospital, or did he say anything else?”
Shen Zhiyi rummaged through her pockets, then reached into Pei Xu’s.
“Did you forget to bring your keys when you went out?”
“Seems like it…”
He had rushed downstairs in such a hurry that he forgot them.
“What do we do now? How about I take you wandering instead?”
Shen Zhiyi pinched the bridge of her nose. She hadn’t brought her keys because Pei Xu was home.
Who would have thought he would secretly follow her downstairs and forget his keys too?
Shen Zhiyi spotted a lock-opening advertisement printed on the wall, took out her phone, and dialed the number listed.
“Hello, I’d like to replace a door. It’s at Zijinhua Garden, Building 2, Unit 1…”
After hanging up, Shen Zhiyi and Pei Xu sat on the steps by the door, waiting for the technician to come and replace it.
“Actually, just changing the lock would be enough.”
“Even just changing the lock would cost more than this door.”
Shen Zhiyi took Pei Xu’s hand and guided it to feel the door.
The rusted spots were particularly rough, and the door panel was already very thin.
“If we forget our keys again next time, we can use fingerprint unlocking.”
Fortunately, Shen Zhiyi and Pei Xu didn’t have to wait too long, and the door replacement was relatively quick.
“Please bring your documents to prove you’re the owners of this place.”
“My documents are in the desk drawer.”
“Do we need both of our IDs, or just one of ours?”
Shen Zhiyi’s ID was in her bag by the door, so it was more convenient for her to fetch it.
“You two are married, right? If you’re married, either of your IDs will do.”
Shen Zhiyi took her ID out of her bag and handed it to the technician. After he checked it, she transferred the installation and door replacement fees to him.
“Let’s set up the fingerprint first. Do you usually use your left or right hand to unlock?”
“Left thumb.”
As Shen Zhiyi held Pei Xu’s right hand, preparing to register his fingerprint, she accidentally caught sight of a faint, pale ring on his ring finger.
Since she returned, she hadn’t seen Pei Xu wearing his wedding ring.
He must have taken it off when he decided to divorce her.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, I just didn’t find the right spot earlier.”
After registering the fingerprint, Shen Zhiyi and Pei Xu entered the house one after the other.
“The noodles seem a bit clumped. How about I make something else?”
“Clumped noodles are still delicious.”
Pei Xu didn’t mind whether the noodles were clumped or not.
After all, he could even swallow instant noodles soaked in cold water.
“Then let’s make do with this for now. We’ll make something else in the evening.”
Pei Xu put away his white cane and placed it within reach.
“Didn’t you say you’d let me use sacred compassion to soothe my hunger tonight?”
Shen Zhiyi added a little water to the noodles and stirred them to separate them.
“How come you only remember that line and nothing else?”
Shen Zhiyi bit down hard on a strand of noodles.
Pei Xu really was ungrateful, after all the meals she had cooked for him.
“I remember every word you say.”
Shen Zhiyi suddenly thought of something, and after swallowing the noodles, her confidence waned slightly.
“I know you have a good memory, but you don’t have to keep everything in your heart. You can remember the nice things I say, and just forget the harsher words.”
She was afraid Pei Xu had a poor memory, yet also feared his memory was too sharp.