Chapter 15: Missing You
The matter of the wedding banquet, they had actually talked about it before, back when the two families met for dinner. At the time, Shen Zhuying had only said she didn’t have any plans in the near future and hadn’t decided on a date.
And now, her answer was still—
“Let’s wait a bit longer.”
She always felt the time wasn’t quite right yet.
“Alright.” Of course, Fu Sizhuo respected her every choice.
The air fell quiet again.
Shen Zhuying was racking her brains for a new topic when she heard Fu Sizhuo say, “I have to go on a business trip tomorrow. It’ll last anywhere from half a month to a full month.”
There was a faint look of apology on his face.
“Why so sudden?” Shen Zhuying whispered.
She understood the nature of his work, but she couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed.
“Just got the call.” Noticing the disappointment in her, Fu Sizhuo’s chest filled with a strange, indescribable emotion. His gaze unconsciously softened.
“It’s to Africa. Do you want me to bring you anything?”
Shen Zhuying thought for a moment, her clear eyes lifting to him. “I want the seeds of the very first plant you see when your plane lands, is that alright?”
“Alright.”
Later, with every safe takeoff and landing, Shen Zhuying received seeds from all around the world.
Of course, on the tenth day of his trip to Africa, Fu Sizhuo finally understood what that strange, indescribable feeling in his chest was.
It was longing.
He missed his newlywed wife deeply.
And for Fu Sizhuo, who was used to flying around the world, this was a very unfamiliar emotion.
In earlier years, Fu Sizhuo had been eager to apply for assignments in places rife with war and gunfire. For example, the turbulent and uneasy Middle East, he stayed there for over a year.
When Old Madam Zhou learned of it, she first scolded him. “Fine, die then, you little brat. If you’re dead, at least you won’t anger me every day.”
Then she immediately began arranging blind dates. “Aiyo, I must find you a wife, so you’ll stick at home and be too reluctant to go out courting death.”
At the time, he only thought it funny. Now, looking back, the old lady truly had remarkable foresight.
“Director Fu, shall we head straight to Madam’s flower shop this time?” After getting off the plane, Assistant Lin hurried along with the luggage to ask.
He still remembered the shock he felt the first time the young deputy director mentioned the word “marriage.”
The most sought-after deputy director in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, always with that icy face that girls couldn’t resist, had just… quietly gotten married?
He even remembered Minister Chen saying just the other day that he wanted to introduce his niece to Fu Sizhuo. And only a few days later, the deputy director was already married.
Assistant Lin had already started feeling sorry on behalf of the little office girls whose hearts were surely broken.
Fu Sizhuo adjusted his watch. Still not switched out of work mode, his face was like frost.
“To Hua Jian Ji.”
Just those four words, and his expression softened.
——
These past few days, Shen Zhuying had been so busy her feet barely touched the ground.
With the approach of the Beginning of Winter, fresh flower orders had multiplied several times over.
Shen Zhuying had no choice but to hire two more strong young men to help out at the shop.
At the same time, the number of people coming to the flower shop to read and drink coffee had also increased.
Outside, heavy rain poured down, and many people ducked into the shop for shelter.
On the television hanging in the center of the shop, the latest news was being broadcast.
“…building an even closer China, Africa community with a shared future, deepening cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, and establishing a new milestone in the history of China, Africa relations…”
“Quick, look at the news, there’s a super handsome guy…” a girl poked her friend excitedly.
“When has there ever been someone handsome on the news…” the friend hadn’t finished speaking, but when she looked up, she blurted out a shocked “wc.”
On screen, the man stood tall and straight, with sharp brows and a commanding presence. Behind him was a row of national flags.
He stepped down from the solemn red carpet, smiling as he shook hands with others.
The man’s bearing was extraordinary, making everyone else around him fade into the background.
“Don’t fight me, that’s my husband…”
“Bullshit, he’s my husband…”
The two girls started laughing and bickering.
Shen Zhuying stared at the man on the screen, the one she hadn’t seen for a long time, and puffed her cheeks in frustration.
She thought angrily: Obviously, he’s my husband.
As she lifted her gaze at the man speaking eloquently on the news, she remembered he hadn’t sent her a single message in ten days. Her anger spiked, and she couldn’t help cursing under her breath: “Hypocritical bastard.”
Xiao Chun tugged on her sleeve, quietly rescuing the rose bush that was about to be snipped bald.
One second, Shen Zhuying was still fuming. The next second, the shop door opened. She lifted her face into a brilliant smile. “Welcome to Hua Jian Ji—”
The very man who had just been on the news closed his umbrella. Dressed in a black coat, carrying the damp chill of the rain, he stood quietly, gazing at her.
The two girls who had been fighting over whose husband he was looked up, then compared him to the image on the news. They exchanged looks, their expressions faintly horrified.
How could this man… look exactly like that diplomat on the news…
Shen Zhuying’s smile faded.
She turned her eyes away, pretending not to see him.
Fu Sizhuo walked over naturally, resting his bent elbow on the counter, tilting his head to ask her. “Is there anything that needs my help?”
Compared with the voice that had just been heard on the news, his sounded even lower, richer.
As he leaned in closer, Shen Zhuying finally noticed the red veins in his eyes, the exhaustion he couldn’t hide.
Alright then.
Her anger from just moments ago suddenly softened.
She shouldn’t blame him, he really was too busy. But no matter how busy, was there really not even time for a single “good night”? She worried about him so much.
Shen Zhuying’s heart tugged sharply in two directions, and so her face took on a fierce expression. “No need, go to sleep.”
Of course Fu Sizhuo noticed the little sulky twist in her heart, but…
Why?
Just as he was wondering, Xiao Chun suddenly shoved a large bouquet of flowers into his arms, signaling for him to go trim them.
“Xiao Chun, don’t let him do that.” Shen Zhuying snatched the flowers back, seized his wrist, and pulled him toward the lounge.
In the lounge, she half-forced him into a wicker chair, her tone stiff as she said, “You just sleep here.”
After tossing down those words, she turned on her heel to leave, muttering as she walked.
“Don’t even know what you came here for, I can’t just conjure up a bed for you, so tired and still…”
Before her complaints were finished, her wrist was caught and pulled back lightly—
She fell into a cold, clean embrace.
The man’s unique scent of pine and chill surrounded her completely. Shen Zhuying’s breath hitched.
“You… what are you doing?” Her fingertips trembled, trying hard to sound imposing.
“Why are you angry, Shen Zhuying?” He held her half in his arms like that, his voice low.
At such a close distance, his lashes looked long, his sharp, deep features intensely striking.
Unlike the cool indifference on the news, his eyes now lowered, brimming with aggression.
No wonder they say, if you’re going to find a husband, find a handsome one.
At this moment, Shen Zhuying’s anger melted away completely. “We’ll talk after you’ve slept.” She tried to stand, but his hand clamped around her waist.
“Tell me first, why are you angry.” Perhaps feeling the words too harsh, he added, “Otherwise, I won’t be able to sleep.”
The two of them stared at each other for a few seconds. In the end, Shen Zhuying was the first to look away.
“Fine.” Shen Zhuying let out a defeated breath. “You were away for ten days, why didn’t you send me even one message?”
“Do you know I…” The girl seemed full of grievances; she paused, then said softly, “…and Grandma too, we were both so worried about you.”
