Chapter 2: A Ride
Shen Zhuying paused for a moment, then straightened her back and walked out of the Western restaurant with a calm expression.
This wasn’t the first time Fu Sizhuo had said he didn’t know her.
Shen Zhuying remembered the last time she heard him say those words, which was during her senior year of college.
That year, Fu Sizhuo’s close friend Zhou Yu finished his five-year medical undergraduate program, and he specially flew back from England to attend Zhou Yu’s graduation ceremony.
She knew about it in advance from Zhou Yu’s social media, and after two days and nights of deliberation, she decided to write a love letter and hand it to him in person on the day of the graduation ceremony.
She was always afraid of missing opportunities, so she wanted to seize every chance.
Shen Zhuying remembered that she had put on beautiful makeup that day and deliberately didn’t wear the usual bachelor’s uniform.
And it didn’t disappoint her; she really saw him again that day.
He was wearing a black shirt and suit pants, looking thinner and more mature than before.
On the day of the graduation photo shoot, there were many people. Shen Zhuying held the love letter in her hand, hesitant and hopeful, not daring to move forward.
She heard Zhou Yu ask Fu Sizhuo, “Hey, Sizhuo, I have a junior from the landscape architecture department named Shen Zhuying. I think you might have been in the same high school as her. Do you know her?”
Shen Zhuying gripped the corner of the letter tightly, feeling like her heart was being pulled up by that question, with the other end of the string held by Fu Sizhuo.
But he seemed completely unaware of it.
He replied, “A junior? One year younger than me?”
Zhou Yu said, “She’s in the same year as you, but she repeated a year.”
Fu Sizhuo seemed to think for a long time, then replied, “I don’t know her. We don’t seem to have much in common.”
He paused for a few seconds and then asked with interest, “Is she the junior you mentioned on the phone, the one with a good personality and beautiful looks? You like her?”
“Yes,” Zhou Yu admitted openly.
“Who wouldn’t like her? You’ll like her too once you get to know her.”
“Really?” Fu Sizhuo chuckled softly, neither confirming nor denying. “You have high praise for her.”
Shen Zhuying couldn’t hear the rest of the conversation. She was looking down, probably about to cry.
It was so sad; this was the response she got after secretly admiring him for six years.
Fu Sizhuo would probably never know that she had tried so hard, attempting to get close to him again and again.
Even though she failed every time.
And ten years later, the answer she got wouldn’t be any different.
It would still be a completely blank sheet of paper.
Shen Zhuying walked down the street with her head down, and she even had the mood to think that it was good. He and the beautiful young lady were well-matched.
On the other side, Fu Sizhuo glanced at his watch and turned to Chen Qingqing. “Miss Chen, it’s getting late. Shall I send you home?”
“Okay,” Chen Qingqing replied, still looking a bit stunned.
“If you keep looking, I’ll dig your eyes out.”
Was this really something Fu Sizhuo, who was always restrained and polite, would say?
Chen Qingqing thought about the cold and intimidating aura he had when he said those words, and she felt a chill run down her spine. She couldn’t help but ask Fu Sizhuo again in the car.
“Sizhuo, do you really think you don’t know her?” she asked.
“You think I have to know her?” Fu Sizhuo countered.
“Well, not necessarily… but why did you get so angry?”
Chen Qingqing pouted. “It feels like you would get angrier if I were being bullied.”
Fu Sizhuo could certainly hear the petulant tone in her voice.
He tapped his slender fingers on the steering wheel and didn’t respond again.
Not until the black business car stopped in front of Chen Qingqing’s building did he pause for a moment before speaking. “Miss Chen, you know that today’s blind date was arranged by my grandmother, and it wasn’t my personal intention.”
“I know,” Chen Qingqing said, gripping her bag tightly. “But I wanted to come myself.”
“And blind dates are about trying to get along, aren’t they? We didn’t have a bad time today, did we?” she said.
Despite her words, she looked like she was about to cry.
Chen Qingqing knew that he had high emotional intelligence, probably due to his profession, and he wouldn’t let anyone’s words fall flat.
In other words, he could get along well with anyone, and he had a great sense of proportion.
But under the dim light, his eyes revealed a clear sense of detachment and rejection.
“We can try to get along again,” Chen Qingqing continued.
“No need to reject me so quickly. We… can start as friends.”
She choked back a sob.
“Sorry,” Fu Sizhuo said directly, without any intention of coddling her.
“I don’t have any plans to get close to anyone or develop a deeper relationship right now.”
“Besides, my work is very busy,” Fu Sizhuo said honestly. “I wouldn’t make a good boyfriend or husband, so… I’m really sorry.”
“Who cares about your apology?” Chen Qingqing got annoyed.
“Okay, fine. Actually, I didn’t really like you that much anyway!”
She turned and stormed off, slamming the door.
Fu Sizhuo rubbed his temples in frustration and was about to start the car when the girl who had just left came back, knocking on his window with a fierce expression.
Fu Sizhuo rolled down the window and asked, “Did you forget something…”
“You! I’m just trying, it’s not like I’m asking for your life! Why do you have to be so absolute?” she said.
“You’ll be single for the rest of your life, you know that? I hope you stay single forever!”
After saying that, Chen Qingqing finally felt satisfied and walked away, leaving Fu Sizhuo rubbing his temples in frustration once again.
On the way back, it started to drizzle. Fu Sizhuo thought about having to deal with his grandmother’s questions when he got home and felt a headache coming on, so he drove slower.
Then, in the misty rain, he saw a slender and delicate figure crouching by the bus stop.
He recognized her as the girl from the Western restaurant.
He thought of Chen Qingqing’s words: “It’s not that… it’s just why did you get so angry?”
Why did he get so angry?
Fu Sizhuo couldn’t figure it out. In his impression, they hadn’t had much close contact, and he didn’t even know her name.
It was strange.
Just like now, before he had a chance to think clearly, he instinctively stepped on the brake and slowly pulled over in front of her.
He rolled down the window.
And the girl, who was originally crouching on the ground looking bored, had her eyes widening slowly as Fu Sizhuo’s face appeared in front of her.
Her expression was even terrifying.
At least that’s what Fu Sizhuo thought.
“You…” the girl stuttered.
“Me?” Fu Sizhuo tilted his head. “What’s wrong?”
“Is there something I can help you with, sir?” After a few seconds, she spoke, her tone distant, as if they had never met before.
The man’s angular face was blurred by the rain curtain, but his voice was clear and distinct in Shen Zhuying’s ears.
“My destination is close to your flower shop,” he said.
“Would you like a ride?”
