Chapter 32: Taking You Home
“Really?” Fu Sizhuo’s red tie shifted ever so slightly, his prominent Adam’s apple sliding up and down.
From Shen Zhuying’s angle looking up, it seemed unusually large, like he had swallowed half an ice cube.
“Yes, your tie is crooked.” Shen Zhuying’s tone carried a hint of urgency.
She lifted her hand and carefully adjusted his tie. Then, when she raised her head—
She fell right into the man’s indulgent, playful gaze.
He curled his lips faintly. “Thank you, Mrs. Fu.”
“You’re teasing me, Fu Sizhuo.” Shen Zhuying finally realized, but she didn’t hold it against him. Lowering her lashes, she continued straightening his tie and smoothing the wrinkles on his suit.
“You work so late. Next time you could just sleep at the office.”
“Does the office have gifts from my wife?” he arched a brow and countered.
“The office can give you a few more hours of sleep.” Shen Zhuying couldn’t help but glare at him.
“How many hours have you slept today? Not even five, right? Staying up late all the time isn’t good for your health.”
“My health is perfectly fine.” He retorted without hesitation.
“As you wish.”
Her tone was stiff. She had just finished adjusting his tie and was about to step back, when Fu Sizhuo’s arm wrapped firmly around her waist, pulling her forward—
She stumbled directly into the man’s embrace.
“W-what are you doing?”
Her muffled voice came with a racing heartbeat.
“Let me hold you, Shen Zhuying.” He buried his head into her shoulder, his other hand gently stroking the back of her neck. His voice, at last, betrayed traces of exhaustion.
“Let me recharge a bit.”
The next time Shen Zhuying saw him was on the news.
The man was the picture of rigor and solemnity, his crimson tie perfectly complementing the row of five-starred red flags behind him.
The red tie really did suit him.
But Shen Zhuying felt puzzled.
Was this really her husband?
The man teasing her that morning seemed like a completely different person.
Xiao Chun and Xiao Tao, on the other hand, had eyes shining with stars. The boss’s husband looked so handsome, and he matched their Boss Zhuzhu perfectly!!
Yet Boss’s husband didn’t come to pick up their Boss Zhuzhu for several days in a row.
Xiao Chun and Xiao Tao were disappointed.
They had developed a strange illness: whenever they saw the two together, they were happy; whenever they weren’t together, they felt glum.
A customer seriously explained to them that this condition was called “shipping a CP.”
Shipping a CP?
Xiao Chun’s eyes lit up. She gestured to Xiaotao. “Then our Boss Zhuzhu is also shipping her own CP with Boss’s husband.”
“Boss’s husband hasn’t come to pick her up these days, and Boss Zhuzhu looks quite unhappy.”
Xiao Tao sneaked a glance at Shen Zhuying sitting at the reception desk, looking dejected and listless. For once, she didn’t argue back, but instead nodded very seriously and gave Xiao Chun a thumbs up.
But they wanted their Boss Zhuzhu to be happy every day.
So the two of them began using hand signs to silently blame Boss’s husband for not coming to pick her up.
[Classmate A]: I’ve been very busy the past few days, you might have to go home on your own. Is that okay?
[Muzi Manying]: Okay. You’re not coming home these few days at all?
[Classmate A]: I’ll be back late, don’t wait up.
Shen Zhuying stared at the WeChat chat log and let out a silent sigh.
It had already been three days since she last saw Fu Sizhuo.
Strangely, before, when she rode her little electric scooter with the orange kitten in her arms, the scenery along the way changing with the seasons, different every day, she never once found it dull. But ever since she got used to going home together with Fu Sizhuo every day, now that she was suddenly back to being on her own, she actually felt a little unaccustomed to it.
Habit truly is a frightening thing.
Shen Zhuying hung up the “Closed” sign, lazily rode her scooter, and went home alone.
On the way she passed a roasted chestnut stall and bought a bag to carry back with her.
Auntie Li didn’t live in, she only came at set times to cook and tidy up the house for them.
The spacious villa, at this hour with only one person and one cat inside, carried a touch of stillness and emptiness.
Tomorrow was the high school classmates’ gathering, and Shen Zhuying steadied her mood and went into the walk-in closet.
Too many clothes were a headache too.
She tried for more than two hours and still couldn’t decide which one to wear.
Not because they didn’t fit, but because…
Every single one fit too well.
No wonder, when she last went to the old residence, Zhou Qinglan had been so eager to call in a professional tailor to take her measurements.
Every outfit she sent over fit Shen Zhuying’s figure perfectly, as if custom-made, and the styles were fresh and beautiful.
Her indecisiveness flared up, so she simply picked out a few of her favorites, tried them on, and sent pictures to the “loving sisters” group chat, asking them for advice.
Changing clothes was a physical workout too.
Shen Zhuying was exhausted.
Curled up on her bed, she watched as Shen An and Shen Zhuyu nearly got into a fight over whether the yellow dress or the red one was better, viciously attacking each other’s taste in “aesthetic” jabs.
Shen Zhuying tried to mediate in the group: Don’t fight anymore, you can’t actually kill each other over the internet!!!
No one got her humor.
They kept quarreling endlessly, and Shen Zhuyu was so mad she even felt the impulse to book a ticket back to the country just to fight in person.
Shen Zhuying felt drained.
She curled up on her bed, idly scrolled on her phone for a while, and quickly fell asleep.
Fu Sizhuo only returned home at almost three in the morning.
Only a single warm yellow lamp was left on in the living room, yet it lit up the whole villa with warmth.
He knew it was Shen Zhuying who had left the light on for him.
Her bedroom door wasn’t closed tonight, and a faint glow spilled out through the crack.
Reason told him that entering a woman’s room uninvited was too presumptuous, even if that woman was his wife.
But the light seeping through the crack was just too warm.
Fu Sizhuo rested his hand on the doorknob, hesitated for a moment, then gently pushed the door open.
He only meant to take a quiet glance at her.
The room was peaceful, colorful clothes strewn across the floor.
And the girl he had been thinking about lay asleep on the bed.
She wore a pale lavender floral dress, its ornate hems layered delicately. Her thick black hair fanned out, her features fine and smooth, her skin white with a rosy glow.
Like a flower spirit that had strayed into the mortal world.
Fu Sizhuo walked in, pulled the quilt over her, and watched her for a moment. He then raised his hand, intending to tuck her stray hair behind her ear.
But his hand was gently caught. Shen Zhuying held his hand against her ear, her soft cheek rubbing lightly against it, just like a little kitten.
With her eyes closed, she murmured softly, “Fu Sizhuo, you’re back.”
Her lips brushed carelessly against the center of his palm.
Fu Sizhuo’s Adam’s apple shifted; his fingertips curled slightly. Steadying his heart, afraid to disturb her, he answered her with a quiet “Mm.”
“You came back so late. You didn’t even have time to go home with me,” she complained softly.
“Sorry, I’ve been a bit busy lately.”
“It’s okay,” Shen Zhuying said. “I’m not blaming you.”
Very soon, she obediently reported her plans for the next day, “Tomorrow I have a high school classmates’ gathering.”
“All right.” Fu Sizhuo asked her, “Where’s the location?”
“Shengjing… Grand Hotel.” Shen Zhuying tilted her head, sleepiness washing over her again, her voice growing smaller and smaller.
“Got it.” The man’s fingertips gently smoothed her hair.
At last, he bent down, lowered his head, and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead through his thumb.
“Don’t be upset. I’ll come pick you up.”
I’ll go home with you.
