Seeing Shu Yi'an handing over the box and her gaze lingering on his wrist, Chu Mu subconsciously moved his wrist and awkwardly accepted it. His expression remained as calm as ever, even his voice was steady. "I probably left in a hurry and forgot to wear it."
Shu Yi'an's expression faltered for a second when she saw Chu Mu's left hand, but it was so subtle that no one could notice. She turned around, picked up a stack of clothes, and walked towards the dressing room. "I'll go hang them up."
Unseen by Chu Mu, Shu Yi'an suddenly frowned, her previously curved lips curving downwards. On Chu Mu's left wrist, a simple yet elegant watch face reflected a dazzling light.
Shu Yi'an came out of the dressing room and was a little surprised to see Chu Mu still sitting there. "Aren't you going to work?"
"It's Sunday today." Chu Mu looked down, fiddling with something, and only responded after a long while.
"Oh..." Shu Yi'an scratched her head blankly, not knowing what to say. Just then, the phone in Chu Mu's pocket buzzed.
As soon as he pressed the answer button, Chu Mu, as if expecting it, moved the receiver far away from his ear.
Chu Weiyuan's loud wailing came through the phone clearly: "Brother!!! My sister-in-law is missing!! Nobody's home, Mom said she hasn't been back to the compound, and I can't get through to her on the phone! What should I do, brother? I'm so worried, so worried!"
Chu Mu held the phone calmly, "Why are you in such a hurry, my wife?"
“She’s with me. Tell Mom that we’ll both go back next month. Don’t worry.”
Chu Weiyuan was probably startled by Chu Mu's two sentences. After a long while, she asked tremblingly, "Where are you? Germany... Germany?"
"Um."
"How did your sister-in-law get there? You two are doing this in secret, aren't you? Bro, you seem like such a quiet guy, how come you're so efficient at getting things done!"
Chu Mu's head was throbbing with pain. "Are you alright? I'm hanging up."
He hung up?! He hung up?! Before they got married, he never dared to hang up on her! It was always her, the little aunt, who rejected him. When did things turn around? Chu Weiyuan stared blankly at the blacked-out phone screen and suddenly laughed foolishly. Sui Qing, who was peeling an apple for Chu Weiyuan, couldn't help but raise her hand and give her a flick on the forehead. "What did your brother say?"
"That's what they say, my sister-in-law went to Germany and the two of them are together!"
Upon hearing this, Sui Qing almost dropped the apple, laughing uncontrollably. "Girl, do you think your brother has finally come to his senses? Are things finally going smoothly for the two of them? Thank goodness..."
Chu Weiyuan pondered as she circled the phone, Chu Mu's voice echoing in her mind. If he really understood... that would be wonderful.
It's said that an elder brother is like a father, and Chu Mu doted on Chu Weiyuan like a biological father, but he was also far more ruthless than a biological father. He could accurately find Chu Weiyuan's Achilles' heel and then threaten her, just like just now. If he continued to talk to her, who knows what this girl might say.
Turning his head slightly, Chu Mu saw Shu Yi'an lying on the sofa, looking dazed, and suddenly felt a sense of unreality. She was lying gracefully in his house, her eyebrows curved, and she had just been tidying up his wardrobe, just like an ordinary married couple.
This feeling was undoubtedly both unfamiliar and novel to Chu Mu. With this thought in mind, he touched the face of the person who was wandering in spirit, feeling quite pleased.
"Get up, I'll take you to the supermarket."
The supermarket is Ms. Shu's favorite place to go besides home. Why? Because at home she can sleep, while the supermarket can satisfy all her needs for life.
In the 20-degree Celsius evening air of Berlin, even breathing felt pleasant and liberating. The supermarket was just a block away from Chu Mu's apartment, a ten-minute walk away. Shu Yi'an wore soft flat shoes and a light blue dress. As Chu Mu emerged from the front door, he raised an eyebrow at her attire and uttered a few words without comment: "Very suitable."
Shu Yi'an followed behind Chu Mu, her left hand being held by his. She looked at his light blue pullover and wondered if he meant that the clothes suited her or him.
Around six o'clock, at a corner not far from the supermarket, there was a street band composed of several elderly people. Their music was cheerful and romantic, and people on their way home from work passed by with kind smiles on their faces.
Chu Mu and Shu Yi'an, with their striking oriental features, attracted considerable attention as they walked down the street. The coincidence of their matching outfits further amplified their presence, drawing frequent glances and admiration from passersby.
An elderly German man with a full beard, playing the French horn, saw the two approaching from afar. He stepped forward, gave Shu Yi'an a gentlemanly bow, and stood in front of her, playing the last few notes. Then, he took Shu Yi'an's other hand and rattled off a long string of German.
Shu Yi'an majored in French and couldn't understand what the old man was saying. Feeling a little embarrassed, she turned to Chu Mu for help.
Chu Mu was not annoyed by the old man's actions. Instead, he smiled humbly and replied to the old man in German very clearly.
When Chu Mu spoke German, his voice was low and extremely magnetic. After listening, the old man laughed heartily a few times, released Shu Yi'an's hand, and made way for the two. At the same time, the bearded old man gestured to the band behind him, and as if to bid farewell to the two, he started playing the music again.
Shu Yi'an was led forward by Chu Mu, somewhat bewildered. "Hey! What exactly did he say to me?"
Chu Mu stared at the cars coming and going at the intersection and pulled the person behind him. "He didn't say anything."
"You're lying." Shu Yi'an pouted, looking incredulous. "How could that bearded grandpa be laughing like that?"
"He said you're ugly." Chu Mu led Miss Shu across the street into the supermarket, finally unable to resist uttering a few teasing words. "He said he'd never seen such an ugly Asian. I told him I was shocked and would take you away right away."
"Didn't you see him play music to see you off when you left?"
"…………" This time, Miss Shu was truly annoyed. "You seem to be proud of my ugliness."
“Floth said, if you can’t have the best, have the most unique one. Clearly, you’re the latter. Uniquely ugly—an Oriental. Hmm? How about a few mangoes?”
Looking at the shelves piled high with fresh fruit, Shu Yi'an stood on tiptoe in a huff, "I don't want mangoes, how about pomegranates?"
Unfortunately, she was petite, and even when she jumped, she could barely reach the price tag on the shelf. After several attempts, she didn't get the item, but her complexion did become much rosier.
Seeing Shu Yi'an's sullen expression, Chu Mu suddenly stood behind her, easily snatched two pomegranates, and pulled her close to his chest. In a voice only the two of them could hear, he said, "The bearded man said you are the most beautiful Chinese woman he has ever seen, and he wants to marry you. I said I'm sorry, you are already my wife."
Chapter Fourteen
When Chu Mu woke up, Shu Yi'an was ironing the wrinkles on his shirt cuffs.
The young master was in a terrible mood when he woke up, lazily skipping over her to start washing up. Shu Yi'an knew his terrible habits all too well, and didn't dare to provoke him. She had learned her lesson from the previous times when Chu Mu had tormented her by pinning her down on the bed early in the morning.
Chu Mu usually lives alone, so his alarm clock always rings promptly at seven in the morning. He would never iron clothes; he would usually just buy new clothes and hang them up untouched, then have them professionally cleaned when he took them to the laundry. Seeing Shu Yi'an's limp, downcast face, the young master Chu, brushing his toothbrush, felt incredibly pleased.
Every Monday at 8:30, Chu Mu goes to a meeting.
Shu Yi'an unbuttoned the last button on her sleeve and handed the clothes to the person who had just finished washing up.
Chu Mu took the tie and watched her stand in front of him tying it, then casually patted the top of her head. "What are you doing at home today?"
"Hmm... Time to sleep, time to write my resignation letter."
That's it?