Zhou Qishen was busy during the day, but finally had time to chat with her on WeChat in the evening. He was going abroad for five days tomorrow. Zhao Xiyin replied with just one word: "Oh."
Zhou Qishen called directly and asked in a deep voice, "Aren't you going to ask me where I'm going?"
Zhao Xiyin said, "Go abroad."
Zhou Qishen chuckled softly, "I thought you were reluctant to part with it."
"A serious warning: don't add your own drama," Zhao Xiyin said bluntly.
Zhou Qishen said helplessly, "What a disappointment."
After a long pause, Zhao Xiyin said softly, "Zhou Qishen, you're going on another business trip?"
He nodded, "I'm going to Australia to oversee a production line, and I can't get away. I'll be back in five days, no more than five days."
“Go for a few days, I don’t care.” Zhao Xiyin felt worried when she thought of her husband, Teacher Zhao. “My dad is very stubborn, and once he’s made up his mind, it’s hard for him to change it. He actually locked me up! It’s the first time he’s ever locked me up in my life!”
Zhou Qishen smiled, exhaling softly. He could almost picture him standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, his profile illuminated by the city's neon lights, handsome and amorous. He said softly, "You should go along with Dad. It's understandable that he's angry. When I return to China, I'll go to his house to apologize. I'll take whatever he hits or scolds me for."
Zhao Xiyin hummed in agreement.
For a long time after that, neither of them spoke.
Breathing is light, panting is light, and time itself seems to slow down.
Zhou Qishen saw his reflection in the windowpane, sometimes clear, sometimes blurry, but the outline remained the same. Every night before had been one of loneliness and darkness. But now…
He heard Zhao Xiyin ask on the phone, "Brother Zhou, what are you doing?"
...like being silently filled with warmth, the two years that were missing in the middle are quietly shrinking back.
Zhou Qishen answered softly, "I miss you."
Chapter 63 After a Long Rain, the Sun Shines (1)
After a long rain, the sky clears (1)
The room was quiet and deserted, but Zhao Xiyin's eyes welled up with tears when she heard "I miss you."
She gripped her phone tightly, tears welling in her eyes, and forced a lighthearted laugh, saying, "Aren't you so old-fashioned? You're giving me goosebumps."
Zhou Qishen chuckled softly, pressing his palm against the glass window, his body seemingly trying to penetrate the barrier and merge with the neon lights. He asked, "Is it old-fashioned? How do young people express their love these days?"
Zhao Xiyin said, "Go ask Brother Heping, he's much younger than you."
After hanging up the phone, Zhou Qishen actually asked in the group chat.
Gu Heping was probably lingering in some brothel again, and it took him a while to reply: "Love is never expressed, it's shown through actions."
Then a group message notification appeared: Gu Heping has been removed from the group chat by Lao Cheng.
Zhao Wenchun leisurely returned home at ten o'clock, only to hear the clanging of iron chains, indicating that there were probably more than one lock. Zhao Xiyin waited at the door, looking at him with particular helplessness, "Zhao Wenchun, aren't you childish?"
Teacher Zhao ignored her and turned around to close the door tightly. "I'll accept your childishness, but you're not allowed to see Zhou Qishen, you're not allowed to talk to him, and you're not allowed to be with him."
He solemnly declared, as if making a vow: "I'm officially informing you again, I do not agree to your remarriage."
Zhao Xiyin looked astonished. "Who said I was going to remarry him?"
Zhao Wenchun hesitated for a moment, "Not remarrying?"
“No way.” Zhao Xiyin proudly raised her chin. “Let’s give him a break.”
Zhao Wenchun scoffed, "You're trying to fool me. Don't play word games with me. We won't remarry, but we'll still be dating. Let me tell you, dating is not allowed!"
Zhao Xiyin trembled from the shock of the voice. She exclaimed, "Oh dear!" Teacher Zhao had learned her lesson; she couldn't be fooled anymore. If underhanded methods didn't work, then she'd have a heart-to-heart talk and let her true feelings flow.
Zhao Xiyin looked at her father helplessly, "I've already let go of that matter. Maybe it's just my fate not to be with a child. If I keep dwelling on the past and harboring resentment, won't I just be the one suffering?"
Overwhelmed with grief, Zhao Wenchun said, "That won't do. No matter how good he is to you, it can't outweigh this one bad thing."
Zhao Xiyin lowered her head, quiet, lonely, and aggrieved.
"Your aunt isn't a good person either. You two aunt and niece conspired to deceive me." Zhao Wenchun said indignantly, "She even had the nerve to say that Dr. Ji Furong was a nutrition expert and asked me to urge you to go for regular prescriptions and checkups. I actually thought it was to give you nutritional supplements and vitamins!"
Zhao Xiyin chuckled.
Zhao Wenchun flicked her forehead, his attitude very firm, "In short, I don't agree to you getting back together with him!"
——
Zhou Qishen took a flight early the next morning. Before leaving, he called Lao Cheng and didn't hide anything, saying that he and Zhao Xiyin were together, but her father disapproved. He asked Lao Cheng to invite Zhao Zhao over to their home. As a young woman, Zhao Wenchun wouldn't refuse visitors.
Old Cheng agreed and asked, "How many days will you be in Australia?"
"Three days," Zhou Qishen said while waiting for his flight in the VIP lounge. "But I need to go to Shanghai."
Old Cheng didn't ask many questions, but only reminded him, "Zhuang Qiu secretly returned to China two months ago and stayed in Xishui for a while without letting anyone know. Brother Zhou, be careful. We'll talk about the rest when he gets back."
The flight attendant came over to inform him that he could board the plane. Zhou Qishen thanked him, put on his sunglasses, and headed towards the VIP passage.
The work went smoothly, and Xu, the secretary, was left to handle the remaining tasks. Zhou Qishen boarded a flight and flew to Shanghai first.
It was afternoon when they arrived at Pudong International Airport. The weather in Shanghai had changed and the temperature had dropped in the past two days, bringing out the damp chill of the south to its fullest extent. Zhou Qishen was only wearing a thin black fleece coat with a cashmere turtleneck underneath, but even he was finding it hard to keep up with the damp cold.
A black Bentley was waiting at the arrivals gate early in the morning. Despite the biting cold, the man inside stepped out of the car upon seeing Zhou Qishen. Tang Qichen, also dressed in black, his clothes reaching his knees, stood with his hands behind his back, his demeanor perfectly suited to the cold winter weather—like a bright moon high above, or a gentle breeze after a clear night. There are many handsome men, but this one is certainly the most unforgettable.
Once in the car, with the heater on, Zhou Qishen relaxed for a bit, then glanced sideways at Tang Qichen. "This time, it's much better than last time," he said, pointing to his face.