The pleasant time for two always passes quickly.
Five days ended in the blink of an eye. Xiang Wan had visited several suitable tourist cities in Yuncheng and felt there was no need for further delay. She mentioned their return trip to Lu Mingzhe.
She had expected some resistance, a heart-wrenching farewell. To her surprise, Lu Mingzhe's reaction was very subdued.
It was as if she were just going on a business trip and would return to him in a couple of days. Apart from a few basic daily reminders, he said nothing more.
Xiang Wan had prepared her speech in advance, but none of it was used. Instead, she was the one who felt reluctant and slightly disappointed.
Lu Mingzhe did not accompany her to Hangcheng this time. True to his word, he returned first to stabilize his family relationships and went directly back to Nancheng.
Sitting alone on the plane back to Hangcheng, Xiang Wan cried all the way.
She loved Lu Mingzhe, and every second spent with him was incredibly happy.
She had been in his arms just an hour ago, but…
There were no direct flights from Yuncheng to Nancheng. Lu Mingzhe's journey, with a layover and a transfer by car, took a full day to reach Nancheng.
He hadn't eaten all day, but he didn't feel hungry.
The entire day had been enough for him to think through everything and prepare all his responses.
At past eleven at night, sitting in a taxi on his way home, he could only pray that Fang Shuya wouldn't be too happy to see him, minimizing his guilt.
His fingerprint unlocked the door. He pushed it open to find the house dark and silent.
Lu Mingzhe assumed Fang Shuya was fast asleep. He didn't dare turn on the lights and tiptoed in.
He first went to the bathroom to wash up, then to the bedroom to find her.
However, when he turned on the bedroom light, the room was empty. He had worried for nothing; she wasn't home.
Could she be in the second bedroom?
Lu Mingzhe turned and went to the second bedroom, then searched the entire house. She wasn't anywhere.
Perhaps she had gone back to her parents' home or out with friends.
Well, discussing divorce late at night was indeed inhumane. It would be better to talk about it tomorrow.
He was truly exhausted from the day's travel and the few days of revelry in Yuncheng, so he just fell asleep.
Fang Shuya returned home the next day after lunch, just as she was preparing to pack her bags to go on a trip with her cousin and a few other friends.
Upon entering, she saw an extra pair of Lu Mingzhe's shoes on the shoe rack and immediately had a bad premonition.
She ran to the bedroom and saw that he had indeed returned. Her heart pounded, and she hid in the bathroom to message her cousin.
"Lu Mingzhe is back. I can't go on the trip anymore. Please tell him not to look for me recently."
Her cousin quickly replied, "Understood. We're all sensible people, don't worry. Don't be so guilty; he doesn't have clairvoyance. Don't reveal yourself by trying to hide."
Fang Shuya braced herself and entered the bedroom with a smile as bright as a flower.
She gently lay down beside Lu Mingzhe, resting her head on her side and gazing affectionately at his sleeping face. Lu Mingzhe woke up instantly.
He smelled a distinct scent that did not belong to Xiang Wan.
He opened his eyes, met Fang Shuya's smiling gaze, and instinctively leaned back a little before slowly sitting up.
"You're back? What time is it?"
"I was too tired. I saw you weren't here yesterday and slept without calling. Have you been well recently?"
To be honest, Lu Mingzhe was truly handsome, and his physique was top-notch.
Apart from not being very intimate, he had always been gentle with her, and she couldn't find fault with him.
Even though he had not answered her calls for the past few days and had forgotten to report his whereabouts, it was completely negligible compared to his current gentleness and handsomeness.
Fang Shuya suddenly regretted it. How could she have been persuaded by her cousin to do such a thing?
If Lu Mingzhe found out, was there any room for reconciliation?
The people outside could indeed make her happy, but she truly couldn't bear to part with such a good husband.
So, she could only repay him with even greater tenderness.
"I've been back for a while. I saw you were sleeping soundly and couldn't bear to wake you. Did I disturb you? I'm sorry, husband."
She hadn't returned for so long, hadn't reported her whereabouts recently, and had deliberately been cold to her. Yet, instead of the resentful shrew she expected, throwing tantrums and making a scene, she spoke so gently.
Lu Mingzhe felt like he was not human.
"It's not your fault, it's mine... Come on. It's been a while, let's go out and talk."
The two of them left the bedroom. Lu Mingzhe went to the bathroom to wash up, while Fang Shuya hurried into the kitchen.
After marrying Lu Mingzhe, she rarely went to her studio. She enrolled in a baking class and learned some culinary skills.
Feeling guilty towards Lu Mingzhe, she decided to make something to compensate him now.
When Lu Mingzhe came out, the dining table was already laid with exquisite desserts. Fang Shuya sat obediently at the table, looking at him.
A sense of oppression washed over him again.
Lu Mingzhe, Lu Mingzhe, you are a beast.
When you say what you have to say, even if Fang Shuya hits you, scolds you, or her entire family comes to hit and scold you, you will have no right to retort.
You are truly a scumbag, Lu Mingzhe!
He sat opposite Fang Shuya, filled with guilt.
Fang Shuya smiled and pushed the cake towards him.
"I took a baking class and learned specifically to make this for you. Try it, husband."
"Ya Ya..."
"Are you trying to explain what happened the past few days? I'm sorry, you're busy with work and alone in another city, so many things are inconvenient. I always pester you; I was too ignorant."
"Don't worry, I won't do that anymore. I will fully support your career. Don't be angry with me. Let's just forget about that incident, and everything will be good from now on, okay?"
"..."
"Try it quickly. I made this myself, and I'm hoping for your good review."
Fang Shuya stood up and pushed the cake a little closer to him across the dining table.
"Don't you like desserts? You have to give me face today. Just take a bite, husband."
If she hadn't pushed this dessert, it would have been fine. But as she pushed it, Lu Mingzhe noticed that her wedding ring was missing.
The absence of the wedding ring wasn't a terribly significant matter in itself.
However, Fang Shuya had once told him during the ring selection that she had lived abroad for many years and was heavily influenced by their customs. Her view on wedding rings was different from that of Chinese people.
She believed that unless it was for a special, significant occasion, it should generally not be removed, as doing so would be disrespectful to one's partner.
Furthermore, for the first few months of their marriage, she had worn it on her hand at all times.
A sudden change in her daily behavior made Lu Mingzhe, a psychologist by training, acutely aware that something was amiss.
But he wouldn't express his suspicions directly.
"You made it yourself? Is it that method where you put your hand into the dough, and you have to take off your ring and the dough? That's so much effort."
He picked up the cake, took a slow bite, and asked her about the making process, feigning great interest.
Seeing that he liked it and was interested in the process, Fang Shuya immediately shared her experience with enthusiasm.
"Who does that old-fashioned thing anymore, putting their bare hands into the dough to mix it?"