Chapter 12

I told Shen Xianzhi that I wanted to think about it.

I could see all the kindness Shen Xianzhi showed me.

He remembered that I didn’t like scallions, knew I was afraid of the dark, and would leave a light on for me.

His gentleness and thoughtfulness seeped into every detail of my life, making it impossible to avoid, difficult to refuse.

When I was with Lu He before, I was used to wronging myself to please him, humbly and cautiously guessing his moods, as if even my breath was a gift from him. I was rarely cared for and looked after like this.

And precisely because of this, it all felt too unreal.

There was a fleeting look of disappointment in Shen Xianzhi’s eyes, but he quickly adjusted and smiled, “At least you’re not rejecting me right away.”

I pressed my lips into a smile.

When I went out with Shen Xianzhi, I happened to see Lu He standing outside the door.

His gaze lingered on my face for a moment, and then his lips tightened suddenly.

“It took you so long to open the door. What were you two doing in there?”

His questioning tone made me uncomfortable, but I didn’t want to explain anything to him.

“Not talking? Feeling guilty?”

My face darkened, and I was even less inclined to say more. I turned to Shen Xianzhi and said, “Let’s go downstairs.”

Shen Xianzhi nodded, glanced at Lu He, and smiled faintly, “Excuse us.”

Lu He stared at him intently, unmoving.

I noticed his hand was clenched into a fist, veins bulging, as if he was suppressing something.

I frowned and stepped in front of Shen Xianzhi. “Lu He, what are you trying to do?”

Lu He took a deep breath, and after a long while, he gritted his teeth and squeezed out a sentence,

“Zhang Jia, just because I made one careless mistake, you’re going to find another man?”

He paused, then suddenly sneered, “Or is it that you’ve been with him ever since you moved here half a year ago…”

Bang.

A punch came out of nowhere, hard and precise.

Lu He staggered back two steps, almost losing his balance.

Before he could steady himself, Shen Xianzhi threw another punch.

A trace of blood quickly appeared at the corner of Lu He’s mouth.

He looked coldly at Shen Xianzhi, pulling at the corner of his mouth, then turned his face toward me, his eyes clouded and dark.

If this had been before, seeing that look in his eyes would have made me ache, maybe even feel guilty.

But now, I was surprisingly calm.

“Lu He, I don’t understand why you’re so angry right now. Even if I really am with Shen Xianzhi, you have no right to question me.”

I took a deep breath. “From beginning to end, there was never anything between us, was there?”

Yes.

He never said it, never acknowledged any relationship between us, so how could there be talk of betrayal?

Lu He froze, his face turning pale bit by bit.

Before he left, he stared at Shen Xianzhi and said in an emotionless voice, “You’ve had feelings for her for a long time, haven’t you?”

Shen Xianzhi didn’t answer. In front of Lu He, he reached out his hand to me, his tone naturally innocent,

“My hand hurts.”

……

I packed all the daily necessities I needed into my suitcase and was about to zip it up when Shen Xianzhi stopped me.

“And this.”

He stuffed a large bag of medical supplies inside, his tone gentle. “You’ve always been absent-minded since you were little and easily get hurt. These are essential.”

I nodded, then suddenly sensed something off. “Since I was little?”

Shen Xianzhi’s fingers paused, then he abruptly stood up. “I have some work to do.”

I watched him leave, raising an eyebrow slightly.

When I was almost done packing, the agent called, saying there was a problem with the apartment and asking if I could move in next weekend instead.

I thought it over and agreed.

I went downstairs to get a glass of warm water and saw Shen Xianzhi sitting on the sofa typing on his laptop.

I walked over and glanced at the screen. The proposal on it looked familiar-probably the one he’d been working on these past few days.

I asked, “Wasn’t this proposal already finished?”

Shen Xianzhi tapped the keyboard with his knuckles, his jawline taut and smooth. “I added a few more creative ideas.”

I looked at his profile and replied casually, “Oh.” Then I heard him say,

“This way, when I show it to the client tomorrow, it’ll have a better chance of being approved. Maybe I can finish early and come back sooner.”

Shen Xianzhi turned his head to meet my gaze, the corners of his mouth lifting,

“You’re moving by yourself tomorrow afternoon. I’m worried.”

I was stunned.

It felt like something was scratching at my heart, a tingling warmth spreading and sending ripples through me.

Looking into his eyes, I suddenly remembered, “I’ll move next weekend instead.”

Shen Xianzhi was clearly surprised, his eyes bright. “Really?”

My face and ears felt hot. I turned away from his gaze. “Really. There was a problem with the agent.”

His expression was full of delight. “That’s too bad.”

The next day, Shen Xianzhi went to meet a client and probably wouldn’t be back until the afternoon.

Before he left, he checked again, “You’re really not moving today?”

I couldn’t help but laugh and nodded. “I already told the agent last night.”

Shen Xianzhi looked at me for a while, his voice a little husky, “Wait for me to come back.”

I lowered my head, my face inexplicably hot, and replied softly, “Mm.”

At noon, I called my mom.

She thought I was still heartbroken over Lu He, speaking softly as if afraid to upset me.

I was a bit helpless, repeatedly telling her I’d moved on, but she just wouldn’t believe me. In the end, she even said she wanted to set me up with someone.

I rubbed my forehead, about to refuse, but she hung up directly and then sent me someone’s contact card.

I have to admit.

It looked very familiar.

Really familiar.