I'm Done with the Elite Marriage - Chapter 58

Zhou Youling never denied that Fu Xunzhou had a great physique. His long legs, narrow waist, and broad shoulders were the result of years of exercise, giving him just the right amount of muscle.

The outfit he wore seemed to instantly rejuvenate him, making him look vibrant and youthful.

This side of Xunzhou was unfamiliar to Youling, so she couldn’t help but keep her gaze fixed on him.

Yet, deep down, Xunzhou was still the same Xunzhou, his words as cold as ever.

The salesperson found a pair of sunglasses from somewhere and handed them to Xunzhou, saying, “Try these on; you’ll look super trendy.”

“No need,” Xunzhou glanced at the glasses and instinctively declined. He couldn’t accept overly flashy things. Although the sunglasses appeared normal, he didn’t see the need to wear them now.

However, the overly familiar salesperson took the liberty of putting the glasses on Xunzhou, then clapped his hands and exclaimed, “Amazing! Absolutely amazing! So handsome!”

Xunzhou frowned, removed the sunglasses, and returned them to the salesperson, preparing to pay for the outfit he was wearing.

He was quite satisfied with this new attire, considering it a fresh attempt.

He hoped everything could start anew.

Seeing Xunzhou about to pay, Youling quickly showed her phone’s payment QR code to the store clerk, saying, “Use mine.”

The clerk looked at Xunzhou, then at Youling, and suggested, “Why don’t you take a look at some other items in our store? We’re offering a 25% discount for purchases over two thousand, and you’re just four hundred short. You could get another piece for free!”

Youling, being a woman, was generous with spending, but such discounts could easily sway her. She turned to Xunzhou and asked, “Do you want to look at some inner layers?”

Xunzhou wasn’t particularly keen on taking advantage of such deals, but seeing Youling’s apparent excitement, he nodded, “Alright.”

However, he had no idea what additional clothing to choose, partly because he wasn’t skilled at it and partly because he didn’t know what to pick.

In truth, Xunzhou’s wardrobe was quite full, and the styles were rather uniform.

Yet, for women, it seemed there was always one piece missing from the wardrobe.

Youling, with her experience, carefully browsed the store. Xunzhou quietly followed her, offering no opinions. He knew that speaking too much could lead to mistakes; he simply wanted to watch her in silence.

She was still wearing her black and red chef uniform, but perhaps because of her beauty, it didn’t look out of place even as casual wear.

Xunzhou seemed to be observing her back for the first time with such attention. Her figure was petite, but her posture was perfectly straight.

He recalled how he once criticized her for being slow, always trailing behind when they walked together. He hadn’t meant to blame her, and regretted his words as soon as they were spoken.

So, when she looked at his back, did she see him as cold and unfeeling?

“Youyou,” Xunzhou suddenly called her by her nickname.

Youling turned her head at the sound.

Fu Xunzhou’s heart skipped a beat, and he casually said, “Just pick anything you like.”

Zhou Youling found a black men’s hoodie and asked Fu Xunzhou, “How about this one?”

She had never seen him wear a hoodie before and suddenly wanted him to try it.

Fu Xunzhou didn’t refuse. He glanced at the garment in her hand and nodded, “Sure.”

Strictly speaking, this was their first time shopping together.

…

After leaving the men’s clothing store, Zhou Youling carried Fu Xunzhou’s dirty clothes, intending to take them to the Dry Cleaning Shop.

Fu Xunzhou’s outfit was worth at least six figures, and Zhou Youling couldn’t just throw it away. After some thought, she decided to have it dry-cleaned. On the way to the Dry Cleaning Shop, Fu Xunzhou walked alongside her.

Zhou Youling couldn’t take it anymore and stopped, asking Fu Xunzhou, “Is there something else you need?”

Fu Xunzhou shook his head.

Zhou Youling sighed, “Then could you stop following me?”

Fu Xunzhou looked at Zhou Youling and said, “The weather is nice today.”

Zhou Youling: “?”

“I’m just taking a walk,” Fu Xunzhou replied.

After speaking, Fu Xunzhou felt awkward himself. He cleared his throat lightly, uncomfortably staring at Zhou Youling’s shoes.

Zhou Youling helplessly turned and continued walking.

Although she admitted that her heart had fluttered for a moment because of Fu Xunzhou, it was merely the remnants of past memories. After all, Fu Xunzhou was her first love and her first husband. In her life, many firsts were tied to him.

Now, Zhou Youling just wanted to erase those memories from her mind.

They were divorced; there shouldn’t be so many entanglements.

The Dry Cleaning Shop wasn’t far, just a five-minute walk away.

For the next five minutes, Fu Xunzhou silently followed Zhou Youling.

His hands were tucked in his coat pockets, walking slowly, as her pace was never fast.

The winter sun cast a lazy warmth on them, and Fu Xunzhou enjoyed the moment, wishing she would walk even slower.

Perhaps Fu Xunzhou’s outfit was indeed stylish and youthful, as passing young women couldn’t help but glance at him.

Fu Xunzhou, however, paid no attention to these looks, as his eyes were solely on Zhou Youling. If possible, he wanted to reach out and hold her small hand, placing it in his coat pocket. In the past, he was too busy to consider her feelings or care for her well-being. Now, he wanted to make amends.

Crossing the zebra crossing, the Dry Cleaning Shop was just across the street.

Zhou Youling’s pace quickened, forgetting the red light ahead.

When she realized, she heard the honking of a car horn, and her arm was suddenly pulled, causing her to fall into a solid chest.

Fu Xunzhou pulled Zhou Youling back onto the sidewalk, yet he still didn’t release his tight hold on her.

He was genuinely frightened by her earlier actions; if he hadn’t reacted quickly, the car would have hit her.

It felt like a brush with death, and Fu Xunzhou’s heart was racing, a cold sweat breaking out on his back.

Zhou Youling’s face was pressed against Fu Xunzhou’s chest, listening to the thumping of his heart, surrounded by a scent she knew all too well. Yet, for some reason, she felt an overwhelming anger.

Pregnancy had brought not only subtle physical changes but also constant emotional upheaval. She was prone to overthinking and bouts of irritability. However, most of the time, she was still the cheerful Zhou Youling, indifferent to the judgment of others.

Fu Xunzhou gently patted Zhou Youling’s back, trying to offer some comfort. “Be careful when crossing the street next time.”

He noticed his own voice was trembling slightly, and in his effort to control it, he sounded even more cold and stern.

Zhou Youling suddenly pushed Fu Xunzhou away, shouting at him in frustration, “Fu Xunzhou, can you stop appearing in my life? We’ve divorced, we’re supposed to live our own lives and not interfere with each other. Isn’t that better?”

At some point, the red light on the opposite side of the street turned green.

Pedestrians hurried past.

Passersby couldn’t help but glance at the young man and woman. A handsome man and a beautiful woman, a combination many considered ideal, yet reality had forced them apart, leading to confrontation and anger.

The relationship between Zhou Youling and Fu Xunzhou was far from graceful. He couldn’t change the situation, and she was desperate to escape the past.

But both knew deep down that there was still a corner of their hearts occupied by the other, otherwise, it wouldn’t be so painful.

Fu Xunzhou’s hand slowly dropped, feeling as if his heart had been sliced open, leaving him in agony.

He remained silent, and Zhou Youling stepped forward, pounding his chest, shouting, “Go away! Stop following me, okay?”

Fu Xunzhou had nowhere to retreat, his back against a wall.

Looking at Zhou Youling’s slightly reddened eyes, Fu Xunzhou shook his head at her.

The desolation on his face resembled that of a lost boy on the street, so fragile and helpless.