I'm Done with the Elite Marriage - Chapter 9
The kitchen at home was spacious.
The glazed table with neatly arranged items, the white storage cabinets within easy reach, and the black marble floor that shone like a mirror-all the decor was tailored to Zhou Youling’s preferences.
What Zhou Youling loved most were the few spotlights on the kitchen ceiling, simple and without any fancy embellishments. When all the main lights in the house were turned off and only these kitchen lights were on, the home seemed to become incredibly cozy.
Although Zhou Youling’s marriage into the Fu Family was a whirlwind affair, Fu Xunzhou never skimped on material comforts for her. The new house they lived in was chosen by Zhou Youling, located in a tranquil area away from the city’s hustle and bustle, just the kind of peace she cherished. The home’s decor and furnishings were all to her liking, and the garden was filled with her favorite flowers.
Fu Xunzhou knew Zhou Youling loved flowers, and whenever he traveled for work, he would habitually bring back some exotic blooms for her to plant in their garden. He even handed over his entire salary to Zhou Youling, saying he had no use for it himself.
Such was Fu Xunzhou, whom Zhou Youling once believed would be her lifelong support.
[Are you sure the person who saved you was really Fu Xunzhou?]
[I accidentally found a newspaper from ten years ago tonight.]
[Youling, have you ever considered you might have mistaken someone else for him?]
Leaning against the glazed table, Zhou Youling read Bai Lingxue’s messages repeatedly.
These messages had actually been sent over an hour ago. At that time, just as her phone vibrated and she was about to read them, she accidentally caught sight of the Christian Louboutin in the car.
The soup in the pot had unknowingly come to a boil, and Zhou Youling hurriedly turned off the gas.
She locked her phone screen, set it aside, and focused on cooking the noodles.
The homemade noodles were ready, and the broth was made from shrimp and cleaned octopus, resulting in an incredibly savory noodle soup.
Placing the homemade noodles into the freshly prepared broth, Zhou Youling began to prepare the greens.
Fu Xunzhou didn’t like heavily seasoned food; he preferred the original flavors of ingredients. When it came to seafood, he often didn’t require special seasonings, such as boiled shrimp or steamed fish, with the most seasoning being ginger to remove fishiness and salt for taste. The naturally fresh seafood was often sweet even without sugar.
As the noodles were ready, Fu Xunzhou came downstairs after freshening up. The delicious aroma greeted him, instantly lifting his mood.
Approaching, he saw Zhou Youling arranging the dishes.
She was meticulous, and for her, food was not just for eating; its appearance could also bring joy.
Fu Xunzhou didn’t interrupt, leaning quietly against the side, watching Zhou Youling.
Whether it was the allure of the night or his hunger, he suddenly found Zhou Youling incredibly appealing. The soft light from the kitchen above cast a gentle glow on her, making her seem like a beautiful painting in the serene space.
In his eyes, she had always been well-behaved and non-confrontational, except for tonight.
Tonight, Zhou Youling had both angered and softened Fu Xunzhou’s heart. Seeing her being wronged at home, he felt like a protective elder brother, unwilling to let anyone bully her.
They had known each other since childhood, but their interactions were limited. Fu Xunzhou was nearly four years older than Zhou Youling, and their age, gender, and social circles were vastly different. However, due to their families’ connections, they would politely greet each other if they met on the street or elsewhere.
As a child, Zhou Youling would call Fu Xunzhou “Elder Brother,” and he would affectionately call her “Lingling,” just like her family did.
Three years ago, when his mother Yu Wanrong suggested proposing to Zhou Youling, Fu Xunzhou never imagined his future would be tied to this little girl.
To be honest, the marriage seemed a bit absurd to Fu Xunzhou. He didn’t believe in superstitions or remedies, yet he had to marry hastily to bring good fortune to his grandfather. He didn’t mind affecting his own life, but he didn’t want to affect someone else’s. So when he heard Zhou Youling agreed to the marriage, he hesitated, thinking she might not really want to marry him.
In the three years since their marriage, Fu Xunzhou had tried to nurture the relationship, but taking over the family business left him burdened and isolated. All he could do was work hard and do his best. Consequently, he couldn’t always attend to family matters.
His mother, Yu Wanrong, had mentioned wanting grandchildren several times, but Fu Xunzhou didn’t think it was the right time. His work was too demanding, and he wouldn’t be able to be present for a child.
Having lost his father at a young age, Fu Xunzhou longed for paternal love more than anyone. He had vowed that if he had a child, he would be there unconditionally for their growth. Since both he and Zhou Youling were still young, he believed there was plenty of time for children in the future, so there was no rush now.
As the plating was finished, Zhou Youling leaned on the glazed table and let out a barely audible sigh.
The sound was soft, yet Fu Xunzhou heard it clearly.
He furrowed his brow slightly and asked in a low voice, “Why the sigh?”
Zhou Youling turned to see Fu Xunzhou leaning lazily against the doorframe with his arms crossed. Always dressed formally outside, he only dressed casually at home. The cotton white shirt and black pants gave him a youthful vibe.
Zhou Youling remembered how, back when they attended the same school, Fu Xunzhou was a well-known figure. Even though she was in middle school, she often heard girls in her class gush about how cool Fu Xunzhou looked playing basketball in high school.
Fu Xunzhou approached, bringing with him a refreshing scent. His eyes still held questions, especially about Zhou Youling’s unusual behavior tonight.
“Is it that time of the month?” Fu Xunzhou could only think of this reason.
Zhou Youling shook her head, “No.”
Fu Xunzhou glanced at her, his attention quickly drawn to the bowl of seafood noodles.
The bowls and chopsticks at home were uniquely designed, all chosen by Zhou Youling.
In the exquisite bowl, the noodles were topped with neatly arranged peeled shrimp, green vegetables, and small squid, making it irresistible.
Zhou Youling took a deep breath and asked, “Did you come back from your business trip yesterday?”
“Yeah.” Fu Xunzhou didn’t lift his head, pulling a pair of chopsticks from the sterilizer and starting to eat right there at the glazed table instead of moving to the dining table.
“Why didn’t you come home?”
Fu Xunzhou swallowed the delicious noodles and replied, “I was at the office.”
Zhou Youling almost laughed, “After being away for a month, you spent your first night back at the office?”
Even Fu Xunzhou could hear the questioning tone in Zhou Youling’s voice, but considering the delicious noodles she made, he decided not to mind her unusual behavior tonight.
“There was a month’s worth of work piled up, many documents needed signing and approval, so I was busy almost all night.” Fu Xunzhou didn’t think an explanation was necessary, as he often worked late at the office. But since Zhou Youling was his wife, he tried to explain patiently.
Zhou Youling looked directly at Fu Xunzhou, “Then why didn’t you tell me you were back? Why didn’t you tell me you were working late at the office? Do you know I made a whole table of dishes waiting for you until midnight?”
Fu Xunzhou paused his eating, “Didn’t my assistant tell you?”
“You mean that proud assistant, Xiao Youyang?” Zhou Youling shook her head expressionlessly, “She only informed me you’d be back tonight.”
Fu Xunzhou understood, “So you’re upset about this?”
Zhou Youling remained silent.
Fu Xunzhou patiently explained, “I asked Youyang to inform you yesterday, but she might have forgotten due to work. I’ll address this with her at the office tomorrow and ensure she faces consequences. Please don’t be upset anymore.”
The cold, business-like tone left Zhou Youling speechless.
Fu Xunzhou looked at her helplessly, “Zhou Youling, we’re not kids anymore. Don’t play these sulking games. If there’s a problem or conflict, just tell me directly. Don’t make me guess; I won’t be able to.”
Zhou Youling still didn’t speak, feeling that the person before her was a stranger. The sunny, handsome brother she remembered, the one who called her Lingling, the one who told her to hold on and not close her eyes, seemed to exist only in her memory.
The oppressive atmosphere made her want to escape.
As she turned to leave, Fu Xunzhou grabbed her wrist, “If there’s something to say, say it all at once. Don’t let it fester.”
Zhou Youling paused, finally gathering the courage to ask Fu Xunzhou, “Was it you who saved me in that fire ten years ago?”
Fu Xunzhou furrowed his brow, “What fire?”
“February 22nd, ten years ago, my birthday.”
Fu Xunzhou still looked puzzled, “I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”
“Were you at the fire scene then?”
“I wasn’t there,” Fu Xunzhou replied clearly, word by word.
In the vast, echoing room, Zhou Youling gasped, nearly losing her balance.
