Chapter 94 Her feelings for him only grew stronger. ...

Zhu Liushuang had never dared to hope that He Ming would go to such lengths for her. She knew he was thoughtful, gentlemanly, and kind-hearted, but he was, after all, a single man. She had subtly inquired about his relationship status with Ye Xingzhi, Gu Xufeng, and others, and the answer she received was always, "He has never had a girlfriend."

He was even labeled by his colleagues as "not interested in women".

Zhu Liushuang carefully recalled their interactions since their reunion. He didn't seem to dislike contact with women as much as the rumors suggested. Or perhaps, he did treat her differently, leading her to believe he was easy to approach? Or was it because the filter of their student days was too strong, causing her to unconsciously idealize his image whenever she saw him?

But no matter what, in her heart, He Ming must be someone who knows how to love others very well. Even though his family was riddled with problems and broken apart, even though he suffered the torment of separation and death during his growth, he still did not lose the ability to love.

Thinking of this, Zhu Liushuang suddenly smiled.

The sun was shining brightly outside, and behind the glass window stood a tall plane tree, its leaves turning a vibrant reddish-brown in late autumn. A breeze blew, and the golden-edged plane tree leaves swayed wildly, rustling softly.

Joyful songs rang out at the window, and she was genuinely happy.

The star that illuminated her when she was a teenager still shines brightly after all these years.

Her feelings for him only grew stronger.

————

Autumn and winter clothes are thick and heavy. Although my luggage contained several packages, it didn't take too long to unpack everything.

On the bedside table in the guest bedroom sat her favorite rabbit doll. On the desk against the wall were her laptop and CPA exam study materials. The walk-in closet was spacious; even if she brought all her clothes and accessories from home, it wouldn't be able to fill it.

Sitting in front of the dressing table, Zhu Liushuang casually tidied her messy hair. Looking at her reflection in the mirror, her eyes sparkling and her cheeks flushed, she suddenly felt that everything was so unreal.

Six months ago, she was still plotting step by step, trying to infiltrate He Ming's circle of friends.

Six months later, she moved into his home and became his wife in name only.

Perhaps God is fair; when He treats some people unfairly, He transforms the debt into another form of fulfillment.

At this moment, Zhu Liushuang only hoped that the compensation given to her by the god of fate would not be a bubble floating in the air, which would burst at the slightest touch.

"Knock knock knock—" There was a knock on the door, and she suddenly got up.

He Ming's voice came through the door: "Liu Shuang, do you need any help?"

Zhu Liushuang smiled at herself in the mirror, her lips curving into the most beautiful arc, before walking to the door. The door opened, and she said easily, "Not much stuff, I handled it all by myself! Thanks for your concern, senior."

Perhaps to avoid suspicion, He Ming didn't step into her bedroom. He stood by the door, a few steps away from her, holding a small lunchbox in his hand.

Her gaze slowly moved from his face to his hands: "What's this?"

"It's past lunchtime, so I ordered two takeout sandwiches," the man said, opening the food container. "The fridge is empty, so I'll just have this."

Before starting to pack her clothes, He Ming asked her if she wanted to go out for lunch first. At that time, Zhu Liushuang was overjoyed that he had prepared a four-piece bedding set for her in advance.

She happily started making plans in her mind: if she finished packing early, she could go grocery shopping sooner, and if… she had enough time, she could even invite him to cook dinner with her. So, she made an excuse that she wasn't hungry and slipped back into the guest room. Before closing the door, she reminded He Ming not to wait for her to have lunch together.

Two hours passed, and the wall clock in the living room pointed to exactly one o'clock in the afternoon.

He... hasn't eaten yet?

Zhu Liushuang frowned, a hint of resentment welling up inside her. Had she known he was waiting for her, she wouldn't have refused his offer.

Rubbing her nose, she said apologetically, "Sorry, senior. I lost track of time while I was packing..." She was trying to suppress her apology when He Ming suddenly reached out and placed a sandwich in her palm. The warmth from his hand made her heart flutter, and she swallowed the words that were about to escape her lips.

“I was working overtime while you were packing,” he comforted her. “This light meal shop is far away, and the delivery just arrived recently. Eat up, it’ll get cold.”

She stared at the sandwich in her hand and nodded obediently. She tore open the wrapper and, ignoring whether the person in front of her was watching her, took a big bite.

She chewed a few times, then licked her lips, which were still smeared with salad dressing. Her face regained its usual brightness: "It's delicious!"

Perhaps infected by her smile, He Ming's face also showed a faint smile: "As long as it suits your taste." He glanced down at her, then turned and walked back to the restaurant.

Half an hour later, the two went out together.

A few gusts of wind blew through the corridor, and Zhu Liushuang couldn't help but shrink her neck. The elevator doors slowly opened in front of her, and after hesitating for a long time, she finally grabbed He Ming's sleeve.

"What's wrong?" The man gave her a questioning look.

"It's a bit cold, I want to go back and get a scarf," she said, letting go of his hand.

The man's gaze shifted to her bare neck, and he nodded, saying, "Yes, go ahead."

"Are you going up or not? If not, I'm closing the door. I'm in a hurry!" The middle-aged man in the elevator, probably a resident on the sixth floor, asked anxiously.

He Ming pressed the close button for him and said calmly, "Excuse me. Please get out first."

Zhu Liushuang was on her way back when she heard He Ming's voice, and her joy increased even more. He was waiting for her at the elevator.

After getting her things, she quickened her pace as she pulled the scarf around her neck. The moment her footsteps sounded, He Ming pressed the "downstairs" button, so the elevator doors opened just as she reached the elevator.

With a "ding," the two entered at the same time.

This time, there was no one else in the elevator. They stood side by side in the middle, quietly listening to the whistling wind blowing in from the gap, and neither of them spoke.

This silence lasted until they boarded the bus.

As the car drove out of the underground parking garage, He Ming spoke first: "The supermarket is very close to the community, only a five-minute drive away. There are several residential areas nearby, with a considerable flow of people, so the fruits and vegetables are quite fresh... If you need anything, you can just go there to buy it. If you don't have time to go out, you can download an app and have them deliver it to your door."

"Mmm." Zhu Liushuang nodded vigorously, listening to him introduce the amenities around the community while absentmindedly admiring the scenery outside the window.

She's not a child anymore; she can find out what's around her with a simple check on her phone.

But if he's willing to talk, she's naturally happy to listen.

Everyone says He Ming is a man of few words, but he has said so many things to her in the past half day that she has lost count.

The supermarket wasn't as crowded as she had imagined on Sunday afternoon.

The elderly scramble for fresh vegetables, usually appearing in the early morning. Young people, on the other hand, prefer to sleep in, and at this time they might have just gotten up or already gone out with friends.

They scanned a shopping cart at the entrance and strolled inside leisurely. She had a shopping list prepared in advance on her memo, so without a second thought, she headed straight for the household goods section.

Toothpaste, toothbrush, towel, bath towel, shampoo, shower gel… she had to buy a new set of everything she hadn’t brought from home. Zhu Liushuang was used to being frugal since childhood, and she always checked the price before buying anything. Items that were plentiful and affordable were her first choice.

If He Ming had paid a little more attention, he would have easily noticed. The items in the shopping cart were all discounted, and most were buy-one-get-one-free bulk packs. In fact, he did notice. But he didn't say anything; he just patiently helped her push the cart.

"The items at this supermarket are generally a bit more expensive than those at the supermarket near my house!" Zhu Liushuang remarked in a low voice after adding all the daily necessities to her list.

He Ming glanced at the price tags on the shelf, his tone devoid of disdain: "How much more expensive?"

Encouraged, Zhu Liushuang pointed to the items in the shopping cart and explained them to him one by one: "For example, this shampoo, the same brand, is two yuan more expensive here, and the toothpaste..."

After whispering around the shopping cart for a while, Zhu Liushuang suddenly felt a little embarrassed. Afraid that He Ming would think she was too materialistic, haggling over a few cents, she quickly added, "We in finance are quite price-sensitive."

"Good memory, that's great." He Ming praised her, following her words. "She'd also be suitable for auditing."

The topic was easily diverted, and Zhu Liushuang couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Leaving the daily necessities section, the two headed towards the fruit and vegetable section on the first floor. The fruits and vegetables in the afternoon were never as fresh as those in the morning, but they were still acceptable.

"Stir-fried beef with celery, want some?" Zhu Liushuang asked, picking up a handful of celery.

"Can."

"What about the button mushrooms?"

"That's fine too."

...

No matter what she asked, he always said yes, which really troubled Zhu Liushuang. She only knew that he preferred light flavors, but she didn't know what his favorite dish was.

"Does your senior have any dietary restrictions?" she asked, tilting her head.

He Ming lowered his head and thought for a moment, then said seriously, "I can't eat spicy food very well, my stomach can't handle it."

So, he has a bad stomach!

Zhu Liushuang's thoughts began to wander again. Just how bad was his stomach? Did he have gastritis when he was in school? Or did it get worse after he started working and had too many social engagements?

She frantically searched her mind for what foods would soothe her stomach. Her mother also had a bad stomach, damaged by years of medication. Her doctor had advised her to eat easily digestible foods, avoid raw and cold foods, and limit her intake of rich and oily foods.

Her gaze swept over the shopping cart, and she silently took out the small red chilies she had put in three minutes earlier. In her mind, she then replaced the stir-fried mushrooms with a mushroom and tofu soup.

On the surface, Zhu Liushuang did not show much tension or concern about his statement that his "stomach couldn't take it." She calmly walked through the fresh food section, but her subordinates were selecting vegetables at a slower pace than before.

After selecting some easily digestible vegetables, they went to buy beef tenderloin and ribs. Passing by the fresh fruit section, her attention was drawn to the bright red, juicy strawberries on the shelf.

Strawberries are just coming into season, so they're naturally not cheap. Zhu Liushuang loves them, but she just can't bring herself to spend seventy or eighty yuan on ten strawberries. She cares more about her wallet than her appetite.

Therefore, she only paused in front of the freezer for a minute before heading towards the grain and oil section without hesitation.

The person who helped her push the shopping cart did not accompany her to the grain and oil section.

"Liu Shuang, you go ahead first, I'll be there in a bit." He Ming stopped halfway.

She thought he was going to the restroom, so she gave him an "OK" sign and continued pushing the cart forward.

Considering He Ming's stomach problems, Zhu Liushuang picked through the shelves and chose millet and oatmeal, intending to make porridge. Just as she was putting the bag into her shopping cart, the person who had left halfway returned.

Staring at the man striding towards her, she froze on the spot. Her mouth opened, but the word "senior" stuck in her throat.

He probably didn't go to the restroom.

Otherwise—why would he be holding two boxes of strawberries that she had just picked out?

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Author's Note: [Three-colored cat head] The senior didn't say a word, but quietly ordered lunch for Shuangshuang, pushed the shopping cart, and gave her strawberries. He was also very supportive!