Prefer you

It was dawn, and Lin Luo was awakened by the sunlight shining into the room. She looked at the time and it was almost nine o'clock. She remembered that Fu Xingchuan had a meeting at nine o'clock, but he was still sleeping soundly.

The sun shines on half of his face, and he frowns. Will he be angry if I wake him up?

Lin Qi hesitated for a moment, then imitated her grandmother's tone and called him softly, "Okay, get up."

He didn't respond, so Lin Luo called out a few more times.

"Okay..." Fu Xingchuan suddenly opened his eyes, looking very annoyed. Lin Luo avoided his gaze, "I just wanted to tell you that it's almost nine o'clock."

She was like a frightened rabbit. Fu Xingchuan was reluctant to get angry, so he just said "thank you" lightly and got up.

In the living room, Fu Xingchuan was putting on his coat. Lin Luo observed his expression and felt that he was dissatisfied with everything. She tiptoed past him and closed the door quietly.

He thought he was being very quiet, but every move he made was seen by Fu Xingchuan. The door lock clanged, and he raised his lip.

Lin Qiao went downstairs to have breakfast with her colleagues. Deputy Director An was holding his stomach, so she asked him for a glass of honey water.

"Director, please drink less! It hurts your liver and stomach."

"Thank you, Xiaolin. It's been a long time since I've had this drink!"

"Then you can't drink that much at once."

"Xiao Lin, did I say something in front of your husband yesterday?" He scratched his head. "Why can't I remember it at all?"

Hearing this, the haggard Xiao Fei beside her woke up immediately. She seemed to remember what she had done yesterday and covered her face, "Ah!"

Wu Yun took the spoon away from the ice pack on her eyes and said, "I'm never drinking again. I actually cried in the car yesterday. It was so embarrassing!"

"Senior Sister, I was drunk yesterday and that's why I said something nonsense in front of Mr. Fu. Please don't take it seriously."

She was horrified. Lin Luo patted her head and said, "Yeah, it's okay."

"Ring, ring, ring." Deputy Director An quickly ran away and talked on the phone with his wife.

Wu Yun saw a handsome waiter and started chatting with him.

Lin Luo opened her phone to check the weather forecast. It was clearly predicted to snow, but even though the temperature was still very low, the sky outside was clear and the sun was out.

"Senior Sister," Xiao Fei patted her shoulder. Lin Luo raised her head and asked, "What's wrong?"

"I've thought about it, and I wasn't completely talking nonsense last night. You still need to pay more attention to the people around Mr. Fu. Rich and powerful men like him are the most dangerous. There are countless temptations every day." She kindly reminded, "My ex-brother-in-law is like that. He and my sister were very loving, but after his business success, he couldn't resist the temptation and cheated. My sister was heartbroken for a long time before she got over it. Senior sister is usually very good to me, and I don't want to see you like that."

Lin Xiao murmured calmly, "Hmm." She and Fu Xingchuan were in a contractual relationship, and the agreement didn't specify what to do if she met someone she liked. What was going on now? She fell into deep thought.

"bite--"

Lin Xiao unlocked her WeChat account and saw a message from Fu Xingchuan: "There's a party tonight. If you're free, come join me."

Su Youyi, dressed elegantly in a thin red dress, came into the hall in a hurry. She must be looking for Fu Xingchuan.

Lin Xiao recalled a previous dance she had attended. She had prepared for a long time, but in the end, because of her plain looks, inferior talents, and lack of confidence, no one wanted to ask her to dance. She was left out, and it was Lin Dayong who cheered her up, asking her to take off her ill-fitting dress and have a good meal.

Lin Qi retied her loosened scarf, wrapping herself tightly, and replied to Fu Xingchuan: "I have to visit several research institutes with my colleagues to discuss things, so I don't have time."

OK: [Got it.]

The last research institute they visited was where Wen Zenian worked now. Lin Luo then learned that Deputy Director An had been a university professor for a period of time, and the student he kept talking about was actually him.

"We are quite compatible." Wen Zenian said to her with a smile.

Lin Luo nodded, "Of course, we are friends who have risked our lives for each other."

"How have you been recently? Is everything going well?" Wen Zenian asked her with concern.

Lin Qi told him frankly, "It was like riding a roller coaster, with the speed increased several times. My emotions were up and down."

Wen Zenian looked at her cautiously, "I saw the news that you and Fu Xingchuan got married. Didn't... you get what you wanted?"

"He still doesn't like me." Lin Luo did not hide it deliberately.

He stopped and Lin Qi forced a smile, "It's okay, I'm used to it, don't you know that?"

After a moment of silence, Wen Zenian asked in a hoarse voice, "...Is the crybaby going to cry again?"

Thinking back to the time when Lin Qiao was studying for her master's and doctorate, every time she felt sad because of Fu Xingchuan, it was Wen Zenian who stayed with her. Coincidentally, his own relationship was always not going well. The pitiful scene of the two frustrated people comforting each other, she shook her head and said, "I don't cry much now. Physiological tears are very rare."

"Let's not talk about me anymore, let's talk about you. How's your life been lately, Senior Brother?"

"It's okay!"

"What about your love life?" Lin Xiao asked curiously, "Do you still like that person?"

Wen Zenian stopped and looked at her from behind. "I still like you, but it's destined to be fruitless. I have to learn to let it go."

"I wish you success." Lin Luo took a few steps before realizing that Wen Zenian hadn't caught up. He turned around and asked, "Brother, what's wrong?"

Wen Zenian strode to her side and said softly, "It's okay."

Lin Luo and Wen Zenian had a meal together. They had many common topics, reminiscing about the past few years, talking about current academic developments, and exploring future research directions.

Lin Luo felt very comfortable with her senior brother. She didn't need to be restrained or worry about whether she was dressed nicely, appropriately, or gracefully. She just had to be herself instead of being a supporting wife.

When they were parting, they passed by Teacher Yin's flower shop. Lin Qiaoduo looked inside for a few more times. Teacher Yin had accompanied Lin Dayong to Europe to discuss business, and it seemed that only the employees were in the shop.

Wen Zenian followed Lin Luo's gaze and pointed at the sign at the store entrance. "Hey, there's a promotion in the store today. Buy a bouquet of flowers and get a free leather tiger keychain. I remember the one you used to have hanging on your bag was quite similar to that one. I've always wanted one... How about I give you a bouquet of flowers?"

He looked at Lin Luo, who smiled and said, "Brother, why didn't you tell me earlier that you liked my keychain? If I had known, I would have given it to you. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been lost along with the phone. What a pity."

"It's quite a pity." Wen Zenian said with his eyes lowered.

Lin Luo pushed the door of the flower shop open without hesitation, and he followed her in. The plants in the shop smelled fresh, the decoration was very warm, and the flowers were quietly blooming under the lights.

Lin Qiao glanced around and saw several potted gardenias placed in the corner. Their leaves were lush, but only one of them had a small flower in bloom. The center of the flower was tender yellow, and white petals spread out in all directions.

It is inconspicuous among the colorful flowers, and even its unique fragrance is not outstanding.

"Hello, what kind of flowers would you like?" the store employee asked them. It was a beautiful girl with big wavy hair, a choker necklace, a leather jacket and leather pants, holding a bunch of bright red roses. She must be new, and Lin Luo had never seen her before.

Wen Zenian didn't even glance at her, and said to Lin Luo, "Pick a bouquet you like!"

"Would you like some red roses? Very fresh ones." the girl asked Lin Luo.

She glanced at the gardenia in the corner and replied, "Okay!"

The girl seemed to like red roses very much. While wrapping the flowers, she took the initiative to introduce them to them: "This rose is called Freedom. It is my favorite kind."

Lin Luo smiled. This cool girl was actually very soft-hearted. Seeing Wen Zenian's somewhat empty eyes, Lin Luo jokingly asked, "Brother, have you become traumatized by Red Rose?"

The girl paused as she wrapped the flowers in transparent cellophane and looked up. Wen Zenian smiled and said to Lin Qiao, "No, I love it. Isn't that what you said? Proud roses never bow their heads. They even have thorns, born both to love and to protect themselves."

"Why does this sound so familiar?" The girl handed the flowers to Lin Luo and looked at Wen Zenian. "Are you a couple?"

Lin Luo looked at the flowers and said, "No."

She didn't notice that Wen Zenian was unable to hide his disappointment, but the girl noticed it.

Wen Zenian also wanted to give his mother a bouquet of flowers. While he wasn't paying attention, Lin Qiao paid for the bouquet of red roses in her hand first. Wen Zenian noticed and blamed her, "Didn't we agree that I would give it to you?"

Lin Xiao pointed at the leather tiger keychain on the counter and said with a frown, "I'll give this to you."

As she finished speaking, the phone rang and she went out to answer it.

Wen Zenian blinked and reached for the keychain, but the girl grabbed a corner first, preventing him from picking it up. Wen Zenian raised his eyes and stared at the girl. She raised her voice and said, "Handsome boy, I made this for you. Do you like it?"

Wen Zenian frowned and said stiffly, "Isn't what you made a gift?"

His face was cold and a little fierce, so the girl let go of her hand. Wen Zenian put the keychain in his pocket, went out and walked to Lin Luo's side.

Lan Qing watched them walk away and disappear at the end. She looked down at the rose in her hand, then saw the greeting card he had just written. She curled her lips and said, "He is a gentle but thorny man."

A strong wind blew and the window was not closed properly. The stem of the gardenia in the corner swayed in the wind, and a snow-white petal fell down. Lin Luo felt a little cold, so she lifted the hanging end of her white scarf to the other side of her neck and shrank her head.

Uncle Li had just called, saying Fu Xingchuan had drunk too much. He didn't say anything else, probably just checking in. The background noise on the other end of the line was quite noisy, but Lin Luo didn't ask any further questions. Perhaps being drunk meant he was having a good time!

After separating from Wen Zenian and returning to the hotel, Lin Luo stood in the elevator holding flowers and did not press the floor button for a long time. Finally, a delivery boy happened to go to the 22nd floor, and Lin Luo followed him up.

Lin Luo opened the door and saw Fu Xingchuan there. He didn't look drunk at all and seemed quite sober, working on the sofa.

She realized that the phone call might be his excuse to escape the drinking party and sneered. Fu Xingchuan looked up and saw her standing at the door. The bouquet in her hand was too dazzling. He frowned and asked, "Where did you get the flowers?"

"A friend gave it to me." Lin Luo said lightly, wanting to find a glass bottle to keep these flowers.

Which friend?

There was no movement. Fu Xingchuan lifted his eyelids to watch her actions. She was protecting those flowers like treasures. Suddenly, he felt a little dizzy. Fu Xingchuan held his head with his hands and said in a low voice: "In the 21st century, roses are flooding the market."

So he prefers gardenia

"Really?" Lin Xiao held her breath, took out the flowers that had been placed in the vase, and held the seven scattered flowers in her arms. "If you don't like them, I'll put them in my room."

There were still drops of water on the dark green branches, which kept falling down, landing on the ground along the path she walked to the door, and wetting her clothes.

When they reached the door, Fu Xingchuan stood up to pour himself some water. Lin Qi turned back to meet his eyes and said calmly, "Mr. Fu, you're busy with work, so I won't disturb your rest."

He didn't say anything and Lin Luo closed the door.

After going down from the 22nd floor to the 5th floor, Wu Yun had not returned yet. Lin Luo casually placed the flowers on the table and lay down on the bed. She closed her eyes, thinking of nothing, and soon fell into a sound sleep.