Chapter 866 Guilt "Brother Fang, I don't have anything to give you, except, this outfit is still clean, you, you should take it!"

Zhou Fang felt a sudden "boom," as if all the blood in his body had rushed to his head.

The body in my arms was cool and soft, and the girl's unique scent mixed with the smell of rain filled my nostrils.

He was an ordinary man, and having been away from home for a long time, his mind was already somewhat agitated. At this moment, with a warm and soft woman in his arms, and in such a proactive and vulnerable sacrificial posture, he was assaulting his already crumbling rationality.

The force of the push seemed somewhat powerless at this moment.

The rain pattered outside the window, the room was dimly lit, and the air was damp and ambiguous...

"Qiuhe, don't do anything foolish." Zhou Fang's voice was terribly hoarse as she tried to put up a last-ditch effort.

Qiuhe misunderstood his hesitation, thinking he had tacitly agreed or needed more encouragement.

She looked up at him, her wet eyes filled with a resolute determination.

After an unknown amount of time, the clouds dispersed and the rain stopped.

This is not what Zhou Fang wanted.

But the damage has been done and cannot be undone.

"I have some money here, take it. If it's not enough, I'll give you more next time I come."

Qiuhe Xiaomei cautiously grabbed his arm: "I'm not doing this for the money..."

"I know, but I have nothing to compensate you with except money."

Zhou Fang couldn't bear to reveal that she had a family, so she tried her best to make up for it with money.

Qiuhe shook her head: "This is something I did willingly, I'm willing to follow you."

In her view, the two were already a legitimate couple.

She quickly tidied her clothes, dressed neatly, and before leaving, kissed Zhou Fang on the cheek, saying, "I'll wait for you to come back next time."

Zhou Fang felt increasingly guilty and restless.

He finished his business in Haishi ahead of schedule and made a special detour back to the capital.

When I opened the door, it was evening.

The aroma of food mingled with the laughter of children wafted towards us.

Fang Xiaojing, wearing an apron, peeked out from the kitchen. When she saw him, her eyes lit up with surprise and delight: "Oh! Why did you come back so suddenly? You didn't even tell me beforehand."

She quickly wiped her hands on her apron, came out to greet him, and took the bags from his bag. "You bought so much stuff again. You must be tired from the journey."

Niu Niu and her younger brother hugged his legs and chattered away.

Zhou Fang stroked the children's heads. The gloom in the room was somewhat dispelled by the warm light of the CD player in front of him, but at the same time, it felt even heavier.

Fang Xiaojing busied herself adding dishes, and soon the table was full of his favorite foods.

She even took out a stack of newly bought clothes and unfolded them to show him: "It's getting cold soon, take these outfits with you when you go out. They're thick and stylish. Don't be stingy. You should dress properly when you're out. The kids and I are fine at home, so you don't need to worry about us."

She spoke of everyday things, a contented and peaceful smile on her face.

Under the light, the fine lines at the corners of her eyes and her slightly rough fingers revealed the marks of her hard work in managing this household.

This home is bright and clean, the children are lively, the wife is virtuous, and the meals are delicious. It is the epitome of a perfect home in the eyes of outsiders, and it was also the place he once felt was a safe and secure place to call home.

Zhou Fang picked up his chopsticks and ate the food his wife had picked up from his bowl; it tasted as good as ever.

But he felt a tightness in his throat, and the discomfort in his throat became even clearer in contrast to the warm and simple scene.

He felt like a thief, stealing this peace and tranquility.

At night, the children went to sleep.

The couple were lying in bed.

Fang Xiaojing seemed to be in a very good mood, chattering on about recent events: Niu Niu got a little red flower at school, her younger brother learned to tie his own shoelaces, the price of pork at the market had gone up a few cents, and the lively wedding of Aunt Wang next door...

Her voice was soft, filled with a sense of complete absorption and contentment in her daily life.

The more Zhou Fang listened, the more confused he became.

As Fang Xiaojing spoke, her voice gradually lowered, as if she was getting sleepy, and she leaned closer to him.

Zhou Fang's body stiffened almost imperceptibly.

After returning from a business trip, there's always some tenderness between us after a short separation.

But today, he felt extremely uncomfortable, and the guilt almost overwhelmed him.

Without making a sound, he rolled over to the side of the bed, his back to his wife, and mumbled, "Um... I was in a rush on the way here, I'm a little tired, let's go to sleep."

Fang Xiaojing paused for a moment, seemingly a little surprised, but didn't think much of it, assuming he was just tired.

She considerately stopped talking, turned over, and gently tucked the blanket around him: "Then go to sleep."

...

The next evening, the hot pot restaurant was steaming and noisy.

The broth in the copper pot bubbled and boiled, and the bright red meat changed color as soon as it was dipped in. After being scooped up and dipped in thick sesame sauce, it should have been a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

Zhou Fang, sitting opposite Lu Qingyang, seemed somewhat absent-minded.

The bowl was piled high with mutton, but he barely touched it, instead drinking glass after glass of baijiu (Chinese liquor).

The wine was spicy and burned his stomach, but it couldn't dispel the melancholy between his brows.

Lu Qingyang slowly and methodically cooked the meat, glanced at him several times, and finally put down his chopsticks.

"What's wrong? You seem distracted. Is it trouble with the business in Guangzhou, or with that new distributor in Shanghai?"

Zhou Fang shook his head, then downed another shot of wine, the burning sensation temporarily suppressing the dryness in his throat. "No, business is going quite smoothly."

"What's with all the heaviness?" Lu Qingyang picked up some cabbage and slowly simmered it in the pot, then looked up at him. "Shouldn't you be happy to see your wife and kids when you get home? Look at your face, it's like it's covered in frost. I left my wife here specifically to listen to your complaints."

These words, spoken casually, were like a small thorn, gently pricking Zhou Fang's most uncomfortable spot.

He tightened his grip on the wine glass, his fingertips turning slightly white.

But the words stuck in Zhou Fang's throat. Looking at Lu Qingyang's questioning and concerned eyes, which contained pure brotherly affection and trust, all of Zhou Fang's words were swallowed back.

Zhou Fang finally managed a forced smile and downed the rest of the wine in his glass, the spiciness making his eyes redden.

He waved his hand, his voice a little hoarse: "It's really nothing... It's just that I've been running around a lot lately, and I'm tired. The house feels empty, and nothing seems right. Going home... going home is nice, Xiaojing and the kids are fine, it's just that I... I'm acting a little crazy. Don't worry about me."

"Take a break if you're tired. You should take a vacation too. This business of ours is getting bigger and bigger. We can't keep things so tense all the time. Sometimes we don't have to have a grudge if things aren't going well. Let's drink. I'll keep you company today."