When Zhou Musheng saw Xiaohua accept the flowers he had given her, he felt a sense of relief. As long as she was willing to accept the flowers, their relationship could take another step forward.
However, Zhou Musheng felt he couldn't bring himself to confess to her now, perhaps because he was too proud to do so.
Zhou Musheng was a straightforward person in relationships, but unfortunately, he still failed in the end.
So when faced with a second relationship that hadn't even started yet, he became hesitant and indecisive, always feeling anxious and uncertain.
He was afraid that if he broke through certain barriers, he would end up with nothing.
It's better to maintain the status quo. If you want to see her, come over and visit. If you want to have a meal with her, invite her out for a meal and have a simple chat together.
This relationship already seems pretty good, but people are always greedy and always want to go further, so Zhou Musheng has now become a very conflicted person.
Wanting to go further, but afraid of ending up with nothing; wanting to maintain the status quo, but also greedily wanting more.
I want to be with her like lovers, playfully teasing each other, hugging and kissing, closing the door to live together, snuggling together, and talking about our innermost thoughts.
Valentine's Day was actually a good opportunity, but he always felt that something was missing between them. However, he didn't want their relationship to become distant or not close enough, so he chose to send Xiaohua a bouquet of flowers on Valentine's Day.
I felt that their relationship needed a certain amount of ambiguity, and this ambiguity couldn't be broken. Their relationship progressed gradually in this endless tug-of-war of ambiguity.
"I grew up in the West, where people probably like to give gifts and flowers to friends and relatives on important holidays to express their respect for the occasion. For us, Valentine's Day is similar to our Halloween, Christmas, and Thanksgiving."
To express the importance of this festival, friends and family exchange gifts; this is part of our cultural tradition.
Zhou Musheng seemed to be deliberately explaining, as if trying to make amends for himself, but to Xiaohua, it sounded as if Zhou Musheng was saying to her, "Xiaohua, I'm just expressing to you how much I value Valentine's Day. I don't mean anything else. Please don't misunderstand."
I not only sent you flowers, but I also sent flowers to other girls around me. It doesn't mean anything.
Xiaohua patted her chest, thinking to herself that thankfully she hadn't been presumptuous again and hadn't made a fool of herself again.
"The flowers are so beautiful! Thank you, Mr. Zhou. This is the first time I've ever received flowers from someone. I think you must be a very romantic person who appreciates special gestures."
"A sense of ritual?" Zhou Musheng was somewhat puzzled.
"It means you have a strong attitude towards life, you are serious and romantic, and you don't treat things casually."
Xiaohua explained it to him.
Zhou Musheng nodded: "I'm not bragging, but I really am like that in real life. I think I'm a pretty interesting person, and people who are with me shouldn't find me boring."
Xiaohua nodded vigorously: "Yes, yes, I think so too."
The unspoken thought: You're the big boss, you're my investor, I'll flatter you and say yes to whatever you say, I wouldn't dare say no.
In fact, Zhou Musheng's subtext was: Xiaohua, don't worry, you'll be very happy and won't feel bored with me, because I am a very romantic, gentlemanly and charming man. Feel free to fall in love with me!
Are you free tonight? Let's have dinner together.
Zhou Musheng then extended an invitation.
Xiao Hua thought for a moment, and realized that he seemed to have promised He Yan yesterday that he would have dinner and watch a movie with the child that night.
It seems difficult to go back on a promise once it's been made.
"Mr. Zhou, is it really necessary tonight? How about tomorrow night? I'm not free tonight!"
As soon as Xiao Hua finished speaking, Zhou Musheng's expression turned somewhat serious.
"Did you meet up with another gentleman tonight? Do you have a date?"
Xiaohua smiled and said, "I wouldn't dare to be a gentleman, Mr. Zhou, please don't tease me. But I do have a little toddler. I've already promised to take my little princess out for dinner and a movie tonight, and I don't want to disappoint her. Mr. Zhou, how about we make it up for tomorrow? Is that alright?"
Having already been rejected, the proud Zhou Musheng was not inclined to extend a forceful invitation.
He simply said, "Let's eat another day when I'm free. I'm not free tomorrow either."
Xiaohua expressed her regret: "Okay then, we'll eat it another day when we have time."
After Zhou Musheng got into the car, Xiaohua, holding fresh flowers, watched his car drive away.
After he left, Xiaohua stopped smiling, but felt that the bouquet of flowers in her hands was a hot potato.
He still didn't quite understand what Zhou Musheng meant. Was it really just an important holiday, sending a bouquet of flowers to show how much he valued life?
He probably sent flowers to Zhang San, Li Si, and Wang Ermazi as well. She shouldn't overthink it. Perhaps this is just a huge difference between Chinese and Western cultures!
Regardless, she felt that if a man gave a woman flowers on Valentine's Day, it meant that he had some feelings for her. However, she dared not indulge in any more wishful thinking. Holding this hot potato, she returned home. He Yan had stayed at her place again last night.
Ever since she agreed to let him come over and sleep with the child, he has come over almost every day to sleep with the child. Of course, the child's 1.2-meter bed is too small for his huge size, so he made a makeshift bed under the child's bed.
During this time, Xiaohua also wanted to kick him out, but the child clearly said that she was not allowed to kick her father out. She had nightmares at night and needed her father to comfort her, give her strength, and give her a sense of security!
Alright! Xiao Hua knew he had let his daughter down, so whatever his daughter said went. Anyway, he was sleeping in the same room as his daughter, not her, so why should he care?
It made her seem petty and narrow-minded, not open and generous at all.
Seeing that Xiaohua was holding a bouquet of flowers, He Yan asked, "Did you run downstairs this morning in your pajamas with your hair down just to buy a bouquet of flowers? Is it some special holiday today?"
He Yan must have known what holiday it was today, which is why he asked that question on purpose. He wanted to know whether Xiao Hua bought the flowers herself or if someone else gave them to her.
"I ate a big breakfast early in the morning and then went out to buy flowers. I'm not that artistic; they were a gift from someone else."
Compared to artsy young women who enjoy arranging flowers and plants, taking photos, reading, and traveling, she prefers to be a businessman who only cares about money and has nothing but the smell of food.
"Who sent you flowers so early in the morning?" Xiaohua glanced at him and knew he was probably jealous.
There's no use in being jealous; they're already divorced, and he has no right to be jealous.
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