Chapter 48 Chapter 48 Do you...don’t want me anymore...
There was no surprise as imagined, no reconciliation as imagined, only silence that was cooling down inch by inch in the air.
Shao Chengzhang stood there in a daze. The bouquet of roses in his hand seemed to have suddenly lost its weight and dropped heavily. He watched Chen Zhuo leave in disappointment.
He subconsciously said, "Can you tell me what I should do to satisfy you?"
Chen Zhuo paused. She suddenly realized that when emotions build up to a critical point, one can become calm and composed, without resorting to violent arguments.
"First of all, this isn't a question of whether I'm satisfied or not." Chen Zhuo turned around. "You don't even realize what I care about, and now you're trying to use this as an excuse."
"Shao Chengzhang, in your eyes, am I just a materialistic person who can be dismissed with a few gifts?"
He looked at her, his face expressionless, but his fingers slowly clenched.
"No," he finally spoke, his voice low and hoarse. "I just want to cheer you up. You have to be honest. Okay, I'll be honest with you. Whatever you want to know, I can tell you right now. You have to trust me." He held up his phone. "The passwords for my phone, computer, and bank cards have all been changed to your birthday. You can use them freely. Is that okay?"
"I didn't ask you to do this. Please don't make it sound like I'm being unreasonable."
After a long time, Chen Zhuo sighed, "Forget it, let it be. I don't know what to do. We are always talking at cross purposes."
The atmosphere suddenly turned cold.
Shao Chengzhang said nothing more. He put down the bouquet and turned to go to the study. Shen Zhuo felt like she was standing on a single-plank bridge, with no way to go left or right. She covered her face with her hands, not knowing why she had become like this.
Silence was like heavy water, submerging her little by little.
The next day, Chen Zhuo did not return to Yuelan Bay, and the two of them tacitly began a cold war.
Two days later, Shao Chengzhang sent a message first, several times in a row. Shen Zhuo listened to the buzzing sound of the phone and couldn't help but curl up the corners of her mouth. She didn't want to reply to the message immediately. She waited for a few minutes before picking up the phone to reply.
Shao Chengzhang: "I have to go on a business trip tomorrow and will not be back until next Friday. You can stay at Yuelan Bay while I'm away. You can sleep a little longer in the morning."
Shao Chengzhang: "Can you help me feed Ares? It's okay if you don't want to come back."
Shao Chengzhang: "Next Saturday is my eldest brother's wedding, don't forget it."
Then there are two screenshots, which show Shao Chengzhang's flight information for tomorrow night's flight to New York and from New York to Los Angeles.
Chen Zhuo looked at the messages, his expression gradually turning cold. Damn, after not contacting her for so long, he ended up messaging her just to say this?!
Chen Zhuo was so angry that he sent an OK gesture emoticon. She could still go back to Yuelan Bay. She lived in Zhonghu, and she had to get up an hour earlier every day than she did in Yuelan Bay.
Jiang Jun came over and asked, "What message did Shao Chengzhang send?"
Chen Zhuo: “Yeah.”
"Wow, you guys made up?"
"No." Shen Zhuo sat for a long time, feeling a little depressed.
"Huh?" Jiang Jun was very surprised. "Oh my god, did you two have to argue for so long? To put it bluntly, it's just your different understandings of the same thing that led to your deviation. It will be fine if you talk it out."
Shen Zhuo sighed: "It's not the same thing anymore."
In fact, after she calmed down these past few days, she also felt that she was a bit stubborn, but the atmosphere had already reached this point, and she was embarrassed to bow her head first, so it had been like this until now. As long as Shao Chengzhang gave her a way out, she would immediately follow suit.
What’s the result? I received this news.
*
Nora and her elder brother had both lived in the UK for many years, so this wedding followed the British tradition and was not rushed.
The venue was chosen to be the five-star Kunting Resort Hotel. Since both families had many relatives and friends, Shao Chengke simply booked the entire hotel, providing accommodation and hotel facilities to facilitate the guests' coming and going.
Shao Chengzhang was the best man. Married men weren't supposed to be best men, but Shao Chengke didn't mind and insisted on having his younger brother come. Shao Chengzhang had just finished a business trip and had just returned home to put his luggage away before heading straight to the hotel to prepare.
Chen Zhuo leisurely woke up that morning, putting on a rare full face of makeup, and then went into the cloakroom. She took the deep sea blue strapless mermaid dress from the hanger. She and Jiang Jun had bought it last weekend. The line was close to her figure and the temperament was cool. With a pair of pearl earrings and a necklace, she looked like a mermaid just emerged from the deep sea.
Her only regret was that she hadn't bought the right shoes. All the styles she liked were out of her size. Shen Zhuo pushed open the shoe cabinet and suddenly realized that the space where she should have kept her shoes was filled with several pairs of high heels, instead of just one pair of radishes.
From low heels to high heels, from pointed to flat toes, they have everything.
She stared at the shoes for a few seconds, then thought about it and came up with only one possibility: these were all bought for her by Shao Chengzhang.
Shen Zhuo tried them all out and found that they were all the right sizes. She chose a pair of high heels with a thin chain at the ankle.
It was Shen Zhuo's first time attending a British wedding. She arrived at the hotel and followed the instructions. The ceremony was held outdoors, and Shen Zhuo found an empty seat and sat down, looking around.
There were three flower arches from the entrance to the wedding venue, and the entire venue was decorated with yellow roses, white roses and hyacinths.
Shao Chengzhang came out to help greet the guests, and almost instantly, Shen Zhuo saw him.
He was wearing a three-piece suit, exquisitely tailored, which made his shoulders stand out straight, and he looked even more calm and noble than usual. She looked at him from across the crowd, and felt her chest shrink slightly.
When Shao Chengzhang turned around, his eyes seemed to be fixed on something.
Even among the crowd, Chen Zhuo stood out. Her fishtail skirt cast a deep blue halo in the sunlight, outlining her cool and elegant figure. She had her hair tied up, revealing her neck and collarbone, and her jewelry was perfectly matched.
Their eyes met in the air, and all the unspoken thoughts surged up in the intersection of their eyes.
However, after only a few seconds of looking at each other, Shao Chengzhang was called away.
The arrival of the Shao and Shang families caused quite a stir, with many people coming forward to congratulate them. Shen Zhuo planned to wait until the crowds thinned out before going forward to greet Shao Song.
"As the saying goes, clothes make the man, saddles make the horse."
Chen Zhuo turned around and saw Guan Siyu pushing a wheelchair, and sitting in the wheelchair was Grandpa Guan, Guan Siyu's grandfather. She didn't expect him to appear here. Guan Siyu had no announcements during this period, so Chen Zhuo let him rest at home.
Shen Zhuo didn't know much about the Guan family, but even if she wanted to investigate, she might not be able to find out anything. She only knew that Old Man Guan seemed to be very powerful in City A, probably because he had a red background.
Money and power are inseparable. According to the strength of the Shao family, it is not surprising that they know each other with the Guan family. She laughed at herself, thinking that she really had not seen the world.
Shen Zhuo stepped forward and greeted Old Man Guan with a faint smile.
Guan Hai glanced at her, then sighed, then stared at Chen Zhuo and greeted him.
Chen Zhuo was a little puzzled, feeling that the old man seemed to be hesitant to talk to her.
"Let's go and say hello to them." Guan Hai waved his hand, signaling Guan Siyu to push him over.
Guan Siyu raised his chin, motioning for Chen Zhuo to come over. He lowered his voice and reminded Chen Zhuo, "The middle-aged couple on the left are the groom's parents, and the couple on the right are the bride's parents."
Chen Zhuo nodded, but his eyes fell on a woman. The woman was majestic and bright, wearing a champagne-colored haute couture dress. She turned to Guan Siyu and said, "Do you think that woman looks familiar?"
Guan Siyu took a look and said, "That's the bride's sister, Shang Mingcan, and the heir to the WUNSEE Group."
Shen Zhuo took a deep breath. WUNSEE Group is the world's top luxury group with many well-known high-end brands. She finally remembered why she felt Shang Mingcan looked familiar... Two years ago, she went to Paris to watch a high-end fashion show. Wasn't it Shang Mingcan and the design director who appeared at the end?
This world of rich and noble...
While thinking, he had already walked up to the elders. When Shao Song and the Shang family saw Guan Hai, they took the initiative to go up to greet him.
When they paused in their greetings, Chen Zhuo called out "Dad, Mom" to Shao Song and Lan Fuyu.
Guan Siyu just stood there in a daze.
Shao Song introduced Shang Mingxuan's parents to Shen Zhuo, and Shen Zhuo bowed slightly to them, "Uncle, aunt, hello, I am Cheng Zhang's wife."
Guan Siyu suddenly burst into laughter, "So, Sister Chen Zhuo is married to Shao Chengzhang."
Guan Hai turned around and glared at Guan Siyu.
Lan Fuyu said, "What a pity! I had originally thought I could become a relative of Mr. Guan."
When these words came out, Shen Zhuo was also stunned.
What does that mean? Shao Chengzhang's original marriage partner was a member of the Guan family?!
But she had never heard Guan Siyu mention that he had sisters. No wonder Grandpa Guan's expression was quite complicated just now. It turned out that there was such a thing going on.
Shang Mingcan let go of her mother's hand, walked around to the side, and came to Chen Zhuo, "Hello, Chen Zhuo, I am Nora's sister Shang Mingcan. I heard Nora say before that she met a new friend at the Shao family, and I finally met him today."
Chen Zhuo smiled and said, "Hello, actually, I have met you before. Two years ago, I went to Paris and watched several shows under WUNSEE."
Shang Mingcan became interested: "Are you in the fashion industry?"
"No." Chen Zhuo said with a smile, "I'm a manager. What a coincidence, my artist is Guan Siyu."
Shang Mingcan also smiled and glanced at Guan Siyu, "Okay, we'll have a chance to cooperate in the future."
"Of course." Chen Zhuo smiled, "But today's protagonist is Nora, so let's not talk about business, okay?"
Shang Mingcan smiled and said, "I know why Nora likes you. Please take a seat first, the ceremony is about to begin."
Everyone took their seats, the elders sat in the first row, and the younger ones sat in the second row. The live symphony changed the tune, and the host came on stage to announce the start of the ceremony.
Shang Mingxuan entered the room slowly, wearing a custom-made wedding dress and veil. She was incredibly beautiful. Chen Zhuo glanced at Shao Chengke, who was as gentle and reserved as ever, with a faint smile on his face.
She thought that there was some sincerity mixed in this smile.
Shao Chengzhang stood on one side with an upright posture. Although he knew that the protagonist today was a newcomer, Chen Zhuo still couldn't ignore him.
As the newlyweds on the stage took their oath, Shao Chengzhang subconsciously looked down at the audience, his gaze landing accurately on Shen Zhuo.
Almost at the same moment, their eyes met in mid-air, and then separated in a hurry.
Exchanging rings, kissing each other, and blessings from the guests, everything went smoothly and everyone's focus was on the bride and groom.
There was only her and him, their eyes intertwined, and then they passed each other in silence.
The ceremony was temporarily over, waiters were shuttling back and forth with desserts and cocktails, and Shen Zhuo went to get some fruit.
Guan Siyu smiled at her, and his smile was so broad that she felt confused.
"Isn't it immoral for you to show your charm to a married woman like this?" Shen Zhuo joked with him, inserting a piece of honeydew melon.
"Sister Chen Zhuo, you are really my benefactor." Guan Siyu suddenly said.
Chen Zhuo thought it was something about work and tutted, "Do you realize how hard I've worked now?"
Guan Siyu nodded: "I'll follow your orders from now on!"
"But, I always thought you were an only child. I didn't expect you had a sister? Didn't she come with you to the wedding today?"
"Yes, it's my sister, but she went abroad since high school." Guan Siyu's smile suddenly faded, and he said lightly, "I haven't seen her for a long, long time."
"Are you guys on good terms?"
"It's pretty good, I guess."
"You'll miss her a lot, right? But with the advancement of communication these days, it shouldn't be that difficult to see her."
"Yes, I really do... I miss her very much." Guan Siyu sneered again, "But she probably doesn't want to see me."
Shen Zhuo asked, "What do you mean?"
Guan Siyu smiled, looked up and saw several little girls surrounding Shao Chengzhang not far away. He nodded his chin to remind Chen Zhuo.
Chen Zhuo glanced at him from a distance and snorted, "He wants to add a little girl, what can I do about it?"
The main meal was scheduled for the afternoon, and everyone moved indoors. The names of the guests were written on the table. After Shen Zhuo found his seat, he glanced and discovered that Shao Chengzhang's seat was next to him.
…
But it was obvious that she was worrying too much. The wedding was a fusion of Chinese and Western styles. At this moment, Shang Mingxuan and Shao Chengke changed into toast clothes, and Shao Chengzhang also needed to accompany the newlyweds to toast. The seat next to Chen Zhuo was empty from beginning to end.
Chen Zhuo and Shao Song and his wife sat together. Shang Mingxuan came over first to toast with Shao Chengke on her arm. She always had mints in her bag, and when Shao Chengke turned around, she stuffed a piece of mint into his hand.
Shao Chengzhang was startled and turned around. Seeing that it was Chen Zhuo, he finally smiled. He stretched out his backhand and directly covered Chen Zhuo's hand.
Shen Zhuo wanted to pull out but he held her tightly and she couldn't get free no matter what she did. She raised her eyes and glared at him, signaling him to let go quickly. Shao Chengzhang chuckled softly and rubbed the inside of her wrist with his fingertips twice before letting go.
After dinner, it was time for tea. Chen Zhuo had only just discovered that the Kunting Resort Hotel boasted lakes and hills, a tranquil and elegant landscape reminiscent of a hidden paradise in the suburbs. Guests, either holding glasses of wine or riding sightseeing buses, toured the park in groups of two or three, chatting and laughing in a delightful atmosphere.
As night slowly fell, the lights on the lawn came on, and the symphony began to play again, melodious and magnificent.
The newlyweds, dressed in their formal attire, stood in the center of the room, dancing gracefully. Their every move was elegant and composed. Watching from afar, Chen Zhuo felt that Shang Mingxuan and Shao Chengke looked like a couple straight out of a fairy tale.
It’s just that Shao Chengke doesn’t love Nora.
She suddenly felt that she and Shao Chengzhang were already very lucky.
While she was lost in thought, Shao Chengzhang had already walked up to her and invited her to dance. However, Shen Zhuo didn't know how to waltz, so she simply waved him off. She was still wearing high heels, and she would rather not dance than make a fool of herself.
Shao Chengzhang pursed his lips without saying anything, then turned and left.
"Hey—" Shen Zhuo wanted to call out to him but was too embarrassed to do so. She sighed and found an empty seat to sit down. New shoes always rub your feet. She lifted the hem of her skirt and found that her ankles had been rubbed red by the thin chain.
I don’t know how long it was before the symphony suddenly ended, the music style changed, and the atmosphere gradually relaxed.
Everyone rushed in to join in. Shang Mingxuan saw Chen Zhuo sitting on the side, and ran over to pull her in to mix in with the dancing crowd. There was no need for elegance or beauty, just follow the rhythm, and no one cared no matter how they danced.
Chen Zhuo was infected, lifted up the hem of his skirt, took Shang Mingxuan's hand and started dancing.
Fireworks suddenly soared into the sky and bloomed in the night sky, pushing the atmosphere to a climax.
*
Shen Zhuo didn't expect Shao Chengzhang to get drunk at night.
No wonder I didn’t see him after the dinner. It turned out that he was hiding at the bar, drinking one glass after another.
The waiter half-supported and half-carried Shao Chengzhang back to the room.
His suit jacket was draped over the armrest of the sofa. He sat on the sofa, his face slightly flushed, his shirt collar slightly open, his elbows on his knees and his head lowered, looking like a statue about to collapse.
Shen Zhuo asked the front desk to bring honey, made half a cup of honey water, and walked over to sit next to him.
Feeling the dent on one side of the sofa, Shao Chengzhang raised his head. He looked relatively awake, but a closer look revealed a dullness and burning anticipation in his eyes.
"Are you still angry with me?" His voice was much lower than usual, as if it was suppressed in his throat and was a little hoarse.
Chen Zhuo didn't answer directly, but handed him the honey water: "Drink it first."
Shao Chengzhang stared at her like a child who had been wronged. "If I drink it, you won't be angry anymore, okay?"
She nodded.
He immediately took the cup, lowered his head and raised it, then drank it all in two or three gulps.
"Wife..." he muttered, his eyes unfocused, "I miss you so much." As soon as he finished speaking, he opened his arms and hugged her, murmuring softly, "I really... miss you so much."
"Shao Chengzhang," Shen Zhuo patted his back and gently advised him, "You are drunk, go to bed first, okay?"
She put a hand on his shoulder and pushed him away with almost no effort.
"You're lying," he murmured softly, "You're obviously still angry." Shao Chengzhang lowered his eyes and saw the high heels on Chen Zhuo's feet. "I picked these shoes for you when I was on a business trip... Do you like them?"
Shen Zhuo looked down at him and sighed helplessly: "I like it."
As soon as he finished speaking, Shao Chengzhang suddenly slid down, knelt on one knee, and put one hand on her ankle.
"The skin is rubbed here." He untied the anklet around his ankle, touched the red scar with his fingertips, and said in a voice so low that it was almost inaudible, "I'm sorry..."
"It's okay. New shoes always take some getting used to." Chen Zhuo reached out and held his shoulders. "You get up first."
But Shao Chengzhang acted as if he didn't hear her. He stubbornly half-knelt and carefully helped her take off her shoes.
Chen Zhuo was about to persuade him again when he suddenly felt a warm sensation on the back of his feet.
She was stunned and looked down, one drop, two drops...
She couldn't see Shao Chengzhang's expression at the moment, but his tears quietly dripped onto the back of her bare feet.
The emotions that he had deliberately restrained and suppressed suddenly burst out silently at this moment.
"Chen Zhuo..." His throat was tight and his voice was hoarse, "Do you... don't want me anymore..."
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