Chapter 43 Remaining Calm
His voice was deep, carrying a hint of languor from having just finished work.
"Judging by your outfit, are you going out?"
Song Zhiwei was slightly taken aback and looked down at her clothes.
Wearing a simple white T-shirt, jeans, and canvas shoes, he certainly doesn't look like he's going home.
She looked up to meet his gaze, her tone natural.
"It's still early, I'll go to the supermarket to buy some groceries."
She has never liked eating takeout.
I always feel that those dishes with too much oil and salt make my stomach uncomfortable if I eat too much, and they also lack the flavor of life.
I rarely get off work early today, and with some free time, I thought I'd cook myself a simple dinner to reward myself for the stress I've been under these past few days.
"What a coincidence, I also need to buy something, want to go together?"
After Sheng Tingzhou finished speaking, he pushed open the car door and got out without waiting for her reply.
Black suit trousers hugged his long, slender legs as he stepped to her side.
He was very tall and had a straight posture; the way he stood there blocked the slanting rays of the setting sun.
Her tall figure cast a faint shadow over her.
She recalled what Xu Xiaoting had mentioned during the day, and her heart felt inexplicably conflicted.
But I can't quite put my finger on what's wrong.
After hesitating for a moment, she softly replied, "Mm."
The two walked side by side toward the nearby supermarket, their pace neither too fast nor too slow.
The glass door opened automatically, and a blast of cold air rushed in.
Song Zhiwei casually grabbed a shopping cart from the doorway, the wheels making a soft rolling sound on the ground.
She walked straight toward the fruit and fresh produce section.
Sheng Tingzhou followed behind at a leisurely pace, his hands in his trouser pockets.
I watched as she tiptoed to take a bottle of seasoning from the shelf, then looked down to carefully examine the ingredient list on the packaging.
He couldn't help but ask, "You're quite good at this?"
Song Zhiwei smiled, a gentle curve forming at the corners of her lips.
"I wouldn't say I understand it; I only recently started learning. I used to cook entirely by feel, but now I realize I need to understand the ingredients, because you can't be careless about what you put in your mouth."
I was thinking that he would be coming over for dinner this weekend.
She hesitated for a moment, then casually asked, "Do you prefer strong or mild flavors? Do you have any dietary restrictions?"
Sheng Tingzhou stared at her face, his gaze calm and his tone indifferent.
"Anything is fine, I'm not picky, I'll be full if I eat something."
"So you don't mind whatever I choose?"
She pressed for more information, a sly glint in her eyes.
"I don't mind."
He answered decisively, but his eyes didn't look away.
Instead, he lingered on her face for a few seconds, as if trying to see what she was thinking.
She nodded, asked no more questions, and continued pushing the shopping cart forward.
She selected several boxes of fresh blueberries and strawberries, their skins shiny and plump.
I also took some broccoli and spinach that were labeled "organic".
Fresh beef brisket and chicken breast, just arrived at the meat section, were also available.
She picked and chose, putting each item into the car one by one.
The shopping cart gradually filled up, stacking from the bottom up to almost the height of the handle.
Sheng Tingzhou glanced at it, said nothing, and naturally reached out to take the handle of the cart, absorbing the weight.
Song Zhiwei was taken aback for a moment, and was about to say "No need".
But seeing his composed demeanor, she swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue.
She didn't refuse, just said "thank you" softly, and continued browsing and putting things into her car.
When it was time to pay, the line wasn't long, and they were second in line.
The cashier quickly scanned the code, and a series of crisp "beep beep" sounds followed.
Finally, the cashier looked up and announced the amount.
"531, WeChat or Alipay?"
"Scan the code."
Sheng Tingzhou immediately took out his phone, handed it over first, unlocked it, and opened the payment code in one smooth motion.
The cashier glanced at Song Zhiwei furtively.
Seeing that she was looking down and organizing her shopping bags, he took the opportunity to lower his voice and say with a smile, "Girl, you are so beautiful, and your boyfriend is super handsome too. You two look so good together."
Song Zhiwei was taken aback, her expression faltered slightly, and her eyes trembled slightly.
She subconsciously turned around and glanced at Sheng Tingzhou, her gaze falling on his handsome profile.
He was looking at her with a smile, his eyes sparkling like stars.
Her heart skipped a beat, and she was about to speak to clarify when the words were barely on her lips.
A deep, familiar voice rang out from behind, tinged with impatience and laziness.
"Hurry up, I'm hungry."
She opened her mouth, her throat moved, but the words got stuck on the tip of her tongue, and in the end, she said nothing.
She lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes trembled slightly, and silently squatted down to tidy up the shopping bags scattered on the ground.
As she stepped out of the supermarket, the cool night breeze ruffled a few stray hairs across her forehead.
She subconsciously looked up at the man beside her.
He carried two bulging plastic bags steadily in one hand, while his other arm was bent, with a heavy bag of groceries hanging on his shoulder.
Recalling Zhou Zhiwei's previous sarcastic remarks about "climbing the social ladder" and "don't think you can rise to the top just by hooking up with a rich person," her fingers unconsciously tightened.
Sheng Tingzhou immediately noticed her movements.
"What? Are you going to let the stench out? Why are you hiding so far away?"
Song Zhiwei: "..."
She stared silently at his ambiguous smile, speechless.
She really couldn't guess what kind of strange things were going on in this guy's head.
It's so absurd it's both laughable and pathetic.
She turned her head away, gazing at the dim streetlights in the distance, and ignored him.
Sheng Tingzhou chuckled softly, his deep laughter echoing in the night.
He didn't say anything more, but just walked slowly behind her, the bag in his hand steady.
When we got downstairs, the motion-sensor light at the elevator entrance flickered on and off.
Sheng Tingzhou raised his chin slightly and said casually, "Press the elevator button."
Song Zhiwei glanced at her empty hands, then at his shoulders, which were slightly slumped under the weight of the shopping bags.
She didn't say anything, silently walked over, and gently pressed the up button on the metal panel with her fingertips.
While waiting, the wind outside the elevator rustled a few fallen leaves.
The elevator doors opened slowly, making a soft "ding" sound.
The two went inside and stood still. She lowered her head and stared at the tips of her shoes.
Sheng Tingzhou leaned against the corner, his gaze slightly lowered, his expression calm.
As I stepped out of the elevator and turned the corner of the corridor, a familiar figure stood quietly in the spotlight by the doorway.
Song Zhiwei's steps suddenly stopped, her heart tightened instantly, and even her breathing slowed down.
Xie Lingling happened to turn around as well, and their eyes met. She was slightly taken aback at first.
His gaze then swept over her and landed on the tall figure behind her.
Sheng Tingzhou was standing a few steps away, carrying several bags in his hands, looking calm.
Upon recognizing him, Xie Lingling could hardly hide her surprise; her pupils contracted slightly, and her lips parted slightly.
"Mom, what brings you here?"
Song Zhiwei quickened her pace, stepped forward, and instinctively blocked her way.
Her voice carried a hint of urgency and a subtle tension.
I missed you, so I came to see you.
Xie Lingling took her hand; her palm was slightly cool, and her knuckles were a little stiff.
She spoke very softly, as if afraid of disturbing something, while subtly observing the man behind her.
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