After breakfast, the two children played in the living room.
Shen Muzhi was clearing away the dishes and preparing to wash them when Xiang Zhilan, unable to bear his clumsy movements, took the dishcloth from him.
"What are you planning to do today?" Shen Muzhi stayed close to her, wiping the kitchen counter with a rag in his hand.
"I'm taking the kids to Sitian's place to play." Although Xiang Zhilan had lived a life of luxury for more than two years, she was still very efficient at doing housework.
"Then I'll go with you." Shen Muzhi wiped the kitchen counter and then the range hood.
Xiang Zhilan frowned slightly. Something felt off. Why was he so easily intruding into her life so soon after she returned? This was not what she had originally intended.
"No need, I'll drive the kids myself." Xiang Zhilan directly rejected his attempt to further intrude.
"That's too inconvenient. I'll drive you there myself. Call me after you're done and I'll come pick you up." Shen Muzhi backed down, changing the offer from accompanying him to simply picking him up and dropping him off.
"Shen Muzhi, are you very free? Don't you have any work at the end of the year?" Xiang Zhilan was not used to him being so humble; this was not like him at all.
"Do you have to be so prickly and guard yourself, keeping me at arm's length?" He just wanted to spend more time with her and the children; he had already missed more than two years of his life.
Hearing his question, Xiang Zhilan pursed her lips and remained silent for a long time. After washing the last bowl, she said in a low voice, "You can be close to the child, but don't waste your time on me. There's no third time. I've already given you more than three chances. Even if no one else wants me, I won't be so pathetic. Besides, you know I don't lack suitors."
Shen Muzhi's hand, which was twisting the rag, stiffened for a moment. Her words had been harsh enough, and with his pride, he should have backed down. But he knew that if he retreated now, there would be no chance in the future.
“I don’t think it’s a waste of time. I do whatever I want now willingly, so you don’t need to feel burdened,” Shen Muzhi said calmly, hanging up the wrung-out rag.
"But you've already become a burden to me. How am I supposed to meet a new boyfriend if you follow me around like this every day?" Xiang Zhilan said irritably.
"Are you looking for a new boyfriend?" Shen Muzhi thought that since Luo Che hadn't won her over for so long, she must still have feelings for him.
"Nonsense, even after the new year, I'm not even thirty yet, of course I need to find a boyfriend." Xiang Zhilan dried her hands, poured herself a glass of water, took a sip, and said, "You should hurry up and find one too, or you might not be able to by forty."
Shen Muzhi's face darkened slightly; she had actually mocked him for being old.
Xiang Zhilan realized that she was probably leaning towards being a sadist. Seeing Shen Muzhi so angry that he was half-dead and his face was ashen, she felt quite pleased.
She put down her teacup and prepared to walk past him out of the kitchen, but he suddenly grabbed her upper arm, pulled her back, and pinned her against the counter. She frowned unhappily.
Shen Muzhi put his hands around her waist, braced himself on the kitchen counter, and leaned down to stare intently at her.
To avoid getting too close to him, Xiang Zhilan leaned back and frowned as she reminded him, "Don't do anything reckless, the children are outside."
"What do you think I want to do?" Shen Muzhi suppressed his temper, leaned over, and whispered in her ear, "Whether I'm willing or unable when I'm forty, you'll find out when you experience it for yourself."
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