Chapter 51 She dared not hope that the bright moon would hang high, shining alone upon her…
Su Cheng was somewhat surprised to receive Jiang Muzhou's call.
During this period, he has been busy filming a documentary and is constantly traveling to other places.
The next episode's theme is not the ancient porcelain firing she had envisioned, but rather traditional mother-of-pearl inlay. Although she doesn't need to be on set for an extended period, the shooting schedule is still quite long.
Whenever there was a break between filming sessions, Jiang Muzhou would always make time to go home for a day or two to prevent Yuanbao's separation anxiety from recurring.
Knowing he wouldn't be able to stay at home for long before having to rush back to the film set, he always felt that a short reunion was better than a long separation, so he willingly kept going back and forth.
While Jiang Muzhou was away on a business trip, Su Cheng resumed her old job of taking care of Yuanbao's daily needs.
He specifically connected the living room security camera to her phone so she could check on Yuanbao's situation at any time.
The original plan to eat together has become sporadic because the two of them can't seem to coordinate their schedules.
Thanks to the traffic boom of short video platforms, Su Cheng's previously lukewarm pet therapy business has started to receive several new orders. She spends her days either filming at the rescue station or visiting clients' homes to provide behavioral correction training and emotional regulation for their pets.
As my days became more fulfilling and busy, I rarely stared blankly at that empty white wall anymore.
Although Jiang Muzhou was so busy that he was often nowhere to be seen, he still remembered to leave her some small, frequent reminders:
[I'll bring you some crispy beef patties from the morning market when I get back tomorrow morning.]
[I have to leave early due to unforeseen circumstances; I've prepared chicken soup in a clay pot.]
I bought some seasonal pomegranates, peeled them, and put them in the second compartment of the refrigerator. They're just the right amount of sweetness.
Whenever Su Cheng received these messages, she would be stunned for a moment.
She dared not hope that the bright moon would shine alone, but she was warm enough to receive even a little bit of its light.
Jiang Muzhou originally said he wouldn't be back until the evening, and Su Cheng was prepared to just order some takeout at the shelter. Unexpectedly, he came back early and even came to pick her up.
After packing her backpack and saying goodbye to the other volunteers in the office, Su Cheng headed towards the door.
The initial plan for the interactive check-in activity has been finalized, and the concept for the pre-event video is also emerging. She can refine the remaining details when she gets home in the evening.
As she passed the litter box, she saw Fufu squatting in it, meticulously burying her poop in the litter.
After the family of black and white cats finished their quarantine, they spent their days playing with other kittens in the office.
"It learned to use the litter box so quickly?" Su Cheng looked at the cat owner who was changing the water, somewhat surprised. "You've done a great job training it!"
"Xiangyu taught it." The zookeeper shook his head with a wry smile. "I noticed it was very skilled at it on the first day it arrived, and later I even saw it teaching other kittens how to dig in the litter box."
"Sigh..." Su Cheng's voice lowered, and the light in her eyes dimmed little by little. "I guess she was raised by a family before, and then she was thrown out."
She sighed. If stray female cats aren't spayed or neutered, their lives will basically consist of going into heat, getting pregnant, and giving birth to kittens, in a cycle that continues until they exhaust themselves.
Fortunately, Miao Xiangyu was spayed after finishing her lactation period and is recovering well now. Hopefully, she can meet a reliable new owner who will treat her with sincerity.
Stepping out of the old factory, a cool autumn breeze greeted me, carrying with it the faint fragrance of osmanthus blossoms.
Su Cheng took a deep breath, as if even the air itself was sweet.
She wore a pure white silk long-sleeved shirt, adorned with a small pearl brooch at the collar. Her burgundy silk midi skirt fell just to her knees, the soft, smooth fabric billowing gracefully with each step.
When she went out at noon, the sun was shining brightly, and she felt hot wearing this outfit. But now, as the sun sets, the thin fabric is no longer enough to ward off the chill of early autumn.
Her long black hair was casually tied back, the ends swaying gently with her light steps.
The office window faces the main road outside the fence, where traffic flows continuously.
Jiang Muzhou had no choice but to park the car on a small, gentle slope with parking lines marked not far away.
Su Cheng walked forward along the mottled courtyard wall.
The Range Rover in the far distance, with its hazard lights on, stood out prominently in the twilight, like a lighthouse guiding her steps as she approached him.
Night fell over the city, and the streetlights lit up one by one, casting a soft, warm glow on the darkening streets.
The soft light shone on the car window beside her, reflecting her image.
Su Cheng paused, and using the reflection from the car window, bent down to straighten the collar of her shirt and then straightened the slightly crooked brooch.
Her ponytail had come loose again, and a few stray strands of hair slipped out.
In the season when fallen leaves return to their roots, she noticed that her hair had thinned significantly, and her usual hair ties no longer fit properly—three loops were too loose, and four loops were too tight.
After much deliberation, in order to protect her hairline, she opted for a looser hairstyle, but she had to rearrange her hair every now and then.
She took off the hair tie, wrapped it tightly four times, and then used her fingers to press down each stray hair.
After checking left and right to make sure everything was alright, she took a deep breath and stepped forward again.
"As a broadcaster, she must be responsible for her every word and action."
Jiang Muzhou's cold, hard voice came from inside the Land Rover, clearly indicating that he was dealing with official business: "I have stopped pursuing the negative impact she has had on the company. Now there are only two choices: either a sincere apology or permanent withdrawal from the network."
Su Cheng stopped upon hearing the sound and waited quietly beside the car.
She had never heard such a stern tone from him before.
In the rearview mirror, Jiang Muzhou seemed to spot her hesitant figure, and his furrowed brows immediately relaxed.
"That's all for now." He quickly ended the call, his expression softening.
The tinted glass slowly descended.
Jiang Muzhou turned to the side, casually resting his elbow on the window frame. "Get in the car."
When they met his gaze, Su Cheng's breath caught in her throat.
The car interior was dimly lit, and silver-rimmed glasses sat on his high nose bridge, his deep, affectionate eyes hidden in the shadows behind the lenses, his gaze as unfathomable as an abyss.
He never wears glasses normally, but today he suddenly wore them and they suited him surprisingly well.
The deep and striking features were subtly softened by the cool-toned frames of the glasses, making the sharpness between his brows and eyes appear even more refined and elegant, gentle and graceful.
Su Cheng paused for a moment before walking around to the other side and opening the car door.
When she sat in the passenger seat, she noticed his unusual attire that day.
A neatly pressed dark gray handmade suit is worn over a pure white shirt, with the collar slightly open to reveal the long, slender neck.
The sharply tailored suit perfectly accentuated his tall and straight figure, making his broad shoulders and narrow waist appear even more striking. The matte fabric exuded a low-key sense of sophistication, and his entire being radiated an innate air of nobility.
If we don't count his high school uniform, this was the first time she had ever seen Jiang Muzhou in a suit.
Su Cheng subconsciously swallowed.
Upon closer reflection, it's true that he hasn't worn a white shirt in a while.
Lately, he's always wearing loose T-shirts, with soft bangs hanging down his forehead, giving him a youthful and casual look that's almost unfairly handsome.
But this outfit seems tailor-made for him, perfectly showcasing his natural self: elegant, composed, and with an intellectual allure.
A voice inside her screamed: How can someone wear a suit so well!
She even felt that those silver-rimmed glasses weren't just decorations, but some kind of switch that instantly illuminated his charming, calm, and aloof aura.
His hands, with their distinct knuckles, rested loosely on the steering wheel.
Jiang Muzhou tapped his fingers lightly twice, the veins on the back of his hand pulsating slightly with the movement.
The person in the passenger seat did not react.
He turned his head to look, and saw Su Cheng staring blankly at the windshield, her delicate eyelashes casting a small shadow under her eyes.
The seatbelt buckles made a crisp sound, and the leather seats emitted a subtle rustling sound.
Su Cheng's thoughts were still wandering elsewhere when suddenly, a shadow fell, carrying the long-lost scent of mint.
She was startled to find that Jiang Muzhou had leaned closer to her without her noticing.
The distance between the two was instantly reduced.
His warm breath brushed against the skin on the side of her neck, sending a tingling, ticklish sensation through her.
Her mind went blank, and she didn't know where to look. She could only nervously lower her eyelashes, but her gaze fell on his Adam's apple, which was so close to hers.
It glides gently with each breath, like a silent invitation.
She unconsciously gripped the hem of her skirt, the silk fabric making a soft rubbing sound against her palm.
Memories surged up.
The moment he lifted her up with one hand, beneath the same wine-red skirt, her pulse quickened and her body temperature soared.
The eyes begin to lose focus, and the brain becomes sluggish.
The air inside the cramped carriage was heavy; even the roar of the engine couldn't calm her pounding heart.
What...what is he going to do?
Su Cheng's cheeks began to burn uncontrollably, her back tensed involuntarily, and she shrank back into the chair.
This ambiguous and unsettling approach left her at a loss.
But then he precisely pulled the forgotten seatbelt from her side.
A "click" sound came from beside my ear.
Her eyelashes fluttered.
It turned out that he just wanted to help her fasten her seatbelt.
Her face turned even redder.
God knows how many unspeakable images flashed through her mind just now.
Jiang Muzhou stepped back slightly, his fingers still resting on the seatbelt buckle.
His gaze fell on her flushed earlobes, and his tone carried a faint smile, "What are you thinking about? You forgot to fasten your seatbelt."
He paused, then added, "Or are you expecting something?"
The words of thanks stuck in her throat. Like a thief caught red-handed, she could only look away in a panic and hurriedly try to make amends, saying, "You were dressed so formally, I almost didn't recognize you."
A soft chuckle escaped Jiang Muzhou's throat.
His gaze, visible behind his glasses, scrutinized her.
The blush on the tips of her ears hadn't faded since the beginning.
He slightly curled the corners of his mouth.
It seems this outfit works quite well.
"I took care of some things this afternoon."
As he explained, he fastened his seatbelt, stepped on the gas, and drove onto the main road.
Recalling the conversation she overheard of him on the phone outside the car, Su Cheng tentatively asked, "Did you go to the studio?"
The fingers gripping the steering wheel suddenly tightened.
His smile froze, and he replied in a deep voice, "I went to see my parents."
Author's Note: [shy][shy] Good evening! It's almost the end of the month, do you have any extra nutrient solution for Su Su and A Zhou? [cat head][cat head]
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