"Umm, I want two dark chocolate pastries with less sugar and extra chips thank you." Xia Yu stared at the prices with the pain in her heart.
It might be just a dessert for these rich people. But for her, it could be her half a month salary! How did they eat something so expensive? She could never dare to do so.
"Are you buying it for Zhou?" Tang Rui looked at Lei mei with a complicated look. Could it be that marriage had matured her?
In the past, she would have never been this thoughtful. Xia Yu smiled and shrugged.
"He left his friends because of me. I will feel bad if I go home empty handed. There is nothing more to it, so you do not need to look at me with those eyes." Xia Yu looked away. How could she not know pity! She had had it all her life.
Tang Rui gave his card when the waiter passed the bill. He raised a brow when she hesitated but in the end, she did not stop him.
"Mei! We have been friends for a long time. But even i could not recognize you recently." he walked closer with a frown and stared at her from top to bottom. "Have you grown an inch at this age?" her heart skipped a beat. But she laughed with an amused expression, making him embarrassed.
"I mean, your heels suit you greatly. But Mei, if it does not work out, you can always take a step back. You do not need to hurt yourself. It is not about you, Zhou did not love anyone. He is.. Different." For some reason, he could not forget her words. He did not want her to suffer alone.
"It is alright. Half of the world lives in a loveless marriage. It is not like my husband hurt me in any way. He respects me and gives me freedom to live. That is more than enough." she smiled back.
"Maam your order." She knew that Tang Rui wanted to say more. She was glad that Lei mei had such caring friends. But she was relieved when she got the order. She could notice that he found her different. What if he became doubtful.
"Thank you." She took the bag and smiled at Tang Rui, "I will see you later then." waving her hands, she left in the car.
Tang Rui took out his phone from his pocket. Nobody knew that he had called Zhou a long time ago.
"You still think that the girl is acting for money! You should feel embarrassed, you know." he wanted to scold more, but he knew his limits. No one knew how Han Zhou would react if he was pushed too much.
"Beep beep." Instead of replying, Han Zhou cut the call. He stared at the phone in his hands with an unfathomable look in his dark eyes.
"Sir! About the project.." Natalie, his assistant from the USA, looked at him in confusion.
"I do not want another investor. This would be my solo project. As long as it is about money, you do not need to worry. Monitor the progress and send me weekly reports." the woman went serious and nodded at his instructions.
As soon as the call was disconnected, Han Zhou rubbed his temples. When he heard the sound of a car, He stood up and opened the window. The wind was chilly tonight. The girl was wearing too little. Why was she so late when she had promised him to return on time? His eyes instantly fell on the box of desserts in her hands.
She was holding them as if it was a treasure. Parking the car, she wiped the sweat off her face making him frown further.
He opened the door before Xia Yu could press the bells. Her eyes widened and she took a step back instinctively.
"You are still awake." he titled his head and looked at the watch. It was only ten.
"I mean, did Mrs Chen leave already?" he did not reply to her but picked up her sleepers. Embarrassed, Xia Yu hurriedly changed the slippers and walked in.
She instantly noticed that he was once again working in the dining room. There were three empty cups of coffee beside his laptop. Her frown grew instantly.
"Too much coffee is not good for your sleep. I will warm milk for you instead. It would be a good combination with pastries." She did not wait for his reply as she washed her hands and took out milk from the fridge.
Han Zhou leaned on the wall as he watched her working in the open kitchen. Her actions were precise as if she worked in the kitchen often.
Mrs Chen had told him that she had cooked the porridge he liked the other day. But he had thought she was only lying to improve her image. She took out turmeric and mixed it in his milk and then added some spices.
She even cleaned the cup twice before filling it for him. Such an ordinary task of warming the milk felt so entrancing when she did it for him.
"Here, drink it when it is still warm." passing him the glass. She picked up the files and started arranging them.
He watched her silently as she worked like a perfect wife! Zhou blinked. A perfect wife!? What did it even mean?
He shook his head as if he was trying to break his trance.
"It is late! Are you continuing your work or shall I close it?" her hands were on the mouse as she waited for his instructions with a stern look in his eyes.
His eyes twitched. No one had ever scolded him. Was she telling him that he did not take care of himself? And why was he feeling good about it? He must have lost it already.
"I still have one more file to review." she frowned instantly and let go of the mouse.
"Then.." she finally hesitated as if remembering that they were not close enough to interfere. "Rest early. I will be going then."