The pleasant time for two always passes quickly.
Five days ended in the blink of an eye. Having visited several suitable tourist cities in Yuncheng, Xiang Wan felt there was no need to delay any further and told Lu Mingzhe about their return journey.
She expected some resistance, a tearful goodbye, but Lu Mingzhe's reaction was surprisingly subdued.
It was as if she were just going on a business trip and would return to being his person in a couple of days. Apart from a few basic daily reminders, he said nothing more.
Xiang Wan had prepared her responses in advance, but none of them were needed. She was the one left feeling reluctant and slightly disappointed.
Lu Mingzhe did not accompany her to Hangcheng again. True to his word, he went back first to stabilize his family relationships and returned directly to Nancheng.
Sitting alone on the plane back to Hangcheng, Xiang Wan cried the entire way.
She loved Lu Mingzhe, and every second spent with him was incredibly happy.
Just an hour ago, she had been in his arms, but…
There were no direct flights from Yuncheng to Nancheng. Lu Mingzhe traveled by connecting flights and then by car, a journey that took a full day to complete.
He hadn't eaten all day, but he didn't feel hungry.
The entire day was enough for him to think through everything and prepare all his responses.
At past eleven at night, sitting in a taxi back home, he could only pray that Fang Shuya wouldn't be too happy to see him, so his guilt could be minimized.
His fingerprint unlocked the door. He pushed it open to find the house dark and silent.
Lu Mingzhe assumed Fang Shuya was fast asleep. Not daring to turn on the light, he tiptoed inside.
He first went to the bathroom to wash up, then headed to the bedroom to find her.
However, when he turned on the bedroom light, it was empty. All his careful planning had been in vain; the person wasn't home.
Could she be in the second bedroom?
Lu Mingzhe turned and went to the second bedroom, then searched the entire house. She was nowhere to be found.
Perhaps she had gone back to her parents' home or out with friends.
Well, discussing divorce late at night was truly inhumane. He could talk about it tomorrow.
Exhausted from a day of travel and several days of revelry in Yuncheng, he simply went to bed.
Fang Shuya returned home the next day after lunch, just as she was preparing to pack her bags to go on a trip with her cousin's wife and a few other friends.
Upon entering the house and noticing an extra pair of Lu Mingzhe's shoes on the shoe rack, she immediately had a bad feeling.
She rushed to the bedroom and saw that he had indeed returned. Her heart pounded wildly, and she ducked into the bathroom to text her cousin's wife.
"Lu Mingzhe is back. I can't go on the trip. Help me tell him not to contact me for now."
Her cousin's wife quickly replied, "Understood. We're all sensible people, don't worry. Don't feel too guilty; he doesn't have eyes in the back of his head. Don't be overly conspicuous."
Fang Shuya steeled herself and, with a beaming smile, re-entered the bedroom.
She lay down gently next to Lu Mingzhe, resting her head on her side and gazing at his sleeping face with deep affection. Lu Mingzhe woke up instantly.
He smelled a distinct scent that did not belong to Xiang Wan.
He opened his eyes and met Fang Shuya's smiling gaze. He instinctively pulled back a bit before slowly sitting up.
"You're back? What time is it?"
"I was too tired. I saw you weren't here yesterday and slept without calling you. Have you been well lately?"
To be honest, Lu Mingzhe was truly handsome, and his physique was top-notch.
Apart from not being very close, he had always been gentle with her, and she couldn't find any fault with him.
Even though he hadn't answered her calls a few days ago and had forgotten to report his whereabouts, it was completely negligible compared to his current gentleness and handsomeness.
Fang Shuya suddenly regretted it. Why had she been swayed by her cousin's wife to do such a thing?
If Lu Mingzhe found out, was there any chance of reconciliation?
The people outside could indeed make her happy, but she genuinely couldn't bear to part with such a good husband.
So, she could only repay him with even greater tenderness.
"I've been back for a while. I saw you were sleeping soundly and didn't have the heart to wake you. Did I disturb you? I'm sorry, darling."
She hadn't been back for so long, and she hadn't reported her whereabouts recently, deliberately neglecting her. Yet, instead of the shrewish behavior, explosive temper, and tantrums she might have expected, she was speaking so gently.
Lu Mingzhe felt like a terrible person.
"It's not your fault; it's mine… Come on. It's been a while; let's talk outside."
They left the bedroom together. Lu Mingzhe went to the bathroom to wash up, while Fang Shuya hurried into the kitchen.
Since marrying Lu Mingzhe, she had rarely gone to her studio. She had enrolled in a baking class and learned some culinary skills.
Feeling guilty towards Lu Mingzhe, she decided to make something to compensate him now.
When Lu Mingzhe emerged, the dining table was already set with exquisite desserts, and Fang Shuya sat obediently at the table, watching him.
A sense of oppression washed over him again.
Lu Mingzhe, Lu Mingzhe, you are a beast.
When you speak your mind later, even if Fang Shuya hits or scolds you, even if her entire family comes to hit and scold you, you will have no right to retort.
You are truly a scumbag, Lu Mingzhe!
He sat opposite Fang Shuya, his heart filled with guilt.
Fang Shuya smiled and pushed the cake towards him.
"I took a baking class and learned specifically to make this for you. Please try it, darling."
"Ya Ya…"
"Are you going to explain what happened a few days ago? I'm sorry, you're busy with work and away alone, so many things are inconvenient, and I always bother you. I was too insensible."
"Don't worry, it won't happen again. I will fully support your career. Don't be angry with me; let's just forget about that incident and be good together from now on, okay?"
"..."
"Hurry and try it. I made it myself and wanted your good review."
Fang Shuya stood up and, leaning over the dining table, pushed the cake a little closer to him.
"Do you not like sweets? You still have to do me this favor today. Just take a bite, darling."
If she hadn't pushed the dessert, it would have been fine. But as she pushed it, Lu Mingzhe noticed her wedding ring was missing.
The absence of the wedding ring wasn't a particularly significant matter in itself.
However, Fang Shuya had told him when they were buying the rings that she had lived abroad for many years and was heavily influenced by their culture. Her views on wedding rings differed from those of Chinese people.
She believed that unless it was for a special, significant occasion, the ring should not be removed, as doing so would be disrespectful to one's partner.
Furthermore, for the first few months of their marriage, she had worn it on her hand at all times.
This sudden change in her daily behavior made Lu Mingzhe, a psychologist by profession, acutely aware that something was amiss.
But he wouldn't directly express his suspicion.
"You made it yourself? Is it the kind of method where you put your hands into the dough and have to take off the ring first to knead it? That sounds like a lot of work."
He picked up the cake, slowly scooped out a bite, and asked her about the making process, feigning interest.
Seeing that he liked it and was interested in the process, Fang Shuya enthusiastically began to share.
"Who does things so old-fashioned these days, kneading dough with bare hands?"