The woman at the doorway wore a light lake-blue square-neck long dress. The waist had a few pleated designs, paired with white lace trim, perfectly accentuating her figure. She was not short, and with a pair of heeled leather shoes, she appeared tall and slender.
The long hair from their first meeting was gone, replaced by a neat, ear-length short haircut. The ends of her hair were perhaps permed, carrying a slight curl. She wore a white hair clip on her head, looking both stylish and trendy.
She stood there gracefully, seemingly thinner than before. Her delicate oval face was sharp and petite, her single eyelids slightly drooping, making her cool brows and eyes exude an even deeper chill.
“Xu Qiqi?” The name surfaced in her mind, and Cheng Fangqiu subconsciously murmured it out.
The woman, who had been in a bad mood, suddenly lifted her head upon hearing her name. Their gazes collided mid-air, and in each other’s eyes, they saw the same disbelief.
Xu Qiqi’s eyes widened, a dead-silent gaze suddenly glowing with new light. She could never forget Cheng Fangqiu’s face—there was no other reason except that she had never seen such a beautiful girl before, and she had even designed a unique wedding dress for her, leaving an even deeper impression.
“It’s been a long time. I never thought I’d see you here.”
Cheng Fangqiu was also pleasantly surprised and couldn’t help but marvel at the wonders of fate. She had thought their brief farewell at the supply and marketing cooperative in Enchuan County would be the last intersection in their lives. She hadn’t expected to meet again so soon—and in an unfamiliar city, no less.
As she spoke, she got up from the dining table and walked toward the doorway.
Zhou Yinghuai, sensing that they knew each other, momentarily suppressed his curiosity and stepped aside to make space, inviting Xu Qiqi inside. The latter did not stand on ceremony, entering immediately and standing face-to-face with Cheng Fangqiu.
“Yeah, I really didn’t expect this.”
“You’re the wife Comrade Zhou just married?” Given the timing and the fact that they were having lunch together alone, Xu Qiqi only had to think for a moment before she figured out their relationship.
Cheng Fangqiu nodded and had already guessed Xu Qiqi’s identity. Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at the rose placed in the corner of the wall but did not forget to answer, “Mm, I just arrived at the factory two days ago.”
“What a pity. If I had known you were Comrade Zhou’s partner, I should have invited you to my wedding. You have no idea how stunning the dress you designed for me looked that day.” Xu Qiqi’s lips couldn’t help but curve as she recalled how she had amazed the crowd that day. But then, as if reminded of something, the light in her eyes dimmed again.
What use was looking good? He still hadn’t spared her a second glance.
Hearing this, Cheng Fangqiu merely smiled and said nothing. At that time, she and Zhou Yinghuai had not been together yet, and besides, in life, there were never that many “if only I had known.” More importantly, even meeting now was not too late. Knowing that Xu Qiqi was very satisfied with her design, Cheng Fangqiu’s eyes curved slightly, and a subtle sense of accomplishment spread through her heart.
The two weren’t exactly close, so once the initial joy of reunion faded, an indescribable awkwardness settled in.
Xu Qiqi shifted the topic to the reason for her visit. “I’m really sorry. I promised to give it to you last night, but today I have to take it back.”
At this, the smile on Xu Qiqi’s face faded considerably.
“It’s fine.” If Xu Qiqi wanted to take the flower back, Cheng Fangqiu had no objections whatsoever. She immediately called Zhou Yinghuai over to find a bag to pack the flower. “Can you carry it? I can have him help you move it back.”
Xu Qiqi quickly waved her hands. “No need, I came by bicycle.”
“Alright then.”
Cheng Fangqiu nodded, not saying much more, but her gaze couldn’t help but linger on Xu Qiqi for a moment. There was an undeniable weariness in her eyes—one glance, and it was obvious she hadn’t rested well the previous night. Combined with what Zhou Yinghuai had told her earlier, an unsettling feeling crept into Cheng Fangqiu’s heart.
Zhou Yinghuai had mentioned that his colleague’s newly wedded wife didn’t like the flowers planted by his colleague’s ex-wife. Now that Zhou Yinghuai had taken the flowers away, shouldn’t Xu Qiqi be happy? Why had she come all the way here to take them back instead?
Could it be that the couple had a huge argument last night over this matter, and Xu Qiqi had come today to reconcile…?
As this possibility crossed her mind, Cheng Fangqiu frowned. If Xu Qiqi’s husband still had feelings for his ex-wife, then why marry Xu Qiqi? Was this fair to anyone?
But in this era, marriage was often about making do. It wasn’t uncommon for people to marry without love. Besides, this was someone else’s business. No matter what the truth was, she had no position or right to interfere.
Taking a deep breath, Cheng Fangqiu shifted her gaze away and extended an invitation instead. “Do you want to have something to eat?”
“No, thank you. I already ate before coming.”
Xu Qiqi waved her hand in refusal but curved her lips into a smile at Cheng Fangqiu. Seeing the kindness in her eyes, she hesitated briefly, then smiled even more sincerely. “I also just got married and moved to the factory. I don’t have many friends here. If you don’t mind, can I come find you to hang out in the future?”
“Of course.” Cheng Fangqiu smiled as well. Who wouldn’t want to be friends with a beautiful young lady?
Before long, Zhou Yinghuai had packed the rose into a large bag. Xu Qiqi bid farewell, and once the door closed, the house returned to silence.
“You two have met before?” He closed the door and naturally wrapped an arm around Cheng Fangqiu’s waist, leading her back to the dining table. Though his words were phrased as a question, his tone was certain.
“Mm.” Cheng Fangqiu then recounted how she had accompanied Cheng Xiaohua to the city to pick out fabric and had run into Xu Qiqi at the supply and marketing cooperative.
Thinking back, Zhou Yinghuai had also been there that day, though they had gone about their errands separately.
Recalling something, she cast him a meaningful look and deliberately stretched out her words. “That time, wasn’t someone sneakily buying me a handkerchief?”
At her words, a hint of unnaturalness flashed in Zhou Yinghuai’s eyes, and the tips of his ears instantly flushed red. Seeing her cover her lips and giggle, he helplessly curled his lips. “Eat your food. Once we’re done, we’ll go take photos.”
“Oh.” Cheng Fangqiu rarely saw him flustered. Her beautiful eyes curved into crescent moons.
Last night had been too indulgent, and they hadn’t gone to sleep until late into the night. Neither of them had managed to wake up early, so they had skipped breakfast. For lunch, Zhou Yinghuai had put in extra effort to prepare a feast. Yes, that’s right—he had cooked everything himself. Cheng Fangqiu hadn’t been woken up to wash up until the meal was nearly ready.
Who knew how shocked she had been when she saw the dishes on the table?
Shredded pork with green peppers, spicy diced chicken, mapo tofu, tomato and egg soup—each dish was vibrant in color, aromatic, and bursting with flavor. If their meal hadn’t been interrupted by Xu Qiqi’s visit, Cheng Fangqiu probably would have already finished an entire bowl of rice.
She truly hadn’t expected that someone who looked so refined and cold would have such amazing culinary skills—he could rival a five-star chef!
“It’s my fortune to have you. Wuwuwu, how is my Brother Huai so good at cooking? I love you so much!”
“This chicken is so fragrant and tender. And this tofu—so flavorful…”
Cheng Fangqiu’s little mouth was as if coated in honey, and when she complimented, she would gaze directly into his eyes, hitting right at the heart of the matter. Her sincerity made her praise feel entirely genuine, not the least bit exaggerated.
“If you like it, eat more. I’ll cook for you again next time.” Zhou Yinghuai clearly enjoyed hearing her praise. After picking out some food for her, he even ladled soup into an empty bowl and set it in front of her, taking care of her in every way possible.
—
These days, the weather had been scorching hot, and the midday sun was particularly blinding.
Xu Qiqi unconsciously pedaled her bicycle faster, but when she caught a glimpse of the rose in the basket swaying in the wind, she found it even more of an eyesore. A suffocating frustration welled up in her chest, and her expression darkened noticeably.
“Isn’t that the deputy factory director’s wife? Where did she get flowers in this heat?”
Someone on the road caught sight of Xu Qiqi and couldn’t help but exclaim.
The person beside them also noticed and quickly covered their mouth, whispering, “Haven’t you heard about the situation at the deputy factory director’s home?”
“What situation?”
Lowering their voice mysteriously, the person shared what they knew—but how much was truth and how much was fabrication, who could say?
Xu Qiqi had no idea that people were gossiping about her family matters. Even if she had known, she wouldn’t have cared.
When she arrived at her doorstep, she immediately stopped her bicycle, pulled open the courtyard gate, and pushed the bike inside. She had always been particular about her appearance and couldn’t stand the feeling of sweat clinging to her skin, so she took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from her forehead and neck.
Once she finished, her gaze involuntarily shifted toward the barren patches of dirt in the flowerbed of the courtyard. The scorching sun had dried out the soil, leaving it cracked and unsightly.
She frowned, lifted the bag from the bicycle basket, and, without any expression, dumped all the roses onto the ground.
The pale pink petals scattered across the earth in an instant, appearing both dazzling and sorrowful—just like the person her husband kept in the photo hidden in the upstairs study.
Roses were beautiful, and she had once loved them dearly. But ever since she fell in love with him, she no longer liked them.
Standing above the scattered petals, Xu Qiqi gazed down at the mess for a moment in silence. Then, she turned, took the watering can from the corner, and dampened the soil before crouching down to replant the roses one by one with her own hands.
The stems of the roses were lined with hooked thorns, and she wasn’t wearing gloves. The sharp barbs pricked her skin, and before long, her hands were covered in scratches, ruining their once-beautiful appearance.
Yet Xu Qiqi acted as though she couldn’t feel the pain. Only when she had finished planting the roses, along with the two camellia trees, did she finally stop.
After everything was done, she slowly curved her lips into a smile.
—
“Get changed, we’re heading out.”
Zhou Yinghuai finished washing the dishes and walked out of the kitchen, only to find Cheng Fangqiu staring blankly at something in her hands. When she heard his voice, she seemed startled, then hastily hid the item behind her back. It took her a long moment before she finally responded, “Okay.”
Seeing this, he paused in his steps. His gaze instinctively flickered toward the object she was hiding, and he casually asked, “What are you holding?”
Cheng Fangqiu swallowed hard, her gaze evasive. “Nothing.”
“Mhm, go change your clothes.”
Zhou Yinghuai seemed unconcerned as he walked past her toward the bedroom. Cheng Fangqiu let out a sigh of relief. Just as she brought her hands back from behind her, a voice suddenly sounded near her ear.
“You made this? For me?”
She hadn’t expected him to turn back so suddenly. Startled, her hand trembled, and the object in her grasp nearly fell to the ground—fortunately, he reacted quickly and caught it.
“Do you walk without making a sound?” Cheng Fangqiu struck first, attempting to snatch it back from him. But with his long arms and legs, he easily sidestepped her reach.
A hint of amusement surfaced on Zhou Yinghuai’s lips as he lifted the item in his hand and repeated, “You made this? For me?”
It was a blue sachet—simple, unadorned, without any embroidery. It wasn’t particularly attractive or ugly, but the uneven stitches along the edges utterly ruined any sense of balance.
Honestly, if she could, Cheng Fangqiu would rather not admit that she had made this sachet for him. In her eyes, it was so hideous that she couldn’t bring herself to gift it. That was why, despite finishing it long ago, she had kept it buried at the bottom of her trunk instead of giving it to him.
Yet somehow, this sachet had ended up in her luggage. If she hadn’t been organizing her things just now, she wouldn’t have even noticed it.
Thinking carefully, it must have been Ding Ximei who had stuffed it in with her clothes while helping her pack before she left.
Cheng Fangqiu bit her lip, at a loss for words. After stammering for a while, she eventually gave a small nod. The next moment, a blush rapidly spread across her cheeks, creeping up to her ears. Her delicate face turned as radiant as spring water rippling under sunlight, making it impossible not to steal another glance—or several.
“It’s so ugly. I don’t want to give it to you anymore.”
As soon as she said that, she lunged forward to snatch it back again, but Zhou Yinghuai wrapped his arm around her waist, securing her in his embrace. His eyes gleamed with undisguised joy, and his brows softened as he said slowly, “I think it looks great. I want it.”
The sachet she despised as ugly, he held in his palm as if it were a treasure.
Cheng Fangqiu’s long, thick eyelashes fluttered. She felt as though a little deer were jumping wildly inside her chest, disrupting her thoughts. She opened her mouth as if to say something but ultimately could only whisper, “If you like it, you can have it.”
Then, in a sudden burst of movement, she wriggled out of his embrace and bolted toward the bedroom. “I’m going to change my clothes!”
Zhou Yinghuai remained where he was, watching her shut the door behind her. He then lowered his gaze to the sachet in his hand, his eyes gleaming like scattered starlight. His heart felt like it had been wrapped in honey—warm and sweet.
People might hear Cheng Fangqiu’s voice laced with coquettish playfulness and assume she was never serious about anything.
But in reality, whenever she promised him something, she always followed through.
—
Not long after, Cheng Fangqiu emerged from the bedroom, fully dressed. The moment she stepped out, her eyes landed on the sachet now tied to Zhou Yinghuai’s waist. The small, lumpy pouch, though difficult to judge from afar, somehow created an adorable contrast against his tall and imposing figure.
Just one glance, and the warmth that had finally subsided in her ears started rising again. Annoyed, she said, “What if someone sees it?”
“So what if they do? None of them have one.” Zhou Yinghuai’s cold and stoic face barely concealed a flicker of smugness, his tone carrying a subtle lift at the end.
Cheng Fangqiu’s mouth twitched. “If anyone asks about it, don’t tell them I made it.”
This sachet was so ugly—it would be an embarrassment to her reputation!
Zhou Yinghuai didn’t respond, which meant he had no intention of agreeing.
Why shouldn’t he tell them? His wife had personally made this mosquito-repelling sachet for him—why wouldn’t he flaunt it? Those men had spent plenty of time showing off the soups their wives made, the clothes they sewed…
Now, he finally had something too.
Cheng Fangqiu had no idea what he was thinking. Seeing that it was getting late, she hurriedly urged him to head out.
—
There were many photography studios in the provincial capital, but the most famous one was undoubtedly Hongmeng Photography Studio.
It had been around for over thirty years, known for its exceptional skills and excellent service. Rumor had it that the cameras they used were the best available in the country, and there had never been a single bad review of their photos.
Of course, their prices were higher than regular studios, but plenty of people were still willing to pay.
Zhou Yinghuai had never taken photos in Rongzhou before, so he specifically asked Zhao Zhigao for recommendations before settling on this place. Zhao Zhigao was a native of Rongzhou, and his advice was reliable.
As soon as Cheng Fangqiu heard this, her interest was immediately piqued.
In her past life, she had dealt with all kinds of cameras almost every single day. Ever since arriving in this world, she hadn’t touched one again. If no one had mentioned it, she might have been fine—but now that the topic was brought up, an unbearable itch stirred in her heart.
Even if she couldn’t use them herself, just taking a look would be enough.