Zhou Jinting and Qin Yanzhi exchanged glances and couldn't help but comment.
"What's up today? Both of them, even before drinking, ran to the bathroom!"
"Feeling weak, Mr. Fu?"
"Haha…"
…
Zhong Pei didn't go to the bathroom; he intended to go backstage to see Sheng Xiangsi.
"Zhong Pei."
Suddenly, Fu Hanjiang's voice came from behind.
"Second Brother Fu?"
Zhong Pei turned around, feeling a bit guilty for no reason.
"Lost your way?"
Fu Hanjiang, seeing through him but not exposing him, smiled and hooked his arm around Zhong Pei's shoulder, "After coming here so many times, still can't find the bathroom?"
With a tug, he led him in another direction, "Come on, I'll take you."
"Uh, okay."
Zhong Pei had no choice but to follow him, and the two entered the bathroom together.
Two men of similar height stood side by side, handling their business.
"Zhong Pei."
Suddenly, Fu Hanjiang spoke.
"Hmm?" Zhong Pei was surprised, glancing at him, "Second Brother Fu, what's up?"
"I know you were going backstage to find Sheng Xiangsi." Fu Hanjiang's eyes remained straight ahead.
"But she didn't come today."
This unexpected statement made Zhong Pei break out in a cold sweat.
Fu Hanjiang didn't need to look to imagine his expression.
"You…" Zhong Pei swallowed, "How do you know?"
Fu Hanjiang didn't answer that question.
He turned his head to face Zhong Pei, "Zhong Pei, promise me, don't go looking for Sheng Xiangsi anymore. You're not suitable for each other. Give up on her."
"Wh-why?"
Zhong Pei was startled again, one shock after another.
"Because…"
Fu Hanjiang's eyes narrowed, conveying a look only men understand, a territorial glare when another covets his prize.
"She is mine."
"??"
Zhong Pei was astonished, almost blurting out, "But, didn't you divorce?"
That couldn't be false.
He hung out with them every day and knew well—Second Brother Fu had been planning the divorce for a year, and once Sheng Xiangsi returned, they signed the papers!
Fu Hanjiang raised an eyebrow, "That was in the past. Times have changed; we've reconciled."
What?
Reconciled?
That didn't add up.
Zhong Pei frowned, arguing, "But just a few days ago, your grandmother was encouraging me…"
"Ha."
Fu Hanjiang chuckled, cutting him off.
"Our reconciliation is recent, just these past few days."
Though it was his one-sided decision… once he decided, he'd eventually win Sheng Xiangsi back!
Zhong Pei's lips parted slightly, momentarily speechless.
"Any more questions?"
Fu Hanjiang maintained a friendly big-brother demeanor, but the hostility in his eyes didn't diminish.
"I have time now, ask away. I'll answer everything."
"…" Zhong Pei remained silent.
With things said this plainly, what more was there to ask?
"Oh."
Fu Hanjiang remembered something, raising a hand to smooth his brow, "Earlier, you asked how I knew she wasn't here tonight?"
The man seemed to recall something amusing, laughing softly, "Not just tonight, she won't be coming back again."
After that, he turned and left first.
Zhong Pei stood there, stunned.
He understood.
Because she reconciled with Second Brother Fu… she didn't need to struggle anymore!
In fact, he could have spared her this struggle too.
But he was a step too late.
…
Returning to the front, Fu Hanjiang's expression was as usual, but Zhong Pei was much quieter.
However, he was always taciturn, so Qin Yanzhi and the others didn't notice anything unusual.
After a while, Fu Hanjiang checked his watch, "I have something to do. I'll leave first."
"Leaving so early?"
"Mm, someone's waiting for me." Fu Hanjiang stood up.
Qin Yanzhi smirked, teasing, "Yao Leyi?"
"Yanzhi."
Suddenly, Fu Hanjiang's face darkened as he looked at both Qin Yanzhi and Zhou Jinting, his expression more serious than ever before.
"I'll say this once, Leyi is my sister-in-law. That's the extent of our relationship. I don't want you to joke about us anymore."
This…
What's going on?
Why so serious all of a sudden?
Hadn't they joked about this plenty over the years?
But never had Fu Hanjiang reacted this strongly.
Qin Yanzhi and Zhou Jinting could sense he was serious. If they mentioned it again, he'd certainly be offended.
"Uh, got it."
"Okay, understood."
"Mm."
Satisfied, Fu Hanjiang's expression returned to normal, "I'm off."
"Hey, who are you going to see? Got a girlfriend?"
"Bring her to meet the brothers!"
"Yeah!"
With his back to them, Fu Hanjiang waved, "Maybe another time!"
"Really got a girlfriend, huh?"
"No wonder he doesn't want it mentioned… turns out he's got someone special…"
In the corner, Zhong Pei clutched a drink, tilting his head back and downing it.
…
When the door knocked, Sheng Xiangsi was searching for jobs on her phone.
Losing her job at Mise meant she needed to find another one quickly.
"Who is it?"
Hearing the knock, she put down her phone and went to open the door.
A long leg stepped in first, Fu Hanjiang carrying a bag in one hand, and tossing his suit jacket draped over his elbow to her with the other.
Sheng Xiangsi scrambled to catch his jacket. Why was he here again!
Fu Hanjiang walked in, placing the bag on the table.
There was only one table in the apartment, where Sheng Xiangsi ate, read, and did her makeup.
"Come over here."
Fu Hanjiang said while unpacking the bag, "Not going out? What are you doing alone?"
Sheng Xiangsi was annoyed but couldn't start cursing, so she just glared at him. "Nothing, just watching TV."
The apartment came with an old TV, courtesy of the landlord, which Sheng Xiangsi turned on for some background noise.
"TV?"
Fu Hanjiang glanced at the TV.
A variety show was on, featuring a lineup of male contestants wearing only swim trunks.
Instantly, Fu Hanjiang's face darkened.
Was she watching this?
"Is it good?" Fu Hanjiang squinted slightly.
Sheng Xiangsi, unaware of the danger, nodded and replied casually, "Yeah, it's good."
Just then, the TV zoomed in on one contestant's well-defined chest and abs.
"Look at that physique."
"!"
Fu Hanjiang's eyes widened. She dared to watch other men! And compliment them?
With his temper, he wanted to smash the TV! But he couldn't!
Because it would scare Xiangsi.
Suddenly, he raised his hand, cupping her cheeks and turning her face toward him, displeased, "Don't watch anymore!"
Sheng Xiangsi blinked, tilting her head to avoid his hand.
Fu Hanjiang's hand fell empty, but he didn't mind, pointing to the table, "Sit down, eat."
"What?"
Sheng Xiangsi was puzzled, looking down.
"Almond tofu."
Fu Hanjiang smiled, though he couldn't see it himself—the distinguished Mr. Fu with a face full of flattery.
Tsk tsk, such a pitiable look.
"I bought it for you, eat up."