SKS Chapter 41

Chapter 41: Zhao Ziqian’s Appearance

The next day, the mother-daughter duo slept in until almost noon.

Shen Zhuying didn’t wake up naturally, though. She was kicked out of bed by Shen An.

With a face full of pillow marks, she looked at Shen An in confusion and said, “How does Little Zhuo tolerate your sleeping position? Is he the most patient man in the world?”

Shen Zhuying rubbed her buttocks skillfully, sat on the carpet with her knees hugged to her chest, and looked utterly hopeless.

What was going on?
She had spent hours studying how to correct her sleeping position online, but it seemed to have no effect.

If this continued, when would she be able to sleep with Fu Sizhuo?

Shen Zhuying dragged herself into the bedroom and found that everything was back to normal. The bed was made, and it seemed like last night’s events were just an illusion.

There was a note on the bedside table with familiar, sharp handwriting.

To: Zhuzhu
I have to go to Romania on a business trip, and my return date is uncertain. Don’t worry about me.
Wait for me to come back.
Fu Sizhuo

Shen Zhuying looked at the note, sighed softly, and quietly digested her disappointment and loss.

She was annoyed. Last night was such a good opportunity, and she had gotten nervous.

She wanted to kiss him on the lips but ended up bumping into the corner of his mouth instead.

After lunch, Shen An drove her to the flower shop and brought up the topic of getting a driver’s license again.

Getting a driver’s license was Shen Zhuying’s lifelong pain.

She started taking driving lessons in her senior year of college but failed every time, without exception, due to not passing the third test.

She was relatively calm about it, thinking that she could retake the test.

However, her driving instructor was terrified.

The instructor was literally begging her to stop taking the test, saying that he had a family to support and didn’t want to risk his life.

There was a news report about a student who accidentally pressed the accelerator instead of the brake during a driving test, killing the instructor in the passenger seat.

After that incident, Shen Zhuying’s instructor was too scared to teach her anymore.

Shen Zhuying couldn’t blame him. She thought electric cars were convenient enough, and she could always take the subway when it rained.

So, she casually brushed off Shen An’s suggestion. “Okay, okay. Only Little Zhuo is patient enough to pick me up every day after work.”

“If I were him, I’d want to destroy the world after work.”

Shen Zhuying said, “Mom, you’re treating him like another son.”

She mentioned Fu Sizhuo’s name multiple times a day, to an astonishing extent.

Shen An praised, “Little Zhuo is a good kid. And importantly, he’s handsome.”

Shen Zhuying thought to herself, she knew that her mom’s appreciation for looks was hereditary.

If it weren’t for that, Shen An wouldn’t have followed Zhao Ziqian from Jiangnan to Beijing.

After Shen An and Zhao Ziqian’s divorce, the court awarded each parent one child.

At the time, Shen Zhuyu went with Shen An, while Shen Zhuying was awarded to Zhao Ziqian.

However, things changed, and six months later, Shen An brought Shen Zhuying back to live with her and changed both girls’ surnames to Shen.

Shen Zhuying didn’t expect to see Zhao Ziqian again on that particular day.

It was the first snowfall in Beijing, and the snowflakes were falling gently, covering the streets.

She excitedly took a photo and sent it to Fu Sizhuo.

Muzi Manying: [picture]

Muzi Manying: Beijing, first snow.

Fu Sizhuo had been away on a business trip for 11 days, and his return date was still uncertain.

However, unlike before when he would be unreachable, he was now eager to share his daily experiences with her.

He even seemed more enthusiastic about sharing things with her than she was.

Through the screen, Shen Zhuying saw the Danube River in Romania, seagulls perched on top of a church, and a blurry green patch that caught his eye one day.

He said he thought of her during those moments.

What was Shen Zhuying thinking about?

She thought about Fu Sizhuo’s energetic moments on social media when he was younger, full of life and eager to share.

Now, he was willing to share those moments with her, as if she had exclusive access to his life and his younger self.

Half an hour later, a notification popped up.

Classmate A: [picture]

Classmate A: Romania, moon.

Shen Zhuying smiled.

Everything was getting better.

Because it was the first snow, the flower shop received a surge of orders, and Shen Zhuying had to extend her working hours.

It wasn’t until around 7:30 pm that she finally hung up the “closed” sign.

Apart from overtime pay, she gave each employee a large bouquet of champagne roses.

“Today is the first snow, wishing everyone all the best. Remember to give flowers to the people you love,” she said, also using sign language to communicate with Xiao Chun and Xiao Tao.

Xiao Chun and Xiao Tao made a heart shape with their hands in response.

A new employee smiled and said, “Happy first snow, Zhuzhu! Is Sizhuo still on a business trip?”

“He’s not, he’ll be back in a few days.”

“Why do I feel like I’m missing Sizhuo more than you are, Zhuzhu?”

Another employee chimed in, “It’s not just you. Many of our female customers have been asking about the handsome guy who used to sit by the window reading.”

“What did you tell them?”

“I told them that I’m not Zhuzhu’s husband’s keeper.”

Everyone burst out laughing. Shen Zhuying smiled silently, giving him a virtual thumbs-up.
Well done!

After everyone had left, Shen Zhuying finished up the remaining tasks, locked the store, and prepared to head home.

As she turned around, she saw a dusty figure wandering in the snow.

The night was dark, and Shen Zhuying couldn’t see clearly at first. She thought it was a homeless person and frowned.

Just as she was about to go back to the store to grab some leftover bread, the man walked closer, and his features became more familiar.

He was hunched over, rubbing his hands together, and said hesitantly, “Little daughter, Daddy is here to see you.”

Shen Zhuying’s throat constricted, and she was momentarily speechless.

How long had it been? Ten years? Fifteen years?

The man who used to be so tall and strong, who could effortlessly carry her and her sister on his shoulders, seemed to have disappeared into the stream of time.

After a long while, she said coldly and politely, “Sorry, you must have mistaken me. I only have a mom.”

She turned to leave, but the man persisted, “You can’t mistake your own daughter. Zhuzhu, Zhuzhu, take a good look at me.”

“I’m telling you, you’re wrong. I don’t know you,” Shen Zhuying quickened her pace, warning him, “If you keep following me, I’ll call the police.”

“Go ahead and call,” he said. “It’s my right to follow my daughter. Who dares to stop me?”

“I mean it. I’m not your daughter,” Shen Zhuying stopped and pulled out her phone, looking at him sternly.
“If you keep following me, I’ll call the police.”

“I don’t want things to get ugly,” he said, his voice firm but controlled.

Despite their distant relationship, the commotion had already drawn a crowd.

Zhao Ziqian finally lost his temper. He pointed at her ears, as if he had found evidence, and shouted to the onlookers, “My daughter has worn hearing aids since she was young. If she’s not my daughter, then who is? She’s just being stubborn.”

He grabbed her hand, his tone slightly harsh. “Come on, Zhuzhu. Let’s go somewhere and talk.”