Chapter 31: Zhou Mu, Wake Up

Chapter 31: Zhou Mu, Wake Up

Shen Xian opened the door and propped the umbrella on the balcony. She casually tossed her bag onto the sofa and said to Zhou Mu, "Feel free to sit down. I'll go change."

"Sure."

Zhou Mu agreed and, after slipping into slippers, headed straight for the balcony.

He carried a bag in his hand. With great care, he opened it and took out several potted plants, arranging them meticulously.

In no time, Shen Xian emerged in a soft, off-white tracksuit. Standing by the bathroom entrance, she grabbed a towel to dry her hair as she switched on the lights.

"What's that?"

She was pleasantly surprised, eyeing the three or four unfamiliar potted plants that had appeared on the balcony. She asked Zhou Mu about them.

Zhou Mu became slightly smug as he held up a pot containing a particularly attractive, rose-like succulent. "This is a Lemon Rose. When it matures, it turns pink, and they grow in clusters. Eventually, you'll see a string of pink roses, and it's incredibly beautiful."

It was the first time Shen Xian had seen such a succulent, and she found it fascinating.

"What about this one?"

She accepted the lemon rose and inquired about the one placed on the ground, its crystalline petals resembling nothing less than a verdant emerald gem.

"This is Yulu, and this one, it's called Peach Egg, pinkish like a peach. The other one is also from the rose series, it's called Mountain Rose."

Zhou Mu introduced each person in turn, wearing an expression that seemed to say, "Aren't I impressive?" It was a rare display of pride for a man who was usually as stern as iron in his daily life.

Absorbed in the marvel of so many novel succulents, Shen Xian, a female character, failed to notice this detail.

"Indeed, it's something I would love. I've never seen such unique succulents before. Thank you for bringing them all the way here, it must have been a long journey."

Shen Xian's tone was filled with delight, though her expression remained cool and detached. She politely expressed her gratitude to Zhou Mu.

Upon hearing Shen Xian's words, the initially smug Zhou Mu's face fell slightly.

Shen Xian proceeded to examine each pot meticulously, then rearranged them to her liking.

"You, always tending to your greenery, yet unaware of the numerous new and attractive varieties that have emerged."

Shen Xian remained silent, absorbed in the arrangement of the new and old plants.

She shifted one here, another there, taking her time to ensure that every potted plant found its perfect spot. Then, with a towel draped around her neck, she absentmindedly wiped her hair while intently admiring her work.

Zhou Mu watched her quietly. Shen Xian was still Shen Xian, dedicating herself wholeheartedly to whatever task was at hand. She seemed oblivious to his emotional fluctuations.

To him, Shen Xian shone like a brilliant star, as captivating as moonlight.

She gazed at the flowers in silence, and he gazed at her in return.

Raindrops fell in rhythmic patterns outside, pelting against the windowpanes with a gentle clinking sound. Inside, the room was bathed in soft light and vibrant greenery, exuding a tranquil warmth.

"Have you not eaten yet?"

Shen Xian suddenly remembered something, turning to ask Zhou Mu who stood silently by her side.

But in that moment, she unintentionally met his deep, warmly smiling eyes.

In that instant, yes, just that fleeting instant, Shen Xian felt her heart skip a beat.

Yet, in the next instant, Zhou Mu's expression returned to normal.

"Yes, not yet."

Zhou Mu retracted his gaze and bent down to pick up another bag on the floor.

"I brought you some local specialties. Feel free to do whatever you want with them."

"Piece of cake," Shen Xian patted her chest, conveying a sense of "who do you think you're underestimating?"

Shen Xian took the paper bag and opened it. Inside were mushrooms, dried bamboo shoots, and other local delicacies, along with a large, elegantly packaged box of Pu'er tea.

"You remembered that I like Pu'er. Impressive."

Shen Xian waved the box of Pu'er tea in front of Zhou Mu, raising an eyebrow in approval.

Zhou Mu nodded his chin up. "I know you too well. Your interests are as manly as they come. It'd be strange if I didn't remember."

"Hey! Make yourself comfortable. I'll be done soon."

Shen Xian didn't mind Zhou Mu's opinion about her hobby; everyone in the team used to say the same thing before, so she was accustomed to it.

She put down the Pu'er tea and carried the remaining specialties into the kitchen.

Cooking was something she enjoyed, especially since she was a homebody. Thus, whenever she had free time, she would explore various dishes.

For her, cooking was a therapeutic process.

Soon, the aroma of the food wafted out of the kitchen. Zhou Mu offered to help as a sous chef, but Shen Xian firmly declined.

—She wasn't used to having someone next to her while cooking.

In less than forty minutes, Shen Xian prepared four dishes and one soup.

The soup made with the mushrooms Zhou Mu brought was exceptional, complemented by the addition of red dates and goji berries – a superb nourishing concoction that looked visually appealing too.

With the rice steamed and the hot dishes arranged on plates, Shen Xian soon emerged from the kitchen, carrying a white porcelain casserole with heat-resistant gloves.

She placed the casserole on the dining table and turned to look at the sofa, only to find Zhou Mu sound asleep with his arms crossed.

His long legs, seemingly without a proper resting spot, extended far beyond the edge of the rustic wooden coffee table. Zhou Mu had spent the entire day on the road, reported to his workplace, and then hurried over to Shen Xian's place without any pause. He was indeed quite exhausted.

A light stubble had formed on Zhou Mu's jawline, and his hair had grown significantly longer, now falling over his eyebrows that were originally short.

His features were well-proportioned and attractive. His nose was straight, his brows and hair thick and dark, his facial contours smooth yet defined, and his lips thin but rosy. When he pursed them tightly, an air of unwavering determination emerged. Although not as intricately handsome as Gu Chen, there was an undeniable sense of righteousness in his eyes that inspired a great sense of security upon seeing him.

In other words, he had an appearance that radiated national prosperity, peace, and tranquility.

Shen Xian was aware of the nature of his work, which often left him with barely any time for sleep, and most of the time, his nerves were tense, requiring full concentration.

Observing his deep and rhythmic breaths, it seemed he was in a deep slumber.

With a soft sigh, Shen Xian retreated to the kitchen to serve each of the four dishes onto the table. She filled Zhou Mu's bowl with a generous serving of rice, while reserving only a small portion for herself.

Once everything was in order, Shen Xian removed her apron and approached Zhou Mu, gently shaking his shoulder.

"Zhou Mu, Zhou Mu... Time to eat... Zhou Mu, wake up..."

As expected, Zhou Mu was indeed in a very deep sleep, as he didn't stir despite Shen Xian's persistent calls.

Amidst the swaying, his chiseled brows knitted softly, his head oscillating from side to side, his eyes darting about. Clearly, his body and mind were engaged in a fierce struggle. After a while, he gradually regained consciousness.

Zhou Mu's breathing evened out as he abruptly opened his eyes, staring intently at Shen Xian who was crouched over him with reddened eyes. It seemed to take him a long while to recognize her. Soon, he straightened up, running his hands over the sofa he was sitting on, feeling its soft texture and unfamiliar colors.

Scanning his surroundings, he confirmed that he was indeed in Shen Xian's home before asking in a dazed tone, "I... Did I fall asleep?"

"Was it you, or was it me?"

With a playful twist, Shen Xian turned around, casually picking up two cups from the coffee table.

"Come, dinner is ready."

Sitting on the sofa, Zhou Mu massaged his temples and then his head, responding in a befuddled voice, "Okay."

Shen Xian grabbed a gigantic glass, filled it with homemade grape ice cubes freshly taken from the fridge, then poured in two cans of Sprite. Stirring the mixture with a spoon, she crafted a large, visually appealing, and refreshing glass of iced grape Sprite.

"Woah, so professional?"

Having subjected himself to a brief self-induced "torture," Zhou Mu's mind had cleared. As he walked from the sofa to the dining table, he was utterly stunned by Shen Xian's actions.

"Just the tip of the iceberg."

In front of Zhou Mu, Shen Xian never held back. As her words fell, she had already maneuvered around to sit at one end of the table. Four dishes, one soup, and two bowls of steaming white rice were neatly arranged on the tabletop, tempting the taste buds with their perfect blend of colors, aromas, and flavors.

Zhou Mu's eyes widened in delight at the sight, giving Shen Xian a big thumbs-up. "Impressive!"

"I'm starving. Sit down and eat quickly."

Indeed, Zhou Mu was ravenously hungry. As they started to savor each of the four dishes, attempting to find the right words to praise them, Shen Xian stopped them with a gesture.

"Got it! Let's eat!"

"You got it!"

Both of them had a habit of eating quickly, developed over time. Midway through their meal, they clinked glasses, slowing down their pace slightly. Shen Xian then served Zhou Mu another bowl of rice.

Under the soft glow of the lights, the two continued their meal, chatting about Zhou Mu's experiences from the recent trip. As they talked and listened, Shen Xian's expression gradually became more serious, as if she had recalled something important.

Zhou Mu sipped his mushroom soup, observing Shen Xian's contemplative expression before setting down his spoon.

"You're preoccupied."

"Zhou Mu, Qin Shi is also in the Shenfei Group."

Silence fell, as if the air had suddenly chilled.

Zhou Mu hesitated, mid-reach for his spoon, while Shen Xian's face darkened.

"Did you meet her?"

"Yes, we did."

A flicker of concern crossed Zhou Mu's forehead as he gazed intently at Shen Xian, "Did she...?"

"No, and nothing will come of it. We're in different departments, so our work doesn't intersect much." Sensing Zhou Mu's worry, Shen Xian interjected promptly.

Back when Little Bai had first passed away, Qin Shi had indeed caused a scene with Shen Xian, a rather intense one.

"Zhou Mu, have you seen her at all these past few years?"

Shen Xian was eager to know what had happened to Qin Shi that had completely transformed her personality in just three short years.

"After bumping into her two years ago when I visited Little Bai's parents, it was the same as before," Zhou Mu mused before continuing. "I haven't seen her since then. I only heard from Auntie that she found a great job with a good income, and she's bought them many expensive gifts."

Shen Xian nodded. Considering Qin Shi's attire and the fact that she was the CFO of a major company like Shenfei Group, her income couldn't be too low.

"Later on, she probably showed up less, but still sent things to Little Bai's parents, just like you," Zhou Mu said, tilting her head towards Shen Xian, who was sitting across from her.

Silent, Shen Xian knew that Qin Shi was an incredibly loyal and affectionate person...

"I'm a bit worried about her," Shen Xian admitted, her mind in disarray. Her hand kept stirring the spoon, almost spoiling the aroma of the soup in her bowl.

Zhou Mu, observing her actions from across the table, could roughly guess what Shen Xian was thinking. It was rare for her to appear so troubled.

"I'll be in Bei Ji for a while. I'll try to arrange a meeting with her when I have time."

Zhou Mu's voice was deep, gentle, and earnest.

After a moment of contemplation, Shen Xian replied, "That's fine too, but don't tell her that you got the information about her from me."

"I understand. You're worried she might think I'm acting on your behalf, right?"

A smile tugged at Zhou Mu's lips, acknowledging Shen Xian's concern.

Shen Xian nodded slightly, still grappling with the intricacies within the Shenfei Group.

If Gu Heng was indeed connected to the kidnapping case from years ago, how would Qin Shi react when she found out?

In truth, she had never fully recovered from those events during the past three years.