Shi Che went downstairs and directly called Old Zhu. The phone rang for quite a while before he heard Old Zhu’s respectful voice, "Young Master?"
"Bring the car over," Shi Che snapped and hung up the phone decisively.
About five or six minutes later, the car finally arrived. Shi Che was already in a bad mood, and Old Zhu’s dawdling only deepened his irritation.
Old Zhu got off the car and, seeing Shi Che’s expression, knew it wasn’t good. He repeatedly apologized, "Sorry, Young Master, I was late."
Shi Che furrowed his brows, glancing at Old Zhu impatiently. It was obvious Old Zhu had hurriedly gotten up from bed; several buttons were wrongly buttoned, his shirt edges weren’t tucked into his pants, and his hair was a mess.
Old Zhu also noticed his disheveled appearance and offered an embarrassed smile while adjusting his clothes. "Apologies, Young Master. It’s all my wife’s fault. I told her I shouldn’t sleep, but she insisted and wouldn’t let go, saying how could you possibly need the car so late at night. When leaving, I had an earful from her; she was so nagging about it, see this... I’ve made a fool of myself."
Hearing Old Zhu’s words, Shi Che’s expression shifted slightly, "What did Aunt Zhu say when you left?"
Old Zhu didn’t expect Shi Che to suddenly ask this question. He paused, looking at Shi Che, whose expression surprisingly showed seriousness, as if he genuinely wanted to know what his wife had said.
Although Old Zhu felt strange, he truthfully repeated it word for word, "What else could she say? It’s always the same few things: Why go out so late? Be careful driving at night, come back early—that kind of talk. You know how it is, the old woman is just a nag. When we were young, she was never this naggy. The older she gets, the more she nags, talking my head off every day."
Old Zhu’s words seemed like a complaint, but there wasn’t the slightest hint of grievance in his tone; instead, there was a sense of happiness.
Shi Che watched Old Zhu’s smile and the happiness between his brows, and a faint, unknown sorrow slowly surfaced in his eyes.
Old Zhu and Aunt Zhu were a couple. Every time Old Zhu went out at night, Aunt Zhu would nag him. Although Old Zhu complained with his words, his heart was filled with happiness.
He and Ling Chuxia were also a couple. Yet, no matter how late he came home, how late he went out, where he went, or what he did, she would never ask a single word. She only complied with him but never showed any concern.
He lowered his eyes, concealing the sorrow within, and said softly, "You and Aunt Zhu have a great relationship."
"Oh, not at all, Young Master; you and the Young Madam are truly a talented couple..." Old Zhu habitually responded, but halfway through, he suddenly sensed something was off and immediately stopped talking.