He had studied psychology in college, mainly to give him an edge in the cutthroat world of business, but he hadn’t anticipated that one day he would apply it to the pursuit of women.
Shi Che reflected on this with a sense of resignation, yet there was also an incredible sweetness that surfaced.
To be honest, he and Chuxia had entered marriage without going through any stages of a romantic relationship; everything between them had come together naturally—almost entirely due to his unilateral actions.
For instance, their first kiss, their first night together, and all subsequent acts of intimacy were initiated by him alone, with only him feeling genuine joy. She, on the other hand, was always passive, accepting him even when she felt reluctant, forcing herself to accommodate to his desires.
She had never shared these sweet experiences with him; it had always been his regret. Now... by pursuing her anew, he hoped to give her the chance to enjoy the process that every girl should have, of being courted and falling in love with a man.
Perhaps it was also an opportunity bestowed upon him by the heavens.
As Ling Chuxia looked at the message from Mr. S, she felt some of her resolve waning, her suspended heart finally settling back into place. But to be friends?
She didn’t know this Mr. S at all—his identity, appearance, or character. How could they suddenly become friends?
Deep down, Ling Chuxia felt some resistance, maybe because of her past experiences, she had grown wary of strangers and was slow to warm up. As these thoughts crossed her mind, she resolved to outright reject the offer, yet before she could finish typing, another message popped up.
Sunshine: "Please don’t refuse my request to be friends. Rest assured, I won’t bother you without reason. I truly admire you, and just being able to know how you’re doing and to care for you would be enough for me."
It seemed as though Mr. S knew all her thoughts; his message blocked any objections she had prepared. His tone was so sincere that it made it difficult for anyone to refuse. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ novel⟡fire.net
Ling Chuxia stared blankly at the message for a long while. The rejection she had half-typed now seemed impossible to finish. After all, Mr. S wasn’t doing anything to her, always speaking with honesty. Constantly rejecting him now felt a bit excessive.
Ling Chuxia unconsciously turned her head, her gaze drifting towards the balcony where the champagne roses were piled up. The night breeze gently stirred the petals, making the night seem even more beautiful.
She took a deep breath, finally moved her fingers to delete the rejection, and slowly typed a single word: "Okay."
When Shi Che received this "Okay," his heart nearly leapt out of his chest with excitement. Although for now, he could only be friends with Ling Chuxia, he had after all succeeded in this first step, hadn’t he?
Shi Che’s dark eyes glittered with a dazzling light, and his lips lifted involuntarily. He gripped his phone tightly, unable to stop himself from kissing the screen.
Chuxia, just wait and see! This time, I will not let you escape.
As the two became friends, Mr. S indeed did as he said he would; no more flowers were sent, and he didn’t disturb her casually. Instead, every morning and evening, he would send her good morning and good night texts, or around meal times, he would inquire if she had eaten.
Ling Chuxia had never really had many friends, and now she had gained such a gentle one. Unconsciously, her defenses began to lower significantly.