"How could I do that?" Completely unaware that Secretary Zhou had put him on speakerphone and that Fu Jingfan was right beside her, Su Huaiming said casually, "I have a hundred-yuan voucher for hot pot. I can't let it go to waste!"
Secretary Zhou: "..."
Secretary Zhou: "..."
Secretary Zhou: "..."
She really couldn't help thinking that Fu Jingfan mattered less than a hundred-yuan voucher...
Secretary Zhou didn't dare look at Fu Jingfan's expression. She was crying inwardly, wishing she could disappear on the spot with her phone.
Su Huaiming's voice still echoed in Fu Jingfan's ears. He lowered his gaze to the words "I miss you so much" in the email, his eyes growing dark and heavy.
A few seconds later, his lips curved up slightly.
Secretary Zhou hadn't hung up yet. Su Huaiming heard the faint sound and, completely unaware of the danger, casually asked, "Who's laughing?"
Secretary Zhou: "..."
Chapter 19: 019
At that moment, the whole world fell silent.
Everyone present kept their heads down, not daring to look at Fu Jingfan's expression for fear of getting on his bad side.
Secretary Zhou hardly dared breathe. She wished she could turn invisible, but unfortunately, the phone was in her hand.
Secretary Zhou waited three seconds. Seeing that Fu Jingfan had no intention of speaking, she finally forced herself to say to Su Huaiming on the other end, "No one was laughing, Mr. Su. You must have misheard."
The laugh just now had been as faint and fleeting as a breeze. Su Huaiming also suspected he had misheard, so he let it go and asked with a smile, "Secretary Zhou, are you still busy?"
Just as Su Huaiming said this, the fatty beef in the pot finished cooking.
Su Huaiming picked it out, coated it in a thick layer of sesame paste, and put it in his mouth. It was spicy and numbing, and so hot that his tongue wouldn't quite cooperate, making his words come out muffled.
Su Huaiming was enjoying his hot pot so much, while Fu Jingfan sat alone at the dining table, a cold spread before him. The contrast was too stark.
Secretary Zhou badly wanted to remind Su Huaiming that Fu Jingfan was right beside her, but to keep her job, she could only pretend she didn't know. "I've finished working," she said.
Su Huaiming had only met Secretary Zhou twice, but he had a particularly good impression of her. Like a concerned friend, he said, "Then go eat. No matter how busy you are, you need to eat properly to stay healthy."
Secretary Zhou: "..."
Su Huaiming had left Fu Jingfan waiting, yet he was telling her to eat properly. It was a rather delicate situation...
Secretary Zhou choked up for a few seconds. Feeling that continuing this call would be a test for her heart, she said, "All right, I'll go eat now."
Su Huaiming nodded and exchanged a few more pleasantries before hanging up.
Without Su Huaiming's voice, the restaurant felt even more desolate. Fu Jingfan had a commanding presence and a distinguished air, and his expression remained cool and indifferent, but sitting alone at the dining table, he looked like a helpless husband abandoned by his wife.
It was a little awkward.
Secretary Zhou knew perfectly well that although this hadn't started because of her, she was inextricably involved. She couldn't help shrinking back, her head sinking lower and lower.
She had worked with Fu Jingfan for several years and knew his ways well.
Fu Jingfan was mature and calm, with exceptional control over his emotions. He would never take his anger out on someone else. Secretary Zhou knew she would be fine, but Fu Jingfan's presence was so terrifying that she couldn't stop herself from feeling afraid.
Dead silence reigned. No one dared get on Fu Jingfan's bad side at a time like this.
After several minutes of stalemate, the restaurant manager hurried over. Unaware of what had just happened, he put on a broad smile and asked eagerly, "President Fu, what time will the other guest arrive? Shall we serve the appetizers now?"
Secretary Zhou: "..." How can anyone be so bad at reading the room?!
Sensing that something was wrong with the atmosphere, the restaurant manager looked up and met Secretary Zhou's resentful, pitying gaze.
???
He was utterly bewildered, but no one explained. Still completely unaware of the danger, the restaurant manager waited for Fu Jingfan's answer.
Secretary Zhou sighed inwardly.
Forget it. Just bury him.
A few seconds later, Fu Jingfan's deep voice rang out, without the slightest inflection. "He's not coming. Serve the meal."
The restaurant manager froze for a moment before belatedly nodding. "All right."
Unlike the desolate silence on Fu Jingfan's side, Su Huaiming sat in a small private room with beef tallow hot pot bubbling away. Wisps of steam rose into the warm air. Although Su Huaiming was alone, the place felt lively.
The beef tallow here had a pure, authentic flavor, so fragrant it made his tongue tingle, without the slightest gamey taste. The ratio of chili peppers to Sichuan peppercorns was perfect: they complemented each other without masking either flavor.
Most importantly, the heat packed a punch without burning his throat or lips. It was immensely satisfying, and with a cup of cooling herbal tea, he could eat to his heart's content.
A thin layer of sweat covered Su Huaiming's body, and glistening beads appeared on his nose. His eyes shone as though washed with water. He kept drawing sharp breaths from the heat, but his gaze remained fixed on the bubbling beef tallow hot pot, eager for another bite.
Su Huaiming's body had been too weak before. After eating just one small bite of fatty beef, he had vomited for three days. Though it had been painful at the time, he had dreamed of that taste ever since.
Now that he finally had a healthy body, how could he not chow down?!
The fatty beef here was tender and fresh, blending perfectly with the flavor of the beef tallow hot pot. Su Huaiming found it delicious and ordered three plates in a row. The cooked beef piled up like a little mountain on his plate, and he devoured it in great mouthfuls.
Having discovered the wonders of "fatty beef noodles," Su Huaiming put in a plate of "tripe noodles." As he chewed great mouthfuls, he was almost moved to tears.
It's so delicious. I'm putting hot pot in the family genealogy tonight!!
Only when his stomach was round and full did he put down his chopsticks.
Su Huaiming rested a while longer. After one last reluctant look at the broth, he finally gave up on the idea of taking the whole pot home.
He put on a mask and a baseball cap, covering himself up thoroughly before leaving the hot pot restaurant.
Su Huaiming wanted to help his food settle, so he strolled leisurely along, planning to browse around and bring a gift back for Fu Xiaoxiao.
He wandered farther and farther away, and the people around him gradually thinned out. Only then did Su Huaiming decide to go downstairs.
But after going around, he still couldn't find the stairs. Fortunately, there was an elevator at the far end.
The elevator was stopped on the top floor. Su Huaiming pressed the button and waited for it to come down.
A dozen or so seconds later, the elevator doors slowly opened. It wasn't empty as he had imagined; instead, there were several familiar faces inside.
Su Huaiming was slightly surprised, and his voice rose considerably. "Secretary Zhou, what are you doing here?"
Secretary Zhou wanted to cry, but no tears came.
Mr. Su, don't say hello to me! Hurry up and look at the husband you stood up!
Perhaps Secretary Zhou's telepathic powers were too strong. Without a word from her, Su Huaiming sensed what she meant. He raised his eyes and stared blankly at the tall man standing in the middle.
Fu Jingfan's photo was in his album, and now the man himself stood before him.
The light at the top of the elevator shone on Fu Jingfan, giving him a golden outline and making his features look even more sculpted. Simply standing there, he had an imposing air and an incredibly strong presence.
Only when he noticed Su Huaiming's gaze did Fu Jingfan lower his eyes to look at him.
His gaze was dark and unfathomable, without a ripple of emotion, like a black hole that could swallow a person's soul.
Su Huaiming stood stunned for several seconds before recovering from the impact of Fu Jingfan's handsome face and stepping into the elevator.
No one spoke, and the elevator doors gradually closed.
This elevator was reserved for the club, taking guests directly to the club and the sky restaurant at the very top. It was decorated in an exceptionally elegant and luxurious style and was twice the size of an ordinary elevator, all to provide guests with a comfortable experience.
But that didn't change the fact that it was an enclosed space. Once the elevator doors closed, the atmosphere grew delicate.
Secretary Zhou and the driver exchanged a glance and, in perfect unison, pressed their backs against the wall, even breathing more quietly. If they had been able to, both of them would have squeezed into the elevator walls.
Su Huaiming and Fu Jingfan stood side by side, some distance apart, but the space was too small and quiet, making Fu Jingfan's presence even more pronounced.
Su Huaiming hadn't expected to run into Fu Jingfan in a place like this and was completely unprepared. He tentatively looked up at him.
He wasn't particularly short, but by his estimate, he only came up to Fu Jingfan's shoulder. From this angle, all he could see was Fu Jingfan's cold, firm jawline.
Su Huaiming couldn't help grumbling inwardly, Did Fu Jingfan grow up on hormones? How did he get so tall?
The thought had barely crossed his mind when Fu Jingfan turned to look at him without warning, catching Su Huaiming's gaze and expression.
Su Huaiming's eyelashes fluttered twice, and he felt a little guilty.
In this situation, he ought to greet Fu Jingfan.
The original owner had loved and admired Fu Jingfan deeply, so he wouldn't have addressed him by name. That left only "Mr. Fu" and "husband."
Su Huaiming hesitated for a few seconds before tentatively saying, "Mr. Fu."
Fu Jingfan's expression didn't change in the slightest, and he didn't respond.
Judging from his reaction that he had probably used the wrong form of address, Su Huaiming readily corrected himself. "Husband?"
Su Huaiming's voice was full of uncertainty and sounded tentative, rising slightly at the end. It was soft, almost coquettish, and carried the warmth of his lips and tongue, making it sound especially intimate.
Hearing that form of address, Fu Jingfan finally took his first serious look at this little spouse of his, who had so little presence.
To look good on camera, celebrities tended to have small faces. Su Huaiming was the type who had both beautiful features and excellent bone structure.
His skin was fair, translucent, and smooth, with the texture of porcelain. There was nothing aggressive about his looks, and his eyes were as clear and innocent as a fawn's. His gaze held a trace of attachment and tenderness as he looked at Fu Jingfan.
It would be hard for anyone to harden their heart and reject a gaze like that.
Even if the way he had addressed him was a bit much.
Fu Jingfan felt no stirrings in his heart. After pausing for a few seconds, he nodded slightly, his Adam's apple bobbing as he gave a low "Mm."
Seeing Fu Jingfan respond, Su Huaiming was finally sure that he had called Fu Jingfan "husband" before.
It was just that saying it out loud was a little embarrassing.
Su Huaiming awkwardly looked away, the tips of his ears turning pink.
Fu Jingfan stared at him for another three seconds before turning to face forward.
Behind them, Secretary Zhou pressed herself tightly against the elevator wall, doing her best to make herself less noticeable. Yet her eyes shone like two searchlights, her excitement plain to see.
Ahhh, I might be a pervert, but I really love hearing the little beauty say "husband"!
More, please!!!
Unfortunately, Su Huaiming kept his mouth firmly shut, and Fu Jingfan didn't speak again either.
The elevator soon stopped, and Su Huaiming and Fu Jingfan walked out side by side.
The driver immediately ran off to get the car.