FIO CH32

Chapter 32: You Don’t Love Me at All

Well, the issue has come full circle.

Zhou Zheng’s sudden proposal had actually given Lu Fangchi quite a shock, with a bit of surprise mixed in. The sentiment was good, but the timing was just too early. Even on fast-forward, things couldn’t move this quickly—it was inappropriate. Given the public setting and the cameras rolling, Lu Fangchi was reluctant to reject Zhou Zheng’s sincere gesture. However, when he later explained his stance to the alpha, a disagreement arose.

In reality, they were not in a position to get married. Zhou Zheng’s unrecovered memories were like a ticking time bomb. When the time came, it would be uncertain whether they could even stay together, let alone get married. Zhou Zheng wanted to get married now because he had forgotten the past, but Lu Fangchi remembered and couldn’t just go along with his whims.

Setting this issue aside, Lu Fangchi had never considered being with anyone for a lifetime. A lifetime was too long and too heavy a commitment. He couldn’t offer it, nor could he bear it. However, he couldn’t bring himself to say these things outright and could only vaguely respond with “It’s too soon.” Zhou Zheng didn’t understand and had been sulking over this matter for the past two days.

Seeing that they were back to square one, Lu Fangchi sighed and decided to lay his cards on the table: “Marriage and dating are two different things. I believe neither of us is ready.”

Zhou Zheng clearly disagreed with this statement and retorted, “What’s the difference? Even after marriage, I would still love you just as much as I do now.”

“Yes,” Lu Fangchi nodded and licked his lips, beginning to argue sophistically, “If there’s no difference, then wouldn’t it be better to just keep dating for now?”

“No,” Zhou Zheng frowned, “A romantic relationship is too ephemeral. There’s no binding commitment, and it can end just like that. If you were to fall ill, I wouldn’t even have the right to sign your surgical consent form.”

Hearing this, Lu Fangchi smiled and joked, “Do I have to fall ill? Can’t you just hope for the best for me?”

Zhou Zheng’s brows furrowed, his gaze deepened, and his words became sharp: “Don’t change the subject. You know what I mean.”

Lu Fangchi’s slightly curved lips flattened into a straight line, and he sighed again, “Alright, we do love each other, but we are still free. If you feel uncomfortable, you can always…”

Before Lu Fangchi could finish his sentence, Zhou Zheng rudely interrupted him, saying, “I won’t regret it. It’s you who is hesitating.”

“Lu Fangchi, you don’t love me at all.” Zhou Zheng’s accusation hit Lu Fangchi’s heart with each word.

At first glance, it seemed to make sense, but upon closer examination, it was full of holes. Who in their right mind would rush into marriage after just half a month of dating?

While such cases do exist, and some may even live happily ever after, they are few and far between. Most people go through a lot of adjustments, shedding the impulsiveness of infatuation, fully understanding and accepting each other’s flaws before walking down the aisle together.

The speed of regret is directly proportional to the impulsiveness of a decision, and that is truly irresponsible.

If there was no love, which alpha would willingly take the submissive role? Zhou Zheng’s words ignited a fire within Lu Fangchi. He pushed his tongue against his cheek and nodded, “If that’s what you think, there’s nothing I can do about it.” With that, he turned to leave.

Seeing that Lu Fangchi was genuinely angry, Zhou Zheng’s arrogance instantly dissipated, and he quickly reached out to grab his wrist.

Lu Fangchi, still in a fit of anger, tried to shake him off.

But Zhou Zheng held on tight, wisely pulling him into his embrace, resting his chin on the other’s shoulder and neck, and whispering an apology: “I spoke out of turn.”

Lu Fangchi remained silent, his chest heaving with heavy breaths.

Zhou Zheng wrapped his arms around the young man’s lean waist, his fingers sliding and rubbing the veins on the inside of his wrist.

Lu Fangchi continued to be silent.

“Just once, please,” Zhou Zheng pleaded, swaying his hold on Lu Fangchi’s waist slightly, his lips downturned, and his voice pitiful.

This tactic had always worked, and indeed, Lu Fangchi’s tightly pursed lips began to relax.

Seeing this, Zhou Zheng pressed his advantage, showering him with sweet nothings as if they were free: “If you keep ignoring me like this, Little Zhou’s glass heart will shatter into a hundred and eight pieces. It would be impossible to put Humpty Dumpty back together again.”

Lu Fangchi glanced at him sideways.

Locking eyes with him, Zhou Zheng blinked forcefully, and deliberately pursed his lips downward into a pout, putting on an expression of grievance.

A handsome face making such a cute and pitiful expression was quite impactful. Lu Fangchi couldn’t bear it and pushed his face to the side, finally relenting: “Alright, alright.”

“I knew it. Brother loves me the most and couldn’t bear to leave me,” Zhou Zheng’s face rubbed against the palm of Lu Fangchi’s hand.

The young man’s palm slightly arched, pinching a bit of tender flesh.

“Are you not angry anymore?” The alpha’s voice changed pitch as his face was pinched.

Lu Fangchi’s action became a bit firmer, answering indirectly, “What do you think?”

Zhou Zheng shook his head, indicating he didn’t know.

Lu Fangchi switched from pinching to pinching harder, “You really don’t have a conscience when you speak.” He only released his grip when he saw red marks.

Zhou Zheng feigned pain, dramatically covering the pinched side of his face with his hand. His eyes rolled around before he subtly and quietly probed again, “So, can’t we really reconsider?”

Here we go again.

“Do you want to be well-behaved or not? You just said you wouldn’t act out,” Lu Fangchi frowned slightly.

“Didn’t you just say you didn’t think I was acting out?” Zhou Zheng couldn’t help but retort, but he eventually sighed in defeat and mumbled, “Alright, I won’t bring it up again.”

The pinched red cheek paired with the aggrieved expression was quite endearing. A well-behaved child deserved a reward. Lu Fangchi reached out and cupped Zhou Zheng’s handsome face, kissing each side, “Good boys get candy.”

“Anything goes? Really?” Zhou Zheng’s eyes lit up in disbelief.

“Sure, really,” Lu Fangchi nodded.

On the sofa, it was on the verge of collapse, creaking and groaning.

Zhou Zheng moved upward, sweating profusely, “Is this okay?”

Lu Fangchi bit his back molar, a glistening droplet forming on his nose tip, covering a small brown mole, and nodded in agreement, “It’s okay.”

At the kitchen island, the height was just right, with a cool touch.

Zhou Zheng leaned forward, his chest burning hot, “Is this also okay?”

Lu Fangchi swallowed his dry throat, lifted his chin, and hummed in affirmation.

In front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, the curtains were wide open, leaving no place to hide.

The glass was spotless, and looking down closely, one could see the occasional light on the roadside.

Lu Fangchi’s palm pressed against the glass was sticky with sweat, his expression tense as he stared outside. The stillness of the night made every little movement send his heart soaring.

With the swaying tree shadows, Lu Fangchi looked back in a panic, “Someone’s coming.”

Zhou Zheng leaned in, his warm breath hitting Lu Fangchi’s ear as he checked, “There’s no one.”

Lu Fangchi reflexively shrank back, then stretched his neck to take a closer look. It was a false alarm, just the wind.

The jumpy guilt made his heart soar and then plummet, like the weightlessness of a roller coaster, making him feel faint and then come to his senses again. A layer of mist clouded Lu Fangchi’s vision, and his pursed lips curved downward.

Zhou Zheng sensed Lu Fangchi’s emotions and breathed into his ear, “Is this place not okay?”

Lu Fangchi shook his head, then nodded.

The bathtub in the bathroom was filled with water, and a powder-blue bath bomb was tossed in. The bomb “plopped” down and quickly rose, exploding into a dreamy, pinkish ripple.

Lu Fangchi lay back in the warm water, the hot water soaking away his fatigue, the water surface slowly and forcefully undulating forward.

Gurgling, bubbling.

Zhou Zheng’s hair tips dripped water continuously, hitting Lu Fangchi’s eyelashes. He looked down at the eyes that were about to close, “This place is okay, right?”

The owner of the eyes was already too preoccupied to respond.

Taking a bath is usually the final act, but the human heart is always drawn to the passing scenery, giving rise to new whims and fancies.

On his way back to the bedroom from the kitchen fridge to get a drink, Zhou Zheng passed by the gym and felt he should go in and work on his physique.

He scanned the room, his gaze falling on the spinning bike.

This piece of exercise equipment can enhance lower body strength and cardiorespiratory function, with a recommended usage time of half an hour, following the music rhythm.

Hmm… It’s a bit late now, so just for the duration of one song.

Zhou Zheng connected his phone to the Bluetooth in a very tasteful manner, played a song titled “Stand Still,” and the lazy and romantic prelude of the music began.

Zhou Zheng stepped onto the spinning bike.

“I want trust too”

Sit up straight with a proper posture, riding in a seated position.

Lu Fangchi half-opened his sleepy eyes and “hummed” in response.

“I want us too”

Lean forward slightly to lower your center of gravity, evenly distribute the force on both feet, and pedal in a seated climbing position.

The sound of “stop” in an urgent and angry tone rang out as his shoulders were grabbed.

“I want lust too”

Lean forward with your upper body, keeping your head and back in a straight line, and climb in a standing position.

The nails dug into the shoulder muscles, leaving marks, and Lu Fangchi’s voice had a hint of crying: “This place is not okay!”

“I want love too”

Lean forward to lower your body’s center of gravity and sprint with full force.

Zhou Zheng’s mind went blank, and then he felt intense pain in the back of his neck as Lu Fangchi opened his mouth and tightly bit his gland.