FIO CH38

Chapter 38: Regretting Being with Me

Lu Fangchi packed his luggage and went downstairs to check out. As he passed through the lobby, he saw a large clock hanging on the wall behind him. The hour hand pointed to eight, the minute hand to three, and the second hand ticked forward one notch at a time.

The current time was 8:31 AM.

He was scheduled to board at 10 AM, land at 12:30 AM, and estimated to arrive home around 1:30 AM.

Lu Fangchi hadn’t informed Zhou Zheng in advance, planning to surprise him with a sudden appearance.

He walked out of the hotel and got into a taxi, which moved forward and merged onto the main road. After a while, the speed gradually slowed down, turning into a crawl.

Lu Fangchi glanced out the window and saw that the road was packed with vehicles, all with their red brake lights on.

Noticing Lu Fangchi’s movement, the driver spoke up: “There’s a traffic jam.”

Lu Fangchi nodded. But it was past rush hour, and this road wasn’t a major traffic hub. With four lanes, it should have been smooth sailing.

Perhaps due to the previous unsuccessful business trip, Lu Fangchi frowned slightly, silently praying that he wouldn’t be as unlucky as last time.

However, things often go contrary to one’s wishes. The heavens seemed like a mischievous child, always bringing what one fears the most.

Before long, scattered snowflakes began to drift down and land on the car window, tiny, glistening fragments that melted into droplets upon impact.

“This weather is really strange. It’s almost the beginning of spring, and it’s still snowing,” the driver complained from the driver’s seat.

Lu Fangchi’s brows furrowed, a sense of foreboding creeping into his heart.

With some leeway in time, Lu Fangchi was able to arrive at the airport early even with the traffic jam. He passed through security and took a seat in the waiting hall. Standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, he watched as the snow fell in a flurry, creating a dreamlike scene under the orange streetlights.

The snow seemed to be getting heavier.

Lu Fangchi recalled Zhou Zheng’s definition of snowflakes. The alpha thought snowy days were romantic, and being caught in the snow together could lead to a lifetime together.

Thinking of the alpha, a smile crept into Lu Fangchi’s eyes. The phrase “a lifetime together” hadn’t resonated with Lu Fangchi at first. It was only later, when he saw it in the news as entertainment gossip, that he understood the eagerness in Zhou Zheng’s eyes when he had said it.

However… Lu Fangchi’s smile faded as he thought of what Yang Zhaoyang had said last night, “Didn’t we meet your partner when we were kids?”

At that time, Lu Fangchi had been bewildered, his mind freezing for several seconds before he asked doubtfully, “Did we?” He had no recollection at all.

After all, it had been too long. Yang Zhaoyang also couldn’t remember clearly. He propped his hand under his chin, his face filled with uncertainty: “I think it was one winter when we were in the first year of junior high. In the evening, while walking through an alley on our way home, we encountered a little boy being bullied by a group of kids. Do you remember?”

Lu Fangchi pondered for a while, searching his memory. He frowned and said, “I don’t think so.”

“Yes, it was snowing that day. It rarely snows in City A, so that’s why I remember it so vividly,” Yang Zhaoyang said.

Mentioning the snow, Lu Fangchi seemed to have a vague memory. There might have been such an incident, but he couldn’t recall the little boy at all.

“You mean that little boy was my partner?” Lu Fangchi grasped the key point.

“Ah,” Yang Zhaoyang nodded. Since it wasn’t a good thing, he frowned and said uncertainly, “Maybe, probably, possibly. It’s been too long, and I can’t remember clearly.”

“Well, did we help him?” Lu Fangchi asked, frowning.

Yang Zhaoyang’s eyes shifted, and he replied, “Do you want to hear the truth or a lie?”

Since he asked that way, it meant they had stood by and done nothing. Lu Fangchi was never one to meddle in other people’s affairs.

Love often brings a sense of guilt. A pang of sourness welled up in Lu Fangchi’s heart as he tried hard to recall the scene. He hoped it wasn’t true; he didn’t want Zhou Zheng to have had such a bad experience.

Unable to remember, his thoughts were interrupted by the “ding-dong” ringing of his phone in his pocket.

Lu Fangchi took it out and saw a video call request from Little Zhou.

He glanced around and, finding no place to hide, rejected the video call and initiated a voice call instead.

A deep voice came through the phone, as if whispering in his ear, “What are you doing?” The tone was light and cheerful, dragging out the last syllable. It seemed Zhou Zheng was in a good mood, unusually not questioning why he hadn’t answered the video call or if there was someone around making it inconvenient to show.

Lu Fangchi smiled and replied, “Nothing much, just lying down.” A white lie didn’t feel like a lie at all; he said it without a hint of guilt.

“Is that so?” Zhou Zheng seemed particularly happy today, his voice carrying a playful lilt.

“Did something good happen today?” Lu Fangchi was infected by his good mood and spoke in a lighter tone as well.

Zhou Zheng let out a self-satisfied “hmm” and said, “Someone’s location is at the airport. Are you coming back?”

Tut, he had completely forgotten about that.

Lu Fangchi, whose surprise had been spoiled, didn’t get angry. He smiled and nodded in acknowledgment, “Yes.”

“I checked the flight information. You’re on UD826, right?” Zhou Zheng asked.

“Mm, yes,” Lu Fangchi confirmed with a nod.

“Then you’ll be boarding soon. I’ll head to the airport to pick you up later,” Zhou Zheng’s voice grew even more cheerful, his happiness almost palpable through the phone.

Thinking about seeing each other soon, Lu Fangchi’s lips curled into a smile as he said, “It’s still a two-hour flight. No need to leave so early.”

“I want to see you sooner,” Zhou Zheng unabashedly expressed his affection.

The smile spread to Lu Fangchi’s eyes as he said, “Alright, as you wish.”

As they chatted idly, the “do-re-mi-fa” tune of the electronic announcement sounded behind him: “Ladies and gentlemen, please pay attention. This is an important announcement. Due to weather conditions, Flight UB826 from City A to City B is suspended. The boarding time is to be determined. Thank you…”

The broadcast was extremely clear, piercing through Lu Fangchi’s ears and the phone’s earpiece.

On the other end of the line, Zhou Zheng suddenly fell silent, so quiet that only the sound of his breathing could be heard.

Lu Fangchi’s brows furrowed into a knot as he broke the silence: “I’ll go ask what’s going on and call you back later.”

“Mm,” Zhou Zheng’s voice was very soft, his expression like an eggplant hit by frost.

Lu Fangchi pursed his lips and ultimately said nothing before hanging up the phone.

The check-in counter was crowded with passengers, all inquiring about the reason for the flight suspension.

The staff member pointed outside the window and shook his head, saying, “The extreme weather makes it impossible to take off. The danger level is just too high.”

Following the gesture, Lu Fangchi looked outside and saw that the previously light snow had turned into heavy, goose-down-like flakes. In just a short while, small patches of the ground were already covered in white. Seeing is believing, and the reality was more convincing. The passengers had little doubt and began to inquire about the process for ticket refunds, interspersed with the complaints of a few travelers.

“Ah, I’ve been on a business trip for a week, and my cat has been home alone all this time. I was finally able to go back, and now the flight is suspended. How unlucky can I get?”

“Who’s to say. Is the world ending? It’s spring, and it’s still snowing. I’m so annoyed. The concert tickets I bought are going to go to waste!”

“I’ve had it worse. The flight here was delayed by several hours, and now this. Who could be unluckier than me?”

There was one, Lu Fangchi, who was just as unlucky as them.

Unlike when he arrived, there had at least been hope of taking off. This time, combining the staff’s explanation with the weather outside, it seemed unlikely that the flight would take off.

Lu Fangchi gave up waiting idly at the airport and stepped out to hail a taxi, planning to return to the hotel and see what the situation was like tomorrow.

The extreme weather made the road conditions poor, and hailing a taxi became difficult. It took a full fifteen minutes before a driver accepted the order.

Half an hour later, after getting into the car, Lu Fangchi rubbed his frozen hands and slid open his phone to send a message to Zhou Zheng: “It’s snowing heavily. I won’t be able to come back today.”

Zhou Zheng replied almost instantly: “Mm.”

Just from this single word, Lu Fangchi could imagine Zhou Zheng’s expression—eyes cast down, lips pursed, and a face full of discontent.

But there was nothing that could be done. Lu Fangchi was also frustrated. He was just as disappointed.

Fortunately, Zhou Zheng was reasonable. He was just unhappy, listless, and lacking energy.

However, this judgment was premature.
The flight suspension was just the beginning; the situation quickly took a turn for the bizarre. The heavy snow showed no signs of stopping and instead intensified, evolving into a massive blizzard.

Lu Fangchi stood in front of the hotel window, looking out at a world turned white. Tree branches, weighed down by the snow, bent downward, and some had even snapped in half. The streets, once bustling with people, were now nearly deserted, transformed into a ghost town overnight.

With flights grounded, high-speed trains halted, and buses out of service, the icy roads led to frequent accidents and complete traffic paralysis. These events propelled the term “B City Blizzard” to the top of the trending topics.

Lu Fangchi found himself stranded in B City day after day, and Zhou Zheng’s mood grew increasingly downcast, impossible to cheer up.

“When are you coming back?” Zhou Zheng asked through the computer screen, his eyebrows furrowed, patience worn thin.

“I don’t know,” Lu Fangchi replied, his fingers tapping away at the keyboard as he took a brief break from work to answer.

After a moment of silence, Lu Fangchi realized his tone had been too harsh and softened it, adding, “The weather is just too extreme. The ground is frozen, the power lines are iced over, and there’s no way to travel. It might take a while longer.”

“How long is a while?” Zhou Zheng inquired.

Lu Fangchi estimated, “Until the snow stops and the ice melts.” A meeting reminder popped up on the computer screen, adding to his headache.

The delay in returning affected everything. Zhou Zheng was unhappy, work had piled up with no way to proceed, and being confined to the hotel day after day felt like a heavy burden on Lu Fangchi’s heart.

He raised his hand to massage his temples, looking weary as he said, “I have to go, I have a meeting.”

“Only ten minutes in and you’re hanging up? Why do you always have so many things to do every day?” Zhou Zheng raised his voice, sounding somewhat shrill.

Lu Fangchi patiently explained, “Once the investment deal is closed, the company will start pushing the new project. I haven’t been able to go back, and video conferences aren’t very efficient, so I’ve been quite busy.”

Zhou Zheng remained silent, his expression unyielding.

A message popped up: “Dingdong” – Assistant: Mr. Lu, is the internet not working? You haven’t joined yet.

Lu Fangchi typed back: “Coming right up.”

“Honey, they’re waiting for me, I have to hang up. I’ll call you back later,” he said quickly, about to end the call.

Zhou Zheng’s brows furrowed into a frown, and he pursed his lips, letting out a single word: “If you don’t want to come back, just say it.”

What kind of talk was that? Lu Fangchi licked his lips, trying hard to suppress the irritation rising in his heart and control his emotions: “Let’s talk about everything later. I really have to go to the meeting now.”

Zhou Zheng sucked in his cheeks, his face caving inward as he nodded in agreement: “You hang up. You don’t have to call back later, ever.”

A blatant threat.

Lu Fangchi’s brows furrowed into a knot, and he took a deep breath, looking helpless as he said: “Honey, I’m really busy right now. Can you understand, please?” He was almost begging.

Zhou Zheng remained unmoved, clenching his teeth and not budging an inch.

Out of options, Lu Fangchi sent a message to the assistant: “Wait for me for ten minutes.”

Assistant: “Okay.”

Lu Fangchi pushed the keyboard forward, folded his arms across his chest, and asked, “Alright, what do you really want?”

“Nothing much,” Zhou Zheng replied, his lips pursed tightly.

The two of them stared at each other in silence for two minutes, until finally, Lu Fangchi broke the silence and showed weakness first: “You really don’t want me to call you back?”

Zhou Zheng bit his lip and didn’t respond.

Lu Fangchi tilted his head slightly, gently prompting, “Hmm?”

After a long while, Zhou Zheng finally reacted, opening his plump lips and letting out a single word: “You wish.”

After waiting for so long, to hear such a thing was really hard to swallow.

Lu Fangchi’s brows furrowed, his expression displeased, “What did you say?”

This question seemed to open the floodgates, and Zhou Zheng repeated coldly, “I said, you’re probably glad not to have to call me back, just as you wanted.”

Lu Fangchi’s brows furrowed even deeper, his lips parted slightly as if to retort, but Zhou Zheng didn’t give him the chance, “This snow has reached your heart, hasn’t it? Have you been enjoying your time with Yang Zhaoyang these past few days?”

Why bring up Yang Zhaoyang again? What did he have to do with anything?

“Can we stop making random connections?” Lu Fangchi frowned, trying to stop him.

“Why,” Zhou Zheng sneered, retorting, “Are you feeling heartbroken?”

Lu Fangchi felt that Zhou Zheng was being utterly unreasonable and had started to speak without thinking. He didn’t want to argue and raised his hand to stop him, “Calm down.”

The more he was told not to, the more Zhou Zheng pushed, “Regretting being with me, aren’t you? Thinking about how to get rid of me so you can be with him?”

“Zhou Zheng!” Lu Fangchi shouted, his voice stern and expression serious.

His angry reaction startled Zhou Zheng, who froze and finally shut his mouth.

Lu Fangchi’s chest heaved up and down continuously, clearly very upset. He pinched the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath, exasperatedly saying, “Think whatever you want.” With that, he hung up the video call.

He got up, went to the fridge, and took out a bottle of ice water, gulping down half of it in one go. The coolness traveled down his throat, soothing some of his agitation.

Lu Fangchi leaned on the table for a while, completely suppressing the rising anger before turning back to sit in front of the desk and looking at the computer again.

He lifted his hand, adjusted his shirt, placed his palm over the mouse, clicked into the video conference, cleared his throat, and began the meeting.

Work always made one lose track of time. In the blink of an eye, two hours had passed when the video conference ended.

Exhausted, Lu Fangchi shut down the computer. He felt dizzy and had no appetite for dinner. With the last bit of energy, he went to freshen up, got into bed, and as soon as his head hit the pillow, he fell into a deep sleep.

However, his sleep was not peaceful. Half an hour later, he woke up abruptly. The poor quality of his sleep caused a headache that felt like it was going to explode. Lu Fangchi reached for his phone on the bedside table but found nothing.

Oh, it must be by the computer.

Lu Fangchi got up and, with unsteady steps, walked to the desk and picked up his phone. It was half past twelve.

He swiped open the screen, and the top conversation was still inactive.

Only now did he have the time to carefully ponder Zhou Zheng’s words just now. Upon reflection, they still seemed quite unpleasant. He didn’t know what had gone wrong. Zhou Zheng had been moody lately, and those words just now had a hint of the old cold and mocking tone.

He tapped into the chat box and saw that the messages stopped at the end of the video call. Scrolling up a bit, almost all were white message boxes.

Little Zhou: Had porridge. What about you?

Little Zhou: Working overtime.

Little Zhou: So tired, had two cups of coffee in the afternoon to stay awake.

Little Zhou: What are you doing?

Little Zhou: Being perfunctory with me.

Little Zhou: Me.

Lu Fangchi’s fingers paused. Alright, maybe he had a bit of a problem too.

Lu Fangchi typed: Are you asleep yet?

He sent it.

A conspicuous red exclamation mark appeared.

The message had been sent, but it was rejected by the other party.