FIO CH61

Chapter 61: = =?

Lu Fangchi had his great qualities; he was the easiest person in the world to feel soft-hearted. Even though he had been hurt by himself, he was still willing to give a chance.

Although that’s what was said, in the adult world, “accepting a pursuit” is akin to telling the other party, “I’m willing to be with you, as long as you show a little bit.”

Zhou Zheng was like a student taking an open-book exam with textbooks, knowing the answer was in the book but still unable to write out the solution process well.

The alpha pulled out all the stops, sending greetings every morning, noon, and night, delivering loving bento boxes three days a week, and always finding ways to meet up on weekends.

And Lu Fangchi, as he had requested, would refuse what he didn’t want, but he wouldn’t reject everything just because it was from him, not to mention that in reality, he hardly ever refused.

Zhou Zheng even managed to stay over at Lu Fangchi’s place several times, cramming his toothbrush into the bathroom vanity and leaving several sets of clothes in the wardrobe, adding a bit of his own touch to the home.

Lu Fangchi seemed easy to pursue, but in reality, it was quite difficult. It’s unclear if the order was wrong, but usually, people go through the sequence of being together – kissing – sleeping. However, for him and Lu Fangchi, it was – kissing – sleeping – pursuing. From spring to summer, the trees turned lush green, and the weather became hot, yet the two still hadn’t officially become a couple.

Zhou Zheng clicked on the top note titled “Super Nice but a Bit Hard to Pursue Lu Baby” and started typing: Are you there, are you there!? >O

Lu Baby: = =?

Probably influenced by Zhou Zheng, Lu Fangchi now occasionally used emoticons, and Zhou Zheng was always charmed by them, feeling that Lu Fangchi was a fluffy, adorable cat head.

Zhou Zheng: It’s Monday, can I ask for a date?

Their meeting frequency was three times a week, spending two whole days together on weekends, and once during the weekdays, with occasional extra meetings that Zhou Zheng had persistently negotiated.

Lu Baby is typing… After a while, he replied with five words: Didn’t we just meet? = =?

Zhou Zheng played it straight: I miss you. ,,^,,

Usually, when it came to this point, Lu Fangchi would agree, but today he replied with two cold words: No.

Lu Baby: I’m a bit busy this week.

Zhou Zheng: Please? ^_ _ `

Zhou Zheng: So when will you be free?

The nickname changed to “Typing…” and then a white message bubble popped up on the screen: Thursday.

Zhou Zheng immediately checked his work schedule on DingTalk. Thursday was packed with work, and he had a social event in the evening, which meant he would have to work overtime.

This wouldn’t do. Zhou Zheng found Liu Zhu and sent him a message: Can you move the work around on Thursday? I have something.

Liu Zhu replied instantly: What’s the matter?

Zhou Zheng: It’s none of your business.

Liu Zhu: …

Liu Zhu: Speechless, but it can’t be moved.

Zhou Zheng: Really?

Liu Zhu: Well, what’s your matter? What could you possibly have that you haven’t been able to get your wife for three months?

Zhou Zheng: That’s why I’m pursuing my wife. Can you just move it or not?

Liu Zhu extracted the relevant information: You’re going to be with Lu Fangchi?

Zhou Zheng: Yeah.

Liu Zhu: It can be moved.

He added a reminder: Dress handsomely that day.

Who’s he looking down on? Zhou Zheng always dressed sharply whenever he went to see his wife.

Zhou Zheng: You don’t need to say that.

Lu Fangchi was indeed very busy this week, but not because of work. He left work fifteen minutes early every day, and when he took the elevator to the underground garage, he would deliberately look around to make sure Zhou Zheng wasn’t lurking somewhere.

Only after confirming that Zhou Zheng wasn’t hiding in any corner did Lu Fangchi feel relieved to get into his car and drive to his destination.

Lu Fangchi parked his car, opened the door, and walked into a store with white minimalist decoration. Inside, there were six white preparation tables, each polished to a reflective shine, with kitchen utensils and seasonings neatly arranged on top.

The chef, dressed in a white chef’s coat, heard the wind chime at the door and walked forward to greet him, nodding, “Mr. Lu, let’s get ready and start now.”

Lu Fangchi nodded, put on an apron, rolled up his sleeves, and walked to the preparation table to wait for the chef’s instructions.

He had signed up for a cooking class. To learn quickly, he chose Western cuisine that looked good and was relatively easy to master, and set the menu: filet mignon, garlic butter shrimp, eggs Benedict, seafood risotto, and mini cakes.

Lu Fangchi had a clear plan for himself. From Monday to Wednesday, he would learn two dishes a day, and leave the last day for the mini cakes. This way, he could personally cook a delicious dinner for Zhou Zheng on Thursday, August 9th. That day was Zhou Zheng’s birthday.

When Lu Fangchi initially agreed to give a chance, it was not only for Zhou Zheng but also for himself. Although the alpha was at fault, the accusations were not entirely baseless, echoing some of what Xie Xing had said before. Lu Fangchi had reflected on it later.

He felt that he might be a bit emotionally detached? It’s not that he didn’t have feelings; it’s just that he often expressed them less, leading people to think he was indifferent. Failing to make his partner feel loved was his problem.

Lu Fangchi had always been straightforward, admitting his likes openly. He wasn’t insensitive to Zhou Zheng’s changes over these months. Human hearts are made of flesh, and he wanted to be better to Zhou Zheng, to take concrete actions to make the alpha feel it, instead of letting him overthink because of his plain, toneless words.

While lost in thought, his phone “ding-dong”ed, the screen lighting up. Zhou Puppy: Overtime QWQ.

Lu Fangchi pushed his hand against the faucet, washed and dried his hands covered in seasonings, and replied: Keep going. (˙3˙)

Zhou Puppy: ^><^

A question reached Lu Fangchi’s ears, “Your lover’s message?” Lu Fangchi looked up at the chef, who was of a certain age, with strands of white hair, and whose eyes were lined with crow’s feet when he smiled.

Lu Fangchi nodded in acknowledgment and asked in return, “How did you know?”

The chef pointed to his eyes and replied, “Your eyes are filled with love.”
He also said, “Food made with heart will be the most delicious in the world.”

Lu Fangchi curled his lips, “I’ll take your words as a good omen.”

Yesterday’s filet mignon and garlic butter shrimp were of high-quality ingredients, and as long as the heat was well controlled, they were easy to make and tasted good. Today’s eggs Benedict was a bit more troublesome, with several additional steps. The main challenge was the hollandaise sauce on top. It required taking the egg yolk, adding lemon juice, melting some butter, and then stirring over a water bath until it reached a thick consistency. After that, poaching an egg, placing it on the plate with garnishes, and finally pouring the hollandaise sauce over it. It was finally done.

Without wasting any time, he moved on to the next dish, seafood risotto. The preparatory work was so extensive that just listening to the chef’s description made it seem very complicated. For a novice like Lu Fangchi, it would take at least an hour, and there was even the possibility of messing it up and making it unpalatable.

Forget it, Lu Fangchi tapped his fingers on the countertop, interrupting the chef’s instruction, “Can we switch to something simpler, quicker, and less likely to go wrong?”

The chef thought for a moment, then replied, “How about creamed lemon salmon or waterless curry rice?”

Lu Fangchi felt that the main course was missing, so he chose the second option, “Waterless curry.”

Curry is delicious with anything and doesn’t have too many complicated steps. Just cut the ingredients and throw them into the pot. After stewing, add the curry blocks, and a golden pot of curry is ready.

Lu Fangchi tasted it, and it was excellent. Surprisingly, this was the simplest and most delicious dish among the four he had made.

At eight o’clock, Lu Fangchi pushed the door open and walked outside, the wind chime ringing with a “ding-a-ling” sound.

He got home at half past eight. Lu Fangchi’s dinner for the day was the two dishes he had just made. After savoring them carefully, he concluded that the eggs could be a bit softer, with a runny yolk being better. He would shorten the cooking time next time.

The curry rice could also benefit from more onions, which blend exceptionally well with the curry, resulting in a sweet and fragrant taste.

While he was thinking, his phone “ding-dong”ed.

Lu Fangchi swiped it open. Zhou Puppy: Finally off work.

Lu Fangchi patted Zhou Puppy’s avatar, and the small box vibrated twice.

The next second, Zhou Zheng’s video call came through, and Lu Fangchi pressed the answer button.

Zhou Zheng was walking, and the video was a bit shaky. He got into his car, propped the phone on a stand, and asked Lu Fangchi, “What are you doing?”

Lu Fangchi raised the spoon in his hand, indicating that he was eating.

“What are you eating? Show me,” Zhou Zheng asked, starting the car with a hand gesture.

“It’s not instant noodles,” Lu Fangchi replied, without turning the camera or showing Zhou Zheng what he was eating.

Zhou Zheng didn’t seem to care much about what Lu Fangchi was eating, as long as it wasn’t instant noodles. He nodded slightly and said, “I haven’t eaten yet.”

The alpha kept his eyes on the road ahead, turning the steering wheel, “I was thinking that if you hadn’t eaten either, I’d come over and cook us a meal together.”

It was just Zhou Zheng’s usual trick. Coming over to cook at this hour, who knows when it would end, conveniently allowing him to stay over, killing two birds with one stone.

Lu Fangchi smiled and said to him, “See you on Thursday. It’s not a matter of a day or two.”

Zhou Zheng glanced down with a displeased expression and reluctantly said, “Alright.”

The two stayed on the call until Zhou Zheng got home. Lu Fangchi ordered takeout for him while he was driving. It was a well-timed event; as soon as Zhou Zheng stepped into the entrance hall, the doorbell rang. The delivery person said, “Your takeout.”

Zhou Zheng raised his hand to take it, nodded, and said, “Thank you.”

“You should eat quickly now, I’m hanging up,” Lu Fangchi said.

Zhou Zheng opened the kraft paper bag and began to unwrap the takeout, “Alright, you hang up.”

The call ended, and Lu Fangchi nestled into the sofa to browse recommendations. He was planning to buy some items to decorate his home and create a more ambient atmosphere.

After looking around, he realized that the key elements were candlesticks, incense, and fresh flowers.

Lu Fangchi sat up a bit straighter and began to choose flowers. Red roses, passionate and versatile. He directly ordered ninety-nine stems, selecting a delivery time of 5 p.m. the day after tomorrow.

With two days left, Lu Fangchi couldn’t help but start looking forward to it, eagerly anticipating Zhou Zheng’s reaction. He would be happy, wouldn’t he? He loved romance and ceremony.

Time flew by, and the two days passed in the blink of an eye, quickly arriving at Thursday.

On this day, Lu Fangchi deliberately left work two hours early, drove to the supermarket to carefully select ingredients, and came home with a large shopping bag.

Lu Fangchi put on an apron and prepared to show off his culinary skills. It shouldn’t be a problem, as long as he made four dishes. The small cake had already been made into a finished product at the baking center yesterday and was brought back directly.

At six o’clock, half an hour before Zhou Zheng’s work would end, Lu Fangchi sent him a message in advance: Can you get off work on time? I’ll pick you up.

Zhou Puppy: I have a car. But if you want to pick me up, that’s not impossible.

Seeing his witty remark, Lu Fangchi smiled.

Zhou Puppy: But something came up suddenly, and I’ll be half an hour late. Wait for me, baby.

Seven o’clock. Lu Fangchi looked at the ingredients he had just put into the pot, and it was fine; there was more time now.

Lu Fangchi: Yeah, I’ll wait for you.

At six thirty, Lu Fangchi turned off the stove and served the curry rice from the pot.

He arranged the dishes, lit the candles and incense, placed the large bouquet of roses on the table, and adjusted their positions a bit.

At six forty-five, he went out to pick up Zhou Zheng.

At seven o’clock sharp, he arrived at the company’s underground garage. Lu Fangchi raised his hand and took out his phone to type: Here…

The screen popped up with a call request from Zhou Zheng.