Tentative

Same as the day before, Shen Yizhuo sent Qu Xiaoyu back first, and then sent Qu Zhe back to the apartment.In fact, this route is very strange. It stands to reason that he should send Qu Zhe to the apartment first, and then go home with his wife.But Qu Xiaoyu felt that this was very appropriate - after all, they didn't live together.

Although Qu Zhe had doubts, he didn't ask.

On the way back, Shen Yizhuo suddenly said, "You won't regret what you said to Xiaoyu."

He is in the back seat, the co-pilot was Qu Xiaoyu just now, but now it is empty.After Shen Yizhuo finished speaking, he raised his eyes to look in the rearview mirror, wanting to see Qu Zhe's face, but unfortunately Qu Zhe huddled on his right hand and leaned against the car door, his expression could not be seen in the rearview mirror.

"Yes." Qu Zhe replied lightly.

"it is good."

Qu Zhe couldn't figure out what this short answer meant.They arrived at the apartment very silently, Shen Yizhuo escorted him into the elevator, and followed him into the door.Qu Zhe finally felt a little strange, and asked, "Aren't you... going home?"

"This is my home too." Said Shen Yizhuo, opened the refrigerator and took out a can of beer.

Qu Zhe was standing at the entrance, watching Shen Yizhuo sitting down on the sofa very relaxedly, watching the messages on his mobile phone, drinking beer, and had no intention of leaving at all.

He can stay, stay where Shen Yizhuo can see, but that doesn't mean he can bear to live under the same roof as Shen Yizhuo.

Qu Zhe organized words in his mind, thinking about how to tell Shen Yizhuo concisely that he didn't want to be in the same room with him, but Shen Yizhuo seemed to know it already, looked at the phone screen, but said in a slightly lonely tone: "Can we Shall we talk?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Talk about you and me."

"But we have nothing to talk about." Qu Zhe's attitude was decisive, leaving no leeway.

"Come and sit." Shen Yizhuo was still in the same posture, and he didn't seem to be annoyed by his refusal, "I don't think you have the right to refuse."

Qu Zhe stood there motionless: "What do you mean?"

"If you don't want to talk to me, I can talk to Xiaoyu about our affairs." He slowly raised his head and looked at Qu Zhe.

After all, it was still the expression that everything was under control, and the little bit of panic when we first met seemed to be Qu Zhe's illusion.This is undoubtedly a threat to him, and it is also in line with Shen Yizhuo's usual methods.He can always grasp Qu Zhe's weakness, magnify it infinitely, and then make use of it.

Qu Zhe licked his lips, and sat beside him as he said: "Then what do you want to talk about?"

Shen Yizhuo put away his phone, took a sip of beer and said, "...Probably talking about something between me and you."

"Ah."

It's a talk, but this is more similar to a unilateral notice. Qu Zhe knows what he means, so he just needs to listen.

Just make it clear.Shen Yizhuo thought about it, but when he was about to speak, he realized that the matter was very complicated, and he almost didn't know where to start.Is it about how he knew Qu Xiaoyu, or why Qu Xiaoyu married him, or...he cares about Qu Zhe very much.

It doesn't seem right anywhere.

After thinking for a moment, Shen Yizhuo had no choice but to say: "Xiaoyu and I are not yours to want a marriage relationship."

"……what?"

"She was pregnant, but the child's father probably couldn't be responsible, so I married her." Shen Yizhuo's tone was very brisk, "To put it simply, let's help each other."

But the lighter it is, the more abnormal it is.Usually he doesn't talk like that, it's more calm and unhurried.

But Qu Zhe didn't notice it—he focused on what Shen Yizhuo said: "...I don't understand."

"If you think I have something to do with your sister and hurt you, then let me tell you now, I didn't." Shen Yizhuo said, "That's not considered hurt."

"I don't understand. What you said just now, who is the father of the child?" Qu Zhe fumbled for a cigarette in his pocket anxiously, but he couldn't find it for a long time. Then he remembered that he smoked the last one when he was outside. And he forgot to buy a new one.

Sensing his movements, Shen Yizhuo naturally took out two cigarettes from his cigarette case and handed them to Qu Zhe.

Qu Zhe didn't answer, and continued: "...I don't know what you mean, haven't you...have been in love for a long time."

The second half of the sentence was extremely difficult to say, and it seemed as if he was giving in when he said it.

"I said that I don't have a girlfriend, and I haven't had one from the beginning to the end. She is my wife in name, but both of us know that we just get what we need." Shen Yizhuo didn't force it, put the cigarette on the coffee table, and the other Put it into his own mouth and ignite it, then said lightly, "You know, it's because of you that I've come to this point."

"……what?"

"If my father didn't know about you and me seven years ago, I wouldn't have to find a woman to marry to prove that my sexuality is normal."

"..."

"Originally, I could have postponed it for at least a few more years, and even when I was 35-[-], it was not surprising for men to marry late. But my stepmother has been making a fuss about it, and I can't help it."

This statement is mixed with truth and falsehood. If it is really just to deal with the family, it is the same to marry other women, but it is far from what Qu Xiaoyu is doing now, and it is convenient for both parties to come together clearly.

And only in this way, Qu Zhe will appear.

"Qu Zhe, I'm just doing your sister a favor, and your sister is just doing me a favor." Shen Yizhuo's tone suddenly softened, and it was no longer the tone of talking about business.

Qu Zhe didn't know how to start a conversation.What should he say?Thank you for helping me take care of my sister?

"So you don't have to feel bad about this matter. Even if we maintain our previous relationship, she won't be sad... Xiaoyu doesn't like me."

"What do you want from me when you say these things?" Qu Zhe said.

Speaking of this, if you calm down, it will probably be another meaningless conversation.Shen Yizhuo looked at Qu Zhe, who was lowering his head, and could clearly see the slightly trembling eyelashes because of his emotions.

"We can be the same as before, I..." His throat was tight, and he could only repeat what he had said before, "I will treat you well."

Qu Zhe suddenly raised his hand to cover his face, and put his elbows on his knees. Because of his thinness, the shape of the spine behind him was exposed, which looked fragile.

"Shen Yizhuo, I don't need it anymore..." Qu Zhe's voice was muffled, "I don't need it anymore..."

"you need to."

"Do not……"

"Qu Zhe, I give you time, and you give me time," Shen Yizhuo said, "Last time you left without saying goodbye, and didn't even give me a chance to explain. We're even."

"I really don't need..." He repeatedly denied, but Shen Yizhuo continued as if he couldn't understand: "But I do."

Qu Zhe's thin body was obviously taken aback, and he didn't speak for a long time.

Shen Yizhuo seemed patient and didn't rush, just waiting for his answer.It took a long time before Qu Zhe finally said, "I'm sorry, I can't do it."

"why."

During these silent hours, Qu Zhe finally adjusted himself.He loosened his face, looked at Shen Yizhuo, and smiled gently: "...I said it because I don't love you anymore."

"Qu Zhe..."

The two sides seemed to switch positions in an instant, Shen Yizhuo was speechless, but Qu Zhe said to himself: "I don't want to be a dog anymore."

"..."

"Your little liking, I don't think it's worth much now."

"..."

"I just don't want to have anything to do with you anymore, but if I have to," Qu Zhe said, "it's just an acquaintance."

These words were so unexpected that Shen Yizhuo didn't know how to answer them at all.

When Qu Zhe stopped talking, he stood up, straightened his clothes, and said, "Okay, let's get along well for eight months... I'll go first."

"Ah."

After saying these few words, Shen Yizhuo really left.It was only then that Qu Zhe felt that the matter was finally over. He stared blankly at the night scene outside the window with mixed feelings in his heart.Rejecting Shen Yizhuo was more difficult than he imagined. When Shen Yizhuo said "yes", he was not as easy as he imagined.

Occasionally, Qu Zhe would attribute all this to "fate", but it would always be confused with Shen Yizhuo anyway.

But he knows that some things are self-inflicted.

Shen Yizhuo didn't come over to wake him up the next day, but sent someone to deliver the keys to the apartment, and some daily necessities, including new sheets and quilts.It is obviously unrealistic to always sleep on the sofa, so Qu Zhe slept on the folding bed in the study according to what he said.

He found a job in a convenience store nearby, so he couldn't rest on weekends, but the working hours were not too long, so he could spend more time with Qu Xiaoyu.

Shen Yizhuo probably got his phone number from Qu Xiaoyu, and would occasionally send a message asking him if he would come to pick him up for dinner, or some greetings.Most of them are very simple words, such as "Do you need to buy anything at home", "It's getting cold, be careful of catching a cold" and so on.

He never responded to a single message.

Occasionally, when I was with my sister and Shen Yizhuo, the other party still acted calmly, as if he was really not familiar with him.Those gentle expressions that he had only seen Shen Yizhuo use towards others in the past also began to show in front of him.Shen Yizhuo would occasionally shop at his work place, and then say a few short words to him.

But that didn't seem strange—his company was nearby, after all.

Just like now, Shen Yizhuo was buying cigarettes at the counter, and after handing Qu Zhe the money, he whispered: "Xiaoyu should go to the hospital for an examination tomorrow, but I may not have time to accompany her there, do you have time?"

"……Have."

"Well, you go with her tomorrow, and I will ask someone to pick you up at home."

"it is good."

The conversation is probably as simple as that, Shen Yizhuo will not cross the safety line, and Qu Zhe will not.

He never knew that it was so simple for two people who once met naked to become strangers.All it takes is a gentle and polite smile, plus polite words, and if you don't talk about your private life, you will become a stranger.Qu Zhe fully understands why Shen Yizhuo has maintained that appearance for so many years.

Because of this, people have no weaknesses, no weaknesses.