Since she heard that she could get one of each clothing item in every size, Sangqiao's heart was filled with joy as if a pie had fallen from the sky.
She sat extra obediently in the passenger seat, not even using her phone, preparing to disguise herself as being demure and well-mannered.
However, as soon as the black Maybach car got off the South Third Ring Viaduct, Sangqiao's phone, tucked in her pocket, started ringing persistently.
The ringtone didn't stop until it had rung three times mercilessly.
Even Fu Xingzhou, who was driving, was startled, and turned to look at Sangqiao, saying, "It's fine, answer it."
Sangqiao pursed her lips, and fished out her phone from her back pocket, glancing at the caller ID.
The caller was an elderly woman who used to live in the same neighborhood as Sangqiao, and had known her for many years, so she had Sangqiao's personal number.
Sangqiao answered the phone in a rare normal tone, "Hello, Grandma Li, what's the matter?"
Grandma Li had lost a few teeth four or five years ago and had been reluctant to go to the dentist to get them fixed, resulting in a slow, elderly-specific way of speaking, "Deary, have you been too busy to come home lately?"
Sangqiao subconsciously scratched the edge of the black coat she was wearing, and shook her head, "Not too busy, just been at the office these past few days. Is there something you need?"
Grandma Li replied, "Oh, it's nothing very important. I just got a new gas tank the other day and haven't been able to move it up yet. Deary, would you mind coming over, if you have time?"
From the first word Grandma Li spoke, Sangqiao understood the meaning and smiled, "I know, don't worry, I'm almost home now. I'll come over and move it for you."
Grandma Li was relieved, and chatted idly, "Oh, and your grandpa's surgery was last week. His wife came back yesterday and said he's recovering well. There's still some chicken soup left for you in our fridge."
Sangqiao quickly responded, "Alright, Grandma Li, wait for me. I'll be there soon."
The call ended.
Sangqiao's gaze became absent-minded for a while, and it took her a while to refocus.
She gently poked the arm of the person next to her, "Fu Xingzhou, do you have time?"
Fu Xingzhou had roughly understood the meaning from Sangqiao's recent conversation, and had little expression on his face, "Where are you going?"
Sangqiao whispered, "It's where I used to live, past the Sixth Ring Road, it's a bit far... do you know where it is?"
The rain outside was pouring down.
After raining all day, the heavy rain didn't show any signs of stopping, and instead seemed to be getting heavier.
Fu Xingzhou neither said he knew nor that he didn't know, and turned his head, "Do you want to go?"
Sangqiao: "..."
Actually, she didn't really want to go.
She was so tired today and wanted to go home, have a hot meal, and be a lazy bum.
Although Sangqiao grew up wild, with no real education or prospects, she had never refused the requests of her old neighbors.
From childhood to adulthood.
Children who have been fed in many households naturally carry a heavier burden than others.
The car fell silent for a few seconds.
Sangqiao looked worried, pursing her lips, and pitifully pointed to the car door, "Honey, could you drop me off here, and I'll call a taxi."
Fu Xingzhou: "..."
They had only been married for a few days, and everything else was average, except for her increasingly adept coquettishness.
Clearly, the rain outside was cold and piercing.
However, Fu Xingzhou felt restless and the heat gradually spread throughout his body as if he was going to devour the restless person in front of him.
But it's not possible.
Too fast.
Sang Qiao hasn't agreed yet.
Fu Xingzhou clenched the steering wheel tighter and tighter, turning the car in the opposite direction and heading out of the city.
This period was the evening rush hour, and the car was stuck on the road for almost three hours.
By the time Sang Qiao and Fu Xingzhou arrived in the yard, it was already past seven in the evening.
As autumn approached, the sky in the northern city darkened early, and with the heavy rain, even the elderly who usually chatted downstairs had gone back to their respective homes.
Sang Qiao was about to push open the car door to get out.
But then he heard the person next to him speak very coldly, "Wait a moment."
Sang Qiao turned his head, "Huh?"
Fu Xingzhou first opened the car door, took an umbrella from the back seat, and opened it.
Then walked to the passenger seat of Sang Qiao, "Come down."
The large black umbrella shielded the pouring rain, and his thick coat blocked the cold night wind.
Sang Qiao was slightly stunned.
These old-fashioned residential areas on the outskirts of the northern city originally belonged to the families of the rough factory workers, with brick and concrete structures from the 60s and 70s, only four or five stories high.
Although the pace of urban reform is rapid, the old neighborhoods in the depths of the alleys seemed to have not received much welfare, still standing there in their original state.
The entire neighborhood had very little greenery, and in the heavy rain, there were only a few dim light bulbs still dutifully performing their duties.
Sang Qiao splashed through two large puddles on the way, getting his pants wet and also splashing Fu Xingzhou walking beside him.
Finally, they stood in front of the entrance of the building.
In the light of the building entrance, Sang Qiao looked at the expensive-looking pants with a series of mud spots on Fu Xingzhou. He felt rare remorse and said, "Fu Xingzhou, why don't you go back to the car and wait for me? It's warm in the car and it's not raining."
Fu Xingzhou turned the umbrella inward, "No need, I'll wait for you."
Sang Qiao was extremely moved and looked up at Fu Xingzhou with teary eyes, "Thank you, you are really a good person."
Fu Xingzhou: "......"
Nana Lee lived on the fifth floor, the highest floor in this neighborhood. Ten yuan was charged for each additional floor for carrying the gas cylinder up.
To save forty yuan of the extra cost, Sang Qiao usually helped carry the gas cylinder upstairs.
In today's widespread use of natural gas, this old and remote neighborhood seemed to have been forgotten in the modernization, insignificant and easy to ignore.
Sang Qiao rang the doorbell at the entrance of the building.
Before long,
Nana Lee's voice came through the doorbell, "Is it Qiao Qiao? The gas cylinder at Nana's house is at the bottom of the first floor staircase, move slowly, don't hurt yourself."
The doorbell hung up.
Sang Qiao opened the building door, and indeed, the grey-green gas cylinder was still in its old place.
He rubbed his hands and didn't forget to take off Fu Xingzhou's coat he was wearing.
Just as he was about to give the coat back to Fu Xingzhou—
He heard the sound of leather shoes following him from the doorway.
Fu Xingzhou's voice came with it, "Did that old lady call you over to help carry the gas?"
Whether it was Sang Qiao's own illusion or not,
Fu Xingzhou's voice at this moment was as cold as ice,
And seemed to conceal a hint of inexplicable anger.
Almost imperceptible, but seemed to truly exist.
Sang Qiao scratched his head and, for a moment, couldn't quite grasp Fu Xingzhou's point of anger. He turned around obediently and nodded, "It's on the fifth floor, I'll be there soon!"
Fu Xingzhou's expression completely darkened.
He had thought that these old neighbors called Sang Qiao over just to do him a favor.
He didn't expect that they would also ask Sang Qiao to help carry the gas upstairs.
He was willing to be the one to help Sang Qiao.
But now, Sang Qiao was doing something as mundane as carrying the gas canister, and even seemed to do it skillfully.
Fu Xingzhou remained silent for a long time.
For a while, the atmosphere in the corridor made Sang Qiao uncomfortable all over, so he tentatively pushed the coat towards Fu Xingzhou, "Hey, Mr. Fu, do you think my small build can't handle it?"
Sang Qiao seemed to have a knack for self-entertainment, and added another line, "You're overthinking it! I'm not like you, I'm a naturally tough and resilient ordinary citizen. Carrying a gas cylinder is small stuff for me!"
Fu Xingzhou: "......"
The light in the corridor was also dim.
Only Sang Qiao's bright and moving eyes stood out.
Like a shallow and blue lake, only reflecting his own figure.
Fu Xingzhou took out his phone and said to Sang Qiao, "Let the old lady wait a moment, I'll ask someone to come and help her move."
Sang Qiao: "???"
Sang Qiao was puzzled for a moment, then quickly reached out and grabbed Fu Xingzhou's arm, "No need! I can carry it! I'm fine! No need to call for help!"
Fu Xingzhou frowned, "Why?"
Sang Qiao touched his nose, "Well... it's because I didn't have enough to eat when I was a child. It was the neighbors, the grandpas and grandmas, who each gave me a bite to eat so that I wouldn't starve."
"Now that I've finally grown up and survived, it's only right for me to help them move the gas, no need to involve others."
As Sang Qiao spoke, he draped his coat over Fu Xingzhou's arm, then turned and forcefully lifted the gas cylinder onto his shoulder.
As he was about to carry the gas cylinder on his shoulder, another, obviously stronger force took it from Sang Qiao's shoulder.
Sang Qiao was stunned, instinctively turned his head.
The gas cylinder that should have been on his back was successfully placed on Fu Xingzhou's shoulder.
Perhaps because he had never carried gas before, Fu Xingzhou's actions seemed very unskilled, and his posture was wrong.
The high-end grey-blue suit was now creased and twisted, completely losing its original air of being expensive.
Sang Qiao was completely stunned, reaching out to try to snatch the gas cylinder back.
But Fu Xingzhou had already stepped onto the first step, and calmly said, "Which door on the fifth floor?"
"Ah? Oh, door number three."
Sang Qiao hurriedly caught up, taking quick steps behind Fu Xingzhou, as if he were a grasshopper being toasted, "Fu Xingzhou! Fu Xingzhou, this won't do! This posture is very troublesome! Just give it to me!"
Fu Xingzhou paused his steps, his voice cold, "Am I not as strong as you?"
Sang Qiao: "......"
Sang Qiao was worried, "No, why are you competing with me! I'm afraid that you'll hurt yourself, and then your personal life won't be happy in the future..."
Fu Xingzhou, carrying the gas cylinder, swayed his back.
Then he stopped, standing on the three steps, and turned around from a high vantage point.
Sang Qiao: "......"
Under Fu Xingzhou's compelling gaze, Sang Qiao immediately put on a gag, "I was wrong, Mr. Fu. Your waist strength must be unparalleled, and your physical strength must be the best in the world, unstoppable seven times in one night!"
Fu Xingzhou: "......"