The CEO's Beloved Wife

Chapter 4: Liu Zhenwei's Concern

The father-daughter conversation ended on a sour note. Mu Zihan became extremely busy with work, frequently traveling and seldom returning home. Once all the shipments were dispatched, her boss granted her a few days off to rest at home.

She arrived home late at night, exhausted as she pushed open the door. The house felt cold and empty, devoid of any warmth. Zihan sighed, thinking this didn't feel like home at all. Her mother lived at a rabbit farm in the suburbs, staying there daily and showing little interest in Zihan or her father. Even during holidays, her mother was rarely present. Though her father used to be around, he was absent tonight, adding to her sense of loneliness. She decided to take a bath and sleep, but just then, she heard the door open. Her father had returned. Without asking about her work, he simply said, "Hungry?" Zihan nodded, "I was just about to make some instant noodles." "No need," her father replied, placing a bag on the dining table. Zihan smiled, "What made you get KFC for me?" She recalled how, being a girl, her parents hadn't paid much attention to her, leaving her with her grandparents at just six months old. This lack of affection made this rare gesture of bringing home KFC a surprising treat.

"It was Liu Zhenwei."

"Him?" Zihan's stomach growled, and she started rummaging through the bag for food. "Dad, have you eaten?" she asked. Sitting down and sipping tea, her father replied, "Zhenwei and I ate out."

"Zhenwei?" Zihan paused, noting her father's casual use of the name, and remarked dryly, "You sound quite familiar with him." Her father's face showed a hint of frustration, but he suppressed his temper, asking, "What exactly do you dislike about him?" Zihan continued eating, saying, "We're just friends."

"Every relationship starts as friendship. You're a practical person who needs time to get to know someone. I doubt you believe in love at first sight..."

Zihan laughed, countering, "Dad, is anything in this world absolute?" Seeing her dodge the topic, her father finally lost patience, slamming his teacup on the table. Sensing his anger, Zihan quickly said, "I already have a boyfriend!" Inwardly, she thought of Gu Ao, realizing she had subconsciously seen him as her future partner. Her father was taken aback, "Really? I've never seen you with any boys. You didn't just make this up to avoid Zhenwei, did you?"

Zihan laughed helplessly, "Why would I lie about that?"

"How does he compare to Liu Zhenwei?"

"They're about the same."

"About the same? Is his family influential? What job does he have? What car does he drive? How many houses do they own..."

Her father's barrage of questions left her overwhelmed. She asked, "Is family background and having a house that important?"

"You don't understand. Family background is crucial. If he's not as good as Liu Zhenwei, you should break up." The coldness in her father's final words stung Zihan. She didn't argue, just silently ate her mashed potatoes.

Seeing her silent, her father continued, "Marriage is a big decision. Think it over, or you'll regret it for life." Not wanting to prolong the argument, Zihan changed the subject, "It's late, Dad. You should rest. I've had a busy few days and I'm tired." What should have been a pleasant meal turned into a bitter experience.

That night, Zihan lay in bed, unable to sleep, her mind filled with images of Gu Ao and Liu Zhenwei. She hadn't heard from Gu Ao in twenty-one days, no calls or messages. She knew nothing about his whereabouts or activities. Despite wanting to reach out, she always hesitated. Their relationship seemed to be an endless wait. Zihan thought, if only the KFC was from Gu Ao, his slightest concern would make her feel content.

The next morning, Zihan was woken by the doorbell. Before she could get up, she heard her father's enthusiastic voice, "Zhenwei, you're here so early! What's that in your hand?"

"I brought breakfast. Is Zihan back?"

"She got in late last night and is still sleeping."

Feeling irritable, Zihan dressed quickly and walked out of her room. She saw Liu Zhenwei and her father sitting in the dining room, with a thermos and several bags on the table. Her father casually said, "You're up." "Yeah," she replied groggily. Her father's cheerfulness grated on her nerves. "Zhenwei was kind enough to bring you breakfast. Eat it while it's hot." She gave Zhenwei a polite smile and thanked him. Embarrassed, Zhenwei said, "I didn't know what you'd like, so I just got a variety." Before she could respond, her father interjected, "She loves KFC's mashed potatoes. She always buys several boxes when she goes." Zihan felt a bit embarrassed, awkwardly rubbing her hands.

Finishing breakfast quickly, her father left, though it was still early. Zihan and Zhenwei both knew he was leaving to give them some alone time. They sat in silence, Zhenwei eating slowly, while Zihan, preoccupied, ate without speaking. Eventually, Zhenwei broke the silence, "You must have been exhausted last night." "It was okay," Zihan replied briefly. "Are you going to the office today? You don't look well." "No, I can rest for a few days." "Then you should rest after breakfast. You must be tired from the past few days." "Yeah." Sensing her indifference, Zhenwei felt frustrated. Despite his impressive background and career, and the attention he received from many women, he had gone out of his way for her, only to receive a lukewarm response. He had hoped for more appreciation. Zihan, aware of his good qualities, couldn't shake the feeling that they were like parallel lines that would never intersect.