Chapter 4: Effortless

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Liu Zhuyin ordered roses for me?
How could that be possible?
There must be some mistake!
“When did I ever say…”
“Are you sure you got it wrong?”
Liu Zhuyin’s doubt only confirmed my suspicion.
There was no way she would send me roses.
Yet, the assistant’s words still sent ripples through my heart.
For a moment, I secretly wished it were true.
“I didn’t… I didn’t.”
“But Miss, you’re the one who ordered them…”
Liu Zhuyin’s expression turned cold in an instant.
“I ordered flowers for Azhou, to be delivered at dinner time, and… and they’re definitely not…”
Her words faltered, then she swallowed them back, her face growing even more unpleasant.
The assistant panicked immediately, uneasy and anxious, quickly sending me a pleading look for help.
Liu Zhuyin was proud and aloof; no employee in the company dared to defy her.
Normally, she was the strictest, harshly reprimanding anyone who failed in their duties.
Losing her assistant’s future over something so trivial would be too costly.
Besides, in such an awkward scene, someone had to break the tension.
“It’s fine. It’s the same if they’re sent to Mr. Ning now.”
I stepped forward to defuse the situation, took the bouquet, gestured for the assistant to leave, then handed the flowers to Liu Zhuyin.
“I won’t overstep. It’s better if you personally deliver them to Mr. Ning.”
Liu Zhuyin frowned, hesitated for a long moment, but still didn’t take the roses.

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This puzzled me.
Wasn’t she the one who ordered them?
Wasn’t it just a case of a mix-up in names?
Sending them now would be the same anyway.
“What’s wrong? It’s just a small misunderstanding. I don’t think Mr. Ning would mind.”
Ning Yuanzhou immediately nodded, eagerly agreeing with my words.
“Yeah, even if they were really for Mr. Gu, I wouldn’t mind.”
“You’re his wife; sending roses is perfectly normal.”
“But if these flowers were sent to me, I’d be even happier.”
Liu Zhuyin responded with a hum, promptly took the flowers, and handed them to Ning Yuanzhou.
“Azhou, congratulations on your recovery. I wish you better and better health.”
Her sweet smile, heartfelt blessing, and the gaze filled with affection made me envious.
To her, I was merely a nominal husband.
Such a smile, such a blessing, such a look had never been directed at me.
Not even once!
I used to be extravagant in my desires.
But now, I was learning to let go slowly.
“Thank you, Ayin!”
“For what? But… it’s still not quite right to send roses for a health wish.”
“I’ll have someone send carnations instead; wait a moment.”
Liu Zhuyin immediately picked up the phone to arrange it. Ning Yuanzhou grinned broadly, his eyes gleaming with pride as he glanced at me.
He had every reason to be proud.
No matter how hard I tried, I could never earn that love.

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He could get it effortlessly.
And twice over, no less.
“You two chat. I’ll go cook.”
I was polite, smiling, and gentlemanly.
But only I knew how miserable I felt as I turned away.
I really couldn’t bear to watch them flaunt their affection.
Even though I had resolved to leave, the pain still suffocated me.
At that moment, a message from my mother-in-law buzzed on my phone.
“小 Chen, do you like the roses? Ayin asked me to help choose!”
“She’s too shy to give them to you herself.”
A wave of confusion swept over me—so the roses were from my mother-in-law.
Then what about the flowers Liu Zhuyin ordered?
I forced a bitter smile.
What difference did it make?
Whether it was a mix-up or the mother-in-law placing the order for her…
The flowers were sent to Ning Yuanzhou, not me.
In a month, I would vanish from Liu Zhuyin’s world, living the remainder of my fleeting life for myself alone.
It was truly laughable to be puzzled about this now.
Yet I quickly typed two words on the keyboard.
“I like them.”