Destined to be his Wife

Chapter 31 - Fans

"I'm so full. We ate too much." TangShi flopped back on the couch, nursing her food baby belly and groaning as Linlin picked up the takeout containers from the coffee table and dumped them in the kitchen.

"You could use a little extra fat; you're so thin lately." Linlin appraised her with a critical eye. Glad that since moving here to YuZhi's apartment she seemed less stressed out and unhappy in life and was back to being her fun and sunny friend. The diet that nasty Aunt had forced on her had made her lose weight and it was her job to fatten TangShi back up again. Feeding her anyway she could.

The girls had met up after TangShi was finished with school and had gone shopping, before heading here for take out and relaxing with a movie. YuZhi and ZhengLi had been MIA these past few days, something to do with an entertainment center being built in Shanghai and it was causing them endless issues with funding.

"What shall we watch?" Linlin wandered back and pushed her deadweight of a friend over so she could climb on the long space beside her to get comfy. Shoving her with a cushion to make her move.

"Hmmm anything. I am so sleepy I may fall asleep. I don't have your energy and I was at school all day before you dragged me to walk miles." TangShi protested, sitting up to turn and curl up against Linlin instead. The girls intertwined arms and legs, snuggling up as she browsed menus on the huge TV on the fireplace wall. YuZhi liked his gadgets, and his house had all the best technology.

"Nothing romantic, I am not in the mood." Linlin huffed and then pouted as ZhengLi crossed her mind. Lately his absence was getting on her nerves even though he had a valid excuse. It had been over a week since their last date, in which he abandoned her and four days since he last called or text her. They had no definite plans for anytime soon either and it felt like she was being ghosted. She refused to be the one to reach out and chase him.

"Still mad at him for having a job?" TangShi poked her in the cheek, grinning and adoring her stroppy best friend. Still amused with this denial that ZhengLi was more than a passing fad, and that her feelings for him were growing.

"Hmmm." Linlin snorted, waving towards the window, that TangShi should close the blinds as a way to avoid the question, and she did so obediently. Picking up the remote to plunge the room into darkness.

The door entry pad tones going off made them both sit up slightly to look in that direction and TangShi impulsively checked her watch.

"It must be YuZhi. He's early for once, it's only eight." She knew that wasn't early by normal standards but sometimes he didn't come home until after ten or later. Lately he had been after midnight more frequently and as she was asleep she didn't see him until breakfast. Linlin had been her chauffer most days as her own part time college was near where TangShi went to school.

TangShi and he had reached that companiable easiness again where they had left the bad feeling in the past and had settled into cohabiting in peace. Having their own rooms meant they saw one another less than before with his schedule and she was missing him. Getting used to his habits in their own spaces and also spending time alone, more than she ever did when home.

The two men wandered into the apartment carrying heavy box files and YuZhi blinked around in surprise at the lack of light. Balancing his load on his leg, reaching up to feel out the switch despite this place having an automatic system and then almost blinded the two women as he illuminated the apartment on high.

"Hey!!" Linlin squeaked and covered her eyes at the assault. They had been in low light before the blinds were shut so this was a shock to their retinas.

"Well, well. This is a welcome surprise." ZhengLi's smooth tone came over like warm honey as he put his boxes on the floor and casually wandered over to them to haul Linlin over on the couch. "I missed my she devil and yet here she is. Looking irresistible, like a little prize." He smirked, sitting down and sliding her towards him so he could put an arm around her shoulders, which she batted away.