Love Me Harder, Mr. Fu - Chapter 188

“Where were you for the past three days?” Zichen’s father interrogates, looking at him with narrow eyes.

Zichen lets out a tired groan and says grimly. “Had other work to do.”

“What other work can you possibly have, brother?” Donghai chimes in, sneering at him.

Zichen ignores him and pours himself a glass of water. He gulps water from the glass and sets it down on the table.

“What work, Zichen?” his father asks, his tone firm.

It was a bad idea to listen to her father and come home. He knew his father never called him unless it’s about work or something related to his brother.

“I don’t think I have to explain everything to you” he retorts, giving him a cold look.

Zhi Ruo tries to signal him from her eyes to not talk to his father in that way but Zichen is never going to do that.

Furious, his father thunders, “Don’t try to be smart, lad! Answer my question.”

Donghai snickers, having fun watching his younger brother getting scolded. He is the one who complained to their father about his absence and when Aiguo, his father got to know this, he immediately left his work and called Zichen through his wife because Zichen was not answering his calls and he also knew he was doing that intentionally.

“Father, there’s nothing to worry about. I will get back to the company from tomorrow.”

But Aiguo is not going to listen to him. “It doesn’t mean you can choose to not answer my question.”

Zichen pinches the bridge of his nose, annoyed and so very ready to leave. Zhi Rup comes and squeezes Aiguo’s hand, gesturing to let it go.

His father is a loyal husband and he never does anything that his wife does not like. If Zhi Ruo says something not to do, he won’t do it.

His nostrils flares and he calms himself. Donghai does not like that the drama ended so soon. He at least thought his younger brother will burst into anger and get in a fight with his father.

“Father, the company will go down if he keeps on being casual” he steps in, trying to fill her father’s ear in a way to instigate Zichen.

Zhi Ruo glares at him but Donghai does not mind it. He has lived without them for almost ten years, without their love and affection. He expects that they will love him just the way he wanted but he is disappointed. He hates it when his Mother’s eyes lits up every time she talks about his son, which is Zichen. She never talked about him with that proud look on her face. It makes him want to hate Zichen even more.

“You keep minding your business. I won’t let anything happen to the company” Zichen says, voice firm and loud. Ignoring his brother is getting harder than he thought.

“You will see my wrath if something happens” his father threatens eyes wide and face etched in fury.

“I know that very well.”

To stop the tense atmosphere from getting tensed, Zhi Ruo asks something she shouldn’t have. Not in this situation. “Zichen, son, forget about this” she goes by his side and holds his arm, smiling warmly. “I have heard something interesting actually but I want to confirm it from your mouth.”

Zichen looks at her quizzically, having no idea what she is talking about. “What is that?”

“I have got to know that you are dating someone” she spills and hearing her say that Zichen freezes and his body becomes stiff. How did her mother know about this?

“What? Is that so?” his father asks, curious as well and it appears he had forgotten everything about the heated discussion earlier.

“Who told you?” Zichen asks. He can hear his heart pounding hard inside his chest, not to mention he is screaming from inside.

She smiles and it somewhat annoys him. He does not want to see a smile at this moment. “So it’s true then?” she questions back.

Zichen clenches his teeth, closing his eyes as she tries to control his temper. “Mother, answer my question.”

She hesitates for a second and spills it anyway. “Donghai told me. He said the whole company seems to know about this.”

Zichen snaps his attention to his older brother who is smiling evilly at him across the room. Donghai steps closer to him, holding the evil smile which sure as hell pisses Zichen.

“How sneaky, brother! You haven’t let us know for so long” he acts innocent.

Zichen growls internally and glares at him as his chest rises and falls.

“Son, now that we know. I want to meet her” Zhi Ruo urges, her eyes shining with expectancy.

“I am not dating, mother. It’s a lie” Zichen refuses fiercely, his eyes cold.

“You don’t need to hide brother. We won’t be against it” Donghai asserts and his voice is so annoying that Zichen wants to put a fucking ball inside his mouth.

“Zichen, you shouldn’t hide. Tell us. I am sure the girl also does not wants to date you in secret” his father chimes in, giving his suggestion.

Zichen feels like his head is going to explode if he stays here for one more minute.

“I am out” he states and taking his jacket over his shoulder, he walks towards the front door in a hurry. Zhi Ruo and Aiguo try to stop him but Zichen isn’t going to be here and answer their question about his dating life.

Once he is inside the car, he starts the engine and gets out of the gates and to the road. He can breathe normally. The question does make him sweat. It’s not that he won’t want to let them know, it’s that he knows the current situation is not good for both of them. Shi Lian’s father already seems to hate him and telling his parents will not do any help. If his father knows that she is the daughter of Mo Zheng Yuan, he might burst into anger and reject the relationship right away. That’s the last thing he wants.

He is happy with her, being hidden or whatever, it doesn’t matter. When Shi Lian is ready, he will definitely talk to his mother and he hopes she likes her.

It scares him that he came this far to even consider Shi Lian to meet his mother. He never even thought he would be in a relationship, let alone considering family meetings. The fact that he has accepted that he loves her, he does not hold it to himself. He does not know what Shi Lian thinks of him. Her head starts to buzz wondering if Shi Lian says she does not love him. That will be devastating.

He can feel she loves him as much as he does but he won’t be sure until and unless she confesses.

He drives to the company to check on everything that is been going on these days. He has other reasons as well. About the whole company knowing, how is that possible? He never hugged or kissed Shi Lian openly nor has someone saw him saying his name or looking at her picture on his phone for hours. Yes, this man has pictures of her on his phone, inside the desk, and in other areas.

He needs to talk to Rong. He is aware he will be mad for not receiving his calls but he is not worried about it.

**

Fu Internationals,

Ignoring the staff as if they are ghosts, he walks straight to his office, his usual cold look on place.

He doesn’t even greet back when the staff says good morning.

Reaching his office, he clicks the doorknob and steps in. Feeling like home as he walks up to his desk, taking small steps in between the distance.

“Woah! What are you doing here?” Junjie asks, popping out from his couch. Was he sleeping here?

“That’s the question I should be asking” Zichen retorts, crossing his arm over his chest and gives him a look.

“I was doing work. You said I should keep an around here so that was what I am doing” he explains, smiling as he takes a bite of his apple.

“I am here now. You can go. Thank you” Zichen tries to shoo him away but Junjie will not go until he knows where Zichen was for three days.

“Not so soon, bro” he smirks and sits back comfortably, putting his legs on the coffee table. “You should tell me what were you doing for three days? Don’t tell me you were busy with your girlfriend” he continues, amused by his own thinking.

Zichen makes a face that says ‘what the hell is wrong with you?’ and kicks in his knees. Junjie lets out a loud yelp and falls to the floor, the pain shooting in.

“What the fuck?” he hisses, grabbing his knee cap with one hand and holding his apple with another.