Falling After Marriage - Chapter 33

Chapter 33: Filled with Shu Guan’s Scent

The wind stirred up by the traffic rolled a cloud of dust, messing up Cheng Sangluo’s hair.

She sat listlessly at the bus stop, watching cars stop and go, watching passengers come and leave. Suddenly, sadness overwhelmed her, making her nose sting.

She wiped her nose with the back of her hand. She wasn’t exactly crying, but she felt deeply suppressed.

This feeling of being unable to cry was the hardest.

The pain, bitterness, and confusion couldn’t be released. They just lingered in her heart, mocking her life as a pool of stinking, rotten mud.

What was it like? Like sand pouring into an oyster shell. She couldn’t spit it out, only endure the pain of time, grinding repeatedly, wondering when a pearl might finally emerge.

Cheng Sangluo seemed bowed by all her misfortunes, lowering her head to look at her toes, sighing to herself: “I’m so tired.”

She was genuinely exhausted.

This person who never bowed her head lowered it now. Her straight posture was slightly stooped, and her usually determined tone became weary.

She forced a bitter smile and sniffed. Wasn’t she best at concealing her emotions? So, the time needed to calm down was very short.

Time to clear my head.

With this thought, Cheng Sangluo randomly boarded a bus going nowhere in particular.

For her, being poor, spending two yuan was a aimless ‘trip.’

Bus route 67 had infrequent services and many stops, so there weren’t many passengers.

Cheng Sangluo huddled in the corner of the back row, spacing out in a daze.

This summer had been exceptionally difficult, but this moment was pleasant.

She pushed the window open, allowing the warm wind to rush onto her face. The world was too cold; she needed warmth. Even scorching heat was better than desolation.

Cheng Sangluo squinted her eyes, letting the wind mess up her hair, and hastened her breathing, as if trying to absorb the freedom in the air.

She felt a small sense of unexpected luck. She hadn’t realized this bus route ran along the coast, giving her an unexpected wide view.

The intense heat of summer was annoying, but the sea and sky in summer had beautiful colors.

The horizon divided two different shades of blue. The clouds and wind were free, and the shimmering waves were free.

The rocking motion of the bus was gentle, lulling her into a weariness that was hard to resist. Cheng Sangluo rested her head against the window. After a few blinks, her eyelids closed, and she lightly drifted off to sleep.

In this world, apart from time being endless, everything else comes to an end. Happiness or suffering, hatred or love, it’s all the same. The end of all things is demise, and the end of demise is being forgotten.

Cheng Sangluo fell into a confused dream, pondering these abstract truths.

In her dream, she comforted herself that the myriad difficulties she faced would vanish and would one day be forgotten.

The terminus of the 67 bus was on the outskirts of Zhouhai—Quanshan Peninsula.

There was a famous wetland park on the peninsula, but due to the heat, not many people were willing to sightsee under the harsh sun.

Cheng Sangluo got off the bus and bought a pineapple from a roadside stall, taking the opportunity to ask the owner if there were any scenic beaches or breakwaters nearby.

The owner patiently gave directions, saying that a good breakwater, a paradise for fishermen, was at the end of the road.

So, Cheng Sangluo started her aimless journey, munching on the juicy pineapple.

It was about a three-kilometer walk. Hiking under the sun was quite draining, but for Cheng Sangluo, who had endured so much hardship, this felt more like a kind of pleasure.

Quanshan Peninsula was under development. The government seemed to be building a suburban tourist area, so towering buildings were everywhere.

Cheng Sangluo walked along the coastal road. On one side was the endless sea, and on the other were busy construction sites. The scenery mixed with the noise somewhat spoiled the aesthetic.

“Well, there’s no choice. Money is hard to earn these days. Even if it’s hot, I have to stop by the construction site.”

Shu Guan was driving a black Aston Martin, speeding along the coastal road, chatting on the phone with someone, her tone sounding slightly resigned.

There weren’t many cars on the coastal road of Quanshan Peninsula, and no speed limit signs, so she drove with the accelerator wide open.

Perhaps not wanting to arrive at the construction site too quickly, she then slowed down to enjoy more of the scenery.

She casually glanced at the sidewalk. There was only one person wearing a black T-shirt on the long road, making her curious enough to take another look.

Shu Guan didn’t feel much; she just thought the passerby was unnecessarily enduring hardship. In the scorching sun, the person was leisurely walking down the road.

As the car passed by, she glanced at the rearview mirror again.

That glance brought a surprise, a great delight, a sudden stroke of fate.

“Cheng Sangluo?” Shu Guan murmured, then briefly said goodbye to the person on the phone: “Gotta go, hanging up now.”

She didn’t even doubt whether she had seen correctly. She hung up the phone immediately and hit the brakes, pulling the car over steadily to the side of the road.

There was some distance, so Shu Guan waited patiently. As the person, who was playing at marching, approached, she lowered the car window.

A blast of hot air hit her face. Shu Guan looked slightly uncomfortable, prompting her to sigh again at how strange Cheng Sangluo was.

She rested her hands on the car window and her chin on them, calling out in the same voice: “Cheng Sangluo.”

Cheng Sangluo was holding the pineapple stick in her mouth. It was infused with the fruit’s sweetness, making it enjoyable, so she hadn’t thrown it away.

She followed the sound and looked at the sports car. The woman waving at her was wearing sunglasses, so she didn’t recognize her right away.

It wasn’t until she got closer that she realized it was Shu Guan.

“Miss Shu?” The sports car chassis was low, and Cheng Sangluo was tall, so she had to bend her knees and stoop slightly when greeting her. “What a coincidence, running into you here.”

Shu Guan was polite and removed her sunglasses when talking to people. After revealing her face, she smiled lightly: “Fate, perhaps? What are you doing here?”

Cheng Sangluo couldn’t very well say I was laid off and am out for a walk, so she made up an excuse: “I had nothing on today, so I came out for a stroll.”

“Strolling out in the peak sun at 2 PM?” Shu Guan countered, but then felt she shouldn’t pry into others’ privacy, so she changed the topic: “Where are you heading? I’ll give you a ride. The sun is harsh; be careful not to get sunburned.”

“Oh, no need. I’m just going to sit by the breakwater up ahead.”

“Get in. You can’t refuse the same thing twice, or it’ll seem impolite.”

Shu Guan’s smile had a soft quality. Paired with her clear eyes, and her gentle voice that always carried warmth, it easily created the strange illusion that one shouldn’t hurt her.

Cheng Sangluo paused. These familiar words were similar to what the madwoman would complain about when she habitually refused her.

However, the attitude she gave was completely opposite. She always rejected Lin Jin firmly, so she was more accommodating to Shu Guan.

“Alright.” Cheng Sangluo opened the passenger door and got in.

The sports car’s space was narrow, filled with comfortable cool air, and permeated with Shu Guan’s perfume scent.

It was a refreshing blend of orange and mint, unlike the subtle coolness of cedar. It smelled distinctly sweeter, seeming more suitable for summer.

Shu Guan pulled out a few tissues and handed them to her. “Wipe your sweat first. Would you like some bottled water? It hasn’t been opened.”

“Thank you, no need.” Cheng Sangluo accepted the tissues, but immediately refused the water.

Shu Guan didn’t offer any further gestures, starting the engine and driving towards the destination.

The atmosphere was still a bit awkward, as the two weren’t very familiar.

Cheng Sangluo held her hands on her knees, gently picking at her trousers, thinking she needed to find a topic of conversation. After some hesitation, she asked: “Miss Shu, are you here on Quanshan Peninsula for work?”

“Yes.” Shu Guan nodded, naturally pointing to the stretching construction area. “The government is developing the scenic area here, and I’m contracted to build a resort hotel on this land.”

Cheng Sangluo followed her pointing direction. She had noticed these buildings under construction while walking earlier, and was surprised to learn they were all Shu Guan’s properties. Her heart couldn’t help but pound—the rich were splurging money.

Then again, it wasn’t surprising. Everyone Lin Jin knew was wealthy and noble. Perhaps she was the only one outside that class.

Shu Guan drove slowly, smiling as she glanced at the distracted person. “When it officially opens, you can come and visit. I’ll personally host you then.”

Cheng Sangluo scratched the back of her head, embarrassed. “That would be too much trouble for you, but I’ll definitely come to show my support.”

While she said the nice words, she was lamenting inwardly: Poor and destitute, how can I show my support?

There was another moment of silence, but the atmosphere was much better.

Cheng Sangluo scanned the car’s interior. There were no superfluous decorations, suggesting the owner was an efficient person.

She suddenly remembered that she hadn’t contacted Bai Mu for a while and wondered if she should send a message to tell her that she was currently with her white moonlight.

However, Shu Guan quickly interrupted her thoughts.

“We’re here.” Shu Guan parked the car on the side of the road. “That’s the breakwater. A lot of people like to go fishing there. If you’re interested, you can rent fishing gear.”

Cheng Sangluo reached for the door handle, ready to get out. Before leaving, she felt compelled to be polite: “Thank you for driving me here when you’re so busy.”

Shu Guan tilted her head slightly and smiled sweetly: “If you really want to thank me, could I make a small request?”

This was her spontaneous idea, carrying a hint of a small tactic not to let her go just yet, but unlike Lin Jin’s scheming depth.

Cheng Sangluo also tilted her head in confusion. “Sure. Anything within my ability, I promise.”

Shu Guan held the steering wheel with one hand, gently tapping it with her fingertip.

Cheng Sangluo knew a little about observation. The tapping posture indicated that the other person was thinking, so she also pondered what small request needed impromptu consideration.

After only a brief pause in the conversation, Shu Guan made her request: “The oysters from Quanshan are exceptional. If Miss Cheng doesn’t have other plans, could you try them with me? It’s boring to eat alone, but lively with two.”

Cheng Sangluo’s eyes widened, and she made a confused sound: “Huh?”

“I’ll go check the construction site first. You can enjoy the scenery at the breakwater. I’ll come pick you up later. If it’s inconvenient, you can certainly refuse me.” Shu Guan’s arrangement was natural, and as always, respectful.

“I’ve already come out to enjoy the scenery, so what other plans could I have?” Cheng Sangluo answered truthfully, then smiled a little awkwardly: “Since I’m already here, and I’ve never had them, I’m a bit tempted.”

Shu Guan looked at her greedy eyes and smiled even more brightly. She picked up her bag and pulled out a business card: “Here you go. Save my number.”

Cheng Sangluo politely accepted it with both hands, picked up her own battered phone, and dialed the number in front of her. “Then save mine too.”

Shu Guan’s gaze fell on the fragmented screen. She had always assumed Cheng Sangluo was Lin Jin’s mistress, but now it seemed she had been wrong with her gossip.

Her smile deepened a little more. “Have fun. I’ll call you later.”

Cheng Sangluo, clumsy with words, said her awkward farewell: “Miss Shu, please drive safely. See you later.”

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