When She Stops Being Dramatic

Chapter 32: Chapter 32: The Cast-off Wife of the 1950s (32)

Zhu Yun pursed her lips into a faint smile. ”What’s wrong? Is Mr. Chu really that unhappy to see me?”

Chu Shenyu pulled her closer, his arms tightening around her as if that was the only way to soothe the sudden emptiness and desire flooding his heart. ”I’m just scared,” he admitted. ”Scared I’ll make a mistake.”

”Make a mistake? What kind of mistake?” Zhu Yun put on an innocent act, her voice full of curious wonder.

Her words were like a lit match to a firecracker’s fuse, sending a shiver through Chu Shenyu’s entire body.

It was precisely this kind of ”young and innocent” woman who could awaken the most deeply hidden, primal urges in a man.

His mind was now echoing with all the off-color jokes and crude remarks men shared when they were together.

He, a man once known for his asceticism and self-control—a modern-day Liu Xiahui, as others called him—now had to surrender completely, stepping into the ranks of mere mortals without a fight.

With immense self-control, he released her just before he lost his composure and hurried toward the kitchen. ”I’ll get you some water...”

Zhu Yun smiled to herself and sat down on the sofa.

Most of the major appliances were already here. A television, radio, sewing machine, refrigerator, and a fan were still in their boxes, stored in the small bedroom.

It took him a full five minutes to pour the water. When Chu Shenyu returned, his face was still damp. He smiled and said, ”The apartment was just renovated, so we haven’t bought many daily necessities yet. All I have is plain water.”

However, he then went into the other room and rummaged through his own bag, emerging with a large sack full of things.

”I bought some things for you on my business trip,” he said. ”I’m not sure if you’ll like them. You can share some with your colleagues and neighbors.”

Since they were already engaged, everyone saw them as a newlywed couple in the making.

Zhu Yun accepted it without any pretense of politeness and opened the sack to take a look. It was a true hodgepodge of items: snacks, a silk scarf, clothes, cosmetics, and even a wood carving!

She couldn’t help but laugh. ”Did you bring back all of Shanghai’s local specialties? What are you going to get me the next time you travel for work? Or is this it?”

Chu Shenyu blinked, glancing from her to the massive sack of gifts, and then he laughed too. ”I... I just saw things and wanted to buy them all for you.”

”Next time, I’ll take you with me!”

Zhu Yun’s eyes curved into crescents. ”Sounds good. I’ll be waiting for you to show me the world.”

But they weren’t married yet, so it wouldn’t be appropriate for her to stay too long.

Chu Shenyu carried the sack and walked her home.

As they neared her front door, he couldn’t help but say nervously, ”Next Saturday is the Dragon Boat Festival. The factory director secretly consulted the almanac and said it’s a good day to get married and register our license.”

”A lot of couples at the factory are getting married in the next few months, so he wants us to get in on the trend and is planning to hold a group wedding that day.”

”It’ll be lively without being extravagant. What do you think?”

”Hmm?” ’This is hilarious,’ Zhu Yun thought, but she kept a straight face. ”I think it’s a great idea. The director really cares about the workers and gets practical things done. No wonder everyone works so hard together on production!”

Chu Shenyu was at a loss for words. He pressed on tentatively, ”So... should we sign up and show our support?”

”We should,” Zhu Yun agreed with a generous nod. ”Is there anything I need to do?”

’She actually preferred the current trend of simple weddings. Whether in ancient times or the distant future, the complicated procedures of getting married were enough to flay a person alive.’

”You don’t have to do anything. We just need to go get our marriage license in the morning,” Chu Shenyu explained patiently. ”Since the factory is organizing everything, they’ll even provide sunflower seeds, peanuts, and fruit. For the meal, everyone will just pool their money and ration tickets to put the dishes together. It saves us the trouble of exchanging gift money.”

”Though, my family will definitely host a proper banquet for us later. After all, my parents have given out a lot of gift money to their own colleagues and friends over the years.”

According to Mrs. Chu, it wasn’t that the Chu family couldn’t afford it, but the people at her office were just too much. They could argue for days over something as trivial as a needle and thread.

She planned to use this banquet to settle the score with those annoying colleagues. Otherwise, they would just take advantage of the situation by not giving any gift money, all while laughing at the Chu family for being taken for fools.

Zhu Yun agreed to everything. ’I should make a big, multi-layered cake for the occasion,’ she mused.

Chu Shenyu still had to report to his supervisor, so he couldn’t linger any longer.

Zhu Yun gave some of the more perishable sweets and pastries to the few neighbors she got along well with, then tucked the rest away and headed to the cafeteria to share them with her colleagues.

Just as she reached the cafeteria entrance, Director Wang rushed out to greet her, his forehead beaded with sweat.

”Oh, Chef Zhu! I thought you weren’t coming in until tomorrow.”

Zhu Yun smiled. ”I know how concerned you are about the cold drinks, Director. How could I dare take an extra day off?”

The Number One Cafeteria was huge. It was a two-story building with a massive dining hall, and even the kitchen and warehouse in the back were quite spacious.