I care about you deeply, but I don’t want to continue like this anymore.

Due to their late-night “snacking” the previous evening, a certain newlywed couple successfully slept in two hours late the next day.

Despite Sheng Sui’s repeated urging, Zhou Shiyu, who remained unhurried throughout, finally gave up on a complex breakfast. Even with their rushing, they still ended up leaving an hour late.

As a result, Xiao Ming, who was catching a ride with them to the camping trip, was also forced to be late. Before getting in the car, she kept lamenting how the world had declined.

Sheng Sui got out of the passenger seat to pick her up, smiling apologetically: “Should I sit in the back with you instead?”

Zhou Shiyu in the driver’s seat raised an eyebrow upon hearing this, his left hand supporting his temple, his right hand lightly tapping the steering wheel as his dark eyes observed through the rearview mirror.

Xiao Ming quickly waved her hands in refusal. Catching the gaze of a certain someone in the mirror, she shrugged and grimaced: “No way, I’m afraid of being assassinated.”

As she spoke, she looked at the faint red marks visible under the loose neckline of Sheng Sui’s dark blue sweater and shook her head earnestly: “Also, my dear, should you consider using some concealer or pulling your collar up higher?”

“……”

Finally, as Sheng Sui hurriedly adjusted her collar and searched for concealer in her bag, the car started and drove onto the straight asphalt road.

The scenery outside the window flew by rapidly. Having only slept four or five hours the night before, Sheng Sui felt drowsy from the warm spring sunlight overhead, her eyelids fighting several times.

At this moment, she heard Zhou Shiyu beside her speak: “The HR department proposed new employment conditions, but Miss Xiao seems to have declined—do you find the conditions unsatisfactory?”

Sheng Sui became more alert, realizing he was speaking to Xiao Ming in the back seat.

“The conditions are great—five times the salary, you couldn’t find a second company like that even with a lantern.”

From the rearview mirror, Xiao Ming could be seen looking out the window, her tone nonchalant: “But I really don’t want to come.”

Zhou Shiyu wasn’t surprised to hear this. Seeing sunlight directly hitting Sheng Sui’s side, he raised his hand to open the sun visor for her and said calmly: “May I ask the reason?”

“What other reason could there be? Knowing I don’t deserve such high pay, I naturally don’t dare accept it.”

“What if you have ulterior motives and want me to help you hide bad deeds from Sheng Sui,” Xiao Ming was straightforward and always spoke her mind. Moreover, with no contract signed, she spoke even more freely, “And I’m typically someone who’s swayed by money—what if I actually agreed?”

Sheng Sui couldn’t help but laugh after hearing this, turning back to look at her: “Then you could secretly tell me and extort a few more payments from him.”

“Silly child,” Xiao Ming leaned forward, lovingly ruffling her hair, “You don’t really think that the two of us together could outmaneuver him in scheming, do you?”

“……”

Sheng Sui couldn’t think of words to refute for a moment—never mind her and Xiao Ming, even ten of them together couldn’t outwit Zhou Shiyu.

Under someone’s expression of “thanks for the compliment,” Sheng Sui turned back to sit properly and received a text from Xiao Ming.

【Xiao Ming: Curious gossip question—is your husband always like this with you?】

Sheng Sui didn’t understand: “Like what?”

【Xiao Ming: Hard to say, probably a sense of condescending charity? His actions all seem so good that you should be grateful, but actually you’re always being led by the nose, which makes him particularly irritating.】

“……”

Her friend’s use of the word “charity” inevitably made Sheng Sui uncomfortable, yet she couldn’t strongly refute it at the moment: “There’s no charity, right?”

Xiao Ming immediately and keenly caught the key point: 【Baby, your hesitant tone in not denying the second half really worries this sister.】

【Xiao Ming: You’ve been a people-pleaser since day one—don’t tell me you have no autonomy whatsoever in this marriage.】

Her post-marriage life had been so satisfactory that seeing the three words “autonomy” suddenly made her pause.

Frowning hesitantly for a moment, she slowly typed: “Isn’t love mutual? Why would you want to control the other person?”

Though her words were defensive, she vaguely felt some agreement with Xiao Ming’s thoughts.

From their fateful first meeting to the man’s gentle yet forceful proposal of marriage, from several instances of hiding secrets only to be forced to reveal the truth, to the delicate balance they now maintained after everything was exposed—no matter how she looked at it, Zhou Shiyu was the complete leader of this relationship.

Simply put, while Sheng Sui had remained sincere and honest throughout this relationship, how much she could understand about Zhou Shiyu depended entirely on how much the man was willing to let her know.

Even regarding the bipolar disorder, from discovering the wrist scars to the subsequent painting and diary, everything was completed under Zhou Shiyu’s tacit permission, even guidance.

Zhou Shiyu loved her, respected her, cherished her—a man admired by many was even willing to put himself in a subordinate position. These were indisputable facts.

But at the same time, the development and direction of this relationship, the consistently unequal positions between them, were all completely decided by Zhou Shiyu alone, never asking whether Sheng Sui was willing.

As her thoughts drifted, her palm vibrated again. Sheng Sui looked down at the message.

【Xiao Ming: Who’s asking you to control him?】

【Xiao Ming: What I mean is, no matter how much you like someone, don’t wrong yourself in a relationship; never ignore your own feelings because you like someone—simply put, voice even the smallest displeasure loudly, understand?】

Just as Sheng Sui was about to reply, she heard Zhou Shiyu’s calm, low voice beside her: “What are you chatting about?”

“What would you understand about girl talk?” Knowing Sheng Sui wouldn’t lie, Xiao Ming answered first, changing the subject: “By the way, Sui Bao mentioned yesterday that other people from your company are also coming, but she didn’t clarify the names. Who are they?”

“……”

Soon, Xiao Ming got her answer.

Among the layered mountains and fragrant flowers of the dense forest, Cheng He’s people had already rented the entire campsite by the stream. When the three of them arrived, two other men were working together to set up tents, while the only woman was preparing ingredients at a folding table.

Except for the unfamiliar woman, Sheng Sui recognized the two men: Qiu Si, and Xu Zhuo, whom she’d met at the housewarming celebration.

As they approached, they saw Xu Zhuo walk over to speak to the woman, who then smiled sweetly and looked up, actively kissing the man’s cheek.

Zhou Shiyu strode over to greet everyone, while Sheng Sui was grabbed by the arm by Xiao Ming, who looked shocked: “So your husband and Qiu Si aren’t actually mortal enemies?”

Sheng Sui looked puzzled.

“Qiu Si is the general manager in charge of our company’s cooperation with Cheng He, always gossiping about Zhou Shiyu,” Xiao Ming recalled past events with many sighs, “This guy genuinely complains about your husband showing off his love every day—we all thought they had a bad relationship.”

Sheng Sui remembered Qiu Si’s request over the phone and smiled: “He probably just simply wants to date someone.”

Xiao Ming watched him circling around Zhou Shiyu from afar, coldly snorting with disdain: “He already seemed not too bright at the company, didn’t expect him to be even dumber in private.”

“……”

“Your wife really knows how to pick friends.”

At the same time, Qiu Si by the tent also noticed Xiao Ming’s presence, glaring at Zhou Shiyu with a fake smile: “Also, you knew all along, didn’t you, you little rascal.”

Zhou Shiyu had heard something about Xiao Ming and Qiu Si’s workplace discord. Hearing this, he simply raised an eyebrow leisurely, tacitly acknowledging it.

Except for Xu Zhuo’s girlfriend Su Yingying, everyone present was acquainted. After simple greetings, they divided into groups to prepare camping supplies.

Xu Zhuo, having just started dating, only wanted to stick with his girlfriend, suggesting: “Yingying and I will get some firewood and charcoal. You guys handle the tents and ingredients.”

Zhou Shiyu and Sheng Sui had more luggage, so they naturally took charge of setting up tents, leaving the remaining food preparation task to the only remaining pair—Xiao Ming and Qiu Si.

Xiao Ming looked speechlessly at the two couples walking away and snorted coldly: “Seriously, I really hate pairing literature.”

Qiu Si nodded quite approvingly: “Who would have thought we’d have a day of agreeing on something.”

“?”

Xiao Ming didn’t really want to deal with him. Suppressing the urge to roll her eyes, she tried to place the heavy box beside her on higher ground: “Is there any possibility that the part I hate most about pairing literature is you personally?”

“The feeling is mutual.”

Seeing her thin arms and legs, Qiu Si easily lifted the box with one hand. Seeing Xiao Ming bend down to move the barbecue grill, he couldn’t help but click his tongue: “With your small frame, you insist on doing these things.”

“You go skewer the meat,” he took the rack from Xiao Ming’s arms, hearing her let out a long breath of relief, and grinned, “Can’t move it but insist on showing off. Next time you hurt your foot, you’ll cry like the Three Gorges Dam bursting again.”

“……”

Having her past pain brought up, Xiao Ming raised the kitchen knife in her hand menacingly: “Keep talking nonsense and see if I don’t chop you up directly—perfect for tonight’s charcoal grilling.”

“You’re consistently true to yourself,” Qiu Si looked at her, thin as paper yet making threats, and instead of getting angry, found it amusing, “Whether at work or privately, you’re getting more and more fluent at cursing me.”

“Nonsense, I even dare to confront Zhou Shiyu to his face,” Xiao Ming felt inexplicably annoyed by his laughter, “Besides, why should I still worship you after work? Are you my father?”

Qiu Si actually considered the scenario of her calling him “daddy,” raised an eyebrow, and stopped bickering.

Peach blossom viewing was scheduled for tomorrow. As the sun set and night fell, everyone began lighting fires and burning charcoal. Soon, the aroma of various dishes and meats wafted over amid the crackling sounds of jumping sparks.

Six people sat around the small stream chatting about everything under the sun, constantly eating while surrounded by the sounds of insects and flowing water, occasionally punctuated by bickering that was immediately swept away by laughter.

The spring night in the forest was chilly. Sheng Sui wrapped herself in a blanket in a folding chair, holding hot tea that Zhou Shiyu had specially warmed for her.

She was concentrating on listening to Su Yingying tell the story of how she and Xu Zhuo first met when she suddenly heard rustling sounds nearby, like footsteps on dry leaves.

It was Zhou Shiyu beside her getting up and leaving, his tall, dark silhouette almost merging with the endless night.

Sheng Sui saw the man walk into their tent without looking back. For some reason, she also got up and followed after a few seconds.

The commotion from the others outside was too loud—singing and continuous laughter perfectly covered Sheng Sui’s footsteps.

She walked quietly closer, and from a distance could see Zhou Shiyu tilting his head back to drink water through the tent opening that was left slightly ajar.

On the small square table in front of the man was a square box. From Sheng Sui’s angle, she could see the box was divided into many small squares, each containing five or six differently shaped pills.

Some were half pills, some were whole pills or capsules.

Sheng Sui remembered that during their trip to Jingbei, she had caught Zhou Shiyu taking medicine twice—once at midnight and once in the morning—and he had deceived her by saying they were health supplements.

The book said that bipolar disorder was best treated with daily medication at regular times—it was only seven in the evening now, a time when Zhou Shiyu would normally be cooking at home, and Sheng Sui had never seen him take medicine.

So did the man actually take medicine or not? If he did, at what time?

Sheng Sui was almost tormented by this question when she saw the person in the tent become aware of something, look up, and his gaze land precisely on her.

Zhou Shiyu wasn’t flustered when he discovered her approaching the tent. He calmly put away the medicine box and walked forward as if nothing had happened, saying gently: “Why did you suddenly come over? Are you feeling cold?”

After speaking, he raised his hand to carefully adjust the blanket that had slipped halfway down her shoulders.

If this had been a few days ago, Sheng Sui would have obediently avoided the topic. Perhaps influenced by Xiao Ming’s text, today she was determined to get to the bottom of things.

“I’m fine,” she shook her head, looking at the table where the medicine box was no longer visible, “Were you just taking medicine?”

Zhou Shiyu’s motion of adjusting her blanket paused, and he said calmly: “Yes, should I get you a thicker blanket?”

“No need to change it.”

The difficult, evasive conversation made Sheng Sui’s persistent questioning quite uncomfortable. She took a deep breath and looked up, her hands clenched under her long sleeves as she stared into the man’s eyes, unyielding: “Zhou Shiyu, what time do you take medicine every day? Why have I never seen you take it?”

“……”

Realizing he could no longer avoid it, Zhou Shiyu sighed silently, the smile in his dark eyes behind his glasses fading somewhat.

He reached up to ruffle Sheng Sui’s hair, with expected helplessness: “It’s rare that we come out like this—must we talk about these things now?”

Sheng Sui looked into his eyes, insisting: “I don’t understand—is this such a difficult question for you to answer?”

She was also a patient. Her diabetes diagnosis was about the same time as Zhou Shiyu’s bipolar disorder, and she needed injections three times a day plus before bed to maintain herself, more frequently than his once-daily medication.

Although she wouldn’t bring it up proactively, Sheng Sui had never been secretive about these things.

“…Sui Sui, actually when bipolar disorder isn’t in episode, I can appear no different from a normal person.”

After a full ten seconds passed, Zhou Shiyu finally spoke again, his speech much slower than usual, clearly well-considered: “You don’t need to be too nervous, and you don’t need to waste your leisure time learning about my condition.”

“—That would only make me feel like I’m a madman all the time.”

The man bent down to kiss her forehead, saying quietly: “Just do me a favor—let’s not talk about this anymore, okay?”

“……”

“But I don’t like this.”

Her nose was filled with the cold, bitter scent of wood, making even the tip of Sheng Sui’s tongue taste bitter.

“Zhou Shiyu, I’m a very stupid person.”

“I don’t want the first thing I do every morning to be guessing whether you’re still hiding other things from me.”

She stepped out of Zhou Shiyu’s embrace, her palms clenched painfully tight. This was her first direct conflict with her husband after marriage, so difficult that she could almost only repeat what she’d said before: “I care about you deeply, but I don’t want to continue like this anymore. Can you understand what I mean?”