Purely Accidental - Chapter 11
Chapter 11
An Youda vividly demonstrated just how wild human imagination could be.
Terrorist attack? Seriously, where did he even come up with that?
Xu Jingshu was momentarily speechless before replying, "There's no terrorist attack outside, but if you dare step out right now—"
She slowly placed her hand on the table and deliberately tapped twice.
"I'll become the terror."
The three men: "!!!"
They exchanged nervous glances.
Chen Hanming could practically read An Youda's unspoken thoughts through his expression:
—See? I told you there was a "terrorist attack" outside.
With the warning so clearly delivered, venturing out now would be downright reckless.
So the three men settled in—some sitting, some standing—their feet rooted to the spot as if they'd grown there.
Xu Jingshu's expression softened as she patted An Youda's arm before turning to leave.
Her benefactor was waiting outside—she couldn't waste time here.
If her benefactor suddenly came looking for her, that would truly become a "terrorist attack" scenario.
Just then, An Youda grabbed her arm and handed her a book.
"Your sister likes Mirror Inquires Autumn, right? Here—this is a special signed edition. You can give it to her later."
Xu Jingshu glanced at the book, casually stuffed it into her handbag, and added, "Thanks."
As she reached the door, An Youda urgently called out again: "Wait! Where should I park your car?"
"Anywhere. You can even drive it for a few days."
Xu Jingshu turned back.
"As long as it doesn't appear before my eyes right now."
With that, her figure disappeared through the doorway—coming and going like the wind.
An Youda: "..."
He felt vindicated in his earlier assessment.
Everything in this world changes, including people—like Xu Jingshu.
Blink once, and you might already be left behind.
......
The refreshing sea breeze brushed against Pei Youshan's face, gradually cooling her heated cheeks.
As she calmed down, she couldn't help wondering how things had escalated like this.
—How did her lover end up acting more like the benefactor than she did?!
This wouldn't do.
She needed to reclaim the initiative and shed that "Bodhisattva" nickname once and for all!
Just as she made this resolution, she suddenly heard someone call from behind: "Miss Yue."
She instinctively turned to find Xu Jingshu standing there.
Bathed in the warm night glow, the evening wind caressed Pei Youshan's ears and danced through Xu Jingshu's shoulder-length hair, creating an inexplicably tantalizing atmosphere.
Pei Youshan noticed her lover seemed even more composed than before leaving.
Without overthinking, she softly asked, "Back already? Did you get everything?"
Xu Jingshu hummed in affirmation: "We can leave now."
As the words settled between them, Pei Youshan felt another hand slip into hers—warm, smooth, and slightly cool to the touch.
Led by this hand, they left the terrace, exited Seaside Residence, and walked toward the parking lot.
The wind's whisper faded as moonlight blended with streetlights, stretching their shadows across the pavement.
Pei Youshan couldn't help glancing at their joined hands.
This wasn't their first time holding hands, but it was the first time Xu Ge had initiated it.
Noticing her gaze, Xu Jingshu asked, "Didn't Miss Yue want me to be more proactive?"
Pei Youshan blinked, a spark of delight fluttering in her chest.
Of course she was pleased by her lover's attentiveness.
But this level of initiative... still fell short.
As the benefactor, she should—as Lin Feifei advised—stand her ground and boldly voice her desires!
She had every right to!
With this in mind, she leisurely remarked, "Hmm... is this all the initiative you've got?"
"Oh?"
Xu Jingshu paused, turning to meet Pei Youshan's luminous eyes, her tone as gentle as the evening breeze.
"Then perhaps Miss Yue could teach me?"
Teach me...
Pei Youshan's heart did a little flip.
Oddly enough, such ordinary words sounded inexplicably charming when formed by those lips.
Utterly irresistible.
After glancing around to confirm their privacy, Pei Youshan straightened her posture, cleared her throat, tilted her face up, and lightly tapped her flawless cheek with a fingertip.
No hint could be clearer.
With such straightforward instructions, any student who still couldn't solve the problem would be hopeless indeed.
Fortunately, Xu Jingshu proved an exceptionally quick study.
Through her peripheral vision, Pei Youshan watched the distance between them gradually shrink—until their breaths mingled.
Until lips brushed against her cheek.
Tender as water, mutually consensual.
Pei Youshan felt thoroughly satisfied.
She was making progress—finally behaving like a proper benefactor!
—See? When she commanded a kiss, her lover complied!
Now leading Xu Jingshu toward the parking spot, Pei Youshan missed the faint smile playing on the other woman's lips as she observed her retreating figure.
Xu Jingshu had expected Pei Youshan to point at her lips—not her cheek.
Her benefactor remained... unexpectedly demure.
Two simultaneous clicks signaled fastened seatbelts.
It was then that Xu Jingshu remembered something crucial.
"Miss Yue wants supper right after dinner?"
Pei Youshan's grip on the steering wheel faltered: "..."
Must you always be so observant...
"Ahem." Pei Youshan coughed. "The food didn't suit my taste, so I didn't eat much."
Picky eater strikes again.
Xu Jingshu nodded understandingly without comment.
Once the car left the parking lot, she texted An Youda to lift the lockdown.
......
After much deliberation, Pei Youshan remained undecided about supper—and decidedly avoided Lin Feifei's recommended restaurant.
Bringing a beautiful lover to admire another beautiful woman? That "keeping one eye on the bowl while eyeing the pot" mentality was too tactless even for her.
Since Xu Jingshu had already eaten and lacked appetite, she simply accompanied Pei Youshan without ordering.
Eventually, Pei Youshan chose a dessert café, selecting a salted caramel crunch roll and hazelnut latte.
They settled at a corner table, facing each other.
Pei Youshan asked again, "Sure you don't want anything? Not even a drink?"
Xu Jingshu shook her head. "I'll just keep you company."
Pei Youshan lowered her gaze, her fork gently piercing the fluffy cake as she took small, elegant bites.
Yet something felt off—the person across from her didn't feel like a lover tonight.
More like a girlfriend.
And this felt like a date.
Upon reflection, she realized this wasn't necessarily problematic.
Aside from lacking emotional foundation, their activities hardly differed from any couple's.
This realization restored her composure, allowing her to focus on dessert.
With nothing better to do—and professional ethics preventing her from scrolling through her phone in front of her benefactor—Xu Jingshu rested her chin on one hand, quietly observing the woman opposite her.
Without exaggeration, this was the most attractive benefactor she'd ever encountered.
Also the gentlest and most bashful.
This suited her perfectly—no one enjoyed dealing with wild, unrestrained benefactors.
Take that anonymous "Blue" person, for instance.
That kind of benefactor spelled nothing but trouble.
By comparison, her current benefactor was downright adorable.
When Pei Youshan looked up and unexpectedly met Xu Jingshu's intense gaze, her chewing visibly slowed in surprise.
Why was she being stared at like that?
She reached for a napkin, intending to politely inquire—only for Xu Jingshu to beat her to it, calmly dabbing away a smudge of cream at the corner of her lips.
The touch was featherlight and impeccably executed.
Pei Youshan blinked—so this was what initiative looked like.
At least she was putting those instructions into practice.
Xu Jingshu set the napkin aside without comment, her mind lingering on that cream-stained, innocently questioning look.
Admittedly... kind of cute.
Not manufactured, but naturally emanating from within.
Were Xu Jingying to get cream on her face, she'd never find it endearing.
But perhaps that stemmed from overfamiliarity—knowing someone inside out stripped away any mystique.
Thus, she suspected this sense of novelty would fade once she knew Miss Yue better.
Ultimately, it boiled down to four words: chasing the unfamiliar.
Pei Youshan eyed the discarded napkin before asking, "Why were you staring earlier? Did I have something on my face?"
She produced a compact mirror from her bag, suspiciously checking her presentability.
Xu Jingshu smiled faintly.
"Nothing special."
Confirming her dignity remained intact, Pei Youshan stowed the mirror with a skeptical hum.
Staring for no reason? Hard to believe.
Xu Jingshu effortlessly turned Pei Youshan's own words against her: "People enjoy looking at beautiful things—and Miss Yue is exceptionally beautiful."
Pei Youshan: "..."
Why did that sound so familiar?
Suspicious, she sipped her hazelnut latte with mixed feelings.
Just then, the entrance bell chimed as a couple entered arm-in-arm, their lovey-dovey aura practically oozing saccharine sweetness.
Pei Youshan averted her eyes from the gratuitous PDA, suddenly reminded of something.
"Xu Ge," she asked curiously, "do you ever plan to date seriously?"
Instead of answering immediately, Xu Jingshu studied her as if trying to decipher hidden intentions.
Pei Youshan instantly understood the unspoken question. "Not like that!" she clarified hastily.
Xu Jingshu: "Then what does Miss Yue mean?"
Setting down her latte, Pei Youshan stated matter-of-factly: "I mean, if either of us enters a serious relationship, this arrangement ends immediately—no lingering attachments. Understood?"
She appreciated Xu Jingshu's looks; Xu Jingshu appreciated her financial support. Their mutual singleness formed the foundation of this arrangement.
She'd never considered romance blossoming from such roots, nor maintaining a lover indefinitely.
Purely transactional relationships could dissolve anytime—she simply wanted them both prepared.
Xu Jingshu nodded. "Understood."
Such clear-cut terms? Who could object?
......
At 9:45 PM, they left the café, strolling toward the parking lot under streetlights.
Weekend crowds bustled around them, laughter punctuating the cool summer night.
Overhearing movie plans, Pei Youshan had a sudden idea. "Since we're free, let's catch a film!"
Xu Jingshu voiced no objections.
Pei Youshan eagerly opened a ticketing app—only for her smile to vanish instantly.
—Only horror movies remained.
"..."
Horror-intolerant, she promptly closed the app.
Home theater it was.
Not noticing her expression, Xu Jingshu asked, "Sold out?"
Pei Youshan shook her head mournfully. "Nothing good at this hour."
All horror films had been mentally filtered out.
Xu Jingshu suggested calmly, "We could check tomorrow's screenings."
Since she'd be accompanying Pei Youshan regardless, showtimes hardly mattered.
Pei Youshan agreed, enthusiastically browsing the next day's listings.
As she scrolled, her fingers gradually stilled. Meeting Xu Jingshu's gaze, a realization struck her.
If Xu Ge would be with her tomorrow anyway... why not just have her stay overnight?
Save her the back-and-forth commute.
...Overnight.
The suggestive term lingered in her mind.
Especially as her eyes traced Xu Jingshu's features, the idea grew more tantalizing—like flames licking at her resolve.
"Xu Ge."
The words left her lips before she could reconsider.
"Stay at my place tonight."
She watched Xu Jingshu's eyebrows arch, those fox-like eyes glinting with amusement. "Alright."
Pei Youshan: "!!!"
She'd done it—the benefactor had finally stepped up!
Now Lin Feifei and the others could never call her a Bodhisattva again!!!
Beaming, she asked, "Do you need to grab anything? I can drive you."
After consideration, she added prudently, "I'll drop you off discreetly to avoid your roommate noticing."
Xu Jingshu: "..."
Clearly, not owning property was becoming problematic.
After three silent seconds:
"Unnecessary."
"We had a disagreement—I'd rather not see her right now."
Pei Youshan: "Oh, I see..."
She tactfully dropped the uncomfortable subject.
...
Meanwhile, Xu Ge—at her own home—sneezed violently.
Her instincts insisted someone must be badmouthing her!
Just then, the woman beside her extended a hand and gently pushed her away.
The woman appeared gentle—her tone equally so.
Only her words betrayed otherwise.
"Keep your distance."
"If you get sick, that's your problem."
"Don't infect the child."
Xu Ge: "..."
If she'd committed crimes, let the law punish her.
—Not force her to legally co-parent with her love rival!!!
......
Pei Youshan brought Xu Jingshu directly to Biyun Garden.
Given their similar builds, Pei Youshan offered her own black pajamas.
From the sofa, Xu Jingshu watched Pei Youshan place the sleepwear in the guest room, eyebrows lifting in surprise.
After instructing her to try them on later, Pei Youshan disappeared into the kitchen, returning with a bowl of fresh fruit which she placed on the counter with an inviting gesture.
Xu Jingshu rose leisurely with her water glass, joining her for casual conversation.
"Does Miss Yue live alone?" Xu Jingshu inquired.
Pei Youshan nodded. "More freedom that way. Though sometimes when guests visit, I forget..."
Xu Jingshu smiled. "Understandable."
...
Pei Youshan was searching for a book.
The one she'd been reading that morning.
She distinctly remembered leaving it in her bedroom two days prior—yet after turning the room upside down, it had vanished without trace.
Had she moved it elsewhere...?
Standing by the bed, she massaged her temples, willing her memory to cooperate.
And suddenly—it did.
Today, while fetching the succulent from the guest room... she'd left the book on that desk.
The recollection crystallized.
Yes—the guest room!
Decision made, she strode out and confidently opened the guest room door—
—only to catch Xu Jingshu mid-change.
The half-removed blouse draped over her elbows, revealing pale shoulders and flawless skin.
Pei Youshan: "!!!"
Was this really free content???
Flushing crimson, she retreated hastily, slamming the door—one hand still frozen on the knob.
After several steadying breaths, she paused.
—Wait, why was she fleeing? She's the benefactor—she paid for this!!!
Thus, cheeks still burning, she reopened the door.
Xu Jingshu: "...?"
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