Purely Accidental - Chapter 2
Chapter 2
No one knows a daughter better than her mother, and the reverse holds equally true.
Pei Youshan knew exactly what Pei Lanqing was scheming.
With the meeting date already set, this was clearly a forced blind date!
Seeing her daughter reject so decisively, Pei Lanqing remained unruffled: "No need to rush your refusal."
"I met Xu Yingru's eldest daughter last time—she's reliable and quite handsome with refined features."
Hearing the familiar descriptors, Pei Youshan immediately furrowed her brows, her face radiating rejection as she repeated sternly: "I said no means no."
She couldn't stand hearing "handsome" from Pei Lanqing.
Because Pei Lanqing had bizarre aesthetic standards—so bizarre they could be called saintly!
When assessing appearances, Pei Lanqing automatically applied beautifying filters. Unless someone was grotesquely ugly, she'd describe them as handsome, spirited, or other gentle terms.
This was especially severe with younger generations, as if she was born with innate kindness toward them, never undermining anyone's confidence about their looks.
Thus Pei Youshan, an extreme face-con, never trusted her mother's praise of strangers' appearances. Hearing those familiar comments only reinforced the rumors.
—Xu Jingshu was... truly unattractive.
And as an ultimate face-con, how could Pei Youshan's partner be anything less than gorgeous?!
Marriage candidate list: Xu Jingshu—eliminated!
Her refusal wasn't solely about looks. She also resented her parents meddling in her love life, attempting to control her marriage.
That was downright suffocating.
Pei Lanqing calmly observed her silent rigidity, set down her juice, and spoke earnestly: "Shanshan, listen to your mother. This marriage benefits you, both families."
Pei Youshan visibly stiffened at those words, brows knitted in complex rejection.
Slumping against the chair with crossed arms, she grumbled: "Stop arranging these things. I dislike it. If mothers can have free love, daughters can too."
Pei Lanqing side-eyed her: "None of your tantrums. Free love? With your judgment, should I expect another gold-digging playboy?"
Pei Youshan: "..."
Damn it—dragging up her past again!
She'd indeed had an unsavory relationship where the masterful actor revealed his mercenary nature only after winning her over.
Fortunately, she'd discovered it early and kicked him to the curb before he gained anything—not even knowing how soft her lips were.
Since Pei Lanqing learned of this, it became permanent ammunition to needle her.
Clearing her throat, she salvaged dignity: "I lacked experience back then!"
"You still lack it now," Pei Lanqing remarked lightly, then declared imperiously: "8:30 PM the day after tomorrow, Lakeside Glaze—your usual spot. Don't be late."
They'd even scheduled the time and location?!
As Pei Youshan's indignation surged, Pei Lanqing's phone rang—undoubtedly work-related.
Before leaving, Pei Lanqing firmly patted her shoulder: "Remember to go. Have the meal."
"Wait," Pei Youshan stopped her. "Give me her contact info."
She'd call Xu Jingshu directly to cancel, saving herself the trip.
Pei Lanqing saw through her instantly, smirking: "Want her number?"
"Ask your fiancée yourself."
Pei Youshan: "???"
She hastily denied: "What fiancée?! We're not engaged—don't spread rumors!"
Lighting a cigarette, Pei Lanqing said serenely: "Engagement is trivial. Parental approval seals the marriage."
Pei Youshan retorted flatly: "...I don't approve your approval."
"Objection overruled. Trust your mother's judgment."
Pei Youshan didn't trust it.
She stewed all night over this sudden, unseen "fiancée."
Why make decisions without consulting her?
Why couldn't she choose her own spouse?
—What "benefits everyone"? Was her marriage just a business transaction to her mother?!
Lying in bed staring at the ceiling, her fury grew until Xu Jingshu's image twisted into a monstrous specter in her mind.
She sat up and called Lin Feifei, venting about Pei Lanqing's maternal tyranny.
Lin Feifei marveled: "So your mom pressures you too... What'll you do? Talk to her again?"
Pei Youshan sighed: "She's immovable. Useless."
"Then go and fake it?"
"No! One meeting means endless more." She couldn't surrender to a future of forced matchmaking.
Lin Feifei asked helplessly: "Then what?"
After a pause, Pei Youshan declared: "I won't go."
"Whoever decided this can go themselves!"
......
On the appointed day, Pei Youshan worked until past 7 PM, emerging from meetings having forgotten the "date."
In the car reviewing documents, she only looked up to find Lakeside Glaze outside—not home.
Uncle An, her driver, apologized via rearview mirror: "Miss, the chairman's orders..."
Silence wasn't tonight's Cambridge—it was Pei Youshan.
As the door opened, Uncle An said respectfully: "I'll wait outside."
Her eyes gleamed mischievously: "Fine."
Just sitting at Lakeside Glaze? No big deal.
She entered—then booked a private room, ordered wine, and sat sulking, ignoring the arranged meeting.
Meet? Never!
Recalling Pei Lanqing's obstinacy, her chest tightened with bitter anguish.
—Did her mother even care about her happiness?!
Furious and heartsick, she chugged wine desperately, wanting oblivion.
Needing to vent, she called Lin Feifei and Shao Xingcheng.
Shao was busy, but Lin Feifei rushed over to find Pei Youshan half-drunk.
......
Eight minutes past the scheduled time.
Xu Jingshu's secretary checked her watch, observing her unmoving boss under soft lighting that accentuated her elegant beauty—serene as a painting.
Fingers tapping her tablet, Xu Jingshu remained undisturbed.
The secretary ventured: "President Xu, it's been eight minutes. Will President Pei really come?"
Xu Jingshu answered indifferently: "Unknown."
Secretary: "..."
Your calm makes it seem like I'm the one meeting a fiancée!
Finishing a game level, Xu Jingshu returned the tablet: "I beat your record. Find another game—this one's boring."
She had no marriage plans.
Her attendance was solely to personally decline, dissuading her mother's matchmaking notions.
After all, the unfamiliar Miss Pei interested her less than this trivial game.
Twenty minutes later, the secretary asked: "President Xu... were you stood up?"
......
"Standing her up!" Pei Youshan declared loudly. "This pigeon is getting released today!"
Flushed and teary-eyed, she swayed with a wine bottle, emotions oscillating between bravado and melancholy as she lamented her mother's control.
"As a child she made me study everything... Now even marriage? Why?!"
"Am I adopted?! Old Yue, why'd you leave so soon without disciplining your wife..."
Her rant faded into drowsy murmurs: "Sleepy..."
Like a pliant bunny.
Lin Feifei, after half an hour of drinking alongside her, gently took the bottle: "Let's get you home."
Suddenly alert, Pei Youshan asked: "Is... Xu Jingshu still waiting?"
"Probably?"
After a pause, Pei Youshan slurred: "Tell her to go home..."
Then dramatically flipped her hair: "Because I'm the woman she'll never get—Pei! You! Shan!"
Lin Feifei steadied her: "Alright, I'll notify her."
She asked staff: "Is Blue Ocean Capital's President Xu still here?"
"She's left," the server replied.
Relieved, Lin Feifei returned to collect the thoroughly drunk Pei Youshan.
Stumbling along, Pei Youshan's gaze fixed on the lobby's shimmering water feature—like glittering gemstones.
She loved flowing water's luminous beauty.
Except one flaw: someone blocked her view.
Rising unsteadily, she approached—only to trip into someone's arms, greeted by delicate fragrance.
Blinking up, she found familiar fox-like eyes.
Struggling to focus like a curious ragdoll cat, she recognized the beauty who could make rice taste better.
Xu Jingshu recognized her too—the same exquisite woman, now teary-eyed and flushed, irresistibly vulnerable.
Smelling alcohol, Xu Jingshu prepared to hand her to staff—until the woman murmured: "It's you..."
Then bowed exaggeratedly: "Hello."
Grasping Xu Jingshu's arms, she blurted: "Want to... skip ten years of struggle?"
Puffing up proudly: "I'm rich—let me support you!"
Xu Jingshu arched a brow: "Do you know who I am?"
Pei Youshan studied her, then smiled sweetly: "Yes..."
"Who?"
"You're... my appetizer!"
In her mind, the newly reclassified Xu Jingshu slowly formed a question mark.
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