Purely Accidental - Chapter 26
Chapter 26
Pei Youshan buried her face in Xu Jingshu's arms, her soft hair constantly brushing against Xu Jingshu's neck, making the latter both amused and exasperated.
If she was this scared, why keep watching?
Was it like playing games - all enthusiasm despite lacking skill?
With laughter in her eyes, Xu Jingshu gently patted Pei Youshan's back and asked softly, "Miss Yue, if you're so scared, why keep watching?"
Pei Youshan buried her face deeper, mumbling, "Because it's good..."
Xu Jingshu lowered her gaze slightly: "Hmm?"
Pei Youshan explained weakly: "It's just one story arc. If the whole show was like this, I wouldn't watch it."
"Most importantly there's no gore. Just cover my eyes for a bit and it'll pass - that I can barely handle..."
A perfect example of "scaredy-cat with an addiction."
The amusement in Xu Jingshu's eyes deepened as she stroked Pei Youshan's long hair, glancing at the screen before saying gently, "It's over now."
Immediately, she felt the tension visibly drain from the body in her arms.
Pei Youshan crawled out of her embrace, bare feet padding across the floor to retrieve the pillow she'd thrown earlier, clutching it tightly as backup.
Xu Jingshu leaned against the sofa armrest, propping her head up to watch Pei Youshan periodically bury her face in the pillow, only daring to peek out with wide eyes once the scary scenes passed.
Utterly, unreasonably adorable.
Xu Jingshu shook her head with a smile and stood to prepare some fruit for her to snack on while watching.
But the moment she rose, Pei Youshan immediately turned with concern: "Xu Ge, where are you going?"
"What's wrong?" Xu Jingshu asked the startled kitten.
Pei Youshan scratched her nose sheepishly before reaching out to lightly grasp Xu Jingshu's hem, looking up with those impossible-to-refuse eyes: "Don't go... stay until I finish this arc..."
Her voice carried a soft, unconscious plea.
Having someone beside her while watching scary things naturally made her braver.
Plus, her little lover was much bolder and could serve as a human alert system for when scary scenes ended, saving her from repeatedly peeking to check.
Xu Jingshu remained silent.
Pei Youshan tightened her grip slightly on the fabric: "Please?"
"..."
Xu Jingshu relented.
"Alright."
Pei Youshan immediately beamed, eagerly patting the space beside her: "Come, sit!"
Xu Jingshu obediently sat down, quietly serving as her human alert system.
Watching Pei Youshan curl into a ball from fright was endlessly amusing and endearing.
Each episode ran nearly forty minutes, with three more until the next story arc - over an hour total.
Yet sitting beside Pei Youshan, the time passed startlingly fast for Xu Jingshu, slipping away unnoticed between blinks.
She glanced at the woman beside her.
The arc reached its climax as the protagonists used their knowledge and logic to solve the case and apprehend the killer.
Pei Youshan watched intently, seemingly having forgotten she'd been burying her face like a frightened ostrich earlier.
Xu Jingshu quietly withdrew her gaze with a small smile.
Such an adorable ragdoll cat really was impossible to dislike.
......
Apart from their nighttime adult activities, the two never shared a bedroom.
Their mutual understanding was clear - this was purely transactional, no emotions involved, no need for nighttime clinginess.
Pei Youshan lay alone in bed, poking at her messages.
—Conversing with Xu Jingshu.
Since the recipient held no interest for her, their chats remained thoroughly dull.
Compared to her chats with her little lover, it was night and day.
After days of superficial exchanges, she'd formed an initial impression: a cold, interrogation prodigy.
The pining lover persona had long drowned in time's river, buried beneath indifference.
If Xu Jingshu could be this cold toward her, then she clearly felt the same about this arranged marriage.
It was time to lay their cards on the table.
[Pei Youshan]: Miss Xu Jingshu.
A reply came within a minute, as if the other happened to be free.
[Xu Jingshu]: Something the matter, Miss Pei Youshan?
Pei Youshan raised an eyebrow, sitting up and propping her chin on a pillow.
Her fingers hovered as she weighed her words.
[Pei Youshan]: We've chatted quite a bit these past days.
[Pei Youshan]: I think we can both see it now.
Xu Jingshu's gaze lingered on the latter sentence before lifting toward the wall adjoining Pei Youshan's room.
With mischief, she typed:
[Xu Jingshu]: See what?
Pei Youshan: "..."
Was this level of obliviousness even possible?!
[Pei Youshan]: That there's absolutely no possibility between us!
[Xu Jingshu]: Ah, that. Yes, I see.
[Pei Youshan]: So...
Her fingers danced cheerfully across the screen.
[Pei Youshan]: Let's just drop this matter.
Xu Jingshu crossed her legs, perfectly at ease.
[Xu Jingshu]: What does Miss Pei Youshan propose?
[Pei Youshan]: You explain to your mother, I'll explain to mine. Dismantle their matchmaking plans and give us both peace. Agreed?
Pei Lanqing had promised to stop pushing if they felt no connection.
Once they each made their stance clear, surely her mother would abandon this scheme!
Xu Jingshu wholly approved of this approach.
Enjoying teasing Pei Youshan and finding her adorable didn't equate to wanting marriage.
It was time to clear the air to avoid complications.
Coincidentally, Xu Yingru would return soon - she'd clarify everything during their reunion.
At least this would settle the ragdoll cat's worries.
Yet...why did her chest feel oddly prickly?
Xu Jingshu dismissed the sensation, sending a final reply before picking up her tablet to revisit long-neglected games.
[Xu Jingshu]: Then we'll proceed as Miss Pei Youshan suggests.
Casual, indifferent, faintly apathetic.
As long as the reply satisfied her, Pei Youshan cared little for these nuances. She even happily rolled across the bed hugging her pillow, every strand of hair radiating joy.
Then she excitedly announced in their group chat:
[Pei Youshan]: Bros and sissss! Xu Jingshu agreed!!!
[Shao Xingcheng]: ???
[Shao Xingcheng]: How long was I away?? You're together now???
[Shao Xingcheng]: [Mindblown.JPG]
Pei Youshan: "???"
What terrifying comprehension skills!
[Pei Youshan]: Pah! No ghost stories at night!
[Lin Feifei]: ...Master Designer Shao, stop burying yourself in work and observe the world occasionally.
[Lin Feifei]: Agreed to what? Not dating you?
[Pei Youshan]: Exactly!
[Pei Youshan]: Once I resolve this awful matchmaking and stop Mom's schemes, we're celebrating big!
Lin and Shao immediately flooded the chat with celebratory stickers, the screen exploding with festive cheer rivaling New Year's.
Pei Youshan's mood remained buoyant all evening.
......
Wednesday.
Xu Jingshu returned home specifically to dine with her parents.
Xu Jingying, swamped with finals prep, stayed at school.
As Xu Jingshu stepped through the doorway, she encountered a middle-aged man emerging from the studio.
His kindly, scholarly features wore a perpetual gentle smile, radiating approachability.
"Dad," Xu Jingshu greeted.
Xu Zhi's eyes crinkled: "You're back. I was just about to cook for your mother - lend me a hand."
The renowned painter's passions beyond art included gardening, tinkering with novelties, and cooking.
Since Xu Yingru favored his cooking, kitchen duties always fell to him.
Xu Jingshu assented, setting down her bag to follow him in.
After washing up and donning an apron, Xu Zhi asked: "Returning to discuss something with your mother?"
Xu Jingshu didn't conceal it, brushing paint off his chin: "Yes. Regarding Pei Youshan - I don't wish to marry her."
No further explanation needed - he understood: "Not marriage, but what about dating?"
Xu Jingshu shook her head without hesitation.
Theirs was purely transactional - no emotions involved. This wasn't questionable.
Xu Zhi remained smiling: "That's fine too. You're grown with your own minds - do as you please. I support you."
He touched his face: "Any more paint? I'll wash up first."
"Alright," Xu Jingshu smiled. "I'll prep the vegetables."
...
Xu Jingshu lifted her gaze toward her mother across the table.
The woman's long hair was casually pinned up. Her fox-like eyes, calm as still water, seemed detached from worldly affairs.
Xu Yingru sipped her soup unhurriedly before setting down the spoon and meeting Xu Jingshu's gaze: "Have you spent time with that child?"
Xu Jingshu nodded.
After a pause, Xu Yingru served her a dish, her tone as inscrutable as ever: "Since you've decided, so be it."
"I'll clarify matters with Pei Lanqing in a few days."
Xu Jingshu was accustomed to this demeanor.
Xu Yingru had always been this way - reserved, supremely composed.
Her own temperament bore her mother's influence.
As expected, Xu Yingru wouldn't force the match.
She'd merely introduced someone she deemed suitable.
Regardless, "Xu Jingshu" and Pei Youshan were now thoroughly disentangled, leaving only the "Xu Ge" identity.
—An identity that couldn't accompany Pei Youshan for ten years, one that could sever at any moment.
......
Thursday found Xu Jingshu working late, still in her office past eight.
Yet she remembered her role as golden canary, messaging Pei Youshan:
[Xu Jingshu]: Miss Yue, working late tonight. May return later.
No reply came.
Only as she finished her work, closing the files, did Pei Youshan suddenly message her original number:
[Pei Youshan]: Miss Xu Jingshu, are you free?
Xu Jingshu answered truthfully without overthinking: [Yes, something the matter?]
Pei Youshan immediately sent a lengthy follow-up: [mJust be careful about what you say later, got it?!]
Even including unedited pinyin.
Xu Jingshu was thoroughly puzzled.
Then her screen abruptly switched to an incoming call.
The caller ID displayed three bold characters:
—Pei Youshan.
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