Purely Accidental - Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Taking her home...
Xu Jingshu would rather her sugar mommy not be so considerate and enthusiastic.
One lie about being poor required a thousand more lies to patch it up.
Now she had to carefully think about how to muddle through this situation.
The oblivious Pei Youshan blinked her innocent, bright peach blossom eyes at her and asked softly, "What's wrong? Don't you want me to take you home?"
Glancing down at the pile of shopping bags at Xu Jingshu's feet, she looked up again: "But there's too much stuff, and it's getting late. It'd be more convenient if I drove you straight home."
She couldn't have been more thoughtful.
Xu Jingshu collected her thoughts and looked at her exquisitely beautiful sugar mommy, replying unhurriedly, "No need, it wouldn't be convenient."
Pei Youshan tilted her head, looking at her puzzled: "Why not?"
Xu Jingshu remained composed and began improvising a backstory.
"I'm still looking for a place, so I've been staying with a friend recently."
"If Miss Yue takes me home, I'm afraid she might get suspicious."
After a brief consideration, she asked, "Miss Yue, I assume you'd prefer to keep our relationship confidential too?"
Pei Youshan readily agreed: "Of course."
She didn't want to make a big fuss about it either.
Especially didn't want Pei Lanqing to find out.
If Pei Lanqing discovered she'd skipped the meeting with Xu Jingshu to instead keep a mistress, there was no telling whether she might target the person before her.
She didn't want to see that happen—the issues between mother and daughter shouldn't involve innocent bystanders.
Xu Jingshu nodded, somewhat relieved they'd reached consensus on this matter, saving her future explanations.
"In that case, Miss Yue really shouldn't take me home."
"My friend tends to overthink things. If she saw you, she'd misunderstand and pester me with endless questions."
"That would only create trouble for Miss Yue too."
Pei Youshan noticed how skilled she was with words, knowing exactly how to persuade others into agreement.
It reinforced her belief that this woman was wasted as a lowly courier.
A smile blossomed in Pei Youshan's bright eyes as her gaze drifted downward, scanning the bags at Xu Jingshu's feet.
"Then how will you explain all these things to her?"
Xu Jingshu replied effortlessly: "I have my ways."
Only then did Pei Youshan relent: "Alright then, I'll get you a taxi. Remember to message me when you're home."
But Xu Jingshu stood still, staring at her.
Making Pei Youshan utterly confused: "...What? Is there something on my face?"
Xu Jingshu shook her head: "No."
Her expression unchanged, voice low and gentle: "I'd like to see Miss Yue leave first."
Somehow, these words sounded like coy flattery to Pei Youshan's ears.
Paired with that face, her heart skipped a beat.
Xu Jingshu smiled faintly: "Goodnight, Miss Yue."
A wave of familiarity washed over Pei Youshan, her heartstrings suddenly taut, breath hitching.
She'd seen this scene in dramas before, had even written it herself!
Two women tenderly bidding goodnight—the next step should be a sweet goodnight kiss!
At this thought, her heart raced uncontrollably. Rooted to the spot, hands clenched nervously behind her back, she stood completely still.
Internally, she was already in turmoil—
What do I do? Is she going to kiss me next? She seems so experienced...
Ahhh—
No, Pei Youshan, stay composed! Don't panic—you're the experienced sugar mommy here!
Feigning calm, she maintained her sugar mommy persona, awaiting the romantic novel-worthy moment.
Yet Xu Jingshu showed no intention of moving closer.
Blinking, Pei Youshan looked at her, only to find Xu Jingshu looking back with mild confusion, as if wondering what she was waiting for.
The cool night breeze brushed past, gently caressing her face.
It didn't hurt, but the embarrassment stung.
Making her feel like a complete fool.
"..."
Her excited heart instantly deflated.
Not only had she waited in vain, but there was also a tinge of disappointment and frustration.
Her lover had been so smooth earlier—why the sudden lack of initiative now?
Shouldn't lovers actively share sweet farewell kisses?
Too shy to make the first move, the sugar mommy hesitated...
Xu Jingshu, oblivious, asked bluntly: "Is something wrong? Did you need anything else, Miss Yue?"
Pei Youshan hurriedly replied: "Nothing!"
Suppressing her rising embarrassment, she scratched her delicate nose, avoiding eye contact: "Well, if there's nothing else, I'll head back first."
"Goodnight! See you next time!"
"Mm, next time."
Pei Youshan turned and left without hesitation.
—If she walked fast enough, the embarrassment couldn't catch up!
Watching the car drive off, Xu Jingshu immediately made a call.
Why insist on seeing the sugar mommy leave first? To confirm she was gone, of course, so she could call her chauffeur.
But...
Hanging up, Xu Jingshu gazed in the direction Pei Youshan had left.
Hadn't that beautiful ragdoll cat looked somewhat... disappointed earlier?
Was she expecting something?
......
Arriving home, Xu Jingshu opened the door.
The driver followed with armfuls of shopping bags, placing them in the entryway as instructed before leaving.
Closing the door, Xu Jingshu swapped her heels for slippers.
Looking up, she saw a lovely young girl bounding toward her, ponytail swaying cheerfully.
Xu Jingying threw herself at her sister, voice as lively and carefree as ever.
"Oh! My dearest sister, you're finally back!"
"Wow, you bought so many clothes!"
"Are any for me? Can I start feeling touched now?"
Xu Jingshu pushed her face away, handing over the cake and Frappuccino: "No. And no."
Xu Jingying was easily appeased by food, not pressing further but asking cheerfully instead: "Who did you go shopping with?"
"Don't tell me... it was a girlfriend?"
Xu Jingshu slowly lifted her eyelids to glance at her, pinching her cheek: "Eat your food and stop guessing."
Xu Jingying "Oh"-ed, lamenting: "So it wasn't."
She steered back to her main point: "Sis, I wanted to—"
Xu Jingshu interrupted: "Is it urgent?"
After some thought: "Not exactly..."
Xu Jingshu set her bag on the sofa: "Then wait until after my shower."
Patting her head: "Put my clothes in the walk-in for me."
Xu Jingying adopted an obsequious tone: "Aye aye, right away, your highness."
After a refreshing shower, dressed in pajamas, Xu Jingshu picked up her tablet and opened a game, leaning back on the sofa as she calmly said, "Speak."
Xu Jingying sat cross-legged on the plush rug, grinning: "Sis, isn't Penglai about to become fully ours soon?"
Xu Jingshu didn't deny it.
Xu Jingying pressed: "Then... does that mean we can produce whatever we want?"
Xu Jingshu said mildly, "Stop beating around the bush."
Xu Jingying giggled, dimples showing as she boldly declared: "Sis, give Penglai to me as my graduation present!"
Xu Jingshu: "Why not ask Mom?"
Xu Jingying pouted: "Mom said you're handling this..."
Xu Jingshu spared her a glance, lips curving as she reminded: "Second Miss Xu, you still have a year until graduation."
"Even if you graduated today, you'd need to start from the bottom to gain experience—no parachuting straight to management. You know this."
Xu Jingying deflated, nibbling her fork: "I know..."
But her real aim wasn't Penglai itself—it was the freedom to adapt whatever she wanted.
With that power, she'd buy the rights to all her favorite books for adaptation!
One word: bliss!
Xu Jingshu saw right through her: "Out with it—what do you really want?"
Xu Jingying set her fork down, crawling to the sofa to gaze up at her sister, smile unwavering: "To produce dramas, of course."
Xu Jingshu paused her game, looking down at her.
Xu Jingying said fervently: "Sis, let me recommend an author to you."
"Her writing is amazing, with tons of fans. If you faithfully adapt her works, it'll be a hit! Seriously, some of her book-based dramas are super popular!"
"Who?" Xu Jingshu asked.
Xu Jingying happily announced four characters:
"—Mirror Inquires Autumn!"
Xu Jingshu's brows lifted slightly before she returned to her game: "If it's her, then you can wait."
Xu Jingying: "Wait for what?"
Xu Jingshu said serenely: "For Penglai to secure her adaptation rights."
"As your graduation gift."
......
In her pajamas, Pei Youshan stared blankly at an empty document before finally shutting her laptop.
As a whimsical author who produced at most one book per year, with her latest just completed, there was no rush to start another.
Moreover, with Pei Lanqing away from Jiang City, her workload had increased—no time for writing.
Setting the laptop aside, she poured herself some milk.
On WeChat, Lin Feifei had asked again about the Penglai collaboration.
[Lin Feifei]: Darling, are you really sure about rejecting Penglai?
[Lin Feifei]: Why? It's such a shame—they've done great adaptations before...
Pei Youshan glanced at the messages.
[Pei Youshan]: Thanks to my mom, I'd rather not have anything to do with Xu Jingshu.
[Lin Feifei]: ?
[Lin Feifei]: Don't tell me Blue Ocean is Penglai's investor...
[Pei Youshan]: Majority shareholder.
[Pei Youshan]: Likely to own 100% soon.
[Lin Feifei]: ....................
[Lin Feifei]: What cursed fate.
Pei Youshan objected.
[Pei Youshan]: Nonsense! We have no connection whatsoever—not even a cursed one!
Money-obsessed Shao Xingcheng suddenly chimed in.
[Shao Xingcheng]: Fate doesn't matter—money does.
[Shao Xingcheng]: Making money while getting a faithful adaptation is even better.
[Shao Xingcheng]: Plus, neither your mom nor Xu Jingshu knows you're Mirror Inquires Autumn, right?
[Lin Feifei]: Exactly!
[Lin Feifei]: And you'd be making money off Xu Jingshu!
Pei Youshan: "..."
She had to admit they had a point.
Her resolve wavered.
Standing up to Pei Lanqing required financial independence—how much she could earn was crucial.
And the prospect of both profit and quality adaptations was undeniably tempting.
After some thought, she typed:
[Pei Youshan]: Several companies want the rights—Penglai isn't the highest bidder.
[Pei Youshan]: Here's the deal.
[Pei Youshan]: Using Penglai as the benchmark, comparable studios can bid—highest offer wins, but unfaithful adaptations are out. Feifei, relay this to the rights department.
[Lin Feifei]: Roger that!
After the conversation, Pei Youshan sat absently for a while before remembering her beautiful canary... and the missing farewell kiss.
Hesitantly, she typed:
[Pei Youshan]: Do you think... I should take the initiative?
[Lin Feifei]: ?
[Shao Xingcheng]: Speak human.
Pei Youshan summarized the evening's events before repeating her question about taking initiative.
After reading, both fell silent.
An ideal partner, perfect timing, yet after all this time as sugar mommy—only one kiss? Gifts exchanged but no home run...
Lin Feifei voiced the burning question:
[Lin Feifei]: Shan... are you fucking Buddha?
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