Purely Accidental - Chapter 31

Chapter 31

Xu Ge truly never expected that in this world, there could be a love novice who would set their romantic difficulty level straight to hell mode right from the start.

She couldn't help but sigh deeply: "Xu Jingshu, you're really something..."

"Of all times to develop feelings, it had to be after breaking off the engagement."

"As expected of you, master of high-difficulty games."

"..."

Xu Jingshu propped her chin on her hand, remaining silent.

Because she had nothing to say.

Xu Ge patted her hand sympathetically: "I understand now. This is the heavens telling you to cherish what's in front of you, not to regret only after losing it. So cheer up, youngster. A wife is something you have to fight for yourself."

Xu Jingshu: "..."

Given Pei Youshan's single-minded determination to cancel the engagement, to be precise, she had never truly "had" her to begin with.

But she wasn't the type to retreat when faced with challenges either. Since things had come to this point, there was no alternative but to keep moving forward.

She didn't want to give up on Pei Youshan either.

If she easily abandoned her feelings just because of this twist of fate, it would only make her affection seem worthless.

In the future, she would never be able to promise anyone a lasting relationship again.

Moreover, even when drunk, her kitten was unreasonably adorable. How could she possibly let her go, allowing her to fall into someone else's arms and become another's lover?

Xu Jingshu moved her fingertips to press against her temples, massaging gently.

No good—just thinking about Pei Youshan potentially liking someone else gave her a headache and made her jealous.

This jealousy was even more intense than when she heard Pei Youshan raving about Xue Yingyue.

Xu Ge sympathized with her. As a friend, she couldn't bear to see her first love end in failure before it even began.

So she offered comfort: "It's alright, no need to be pessimistic. Since Pei Youshan allows you to stay by her side, it means she doesn't reject you. You still have a chance."

Xu Jingshu lowered her hand and said calmly, "She doesn't reject me, but she rejects 'Xu Jingshu.'"

Xu Ge was baffled: "Huh... what?"

Was this some kind of word game???

Xu Jingshu briefly explained Pei Youshan's dislike for her arranged marriage partner and what she had said while drunk at Lakeside Glaze the previous day.

Xu Ge frowned, finding this even more perplexing than dealing with clients: "She couldn't possibly dislike you that much just because of some silly rumor, could she? Didn't you say she's quite rational and level-headed?"

Xu Jingshu nodded, then added with a complicated expression, "Perhaps... I really did hurt her unintentionally at some point."

Xu Ge crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair, deep in thought for a while before asking, "So what's your plan now?"

"I'll sound her out again when I go back tonight."

Xu Jingshu stood up and walked toward the door, her gaze steady and composed.

"If I'm going to die, I should at least know why."

......

Pei Youshan slept until the afternoon before getting up. Still groggy as she walked out of her room, she noticed breakfast set out on the dining table—though it had long gone cold from sitting out too long.

She froze for a moment, then rubbed her face to shake off the remnants of sleep. After triple-checking that the breakfast wasn't a hallucination, she went back to grab her phone.

A WeChat message immediately caught her eye.

It was from her little lover, sent at 8:26 that morning.

[Breakfast is on the table. If you wake up early, remember to eat.]

She was pleasantly surprised.

Though it was just a small gesture, this was the first time her little lover had prepared breakfast for her!

Too bad she'd slept right through it...

[Pei Youshan]: Saw it, thanks.

[Pei Youshan]: [Adorably cute sticker]

Blue Ocean Capital, conference room.

Xu Jingshu remained seated in the most prominent chair, her black dress shirt sleeves rolled up halfway to reveal fair, jade-like forearms. A black pen rested elegantly between her slender fingers as they lightly tapped the table.

Her languid, unreadable eyes calmly observed the PowerPoint presentation before her, exuding an imposing aura that commanded respect without needing to speak.

Only when that familiar contact name appeared on her phone screen did a hint of emotion finally surface in her gaze.

Still maintaining her "openly sneaking a break" approach.

Xu Ge glanced at her discreetly before looking away again.

—Such is the scent of love. Not even the boss is immune.

Xu Jingshu checked the time and raised an eyebrow.

She only woke up at 2 PM?

[Xu Jingshu]: Just woke up? Have you eaten yet?

Pei Youshan was just taking the sandwich she'd prepared out of the microwave. She snapped a quick photo and sent it: [About to eat now]

Xu Jingshu's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

After skipping two meals, how could just one sandwich be enough?

[Xu Jingshu]: Use this to tide you over first. I'll order you proper food—don't starve yourself.

[Xu Jingshu]: What would you like?

Pei Youshan absentmindedly nibbled on her sandwich and absentmindedly replied with "whatever," then sat on the sofa for a long while trying to figure out why she was suddenly being so nice.

After some thought, she immediately dismissed "likes me" as a possibility.

Because she clearly remembered Xu Jingshu saying not long ago that kept women who develop feelings for their benefactors didn't include her—she was as clear-headed as could be.

If she still thought the other woman might like her under these circumstances, that would be shamelessness of epic proportions.

Then it occurred to her that Xu Jingshu being nice to her was only natural and expected.

She was paying her, providing her a place to live—of course she should be nice in return! She wasn't here to play saint!

Having reached this conclusion, she stopped overthinking it. After a light snack, she went to shower while waiting for the delivery.

Life was too wonderful and time too precious to waste on pointless dilemmas.

......

Pei Youshan spent the entire day lounging at Hanbai Apartments without going to the office.

Since Pei Lanqing had promised to "cover" for her, she didn't question her absence from work.

With free time in the afternoon, she made a special trip out to buy books to fill the shelves in her new study.

No matter where she lived, she always insisted on having a study filled with books, because reading in her spare time was her greatest hobby.

After adding new books, she curled up on the large living room sofa and read all afternoon until Xu Jingshu returned from work at 5 PM.

Her beautiful little lover wore a black blouse with white suit pants, her slender figure exuding elegance. The sleeves rolled up halfway lent her outfit a more relaxed, effortless charm that was pleasing to the eye.

Pei Youshan beamed and waved: "You're back."

Then she noticed the bag in her hand: "What did you buy?"

Xu Jingshu set the bag on the coffee table: "Some fruit."

Pei Youshan put down her book and opened the bag.

—It was full of tangerines.

Pei Youshan: "...?"

Xu Jingshu could practically see the question marks popping up over her head one after another.

So she said with perfect composure: "I remember Miss Yue likes them, so I bought some when I passed by a fruit stand."

As if everything she did was completely natural, leaving no room for doubt.

"They're very sweet," she added.

Then childishly tacked on in her mind: Sweeter than Xue Yingyue's.

Pei Youshan took it as her trying to please her benefactor: "Thanks."

Xu Jingshu smiled at her: "It's my duty."

When you like someone, you should strive to treat them well.

Even setting aside romantic feelings, as a kept woman, being good to her benefactor was only natural.

Hearing these words only reinforced Pei Youshan's belief that this was purely about keeping her happy as a benefactor, preventing her from overthinking it.

8:30 PM.

After dinner and a shower, Pei Youshan returned to the comfortable sofa, snuggling in Xu Jingshu's arms to read.

Having a beauty by her side made the moment all the more perfect.

Xu Jingshu turned the TV volume down two more notches for her, then quietly pondered how to steer the conversation to sound her out and figure out exactly how "Xu Jingshu" had offended her.

After a while, Pei Youshan set her book aside to drink some water before settling back into her embrace. As she peeled a tangerine, she hesitantly asked: "Xu Ge, when I was drunk yesterday... I didn't do anything stupid, did I?"

After the whole "appetizing dish" and kept woman incident last time, she couldn't be sure what embarrassing nonsense she might spout or what awkward blunders she might make while drunk.

Xu Jingshu recalled yesterday's events, looking down as she stroked her hair: "Nothing stupid. You were adorable."

It wasn't any particular thing she did—she was simply adorable every single second.

Pei Youshan was caught off guard by the praise again, her cheeks warming with shyness: "Stop talking nonsense..."

"I really didn't say anything?"

Xu Jingshu suddenly found her opening and admitted frankly: "You did."

Pei Youshan's breath hitched as anxiety spiked.

—Oh Fuxi and Nüwa, please tell me I didn't say anything stupid again!

Xu Jingshu calmly continued: "You said you'd been waiting for this day since childhood, and now you've finally gotten it—you're finally free."

"You also said this was something worth setting off firecrackers to celebrate."

Hearing this, Pei Youshan immediately relaxed.

Not bad—just honest feelings, nothing that would make her cringe hard enough to curl her toes.

Then she heard Xu Jingshu ask gently: "Do you really dislike your arranged marriage partner that much?"

Pei Youshan: "?"

Xu Jingshu's mood was complicated: "Since childhood?"

Pei Youshan found this inexplicably funny, her eyes curving into crescents: "What are you talking about? I've never even met her—how could I have disliked her since childhood? Silly."

Xu Jingshu froze almost imperceptibly before asking in confusion: "Then what did you mean by those things you said?"

Pei Youshan got up to toss the tangerine peels in the trash, her tone light: "That was about my mom. She's always controlled me since I was little, forcing me to learn this and that. Now she even wants to control who I marry—of course I wasn't happy about it."

"After all my efforts, she finally agreed to cancel the engagement and stop controlling me. Isn't that worth celebrating?"

Xu Jingshu had an epiphany: "...So that's what it was."

The truth turned out to be this simple, yet she'd misunderstood for so long...

After a pause, she asked: "So Miss Yue doesn't actually dislike your arranged marriage partner at all?"

Pei Youshan nodded, then after a beat, shook her head.

Xu Jingshu: "?"

What did that mean?

Pei Youshan said seriously: "If she really is as promiscuous and shameless as the rumors say... then I'd dislike her."

"Other than that, I have no issues with her."

Xu Jingshu felt another wave of relief. She naturally pulled her back into an embrace, stroking her long hair: "Mm, no one would like someone who's promiscuous and shameless."

Pei Youshan, unable to see her expression, nodded vigorously while splitting a tangerine: "Right? Right?"

After eating one segment, she offered the other half in delight: "It's really sweet! Have some too!"

Xu Jingshu smiled and pushed it back: "As long as you like it. You have it."

Pei Youshan's attention was completely captured by the sweet little tangerines. She climbed out of her arms to peel another one.

Xu Jingshu rested her head on one hand, watching her cascading hair thoughtfully.

Since she had no other objections... should she consider revealing her identity now?

But just to be safe, maybe she should test the waters first.

She leaned closer to Pei Youshan and asked softly: "Since Miss Yue is a writer, have you ever imagined—what if your arranged marriage partner wasn't like the rumors at all, and happened to be someone you know? What would you do?"

Pei Youshan was so startled by this plot twist that she nearly choked on her tangerine. She turned to stare at her in amazement: "You have such wild imagination—it's a waste you're not writing fiction."

Xu Jingshu smiled faintly.

Pei Youshan actually gave it serious thought before answering: "Isn't it obvious?"

"I'd hop on the nearest train out of this awkward city overnight, striving to become nothing but a passing stranger in their life!"

Xu Jingshu: "..."

Maybe the identity reveal should wait a little longer...

Author's Note: Xu Xu: One wrong move, and my wife becomes a passing stranger in my life.

Pei Pei: Keep your wild imagination in check! My awkwardness genes can't handle this!

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