Purely Accidental - Chapter 42
Chapter 42
5:00 PM.
Xu Ge clocked out right on time, ready to drive to the kindergarten to pick up her child.
Just then, Xue Yingyue called.
"No need to go, I've already picked her up."
Her slender fingers glided smoothly across her phone case as Xu Ge calmly replied, "Oh."
The call didn't end immediately. She could hear the clinking of tableware in the background—Xue Yingyue must be cooking again.
After a moment of silence, she awkwardly looked out the window.
"I'm heading back now. Do you need me to bring you anything?"
It felt like she'd told an ice-cold joke, the air thickening with awkwardness.
The silence on the line suddenly amplified, aggressively assaulting every nerve ending, making her instantly regret taking this step.
A pause.
"Bring me a bouquet of flowers."
"Thank you."
Xue Yingyue's voice remained as gentle as ever, as if she had genuinely considered the request, making the awkward silence seem like nothing more than a misunderstanding.
Xu Ge exhaled in relief. "What kind of flowers?"
A soft chuckle came through the phone. "Whatever you choose."
Xu Ge picked white hyacinths.
Becoming rivals had been an accident. Falling for her had been another accident.
An accident too embarrassing to admit.
Just like the meaning behind white hyacinths.
Xu Ge gazed at the carefully wrapped bouquet on the passenger seat—pure, pristine, and lovely.
She thought, Xue Yingyue probably doesn’t know the flower’s meaning.
...
When she got home, Xue Yingyue was leisurely simmering soup in the kitchen, the rich aroma filling the air and stirring the appetite.
After setting the flowers on the table, she headed to their daughter’s room—only to find it empty.
Xue Yingyue’s voice drifted over lazily. "She went to Xiaoxing’s house to play."
Xu Ge: "Oh."
"What are you making?"
Xue Yingyue glanced back at her, her elegant hairband tying up her glossy black hair, draped over her right shoulder, adding a touch of grace and gentleness. Then she turned back. "A friend is sick. I thought I’d make her some nourishing soup."
Xu Ge clicked her tongue, crossing her arms and leaning against the fridge, her tone laced with poorly concealed jealousy. "Which friend? That 'good sister' of yours again?"
Xue Yingyue, back still turned, silently smiled.
"Mhm. Her."
"My good sister."
Xu Ge: "..."
Her fists clenched.
—Can Miss Pei and Old Xu just get married already?!
But remembering that this "good sister" had Xu Jingshu by her side instantly cooled half her jealousy.
No matter how close sisters were, proximity always won in the end.
Besides, Pei Youshan and Xu Jingshu had already crossed every milestone—only mutual feelings were left.
She said dryly, "She might not even need your concern. Doesn’t she have a girlfriend to take care of her?"
Their dynamic had always been adversarial, their words laced with hidden barbs, neither willing to concede.
She expected Xue Yingyue to retaliate with a sharp remark of her own.
—But she didn’t.
Xue Yingyue said, "Hm, you might be right."
Xu Ge: "?"
Xue Yingyue: "Then this soup will be yours instead. Go wash up for dinner."
Xu Ge: "???"
This woman was more unpredictable than the stock market!
While Xu Ge washed her hands, Xue Yingyue picked up the bouquet of white hyacinths.
A breeze drifted through the window, brushing against the delicate petals, filling the air with their sweet fragrance.
She knew the meaning of white hyacinths—
Unspoken love, affection too shy to confess.
Her gaze flickered toward the bathroom, a knowing smile curling her lips as she placed the flowers in an empty vase by the window.
She said nothing.
……
Xu Jingshu received a message from Xu Ge.
Every word urged her to hurry up and secure Pei Youshan before Xue Yingyue got any ideas.
[Xu Ge]: I suggest you two get together today and marry tomorrow. A perfect union!
Xu Jingshu: "..."
Who would’ve thought? Not her parents, but Xu Ge—of all people—was pressuring her to marry.
[Xu Jingshu]: You can dream about that tonight. It’ll happen faster.
[Xu Ge]: ...
[Xu Ge]: #XuJingshuIsUseless#
[Xu Jingshu]: Not entirely. At least we’ve crossed all the necessary milestones.
[Xu Jingshu]: Meanwhile, some people haven’t even held their legal wife’s hand.
[Xu Ge]: My fists.
[Xu Ge]: My fists are clenched again.
[Xu Ge]: Wait, I have held her hand! Don’t slander me!
Xu Jingshu smirked and ignored her, turning instead to call her silly kitten.
After a few rings, the call connected.
Pei Youshan’s voice came through, slightly nasal but cheerful: "Jingjing!"
"Done with work?"
Hearing her voice instantly lifted Xu Jingshu’s mood. "Mhm, just finished."
"Do you want me to come over tonight?"
Pei Youshan curled up on the sofa, hugging a pillow, her eyes shimmering like autumn waters, beautiful as peach blossoms. "Yes."
She loved sleeping in her arms, loved every moment with her.
This was her lover—she could do whatever she wanted.
Xu Jingshu was delighted that Pei Youshan needed her, swiftly pulling two sets of clothes from her wardrobe.
"Wait for me at home. I’ll be there soon."
…
Pei Youshan sat at the dining table, chin propped in her hands, quietly watching Xu Jingshu move about the kitchen.
Slender, tall, and graceful—even her exposed wrists were mesmerizingly beautiful.
I really hit the jackpot.
Pei Youshan thought she might even have to thank the esteemed Madam Pei and the mysterious Miss Xu.
If not for them, she and the woman before her might have missed each other entirely, becoming mere passersby in each other’s lives.
"Let me help." She stood up. "You’ve worked hard too. I shouldn’t leave everything to you."
Xu Jingshu turned to meet her gaze as Pei Youshan smiled. "It’s just a cold and a fever—no big deal. I’m not completely useless."
Xu Jingshu brushed aside the hair sticking to her cheek with clean fingers. "If you want to help me, then get better soon."
Pei Youshan nodded. "I will, I will. With you taking such good care of me, I’ll recover in no time."
"Let me wash the vegetables."
The two stood side by side, each busy with their tasks, occasionally exchanging a word or two.
Outside, the setting sun cast a warm glow, the summer breeze gentle, time passing silently yet tenderly.
"Miss Yue." Xu Jingshu suddenly spoke. "My cooking really can’t compare to Boss Xue’s."
Pei Youshan paused, her first instinct being to reassure her rather than question why she’d brought up Xue Yingyue.
But before she could speak, Xu Jingshu continued, "But if you like it, I’ll do my best to learn."
The unspoken words hung in the air, the atmosphere filling in the gaps.
—So could you please not like her?
Pei Youshan understood immediately.
A statement that bordered on confession—yet wasn’t quite one.
But Pei Youshan couldn’t bring herself to interpret it romantically. She assumed Xu Jingshu was just worried about being abandoned, about losing this cushy gig as a lover.
Still, she wanted to explain properly.
So she curved her eyes into a soft smile.
"Don’t overthink it. I don’t want her as a lover—we’re really just friends."
"Besides, she’s already married."
Hands on her hips, she feigned anger. "Do I look like the kind of woman who’d break up a family?"
Like a cat puffing up at its owner.
"You’re not." Xu Jingshu couldn’t resist leaning in to kiss her cheek. "You’re the most adorable woman in the world."
Pei Youshan blinked, inexplicably finding the words incredibly sweet, the kiss unbearably tender.
She leaned closer. "More kisses."
Xu Jingshu naturally obliged.
A moment later.
Pei Youshan, flushed red, pushed her away. "Okay, okay—I’m still sick!"
……
After a week of illness, Pei Youshan finally recovered—only to leave on a business trip three days later for financial summits in Jin City and international forums in Lan City, along with miscellaneous tasks that would keep her away for half a month.
Xu Jingshu was originally supposed to attend these events too, but since Pei Youshan was going, she couldn’t—otherwise, Pei Youshan might flee back to Jiang City overnight upon seeing her.
So the responsibility fell to the real Xu Ge.
Xu Ge couldn’t help but complain: "You two are so troublesome."
Xu Jingshu remained unfazed.
What could she do? Pei Youshan still seemed completely oblivious to her feelings.
Someone who had feelings for her wouldn’t offer to set her up with other people.
Who knew when—or if—she’d ever fall for her?
…
The night before her trip, Pei Youshan spent the evening at Hanbai Apartments.
She wouldn’t see this face for half a month—she had to get her fill before leaving.
Naturally, the night was spent in passion, with half a month’s worth of good morning and goodnight kisses exchanged in advance—deeper, gentler, as if kissing a treasure.
Dazed by the kisses, Pei Youshan barely regained her senses, only to meet her lover’s affectionate, mesmerizing gaze.
She pulled her into an embrace, murmuring, "There’s a fireworks show half a month from now. I originally wanted to go with you."
Xu Jingshu listened quietly.
Pei Youshan continued, "But I have family matters, so I can’t make it. If you’re free that day, go with friends—consider it scouting for me, okay?"
Xu Jingshu agreed softly, her enthusiasm muted.
Fireworks held no interest for her—only if Pei Youshan was by her side.
The person was always what mattered most.
Then, like a doting patron, Pei Youshan patted her head. "You have to remember to miss me, okay?"
"Mhm."
Xu Jingshu kissed her fingertips.
"You have to remember to miss me too."
…
On her first day at the hotel, Pei Youshan kept to her routine, never skipping breakfast.
It was summer vacation, and the hotel was bustling with travelers—many of them quite attractive.
Back in Jiang City, Xu Jingshu had just sent her a "good morning" when her phone buzzed with multiple replies.
Several messages popped up from the chat labeled "Silly Kitten."
[Silly Kitten]: Morning, Jingjing!
[Silly Kitten]: Eating breakfast now—just saw a super pretty girl!
Xu Jingshu: "?"
Three minutes later.
[Silly Kitten]: Saw another one.
Five minutes after that.
[Silly Kitten]: Two more.
[Silly Kitten]: I’m full! This face-con is stuffed!
[Silly Kitten]: [secretly happy.JPG]
Xu Jingshu: "..."
She massaged her temples.
She’d remembered she was a cat—but forgotten she was also a hardcore face-con!
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