Purely Accidental - Chapter 44
Chapter 44
The brilliant glow of fireworks illuminated the night sky, the cold bright moon reduced to a lonely ornament at the horizon, with only the evening breeze remaining gently silent.
Pei Youshan and Xu Jingshu sat nestled together on a wooden bench, their intimate gestures concealing affection neither dared express too freely—cautious yet brimming with joy.
Pei Youshan stole a glance at the profile of the woman beside her, as flawlessly beautiful as ever, now making her heart race even more fiercely.
She'd never imagined falling for her own kept lover.
Emotions were like an uncontrollable wind—no one could predict how or when they might appear.
Yet upon reflection, the seeds of her affection had been quietly sown through every shared day and night, all the clues present, just waiting for this awakening gust to arrive.
Gazing at Xu Jingshu's stunningly serene face, she suddenly felt grateful for their arrangement—it had allowed her to naturally, rightfully draw close to this person before she'd even realized her own feelings, to nestle against her, to kiss those impossibly soft lips.
Suddenly, she met a pair of languid, mesmerizing eyes—eyes that held both light and her own reflection.
"Why aren't you watching the fireworks?" Xu Jingshu asked.
Pei Youshan snapped out of her reverie with a smile. "My Xiao Jing is prettier than fireworks."
"Is that so?" Xu Jingshu's lips curved as she regarded her with amusement. "Then why did Miss Yue's first act upon returning wasn't coming to Hanbai Apartments to see me, but watching fireworks instead?"
Am I truly less important than some fleeting fireworks?
She swallowed the words unspoken.
She knew she wasn't first in Pei Youshan's heart, nor did she currently have the right to demand such status.
Pei Youshan froze momentarily. This woman truly had a talent for zeroing in on key points.
"Well... I happened to catch the fireworks timing, so I came to take a look," she said, unconsciously slipping into a coquettish tone as she clung to Xu Jingshu's arm, resting her chin on the other woman's shoulder. "Only after arriving did I discover you were here too—and then I realized the fireworks pale in comparison."
The fireworks pale in comparison.
Good.
She was successfully mollified.
A glimmer of laughter surfaced in Xu Jingshu's eyes as she gently pinched Pei Youshan's cheek. "Weren't you supposed to return in two more days?"
"Finished everything ahead of schedule," Pei Youshan replied. "So? Surprised? Happy to see me?"
Xu Jingshu patiently responded to each question:
"Surprised."
"Unexpected."
Her gaze softened as she looked at her: "Very happy."
Pei Youshan beamed at the answer, eyes crinkling. "Why did you come alone to watch fireworks? And why stay outside instead of going in?"
"Too noisy," came the reply. "Would've made calling you difficult."
Another firework exploded overhead with a "boom"—simultaneously igniting the little joy hidden in Pei Youshan's heart.
Biting back an irrepressible smile, she asked, "What made you think to invite me to see fireworks?"
Xu Jingshu answered matter-of-factly: "Because you said you really wanted to see them."
She was simply doing everything possible to fulfill her wishes, to please her, to make her happy.
Pei Youshan knew this was just part of her professional kept lover's code—keeping the patron satisfied.
Yet even if the motives were calculated, the process and outcome were still meant for her enjoyment, which she accepted without reservation.
"Thank you," she said. "I loved it."
I loved the fireworks you showed me.
And I love you.
"Next year, you have to remember to watch fireworks with me."
Xu Jingshu chuckled softly. "Mm, I'll always remember to watch them with you next year."
"Every year after that too, okay?"
Pei Youshan blinked at her before breaking into a grin. "Then I'd better work hard—wouldn't want to lose my ability to afford keeping you, leaving me without a fireworks companion."
She joked lightly: "Unless you become rich enough to keep me instead—help fulfill my dream of lazing about without lifting a finger."
Xu Jingshu froze momentarily.
Were it not for fear of her fleeing overnight by train, she could make that dream come true immediately.
"Alright," she conceded with a helpless smile. "I'll strive toward that goal."
By any means necessary—so long as it kept Pei Youshan by her side.
Pei Youshan's face lit up at the response, eyes sparkling as she gazed at her.
After a pause, she whispered by Xu Jingshu's ear: "I'm not returning to Biyun Garden tonight."
......
The hazy moonlight melted into the ink-black night as the summer breeze carried delicate floral fragrances.
Intimacy surged between their tongues, lips and mouths meeting with unprecedented tenderness.
Two weeks apart had stoked their longing into something feverishly intense—tonight, they would hold nothing back.
Suddenly Xu Jingshu shifted position, her long legs brushing against Pei Youshan's skin as they pressed flush together.
Leaning down again, her left hand interlaced fingers with Pei Youshan's right while her right hand lingered lazily on the other's left, a single well-defined index finger tracing slow paths downward from the wrist.
The featherlight touch sent shivers across Pei Youshan's skin.
Biting her lip against the sensation, Pei Youshan arched up seeking a kiss.
Xu Jingshu responded with frustrating brevity, deliberately withholding satisfaction until Pei Youshan eyed her in confusion.
"During Miss Yue's trip..." Xu Jingshu's voice lowered to a siren's whisper by her ear, "how many attractive people did you encounter?"
Pei Youshan actually considered this. "...A dozen or so?"
Xu Jingshu: "..."
Her smile didn't reach her eyes. "Enjoyable?"
"For someone appearance-focused like me?" Pei Youshan laughed brightly. "Of course!"
Xu Jingshu gave a humorless chuckle, breath ghosting over Pei Youshan's ear as she continued her teasing interrogation: "Any you liked?"
The number of attractive sightings mattered less than whether any had stirred her heart.
A soft moan escaped Pei Youshan before she answered firmly: "None."
Meeting Xu Jingshu's gaze, she repeated: "Not a single one."
It was both answer and hint.
She hoped this person might discard their initial agreement, erase the boundary between them, and accept her—love her—reciprocate.
Then came the reply: "Good."
Xu Jingshu was relieved; this meant she still had a chance.
But Pei Youshan frowned slightly—the vagueness of those words made it impossible to discern from which perspective they were spoken.
Was this the beginning of new feelings?
Or adherence to their "no romance" arrangement?
Yet she... might never return these feelings.
And would inevitably leave someday.
The thought sent panic coursing through her. Breaking free of Xu Jingshu's hold, she pulled her into an embrace instead, declaring pointedly: "We're watching fireworks together next year."
So stay with me always—don't love others, don't become someone else's lover.
"Mm."
Xu Jingshu kissed her pale shoulder.
"I remember."
Unsatisfied, Pei Youshan suddenly reversed their positions, straddling Xu Jingshu beneath her. The soft lighting accentuated her vivid features as she stated solemnly: "Xu Ge, you have to always remember."
Xu Jingshu's gaze sharpened.
This kitten had misnamed her again.
Before she could correct it, Pei Youshan covered her own mouth, grimacing. "Ever since meeting Blue Ocean Capital's VP, calling you that... feels weird now."
The coincidence of identical names was awkward—she resolved to stick with "Xiao Jing" henceforth.
Xu Jingshu arched a brow, suddenly tempted to tease further: "What business took Miss Yue away that you'd encounter her?"
Pei Youshan froze—she'd never explained her work to her lover, nor how they'd met at the hotel, having casually complained about the encounter as if it involved a friend...
Upon reflection—oh dear, her disguise was crumbling!
"I—I just bumped into her at the hotel!" she scrambled mentally for plausible words, clutching her secret identity tightly. "I occasionally watch financial interviews, so I recognized her."
"As for why she stared at me..."
Pei Youshan suddenly calmed, scratching her cheek in bewilderment: "She said it was because I'm good-looking?"
Xu Jingshu: "..."
What kind of provocative excuse was that?
Pei Youshan hastily changed subjects: "Anyway, this isn't the time for that talk."
Her fingertips trailed over pale skin, desire burning in her eyes.
Reunited lovers surpassed newlyweds—the night stretched long before them.
......
1:23 AM—the world lay silent.
Pei Youshan watched the steady breathing of the woman beside her.
Midnight hours bred melancholy.
Her gaze turned sorrowful—how could she convince someone to break their own principles, to become the fool they disdained?
It reeked of coercion.
She wanted no unwilling love.
With a soundless sigh, her fingers tentatively traced Xu Jingshu's perfect features—
Only to be caught mid-motion.
"Can't sleep?"
Xu Jingshu's eyes fluttered open.
Pei Youshan improvised: "Just admiring why my Xiao Jing is so beautiful. None of the people I met outside compare."
The answer drew a smile as Xu Jingshu closed her eyes again, pulling Pei Youshan close and stroking her hair like soothing a child: "You just returned, and we've been... occupied. You should rest now—plenty of time to look tomorrow. Be good."
Easily persuaded, Pei Youshan wrapped her arms around Xu Jingshu's waist contentedly. "Goodnight."
The next morning, Pei Youshan stormed their group chat demanding rescue from Lin Feifei and Shao Xingcheng.
[Pei Youshan]: SOS!!!!
[Pei Youshan]: I FELL FOR MY KEPT LOVER WHAT DO I DO!!!
[Shao Xingcheng]: Hold up—that phrasing is ambiguous.
[Lin Feifei]: Oh. Well then... do her?
[Pei Youshan]: ...
[Pei Youshan]: No supernatural beings post-1949, not even octopuses.
She recounted last night's heart-fluttering events.
[Shao Xingcheng]: ...Wow.
[Lin Feifei]: ...Wowza.
Both agreed: this woman was dangerously smooth.
Lin Feifei had fresh inspiration:
[Lin Feifei]: Darling, your next book's material is here! I've even got the title:
[Pei Youshan]: ?
[Lin Feifei]: "Love Starts With a Contract"
Pei Youshan: "..."
Lin Feifei, you absolute menace.
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