Purely Accidental - Chapter 49
Chapter 49
Her girlfriend.
Pei Youshan froze in place as a tiny firework suddenly bloomed in her heart, rippling the tranquil lake of her emotions and momentarily making her forget about everyone else's presence. She couldn't help but turn to look at the woman beside her.
Those five simple words were something she had fantasized about for countless days and nights.
But what exactly did Xu Jingshu mean by them now?
Was she confessing her feelings, or had she also sensed Zhou Jiayi's ill intentions and was helping her shake off the nuisance?
She desperately wanted to ask, but the timing felt inappropriate, so she didn't dare.
Xu Jingshu was wearing a different perfume today—lighter than usual, like the crisp air after rain, exuding freshness everywhere.
Still hopelessly enchanting, like the eternal pull of gravity.
It took all of Pei Youshan's willpower to stop herself from nestling into Xu Jingshu's arms as effortlessly as she did at Hanbai Apartments.
Zhou Jiayi was clearly stunned by those five words, her shocked gaze darting between their faces, even revealing a hint of despair in her eyes.
The despair of a failed scheme.
She never imagined Pei Youshan already had a girlfriend—which meant she couldn't make any moves now.
Not only was she outmatched in looks, but this girlfriend's aura alone seemed intimidating...
Pei Youshan snapped out of her daze, cleared her throat, and said to Zhou Jiayi, "Alright, you can leave now. Don't say anything—not a single word. Don't disturb us, and don't tell anyone inside to come bother me either."
Her tone was stern and brooked no argument. Zhou Jiayi didn't dare utter another syllable, clutching her failed plan as she walked away, glancing back every few steps.
—Damn it, the pretty and rich ones are always taken!
The moment Zhou Jiayi left, Pei Youshan felt arms tightly encircle her waist.
Having already made her declaration, Xu Jingshu had nothing left to fear: "So this is how you 'meet friends'?"
A friend with ulterior motives who gets handsy?
"It's not like that," Pei Youshan said, her voice softening automatically when she was with Xu Jingshu—something she didn't even realize herself. "My friend brought several people to dinner, and she was just one of them. I barely know her and have zero interest in her."
"If I'd known there'd be so many people, I wouldn't have come..."
More than one?
Xu Jingshu decisively took her hand and led her away, lest another interloper disrupt their brief moment alone—or worse, recognize her.
"Where are we going?" Pei Youshan asked.
"The restroom," she replied.
If not for needing the restroom, she wouldn't have witnessed that scene.
The sight of someone getting handsy with the person she liked had overshadowed her initial surprise at their coincidental meeting in the same restaurant.
But this encounter wasn't all bad—Pei Youshan hadn't refuted her "girlfriend" claim, which delighted her.
—Even if it was just pretend.
Pei Youshan looked down at their intertwined hands.
Just like before.
Yet somehow different.
Pei Youshan followed her slowly: "Why are you here?"
Xu Jingshu said, "Just grabbing dinner with a friend."
Truly random.
Pei Youshan made an understanding noise, then asked after a pause, "How much did you hear earlier?"
Xu Jingshu answered truthfully: "She wanted to call you 'big sister.'"
"That's it?"
"That's it."
"Oh."
So she hadn't heard Zhou Jiayi call her "President Pei."
She secretly sighed in relief.
Xu Jingshu suddenly stopped walking and turned to look at her.
"Did she say anything worse before that?"
"No." Pei Youshan caught onto something and studied her curiously. "Worse? You think what you heard was bad?"
Just a "big sister"?
Xu Jingshu said seriously, "If it made you uncomfortable, then it was bad."
Pei Youshan seemed to understand something: "You saw my expression and stepped in to help?"
"Including that... 'girlfriend' part?"
Xu Jingshu held her gaze: "Do you mind?"
Then, with a hint of dejection she didn't even notice herself: "You've used me to fool your marriage candidate before, so I assumed you wouldn't mind."
Logical and irrefutable.
But Pei Youshan couldn't muster any joy, too wrapped up in her own emotions to notice the other's subtle shift.
This wasn't the answer she wanted.
Seeing Xu Jingshu's earnest expression only made her burn with impatience.
Can't you tell I like you?!
Can't you give me some sign?!
The frustration made her itch to act out.
"Since you helped me, of course I don't mind. In fact, I'll even give you a reward."
"What reward?"
Pei Youshan knew she was being shameless but forged ahead boldly: "I'll be your girlfriend for tonight. No refusing!"
She wanted to be willful, to cast aside all restraints.
Right now, things would go her way.
She was the patron—what she said went!
The calm lake of Xu Jingshu's eyes suddenly rippled.
—Nothing could please her more.
...
Xu Ge genuinely thought Xu Jingshu was taking an unusually long bathroom break and was about to go check when she finally returned.
With a smile on her face, as if something wonderful had happened.
Xu Ge: "Well, look who's back. I thought the bathroom's alternate dimension had kidnapped you—was just about to heroically rescue you."
"No, but I'm about to be taken away by my cat."
Xu Ge: "???"
"No way, you ran into her again?!"
"With this kind of fate, if you two don't end up married, it'll be a travesty."
Xu Jingshu smirked, picking up her handbag from the chair: "I'll take that as a blessing. Next time for dinner—this one's on me. Send me the bill later."
"In such a hurry?" Xu Ge asked curiously. "What's the rush?"
Xu Jingshu opened the door, glancing back at her.
"Dating."
Xu Ge: "???"
Those two words made Xu Ge promptly shut her mouth, even though she had no idea what was happening.
If she dared try to stop her, Xu Jingshu would cut her down without hesitation.
Terrifying!
After a moment's thought, she decided not to sit idle either and called Xue Yingyue.
"You home yet?"
"Not back?"
"Oh, perfect. Come keep me company for dinner then."
Xue Yingyue's voice was soft and sweet: "Why should I have dinner with you?"
Then added: "Do you want me to join you?"
Xu Ge guiltily rubbed her nose and immediately denied it with a tsundere huff: "As if!"
"I just thought—you could check out another restaurant's dishes. Learn from them, build on strengths and fix weaknesses, you know?"
"..."
Silence lingered on the line for a beat.
"Where?"
...
Pei Youshan made up an excuse to slip away from the gathering. The others reacted with surprise, clearly unaware why she was leaving or whom she'd met.
Zhou Jiayi began doubting herself.
Was it because of me?
Did her girlfriend get angry, and now she's going to comfort her?
Does that mean she'll hold a grudge against me...?
"..."
She started shrinking into the background, praying Pei Youshan wouldn't look her way.
Pei Youshan truly didn't spare her a glance, whispering a few words to Jiang Mengmeng before grabbing her things and leaving without a second thought.
The night was warm as she held her one-day girlfriend's hand. Pei Youshan took a deep breath, and even the air carried an indescribable sweetness and freshness.
They walked toward the parking lot together.
Xu Jingshu remarked as they walked, "Seems you didn't enjoy that gathering."
Pei Youshan nodded slightly. "Where to next? Since this is a reward, tonight I'm all yours."
In full view of the public, Xu Jingshu calmly interlaced their fingers.
"Things girlfriends do."
Pei Youshan tried to guess her intentions but came up blank.
Because Xu Jingshu had never shared her vision of what having a girlfriend would entail—whether out of professional discretion or genuine disinterest, she wouldn't even hint at it.
The cryptic nature of this unspoken affection left her deflated.
Before getting into the car, Xu Jingshu asked, "Did you eat enough?"
Pei Youshan shook her head. "At gatherings with few familiar faces, I eat less."
Xu Jingshu noted this silently.
Pei Youshan drove, following Xu Jingshu's car all the way to the busiest part of downtown—Baojin Plaza.
After parking and emerging from the underground lot, Xu Jingshu led her to the plaza's famous snack street.
Jiang City had changed a lot in recent years, and Xu Jingshu, having only returned this year, was still adjusting.
But with a little sister who loved exploring the city, she didn't need a search engine to know the best places for food and fun.
For the first time, Xu Jingshu found her younger sister slightly endearing.
The moment they stepped into the lively snack street, the aroma of food enveloped them, tantalizing taste buds and stirring appetites—making everything seem irresistible.
Pei Youshan went with the "nearest option" and bought some oden—no spice.
In her haste, she burned her tongue, wincing as she blew on it cutely.
Xu Jingshu couldn't help but chuckle.
Pei Youshan defended herself: "I blew on it first..."
"Mhm." Xu Jingshu said. "Its fault."
She handed over her iced drink.
Pei Youshan took a few sips from her hand, the cool orange juice soothing her tingling tongue.
"Thanks," she said reflexively.
The moment those polite words left her lips, Xu Jingshu pinched her nose.
She looked at her questioningly, only to hear Xu Jingshu say, "No 'thank you.'"
"I'm your girlfriend."
—I'm your girlfriend.
Ah, music to her ears.
Pei Youshan's heart swelled with joy.
Live in the moment, seize the happiness—she didn't care if it was temporary or pretend, as long as she had it now.
For the rest of the evening, Xu Jingshu didn't take her to any romantic hotspots. She simply held her hand, unbothered by onlookers, as they strolled and enjoyed themselves leisurely.
It didn't seem particularly special.
Pei Youshan wondered—was this all she wanted to do?
Or was she unprepared because this "girlfriend" arrangement came out of nowhere?
They wandered aimlessly until they reached Baojin Plaza's fountain.
A few children were selling single roses wrapped in cellophane.
There weren't many—just a handful—as if they were just testing the waters of entrepreneurship.
A neatly dressed little boy suddenly popped up in front of them, locking eyes as he mentally played eeny-meeny.
After a moment, he held out a rose to Xu Jingshu: "Big sister."
Pei Youshan's eyebrow twitched—this felt familiar.
Oh, wasn't this a classic trope?
Next, he'd say, "Buy a flower for your girlfriend."
Instead, they heard: "Buy a flower for your friend."
Pei Youshan: "...?"
Wow, the first anti-trope flower seller.
Xu Jingshu narrowed her eyes, looking down at the boy with an air of superiority before declaring, "Not buying."
The boy tilted his head. "Why not?"
Xu Jingshu said with utmost seriousness—and immaturity: "Your eyesight's terrible."
They were so perfectly matched, finally playing couple for once, and all he saw was "friends"?
With vision that bad, he expected her business?
No chance.
Not even for a kid.
Not a single window of opportunity.
The boy fell silent for a beat, then raised the rose again.
"Big sister, buy a flower for your wife."
Xu Jingshu: "I'll take them all."
Pei Youshan: "???"
Is she actually over three years old mentally???
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