Purely Accidental - Chapter 60
Chapter 60
The situation unfolded too abruptly for Chu Shimiao to react in time.
She was utterly dumbfounded.
Unsure whether to ask what conflict had arisen between them or inquire about the true nature of their relationship.
What shocked her even more was—if Pei Youshan and Xu Jingshu were indeed a couple, why had Pei Youshan previously helped arrange a meeting with Xu Jingshu for her?
"......"
She watched the two quarreling figures with their backs turned to her.
The world had gone mad, and she was completely bewildered.
On Pei Youshan's end, fury surged through her mind, obliterating all rationality and leaving no room for calm consideration of anything else.
Only one thought dominated her consciousness—"She really did deceive me"—amplifying endlessly until she lost all composure, her dignity scattering like dust.
Yet the upbringing she'd received since childhood left her vocabulary of curses woefully inadequate. Even with her face flushed crimson, the harshest words she could muster were "You fucking—"
But she refused to stop, determined to vent even if clumsily: "You're insane, absolutely insane! I've never met such a despicable bastard in my life!!!"
Xu Jingshu held her firmly, enduring the tirade without retort.
Compared to Pei Youshan avoiding her in silent resentment, she'd rather be this outlet for venting, letting Pei Youshan curse her freely if it brought them both some relief.
Words weren't enough for Pei Youshan's rage. In her fury, she seized Xu Jingshu's hand and bit down hard.
Having endured so much heartache because of her, it was only fair to return some of that pain.
The once-playful ragdoll cat was now truly angry, no longer delivering the gentle nips of before.
Her teeth clamped onto the wrist, sharp canines grinding against skin with enough force to seemingly pierce through the delicate flesh at any moment, staining everyone's vision with shocking crimson.
Pain instantly creased Xu Jingshu's brow, coalescing into unvoiced words in her throat.
Yet she never cried out, merely furrowing her brows slightly as she allowed Pei Youshan to vent her anger.
With her other hand, she gently rested on Pei Youshan's head, stroking tenderly as she used to during their time together, her tone soothing: "Bite as much as you want, as long as it makes you happy."
The moment these words left her lips, Pei Youshan's bite weakened significantly.
She knew exactly how hard she was biting—any more pressure and blood would have been drawn.
But Xu Jingshu refused to acknowledge the pain, instead appearing willing to let her bones be crushed if it brought Pei Youshan satisfaction.
Clarity returned abruptly, restoring her rationality.
No longer monopolized by a single overwhelming thought, another truth surfaced in her mind, impossible to ignore:
—Xu Jingshu had indeed deceived her, but... her affection had been genuine.
Her anger dissipated somewhat, replaced by complicated emotions she couldn't untangle.
Releasing her grip, she discarded Xu Jingshu's hand like a worthless bone, turning away to gaze at the scenery outside the hotel: "You tell me to bite, so I must? Ridiculous."
Still furious, she was determined to oppose her at every turn!
Seeing Pei Youshan had mostly calmed, Xu Jingshu ignored her reddened hand and smiled gently, half-teasing: "Then if I tell you not to like me, would you?"
"......"
Pei Youshan laughed coldly: "Since President Xu wishes it, of course I must oblige and fulfill your desire!"
Trying to trap her with wordplay?
Did she still look like a fool?!
Faced with this double standard, Xu Jingshu neither grew angry nor annoyed, seizing the chance to confess with continued gentleness: "Then I hope to earn Miss Pei's forgiveness, to accompany you watching fireworks every year, and spend every decade of our lives together."
Silence answered her.
After a long pause came a disdainful snort.
"Honeyed words," Pei Youshan declared.
She turned to leave, only to spot Chu Shimiao standing not far away.
Words failed her.
Chu Shimiao liked Xu Jingshu, and she—clueless as she'd been—had foolishly helped arrange their meeting... God, just let her die already!
"This is all your fault!" She glared viciously at Xu Jingshu, increasingly convinced she was the root of all evil.
Xu Jingshu remained endlessly patient with her, accepting all blame: "Yes, all my fault. I'm sorry. Can you stop being angry?"
"No!" Pei Youshan snapped.
Leaning against the wall, Chu Shimiao raised a hand in greeting: "Finished talking?"
Arms crossed, her gaze assessing, she smiled slightly: "Just one question for you both."
"May I ask—what exactly is your relationship?"
Pei Youshan opted for a private conversation, excluding Xu Jingshu.
Recognizing their conflict, Chu Shimiao didn't refuse.
Xu Jingshu tactfully didn't follow, instead seeking out Chen Hanming.
"If Miss Pei returns, notify me immediately."
Having overheard snippets earlier, Chen Hanming wasn't entirely sure what had transpired but could only agree to the boss's request.
Mentally wiping sweat, he thought:
The Pei and Xu families truly were nemeses...
Xu Ge called to check on her pursuit progress.
"Met her at the set yet?"
"Yes."
"Oh ho! That's good. How's it going? Did she acknowledge you?"
"Not bad."
Xu Jingshu examined the distinct, neatly arranged teeth marks on her wrist.
"She bit me."
Xu Ge: "?"
She's using teeth and you call that "not bad"???
......
At a corner table in the restaurant.
Given the story's complexity and awkwardness, Pei Youshan opted for brevity: "Xu Jingshu hid her identity while dating me."
"I was fooled too."
Chu Shimiao couldn't have dreamed this development: "Huh???"
"Xu Jingshu turned out to be a love scammer???"
The victim Pei Youshan sighed deeply.
Then she watched as Chu Shimiao slapped her thigh indignantly: "The nerve! Even as a scammer, she couldn't be bothered scamming me!"
Did Xu Jingshu really dislike her that much?!
The unconventional-minded Teacher Chu found this utterly unacceptable.
Pei Youshan: "......"
Teacher Chu, let's maintain some dignity here...
Yet Chu Shimiao had inadvertently highlighted something.
Xu Jingshu had only scammed one person—her.
This very fact was heartbreaking.
What had she done to deserve being tricked? Couldn't people just be honest? She wanted love, not deception!
Reeling in her space-bound thoughts, Chu Shimiao gently grasped her hand: "But don't worry, this isn't your fault. I won't blame you."
Who was in the right between Pei Youshan and Xu Jingshu was crystal clear to her.
Besides, Pei Youshan was usually such a sweet, gentle person—if she'd been driven to such fury, the fault must lie entirely with the other party!
"So now you two are...?"
"Broken up."
"This..."
Unaware of what exactly Xu Jingshu had concealed, Chu Shimiao hesitated at this declaration.
From an outsider's perspective, while hiding one's identity was certainly wrong, if everything else—the love and affection—had been genuine, it didn't seem severe enough to warrant a breakup. A tantrum would've sufficed.
Moreover, she could tell their feelings for each other were sincere. Ending things over hidden identities seemed... wasteful.
"Youshan, are you absolutely certain?"
Pei Youshan turned to her: "Are you taking her side?"
Chu Shimiao shook her head: "I'm speaking for both of you."
"The wrongdoing is real, but so are the feelings. Has she truly erred beyond redemption? If not, then with such mutual affection, wouldn't it be a pity to part like this?"
Pei Youshan remained silent.
Her initial rage had stemmed from Xu Jingshu's deception and feigned affection.
After their earlier confrontation, her anger had noticeably subsided, no longer the overwhelming tempest it had been, allowing her to reassess their past more calmly.
Xu Jingshu had treated her exceptionally well—indulging her every whim, attending to her every need.
Rushing to care for her when she fell ill, learning to cook for her, remembering all her preferences, being available at her beck and call, even childishly disputing titles with a kid for her sake...
All these actions proved Xu Jingshu's feelings had been real. She'd been deceptive, but never insincere.
Thus her anger had softened considerably—perhaps comparison had shown the situation wasn't entirely hopeless, making it more bearable.
Yet softened anger didn't equate to forgiveness.
She still seethed at Xu Jingshu's dishonesty, especially recalling her explanation—"because you're adorable, I wanted to tease you"—which only fanned the flames!
—Infuriating! Absolutely infuriating! What kind of reason is "because you're adorable"? Clearly Xu Jingshu's the insane one!
Irritably sipping her juice, she said, "Let's change topics. I don't want to discuss her now."
Recognizing her mood, Chu Shimiao shelved her curiosity: "Alright, no more about that."
She grasped for a distraction: "By the way, I've never asked where you live. I'll visit sometime."
Pei Youshan didn't hide it: "Later, maybe. I'm staying at 'Sea-Sky Horizon' with a friend recently—not very convenient."
"Oh, alright. Next time then, probably after filming wraps. You'll be home by then?"
"Mhm."
"Then it's a date."
"Don't worry, Teacher Chu. I never forget promises."
......
Xu Jingshu waited outside the restaurant.
When Pei Youshan emerged and spotted her, she immediately turned away, forbidding her from following.
Having completely moved on from Xu Jingshu, Chu Shimiao found this spectacle both bizarre and fascinating—utterly novel.
This was Xu Jingshu—the woman who'd rejected her countless times, who'd seemed devoid of human desires.
To witness Xu Jingshu nursing a broken heart in her lifetime...
—Unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable.
"How rare, President Xu," she approached, smiling as she offered consolation. "Don't take it too hard—this is love, bitter and unrelenting~"
Xu Jingshu glanced at her before resuming her vigil of Pei Youshan's retreating figure.
Chu Shimiao eyed her hand: "Doesn't that hurt? You didn't make a sound."
Xu Jingshu pressed the bite mark calmly: "No."
Then asked: "Do you know where she's staying now?"
Chu Shimiao shrugged casually: "A friend's place."
"Want to know? Ask her yourself—more sincere that way."
Xu Jingshu said nothing, mentally reviewing places Pei Youshan had praised before, finally voicing four uncertain words: "Sea-Sky Horizon?"
Chu Shimiao was stunned, an involuntary "Holy shit!" escaping her lips.
How had Xu Jingshu guessed???
Her expression confirmed Xu Jingshu's suspicion.
Baffled, Chu Shimiao demanded: "How'd you know?! Did you switch careers to detective??"
Xu Jingshu replied evenly: "No. I just remember her praising Sea-Sky Horizon's scenery repeatedly, saying she wanted to stay there."
"Most importantly—"
"It has the sea."
Hand still covering her mouth, Chu Shimiao watched her leave, thoroughly mystified.
The sea?
What did the sea have to do with anything???
Was this some new riddle???
......
"Because you're adorable, so I wanted to tease you?" Shao Xingcheng looked astonished. "She actually said that?"
Pei Youshan nodded dejectedly: "Mhm, verbatim."
Under the night sky, they walked side by side through pools of lamplight along the path from the park near Sea-Sky Horizon toward home.
Pei Youshan's long hair fluttered gently in the autumn breeze, her downcast eyes gilded by soft light, ethereal as a dream.
Shao Xingcheng found it amusing: "Miss Xu truly is an enigma."
Pei Youshan kept silent, eyes on the path.
Ever the optimist, Shao Xingcheng said, "But at least her feelings for you are genuine—your emotions weren't betrayed. And she didn't flee from responsibility, staying to endure your scolding and biting. That accountability counts for something."
Pei Youshan grumbled: "Here we go again, Teacher Shao's at it again..."
Hailing from a family of scholars with both parents as educators, Shao Xingcheng had absorbed their mannerisms—sometimes raising his hand before speaking, often lecturing like a professor.
Case in point.
Laughing, he ruffled her hair roughly: "What's wrong, Student Pei? Was Teacher Shao mistaken? Remember how much her sincerity mattered to you before."
Wanting to drop the subject, Pei Youshan swatted his hand away, frantically smoothing her hair: "Ugh, don't mess it up! Ruins my image!"
He helped straighten it: "Fine, I'll fix it back home. Oh—I learned a new braid from a colleague today. Super pretty. Want me to try it on you later?"
She didn't object.
Having placated her, he asked: "So what now?"
She absently adjusted her hair: "Dunno. Still too angry. I'll let her stew for now."
"Regardless, deliberately hiding the truth and toying with me was wrong! If I don't make her suffer awhile, she'll think Pei Youshan is easy to bully!"
Realizing she had things well in hand, Shao Xingcheng changed topics.
The park and Sea-Sky Horizon were close, the connecting path lined with lush greenery and several trees already tinged with autumn gold, each pair separated by painted wooden benches.
Just past the next crosswalk stood the complex's main gate.
Beneath a streetlight ahead stood a figure.
After a glance, Pei Youshan instantly linked arms with Shao Xingcheng, slipping into character seamlessly.
She whispered: "Why's he back again?"
Shao Xingcheng: "No idea. Annoying."
Pei Youshan: "Just hurry up and land your boss already. Then he'll stay away."
Shao Xingcheng hissed: "Like it's that easy?!"
Their murmurs ceased as they reached Shao Xingcheng's ex.
The man's gaze fell once more on their intimately joined arms.
Shao Xingcheng was polite: "Can we help you?"
The ex remained unconvinced: "I still don't believe you've gone straight."
Shao Xingcheng smiled: "Life holds infinite possibilities. You're seeing it now—believe it."
Haggard yet stubborn, the ex insisted: "No, you're punishing me for how I treated you before."
Shao Xingcheng sighed: "Guess you won't yield until all hope's lost."
Leaning down, he tapped his cheek: "Go on, sweetheart. Give him a show."
Pei Youshan dutifully pecked his cheek.
Between sisters, what was one little kiss?
The casual display struck the ex like a mortal blow.
Previously, never having witnessed such intimacy, he could delude himself. Now, self-deception was impossible.
—They were truly over.
Pei Youshan added: "Please stop harassing my boyfriend."
"A good ex should be like the dead—silent and gone."
With that, she towed Shao Xingcheng away.
Glancing back at the devastated man, Shao Xingcheng nearly applauded her performance.
Maintaining the act until safely inside the complex and certain they were unseen, they finally separated, high-fiving in triumph.
Unbeknownst to them, beneath the trees and lamplight, another had witnessed their charade by chance.
Xu Jingshu stood motionless as a streetlamp, watching Pei Youshan walk arm-in-arm with an unfamiliar man into the complex, utterly silent.
—Boyfriend?
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