Purely Accidental - Chapter 64
Chapter 64
Pei Youshan leisurely sipped her soup, noticing that Xu Jingshu's culinary skills had improved remarkably recently.
The broth was exquisite—rich with bone marrow fragrance, perfectly balanced in seasoning—neither too salty nor too bland.
No wonder even her grandfather Pei Songwen couldn't stop praising Xu Jingshu.
But it wasn't just her cooking that had leveled up; her ability to seduce Pei Youshan had advanced in tandem.
One might even call it a quantum leap.
She stole a glance at Xu Jingshu's injured finger before nonchalantly looking away.
Recalling Xu Jingshu's deadpan expression earlier, she found it amusing and murmured, "To think you'd honestly admit you tore the band-aid on purpose..."
Xu Jingshu's gaze settled on her, responding with composed tenderness: "Because I promised I'd never lie to you again."
Pei Youshan blinked, avoiding eye contact by staring at her soup. Her voice carried an unconscious pout: "That was about serious matters though. This is just harmless..."
Yet she had to admit—even when stating her intentions so bluntly, Xu Jingshu still managed to steer things toward flirtation, leaving people utterly disarmed.
Was this a perk of being devastatingly attractive, or was she just that skilled?
Truly one of life's great mysteries, Pei Youshan concluded.
Xu Jingshu adored hearing her act coy. Finally hearing it again after nearly two weeks apart filled her with satisfaction, deepening her smile: "Noted."
"Is the soup good?"
"Mhm, delicious. You've improved."
"As long as Shanshan likes it."
...
After dinner, Xu Jingshu lingered as if on a house tour rather than preparing to leave.
Pei Youshan watched her standing silently before the bookshelf, contemplatively eyeing the autograph album on the bottom shelf.
Her gaze flickered between Xu Jingshu and the album before finally approaching.
"Xu Jingshu?" Pei Youshan asked, "What are you thinking about?"
Xu Jingshu lifted her eyes from the album, letting them rest on Pei Youshan with amused warmth: "I'd prefer hearing you call me 'Xiao Jing'."
"......"
Pei Youshan pretended not to hear.
Calling her Xiao Jing was out of the question—she still hadn't reconciled that Xiao Jing was Xu Jingshu.
Of course, Xu Jingshu wouldn't force the intimacy now. Slow and steady wins the race; you can't rush perfection.
Pei Youshan pulled out the album: "Want to look?"
Though she found it odd—Xu Jingshu had seen it before. Why now?
Xu Jingshu gently supported the album's base: "Not looking. Just wanted to ask—"
"Don't you want my autograph?"
Pei Youshan: "?"
Why would she want that?
How narcissistic!
Xu Jingshu slowly flipped past the first page (her parents' signatures) and the second (her grandfather's), stopping at the blank third page.
Pei Youshan had once said this page was reserved for her future lover—exclusive privileges.
"It could go here," Xu Jingshu suggested with faux innocence, as if unaware of its symbolism, "It's conveniently empty."
Pei Youshan's face warmed. She swatted Xu Jingshu's hand away: "Absolutely not! Get lost—if you damage it, I'll make you pay!"
She hastily closed and replaced the album, glancing at the wall clock: "President Xu, it's getting late—"
Xu Jingshu intercepted: "So can I stay overnight?"
Pei Youshan: "?"
Xu Jingshu reasoned: "It's too dangerous to drive back this late—"
Pei Youshan cut in: "Which is why you should leave before it gets any later. Drive safely~"
Xu Jingshu: "......"
Well played—turning her own tactics against her.
Pei Youshan even personally escorted her to the door, waving cutely: "Bye-bye."
Xu Jingshu made a last stand: "Shanshan..."
The stone-hearted Pei Youshan: "Goodnight."
Xu Jingshu conceded: "Fine."
As Pei Youshan's eyes curved with amusement, Xu Jingshu's lips brushed her cheek—soft as a spring breeze carrying affection.
"Goodnight," Xu Jingshu whispered tenderly, "Sweet dreams. I'll text when I'm home."
Pei Youshan froze.
The door closed, plunging the world into hushed stillness.
She numbly touched her cheek, expression torn between embarrassment and shy delight.
Xu Jingshu was truly despicable...
Yet she still waited for Xu Jingshu's safe arrival message before sleeping.
In light of the soup, she'd magnanimously wish her sweet dreams too—silently, in her heart.
...
Pei Youshan had no shortage of suitors, but all paled in comparison to Xu Jingshu.
More crucially, Xu Jingshu's starting advantage was insurmountable.
—Pei Lanqing approved of her. Pei Songwen adored her.
Since her culinary showcase, Pei Songwen enthusiastically welcomed Pei Youshan bringing her over.
The elderly gentleman even wanted cooking lessons from her during his free time.
He even aspired to learn painting from her father, the renowned artist Xu Zhi, to stun the senior art competition.
Pei Lanqing fully supported this, urging Pei Youshan to bring Xu Jingshu along more often.
Faced with her doting grandfather's wishes, Pei Youshan had no choice but to call Xu Jingshu about visiting.
Xu Jingshu wouldn't miss this opportunity—winning over Pei Youshan's family was part of winning Pei Youshan.
Besides, learning from the experienced Pei Songwen offered invaluable benefits.
"See you this weekend then." Pei Youshan hung up.
...
At 10 AM Saturday, Pei Youshan personally drove to fetch Xu Jingshu.
Xu Jingying was staying over this week.
Peering out the window after waking, she witnessed Xu Jingshu entering a beautiful woman's car—someone unfamiliar.
Her intuition sparked. Sitting upright, she raised an eyebrow and excitedly texted the first contact she saw—Xu Zhi:
[Xu Jingying]: Dad! Secret intel!
[Dad]: What?
[Xu Jingying]: I think Jiejie's got a thing going on! Spring has sprung for sure!
[Xu Jingying]: Trust me—my intuition's never wrong!
[Xu Jingying]: [Eyebrow wiggle GIF]
Though already informed, Xu Zhi humored her:
[Dad]: Oh really? That's wonderful.
Xu Jingying began scheming—once Xu Jingshu brought this person home, she'd cozy up to her future sister-in-law for protection against elder sister tyranny!
Her golden age was dawning! Rejoice!
[Dad]: But keep it quiet until she announces it, understood?
[Xu Jingying]: Got it! Hehe~
[Dad]: You silly child...
Why did she sound so gleefully dumb?
...
When Pei Songwen requested cooking lessons, Xu Jingshu—concerned about her busy schedule—offered simplified recipes with an open phone policy for questions.
Pei Songwen agreed: "Perfect! Just two or three recipes—no need to overwork yourself."
"It's no trouble," Xu Jingshu said politely, taking up pen and paper in the study.
Pei Youshan leaned against the desk, watching her grandfather depart happily. "Thanks," she murmured.
Xu Jingshu set down the pen, looking up: "If you really want to thank me..."
"Go on one date with me?"
Pei Youshan narrowed her eyes: "Extortion, Xu Jingshu?"
Xu Jingshu corrected: "Seizing opportunities. Extortion would be demanding we reconcile."
"Besides, my Shanshan is so wonderful and popular—if I don't act fast, someone might steal her away."
Pei Youshan: "......"
"I didn't ask for flattery—" She flushed, "And I'm not yours! Stop that!"
Xu Jingshu smiled, covertly capturing Pei Youshan's fingertips against the desk. When Pei Youshan tried withdrawing, she held firm, expression unchanged: "Stay with me?"
Pei Youshan refused haughtily: "Why should I? You're the pursuer here."
As the pursued, she couldn't indulge suitors too much—especially not Xu Jingshu, who didn't just take inches but light-years.
Xu Jingshu chuckled: "Then pity me."
Pei Youshan: "?"
Before she could ask why, Xu Jingshu raised her bitten wrist, feigning stiffness: "My hand lacks strength to write."
"But with Shanshan here, I'd recover."
Her increasingly pitiful act made refusal feel criminal.
Pei Youshan: "......"
A millennia-old vixen!
Defeated, she sat down grumbling: "Should've bitten it off—saved you the trouble."
Xu Jingshu immediately extended her slender wrist.
Pei Youshan stared at the offered hand, then at Xu Jingshu's smiling eyes—utterly unafraid: "If it pleases Shanshan, I'd do anything."
Pei Youshan pushed her hand down, amused: "Stop. If you really meant that, why keep bothering me when I was angry?"
Xu Jingshu met her gaze solemnly: "Because avoiding you would've hurt worse."
Like a fugitive admitting guilt without explanation—that silence would've wounded them both.
Pei Youshan changed topics, though privately agreeing—Xu Jingshu's confrontation had doused her fury better than avoidance ever could.
Noticing Xu Jingshu's tender gaze, she grew flustered: "Focus on your recipes! I didn't stay to chat!"
Xu Jingshu smiled: "My Shanshan is so beautiful."
"......"
"Xu Jingshu! Did I stay for compliments?!"
"—Wait, I'm not yours! Stop saying that!"
"Then I'm yours."
Pei Youshan: "......"
The audacity!
The audacious woman then leaned closer, enveloping her in delicate fragrance, gazing intently: "Shanshan, will you date your Xu Jingshu?"
Pei Youshan: "......"
She turned Xu Jingshu's face away, flushed: "Just write the damn recipes!"
"After writing, will you agree?"
"We'll see!"
Xu Jingshu relented—after all, Pei Youshan had tacitly accepted "your Xu Jingshu".
...
When they emerged from the residential building, stars already dotted the sky—winter nights arrived hastily.
A cold gust swept through as Pei Youshan stretched, chilling her skin—until Xu Jingshu's hands circled her waist.
With meticulous care, Xu Jingshu fastened her coat buttons and tightened the belt, shielding her from the wind.
"Stay warm," she murmured tenderly, "Don't fall ill."
"And if you do, tell me—no hiding like last time."
Her voice was winter sunlight warming Pei Youshan's heart.
Pei Youshan forgot to push her away, simply watching until she regained composure: "I can take care of myself."
"Of course you can," Xu Jingshu stroked her hair, "I just hope you'll let me help when you're tired."
"Give me chances to cherish you."
Pei Youshan's heart fluttered—love's sweet nothings truly were life's most enchanting sounds.
This time, she didn't swat Xu Jingshu away, merely removing her hand gently.
"Let's go. I'll drive you home."
...
Parked downstairs, headlights illuminated their faces—in Xu Jingshu's eyes, Pei Youshan saw undeniable love.
To dispel tension, Pei Youshan spoke first: "Thanks for today."
"Anytime," Xu Jingshu replied.
Pei Youshan hummed, falling silent.
Xu Jingshu studied her: "Nothing else to say?"
Suddenly shy, Pei Youshan met her gaze briefly before murmuring: "Goodnight."
Xu Jingshu smiled under the warm light, unbearably tender: "Goodnight, Shanshan."
She didn't press further.
Yet Pei Youshan's heart twinged—this didn't feel right. The pursued must grant opportunities for pursuit.
"Xu Jingshu."
Pausing mid-exit, Xu Jingshu turned to the blushing woman avoiding her eyes.
Eyes crinkling: "Yes?"
"I'm free tomorrow." Pei Youshan stared fixedly out the window, ears pink.
"You can... have one chance to impress me."
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