Purely Accidental - Chapter 71
Chapter 71
The night was as dark as ink, with a bright moon and sparse stars.
In the study, Xu Jingshu had just ended a video conference when her phone beside her suddenly rang loudly.
The caller ID showed only a simple and straightforward "Mom."
Xu Jingshu answered the call on speakerphone.
With one hand on the keyboard and the other on the mouse, she pulled up a document, multitasking between work and the call.
The glow from the screen reflected in her eyes like fallen stars: "Mom, what's up?"
The phone was placed close enough to the keyboard that Xu Yingru could clearly hear the sound of her typing. So before addressing her original question, she asked first: "What are you doing?"
"Just finished a meeting with the overseas market department. There's still some work to wrap up."
She slowed her typing and glanced at the glowing call screen.
"Mom, I'm not busy. What did you want to talk about?"
Hearing this, Xu Yingru cut straight to the point: "What's going on between you and that child Youshan?"
The sound of typing stopped abruptly.
Xu Jingshu immediately thought of that mischievous child, Xu Jingying.
She pulled the phone closer, propping her temple calmly with one hand as she countered: "What did Jingying tell you?"
"You told her to call Youshan 'sister-in-law.'"
Xu Yingru didn't beat around the bush.
"What's going on?"
Originally, it was Xu Jingshu herself who had requested to cancel the engagement.
So why was she now the one pursuing her?
Were young people these days always so perplexing?
"Earlier, Pei Lanqing told me you two had become friends. Did she mean 'girlfriends'?"
Xu Jingshu remained unruffled, even letting out a soft chuckle.
Timeline-wise, that statement wasn't wrong—she and Pei Youshan had indeed been dating at the time.
Though they were currently in a lovers' quarrel phase and hadn't officially reconciled, so "girlfriend" wasn't quite accurate. At most, they were in a nebulous, ambiguous stage.
Running her fingers through her soft black hair, Xu Jingshu replied leisurely, her tone sincere and earnest: "Mom, Shanshan is a wonderful person, adorable too. I like her."
"A lot. Very much."
Silence filled the other end of the line.
After a pause, Xu Yingru's voice returned, faintly tinged with bewilderment: "If that's the case, why did you cancel the engagement in the first place?"
Xu Jingshu answered without missing a beat: "I only started liking her after we canceled it."
Xu Yingru: "..."
Xu Jingshu: "So I regretted it and started pursuing her again."
Xu Yingru was visibly at a loss for words.
Not knowing what you had until it was gone.
Young people these days really were becoming more and more perplexing.
"And how does she feel about it?" Xu Yingru asked. "Does she like you? If not, there's no need to force it. Love is a two-way street."
Xu Jingshu smiled calmly. "Mom, don't worry. I understand. I'm not foolish enough to keep investing in someone who doesn't like me."
Just as she had once told Xu Ge—if Pei Youshan didn't like her, she would withdraw immediately.
But if Pei Youshan did like her, then she would offer her the stars and the moon, never giving her the chance to fall for anyone else.
Xu Jingshu declared confidently: "Once she agrees, I'll bring her home to meet you."
Xu Yingru ultimately said nothing more.
This daughter of hers was already mature, steady, and decisive. She knew what she was doing and didn't need her parents to guide her hand like they had when she was a child.
She was their incomparable pride.
Remembering Pei Youshan's hopeful expression during their last art gallery visit, Xu Jingshu asked softly: "Mom, don't you want to say anything else?"
"Like... your thoughts on Shanshan?"
Xu Yingru replied coolly: "I've never met her."
Pei Lanqing often praised her daughter in front of her, but since she had never met Pei Youshan, how could she know what she was really like?
No meeting meant no opinion.
Xu Jingshu raised an eyebrow but didn't press further.
Recalling something, she changed the subject: "Mom, about this matter—Aunt Pei's side—"
Xu Yingru finished her sentence calmly: "She already knows."
Xu Jingshu: "...?"
She hadn't expected it to happen so quickly.
Xu Yingru remained unperturbed, her tone even: "She only mentioned you two were friends before. I thought she was deliberately hiding your relationship from me, so I went to ask her about it earlier."
"And I apologized."
Xu Jingshu knew her mother well—she was straightforward by nature.
If she misunderstood something, she would sincerely admit her mistake without evasion.
She had inherited this trait, always owning up to her mistakes and apologizing. Otherwise, she wouldn't have chased after Pei Youshan so persistently.
But right now, the focus was clearly on Pei Youshan's side.
Pei Youshan feared awkwardness and likely hadn't planned to tell her parents yet. Having her plans disrupted meant she needed time to mentally prepare for what came next.
Hopefully... her Shanshan wouldn't be angry.
...
Biyun Garden.
Pei Youshan was in a group call with Lin Feifei and Shao Xingcheng, venting about today's embarrassment while indulging in some foot care.
After hearing her out, Lin Feifei and Shao Xingcheng expressed their sympathy—
Through breathless laughter.
Lin Feifei: "Oh my god, how is this so funny? It's both awkward and hilarious!"
Shao Xingcheng: "Darling, we truly sympathize, but this is also genuinely hilarious, haha—"
What classic lines, what unoriginal little sister.
Today, she had been thoroughly outdone by her own younger sister.
Such was the dramatic irony of life!
Pei Youshan: "...You heartless jerks!"
She lamented her poor choice in friends!
Lin Feifei: "We're plenty sympathetic. Otherwise, I'd have laughed so loud every deaf person within a ten-mile radius would come beat me up."
Pei Youshan: "...Thanks a lot."
Lin Feifei: "You're welcome, babe! What are friends for!"
Pei Youshan: "...Get lost!"
In the middle of their banter, another call came in.
From Xu Jingshu.
After excusing herself from the group chat, she answered Xu Jingshu's call.
Before she could speak, Xu Jingshu's voice came through first: "Shanshan, there's something you should mentally prepare for."
Sudden and cryptic.
Pei Youshan was baffled: "What do I need to prepare for?"
"Aunt Pei and my mom," Xu Jingshu said slowly, "already know about us."
Pei Youshan's voice shot up in shock: "Huh???"
Realizing her outburst, she quickly lowered her volume: "How did they find out?!"
Xu Jingshu: "Well... Jingying told them."
Pei Youshan: "?"
Xu Jingshu: "About me telling her to call you 'sister-in-law.' She told my parents."
Pei Youshan: "???"
Xu Jingshu: "So now, my parents know you're her sister-in-law."
"..."
Their parents knew...
Pei Youshan's face instantly flushed peach-pink, the heat stubbornly lingering.
Covering her face, her thoughts were a jumbled mess.
Help, how had they skipped straight past reconciliation to meeting the parents?! She wasn't ready to tell her own parents yet!
That kid Xu Jingying really couldn't keep her mouth shut!
Wait—Xu Jingying listened so well to Xu Jingshu... This was probably Xu Jingshu's fault!
Cupping her burning cheeks, she spoke into the phone: "Xu Jingshu, was this your idea?!"
Xu Jingshu sounded utterly innocent: "Shanshan, it wasn't me. I only told her to call you 'sister-in-law.'"
Pei Youshan: "..."
Great. They hadn't even made up yet, but now their parents thought they were already a couple.
And considering their history—canceling the engagement only to get back together—if Pei Lanqing found out...
Just thinking about it made her want to scream for help!
"...Xu Jingshu!"
She squeezed the name out through gritted teeth, so embarrassed she wanted to flee Earth via rocket.
Xu Jingshu didn't detect anger in those words—just helpless, coquettish exasperation directed at her and the situation.
She wasn't angry, just mortified.
"Shanshan," she said gently, "I've already explained everything to my mom. Don't worry."
"Explain what?" Pei Youshan blinked.
Xu Jingshu replied: "I told them I regretted canceling the engagement and that I'm pursuing you now—but you haven't agreed yet."
Like turning herself into a shield, taking the parental arrows for her.
Leaving Pei Youshan momentarily speechless.
Hearing no response, Xu Jingshu asked softly: "Don't you want to know what they said this time, Shanshan?"
"..."
Pei Youshan's curiosity was instantly piqued, though she tried to sound indifferent: "Y-You can tell me if you want. It's not like I'm stopping you."
Xu Jingshu chuckled warmly: "Chairwoman Xu said that if you don't like me, I shouldn't force you. Love is a two-way street."
Pei Youshan was taken aback by such considerate and open-minded words.
Xu Jingshu continued: "I promised her that once you agree, I'll bring you home to meet them."
The blush that had just faded from Pei Youshan's cheeks flared up again: "W-Who said I'd agree?!"
She hastily changed the subject: "Xu Jingshu, no more surprises like this, understand? At least discuss it with me first!"
"Mm," Xu Jingshu acquiesced obediently. "Understood. Rest assured, President Pei. I'll go discipline Xu Jingying right away."
Pei Youshan: "?"
...
Xu Jingying was happily playing on her phone when a knock sounded at her door.
The door opened, and the sisters locked eyes.
Then, she saw her sister smirk coldly—a smile that sent chills down her spine.
Xu Jingshu crooked a finger: "Come here."
Xu Jingying protectively covered her forehead: "Why?!"
Xu Jingshu: "We need to have a little chat."
Xu Jingying: "..."
She leapt off her bed.
—Danger sensed!
Pei Youshan didn't receive a call from Pei Lanqing—instead, she got an apology message from Xu Jingying.
The wording was earnest, the attitude remorseful, swearing it would never happen again—or else she'd go a year without gaming!
Pei Youshan: "..."
You two sisters really are cut from the same gaming-obsessed cloth.
...
Pei Youshan only saw Pei Lanqing the next day at work.
Pei Lanqing strode in with her coat fluttering, holding a cup of coffee. Composed as ever, she acknowledged the chorus of "Chairwoman Pei" before entering Pei Youshan's office, closing the door behind her, and settling onto the sofa to sip her coffee.
Pei Youshan sat in her office chair, casually picking up a book from the side and slowly flipping it open.
She already knew why Pei Lanqing was here—the DNA-deep embarrassment had started breakdancing in her brain the moment her mother appeared.
But she couldn't panic.
If Mom wasn't moving, neither would she.
After a while, Pei Lanqing finally spoke—
"President Pei."
Pei Lanqing set down her coffee and pointed.
"Your book is upside down."
Pei Youshan: "..."
Well. She had just dug through the Earth's crust with her bare hands.
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