Purely Accidental - Chapter 76
Chapter 76
Pei Youshan sat in the backseat of the car, staring blankly at a slip of paper in her hands.
Sunlight streamed through the car window, fragmented rays filtering through leaves to illuminate the paper's backside through the glass.
The heart drawn in black fountain pen stood out prominently, as if highlighted by the sun itself.
Viewed outside the formal meeting environment, this note suddenly seemed imbued with an almost laughable childishness.
It reminded her of student days - sitting by a breezy classroom window, tearing off scrap paper during a teacher's back-turned lecture to secretly draw affection for someone special.
No grand gestures, no earth-shattering declarations, yet such moments became beams of light in memory's depths, silently illuminating entire lifetimes.
The corners of Pei Youshan's lips lifted unconsciously.
She truly hadn't expected Xu Jingshu to do something like this.
Yet upon reflection, it made perfect sense.
Xu Jingshu had always been this way - actions mismatching her composed exterior, occasionally displaying childishness, yet somehow endearingly...
—Fool.
She mentally appended these two words.
Her phone beside her buzzed incessantly.
In the group chat, Lin Feifei and Shao Xingcheng were exchanging sporadic messages.
The topic invariably circled back to her and Xu Jingshu.
[Lin Feifei]: She's too smooth! Does she own a copy of "The Wife-Flirting Guidebook" or something?
[Lin Feifei]: Thank goodness I'm straight, otherwise I'd be crying over missing such an amazing sister into the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers!
[Lin Feifei]: Speaking of which, babe, since you've already drunkenly slept with her, not reconciling would be an unacceptable outcome!
[Lin Feifei]: Not getting married would be an unacceptable outcome!
[Shao Xingcheng]: Plus ID number.
[Shao Xingcheng]: The timing's ripe, darling. Time to return to the embrace of romance nobility.
[Shao Xingcheng]: You're the only single one left among us three!
[Lin Feifei]: Some appear single but aren't actually single. —Lu Xun.
[Shao Xingcheng]: I think Lu Xun's right. —Oscar Wilde.
Reading their exchange left Pei Youshan torn between laughter and exasperation.
She replied with a "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing" before setting her phone aside, carefully tucking away the note with unconscious tenderness.
......
Blue Ocean Capital.
Before entering the elevator, Xu Jingshu first sent Pei Youshan a message confirming her safe arrival.
Only after receiving Pei Youshan's adorably stiff "Oh" in response did she step inside.
Surveying the floor buttons, she pressed the one for Xu Jingying's department, intending to conduct a surprise inspection.
Having favors to ask of her elder sister, Xu Jingying had been exceptionally diligent lately.
So much so that her department head could finally praise her to Xu Jingshu without exaggeration.
Nodding in satisfaction at seeing her younger sister focused intently on her computer screen, Xu Jingshu left without disturbing her.
At lunchtime, Xu Jingying came bouncing in. "Jie, I heard you came to check on me earlier."
Noticing Xu Jingshu's attire, she blinked. "Wait, didn't you change clothes? I'm pretty sure you wore this red suit yesterday."
Xu Jingshu rose, casually ruffling her hair. "Didn't change."
"You stayed overnight without bringing spare clothes?"
"Forgot. Let's eat."
Xu Jingying hurried after her, linking arms while waggling her eyebrows suggestively. "So jie, working with Shanshan-jie yesterday then sharing a hotel... how was it?"
"Any progress in your relationship?"
As a little sister who'd never witnessed her elder sibling date before, Xu Jingying felt compelled to be extra invested - ready to assist whenever romance required reinforcements!
Moreover, Pei Youshan was beautiful, approachable, and most importantly, could handle Xu Jingshu. How could Xu Jingying let such an ideal sister-in-law slip away?!
—Together. Shanshan-jie and my sister must be together. I'm locking them in!
"Good." Xu Jingshu answered objectively. "Yes."
Their renewed physical intimacy marked significant progress.
Though whether Pei Youshan had truly been drunk last night remained debatable... she still considered it advancement.
Because her Shanshan had sweetly promised to miss her.
Xu Jingying gasped. "Wow! You made up?!"
"Progress doesn't equal reconciliation."
Xu Jingying: "..."
She voiced the ultimate challenge: "Jie... are you perhaps... incompetent?"
This was truly testing a little sister's patience!
Xu Jingshu leveled a calm stare.
Xu Jingying instantly surrendered: "I'm the incompetent one."
Yet she couldn't accept this stagnation.
At this rate, when would they reconcile?
When would her sister experience sweet romance?
When would she enjoy a carefree life under a sister-in-law's protection, free from elder sister tyranny?!
No—she had to create more opportunities for them to meet outside work!
"Jie, you helped me deal with that bastard, so I should return the favor."
Watching Xu Jingying mimic TV protagonists by stroking her chin then clapping Xu Jingshu's shoulder, Xu Jingshu sighed internally.
"Just wait until I get closer to Shanshan-jie—I'll manufacture non-work meetups until she sees only you every day."
"Trust me, no problemo!"
Xu Jingshu: "..."
Where did she pick up these ridiculous accents?
......
7:13 PM.
Biyun Garden.
Pei Youshan entered her apartment, tossing her bag aside while rotating stiff shoulders before heading to shower.
The hot water washed away fatigue, leaving her refreshed.
While organizing her bag, she rediscovered two small notes.
Both Xu Jingshu's handiwork.
Settling on the sofa with them, she found herself reminiscing—about Xu Jingshu's beautiful eyes, glistening lips, the way she confessed affection, those fingertips brushing her mouth...
Each memory entranced.
Lost in thought, she eventually rose and entered her study.
Selecting a collector's album from the shelf, she turned to its third, empty page.
......
After days of monitoring Pei Youshan's schedule, Xu Jingying seized an opening to invite her shopping—and apologize properly.
The night before, she'd grilled Xu Jingshu for intel, memorizing Pei Youshan's preferences to avoid conversational landmines that might destroy this precious sister-in-law relationship!
Browsing boutique clothing together, Pei Youshan noticed the younger girl's prepared efforts. Amused by her earnestness, she reassured gently: "Relax, we can chat casually."
Xu Jingying remained solemn. "Can't, Shanshan-jie."
"Casual talk risks triggering you. Then I'd leave bad impressions, making you dislike me."
Pei Youshan laughed, holding up a blouse against her. "Impossible. Who could dislike someone as adorable as Jingying?"
Xu Jingying radiated sunshine—vivacious yet polite, spirited without being overbearing, and undeniably pretty. Irresistible.
Barring their initial mishap, Pei Youshan quite liked this little sister.
Beaming, Xu Jingying asked: "Then does Shanshan-jie like having me as a sister-in-law?"
Pei Youshan nodded, then flushed. "What sister-in-law? Your sister and I aren't together..."
Xu Jingying grinned. "Not yet, but you will be."
Pei Youshan turned to examine clothes without rebuttal.
Sensing opportunity, Xu Jingying apologized sweetly: "Shanshan-jie, I'm really sorry about last time. It was my fault, not jie's. Please don't blame her."
Raising three fingers skyward: "I swear—absolutely, positively, definitely no next time!"
Pei Youshan set down a dress. "You've already apologized. No need for special trips."
"Necessary!"
Xu Jingying's expression turned grave.
"This is serious. Multiple apologies ensure you won't reject jie because of me."
She feared Xu Jingshu remaining single—and subsequent retribution.
Pei Youshan chuckled. "Whether I'm with her depends on my feelings, not apology counts."
"If I disliked her, a hundred apologies wouldn't make me see her."
Xu Jingying pounced on the implication.
"Understood."
"So Shanshan-jie likes my sister."
Affection explained their frequent meetings!
She'd definitely relay this intel to Xu Jingshu later!
Pei Youshan: "..."
"Let's focus on shopping."
This child had terrifyingly sharp deduction skills.
Xu Jingying didn't press further—Xu Jingshu had warned that Pei Youshan bruised easily emotionally, requiring tactful topic navigation to avoid discomfort.
Otherwise, Xu Jingying would face discomfort next.
She wasn't foolish enough to sabotage her sister's love life.
Approaching cheerfully, she proposed: "To make up for my mistake, let me treat you to a movie tomorrow?"
Tomorrow was Sunday—no work for either Pei Youshan or Xu Jingshu.
The question "Will your sister come too?" nearly escaped Pei Youshan's lips, brimming with hope.
But seeing Xu Jingying's guileless smile, she swallowed it.
The younger sister's invitation had nothing to do with the elder.
Moreover, having insisted they weren't together, asking would seem redundant—possibly even implying disinterest in Jingying herself.
Best to leave it.
"Sure, I'm free tomorrow. What time?"
Xu Jingying beamed. "I'll check showtimes tonight and message you!"
Pei Youshan nodded silently.
......
That evening, Pei Youshan lay in bed scrolling her phone.
Xu Jingying had booked 7PM tickets for a 9PM conclusion—perfect for post-movie snacks.
Pei Youshan agreed.
[Jingying]: See you tomorrow, Shanshan-jie!
[Jingying]: [CuteStickers.jpg]
[Pei Youshan]: Mm, tomorrow.
Exiting the chat, she opened another.
The contact read: Xu Jingshu.
It had been ages since they'd watched movies together.
Xu Jingying's invitation inexplicably intensified her curiosity—and secret hope—about Xu Jingshu's attendance.
Yet she couldn't muster courage to ask "Is your sister coming?"
Lin Feifei and Shao Xingcheng encouraged direct inquiry.
Rather than relying on sisterly intermediaries, authentic communication held greater meaning.
Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, paralyzed by awkwardness.
Xu Jingshu's status showed no typing indicators—was she even available?
Reviewing their chat history revealed her own aloof responses, constructing barriers that now hindered vulnerability.
But... was asking really so difficult?
Just a movie outing—nothing significant.
Merely wondering if older sisters accompanied younger ones—completely normal!
Thus fortified, she began composing messages, laboring over each character's perfect placement.
[Are you free tomorrow night?]
Too intimate! Recall.
[Free tomorrow?]
Sounds like a date! Recall.
[Tomorr]
Mistyped. Recall.
Recall. Recall. Recall—
Every draft felt imperfect, failing to precisely convey her thoughts.
Her heart needed stepping stones to bridge this chasm.
When she finally refocused, the screen displayed rows of "You recalled a message."
A glaringly obvious spam.
Worst of all—Xu Jingshu hadn't responded once.
"..."
She wanted to scream.
—Heavenly ancestors, what am I doing?!
Lin Feifei @'ed her in the group chat for updates.
She screenshot her recall spree.
[Shao Xingcheng]: ...
[Lin Feifei]: ...
[Lin Feifei]: Babe, consider a name change?
[Pei Youshan]: ? Like what.
[Lin Feifei]: Pei Recall.
Pei Youshan: "..."
Lin Feifei, you absolute naming genius.
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