Purely Accidental - Chapter 84
Chapter 84 [Extra 2]
Pei Youshan was three years old this year.
On a weekend in late autumn, she wore the new denim overalls her grandfather bought her, donned the hat her mother picked out, and sported the little braids her father had tied. She followed her father to the park to play.
Sitting in her child safety seat, she happily kicked her little legs while watching the world outside the window.
Autumn leaves fluttered down from the branches, falling past the car window and reflecting in her sparkling eyes like a special kind of rain.
Suddenly laughing, she raised her chubby little finger to point outside and exclaimed excitedly to her driving father: "Daddy, the big tree is raining!"
Yue Qin slightly turned his head, his profile breathtakingly handsome, before returning his attention to the road ahead. His voice was gentle as he asked: "What kind of rain is the big tree making?"
She happily raised both hands to gesture: "Leaf rain!"
Yue Qin adopted a childlike tone: "Wow, leaf rain! That big tree is amazing."
Pei Youshan hugged her own hands, nodding vigorously. "Mmhmm!"
Worried she might get bored, Yue Qin kept talking to her while driving.
"Shanshan, where are you going with Daddy today?"
"To the park to play, draw pictures, and play house!"
"What about tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow go fishing with Grandpa!"
"That's right, Shanshan remembers. Our Shanshan is so smart."
"Daddy remembers too, Daddy smart too!"
"Hahaha okay, Daddy smart too."
Then Pei Youshan started singing for him.
She sang the little dinosaur song.
She sang the little flower song.
Finally, she even sang the Happy Birthday song she'd learned just yesterday at another child's house.
"Happy birthday to Daddy~"
"Happy birthday to Mommy~"
"Happy birthday to Grandpa~"
"Happy birthday to Shanshan~"
Her milky voice carried the tune as her little head bobbed along.
Yue Qin became increasingly convinced his daughter was the cutest in the world. His mountain-like paternal love remained unmoved, but this time it flowed gentle as water.
Smiling, he unbuckled Pei Youshan from her seat and lifted her down, then picked up the picnic basket containing toys, art supplies and lunch. Holding her hand, he led her toward the park.
Seeing the picnic basket, Pei Youshan suddenly let go of his hand and ran over to help support the bottom with her tiny hands. In her milky voice she declared: "Daddy, Shanshan help you carry."
Yue Qin didn't reject his daughter's thoughtful gesture, but made sure to grip the basket tightly to prevent it from falling and hurting her hands. He patted her head gently and said warmly: "Thank you, Shanshan."
Pei Youshan's little face was dead serious: "You're welcome Daddy."
The weekend park was naturally more crowded than on weekdays. At a glance, there were many parents out enjoying the weekend with their children.
Pei Lanqing had been exhausted from work yesterday, so Yue Qin didn't make her come along, letting her rest at home while he took their daughter out. In the evening they would all go shopping together to buy fairy tale books and toys.
He chose an open grassy area to set down the picnic basket and spread out the blanket.
Pei Youshan noticed a pile of fallen leaves nearby and walked over to pick some up in her palm. After examining them, she tossed them lightly into the air as if discovering endless fun, suddenly bursting into bright laughter.
Her innocent smile was like the most precious treasure in the world.
Watching this scene, Yue Qin thought of his beloved wife and suddenly the world seemed filled with tender affection—everything was worth pursuing.
Pei Youshan announced she wanted to draw leaves and asked Daddy to give her the sketchbook and crayons.
Plopping down, she opened the large sketchbook, pulled out crayons and began demonstrating her abstract artistic skills.
While drawing, she kept looking up to reference the pile of leaves like a professional artist, completely absorbed in her work.
Yue Qin sat cross-legged beside her, gently adjusting his glasses as he took out a camera to capture this adorable moment.
People couldn't hold onto time, but they could preserve beautiful moments to savor in memory later.
Then he saw his daughter suddenly stop coloring and stare fixedly ahead as if captivated by something.
Puzzled, he set down the camera and followed her gaze to see a familiar face.
—Xu Zhi.
And his four-year-old daughter, Xu Jingshu.
Xu Jingshu had perfectly inherited her parents' best features—she was the very picture of a future beauty.
Her skin was fair and translucent, her bright eyes full of spirit, delicate as a porcelain doll.
Pei Youshan clutched her crayon, her gaze glued to the girl as if studying or exploring something.
After a moment, Pei Youshan excitedly pointed at her and turned to Yue Qin: "Daddy, it's a doll!"
"What?" Yue Qin was startled.
"A princess doll!" Pei Youshan declared happily.
Yue Qin immediately understood—she was saying the Xu family's daughter looked as pretty as a princess doll.
Hearing the commotion, Xu Zhi turned and recognized Yue Qin. Out of politeness, he led the composed Xu Jingshu over to them.
"Mr. Yue, hello. I've long admired your reputation."
Yue Qin quickly stood up courteously: "No need for formalities, I'm just an ordinary person."
"By the way, I saw the painting you exhibited recently—the brushwork was exquisitely soft and beautiful."
Xu Zhi smiled modestly: "It's nothing really, just casual doodling."
Noticing the little girl with crayons, he asked: "Is this your daughter?"
Yue Qin nodded and called to Pei Youshan: "Shanshan, say hello to Uncle."
Pei Youshan immediately scrambled up from the ground, stood straight, tilted her head back and sweetly said: "Hello Uncle!"
Xu Zhi also prompted Xu Jingshu to greet them.
Compared to Pei Youshan, Xu Jingshu was much more reserved: "Hello Uncle."
Hearing her speak, Pei Youshan gasped in amazement: "Wow Daddy, the doll can talk!"
She understood now—this was a real fairy princess, not the kind in stores that couldn't speak.
She suddenly felt incredibly excited and happy.
The fairy princess had really come to their world to play with her! The fairy princess must have invisible wings and might fly back anytime, so she needed to cherish their time together!
Xu Jingshu looked bewildered.
Xu Zhi asked curiously: "Doll? What doll?"
Yue Qin was torn between laughter and tears.
Before he could explain, his daughter suddenly walked over and tightly grasped Xu Jingshu's hand. Looking up at Xu Zhi with utmost seriousness, she declared: "She's a fairy princess, Uncle. She has wings too, but we can't see them."
Xu Jingshu: "?"
Since when was she a fairy princess?
Utterly confused, she looked up at her father.
Xu Zhi was amused by Pei Youshan's imagination.
He'd heard many compliments about his daughter's looks, but being called a fairy princess was a first.
Yue Qin crouched down and gathered his daughter into his arms, gently explaining: "Shanshan, this isn't a fairy princess. This is Jingshu jiejie."
Pei Youshan's expression showed partial understanding, but her little brain only processed certain keywords: "Mmhmm, Jingshu jiejie is a fairy princess!"
The kids at kindergarten said only the prettiest children got chosen by the magic castle to be fairy princesses.
Jingshu jiejie was the prettiest child she'd ever seen, so Jingshu jiejie must be a fairy princess!
Perfect child logic—utterly flawless.
Immediately she went over and hugged Xu Jingshu: "Jiejie, we need to get along well!"
Yue Qin and Xu Zhi exchanged smiles.
If she thought jiejie was a fairy princess, then so be it.
The two creative adults saw no need to dispel such harmless childhood fantasies.
Pei Youshan was the strangest child Xu Jingshu had ever met—no other kid had ever hugged her calling her a fairy princess.
Yet strangely, she didn't dislike this little sister or reject her affection.
Perhaps because she was adorable, with eyes that sparkled like they held little stars when she smiled. Her plump, fair cheeks looked like soft mochi, making you want to poke them.
So Xu Jingshu reached out and gave a gentle poke.
Pei Youshan scratched the poked spot, then beamed at her with innocent delight, calling out in her milky voice while holding crayons: "Jiejie."
—Absolutely adorable.
Fine.
She'd accept being called "jiejie."
Pei Youshan clung to her hand and started rummaging through their picnic basket together.
Finally producing an orange-flavored lollipop, she enthusiastically offered it: "Jiejie, I'll treat you to candy! It's super yummy!"
Xu Jingshu glanced at Xu Zhi, who nodded: "You can have snacks from friends. She's not a stranger."
Xu Jingshu accepted the candy somewhat understandingly and said thank you.
"You're welcome!" Pei Youshan cheered.
Then she also gave one to Xu Zhi, one to Yue Qin, and kept one for herself.
Equal distribution—completely fair.
The two fathers smilingly unwrapped the lollipops for their daughters, then prepared sketchbooks for drawing.
As daughter of the great artist Xu, Xu Jingshu naturally had some artistic talent. With Xu Zhi's personal guidance, her drawings were far prettier than most children her age.
At least compared to Pei Youshan's abstract freeform style—by a huge margin.
Pei Youshan admitted this too. Looking at Xu Jingshu's drawing, she showed amazed expression before turning to Yue Qin in confusion: "Daddy, why does jiejie draw so pretty? Why can't I draw like that?"
"Is it because jiejie is a fairy princess?"
Before Yue Qin could answer, Xu Jingshu seriously explained: "My daddy draws very well. He taught me."
Pei Youshan paused, then gazed at Xu Zhi with admiration: "Wow—"
Then suddenly redirected: "My daddy is amazing too."
Xu Jingshu stopped drawing to look at her.
Pei Youshan happily declared: "My daddy knows stories about all the animals in the world. If you want to hear, you can come to our house next time."
She never envied other children's fathers, because her daddy was outstanding, strong and perfect—the most amazing daddy in her heart.
This belief took deep root, accompanying her through much of her happy childhood.
Xu Jingshu wasn't the type to compare parents either. She nodded: "Mm, our daddies are both amazing."
Pei Youshan smiled until her eyes curved, then put away her crayons and sat beside her: "Jiejie, let's play house!"
Yue Qin set down the camera and brought over the picnic basket to prepare her toys.
Xu Zhi glanced over and remarked: "You've brought quite a lot."
They had only brought two art sets and a partially solved Rubik's cube.
Yue Qin smiled: "She always enjoys playing with these at the park. Having a playmate makes it even more fun."
Xu Zhi smiled: "True, children always enjoy playing together."
Then they heard one child say to the other: "Jiejie, you be my wife."
Both fathers turned to look.
Pei Youshan held Xu Jingshu's little hand, solemnly declaring: "I'll go earn money to support you, and you cook dinner waiting for me to come home."
Xu Jingshu: "...I can't cook."
Pei Youshan: "That's okay! We can ask grownups to help us cook!"
Xu Jingshu: "..."
Suddenly realizing something, she frowned slightly: "I don't want to be your wife."
Undeterred, Pei Youshan cheerfully countered: "Then I'll be your wife!"
Xu Jingshu thought for a moment, her little face completely serious.
Three seconds later.
"Okay."
Not realizing anything odd about this.
Pei Youshan's smile brightened even more, swelling with pride.
The fairy princess was playing with her AND being her wife! She was amazing—way better than the other kids who'd never even met a fairy princess!
Yue Qin and Xu Zhi couldn't help laughing.
The world of children was sometimes so easily pleased and illogical it defied understanding.
Roles decided, Pei Youshan picked up her sketchbook as a briefcase and announced to Xu Jingshu: "Wife, I'm going to work to earn money."
Xu Jingshu looked at the toys beside her. Since she couldn't cook, she decisively picked up her own sketchbook and grabbed the Rubik's cube, looking very serious: "I'm going to work to earn money too."
Xu Zhi and Yue Qin sat back to watch their next act.
Then Yue Qin felt his daughter's intense gaze: "Daddy, come be the chef at our house! Not eating will make our tummies hurt, and then we can't work to earn money!"
Yue Qin played along obediently: "Yes, President Pei."
Xu Jingshu calmly looked at her father—that silent, knowing look that parents could never refuse.
Xu Zhi understood, straightening her clothes: "President Xu, take care. We'll prepare dinner for your return."
Xu Jingshu smiled faintly: "Mm."
Remembering what Daddy did when Mommy left for work each morning, Pei Youshan took Xu Jingshu's hand and suddenly gave her a loud kiss on the cheek, beaming cutely.
Xu Jingshu blinked, her placid expression showing momentary surprise before she copied the gesture, leaning over to kiss Pei Youshan's cheek too.
Her parents had taught her children shouldn't randomly kiss each other.
But since they were each other's "wives" now, one little kiss was allowed.
The two fathers watched unfazed.
Children showed affection through kisses, hugs, sharing snacks and toys—perfectly normal.
They calmly watched the two little dumplings holding hands as they went off to "work."
Yue Qin began unpacking the prepared food onto the picnic blanket, dutifully playing chef for the newlyweds.
Xu Zhi assisted.
Yue Qin said: "I didn't bring too much, but please join us if you'd like."
Xu Zhi: "We came empty-handed, how embarrassing."
Yue Qin: "Nonsense, no need for formalities. Running into each other is fate."
Both knew about their wives' rivalry.
They understood exactly why their wives were currently competing.
But that didn't affect this chance encounter in the slightest.
The children's "work" consisted of circling some nearby trees twice before sitting beneath them to draw.
Mainly Xu Jingshu drew while Pei Youshan, admiring her work, simply set aside her own sketchbook to watch, praising her art with childlike wonder.
"Jiejie draws so pretty!"
"So amazing!"
"Wow, is that a house? Jiejie's the best!"
Xu Jingshu paused, noticing how close Pei Youshan's plump little face had gotten—it looked deliciously biteable.
So she poked it again—soft and utterly adorable.
Though all children had baby fat, she found Pei Youshan's cheeks especially cute, like jelly.
Pei Youshan rubbed her cheek, puzzled: "Why do you keep touching my face?"
This was the second poke.
Did fairy princesses really like poking people's faces?
Four-year-old Xu corrected her seriously: "I'm not touching, I'm poking."
Three-year-old Pei amended: "Then why do you poke my face?"
Four-year-old Xu: "Because it looks fun to poke, like jelly."
Three-year-old Pei immediately cupped her cheeks in horror: "You're turning my face into jelly?!"
Four-year-old Xu: "..."
She pinched Pei Youshan's earlobe and leaned in to enunciate: "I'm not turning your face into jelly. I said it's like jelly."
Pei Youshan had an epiphany: "My face must be made of jelly!"
Still young herself, Xu Jingshu found this conclusion somewhat reasonable.
Pei Youshan asked: "Is it orange-flavored jelly?"
Xu Jingshu shook her head: "Don't know."
Pei Youshan presented her chubby cheek: "Want to taste it, jiejie?"
Xu Jingshu immediately declined.
Pei Youshan looked heartbroken, on the verge of tears: "Don't you like me...?"
Xu Jingshu clumsily patted her cheek: "I do."
Pei Youshan: "Then why won't you taste me?"
Xu Jingshu explained seriously: "But if I eat some, won't your face be missing a part? Then you'll..." She thought for a moment before concluding: "Not be pretty anymore."
Pei Youshan found this logic sound and immediately stopped crying.
Touched by her consideration, she liked her even more.
—The fairy princess was so nice!
Finding her adorable, Xu Jingshu shared her Rubik's cube.
The single completed row had been achieved through random twisting—but to a child who'd never solved one before, this was incredibly impressive.
Like Pei Youshan.
This further convinced Pei Youshan that Xu Jingshu was a fairy princess.
She hugged Xu Jingshu, milky voice declaring: "Jiejie's so amazing! I like jiejie!"
Well-behaved, cute children were universally appealing across all ages.
Xu Jingshu nodded calmly: "I like you too."
Hearing this from the fairy princess, Pei Youshan became even more enthusiastic after "getting off work."
"Daddy, I want to sit with jiejie!"
"Jiejie eat this—Daddy made it!"
"Jiejie eat!"
"Is it yummy, jiejie?"
Xu Zhi found this both amusing and helpless.
They'd just come out to draw, yet his daughter was being force-fed by someone else's daughter—what kind of development was this?
"Shanshan, you need to eat too. Don't go hungry."
At this, Xu Jingshu offered her bread to Pei Youshan: "You eat too."
Pei Youshan blinked, then took a big bite and cheered: "Thank you!" Turning to Yue Qin excitedly: "Daddy, the fairy princess fed me bread!"
Xu Jingshu: "..."
She was almost convinced she really was a fairy princess now.
Yue Qin removed Pei Youshan's hat to fix her hair while humoring her: "Wow, how wonderful! Is Shanshan happy?"
Pei Youshan nodded vigorously, the bow on her braid bobbing adorably.
Yue Qin encouraged her: "Then sing jiejie a thank-you song."
Pei Youshan agreed and launched into her improvised Happy Birthday song: "Happy birthday to jiejie~"
Xu Jingshu paused with her bread: "It's not my birthday today."
Pei Youshan also paused before cheerfully continuing: "Happy birthday to Uncle~"
Xu Jingshu: "..."
Was she just randomly changing lyrics?
Xu Zhi played along cheerfully: "Alright, then today's my birthday. Thank you, Shanshan."
Children were simply adorable.
To preserve their cuteness, what harm was there in pretending his birthday came early?
Pei Youshan nodded as if bowing: "You're welcome, Uncle!"
Then resumed being a happy jukebox.
Xu Jingshu looked between her father and Pei Youshan before quietly listening.
—Little sister was cute. Let her sing.
...
With Xu Jingshu's company, Pei Youshan's park trip was exceptionally joyful.
But the happier she was, the harder the parting.
Especially since their mothers' relationship meant they wouldn't meet often.
Pei Youshan clung desperately to Xu Jingshu, refusing to let go.
"I want jiejie to come home with me! Jiejie can live with me forever and play house together!"
In her innocent heart, Xu Jingshu was a fairy princess who would disappear forever if she went home, just like in TV shows.
She liked jiejie and didn't want to never see her again.
Yue Qin and Xu Zhi exchanged glances.
Kneeling down, Yue Qin patiently explained: "Shanshan, we can't do that. Jiejie has her own home—we can't keep her at ours."
Pei Youshan's lips trembled, tears immediately falling.
She began wailing, utterly heartbroken by this seemingly eternal farewell.
As tears pattered down, she wondered—why couldn't fairy princesses stay in their world forever?
Because their world had no magic?
But they had flying airplanes, running trains, floating ships—wasn't that amazing too...?
Rarely seeing her cry so miserably, Yue Qin quickly comforted her: "Shanshan, don't cry. Jiejie's just going home."
Pei Youshan kept sobbing: "If she goes home... I'll never see her again, waaah—"
The adults didn't know how she'd deduced this, but their reassurances only made her cry harder, as if the sky were falling.
Then Xu Jingshu reached out to clumsily pat her cheek.
"Don't cry."
Pei Youshan's wails stopped abruptly as she tearfully looked up.
Xu Jingshu wiped her tears: "Fairy princesses don't like crybabies."
Pei Youshan sniffled in self-defense: "I-I'm not a crybaby..."
Xu Jingshu stated: "Then you can't cry when I go home."
Pei Youshan's lips quivered: "I don't want you to go home... If you go home, I'll never see you again..."
Xu Jingshu said: "We'll meet again."
Hope flickered in Pei Youshan's eyes: "W-when?"
Xu Jingshu thought before answering: "Don't know."
Pei Youshan's tears threatened again: "Wah..."
Cupping her soft cheeks, Xu Jingshu said: "Don't worry. Didn't you say I'm a fairy princess? Then I must have magic. I just haven't learned to use it yet. When I do, I'll visit your dreams, okay?"
Pei Youshan held back tears.
She thought—if jiejie could solve that colorful cube, she could definitely learn magic too.
Rubbing her eyes, she extended her pinky: "P-promise? Cross your heart?"
Xu Jingshu gently linked pinkies.
"Mm. Cross my heart."
But after that day, they never met again, gradually forgetting each other over time.
Until many years later, when an unexpected reunion occurred.
While flipping through Yue Qin's old photo album together, Xu Jingshu recognized herself in one picture—instantly restoring all those childhood memories.
Pei Youshan closed the album, cringing at her younger self clinging to Xu Jingshu calling her a fairy princess—she wanted to scream from embarrassment.
Especially when Xu Jingshu's soft laughter drifted down from above... Maximum awkwardness!
"Ahem." She cleared her throat. "Jingshu, let's make a deal, okay?"
Xu Jingshu: "Hmm?"
Pei Youshan: "Can you... selectively forget that memory?"
Xu Jingshu smiled innocently: "Can't. Shanshan, I have no magic."
Pei Youshan: "..."
"—I hate you!"
Xu Jingshu's eyes sparkled with amusement.
Hugging her close, she nuzzled her head gently.
"But Shanshan was too cute—I could never forget."
Little Pei Youshan who called her jiejie.
Little Pei Youshan who constantly praised her.
Little Pei Youshan who sang Happy Birthday.
All were treasures to cherish throughout her long life.
Especially since that was the first time Pei Youshan called her "wife"—a priceless memory.
Pei Youshan flushed crimson, speechless.
—Ahhh childhood was truly a black history generator!
Xu Jingshu added: "Besides, everything Shanshan said came true."
Pei Youshan blinked: "What?"
Xu Jingshu: "You said I'd live with you forever and play house together."
"The first came true, the second became reality."
"Right?" Xu Jingshu's lips brushed her ear as she whispered tenderly: "Wife."
"..."
Pei Youshan's entire face burned as she buried it in Xu Jingshu's chest.
Xu Jingshu smiled even brighter, her charming eyes glowing with joy.
After a moment.
The person in her arms finally stirred before cooing softly:
"Xu Jingshu... say it again..."
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