Chapter 29
“Ruoruo…”
Jing Ciying approached the car, looking at his niece with a mixture of amusement and exasperation.
Ruoruo, seeing him, quickly jumped out, pointing at a miniature wind chime hanging from the car’s rearview mirror, made of tiny liquor bottles. “Brother, I didn’t want to get in. I just wanted to look at this. It’s so pretty.”
Jing Ciying gently pinched the back of her neck. “Are you that obsessed with bottles?”
Ruoruo, knowing she was in the wrong, didn’t pull away, just mumbled, “I’m sorry, Brother.”
Pei Songji took the wind chime from the car and offered it to her. “Here. You can have it.”
“Really?” she asked, her eyes wide with excitement.
“Really,” he said.
She reached for it, then hesitated, glancing at Jing Ciying’s expression, and withdrew her hand. “Thank you, but I don’t want it.”
Pei Songji, understanding the reason for her hesitation, turned to Jing Ciying. “Consider it a thank-you gift for dinner last night.”
“No need. You already gave me a birthday gift. We’re even.”
He took Ruoruo’s hand and started walking away, then stopped, turning back to Pei Songji.
“Mr. Pei,” he asked, his voice laced with annoyance, “what are you doing?”
Pei Songji was taken aback, about to speak when Jing Ciying continued, “Don’t you think this is intrusive? Stop investigating me and bothering my family.”
Pei Songji seemed surprised by his anger. “I’m sorry.”
“I don’t want your apologies. I want to know why you’re here.”
“I’m here on business…” Pei Songji offered the same excuse.
Jing Ciying’s anger flared.
“What business? This is a small, insignificant city. What business could Pei Group possibly have here? And if you’re really here for a project, why are you lurking outside my apartment building and my aunt’s house? Are you investing in real estate here now?”
Pei Songji was speechless, just staring at him.
Jing Ciying’s anger intensified, but he couldn’t yell at Pei Songji, so he suppressed his frustration, took Ruoruo’s hand, and hailed a taxi, instructing the driver to take them to the cinema.
Ruoruo, sensing his anger and knowing she was partly responsible, remained quiet throughout the taxi ride, occasionally glancing at him nervously.
He knew he had scared her, so he bought her milk tea as soon as they arrived.
“Did I scare you?”
She shook her head quickly, then, seeing his anger had subsided, asked tentatively, “Brother, why were you so angry?”
There was too much to explain, and she wouldn’t understand anyway, so he just shook his head, telling her to stay away from Pei Songji.
“Why? Is he a bad guy?”
“No, he’s…” he didn’t know how to explain it. “Just stay away from him. Don’t get into his car, no matter what he says.”
She fell silent, sipping her milk tea.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, sensing her hesitation.
“Actually… I saw the wind chime in his car and went to look at it myself,” she confessed.
He chuckled dryly.
“What’s so funny?”
“You’re naive.” He led her towards the cinema.
“Why am I naive?” she protested.
“Do you really think you went there on your own? He probably knew what you liked and deliberately placed it there to lure you in.”
“What?” she exclaimed, surprised. “No way! How could he possibly know what I like? And why would he even bother? Is he a spy?”
“No.”
“Then why? Does he… like me?” she wondered, her eyes wide. “That’s like something out of a novel! But I don’t even know him!” She took a sip of her milk tea, trying to process this information.
Jing Ciying patted her head. “Stop reading those silly books.”
“Is it because of you, then?”
“No,” he said quickly, then, realizing his reaction was too strong, changed the subject. “Do you want popcorn?”
“Yes!” she said, easily distracted.
They watched a movie, had dinner, and then went to the supermarket to buy snacks before returning home.
After the recent encounters, Jing Ciying had developed a mild case of PTSD, constantly expecting to see Pei Songji everywhere. But he didn’t see him again that day.
Perhaps he had offended Pei Songji with his harsh words.
He realized he had been unusually assertive, even defiant.
Knowing Pei Songji’s personality, he probably wouldn’t bother with him anymore.
And that was… a good thing.
As he expected, Pei Songji didn’t reappear.
He felt a flicker of guilt, but mostly relief.
He hoped Pei Songji would finally give up and leave him alone.
The week flew by, and it was time to return to Lincheng.
On his last day, although he knew no one would be living there, he still cleaned the apartment meticulously.
He took a shower, bought some gifts, and went to visit his high school teachers.
His teachers had been very kind to him during his family’s financial struggles, especially his homeroom teacher, who had often paid his school fees anonymously.
He had always visited them when he returned home, but his sister’s hospitalization had prevented him from doing so in recent years.
He entered the school, the familiar surroundings evoking a wave of nostalgia.
For a moment, he was transported back in time, then he returned to the present.
He hadn’t informed his teachers of his visit and didn’t know their current schedules.
He entered a random office on the first floor, hoping to find someone who could help him.
He saw his former math teacher.
“Jing… Ciying?” the teacher said, looking up from his lesson plans, his voice uncertain.
“Hello, Teacher,” Jing Ciying said, delighted.
“It really is you!” The teacher stood up, beaming. “What are you doing here? So sudden! Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”
“I’m on leave from work, so I thought I’d visit.”
“Good, good.” The teacher offered him a peach. “Have some fruit.”
“Thank you, Teacher,” he said, accepting the offering. He knew this was their way of showing affection.
“Are you still working at Pei Group?”
“No, I changed jobs. I’m at Huaisi now.”
“Huaisi? That’s a big company too,” another teacher said.
“Of course!” his math teacher said proudly. “He’s the best student I’ve ever had. Top scorer in our city’s college entrance exams. A Lindai graduate!”
“Oh, him!” the other teacher exclaimed. “I remember now! Jing Ciying! His name is still on the honor roll. Outstanding graduate. You have no idea how often Mr. Gao talks about him. We’re sick of hearing it.”
Jing Ciying blushed.
But his math teacher continued, “He was my math representative. Went straight to Pei Group after graduation. A big company.”
Jing Ciying, who had been eating the peach, suddenly lost his appetite. The fruit tasted bitter.
He hadn’t told them about his job at Pei Group, but news traveled fast in this small city. They probably didn’t know he had been a mere personal secretary, not a high-flying executive, as they imagined.
He had studied hard for years, but his knowledge and skills hadn’t been utilized in his job.
His work didn’t require advanced math or perfect exam scores, just Pei Songji’s approval.
His hard work, his academic achievements, had simply earned him a ticket to Pei Songji’s world.
He avoided dwelling on it; it was too disheartening.
“Why did you leave Pei Group? Wasn’t it a good job?” his math teacher asked.
Too much had happened; he couldn’t explain it all. Besides, he didn’t want to talk about it. “The work was… tiring,” he said vaguely.
“I see. Big companies are always demanding. Take care of yourself. You’re almost thirty now. Time flies. Ten years already.”
“Yes.”
“Have you seen your other teachers?”
“Not yet. I don’t know their schedules.”
“Your Chinese teacher is teaching first-year students. Your homeroom teacher is with the graduating class…” The math teacher listed their schedules, then picked up his phone. “I’ll call them.”
“Will that disrupt their classes?”
“No, it’s almost the end of the semester. They’re reviewing for exams. But your physics teacher probably won’t be able to come.”
“Why not?”
“He’s the head of the department. He’s busy with the scholarship applications.”
“Scholarship?”
“Yes. Someone recently donated to the school, setting up a scholarship fund for students from disadvantaged families.”
Jing Ciying’s curiosity was piqued. He had considered doing the same, wanting to pay it forward, having received so much support himself. But his sister’s accident had derailed his plans, his earnings consumed by her medical bills.
He hadn’t expected someone else to have the same idea.
“Who set it up? A former student?”
“No, not from our school. Someone named… Pei Jing.”
“Pei Jing?”
Having worked for Pei Songji for so long, he was sensitive to the surname “Pei.” His heart skipped a beat.
Fortunately, it wasn’t Songji.
Then something clicked.
Pei Jing. Pei Songji and Jing Ciying.
The realization made him uneasy. He wanted to dismiss it as a coincidence, but he couldn’t. He was distracted throughout the rest of his visit, leaving the school as soon as he could and calling Pei Songji.
The call was answered quickly, but there was silence on the other end. Then, a hesitant “Xiaoying?”
“Did you donate to our high school, setting up a scholarship fund?” he asked directly.
Silence again, a mixture of surprise and guilt.
Then, a quiet “Yes.”
“Why?” He suddenly realized something. “Is this your ‘important project’?”
Another long silence.
“Yes.”
Jing Ciying almost laughed. “I see,” he said, his voice laced with amusement.
“What do you see?”
“I see your game. Just like you used that wind chime to lure Ruoruo, you’re trying to manipulate me. You investigated my background, knowing I would visit my teachers when I came home. So you set up a scholarship fund in our name, knowing I would find out eventually, hoping I would be so grateful I’d come crawling back to be your secretary. Well, it’s not going to work.”
He felt a sense of relief after his outburst, then realized he had yelled at Pei Songji again.
But he didn’t care anymore. He had nothing to lose.
He expected Pei Songji to hang up, but he didn’t. The line remained silent.
“Hello?” he said, wondering if the call had dropped.
Then he heard a chuckle.
He frowned. “What’s so funny? Did I hit a nerve?”
“No, I’m just… happy to hear you speak to me like this.”
Jing Ciying: “…”
He hadn’t realized Pei Songji had masochistic tendencies.
Pei Songji, sensing his anger, turned serious. “I did set up the scholarship fund, but not to manipulate you.”
“Really?” Jing Ciying’s voice was cold, skeptical.
Pei Songji knew he had a reputation to uphold, or rather, repair. “I did learn a lot about your past, but not to pry, just to… understand you. I didn’t realize it would upset you so much.”
“You still haven’t explained why you set up the scholarship fund.”
“Because… I learned about your struggles, and I wanted to help… the younger version of you. But I knew I couldn’t change the past, so…”
“So you set up a scholarship fund to help others like me.”
“Yes.”
Jing Ciying was silent. He had assumed it was a publicity stunt, not a genuine act of kindness.
But there was still one question.
“Why use our names?”
“I initially wanted to use your name, but I was afraid you wouldn’t like it, and it would have been too obvious. So I used a combination of our names as an alias. I honestly didn’t expect you to find out. I didn’t want to tell you, in case you were upset.”
“Why would I be upset? It’s a good deed.”
His anger subsided. He had misunderstood Pei Songji. His voice softened. “I actually had the same idea once, but then my sister’s accident happened, and…” he trailed off.
“I’m sorry,” Pei Songji said suddenly.
Jing Ciying was surprised. “Why are you apologizing? It wasn’t your fault.”
“I shouldn’t have stopped you from leaving Colorado. I just… I heard you talking to Ji Shuhuai, and I thought… I thought you were leaving because of him, so I was jealous, and…”
“Jealous?”
He hadn’t been thinking clearly when he received that call from Colorado. He hadn’t realized Pei Songji’s actions had been motivated by jealousy.
But this wasn’t the time or place for such a discussion. He tried to change the subject.
“Your IV is leaking. Your hand is swollen! Why didn’t you notice? I’ll get a nurse,” a voice said in the background.
“A nurse?” Jing Ciying sensed something was wrong. “Are you at the hospital?”
“I…”
Pei Songji tried to deny it, but it was a weak attempt. “It’s nothing serious.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. Just an IV drip. I’ll be done soon.”
“Okay.” He was worried, but he didn’t want to get involved. “Take care of yourself.”
He hung up and headed towards the flower shop.
He was returning to Lincheng tomorrow and wanted to visit his family’s graves one last time.
He bought some flowers, intending to go straight to the cemetery, but he changed his mind, turning towards the hospital.
Pei Songji’s evasiveness suggested something more serious than a simple IV drip. And he was alone. Jing Ciying couldn’t ignore his concern.
Although they weren’t close, he couldn’t just pretend he didn’t know.
He went to the hospital and called Pei Songji, asking for his location.
Pei Songji was surprised to hear he was at the hospital but told him he was in the gastroenterology department.
“What’s wrong with your digestive system?”
“Acute gastroenteritis.”
“Acute gastroenteritis? Did the doctor say what caused it?”
“Probably something I ate.”
Jing Ciying was silent, thinking, What a delicate stomach.
He found Pei Songji in the IV drip area, looking pale and unwell, sitting on a small chair, a rare sight.
But his eyes lit up when he saw Jing Ciying.
Jing Ciying avoided his gaze, noticing the swollen lump on his hand where the IV had leaked.
“Why did you bring flowers?” Pei Songji asked, a smile touching his lips despite his discomfort.
“They’re not for you,” Jing Ciying replied.
“Oh.” His smile faltered, then quickly recovered. “For your aunt?”
“No. I’m going to the cemetery. I thought I’d stop by and see how you were doing.”
“Thank you,” Pei Songji said, ignoring the “stop by” part. He was happy to see him.
“How much longer?” Jing Ciying asked.
“Almost finished. About twenty minutes.”
“Okay.” He had only come out of concern. Now that he knew Pei Songji was alright, he was about to leave.
“Wait,” Pei Songji said quickly.
“What is it?”
“I…” He had stopped him without thinking, then fabricated an excuse. “I need someone to call the nurse when it’s finished. Could you wait?”
Jing Ciying glanced at the nearby nurses’ station. “It’s getting late. I need to go to the cemetery.”
“I’ll give you a ride. I drove here.”
Jing Ciying hesitated, then agreed. He couldn’t refuse a sick person.
“Okay.”
He sat with Pei Songji until the IV drip was finished.
Pei Songji drove him to the cemetery.
Jing Ciying had offered to drive, worried about his hand, but Pei Songji had insisted.
He didn’t argue.
They arrived quickly.
He assumed Pei Songji would follow him inside, but he didn’t. He just parked the car and said he would wait.
Jing Ciying went inside.
He stayed for a long time, emerging as darkness fell.
Pei Songji was still waiting.
His grief had subsided somewhat, and he even managed to make small talk.
“I thought you’d come with me.”
“I wanted to, but it didn’t seem appropriate,” Pei Songji said.
“Why not?”
“Because you haven’t… accepted me yet.” He glanced at Jing Ciying, seeing he wasn’t offended, and continued, “I’ll visit your family with you when… when you’re ready.”
Jing Ciying fell silent.
Pei Songji, realizing he had said something wrong, tried to backpedal.
But Jing Ciying interrupted him. “Actually, I’ve been wanting to talk to you.”
“About what?”
“I think I was too… abrupt with my rejection. I have some time now, so I thought I’d explain why I think we’re not compatible.”
He had expected Pei Songji to resist, but he agreed readily. “Go ahead.”
“Firstly, we’re from different worlds. Our backgrounds, our families… they’re not compatible. That means there will always be unresolved conflicts between us. I don’t believe love conquers all. I believe in… matching social status.”
“That’s true.”
Seeing his agreement, Jing Ciying continued, “Secondly, our families wouldn’t approve. I don’t want a dramatic, against-the-world romance. I just want a peaceful life.”
“That’s understandable.”
“And the gap between us is too wide. That creates inequality. I don’t want a relationship where I have to constantly watch what I say, walk on eggshells.”
“And…”
He continued listing their incompatibilities, his voice dry, laying out all the reasons why a relationship between them was impossible.
Pei Songji agreed with everything he said.
Jing Ciying assumed he would finally give up, but then Pei Songji asked, “Can I ask you a question?”
“Go ahead,” Jing Ciying said, expecting a concession.
“Can I pursue you?”
Jing Ciying: “…”
“Did you hear anything I just said?”
“Yes,” Pei Songji replied immediately.
“And you’re still asking that question?” Jing Ciying raised an eyebrow.
“Yes,” Pei Songji said firmly.
Jing Ciying was exasperated. “No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’ll never agree,” he said, leaving no room for doubt.
Pei Songji was silent for a moment, then said, “I’ll still pursue you.”
Jing Ciying almost laughed.
“Even if I’ll never agree?”
“Yes.”
“Even if I never agree.”
