Since Pei Yingchen could remember, his family had rarely had such formal gatherings for meals. His father and mother were busy working at home and abroad, and aside from attending class, he spent every holiday traveling to different countries, rarely staying at home for more than half a year.
For Shen Xianning, he was willing to stay in Xjing.
After leaving the apartment, it was the old houseβs driver who came to pick him up.
Once in the car, Pei Yingchen took out his phone and sent a message to Shen Xianning, [A-Ning, have you thought about me?]
The reply came quickly: [Youβve only been gone for less than five minutes....]
Even through a phone screen, Pei Yingchen could almost picture Shen Xianningβs speechless and helpless expression. He chuckled.
[Pei Yingchen: Five minutes? No wonder it feels so long. For me, after parting with you, every minute feels like a year!]
[Shen Xianning: Then come home early.]
[Pei Yingchen: As you command^^]
[Pei Yingchen: Alright dear, rest well, see you tonight ^3^]
[Shen Xianning: Mm]
Pei Yingchen put away his phone. The driver glanced at him through the rearview mirror and smiled, βYoung master, you seem to be in a good mood.β
βHmm? Yes, Iβve been in a great mood lately.β Pei Yingchen curled his lips, admitting openly.
Thinking carefully, tonightβs gathering was actually an opportunity too. He planned to tell his family about it.
Since he was young, whenever Pei Yingchen liked something, he would tell everyone. He liked Shen Xianning and never intended to hide it from his family.
The car headed toward the outskirts.
The weather had not been good in recent days. Dark clouds pressed low in the sky. Pei Yingchen looked out the window. With weather like this, it wasnβt without reason that Shen Xianning had been feeling down.
Should they go to Sanya for vacation? Or maybe travel abroad to Iceland?
Anyway, winter break was about to begin.
The old house was in the suburbs. Pei Yingchen wouldnβt even visit once a year.
When the old man was still alive, he used to go often. After all, the old man lived there. So why did Jian Wenjun call for a family gathering at the old house?
Pei Yingchen couldnβt figure it out.
It took two hours to get from the city center to the old house.
Shen Xianning seemed busy with something, replying only sporadically. Pei Yingchen was starting to feel bored when the car finally reached its destination.
The auntie guarding the gate came forward and opened the car door respectfully, βYoung master, youβre here?β
Pei Yingchen nodded, glanced at the lush garden, and asked, βWhereβs Mother?β
βThe madam and the others have been waiting inside for a while.β The auntie made a welcoming gesture.
Pei Yingchen walked in.
He was, of course, familiar with this place. The old man had doted on him the most. He spent much of his childhood here. After the old man passed away, no one lived in the old house anymore. But out of remembrance for him, it had always been maintained. The garden and the house inside were well kept.
It looked as if someone had been living here all along.
He pushed open the door.
The smell of food wafted from inside.
Pei Yingchen looked toward the sofa, βMom, Dad.β
The two people on the sofa, who had been talking, turned to him.
Jian Wenjun stood up first, walked over, and hugged him, βXiaochen seems to have grown taller.β
Pei Yingchen smiled warmly, βIβm already twenty-two, still growing?β
Pei Shuhua wore a pair of rimless glasses, with a scholarly and elegant air, completely different from Jian Wenjunβs capable and decisive manner.
Pei Yingchen looked more like Jian Wenjun, but the shape of his lips took after Pei Shuhuaβs, always appearing to smile.
βAlright, since our family rarely gets together, letβs eat first and talk at the table.β Pei Shuhua also hugged Pei Yingchen and said.
It seemed the two elders did have something to discuss with him. Pei Yingchen lowered his lashes in thought and didnβt say more.
The dishes were made by an auntie brought over from the villa, all to Pei Yingchenβs taste.
After a few bites, he put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth, and looked at the two of them, βDad, Mom, what is it you want to say?β
Pei Shuhua, lowering his head, picked up some food for Pei Yingchen and said softly, βLet your mother say it.β
In the family, Jian Wenjun had the highest say. Their marriage had been arranged, love only began after marriage. Jian Wenjun had always been a strong woman. Including this matter, it was she who brought it up.
Pei Yingchen had a bad feeling.
Jian Wenjun sighed.
She pushed her curled hair to the back, put down her chopsticks, and looked at Pei Yingchen, βYingchen, Mom told you before, in earlier years the Shen family in Xjing had a close relationship with ours. Do you remember that?β
Pei Yingchen nodded to show he remembered.
Jian Wenjun said, βDidnβt your Uncle Shen come to talk to you before?β
βYou mean that verbal engagement back then?β Pei Yingchen asked.
Jian Wenjun: βIt being verbal is still easier to handle, but we only recently discovered that your grandfather and they had a written agreement.β
βBack then, the Shen family helped our Pei family a lot. Your grandfather valued loyalty. When you were still in the womb, he already discussed a marriage alliance with the Shen family. At first, they didnβt care much about such an engagement. But for some reason, they brought back a son raised outside.β
βThose people in the Shen family definitely wonβt recognize that heir. He lacks value, ability, and canβt push the Shen Group forward. So they urgently need a marriage alliance to solidify that childβs position. And the person they marry must be someone influential in Xjing. That was the old master of the Shen familyβs wish. Heβs now on his deathbed. We have to act before he passesβ¦β
βMom.β Pei Yingchen interrupted her.
Jian Wenjun paused, looked up at Pei Yingchen.
Pei Yingchen didnβt look too happy, but because of his upbringing, he wouldnβt lose his temper at his mother. βSo you also think I should be reduced to a tool for our family to repay kindness?β
βNo.β Pei Shuhua spoke before Jian Wenjun could. βWeβve thought about solutions. But each family holds one copy of the written agreement. We could destroy it, but the Shen family has some influence in Xjing too. Weβre not worried about the Pei familyβs reputation, we just donβt want any ugly rumors falling on you.β
Jian Wenjun continued, βWeβve discussed with the Shen family. This marriage is just to help stabilize that heirβs position. After the old master dies, the mourning period is only three months. After three months, the marriage will automatically be void.β
βMom is sorry.β As Jian Wenjun spoke, tears fell onto the wooden table, scattering like little transparent flowers.
Pei Yingchen stayed silent for a while. He had originally wanted to tell them good news today, that he had met someone he must marry.
But now it seemed not saying anything was the best protection for Shen Xianning.
Three months. If he really had to say it, at least half a year...
So should he hide it from Shen Xianning?
Shen Xianning was so smart, thereβs no way this could be kept from him. And what, make Shen Xianning his mistress? Thatβs crazy. That kind of thing is absolutely impossible.
He raised his hand to cover his face.
He understood his mother's difficulty.
Besides, it was just a contractual marriage. He didnβt love that person, and that person didnβt love him either. It was merely a verbal marital relationship.
Then what about Shen Xianning?
What about his A-Ning?
Right now, he was probably waiting at home for him.
Would he find out that the person he was waiting for was about to enter a marriage alliance with someone else?
βMom, I understand,β Pei Yingchen said. βIβll think about it.β
The entire room fell silent.
β
This dinner gathering could be said to be joyless despite the calm. Though no one quarreled, everyoneβs mood had sunk to the bottom.
Pei Yingchen didnβt return to the city until after 7 PM.
Shen Xianning had sent him a message around 6 PM, asking if he had gotten home yet.
Not knowing how to face Shen Xianning, he lied and said he wouldnβt be coming back today.
But in truth, Pei Yingchen was right downstairs of their apartment.
Leaning against the car door, he lit a cigarette.
The white smoke was carried away by the wind. He exhaled a puff of smoke and looked up toward their apartment.
He rarely smoked, not that he didnβt at all. Ever since meeting Shen Xianning, he had basically stopped because he realized Shen Xianning didnβt really like the smell.
When the pressure got heavy, Pei Yingchen would have one cigarette.
So annoying.
Such a suffocating world.
He who had never been troubled by anything since childhood, now finally had something weighing on his heart.
How should he tell Shen Xianning?
He really didnβt want to.
Because at the moment, he and Shen Xianning were just in a βfriends with benefitsβ relationship. Though he didnβt want that relationship to continue, the fact remained they hadnβt had time to take a step further before everything was about to be extinguished.
Was he supposed to shamelessly ask Shen Xianning to wait for him, to wait until he got divorced?
The thought alone made Pei Yingchen even more frustrated.
But he also couldnβt bring himself to say anything cruel or final to Shen Xianning. Shen Xianning would be heartbroken.
That night, he didnβt sleep. He sat in the car all night.
But in the nearby apartment building, there was also someone else who hadnβt slept.
He turned off the lights in the room and sat by the window, watching the car below the whole night.
β
The next morning.
Pei Yingchen bought breakfast and came back.
He thought he was back early enough, but to his surprise, Shen Xianning was already awake. Just as he pulled out his key to open the door, it was opened from the inside.
Caught off guard, he was met with a pair of tired eyes.
Pei Yingchenβs heart skipped a beat.
Those fog-blue eyes, for some reason, seemed covered in a thick layer of mist. Pei Yingchen tried hard to see clearly but couldnβt make out anything. A patch of snow quietly melted in his gaze.
βA-Ning.β Pei Yingchen stepped forward and pulled him into a hug.
Shen Xianning sniffed. βYou smoked?β
Pei Yingchen quickly let go, raised his arm and sniffed his sleeve. βIs it strong?β
βA little.β Shen Xianning nodded.
Pei Yingchen instinctively said, βSorry, I shouldβve changed clothes before coming back.β
βItβs okay, you have clothes in our home too.β Shen Xianning took the breakfast from him as he spoke.
The word βhomeβ meant a lot to Pei Yingchen. He had a home, but his parents were never there. Heβd always been alone. Before meeting Shen Xianning, he never felt he needed a home. But now, he just wanted a home with Shen Xianning.
But soon, it would be gone.
βA-Ning, eat breakfast first. Iβve got something I want to talk to you about later.β Pei Yingchen kissed the corner of Shen Xianningβs lips and said.
Shen Xianning looked into his eyes, as if trying to see something inside them. After more than ten seconds, he finally nodded. βOkay.β