Only Pei Ye remained quiet for most of the meal.
Occasionally, when his father addressed him, he would reply with a few brief words.
His gaze rarely lingered on Wen Chu.
It was as if he had truly come only to fulfill the obligation of a routine family dinner.
The dishes were served one after another.
The cuisine was exquisite and lightly seasoned.
Clearly, the menu had been selected with Lin Xiuyun and Wen Chu’s preferences in mind.
During the meal, Lin Xiuyun hesitated several times before speaking.
In the end, it was Pei Jianguo who gently opened the topic.
“ChuChu, besides getting together today, we also wanted to discuss something with you formally.”
He glanced at Lin Xiuyun.
“Your mother and I… are planning to get our marriage certificate next month.”
Lin Xiuyun immediately looked at Wen Chu.
Her eyes were filled with nervousness and hope.
Wen Chu set down her chopsticks and looked up.
She could clearly see how anxious Lin Xiuyun was.
She could also hear the seriousness in Pei Jianguo’s voice.
She wasn’t the original Wen Chu.
She didn’t carry that fear of being abandoned or replaced.
On the contrary—
She felt happy for Lin Xiuyun.
After enduring a failed marriage, meeting someone like Pei Jianguo who genuinely cherished her was a wonderful thing.
“Mm.”
Wen Chu nodded.
Her voice was quiet but clear.
“That’s great.”
“Mom, Uncle Pei, congratulations.”
Lin Xiuyun’s eyes instantly reddened.
She grabbed Wen Chu’s hand.
“ChuChu…”
“You really agree?”
“You’re not blaming Mom?”
“Why would I blame you?”
Wen Chu squeezed her hand.
She tried to sound sincere and relaxed.
“As long as Mom is happy, I’m happy too.”
“Uncle Pei is a good person. I can tell.”
The smile on Pei Jianguo’s face deepened.
When he looked at Wen Chu again, there was genuine warmth in his eyes.
“ChuChu, don’t worry.”
“I’ll take good care of your mother.”
“And I’ll treat you like my own daughter.”
“The Pei family will be your family too.”
“If you ever need anything, just tell me.”
“Thank you, Uncle Pei.”
Wen Chu thanked him politely.
The atmosphere finally relaxed completely.
Happiness radiated from Lin Xiuyun’s face.
She became much more talkative.
Pei Jianguo listened patiently.
Occasionally adding a few comments.
Their natural understanding and affection for one another showed effortlessly.
Wen Chu quietly ate her food.
Every now and then she joined the conversation.
Deep down, she was genuinely happy for Lin Xiuyun.
Still…
She constantly felt a faint gaze on her.
Not from Lin Xiuyun.
Not from Pei Jianguo.
But from the silent Pei Ye sitting across from her.
Whenever she looked up to meet it, he would calmly shift his eyes away.
As though she had imagined it.
The meal gradually approached its end.
The atmosphere remained harmonious.
Pei Jianguo checked the time and turned to Pei Ye.
“Xiao Ye, don’t you have something this afternoon?”
“Go ahead first.”
“I’ll stay here a little longer with your Aunt Lin and ChuChu.”
Pei Ye nodded.
Picking up the coat hanging over the back of his chair, he stood.
“Aunt Lin. Wen Chu.”
“I’ll be leaving.”
“Alright, Xiao Ye.”
“Drive safely.”
Lin Xiuyun quickly responded.
Wen Chu also said goodbye.
Pei Ye’s gaze briefly paused on her face.
Then he turned and left the private room.
Only after he disappeared through the doorway did Wen Chu quietly exhale in relief.
She returned her attention to Lin Xiuyun and Pei Jianguo.
Listening as they discussed plans for after the marriage registration.
A faint smile lingered on her face.
Yet unexpectedly—
Xi Liye appeared in her thoughts.
She wondered what he was doing right now.
Had he seen the message she sent earlier?
The thought flashed through her mind.
Even she was surprised by it.
Why…
Did I suddenly think about him?
After some time, Wen Chu also excused herself and left.
However, the moment she stepped out of the restaurant, she froze.
Pei Ye was standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows in the lobby.
A phone rested in his hand.
He seemed to be reading a message.
On the screen was a newly received report:
【Brother Ye, the information you requested has been investigated.】
【Wen Chu. Female. Twenty years old. Sophomore in the Computer Science Department of C University.】
【Recently, she has been closely involved with Xi Liye. The two are currently in a romantic relationship and appear to be getting along well.】
【Would you like more detailed information?】
Pei Ye’s eyes lingered on the three characters:
Xi Liye.
His fingers lightly tapped the cold screen twice.
Then he turned and noticed Wen Chu.
“Hello.”
Wen Chu felt awkward.
She hadn’t expected to run into her future stepbrother here.
“Is your boyfriend Xi Liye?”
Pei Ye’s voice remained flat.
It was difficult to tell whether he was asking or confirming.
“You investigated me?”
Wen Chu immediately frowned.
A little angry.
“I had no bad intentions.”
Pei Ye explained calmly.
His eyes didn’t avoid hers.
After studying him for a moment, Wen Chu relaxed slightly.
“You still haven’t answered my question.”
He continued.
Wen Chu opened her mouth.
For a second she wanted to deny it.
But then she remembered the social media announcement.
And the campus forum discussions.
“…Yeah.”
“It’s him.”
Pei Ye didn’t seem surprised.
Instead, he frowned slightly.
There was concern in his expression.
“Xi Liye is not a simple person.”
“You should stay away from him.”
Wen Chu looked confused.
“Why would you say that?”
“Are you… trying to convince me to break up with my boyfriend?”
She genuinely didn’t understand.
Even if he was about to become her stepbrother.
What right did he have to interfere in her love life?
“Xi Liye is nowhere near as good as you think.”
Pei Ye’s tone remained calm.
“He’s dangerous.”
“You’ve only just started dating him.”
“Don’t idealize him.”
For some reason, Pei Ye sounded like a worried parent.
As though Wen Chu were the family’s precious cabbage.
And Xi Liye was the yellow-haired delinquent trying to steal it away.
Wen Chu wanted to ask more questions.
Something about Pei Ye made her feel as though he knew things she didn’t.
Unfortunately, before she could continue, his phone rang.
Apparently, something urgent had come up.
“I have to go.”
“Think carefully about what I said.”
He turned to leave.
“Wait!”
Wen Chu hurriedly stopped him.
“Can you not tell my mom about this for now?”
“My relationship with Xi Liye isn’t stable yet.”
“I don’t want her worrying.”
Pei Ye nodded.
In the end, they exchanged contact information.
Then he hurried away.
After returning to school, Wen Chu checked her phone.
She opened her chat with Xi Liye.
He had already replied to the update she sent earlier.
And had even reported his own schedule.
【L.YE: I’m going to play basketball this afternoon.】
【L.YE: Do you want to come watch?】
Wen Chu thought about her Breakup Guide.
In the end, she decided to go.
Her fingers quickly typed a reply.
【ChuChu Hiding: Sure! I’ll come watch you play.】
【ChuChu Hiding: What time? Where?】
【L.YE: Three o’clock.】
【L.YE: West Court, Court No. 2.】
【L.YE: No need to come too early.】
Wen Chu stared at the screen.
Then sniffed slightly.
The dormitory heating had dried the air.
Then I’ll bring him a drink.
Leaving the dormitory, she noticed the weather wasn’t very cold today.
The snow from previous days had already melted.
No wonder the male lead wanted to play basketball.
She stopped by a convenience store.
From the shelf, she picked up the most ordinary sports drink available.
At the register, she hesitated.
Then grabbed a small chocolate bar too.
If Xi Liye didn’t want it, she could eat it herself.
Of course, she absolutely refused to admit she had bought it because she wanted it.
At 2:50 PM, Wen Chu quietly made her way to the west basketball courts.
There were already a few spectators around Court No. 2.
The two teams had begun warming up.
She spotted Xi Liye immediately.
He wasn’t wearing a coat.
Only a dark gray athletic sweatshirt and black track pants.
His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows.
The exposed parts of his arms were slightly red from the cold.
Yet his movements showed no sign of discomfort.
Dribble.
Spin.
Jump.
Shoot.
The basketball struck the backboard with a dull thud.
…Isn’t he cold?
The snow might have melted.
But the temperature certainly hadn’t risen much.
Wen Chu had never realized the male lead was the type to choose style over warmth.
Silently, she buried the lower half of her face deeper into her scarf.
Then hugged the sports drink and chocolate against her chest.