Only Pei Ye remained quiet for the most part, offering only brief, one-or-two-word responses when his father addressed him. His gaze rarely lingered on Wen Chu, as if he truly were there just to complete a routine family obligation.
The courses arrived one after another. The dishes were exquisite and light in flavor, clearly curated to accommodate the preferences of Lin Xiuyun and Wen Chu.
During the meal, Lin Xiuyun hesitated to speak several times. Finally, it was Pei Jianguo who spoke up gently: “Chu Chu, I asked you here today not just to catch up, but to officially discuss something with you. Your mother and I… plan to register our marriage next month.”
Lin Xiuyun immediately looked at Wen Chu, her eyes filled with trepidation and hope.
Wen Chu set down her chopsticks and looked up. She could see her mother’s current anxiety and feel the weight of sincerity in Pei Jianguo’s tone.
She wasn’t the original Wen Chu. She didn’t harbor that frantic fear of being abandoned or replaced. On the contrary, she was happy for Lin Xiuyun. After surviving a failed marriage, finding someone like Pei Jianguo who cherished her was a blessing.
“Mhm,” Wen Chu nodded. Her voice wasn’t loud, but it was clear. “That’s great. Mom, Uncle Pei, congratulations.”
Lin Xiuyun’s eyes turned red instantly. She grabbed Wen Chu’s hand, her voice trembling. “Chu Chu… do you—do you really mean it? You don’t blame me?”
“Why would I blame you?” Wen Chu squeezed her hand back, keeping her tone sincere and light. “I’m only happy if you’re happy, Mom. Uncle Pei is a good man; I can tell.”
The smile on Pei Jianguo’s face deepened, and his gaze toward Wen Chu gained a touch of genuine warmth. “Rest assured, Chu Chu. I will take good care of your mother, and I’ll treat you like my own daughter. From now on, the Pei house is your home. If you ever need anything, just let me know.”
“Thank you, Uncle Pei,” Wen Chu replied politely.
The atmosphere finally truly relaxed. Lin Xiuyun was radiant with happiness and became much more talkative. Pei Jianguo listened patiently, chiming in occasionally; the tacit understanding and warmth between them flowed naturally.
Wen Chu ate quietly, adding a word here and there, feeling genuinely glad for her mother. However, she could still feel a faint, intermittent gaze resting on her. It wasn’t from Lin Xiuyun or Pei Jianguo, but from the silent Pei Ye across the table. Whenever she looked up, he would nonchalantly shift his gaze as if her sensation had been a mere illusion.
As the meal drew to a close, the mood was harmonious. Pei Jianguo checked the time and said to Pei Ye, “Xiao Ye, don’t you have something this afternoon? You should head out first. I’ll sit with your Auntie Lin and Chu Chu a while longer.”
Pei Ye nodded and picked up his coat from the back of the chair.
“Auntie Lin, Wen Chu, I’m leaving now.” He nodded to them, his tone remaining flat.
“Ah, alright, Xiao Ye. Go ahead and get to your business. Drive safely,” Lin Xiuyun said hurriedly. Wen Chu also offered a “Goodbye.”
Pei Ye’s gaze swept over Wen Chu’s face, pausing briefly before he turned and walked out of the private room with long strides. Only after his figure disappeared at the door did Wen Chu quietly let out a sigh of relief.
She turned her attention back to her mother and Uncle Pei, listening to them discuss the minor logistics of their marriage registration, a soft smile on her face. Yet, involuntarily, her thoughts drifted to Xi Liye.
I wonder what he’s doing. Did he see the message I sent him?
The thought flashed by so quickly it even startled her. Why… would I suddenly think of him?
After a while, Wen Chu said her goodbyes and left as well. Upon walking out of the restaurant, she froze.
Pei Ye was standing by the floor-to-ceiling window in the first-floor lobby, holding his phone, seemingly reading a message. Outside, the traffic flowed like water and neon lights flickered, reflecting in his deep eyes but failing to bring even a hint of warmth to them.
On Pei Ye’s screen was a newly received message:
[Brother Ye, I’ve found the info you wanted.]
[Wen Chu, Female, 20, Sophomore Computer Science student at C-University. Recently involved with Xi Liye; they are in a relationship. Their status currently seems stable. Do you need more details?]
Pei Ye’s gaze fell on the three characters of “Xi Liye.” His fingertips tapped twice against the cold screen. He turned, saw Wen Chu, and offered a greeting.
Wen Chu felt a bit awkward; she hadn’t expected to run into her “future stepbrother” so soon.
“Wen Chu, is your boyfriend Xi Liye?” Pei Ye’s voice was devoid of ups and downs. It was impossible to tell if it was a question or a confirmation.
“Are you investigating me?” Wen Chu felt a spark of anger.
“I mean no harm,” Pei Ye explained. His eyes didn’t flinch, and Wen Chu realized that knowing this didn’t really cost her anything. She relaxed slightly.
“You haven’t answered my question,” Pei Ye continued.
Wen Chu opened her mouth to deny it, but then she thought of the “official” Moments post and the explosive threads on the campus forum.
“Mhm… yes.”
Pei Ye didn’t seem surprised. He simply frowned, appearing somewhat worried. “Xi Liye is not a simple person. You’d best stay away from him.”
Wen Chu was puzzled. “Why do you say that? Are you… trying to convince me to break up with my boyfriend?”
She didn’t understand his angle. Even if he was about to become her nominal brother, he had no standing to manage her love life.
“Xi Liye is far from as good as you think he is. He is dangerous. You’ve only just started dating him; don’t think too highly of him.”
Pei Ye spoke to her like a parent worried about a child. It gave Wen Chu the strange illusion that she was a prized head of cabbage that had been snatched away by a stray dog named Xi Liye.
She wanted to press for more—she felt as though the man in front of her knew something specific. But before she could follow up, Pei Ye’s phone rang. He seemed to have something urgent to attend to.
“I have business. Think carefully about what I’ve said.” Pei Ye turned to leave.
“Wait! Could you not tell my mom about this for now? Our relationship isn’t very stable yet, and I don’t want her to worry,” Wen Chu called out.
He nodded. Finally, the two exchanged contact information, and Pei Ye left in a hurry.
Returning to school, Wen Chu checked her phone and opened her chat with Xi Liye. He had replied to her earlier report and shared his own itinerary.
L.YE: I’m going to play ball this afternoon. Want to come watch?
Thinking of her “Breakup Guide,” Wen Chu decided to go. Her fingers tapped out a reply:
Chu Chu Hide-and-Seek: Sure! I’ll come watch. What time does it start? Where are you?
L.YE: Starts at three. West District Basketball Court, Court 2.
L.YE: No need to come too early.
Wen Chu stared at the screen, sniffing her nose which felt a bit dry from the dormitory heater. I’ll go buy him some water then.
Leaving the dorm, she found it wasn’t very cold today. The snow from a few days ago had melted—no wonder the male lead wanted to play ball. She went to the store and picked out a standard sports drink from the room-temperature shelf.
After a thought, she grabbed an individually wrapped bar of chocolate at the checkout. If he doesn’t want it, I can eat it. She decided she definitely wouldn’t admit she was the one who wanted to eat it.
At 2:50 PM, Wen Chu tucked her neck into her scarf and made her way to the West District courts. A small scattering of people stood around Court 2, where two teams were already warming up.
She spotted Xi Liye immediately.
He wasn’t wearing a coat—just a deep gray long-sleeved athletic sweatshirt and black joggers. His sleeves were pushed up to his elbows, exposing forearms that were slightly reddened by the cold air, yet his movements were completely unaffected. Dribbling, turning, jumping for a practice shot—his actions were crisp and clean. The ball hit the backboard with a dull, heavy thud.
…Is he not cold, wearing so little?
Though the snow had melted, the temperature was still biting. She hadn’t realized the male lead was the type to prioritize style over warmth.
Wen Chu silently buried the lower half of her face deeper into her scarf, clutching the lukewarm mineral water and chocolate tightly to her chest.