In that half-asleep, half-awake state, it’s hard to distinguish reality from dreams.
Xia Zhi slowly stirred awake, her vision filled by Pei Yuexuan’s handsome face drawing near.
The deep affection and infatuation in the man’s eyes were exactly the same as in her dream.
So, she instinctively opened her mouth and called out,
“Yuexuan~”
No response came. The man continued to gaze at her with that same infatuated look.
Xia Zhi pouted in dissatisfaction, extending her arms to rest on the man’s shoulders, using the leverage to lift her head from the pillow.
Her arms, boneless as fish, slid from the shoulders of his white shirt to the back of his neck, gradually closing the distance between them.
The lovely woman, her eyes still hazy with sleep, murmured coquettishly,
“Yuexuan, kiss me again…”
The man’s body trembled abruptly. “Rere, what did you call me?”
“Hmm?”
Xia Zhi frowned slightly, her consciousness slowly returning.
She blinked her eyes, only then realizing she was at home, in her own room… and she was still wearing that ombre dress…
It wasn’t a dream. It was real.
Xia Zhi’s face flushed instantly. She explained softly,
“Brother Yuexuan, I thought I was dreaming…”
As she spoke, she began to withdraw her arms, trying to pretend nothing had just happened.
But the man seemed unwilling to let her retreat completely.
Pei Yuexuan suddenly raised a hand, supporting the butterfly bones on Xia Zhi’s back, preventing her from pulling away.
The man’s exquisitely handsome thin lips curved upward slightly as he asked,
“What dream did Rere have, that she wants me to kiss her again?”
He deliberately paused on the word “again.”
Too embarrassed to look at him, Xia Zhi turned her face away, letting the blush on her cheeks slowly spread, instantly coloring her ears.
This was truly mortifying.
Dreaming about her boyfriend’s brother like that, then waking up and clinging to him, asking him to kiss her again…
“It… it was nothing…”
“Heh…”
Pei Yuexuan let out a soft laugh, his heart overflowing with joy.
An uncontrollable flicker of hope rose in his mind—did Rere also feel… for him…
Perhaps it was the bedroom’s overly comfortable atmosphere, perhaps the air was filled with Rere’s sweet, pleasant scent, or perhaps the lighting was too dim and ambiguous…
The man’s usually restrained rationality vanished.
Pei Yuexuan lowered his head, gazing deeply into Xia Zhi’s eyes.
He slowly leaned closer.
How could Xia Zhi withstand such a look from Pei Yuexuan? A man like a prince, his eyes filled entirely with her.
Her red lips parted slightly, and she nervously bit her lower lip.
Was he… going to kiss her?
How could he…
But why did her heart feel a flicker of anticipation…
Both were testing the waters, so their approach was extremely slow.
Pei Yuexuan could already feel his beloved’s breath from her nose—sweet, warm, and moist.
It made his body begin to tremble slightly, from intense excitement and joy.
He spoke in a husky voice,
“Rere, close your eyes…”
Finally, Pei Yuexuan placed his other hand on the back of Xia Zhi’s head, closed his eyes, and threw caution to the wind.
But just at that moment, a loud crash came from downstairs.
A car collided with the iron gate, emitting a piercing sound.
The car’s headlights shone directly through the floor-to-ceiling window, illuminating the bedroom with stark clarity.
Dispelling all ambiguity in an instant.
Pei Yuexuan snapped back to his senses immediately, released Xia Zhi, and stood up from the edge of the bed.
“Rere, I’m sorry, just now…”
The man frowned, his face full of remorse.
What was he doing?
He had almost taken advantage of Rere…
The chaos downstairs left no opportunity for the two to speak.
Pei Yuhuan had arrived.
He had driven his car straight into the gate of Xia Zhi’s house.
The community security guard immediately came to handle the situation, almost mistaking Pei Yuhuan for a hooligan and dragging him off to the police station.
The auntie from Xia Zhi’s household hurried out, explaining that he was a guest, and invited Pei Yuhuan inside.
Unaware that the two were in the midst of breaking up, the auntie let Pei Yuhuan in and stayed outside with the guard to clean up the mess.
Thus, Pei Yuhuan proceeded unimpeded, running straight up to the second floor.
Meanwhile, in the second-floor bedroom, the glances exchanged between Xia Zhi and Pei Yuexuan were growing ambiguous…
“Rere!”
Pei Yuhuan’s voice came from outside the door.
Inside the bedroom, both of them turned toward the entrance, their faces showing signs of panic.
There was no need to hide, really…
Everyone knew that Pei Yuexuan treated Xia Zhi well, like a big brother caring for his younger sister.
Even though it was the middle of the night, his presence in Xia Zhi’s room wouldn’t have seemed strange—he was just seeing her home.
But after what had just happened…
Both felt inexplicably guilty.
The atmosphere suddenly took on a forbidden sense of “being caught in the act.”
Xia Zhi spoke up, responding to Pei Yuhuan outside the door,
“I’m here…”
The next moment, the door was pushed open, and Pei Yuhuan barged in with reddened eyes.
As for Pei Yuexuan, without time to think, he hid in the walk-in closet.
Why was he hiding?
Pei Yuexuan could hardly believe he had reflexively hidden himself.
He stood frozen at the entrance of the walk-in closet, facing the bed.
Due to the room’s layout, Xia Zhi could see him, but Pei Yuhuan, who had just entered, could not.
Pei Yuhuan stepped inside, pausing briefly at the doorway to adjust to the dim light.
Finally spotting the woman he loved, he rushed to the bedside and pulled Xia Zhi into his arms.
“I’m sorry, Rere, I’m sorry…”
“I’m such a fool, how could I have treated you like that… Rere, I’m sorry…”
Xia Zhi didn’t respond, unsure of what to say.
She looked at Pei Yuexuan, three meters away, who was also looking back at her, with the weeping Pei Yuhuan between them.
Ah… what should we do now…
In the end, Pei Yuexuan didn’t come out; it was clearly too late now.
The man turned and simply strode confidently into the walk-in closet.
“Yuhuan, let go of me…”
Xia Zhi pushed against Pei Yuhuan, but he held her tightly, showing no intention of releasing her.
“Yuhuan, you’re hurting me…”
“I’m sorry…”
Only then did the man loosen his grip, stepping back dejectedly.
With reddened eyes, he apologized to Xia Zhi,
“Rere, I drank too much tonight… earlier on the roadside, I… I didn’t mean to treat you like that… I didn’t even know what I was doing…”
“Once I sobered up, I went looking for you right away, but couldn’t find you… I thought maybe you’d come home…”
“Rere, I’m sorry, please don’t be angry with me…”
Seeing Pei Yuhuan like this, Xia Zhi couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy.
She nodded, “Alright, I’m not angry. I just hope we can part on good terms.”
Part on good terms.
These words struck Pei Yuhuan like a bolt of lightning.
He would have preferred Xia Zhi to scold him or, like in past arguments, cry and playfully kick him while acting coy.
That would have been easier for him to bear.
Pei Yuhuan completely deflated,
“Rere, you really want to break up with me, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
Xia Zhi nodded, “Yuhuan, we’ve known each other for so many years. Let’s not make this too ugly, okay…”
Pei Yuhuan didn’t respond.
He stood silently on the carpet, still wanting to make one last effort.
The man took two steps forward, knelt by the bed, and took Xia Zhi’s hand.
“Rere, I didn’t know about Uncle’s background before, so I never considered those issues… That night when my mother acted that way, I didn’t realize anything was wrong… I let you suffer, and that was my fault.”
“Now I know, and I will handle it.”
“Our family will soon be under my brother’s control. As long as my brother agrees, we can stay together forever.”
Xia Zhi withdrew her hand and asked, “Yu Huan, what if your brother doesn’t agree either?”
“Why wouldn’t my brother agree?”
Pei Yuhuan looked absolutely certain. “Although my brother and I aren’t from the same mother, we’ve always been close since childhood. As long as I want something, my brother will give it to me.”
Even love?
Xia Zhi didn’t speak again.
She glanced toward the walk-in closet, wondering what the man inside was feeling now.
When it came to breaking up, being decisive and ruthless was better for everyone.
Xia Zhi sighed and looked at Pei Yuhuan seriously as she spoke.
“Yu Huan, it was wrong of me to bring up breaking up so suddenly, but… it seems I’ve suddenly stopped liking you. I’m sorry.”
At her words, the man by the bed lost all his strength.
There was no way to salvage it.
“…I understand… I won’t…”
Pei Yuhuan stood up and left Xia Zhi’s home, utterly heartbroken.