Shen Lishu asked Pei Yu if he had seen the apple on her desk.
Pei Yu said he hadn’t seen it and quickly changed the subject. “Does Sweetie like apples?”
It wasn’t about whether she liked apples or not—the problem was that this apple had been a gift from Xie Changyan.
Losing a gift someone had given her because she hadn’t taken good care of it was both impolite and disrespectful.
Seeing Shen Lishu’s dejected expression, Pei Yu’s gaze darkened slightly. He softened his voice to comfort her. “Don’t be sad. When we get home, I’ll find you an even redder, bigger apple, okay?”
“I can even cut it into little rabbit shapes.”
Shen Lishu pursed her lips and shook her head gently.
She searched the Cherry Blossom Class classroom carefully once more and even asked several other children, but she couldn’t find it anywhere.
Returning to her seat feeling downcast, Shen Lishu tugged lightly on Xie Changyan’s sleeve. “I’m sorry, I lost the apple you gave me.”
“It’s fine. It’s not your fault anyway,” Xie Changyan replied, his tone somewhat cold.
Others might not know how the apple had gone missing, but how could Xie Changyan not know?
Thinking of this, Xie Changyan turned his head and glared darkly at Pei Yu, who was looking back at him with a challenging expression. He clenched his right hand into a tight fist at his side.
Because of this incident, Shen Lishu remained in low spirits for the rest of the day. Even after returning home, she couldn’t muster any interest in sitting on the sofa with Pei Yu and reading her favorite picture book.
Pei Yu hadn’t forgotten his promise to give Shen Lishu the rabbit-shaped apple, but she had no appetite and only managed to eat half a piece.
In a place where Shen Lishu couldn’t see him, Pei Yu’s expression suddenly turned cold.
Was that apple from Xie Changyan really so important?
To distract Shen Lishu, Pei Yu thought for a moment and suggested, “How about we put up the paper-cut window decorations we made at kindergarten today?”
Shen Lishu considered it for a moment and replied softly, “Okay.”
While Pei Yu went to fetch the double-sided tape, Shen Lishu hopped off the sofa, intending to take out the paper-cut decorations first.
She unzipped her own backpack, but it was empty—nothing inside. She figured Pei Yu must have put the paper-cuts in his own bag.
Taking Pei Yu’s backpack, she unzipped it and, sure enough, found them inside. Shen Lishu pulled out the few paper-cut decorations.
As she pulled out the paper-cuts, a thin plastic item was dragged out along with them and fluttered to the floor.
It looked like… a candy wrapper.
Shen Lishu picked up the wrapper and studied it, feeling more and more that it looked familiar.
In the bottom right corner of the transparent packet was a printed cartoon orange segment.
Among the sour candies that the maid had given Shen Lishu yesterday, there had been one exactly like this.
Since there had only been one orange-flavored candy, Shen Lishu remembered it clearly.
But hadn’t she given all those candies to Xie Changyan this morning?
Just then, Pei Yu returned with the supplies and called out, “Sweetie…”
Shen Lishu turned to look at him, holding the candy wrapper. “Pei Yu, why is there a candy wrapper in your backpack?”
And also, did Pei Yu really not know where that apple had gone?
Looking at the candy wrapper, Pei Yu frowned slightly, his expression seeming somewhat regretful. “Sweetie, don’t accept things from others, okay?”
Whether it was candy or apples—anything Shen Lishu wanted, Pei Yu could give it to her.
Pei Yu simply couldn’t stand that every single thing Shen Lishu owned wasn’t given by him.
“Where is that apple?” Shen Lishu didn’t want to answer Pei Yu’s question. After sniffing, she asked softly.
At this point, there really was no need to hide it anymore. Pei Yu admitted frankly, “In the trash can.”
Shen Lishu looked at Pei Yu with disappointment.
“Sweetie, don’t be angry. I’ll go prepare lots and lots of apples for you, okay?” Pei Yu slowly approached while coaxing in a low voice.
Shen Lishu didn’t speak again.
The previously agreed-upon activity of pasting window decorations and paper cuttings didn’t continue. No matter how Pei Yu tried to coax her, Shen Lishu just sat blankly on the sofa.
Pei Yu didn’t understand.
It was just an apple—was it worth Shen Lishu getting so angry?
Outside, the sky gradually darkened, and it was almost time for Father Pei to return home as usual.
Shen Lishu clumsily jumped off the sofa and muttered, “Goodbye, Pei Yu. I’m going home first.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Shen Lishu walked toward the front door.
Pei Yu remained expressionless the entire time, silently watching Shen Lishu slowly walk away until she disappeared from sight.
Around seven in the evening.
After a day’s work, Father Pei returned home. He was somewhat surprised not to hear the usual lively chatter of the two children together.
“Xiao Yu, where’s Lili?” Father Pei asked curiously.
Pei Yu, sitting on the sofa, remained sullen and didn’t answer.
What was going on?
Father Pei looked questioningly at the servant who was specifically assigned to care for the two children.
“The young master and Miss Lili seem to have had a quarrel,” the servant replied truthfully.
When dinner was served.
Father Pei sent someone to ask Shen Lishu if she wanted to join them for dinner.
Sitting in his chair and seemingly focused on eating dinner, Pei Yu pretended not to care, but his ears were already perked up.
Soon, the person who went to ask returned: “Miss Lili seems to have already fallen asleep.”
Father Pei thought for a moment: “Since she’s already asleep, let it be.”
Even though it was just one person missing, the atmosphere at the dining table couldn’t have been more desolate.
After hastily eating a little dinner, Pei Yu also silently returned to his room upstairs.
He sat on the carpet, silently unwrapping and eating all the remaining candies.
What lousy candy!
It wasn’t sweet at all!
Shen Lishu had met him, Pei Yu, first—so why was she still more partial to Xie Changyan!
Half an hour later.
After washing up and lying in bed, Pei Yu stared at the ceiling in the darkness, secretly deciding not to speak to Shen Lishu for three days.
But three days might be too long.
Maybe just one day.
Forget it, half a day should be enough.
But if he didn’t speak to Shen Lishu, wouldn’t that just give Xie Changyan an advantage?
No way!
He would take the initiative to speak to Shen Lishu tomorrow morning—he couldn’t let Xie Changyan benefit.
Speaking was one thing, but Pei Yu still decided not to forgive Shen Lishu for a while, unless she took the initiative to apologize.
That was settled.
Three in the morning.
The entire world seemed to have fallen silent.
Father Pei, who was sleeping soundly, felt as if someone was pushing him. As he groggily opened his eyes, he vaguely saw a small figure standing by the bed.
Even with a strong heart, Father Pei couldn’t help but shudder at that moment.
The next second, Pei Yu’s somewhat awkward voice came: “Dad.”
Only after realizing it was Pei Yu did Father Pei let out a long sigh of relief and reach over to turn on the bedside lamp.
He silently repeated to himself:
This is my own flesh and blood.
Only this one.
And it was Qingqing who endured ten months of pregnancy to bring him into the world.
“Is something the matter?” Father Pei sat up, rubbing his temples wearily.
For once, Pei Yu’s face showed a glimmer of hope: “Could you help me find someone…”