Chapter Eleven: Nameless Fire
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He couldn’t get used to the takeout outside, and since Yu Youchu hadn’t come back for a long time, nor responded to his messages or answered his calls, he had someone check on her whereabouts. Only then did he find out that Yu Youchu had gone to Baoli. She went out and didn’t come home on time, not even sending a word, leaving him waiting like a hungry little dog. Thinking about what had happened that morning and fearing that Shen Wang might cause trouble for her, he had driven over to pick her up.
If she hadn’t come, it would’ve been fine. But when he arrived, he found a handsome young man standing beside Yu Youchu, and an inexplicable fury suddenly surged within Pei Jiayin. He had been waiting at home, anxious and restless, while Yu Youchu was out entertaining a romantic interest!
He withdrew his gaze, then fixed it sharply on Yu Youchu.
“I starved waiting for you to come home,” he said through gritted teeth, emphasizing the words “come home,” while defiantly looking at Mu Chuan.
Mu Chuan sensed something was off, quickly flashing a smile, his two tiger teeth gleaming under the streetlights, exuding the fresh vibe of youth. He gently tugged Yu Youchu’s sleeve.
He loved interesting things the most.
He spoke slowly, “You have plans tonight, huh? No wonder you hesitated earlier. Since that’s the case, I’ll treat you to dinner another day.”
He winked mischievously.
“Don’t refuse next time, okay?”
Upon hearing this, Yu Youchu’s eyes, which had been just a little worried, suddenly seemed about to burst into flames. Damn you, Mu Chuan! You were just making polite small talk, but now you’re pouring gasoline on the fire!
She was furious! Especially since she had just helped him so much at work! He was really stirring up trouble for fun!
Sure enough, Pei Jiayin’s expression shifted constantly, his face a storm of emotions.
Yu Youchu quickly spoke up, “Um, Mu Chuan, thanks for inviting me, but let’s talk about it another time. My roommate, who I share the rent with, is here to pick me up.” She glanced at Pei Jiayin with a sulky look that seemed to say, “Aren’t you leaving yet?”
“See you at the company tomorrow. Bye, Mu Chuan.”
Mu Chuan smiled slyly like a fox.
“See you tomorrow.”
Yu Youchu waved, then hurriedly ran to the passenger seat, opened the door, and called out loudly,
“Pei Jiayin, you’re so nice to come all this way to pick me up. It’s so cold! Let’s go quickly.”
Pei Jiayin kept a cold expression, ignoring Mu Chuan standing in the cold wind, pulled her into the driver’s seat, and reached out to turn on the heater.
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Mu Chuan stood there and hailed a taxi. The name Pei Jiayin that Yu Youchu had just called sounded familiar to him; he felt like he’d heard it somewhere before... but he couldn’t quite place it. He watched as the car disappeared into the darkness and put away his smile.
Inside the car, Yu Youchu rubbed her frozen hands, feeling the warmth returning. She cautiously asked,
“Pei Jiayin, how did you know I was at Baoli?”
Pei Jiayin replied coldly, “I asked around at Huasheng.”
Yu Youchu’s mind was full of how to make it up to Pei Jiayin with dinner, without a hint of suspicion about how he found out the whereabouts of a mere intern from the front desk.
She twisted her fingers, rehearsing how to apologize to him.
She suddenly realized that ever since meeting Pei Jiayin, she was either apologizing or thanking him. Unintentionally, she owed him many favors.
“Why didn’t you just refuse that guy’s invitation outright just now?”
Pei Jiayin said expressionlessly, “If I had come a little later, would you have agreed? Did you forget there’s someone waiting for you at home?”
Yu Youchu’s body hairs stood on end instantly.
“I did refuse him!”
“Really?”
Pei Jiayin gripped the steering wheel.
“Then you admit you forgot about me?”
A flashback of Mu Chuan walking with Yu Youchu surged in Pei Jiayin’s mind, fanning his anger.
Sensing Pei Jiayin’s growing anger, Yu Youchu immediately apologized, “Sorry, Pei Jiayin. Actually, I meant to tell you about this this morning, but I got pulled into a meeting and forgot.”
She pressed her hands together in a pleading gesture, her little face wrinkled with distress.
“I really broke my promise today. I’ll make it up to you when we get home, okay?”
“Heh, then you still forgot.”
Yu Youchu explained regretfully, but the man in front of her was not convinced.
She drew circles with her hand as if making an important decision.
“How about this? Next time I can’t make it home for dinner, just add extra to the rent... okay?”
Pei Jiayin happened to be waiting at a red light. Seeing Yu Youchu’s pitifully guilty expression, his heart softened considerably.
“No need to add money, Yu Youchu. What I mean is, next time, just remember to tell me where you’re going...”
He turned at an intersection, steering the car steadily onto the correct road.
“Because no matter where you are, I can come pick you up for dinner, understand?”
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Yu Youchu looked up. Pei Jiayin’s face was lit by the colorful streetlights, flickering and unclear, but his gentle and resolute eyes never changed, like beautiful fireworks exploding within.
Yu Youchu’s mind exploded with a bang, and her heart suddenly raced.
Her voice was barely audible, “I understand.”
Suddenly thinking of something, she added, “But actually, you don’t have to come pick me up, because the company reimburses taxi fares home. If you come, the fuel money for this trip is wasted...”
“Thank you for your concern.”
Pei Jiayin suddenly burst out laughing at something she said. She sniffled; after the cold wind and now the warmth, her nose was a little runny. Pei Jiayin caught sight of her red nose and frowned.
“What are you laughing at? I’m telling you a truth!”
“Yu Youchu, you really are thick-headed.”
Pei Jiayin’s anger completely dissipated. He reached over, opened the glove compartment, took out a tissue, and handed it to her.
“But you do have to tell me where you’re going from now on. After all, you share the apartment with a roommate. I’d be worried about your safety, got it?”
Yu Youchu nodded, took the tissue to wipe her nose, then raised her right hand beside her head and saluted, “Don’t worry, Commander, mission guaranteed!”
“Reporting, Commander, one more question!”
“Go ahead.”
“What do you want for dinner tonight, Commander?”
Pei Jiayin pretended to think for a moment, then met Yu Youchu’s expectant eyes and said seriously,
“Spicy fish fillets, steamed bass, double pepper fish head...”
Yu Youchu’s typing on her memo paused, then her face flushed red.
“I knew you were still mad!”
Watching the lively Yu Youchu, Pei Jiayin clenched his right hand into a fist, pressed it to his mouth, and chuckled softly.
“All right, I won’t tease you anymore.”
He casually mentioned two dishes he wanted to eat.