Chapter Three: Is It Too Much?

After finishing tidying up her room, Yu Youchu stepped outside to find Pei Jiayin having people move in the luggage and brand-new furniture and appliances.

The movers and cleaners worked methodically, quickly transforming the previously somewhat sparse house into a neat and orderly home.

Is this what having superpowers feels like? She recalled how moving before had nearly drained her life force...

Watching this made Yu Youchu ache inwardly; she wished she could snatch the cleaning work just to earn that kind of wage.

When they finished and left, she tentatively asked Pei Jiayin, “What would you like for dinner?”

He thought for a moment. “Just make your specialty. Nothing too spicy. The ingredients are all in the fridge.”

Yu Youchu nodded and busied herself in the kitchen, worried that her new roommate might think she had been bluffing about her cooking skills, so she prepared all her best dishes.

An hour later, the dining table was laden with a variety of fragrant and flavorful home-cooked dishes.

She called to Pei Jiayin, “Dinner’s ready.”

He responded with a nod, sat down, and took a bite, his eyes narrowing slightly.

The taste was unexpectedly good.

Seeing Yu Youchu standing awkwardly nearby as if awaiting his verdict, he found it a little amusing. “It’s quite tasty. Sit down and eat with me.”

After a pause, he added, “You can eat with me anytime. I’ll have someone deliver ingredients every day.”

Yu Youchu’s eyes brightened.

Such a good person! This way, she’d even save on meal expenses.

She didn’t hesitate to thank him sincerely, then served rice and handed him a bowl, sitting down to eat. “I never imagined I’d be renting a place with someone for thirty thousand a month!”

Pei Jiayin’s hand paused. “Thirty thousand?”

Yu Youchu looked at him blankly. “Isn’t that right? The agent just called and said so.”

Pei Jiayin furrowed his brows. “The contract I signed with him was for forty thousand.”

Yu Youchu’s eyes widened. “What?”

She pulled out her phone and searched for listings in this villa complex, quickly finding an identical house directly rented by the landlord for thirty thousand.

Pei Jiayin leaned over to look, his frown deepening.

“Argh! That old agent is terrible! I thought he was just ripping me off, but he’s fleecing you too!”

Yu Youchu was filled with righteous indignation. “He took two thousand yuan from me as a deposit. I heard him on the phone saying he planned to show me some old, rundown places just to get my money. That’s why I suggested sharing with you—to stop him from profiting, but he ended up making a fortune!”

“You rented for a year? That’s a loss of over a hundred thousand!” Pei Jiayin raised an eyebrow.

He had initially thought this girl was a bit careless to offer to share with a man, but now he understood the reason.

She was somewhat clever, but not overly so.

Seeing her eyes redden with anger made him chuckle. He casually grabbed a bottle of red wine and opened it. “It’s okay. The one who lost out is me. You didn’t lose anything, so there’s no need to be upset.”

“I feel sorry for you!” Yu Youchu puffed her cheeks. “If only I’d told you about the agent’s call earlier, but I didn’t want to seem troublesome. I’m so mad! That person is really bad!”

Pei Jiayin found it oddly amusing as she poked at the meat on her plate with her chopsticks.

The girls around him wouldn’t get angry enough over a hundred thousand to poke at their food or turn into little hamsters.

“No worries. I’ll file a complaint against him tomorrow.”

He cleared his throat and shook the wine bottle in his hand. “Want some? Consider it a housewarming celebration.”

Yu Youchu hesitated, looking at the bottle covered in French writing.

She’d never tried red wine before. She had planned to have some with Shen Wang yesterday, but after what happened, she had no mood to drink.

“Well… just a little bit?”

Pei Jiayin fetched two wine glasses and poured for her. The two of them sipped the wine while chatting casually over the meal.

Yu Youchu grew curious about her new roommate. “Your family must be well-off, right? Are you renting here because you’re starting a business in the capital?”

Pei Jiayin fell silent for a moment. “No, I ran away from home.”

Yu Youchu couldn’t help but pry. “Why?”

“Just differences with my parents.”

He didn’t want to say more and changed the subject. “What about you? Why were you in such a rush to find a place?”

Yu Youchu lowered her head. “I broke up with my boyfriend and had nowhere to live. I couldn’t afford an expensive place.”

She took another gulp of wine, her eyes reddening. “We’d been together for almost three years, and only then did I find out he had always liked a senior at school and lied about going out to see her. When I confronted him, he acted like I was the one at fault and broke up with me…”

Perhaps it was the alcohol, or maybe the flood of grievances finally found release, but Yu Youchu gripped her glass and sobbed, her whole body trembling.

“How could he be so cruel? I thought we’d be together forever. If he liked someone else, why did he even date me?”

Pei Jiayin’s eyes showed a hint of intoxication. Seeing her tear-streaked face softened his heart inexplicably.

“All right, stop crying. That kind of scumbag isn’t worth it.”

He leaned closer, his warm fingertips gently wiping away her tears. “If I ever see that jerk, I’ll make sure to give him a proper beating for you.”

Yu Youchu smelled the unfamiliar woody cologne on him, her cheeks burning unexpectedly.

The broad shoulders and warm hands enveloping her made her nuzzle against him, resting her forehead on his shoulder. “Why are you so kind?”

Her fragrant, delicate body softened in Pei Jiayin’s arms, causing his Adam’s apple to move involuntarily.

Driven by some impulse, he reached out and ruffled her hair. “You’re drunk. Go rest.”

Yu Youchu looked up, her lips brushing his jaw. “I’m dizzy. I can’t get up.”

A shadow passed through Pei Jiayin’s eyes as he bent down, lifting her into his arms and carrying her toward the bedroom.

Clinging to his neck, Yu Youchu found this embrace especially comforting, reluctant to let go.

When her back touched the big bed, she sensed him about to leave and tightened her arms around him. “Don’t go.”

Pei Jiayin lost his balance, stumbling onto her.

A sweet sensation met his lips; his breath quickened as his hands instinctively clasped her slender waist.

The girl in his arms struggled gently, her thighs brushing against his, her dazed mind biting his lips...

Reason finally shattered completely. Pei Jiayin deepened his hold, letting her undo his tie.