Chapter 28 still holding firewood to put out the fire🔥

Pei Xingyan trailed behind her, his face ashen with a profound weariness, as if life itself had lost all meaning.

Yet, he couldn’t stray too far.

Ye Ziwei was currently so giddy with excitement that she seemed to have forgotten her own name, and he had to ensure she didn’t stumble if her attention wavered.

Pei Xingyan considered himself no stone-hearted man.

While Ye Ziwei occasionally uttered or committed truly alarming acts, her intentions toward him had never been malicious.

Even her desire to lock him in a basement, for instance, stemmed solely from a wish to see him every single day…

He found it impossible to truly despise a girl who, in her own twisted way, always had his best interests at heart.

However, much like those overbearing parents everyone resents, there needed to be a clear boundary, a sense of proportion, no matter how much they fretted over you.

Such a concept, however, seemed utterly alien to Ye Ziwei.

It was precisely for this reason that Pei Xingyan longed to keep as much distance from her as possible, believing it to be the healthiest course of action for them both.

Yet now, in a desperate bid to placate her and prevent her from derailing his crucial financial endeavors, he had uttered those very words…

“This path is fraught with difficulties,” Pei Xingyan murmured with a soft sigh.

“What was that?” Ye Ziwei, her voice brimming with delight, skipped to his side, her dark eyes darting around ceaselessly.

Despite her typically somber demeanor, when her most cherished desires were met, she could become even more endearing than the sweetest, most charming girl imaginable.

“What path is difficult?” she pressed, a hint of confusion in her tone.

“Didn’t we always take this very route?”

Pei Xingyan simply nodded.

Having offered to walk Ye Ziwei home, they were now strolling along the familiar route, their respective residences not far from each other.

Or rather, they hadn’t been far apart in the past.

For an extended period, Pei Xingyan had regularly accompanied Ye Ziwei on her walk home.

Back then, they were mere children, yet the rapidly descending sun invariably elongated their shadows, stretching them far beyond their current heights, casting them in a luminous, shimmering glow.

In those days, Ye Ziwei’s legs were still perfectly sound.

She would skip and hop, clutching the straps of her schoolbag, weaving playfully around Pei Xingyan.

Few children in that affluent neighborhood walked home; most were chauffeured by dedicated drivers.

Yet, Pei Xingyan’s parents, in their unconventional way, relished the sight of their son trudging all the way from the residential entrance, utterly exhausted and panting like a dog.

Initially, Ye Ziwei also had a driver and her mother waiting for her at the school gates each day.

However, without fail, Ye Ziwei would invariably slip away with Pei Xingyan, darting into the throng of students, her hand clasped in his, as they skipped and bounced along the road, only returning home once the sun had dipped below the horizon.

Her mother would stand at their front door, shouting in exasperation, scolding her daughter about the dangers of being snatched by a nefarious stranger.

Meanwhile, Ye Ziwei would simply turn at the courtyard gate, casting an eager glance at Pei Xingyan, who still had a considerable distance to cover, and wave gleefully.

“To think you were once such a tiny thing,” Pei Xingyan mused, a touch of wistfulness in his voice.

“You’ve certainly changed since then.”

“Oh, acting all profound again, are we?” Ye Ziwei teased, playfully sticking out her tongue.

“You weren’t exactly a giant yourself back then, you know.

For a while, you weren’t even taller than me!”

Pei Xingyan merely smiled, a slight curve to his lips.

Ye Ziwei then lowered her voice, seizing the opportunity to revisit a topic she had frequently brought up.

“Xingyan Gege,” she began, “how about you just move back home?

The house hasn’t been sold yet, so why do you insist on staying in a dormitory?

If you came back, I could see you every single day…”

Pei Xingyan gently shook his head.

“Why bring that up again?” he sighed, a note of resignation in his voice.

“Maintaining such a massive house is incredibly expensive, and with just me living there now, it feels like an enormous waste.”

“Then…” Ye Ziwei chuckled, a strangely mischievous glint in her eyes.

“Then why don’t we just live together?

I’ll cover all the expenses!”

“Absolutely not,” Pei Xingyan declared, shaking his head with unwavering resolve.

Ye Ziwei pouted, her spirits plummeting considerably.

Yet, Pei Xingyan’s words from moments earlier still echoed in her mind; she remembered every single one.

‘Don’t bring up money… don’t talk about these things right now…’

She was remarkably obedient to him, especially in such crucial moments.

Her sole requirement now was to wait; there was no need for any superfluous stratagems.

However, her patience was wearing thin, and the loneliness was becoming unbearable.

She simply had to claim her prize prematurely.

Ye Ziwei remained silent, yet her body gravitated ever closer, until she had burrowed herself snugly into the crook of his arm.

She then pressed her cheek against his side, rubbing it playfully before letting out a soft giggle.

Pei Xingyan slowed his pace, his hand gently resting on her shoulder to prevent her from losing her balance and falling in her moment of triumph.

Ye Ziwei’s heart and face brightened even further.

Surely, being cherished and protected by the one she adored was the most joyous experience in the entire world?

She began to fantasize: once these trying days were over, once Pei Xingyan’s troubles had finally concluded, she would be free to cast aside all concerns, and simply revel in his tender care, endlessly and without interruption.

After all, it was quite fashionable now to entrust one’s assets to professional managers.

By then, she would do absolutely nothing each day, simply rising whenever she pleased.

Upon waking, she would embrace him, perhaps playfully nibble at him, and then drift back to sleep, nestled securely in his arms.

She could barely fathom the sheer bliss that awaited her!

Consequently, her heart involuntarily swelled with an almost desperate urgency.

“Xingyan Gege, what exactly is this work you’re doing now?” she probed, raising the topic for the umpteenth time.

“How are the earnings?

If it’s too strenuous, you should take a break.

Or, if you’d rather not accept money directly, how about Weiwei introduces you to a job?

It’s guaranteed to offer excellent pay for minimal effort, and it won’t interfere with your studies!”

Pei Xingyan, however, simply shook his head once more, offering his usual pretense.

“That would only trouble your aunt and uncle, wouldn’t it?

At that point, I might as well just ask you for the money directly.”

Ye Ziwei grumbled and mumbled, continuously muttering her discontent.

She instantly regretted it.

Why had she concocted such a lie?

There was no private detective; all the information concerning the person Pei Xingyan sought had been painstakingly gathered by her own people, consuming a considerable amount of time.

It was entirely her fault for attempting to manipulate him through financial means.

Had she only known he would utter such words today, she would have simply handed over the intelligence directly.

Perhaps he might even have rewarded her with a grateful kiss!

As things stood, the truth about her lie was utterly unspeakable.

She couldn’t be certain if Pei Xingyan would despise her for her deceit, but she knew, unequivocally, that it would not bode well.

Then again, Ye Ziwei mused, a thought suddenly striking her… she had, in fact, heard Pei Xingyan mention that pursuing a lawsuit for renegotiation would entail substantial expenses: gathering clues and evidence, and retaining a formidable, high-profile lawyer.

Even if she were to simply hand him the information, it would prove largely ineffectual; he would still need to earn the necessary funds.

Ye Ziwei’s worries for Pei Xingyan resurfaced.

She had no idea when he would manage to accumulate such a substantial sum.

She truly didn’t know how much longer she would have to wait herself!

To make matters worse, she didn’t even know what kind of work Pei Xingyan was currently engaged in; he invariably dodged the topic whenever it arose.

She had previously considered investigating more thoroughly, but the fear of him discovering her actions and reacting with aversion had caused her to temporarily shelve the plan.

Now, however, she intended to reactivate that plan—not to disrupt him, but to assist him.

She would uncover precisely what he was doing, and then discreetly provide her support.

By then, he would surely be moved to tears by her devotion.

“Hehe~” She chuckled gleefully beside Pei Xingyan’s face.

Pei Xingyan, however, couldn’t help but shiver.

He saw the girl beside him radiating a sunny smile, and he knew, with chilling certainty, that she had just conceived some sudden, mischievous idea.

His heart pounded frantically in his chest as he prayed his secret wouldn’t be unearthed by her.