Chapter 6 The Garden Encounter
I had originally thought that after so much time, reuniting with an old acquaintance would be calm.
But my heart was pounding hard.
I still remembered our parting. Pei Yuchuan had worn cheap short sleeves and held the infant in his arms. The weight of hardships pressed on his shoulders.
Now upon seeing him again, he had returned to that noble young master from a prominent family, with a refined and eye-catching demeanor.
I suppressed the surging emotions and looked down at Pei Xi beside me.
She was still holding onto my sleeve. She stubbornly called me Mom.
It turned out she had not mistaken me. It was me who had not recognized her.
Gu Yan whispered in my ear, "Pei Xi seems to really like you. In front of My Brother's fiancée, she never calls anyone Mom."
I was stunned.
Pei Yuchuan was engaged?
Of course. After so many years, who would stay in the same place forever?
Gu Yan picked up Pei Xi and waved at Pei Yuchuan.
"Brother, you came at the right time. Hurry and take Pei Xi away."
"I am having my best friend blind date with Gu Xu, but she suddenly ran over to cause trouble."
"Oh right, this is my best friend, Wen You."
She introduced me to Pei Yuchuan and then asked him with a smile, "How about it? Is not my friend pretty?"
"Does she not match perfectly with Gu Xu?"
Gu Xu's face turned pale with fright. His body shook like a sieve. He explained in a trembling voice, "Brother, I did not..."
But before he could finish, Gu Yan shot him a fierce glare. He awkwardly closed his mouth.
Pei Yuchuan did not answer her. He simply reached out familiarly and took Pei Xi into his arms.
Pei Xi had been looking at me eagerly. After Pei Yuchuan whispered something in her ear, she obediently hugged his neck.
"Then Dad, let us go."
With that, he turned and left with the child in his arms.
He did not look at me again from beginning to end.
I figured he probably did not want others to know about our relationship.
Unfortunately, Gu Yan had no tact and called out to him again.
"Brother, you have not answered my question yet."
"You are making my best friend feel so awkward."
Please, I begged silently. Stop talking.
She was the one making me embarrassed.
Pei Yuchuan turned back upon hearing this. His gaze fell into the void for a moment. Then he spoke softly, "Mm, she is very pretty."
"She has always been very pretty."
How was that possible?
When I was pursuing Pei Yuchuan before, I did dress up deliberately every day.
Later, during pregnancy, I could not wear makeup. The severe morning sickness made me look so ugly at times that I could not bear to look at myself.
After he said that, Gu Yan finally seemed to sense something unusual. She looked at me in confusion.
"Wen You, do you know My Brother?"
I hesitated for a moment and found a relatively suitable explanation.
"During our study abroad before, we attended the same university. We were classmates."
Upon hearing this, Pei Yuchuan pressed his lips into a straight line. He gave me a deep look and left with Pei Xi in his arms.
His appearance seemed like nothing more than a small interlude. The tea party continued.
The blind date with Gu Xu did not go smoothly.
It seemed he already knew about my relationship with Pei Yuchuan and kept avoiding the topic.
I had no other thoughts either and just sipped my drink with my head down.
Gu Yan saw this and sighed helplessly. "Since neither of you has any interest, then forget it."
"Wen You, I will look through the list again later and pick another one for you."
"The room is already prepared. You can stay here for the next two days and treat it as a vacation."
Gu Yan's family estate was surrounded by bamboo forests on all sides. It had lakes, gardens, a swimming pool, and a tea bar. It was indeed perfect for a vacation.
But just thinking that Pei Yuchuan was also here, I shook my head.
"I will stay at a hotel outside."
Gu Yan linked arms with me and acted spoiled. "My parents are abroad on business. Brother does not live here, and Gu Xu suddenly has to go out of town for an exhibition. Just keep me company, okay?"
I caught the key information. "Your brother does not live here?"
"Yeah, he has his own place and only brings Pei Xi back occasionally to play."
Since Pei Yuchuan would not be here, I felt relieved and nodded in agreement to Gu Yan.
We had planned to go shopping together that evening. But just as we were about to leave, she received a phone call.
It was something about the company needing her to pick up a document.
Gu Yan had no choice but to leave first. Before going, she told me, "Wen You, I will be back soon. You can wander around the estate first."
I believed her.
Seeing the golden osmanthus in the garden fragrant, I planned to go take a look.
But before I could enter the small garden, I ran into a familiar figure.
Under the dense osmanthus blossoms, he sat in the winding veranda. He looked up at a crescent moon on the horizon.
I was stunned and paused in my steps, wanting to leave.
But it was too late.
He saw me. His voice was as clear and melodious as always.
"Wen You, long time no see."