Chapter 19: Were You Comforting Me Just Now?
The previously gentle and harmonious atmosphere stagnated once more.
Ms. Yu’s expression froze for a few seconds. Her reaction was slow as she turned her head to look at Pei Zhouye. “Little Zhou, why are you calling me?”
Pei Zhouye didn’t speak, his expression much colder than before.
Ms. Yu continued holding Wen Yan’s hand, chatting with him about everything from birthdays to university. Wen Yan answered patiently.
Both of them appeared to be very gentle people. Their tones were soft, chatting like familiar neighbors.
Pei Zhouye watched in silence, rarely interrupting.
Their profiles seemed coated in a soft glow as they interacted peacefully, putting away the sharpness they used against him to treat each other with kindness. Wen Yan sat there, his features beautiful and gentle, his raven-black eyelashes lowered, his smile faint and clear.
“A University is a very good university. Little Yan, you are very impressive. By the way, are you from A City like Little Zhou?”
Wen Yan shook his head slightly. “My home is in Nan City, it’s a bit far from here.”
Ms. Yu’s smile widened. “I’m from Nan City too. We are fated! Many people in Nan City should know me. I like Nan City very much. My name used to be everywhere in Nan City, and then I came to A City…”
As she spoke, Ms. Yu’s eyes grew moist, and her voice became sorrowful and shrill.
Pei Zhouye grabbed Wen Yan’s wrist and pulled him up, shielding him behind his back, his eyes guarded. “Mom, Wen Yan has to go now. I’ll come see you in a bit.”
Ms. Yu was still immersed in her own muttering, her eyes unfocused and dazed, chanting something under her breath.
Pei Zhouye gripped Wen Yan’s wrist and led him out.
Before being pulled away, Wen Yan looked back at Ms. Yu and whispered, “Goodbye, Auntie.”
The moment the ward door closed, Pei Zhouye let go of Wen Yan’s wrist.
Frowning, he cupped Wen Yan’s face with his palms, looking him over left and right as if inspecting him. Only then did he let go, breathing a sigh of relief.
Pei Zhouye’s voice was low. “Wen Yan, wait for me outside for a while.”
Before Wen Yan could speak, a phone was stuffed into his hand. He thought it was his own, but looking down, he realized it was Pei Zhouye’s.
“The lock screen and payment passwords are both 516428. You can look at anything. If you get bored waiting, just sit and play on the phone.”
Pei Zhouye glanced at him one last time, then opened the door and went back in.
The ward door closed.
Baffled, Wen Yan looked at the phone that had been thrust upon him and muttered to himself, “Clearly my phone is with you; you could have just given it back to me.”
He sat on the chair, his mind still on what had just happened with Ms. Yu. Their conversation had been very superficial, nothing excessive, yet Pei Zhouye’s reaction had been intense. Ms. Yu’s illness must be severe; otherwise, restraint straps wouldn’t be necessary, and there wouldn’t be so many scars on her wrists.
Everything was quiet. Wen Yan looked at the phone in his hand. Suddenly thinking of something, acting on a strange impulse, he entered the password Pei Zhouye had just given him.
Inside the ward.
Pei Zhouye sat in front of Ms. Yu. One hand gently covered hers, while the other lifted to softly wipe away her tears.
Ms. Yu looked trance-like, still lost in her own world.
Pei Zhouye was used to this. It was already good enough if Ms. Yu had moments of clarity; lasting this long today was already a blessing.
Suddenly, Ms. Yu’s face changed drastically. She struggled violently, raising her hand and using all her strength to slap Pei Zhouye. Seeming to feel that wasn’t enough, she grabbed whatever was on the table and smashed it at him.
“Must you argue with me?! Why do you treat me like this!”
Her voice was a strained scream. Her gentle expression turned hideous as she threw everything she could grab with full force.
“I shouldn’t have given birth to you! You deserve to die! Why did you crawl out of my belly!”
“Demon! Get out! Leave! Go die!”
Pei Zhouye was accustomed to this. He sat silently in place, waiting for Ms. Yu to vent her emotions.
The cursing and the sound of smashing things stopped. She had exhausted her strength and slumped to the floor, weeping softly.
Pei Zhouye walked over, squatted in front of her, and handed her a tissue.
“Mom, I brought Wen Yan over. He is a very good person, right?”
Ms. Yu covered her face and cried, giving no response.
Pei Zhouye continued, “You’ve worked hard. Mom, get well soon.”
After a long time, the weeping slowly faded and finally stopped.
The person on the floor lost consciousness and fell into a deep sleep with her eyes closed.
Pei Zhouye carried Ms. Yu to the hospital bed, covered her with the quilt, and pressed the nurse call button by the bedside.
After Director Chen and the nurses arrived, Pei Zhouye explained the situation in detail before finally walking out of the ward.
The contrast between the lights in the corridor and the ward was stark. He narrowed his eyes, raising a hand to shield them as he adjusted to the intense brightness.
“Pei Zhouye.”
Pei Zhouye followed the gaze. Wen Yan was sitting quietly on the corridor bench, looking at him.
Wen Yan reached out and handed the phone back.
Heart beating like a drum, Pei Zhouye stared at the phone.
Inside were countless messages he had sent to Wen Yan and many photos he had taken.
If Wen Yan saw them, he might flee from him regardless of everything.
Seeing Pei Zhouye staring blankly at the phone, Wen Yan stood up and scrutinized Pei Zhouye’s expression. “Returning the phone to you. You should give my phone back to me too.”
Pei Zhouye let out a sigh of relief, unsure if it was out of luck.
Those peach blossom eyes curved, returning to their usual reckless look. He handed Wen Yan’s phone over and took back his own.
“What do you want for dinner?”
“President Pei, we aren’t familiar enough for that. Does this count as making me work overtime?” Wen Yan’s tone held obvious distaste.
He hadn’t looked at Pei Zhouye’s phone in the end. Pei Zhouye might offer, but he couldn’t actually look.
After unlocking it with the password, Wen Yan had immediately turned off the screen. His upbringing didn’t allow him to peek at other people’s private information like that.
getting into Pei Zhouye’s car again, Wen Yan’s attitude slowly became distant.
“President Pei, Auntie is very beautiful and gentle. Don’t worry too much, she will get better.”
“She will get better”—Pei Zhouye had heard and said this phrase countless times over the last fifteen years.
He chuckled lightly. “Were you comforting me just now?”
Wen Yan didn’t speak.
The smile didn’t reach Pei Zhouye’s eyes.
Wen Yan was too kind. That was why he joked to ease the atmosphere when he saw him coming out of the ward. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have had the chance to see such a vivid and lively Wen Yan.
The drive back was fast. Pei Zhouye dropped Wen Yan off at the entrance of his residential complex.
Seeing someone standing not far away looking in their direction, Pei Zhouye inadvertently lowered the car window.
The car stopped steadily. Wen Yan couldn’t unbuckle his seatbelt no matter how he tried, lowering his head to attempt it again.
“Need help?” Pei Zhouye asked.
Wen Yan looked down to see what the problem was. “No need.”
Pei Zhouye gave a low laugh. “Don’t move.”
Wen Yan stopped moving. Pei Zhouye unlatched the passenger seatbelt from behind him, leaning over.
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