Extreme Pampering-Chapter 96 - Lets Start Over

Chapter 96: Chapter 96: Let’s Start Over.

Chapter 96: Chapter 96: Let’s Start Over.

Separated by a dining table, Shen Zhiyi frowned deeply, her peace of mind disturbed by a remark from Pei Yu.

She had not fully recovered yet, and under the warm light, her complexion was pale. With slightly pursed lips, she looked both confused and irritated.

Pei Yu sighed softly, not wanting to upset her, and lowered his voice, “I’m just not at ease with you being alone, that’s all.”

He knew he was being impatient, but he couldn’t help it, especially since she was injured now. He just wanted to be by her side.

Shen Zhiyi looked at him without making a sound, still frowning. After a long while, she said stiffly, “I don’t need anyone to take care of me, you should go back.”

Even if she truly needed someone to take care of her, that person should not be Pei Yu.

Her attitude was resolute, as if there was no room for negotiation. After speaking, she intended to leave, but Pei Yu remained silent for a moment. As she walked past him, he gently grasped her wrist, not tightly, just loosely encircling it. With her sitting and him standing, he tilted his head up in this position, gazing at her intently, “Just stay for one night, I’ll leave at dawn. I won’t do anything or bother you,” he said.

His tone was low, with a faint tiredness in his eyes and a complexion not much healthier-looking than Shen Zhiyi’s, even appearing somewhat sickly. Inappropriately, Shen Zhiyi remembered hearing about his poor heart, and her thoughts were scrambled once again.

She did not immediately refuse, and Pei Yu loosened the fingers that had been around her wrist. He turned his head and coughed a few times in suppression, his already pale face suddenly flushed with a bit of color, but this flush somehow seemed glaring.

After the coughing, he turned back and asked again, “Is that okay?”

His demeanor was not at all forceful and lacked the arrogance of his previous cold remarks. Maybe it was because he was not feeling well…

Shen Zhiyi turned away, “Whatever you want.”

After all, he always got what he wanted.

The house had only one bedroom, and the second bedroom was used for storage; it was never intended to accommodate anyone. If Pei Yu was to stay, he would have to make do with the couch. Shen Zhiyi deliberately kept herself from paying attention to what he was doing, staying in the bedroom in a daze until it was quiet outside.

Only when she glanced at the time did she realize it was already past midnight, but she still did not feel sleepy at all, her thoughts jumbled. In the end, she could only let out a heavy sigh.

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Pei Yu…her mind was full of Pei Yu.

Guessing that by now he must have fallen asleep, Shen Zhiyi rolled over and planned to go to sleep. But a few seconds later, she suddenly thought of the sofa, which lacked even a blanket. How could he sleep like that?

Torn for a while, she eventually took a thin quilt and quietly opened the door.

The living room was silent. Shen Zhiyi, holding the quilt, tiptoed a few steps forward. In the dark night, she saw the vague outline of a figure on the couch. As she approached, the thin moonlight helped her to see Pei Yu more clearly.

He was lying on his side on the couch, propped up by an arm, appearing to be sound asleep.

Shen Zhiyi squatted next to him, examining his sleeping features. In the past, when she was at Huating, she would sometimes wake up in the middle of the night and watch him quietly for a while, thinking about nothing.

She always felt they were from different worlds, accustomed to seeing him pampered and adored by people. Only at times like these would she feel they were so close, within arm’s reach.

Carefully, she draped the thin quilt over him, thinking her movements were gentle enough. As she prepared to leave, she looked down and her gaze clashed directly with his. She froze on the spot.

Pei Yu did not speak right away, just looked at her with a steady gaze, as if he was not fully awake, or as if he had not slept at all. The light was dim, and Shen Zhiyi could not tell.

After a few minutes of silence, when Shen Zhiyi was about to leave, her wrist resting by her side was gently touched. She looked down and saw Pei Yu, still in his side-sleeping position, had reached out and taken her hand, slowly caressing it with his fingertips.

His hand was icy, cold enough to make Shen Zhiyi tremble minutely. Perhaps it was due to his movements which were so light and slow, much like those of someone whose consciousness was not clear, that she couldn’t bring herself to resist. She neither withdrew her hand nor did she leave.

“Zhizhi.”

A soft murmur brought back Shen Zhiyi’s reason.

Pei Yu didn’t look up at her, his gaze fixed on their clasped hands which he tightened bit by bit. His voice was very lucid, “Is it okay for you to return to Huating?”

He spoke tactfully, yet his intention was singular. Shen Zhiyi stared at him blankly, meeting his sidelong glance.

He was not joking.

Actually, she was not very surprised. His unusual behavior these past two days had hinted at his intentions. Shen Zhiyi was not foolish, she certainly understood his meaning. The reason she kept pretending not to know, deliberately avoiding thinking about it, was because she couldn’t give him the answer he wanted.

Her decision to separate from him had been made after careful consideration, and she did not regret it to this day. This was not only due to his flaws but also her own issues.

“Pei Yu,” her voice was soft, as tranquil as the night, as she slowly withdrew her hand from his, “I have no confidence.”

Neither in herself nor in him.

She hated the idea of becoming enemies with someone like she had with Huo Heng, loathing each other. Perhaps the way things were now was the best outcome for them.

At the moment of their impending separation, Pei Yu grabbed her fingertips. His eyes were deep, and he held her hand again, reasserting his grip with a tenacity that screamed he would never let go, “Why?”

He raised his eyes, his expression serious, “Is it because our beginning was different from others?”

He did not regret taking her away from Nanyuan. He was even extremely grateful that it was him who showed up at Nanyuan that night. Even if given another chance, he would still do the same, acting the villain by taking advantage of someone’s vulnerability.

Her fingers were entwined by his, her heart seemingly squeezed in the palm of his hand. With every word he said, Shen Zhiyi felt her own heart beat tumultuously. She pursed her lips, unable to provide an answer, her mind a tangled mess, knowing only that she couldn’t respond affirmatively to his “Is it okay?”

Without a response from her, Pei Yu took it as her consent and said with certainty, “Then let’s start over.”

He tilted his face slightly, apparently smiling subtly with his characteristic aloofness and an uncommon softness, “Starting with pursuing you.”

For a moment struck motionless by his words, Shen Zhiyi eventually found her voice amidst the rapid beating of her heart. She withdrew her hand and took two steps back, “There’s no need for you to waste any more effort on me.”

Her words belied her feelings, hastily covered up, aiming to completely quash his thoughts which she articulated bluntly, “We’re not possible anymore.”

Pei Yu sat up, though he didn’t close in on her, his gaze pursued her intently, “You never know unless you try.”

He had missed her for so many years and had enough patience to wait for her to take another look at him.

Shen Zhiyi was left speechless.

She knew her own heart well enough. She could have easily retorted with “Impossible means impossible,” but she lacked the conviction, causing her to fall silent again at such a moment.

Enshrouded by the night, it was impossible to see her expression or know what she was thinking. Pei Yu didn’t want to press her too hard and said softly, “Go back to your room.”

“Good night.”