Extreme Pampering
Chapter 215 - 213章 If they had been together earlier①

Chapter 215: 213章 If they had been together earlier①

"Brother Pei! I heard you had an allergic reaction, what happened?"

Qin Fang’s noisy voice carried from the cellphone, Pei Yu stood by the clear stream, picking up a pebble with a certain laziness, reluctant to reply, "Just an allergy."

The tall, slender youth wore a snow-white tracksuit, at first glance resembling a cold flower amid the green grass. His dense, long lashes drooped, revealing a high-bridged nose, the rest obscured by his mask.

The first day of following Father Pei to the mountain village for an inspection, Pei Yu developed a rash on his face due to allergies. Seeing this, Father Pei didn’t suggest he return earlier, simply had someone fetch some medicine, and Pei Yu had been there ever since.

The rash on his face wasn’t severe, but Pei Yu frowned at it for a while, eventually asking someone to bring a mask to wear. His mood wasn’t great as he stood, one hand in his pocket, idly skipping stones into the stream.

The phone was left on a rock nearby, Qin Fang was still talking, "Why hasn’t Uncle Pei let you come back yet? Do you even need to be there for an inspection? School is starting for all of us soon."

Footsteps sounded on the small path to the side, Pei Yu glanced over, his gaze pausing.

The area was overgrown with grass and populated by many unrecognizable plants that reached half a person’s height. Walking on the path required pushing them aside with one’s hands. The girl carried a basin and, preoccupied, had her hair tousled when she emerged.

She was thin, dressed in a long blue sleeve, the wind outlining her slender waist. The skin exposed was dazzlingly white, nearly transparent in the sunlight.

Shen Zhiyi inadvertently looked up, locking eyes with the youth briefly before quickly shifting her gaze, moving to the stream to wash clothes, keeping a distance from him.

They had met just yesterday, under the cherry blossom tree. He had asked Shen Zhiyi her name, startling her, and she ran away without thinking, now showing no intention of speaking with him.

After speaking to no avail for quite some time, Qin Fang, feeling unappreciated, hung up the phone, leaving only the sound of the rushing water.

Pei Yu watched the girl’s profile for a while, somewhat bored.

She didn’t want to deal with him.

The youth sat on the rock without making a sound. Shen Zhiyi thought he had left, and after washing half the clothes, she stood up to rest. When she turned around, she saw him.

He leaned back slightly, eyes closed basking in the sun, his dense lashes tinted a pale gold. Even just seeing his eyes, one could recognize an exquisite beauty.

Shen Zhiyi guessed who he might be. She’d heard about people coming to develop the place, bringing a team to inspect, and he was probably someone’s child.

Just as she was about to avert her gaze, the youth suddenly opened his eyes, looking straight at her.

His pupils were pitch-black, his long eyes slightly upturned, giving off an unapproachable vibe. He asked in a calm voice, "Do you always wash your clothes here?"

Shen Zhiyi paused, surprised he was speaking to her. She looked at the basin by her feet, thinking he might have misunderstood that this place was so backward it still relied on last century’s washing methods.

"No,"

Her voice was very soft, gentle, unlike what Pei Yu had imagined. He listened, his eyes slightly narrowing.

"The water pipe at home is blocked." Shen Zhiyi briefly explained, then fell silent again.

Her sleeves were rolled up for washing, revealing arms covered in wounds: dark scars and red, swollen marks that looked like they were pulled out from something.

Pei Yu’s gaze lingered on them, his tone indifferent, "I asked for your name yesterday, but you didn’t tell me."

Getting someone to look for her would have been an easy task for him, but it required going through his father’s subordinates, which he didn’t want to do, nor was there a need.

He was just slightly curious—nothing more.

Shen Zhiyi did not look back, nor did she respond, as if her silence was a refusal.

Pei Yu frowned and threw another pebble into the stream, causing ripples before the girl.

Shen Zhiyi finally deigned to look at him, frowning herself, "It’s none of your business."

Pei Yu looked back at her, his gaze cool.

"Zhiyi!"

Suddenly someone ran over, "Zhiyi, your dad’s drunk and making trouble again. Don’t go home today."

It was a very dark, skinny boy.

Huo Heng’s gaze clashed with Pei Yu’s, becoming cautious and envious. He knew Pei Yu was a child from a well-off family.

He glanced at Shen Zhiyi by the stream, unsure why she was with Pei Yu, hesitating, "You should stay at Grandma Zhao’s tonight."

After speaking, he left.

Shen Zhiyi’s expression was calm, as if she was accustomed to it. She gathered her washed clothes and headed back down the small path.

Without giving Pei Yu another glance.

That day, Shen Zhiyi didn’t stay at Grandma Zhao’s. In the evening, her father came looking for people, wielding a stick and smashing things around. To prevent him from wrecking Grandma Zhao’s house, she went back with him.