Extreme Pampering
Chapter 221 - 217: If We Had Been Together Sooner (Part 5)

Chapter 221: Chapter 217: If We Had Been Together Sooner (Part 5)

In the following days, Shen Zhiyi saw Pei Yu more often due to Qin Xiaoran; she had lunch with him every day, naturally, Qin Fang and Fu Songzhi were also there.

In this school, there wasn’t anyone who didn’t know Pei Yu; Qin Fang and Fu Songzhi were similarly notable figures. Her sudden inclusion in this clique, as a newcomer, stirred up much private discussion, with many feeling she was basking in Qin Xiaoran’s light.

But Qin Xiaoran had known Pei Yu for so many years, and yet the total number of times they had eaten together didn’t add up to as many as this week alone.

"Brother Pei Yu has changed lately," Qin Xiaoran said, resting on the desk, "He’s become strangely tolerant. Before, whenever I wanted to eat with him, he’d find me annoying and wouldn’t let me tag along."

Shen Zhiyi was doing her problems and blinked upon hearing this, "Aren’t you two on good terms?"

"Yeah, we are," Qin Xiaoran smiled, "but Brother Pei Yu is like that with everyone; it’s no use even if you’re close with him. Haven’t you seen Qin Fang being snubbed every other day?"

"Maybe he’s just too tired lately," Qin Xiaoran mused to himself, "He’s had a rough time being tormented by Father Pei, and his third brother has been giving him trouble recently, too."

Shen Zhiyi, focused on her workbook, had her train of thought abruptly interrupted and couldn’t help but ask, "Why?"

"Uncle Pei values him and wants to groom him; naturally, his other brothers and sisters are jealous and always pick fights with him. It’s pretty common."

Qin Xiaoran didn’t think much of it; kids from their kind of families were accustomed to such issues.

Yet Shen Zhiyi seemed a bit distracted.

They were still having lunch together that noon. Pei Yu arrived early, had already bought his meal, and was waiting, his head down, looking at his phone when Shen Zhiyi got there.

Today, Fu Songzhi wasn’t there; his usual seat was vacant, but no one seemed interested in taking it.

Shen Zhiyi, carrying her tray, passed by, intending to sit across from him.

"Shen Zhiyi."

His voice was cool and indifferent, calling her by her full name, and at that, Shen Zhiyi’s steps halted.

Pei Yu lifted his eyes, which were clear and black, looking straight at her without saying what he wanted her to do.

Shen Zhiyi hesitated before sitting next to him; the boy then seemed satisfied and went back to replying to messages.

He was still in his neat uniform, the obsidian cufflinks reflected slivers of light, and his fingers, holding the phone, had well-defined joints, beautiful like a piece of art.

Perhaps because of his good looks, even Shen Zhiyi couldn’t help but sneak glances at him.

The young man’s complexion was a pale, cold white, with long, thick lashes that dipped low. Maybe it was a lack of rest, but his expression was indifferent, lethargic, like a big cat disinclined to interact with anyone.

"Do you think you can eat me with your eyes?"

He suddenly spoke, startling Shen Zhiyi.

Pei Yu lifted his head, an almost imperceptible smile in his eyes, propping his chin and looking at her, "Did you think I wouldn’t notice you sneaking glances?"

"..."

Shen Zhiyi indeed thought so.

Embarrassed, she blushed and whispered in her defense, "...I was just seeing if you looked tired."

Pei Yu put away his phone, "Did you hear it from Qin Xiaoran?"

Everyone around was actually aware of the issues he was facing.

"Yeah," Shen Zhiyi couldn’t imagine what it was like; their kinds of families were completely different from what she knew, "She said you’re nicer because you’re too exhausted to care."

Not wanting to discuss his family matters with her, Pei Yu smoothly changed the subject, "I’ve become nicer?"

He wasn’t aware of it.

"You have," Qin Xiaoran chimed in, overhearing the conversation as he arrived, speaking cheerfully, "Look, now Zhiyi is sitting beside you, and you’re not even mad."

Pei Yu: "..."

He leaned back, his arm draped over the back of Shen Zhiyi’s chair, seemingly very intimate at first glance, but still maintaining a certain distance between them.

Too lazy to chat with Qin Xiaoran, Pei Yu turned his head, his fingers hooked around two strands of hair on the chair back, and said softly, "I’ve been a bit tired lately."

Shen Zhiyi looked into his eyes, frowned slightly, and felt at a loss.

She didn’t know how to help him.

Pei Yu seemed to guess what she was thinking and said in a volume only she could hear, "Come to the billiard room during self-study."

Qin Fang also arrived, and the two didn’t talk further.

Self-study was the last period of the afternoon, and after ten minutes, Shen Zhiyi began to feel restless.

She didn’t know why Pei Yu wanted her to go to the billiard room at this time, but because of her cluelessness, she always felt that something important might happen. Unable to let go of the thought, she was torn for a long time and still found an excuse to leave.

The billiard room was empty at that moment. Shen Zhiyi pushed the door open and saw Pei Yu standing beside the pool table, speaking quietly on the phone. Seeing her coming, he silently waved her over.

Shen Zhiyi walked over, and before she could steady herself, Pei Yu leaned over, his shoulder against hers. The close distance and sudden physical contact made her tense up instantly.

Pei Yu didn’t make any other moves and discussed serious matters with the person on the phone.

A few minutes later, he hung up the phone and then stood straight up, putting some distance between them.

"What are you holding in your hand?" he asked softly.

Shen Zhiyi: "A workbook."

She didn’t know why Pei Yu had called her here, so she brought her workbook with her, just in case there was time to write.

Pei Yu chuckled softly, took the item from her hand, and set it aside, "No, you can’t write this."

Shen Zhiyi obediently asked, "Then what do you need me to do?"

"Stay with me."

She looked confused, "What?"

Pei Yu suddenly stretched out his hand and, before Shen Zhiyi could react, wrapped his arm around her waist and gently lifted her, hoisting her onto the pool table.

He fetched a chair from elsewhere and placed it next to the table, then sat down on it. This position and height allowed him to easily wrap his arms around Shen Zhiyi’s waist.

And that’s precisely what Pei Yu did; he loosely embraced her waist with one hand, the other hand pressing against his forehead, buried in Shen Zhiyi’s embrace. He spoke heavily with fatigue, "Just sit with me like this, I’ll take a quick nap."

He’d had a string of tough days, with insufficient sleep, relying solely on his willpower to keep going.

Shen Zhiyi sat there stiffly, not daring to move an inch. She could look down to see the boy’s head buried in her embrace, his hair soft, this posture completely beyond her capabilities of acceptance, yet she found herself unable to push him away.

He really did seem exhausted.

Shen Zhiyi worriedly thought that perhaps she was overreacting, lacking in experience... Could it be that this was just how people in the city interacted?

"Shen Zhiyi," the boy’s voice was muffled, it was unclear if it was from sleepiness or the position. "Do you want to push me away?"

At first, Shen Zhiyi indeed wanted to do just that; she had never been so close to a boy before.

So she remained silent, which was as good as admitting it.

Pei Yu pressed against her even tighter, "No."

His voice was low, "If you push me away, I’ll have no one to accompany me."

It was at this moment that Shen Zhiyi understood, not everyone could do this, and such a mode of interaction was not common at all.

So what did Pei Yu mean?