Chapter 23

"Great-Grandpa, are you serious? You'll really help me?" Pei Chen truly didn't suspect a thing, his face innocent and harmless.

Pei Yizhou could only sigh at the sight. This foolish brat was bound to fall for a woman sooner or later.

"Mm. Set up a time for me to meet her alone, then send me the address."

"Okay, okay, okay!" Pei Chen nodded excitedly, then added uneasily, "But I told her you're my friend. Don't give yourself away."

If An Xiang found out Pei Yizhou was his great-grandfather, the outcome was easy to imagine.

Pei Yizhou waved him off impatiently.

Pei Chen gave a few foolish laughs. Not daring to waste any more of his great-grandfather's precious time, he skipped out of the office.

After school that afternoon, Pei Chen went to the milk tea shop again.

"An Xiang, are you free this weekend?!"

The youth's voice was bright and lively, and the joy in his eyes was undisguised.

"This weekend?" An Xiang tilted her head in thought. "I might go check out some real estate agencies."

"No need to look anymore. I already talked to my friend." Pei Chen patted his chest in assurance. "He'll speak with you in person. If it works out, he'll sell you the house."

An Xiang's eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Really!" Pei Chen said. "But he wants to meet you alone. If it's inconvenient, I can watch Zimo for you."

An Xiang had been worrying about how to arrange for her son, so this directly solved her problem.

***

The weekend arrived in the blink of an eye.

In order to leave a good impression on the other party, An Xiang rarely put on light makeup. She didn't dare dress too casually, nor did she dare dress too formally. After deliberating for a long time, she chose a simple, elegant knee-length dress.

[Pei Chen: You can come out now, sis. I'm waiting downstairs.]

Just as she finished getting ready, Pei Chen sent her a message.

An Xiang picked up her handbag and took An Zimo downstairs.

The May sunlight was perfect. The youth waiting downstairs wore a baseball cap, and his oversized black hoodie made his tall figure stand out even more.

"Pei Chen," An Xiang called to him from afar.

Pei Chen turned at the sound. He stared at her for a moment, his handsome face flushing red as he stammered, "Y-you look really pretty today." After saying that, he secretly glanced at her again.

An Xiang inexplicably sensed something strange. Ignoring that slight discomfort, she asked, "Where is your friend meeting me?"

"Not far. At a café downstairs from his company. There happens to be an arcade next door, so I can take Zimo in to play." As he spoke, he heavily pressed a hand down on An Zimo's head. "What do you think, Momo? Want to play with your big brother?"

Ah, I still want him to call me Dad.

This brat always has such a sour face. He's really not cute. Forget it, he'll be my son sooner or later. I should forgive him.

There was nowhere for his thoughts to hide. An Zimo swatted away that arm, his expression irritated.

The café was only across the street from the apartment.

An Xiang had Pei Chen take An Zimo to play in the arcade next door for the time being, then entered the café alone.

She casually found a seat by the window and sat down, propping her cheeks in her hands as she stared blankly at the pedestrians outside while waiting.

At this hour, the café was empty and quiet. Accompanied by soft, melodious piano music, the wind chime hanging by the door gave a crisp ring as someone entered.

"Welcome. Do you have a reservation?"

An Xiang turned to look.

The man in her sight approached against the light, refined and handsome, with an air of nobility. His gaze swept around the room, and their eyes met across the distance. The same astonishment showed in both their eyes.

N-no way. It couldn't be such a coincidence, could it?

Still unwilling to give up, An Xiang looked behind him. Aside from Pei Yizhou, no one else entered.

She bit her lower lip and slowly rose from her chair, asking cautiously, "Excuse me... are you the Mr. Pei Pei Chen introduced me to?" Her voice paused slightly. "The friend he mentioned."

"..."

That little bastard.

Pei Yizhou pressed a hand to his forehead, instantly seized by the urge to kill someone.

He had calculated every possibility, but never imagined that An Xiang would be the person Pei Chen liked.

Which meant... the random woman he had rejected that day wasn't some nobody, but...

Pei Yizhou's thoughts were tangled, but his expression remained calm, revealing none of the agitation in his heart.

He took a few steps forward, pulled out a chair, and sat across from An Xiang.

Looking at the man's cool, striking features, An Xiang still felt as though none of this was real. She couldn't help taking out her phone and calling the number Pei Chen had given her earlier.

Ring.

A ringtone sounded from the table across from her.

Pei Yizhou looked into her eyes and answered the call. "Hello. I don't think you have the wrong person."

An Xiang was speechless. She blankly hung up the phone and sat back down.

Silence filled the space between them.

An Xiang lowered her head, her pale fingers tightly twisting together in her lap.

If the person who had come today really were the friend Pei Chen had mentioned, she wouldn't have suspected anything, but...

Pei Chen probably hadn't expected that she had met Pei Yizhou once before at the kindergarten.

An Xiang was slow-thinking and slow to react, but she wasn't actually foolish. How could she not understand his purpose in doing this?

"I didn't have time to ask last time. Is it convenient for me to know your name today?"

Pei Yizhou gazed at her, his hands holding the coffee cup as his fingers lightly rubbed against its smooth surface.

Investigating someone wasn't difficult for Pei Yizhou.

But when it came to the girl before him, he didn't want to.

Any presumptuous disturbance might become a weapon that could hurt her. Rather than that, Pei Yizhou wanted to take things step by step, learning about her little by little as if unwrapping a gift, slowly trying to get closer to her.

That kind of interaction was far more beautiful.

"An Xiang. My name is An Xiang." An Xiang lifted her head, then quickly lowered it again. "Xiang, as in longing..."

"An Xiang." The man's voice was cool and clear. Her name lingered on his lips and teeth, inexplicably carrying a hint of tenderness.

"Pei Chen said your house was demolished and you need somewhere to live."

"Mm." After answering, An Xiang fell silent again.

Pei Yizhou leaned back slightly in his chair, his gaze deep and dark.

The girl before him had clearly dressed up with care. Black hair, fair skin, full lips, and a fitted sleeveless dress that outlined her curvaceous figure.

An Xiang lowered her lashes, a few strands of hair falling across her cheeks. She was as quiet as a painting.

He stared at those glistening lips for a long time before looking away and taking a sip of coffee.

Silky warmth lingered between his lips and teeth. Pei Yizhou's Adam's apple bobbed as he said unhurriedly, "I have several properties in Lijing Jiangshan. If you're free this afternoon, I can take you to look at them."

An Xiang had seen listings for Lijing Jiangshan on the app. At 150,000 per square meter, it was beyond what she could afford.

"It's a little expensive there. I probably..."

"It doesn't matter." Pei Yizhou interrupted softly, effortlessly finding an excuse. "Nuo Nuo likes you very much. She says your cooking is delicious. If you like one of the apartments, I can sell it to you at a lower price."

He could practically give it to her for free.

Free would be best.

It would be even better if she seized the opportunity to use some little tricks. If she coveted his money, that would be ideal.

Pei Yizhou had his own little calculations. His fingers tapped the cup now and then as he patiently waited for the girl's answer.

An Xiang only felt surprised.

The media often used words like "decisive and ruthless" and "coldhearted" to describe Pei Yizhou.

Even though An Xiang hadn't interacted with him much, she could tell he wasn't someone easily persuaded, much less for such an inexplicable reason.

Something wasn't right...

"Or would you prefer somewhere else?"

"No." An Xiang took a deep breath. "It's not about the location."

"Mm?" Pei Yizhou narrowed his eyes. "The price?"

"It's... it's not the price either." She furrowed her brows in distress. "Anyway, thank you for your kindness, Mr. Pei. I may need to think about the house a little more."

Giving Pei Yizhou practically no chance to stop her, An Xiang grabbed her things and quickly left after saying that. Before leaving, she even remembered to pay for the coffee.

After An Xiang left, only he remained in the enormous café.

Pei Yizhou faced the empty table across from him for several dozen minutes. Finally, he picked up his phone, saved the number, and added her as a friend.

[Ping.]

[Good Mommy declined your friend request.]

"..."

Pei Yizhou stared at the rejection screen for a long time without moving.

He regretted it.

Was it too late to ask Pei Nuo to introduce him to some random women again?

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Pei Yizhou: Me, father of all male Mary Sues, the handsomest guy in the Vampire Clan, the domineering CEO of the mortal world. Sooner or later, I'll make that woman change her ID to Good Wife!!! Wuwuwu, when will she start coveting my money and my body? Would reposting a lucky koi help?

**

There are still five hundred red envelopes this chapter.

I'm so sleepy. I had insomnia until four yesterday, then got up at seven in the morning to write. Ahhh, I wanted to write more, but I'm really too sleepy.

Good night, everyone. Your precious baby is going to sleep.

There was a bug, but I fixed it after someone pointed it out. Love you, babies!

By the way, a reader actually made the juice An Xiang's son drinks, and said it was delicious!! I'm stunned. I'm so envious of people with such strong hands-on skills (:з"∠)