Chapter 22

Editor: Anna

Proofreader: jlycen

I was silent for a long time.

Even though Qiao Yi may not be very rational, he was still wise enough. He clearly understood that there were certain things in the world like this. In order to obtain one thing, you would have to sacrifice another; you couldn’t have both.

No matter what someone did, they would still have to pay a price. To be able to obtain the best of both worlds was a very rare occurrence.

In this aspect, Qiao Lang could be said to be lacking compared to him.

As someone who didn’t understand this, Qiang Lang desired too much.

That year, I betted on him.

Between revenge and me, he had chosen revenge. So, I willingly admitted defeat and said nothing. However, he should not have come back to find me after completing what he set out to do.

I was his price. Since he had paid with me, he had no reason to ask for me back.

In life, there was no such thing as second chances.

I, Pei JiYu, would not stay in the same place waiting for him, moreover, I did not have the time to wait for anyone either.

After drinking some liquor, I fell asleep on the sofa.

When I woke up, it was dark, and Qiao Yi had already left. There were only two empty glasses on the table and Qiao Lang who was sitting there.

He asked, “You’re awake. Are you hungry?”

I asked him, “Those dishes, were you the one who made them?”

“You talked to Qiao Yi today.”

“You don’t even allow me to step out of the house, and now you’re thinking of restricting who I can talk to? I’m not your doll that’s meant to be a decoration.”

“You know that that’s not what I meant. I just want you to accept me again.” He then said slowly, “Why are you still unwilling to give me a chance?”

I gave you a chance, but it was you who said that you didn’t want it. You were the one who never gave me a chance.

I stood up and said, “Actually, I like to eat Western food now. The food you cook no longer stimulates my appetite.”

That was all I could say.

“I’ll keep on waiting.”

I looked at him quietly. In front of me, I saw the boy that was once sitting in my living room a few years ago, who said that he would wait for me.

In a blink of an eye, a long time had passed.

“Qiao Lang, Pei JiYu may be foolish, but he wouldn’t believe the same thing twice.” After saying that, I turned and left.

The next day, while Qiao Lang was away, I went to find Qiao Yi.

Qiao Yi opened the door with a yawn. His upper body was bare and all he had on was a pair of trousers with the buttons still undone, looking sleepy.

I had to admit that this man was very enticing. No wonder Chen ErXin’s cousin was so fond of him.

He put one hand by the door and said, “I hope that you didn’t knock on the wrong door.”

I said, “I need your help.”

“If there’s something you want, just tell Qiao Lang. I think he will be very willing to help you.” He was about to close the door and go back to sleep.

Quickly I said, “I want you to help me get out of this house!”

Qiao Yi stopped his hand and looked at me. “Why do you think I would offend Qiao Lang for you?”

I replied, “Because he is your enemy and you will not refuse anything that goes against him.”

He laughed heartily. “I’m not that foolish, but I will still promise to help you because you’re a very interesting person.”

Relieved, I finally left him.

To ask Qiao Yi for help was to ask him to collude with Chen ErXin for me. He let Chen ErXin enter the Qiao house again with a lawyer similar in stature to me under the pretense of discussing the divorce.

When I left, the lawyer would stay.

Wearing a heavy coat, I pretended to have a cold as I wore a white mask and a big scarf. Who would then be able to recognize me as Pei JiYu? After all, no one in the Qiao family knew of Pei JiYu.

Despite looking like a wall of iron, the house seemed pretty insignificant after I escaped.

I told Chen ErXin, “Thank you, the lawyer you brought along will be fine. Later on, Qiao Yi will lead him out.”

“If you have time to worry about others, why not worry about yourself? If you run away like this, wouldn’t Qiao Lang send someone after you to get you back?” Chen ErXin was still afraid of this.

He had thought that my family had fallen into a dire state and become destitute. In that case, going against Qiao Lang was as futile as a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

It was here that I felt that it was necessary for me to correct his impression of me.

“Chen ErXin, I have something to clarify…”

Before I finished speaking, a car suddenly appeared in front of us on the road. Chen ErXin then slammed on the brake, stopping a few meters away from it. Both of us were shocked.

Someone in the car in front opened the door and came out. Tall and straight, it could only be Lu QingFan. I wondered if he had been tailing us since we exited the Qiao house.

Chen ErXin turned his head, asking me, “What were you saying?”

I then pointed towards Lu QingFan and replied, “I was talking about this.”

When Lu QingFan came and knocked on the window, I could only get out of the car with Chen ErXin.

I asked Lu QingFan, “Don’t you think it’s too late to come to save the damsel in distress?”

“After Father became seriously ill, the Pei’s stocks have been unstable. At this time, we cannot openly have a fall out with the Qiao family.”

Unable to argue with that, I asked him, “Then what’s the meaning of stopping us now?”

He replied, “I want you to return with me.”

“I’ve just escaped the wolf’s nest, can’t you let me catch my breath for a second? Also, my old wound has not recovered yet.” I pointed to the bruise on my forehead. Despite the fact that the swelling had subsided, it still ached with a dull pain.

Lu QingFan only answered simply, “Father is in a bad condition.”

As I remained stunned, Lu QingFan had already returned to his car.

“What’s going on?” Chen ErXin also had not managed to grasp the situation.

I said, “That’s exactly what happened. My father is seriously ill so can you take me back?”

As soon as Chen ErXin and I got into our car, Lu QingFan started his and led the way ahead while we followed.

On the way, Chen ErXin asked me, “Who was that man just now?”

I answered, “Lu QingFan.”

His expression suddenly changed, as if he had been struck by thunder, and his muscles began to twitch uncontrollably.

He couldn’t help confirming, “That Lu QingFan?”

“That’s him”

“He called your father ‘Father’!”

I rolled my eyes, knowing that he would misunderstand. Chen ErXin was very good at everything except this. He would always make guesses, but didn’t want to clarify by talking to people.

I explained to him, “He is the adopted son of the Pei family. He arrived at my house at the age of ten.”

“You like your own brother?!” Chen ErXin seemed to have been shocked by this news, and his staring eyes were as round as two copper bells.

I had thought that it was shocking enough to like the same sex but after this, I felt that there was no need to make a fuss about such trifles anymore.

“We are not even blood-related.” I continued to say, “And that’s all in the past.”

All the things that have happened belong to the past. Whether it was true, I would just have to lie to myself that it was over.

When we arrived at the Pei’s house, Chen ErXin was furious again.

“Pei JiYu, you’ve been lying to me. Is it that fun to play with me?”

He felt that I was preying on his sympathy.

I didn’t know how to explain it since the story was too long and boring. I was also afraid that he would think that I was lying to him again.

So I told him, “Don’t make trouble out of nothing. I’ll explain everything to you later on.”

In the end, he flicked his sleeves and walked away.

As I saw him driving away in anger, I only felt lost. Even in the end, I still couldn’t restore my friendship with him.

Here, Lu QingFan came over. “The doctor said that Father was in a bad condition and had to be admitted to the hospital. However, he refused to agree, neither taking medicine nor accepting treatment.”

He was so similar to me, we were no doubt father and son. I couldn’t help but think sarcastically to myself.

I then said, “I’ll go see him.”

*Translator’s Notes:

-Since Christmas is coming, I would like to wish everyone an early Merry Christmas! Do remember to keep yourself safe while celebrating Christmas! 🙂