Volume 1, Chapter 119: To One's Heart's Content

She did not sleep well all night.

When Song Qingyu woke up the next day, her eyes were dry and bloodshot, marked by heavy dark circles, and her face was so pale it lacked a single trace of color.

She had assumed Pei Jingmo would have already left, but when she stepped out, she happened to see him doing push-ups on the balcony. He was doing them with one hand. His form was impeccable, his arms strong and powerful, with beautifully defined lines. Song Qingyu could not help but recall the image of him lifting her up with one hand; his strength was truly immense.

Pei Jingmo noticed her presence, stood up immediately, and washed his hands.

The two had not eaten together for a long time. Sharing breakfast felt like a surreal experience, as if a lifetime had passed. Affected by her mood, Song Qingyu drank a glass of milk, ate a piece of bread, and then lost all appetite.

"Last night..."
"You..."

They both spoke at once, then simultaneously fell silent in tacit agreement.

Pei Jingmo looked at the dark shadows under Song Qingyu’s eyes, and his heart felt as if it had been pricked by a tiny needle; he felt a pang of heartache. In truth, he hadn't been drunk last night, and he was well aware that she had tossed and turned, unable to sleep. He could clearly sense that Song Qingyu felt differently about him than she did about others. Regardless of whether it was due to their contractual marriage, he stubbornly believed that Song Qingyu loved him.

What he needed to do was find a way to make her realize her own heart. This was a necessary path. Even though it pained him, for the sake of their future happiness, he had to suppress his urge to comfort her.

"You speak first."

Song Qingyu endured the discomfort in her heart and spoke slowly. "A girl brought you home last night. She told me to remind you not to forget what you promised her."

Pei Jingmo lowered his eyes, a flicker of sharpness flashing through them. "Understood. Thank you for telling me."

Seeing that Pei Jingmo offered no explanation, Song Qingyu felt a sudden surge of anger, though she did not know why. "Who is that girl?"

Song Qingyu was not someone good at hiding her emotions; everything she felt was written on her face. Pei Jingmo’s thoughts turned rapidly.

"She is my fellow villager, Hong Xiaohua. She works at a restaurant, and I ran into her when I went there to eat yesterday."

A fellow villager—wasn't that just a childhood sweetheart? They say when fellow villagers meet, their eyes fill with tears; she wondered if he had held this Hong Xiaohua and wept.

"I know that our contract includes a clause requiring loyalty to the marriage. Please rest assured, she is just a fellow villager. There is nothing ambiguous between us; it’s just that meeting a fellow villager in the capital naturally feels a bit more familiar."

What a "familiar" feeling!

It made sense; if they weren't close, how could he have given her his home address?

"It was my own naivety before, thinking that because we were married, you had truly become my wife. Now I realize that to you, I am merely a business partner."

Song Qingyu’s expression turned grim. Was he really just a business partner? She had been asking herself this question for days, but her mind and heart were in such turmoil that she still had no answer.

Pei Jingmo laughed at himself. "My grandmother knows I’m married and is anxious to meet her daughter-in-law. She knows Hong Xiaohua well. Would you mind if I—"

"I don't mind!" Song Qingyu coldly interrupted him. "You don't need to tell me what you want to do! I’m full, you can finish eating at your leisure!"

He just wanted to take Hong Xiaohua to see his grandmother. It was only a contract marriage, so why should she care? They would be divorced eventually anyway!

Although she thought this, it felt as if a heavy stone were pressing down on her chest, making it difficult to breathe.

On Friday night, Song Qingyu received a WeChat message from Gu Chenxi inviting her to go out on Saturday. Song Qingyu thought of Pei Jingmo being at home on Saturday; things were already awkward enough between them, and she did not want to face him.

"Sure, where would you like to go?"
"I’ve never been to an amusement park. Shall we go there?"
"Okay."

On Saturday morning, Song Qingyu tied her hair in twin ponytails, put on casual clothes, and headed out. She waited at the park entrance for a while before a luxury car pulled up to the side of the road. Gu Chenxi stepped out and ran toward her.

"Hey, slow down."

Behind her was Fu Linhan, his hair a mess, looking as if he hadn't fully woken up.

"Hi, Xiaoyu, good morning."

Song Qingyu hadn't expected Fu Linhan to be the one dropping Gu Chenxi off. "Young Master Fu..."

"Yes, Yuandong went on a business trip today, so I had to drop Xiao Xi off. Today, I shall be the ATM and the errand boy."

Fu Linhan was easygoing and lacked airs. Knowing he had likely been sent by President Gu to look after Xiao Xi, Song Qingyu smiled. "Then we won't stand on ceremony."

"Enjoy yourselves!"

Thirty minutes later—

"Blech—"

Fu Linhan stepped off the drop tower and crouched beside a trash can, nearly vomiting up all the alcohol he had consumed the night before. As for why it wasn't this morning's breakfast, it was because he hadn't eaten any.

"Young Master Fu, are you alright?" Song Qingyu patted his back and handed him a bottle of water.

Fu Linhan rinsed his mouth, then looked back at Gu Chenxi, who was eager to ride the roller coaster, and Song Qingyu, who looked completely composed.

"You two... how are you both perfectly fine?"

Song Qingyu smiled. "I played these games often when I was a child, so I’m not afraid. Xiao Xi is even braver."

Gu Chenxi leaned in to look at Fu Linhan. "Brother Han, you're so weak—"

Fu Linhan: "!!! Heh, I’m not afraid at all! Let’s go! Roller coaster!"

Song Qingyu held him back. "If you can't handle it, don't force yourself. You can just wait here for me and Xiao Xi."

"A real man never says he can't! Let's go!"

Thus, the three of them went to ride the roller coaster. Song Qingyu and Gu Chenxi laughed heartily, finding it thrilling and exhilarating. Fu Linhan, meanwhile, fainted several times in mid-air, his soul practically leaving his body.

When he got off the roller coaster, he didn't vomit again, but his legs were trembling so hard he couldn't stand steadily. Song Qingyu and Gu Chenxi helped him to a dessert shop.

Fu Linhan shakily sent a WeChat message to Bai Yinian: "Little Bai, come quickly to see me for the last time."

Bai Yinian: "..."

When Bai Yinian arrived, Fu Linhan was sprawled over the table, his face as pale as a ghost. Bai Yinian took a bottle of glucose water, grabbed Fu Linhan’s chin, and poured it into his mouth.

"Cough, cough—"

Fu Linhan choked and started coughing violently. "Are you trying to murder me?"

"You didn't eat breakfast and then went on such wild rides—you deserve it!"

"Hmph, if you hadn't gone on a business trip, would I have skipped breakfast?"

"Blaming me?"

"Isn't it your fault?"

Bai Yinian sighed and bought a bowl of plain porridge for Fu Linhan to eat. Only after eating did Fu Linhan’s complexion gradually recover.

Song Qingyu watched their dynamic, feeling that it was a bit strange. "Xiao Xi, are Young Master Fu and Young Master Bai always like this?"

Gu Chenxi nodded. "Brother Han is always bullying Brother Nian, but Brother Nian never gets angry."

"They must have a very good relationship."

"Yes, but Brother Han wouldn't dare treat my brother like that."

"Oh?"

"My brother would beat him up."

Song Qingyu couldn't help but smile, but when she spotted two familiar figures, her smile stiffened on her face.

"Hey, isn't that Pei Jingmo? Who is that woman with him?"