Volume One, Chapter 121: I Won’t Placate You

Song Qingyu and Xie Liuzheng shared everything with each other, so Pei Jingmo assumed Song Qingyu had already told Xie Liuzheng about their situation.

But this time, he was wrong.

Song Qingyu hadn’t told Xie Liuzheng a thing, nor had she gone to see her.

“Xiaoyu isn’t the type to turn off her phone and not come home. Dirty Bag, have you been bullying Xiaoyu?”

A rare flicker of panic flashed in Pei Jingmo’s usually indifferent eyes. He quickly hung up and called Fu Linhan.

Fu Linhan was at a high-end restaurant, entertaining his goddess and engaged in a lively conversation when Pei Jingmo’s call interrupted him.

Annoyed, Fu Linhan snapped, “I’m on a date, what do you want?”

“When you and Qingqing parted ways, did Qingqing say where she was going?”

“Song Qingyu? She just said she had something to do, didn’t say where. Why? She hasn’t gone home yet, has she?”

Pei Jingmo didn’t answer. Clenching his fists to calm himself, he said, “Contact Bai Yinian. I want the surveillance footage from the amusement park entrance.”

Knowing how important Song Qingyu was to Pei Jingmo, Fu Linhan didn’t hesitate. After apologizing to his goddess and promising her a car, she finally let him go.

By the time Fu Linhan reached downstairs, Bai Yinian’s car was already parked at the entrance.

He opened the door and got in, immediately noticing the smell of smoke. He waved his hand, “You smoking?”

Bai Yinian rolled down the window to let the smoke disperse.

At that moment, Fu Linhan hadn’t realized anything yet. “You came too fast. I thought I’d at least wait for you a bit.”

As the smoke cleared, Bai Yinian caught a scent unfamiliar to Fu Linhan—a sweet, cloying fragrance of women’s perfume.

His expression darkened further.

Seeing Bai Yinian ignoring him, Fu Linhan nudged him, “Why so silent?”

“Stay away from me!”

Fu Linhan was stunned. “What?”

“You smell bad!”

Fu Linhan sniffed himself. “Where? I smell good.”

Feeling pleased about carrying his goddess’s perfume scent, Fu Linhan boasted, “She gave me a big hug when she saw me. She smells so good. I asked her what brand she uses, and she said she made it herself. She’ll give me a bottle someday—”

“Screech—”

The car suddenly stopped by the roadside, catching Fu Linhan off guard. He almost collided due to the momentum.

Frowning, he looked at Bai Yinian. “What’s wrong?”

“Can you shut up?”

Fu Linhan’s anger flared instantly. “What’s gotten into you? First, you complain I smell bad and don’t want me near, now you say I’m noisy? If you want to fight, just say so!”

Bai Yinian took a deep breath, veins bulging on his hands gripping the steering wheel. Without another word, he started the car.

Fu Linhan was quite upset—Bai Yinian had never been this harsh with him before.

But thinking that maybe he abandoned Bai Yinian to meet his goddess, he softened his tone, “Alright, once we find Song Qingyu, I’ll treat you to a midnight snack.”

Bai Yinian remained silent.

After getting out of the car, Fu Linhan grabbed Bai Yinian’s arm. “Xiaobai—”

The mixed scent of perfume irritated Bai Yinian’s nose and nerves. Annoyed, he shrugged Fu Linhan’s hand off. “No need.”

Fu Linhan, having already lowered himself to coax Bai Yinian, was met with no response.

Hmph, no need then! He wouldn’t bother anymore.

Meanwhile, after instructing Fu Linhan and Bai Yinian to check the surveillance footage and ordering Guo Rang to mobilize all connections to search for Song Qingyu, Pei Jingmo went to places she might have gone.

He first visited the villa left to Song Qingyu by Xie Qingya. Although he had already purchased that villa, the timing wasn’t right, so he hadn’t told her.

Failing to find Song Qingyu there, he went to the cemetery where Xie Qingya was buried.

The caretaker saw the photo of Song Qingyu on Pei Jingmo’s phone and said, “That’s her. She did come around three in the afternoon and stayed for about half an hour before leaving.”

Fu Linhan and the others had traced the route from the surveillance footage to this location.

However, the surveillance coverage was incomplete along that path. Later, Song Qingyu hailed a cab and left, destination unknown.

While Pei Jingmo was frantic, searching everywhere for Song Qingyu, she was quietly grinding herbs in a meditation room.

She had been feeling unsettled lately.

She needed some quiet time.

To seriously consider the nature of her relationship with Pei Jingmo.

In her mind, she recalled Xie Liuzheng’s words: “Pei Jingmo’s eyes when he looks at you—tsk tsk. I seriously suspect he’s liked you for a long time.”

So, Liuzheng had seen through it all along.

Her thoughts involuntarily drifted to every moment with Pei Jingmo.

Every time she was sick or hurt, Pei Jingmo was always by her side.

He would go out of his way to cook for her, and every night before bed, he’d prepare a glass of warm milk for her.

He’d gently say, “I’ll do whatever you say.”

Seeing her wear hotel slippers and fearing her feet would get cold, he would give her his own shoes.

She was forgetful—every day she’d either forget her gloves or scarf when going out. He would carefully put them on her before they left, worried she might catch cold.

Since their relationship began as a contract marriage, she had always thought Pei Jingmo’s kindness came simply because he was a responsible and good man.

So when Pei Jingmo confessed his feelings to her, she was genuinely shocked.

In recent days, she kept asking herself: if she divorced Pei Jingmo, could she find a better husband?

The answer was: no.

No one would treat her better than Pei Jingmo.

Yet, perhaps because of the hurt from Chu Xingzhi, she was a little afraid of love.

She had been with Chu Xingzhi for seven years, and he still betrayed her. How long had she known Pei Jingmo?

Only now did she realize that the quality of love cannot be measured by its length.

Most importantly, did she love Pei Jingmo?

The answer was definitely yes.

If she didn’t like someone, she wouldn’t blush or feel her heart race.

She wouldn’t accept their kindness so naturally.

She wouldn’t react physically when he kissed her.

She wouldn’t feel jealous or angry seeing him close to another woman.

Nor would she feel sad and scared hearing him say he was trying hard not to like her.

When she visited her mother’s grave today, she suddenly recalled something her mother once said to her.

“Qingbao, you must never forgive anyone who deceives or betrays you, but you must never let down anyone who treats you well.”

She ground the herbs well into the night. At six in the morning, the master blessed them.

“Ms. Song, I wish you all the best and may all your wishes come true.”

“Thank you, Master.”

Song Qingyu took the bracelet and stepped outside. Standing at the temple gate, she watched the sun rising.

The winter sunlight was warm and comforting, reminding her of Pei Jingmo’s embrace.

Having recognized her true feelings, she couldn’t wait to fall into his arms.

Descending the mountain, she took out her phone to hail a cab, only to realize it was dead.

Usually, she paid attention to her phone’s battery.

Yesterday morning, she took many photos for Xiao Xi, and in the afternoon, she was preoccupied with her thoughts—she had no idea when it died.

Many people were hiking early in the morning; she borrowed a phone to call Pei Jingmo.

See? Pei Jingmo was always so thoughtful and dependable.

If he hadn’t insisted before that she memorize his number, she wouldn’t even know how to reach him now.

After an entire night without any news from Song Qingyu, Pei Jingmo was nearly frantic.

He had searched everywhere in Jingshi City but found no trace of her.

Unless Song Qingyu was deliberately hiding from him, there was only one possibility—

She had met with misfortune.

He didn’t dare think that way.

Suddenly, his phone rang. Seeing an unknown number, he instinctively wanted to hang up.

But his heart skipped a beat, as if fate itself whispered that he would regret not answering.

“Hello?”

“Jingmo, it’s me—”