Volume 1, Chapter 171: Growing Desperate

Since Song Qingyu already knew Pei Jingmo’s true identity, Fu Linhan stopped pretending and laid his cards on the table.

On New Year's Eve, he called Pei Jingmo and said, "Prepare an extra portion of dinner. I'm coming over to your place to celebrate the New Year."

Pei Jingmo’s gaze remained fixed on Song Qingyu, who seemed busy with something. "Didn't you go back to the family estate?"

"Don't even mention it. It's driving me crazy!"

During the New Year, being badgered by elders about getting married was inevitable. They chattered incessantly, having already planned out how many children he would have and which schools they would attend.

Fu Linhan was already annoyed, but then his aunt brought up Bai Yinian.

"Linhan, aren't you and the young master of the Bai family very close? Does he really like men and plan never to marry in his life?"

"Oh my, you walk so close to him, you mustn't catch that bad habit of his, or your parents will be angered to death."

"You should get married and have children as soon as possible to carry on the family line for the Fu family."

Fu Linhan’s face darkened as he stood up. "If you want to carry on the family line so badly, why didn't you give birth to a few more yourselves back then?"

"Hey, what kind of way is that to talk to your elders?"

"That's exactly how I talk. If you don't like hearing it, close your ears. I don't like hearing what you say either, so you can close your mouths too."

Fu Linhan had been a notorious troublemaker since childhood, adored by his father and cherished by his mother, growing up in the palms of his family's hands.

Whenever he was unhappy, he never pampered anyone's feelings. "Mom, Dad, Yuandong is calling me out. I'm leaving first."

"Go ahead, but don't drink too much."

Fu Mother sided with her son; to her, as long as her son was happy, that was all that mattered.

"Sister-in-law, Linhan is turning thirty in a couple of years. You shouldn't keep spoiling him like this."

"Children have their own fortunes. Alright, let's eat."

***

Earlier, Song Qingyu had thought she would be spending the New Year alone, so she hadn't prepared much food. She wasn't particularly good at cooking either, and apart from a few eggs and tomatoes, the hospital room was completely bare.

Seeing Pei Jingmo frown, Song Qingyu, afraid that he might think she had been living in misery after leaving him, quickly explained, "I've been a bit busy lately. I was actually planning to go grocery shopping today."

The more she tried to explain, the more Pei Jingmo's heart ached. "Alright, let's go together."

The two of them went to the supermarket and bought a cart full of groceries. Most of them were chosen by Pei Jingmo, but he didn't just buy things arbitrarily—he constantly asked for Song Qingyu's opinion.

Song Qingyu had originally intended to just order takeout for New Year's Eve dinner, but Pei Jingmo insisted on cooking himself.

An hour and a half later, the two returned fully laden with bags.

At the front door, they encountered Fu Linhan and Bai Yinian, both carrying holiday gifts.

The moment Fu Linhan saw Bai Yinian, his expression turned even uglier. "Why aren't you back at your own home celebrating the New Year? What are you doing here?"

Only after speaking did Fu Linhan remember that Bai Yinian had fallen out with his family over coming out, and to this day, the elder of the Bai family still hadn't forgiven him.

In a sense, he wasn't doing much better than Pei Jingmo.

After exchanging polite greetings with Song Qingyu and Pei Jingmo, Bai Yinian said in an indifferent tone, "I'm here to spend the New Year with Jingmo."

"Hmph... Don't you have countless little boyfriends with red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple hair? Why aren't they keeping you company?"

Seeing Bai Yinian’s expression sink, Fu Linhan snapped angrily, "What? Can't even take a joke now?"

Pei Jingmo chimed in coldly, "If you want to quarrel or fight, take it outside. Don't cause a scene at my doorstep."

Feeling aggrieved, Fu Linhan retorted in a bad mood, "Who wants to fight with him? I'm here to celebrate the New Year."

With that, Fu Linhan walked up to Song Qingyu. "Xiao Yu, this is a New Year gift I brought for you. I hope you like it."

"Thank you, Young Master Fu."

Song Qingyu accepted the gift and cast a puzzled glance at Pei Jingmo.

What was going on here?

Wasn't Fu Linhan and Bai Yinian's friendship as close as brothers?

What on earth had happened to make them bristle with hostility the moment they laid eyes on each other?

Pei Jingmo stepped closer to Song Qingyu, leaned down, and lowered his voice by her ear. "I'll tell you later."

His voice was deep and magnetic, and as he spoke, his warm breath brushed against her skin. Song Qingyu felt her earlobe tingle and involuntarily shrank her neck.

Watching Song Qingyu's ears turn thoroughly red, Pei Jingmo couldn't help curving his lips into a smile.

Entering the apartment, Fu Linhan showed no restraint whatsoever. Acting as if he were in his own home, he kicked off his shoes, walked straight to the living room, and sat down on the sofa.

Song Qingyu took out the fruits and nuts they had bought.

"Young Master Fu, please help yourself."

Seeing his cherished wife playing servant to someone else, Pei Jingmo frowned at Fu Linhan. "If you want to eat New Year's Eve dinner, come and do some work."

Fu Linhan peeled a pistachio and popped it into his mouth. "When have you ever seen this young master step foot in a kitchen?"

Instead, Fu Linhan stood up and pulled Song Qingyu down onto the sofa. "Xiao Yu, let's sit and rest. Let them do the work."

"I should go and help out. There are quite a few dishes."

"If you go in there, you'll only be in the way. You might as well stay here and chat with me. Come on, which celebrity's gossip do you want to hear? I know it all."

Song Qingyu: "..."

Overtaken by sudden jealousy, Pei Jingmo was just about to speak when Bai Yinian tugged at his sleeve. "Let them chat."

"Didn't you see that? He grabbed my wife's hand."

Bai Yinian smiled. "Isn't she about to become your ex-wife anyway?"

Pei Jingmo’s face darkened. "Do you believe I'll kick you out right now and let you spend tonight's New Year completely alone and miserable?"

Bai Yinian chuckled as he walked into the kitchen. "Why are you getting angry over a couple of words?"

Pei Jingmo refused to back down either. "By the way, what was that about the red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple hair that Hanzi mentioned earlier? You live quite a colorful life, don't you?"

This time, it was Bai Yinian's turn to be rendered speechless.

The two men acted like diligent little house elves, working hard in the kitchen to prepare the New Year's Eve dinner, while Song Qingyu and Pei Jingmo sat in the living room eating fruit, cracking melon seeds, and chatting.

Fu Linhan eagerly peeled a mandarin orange for Song Qingyu. "Xiao Yu, not only are you beautiful, but you're also kind-hearted. We had no choice but to help Jingmo keep it a secret back then, but I never expected you to actually agree to let us come to your house."

Even now, Song Qingyu wasn't entirely sure whether letting Pei Jingmo stay here for the New Year was the right or wrong choice.

Yet, when she heard him say he had nowhere else to go, her heart had softened anyway.

As for Fu Linhan and Bai Yinian—

They had helped her and Zhengzheng quite a bit back then, and she couldn't afford to be ungrateful.

Seeing that Song Qingyu remained silent, Fu Linhan sighed. "Actually, Jingmo wasn't deliberately trying to deceive you. His family situation is rather complicated, and his marriage was entirely decided by the elders. If the old man had known about your existence back then, he certainly wouldn't have let you off easily."

Song Qingyu handed the orange back to Fu Linhan. "I am not some caged canary in need of protection, nor am I afraid of death. If given the choice, I would rather stand shoulder-to-shoulder with him to face the wind and rain than be kept in the dark and treated like a fool."

Noticing Song Qingyu's slight irritation, Fu Linhan immediately coaxed, "You're entirely right! It was all Jingmo's fault! Of all things, he should never have lied to you out of fear for your safety—especially being your boss by day and your husband by night. He's too scheming and plays too many games; he thoroughly deserves to be divorced."

With Fu Linhan monopolizing the conversation, Song Qingyu was left speechless.

"Well, it's settled then. Even if you and Jingmo divorce, we'll still be good friends. You must keep in touch with me often. I happen to have plenty of high-quality single men in my circle. Do you need me to introduce a few to you?"

The kitchen door suddenly slid open, and Pei Jingmo tossed two cloves of garlic straight at Fu Linhan. "If you have too much idle time, peel some garlic."

Fu Linhan deftly caught the garlic with a handsome flourish, raised an eyebrow, and smiled at Song Qingyu. "Oh-ho-ho, someone's getting anxious."

Song Qingyu: "..."