Sheng Xiangsi was so serious.
Zhong Pei couldn't help but smile bitterly. Xiangsi saw through him and wasn't giving him any chance at all.
But he still said, "Don't be so serious. I said it would be fake, not real…"
Since he said that, Sheng Xiangsi didn't expose his lie.
She just shook her head and insisted, "I don't want to. I don't want to drag you into this matter with Fu Hanjiang. I will handle it myself."
She waved at Zhong Pei, "It's late, you should go. I'm going back inside."
After saying that, she turned around and ran into the alley.
"Ah…"
Zhong Pei sighed deeply, murmuring, "How do you know, to me, you aren't the best girl in the world?"
...
Half an hour later.
After taking a shower, Sheng Xiangsi came out to find her phone vibrating non-stop on the table.
She quickly walked over, picked it up, and saw it was Zhong Pei.
"Hello?"
Confused, she answered, "What's…"
"Xiangsi!"
Before she could finish asking, Zhong Pei anxiously said, "I'm at the alley entrance. I don't know which building you live in. Hurry and come down!"
"What's wrong?"
"Don't ask, just come quickly!"
After saying that, he hung up.
Sheng Xiangsi held her phone, her brows furrowed.
Shouldn't he have left long ago? Why is he calling her to the alley entrance? What could it be that he can't say over the phone?
Sheng Xiangsi grabbed the towel from her head, quickly dried herself, took her phone and keys, locked the door, and rushed downstairs.
When she got there, she looked around but didn't see Zhong Pei, "Where are you?"
"Xiangsi!"
At the sound of the voice, Sheng Xiangsi's shoulders stiffened. Looking at the person who came, it was Fu Hanjiang! How did he manage to follow her here?
Without hesitation, Sheng Xiangsi turned and ran.
"Sheng Xiangsi!"
However, this time she didn't succeed. Fu Hanjiang's long legs stepped forward, blocking her path.
He remembered her extreme reaction at the hospital, so he only blocked her without touching her.
To assure her, he half-raised his hands and looked down at her, "I won't touch you, but why are you running?"
Fu Hanjiang truly didn't understand. Weren't they fine together at the hospital earlier when they visited his older brother?
"Can you tell me the reason?"
"I…"
Sheng Xiangsi felt a dryness in her mouth and licked her lips, "No particular reason. I was just tired and wanted to come back and rest."
"That's the reason?"
Fu Hanjiang didn't understand, "Couldn't you just tell me that?"
He had been accommodating her demands lately, even if not completely submissive.
"That's the reason…" Sheng Xiangsi nodded, but her face was pale.
"Xiangsi?"
Fu Hanjiang felt something was wrong and raised his hand towards her, "Are you feeling unwell? You look terrible."
"Don't touch me!"
Sheng Xiangsi shouted in a low voice, taking two steps back.
"Xiangsi?" Fu Hanjiang's brows furrowed deeply, his face darkening, "What on earth…"
"Xiangsi!"
Suddenly, Zhong Pei's voice rang out, instantly like a shot of adrenaline to Sheng Xiangsi's heart.
"Zhong Pei!"
Like grasping a lifeline, she raised her arm and waved at him, "I'm here!"
"I know."
Zhong Pei smiled as he walked over to her, then stood beside her.
As if just noticing Fu Hanjiang, he said, "Oh? Brother Fu, you're here too. I only saw your back earlier, didn't recognize you."
Tch.
Fu Hanjiang silently sneered. This guy, what is he playing at?
He raised his hand, signaling Zhong Pei, "Step aside, I have something to say to Xiangsi."
Immediately, Zhong Pei could feel Xiangsi beside him tensing up completely.
"Brother Fu." Zhong Pei put away his smile and solemnly said, "Sorry, I can't step aside… Whatever you need to say to Xiangsi, say it now."
He looked at Sheng Xiangsi.
"Xiangsi is my girlfriend. We have no secrets between us."
"!" Sheng Xiangsi's eyes widened, her lips parting slightly.
Instinctively, she wanted to refute.
But seeing Zhong Pei's subtle, slow shake of the head, she understood his meaning. If she denied it, Fu Hanjiang would never let her go!
But going along with Zhong Pei's words would be unfair to him!
Sheng Xiangsi clenched her fists tightly, struggling internally…
"Heh."
Fu Hanjiang sneered softly, glancing at Sheng Xiangsi before looking back at Zhong Pei with thinly veiled mockery in his eyes.
"You say she's your girlfriend? Too bad, Xiangsi doesn't acknowledge that…"
He raised his hand, reaching out to pull her over. Seeing them standing side by side was irritating, extremely irritating!
"Xiangsi, come here…"
"I am!"
Sheng Xiangsi stepped back, craning her neck and blurting out.
"I am Zhong Pei's girlfriend!"
Instantly, the surroundings fell silent.
The air seemed to freeze.
Fu Hanjiang's handsome face had a faint smile, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. His voice was light.
"What are you saying?"
Gentle, yet with a chilling force, "Don't talk nonsense."
Sheng Xiangsi looked him in the eye, not avoiding or dodging, her tone very calm, "I'm not talking nonsense. It's the truth."
"…" Zhong Pei looked down at her, giving her an encouraging look.
At this point, there was no turning back.
Sheng Xiangsi took a deep breath, raised her arm, and held Zhong Pei's hand—interlacing her fingers with his.
Even that wasn't enough.
She lifted their clasped hands.
Her eyes clear and firm, she stared at Fu Hanjiang, "See?"
"Indeed."
Zhong Pei cooperated, tightening his grip on Xiangsi's hand, "Brother Fu, Xiangsi and I love each other. We hope you will bless us."
"!!"
This scene stung Fu Hanjiang's eyes!
She wouldn't let him touch her, but Zhong Pei could?
He suddenly closed his eyes. In that instant, his heart twisted, both painful and numb.
How could this be? How could he feel this way?
When he opened his eyes again, he glared at Sheng Xiangsi. His gaze was so fractured, it was hard to tell if he was angry or smiling.
How did she manage this?
All this time, he had been pursuing her, yet she and Zhong Pei had been sneaking around, together?!
"Sheng Xiangsi."
Fu Hanjiang suppressed his anger, his voice deep, "Come here. If you come now, I can pretend you didn't say anything just now!"
As he spoke, his long, slender hand reached out to her.
"…" Sheng Xiangsi's breath hitched.
"Brother Fu!"
Just in time, Zhong Pei pulled Sheng Xiangsi behind him, facing Fu Hanjiang's clearly furious face.
"Don't make things difficult for Xiangsi!"
"Get lost!"
Finally, Fu Hanjiang exploded. "Don't think that because you're Qin Yanzhi's brother, I won't touch you!"
He raised both hands, grabbing Zhong Pei's collar.
"Brother Fu!"
Zhong Pei met his gaze without a hint of fear, "Just because I call you brother out of respect, doesn't mean you can bully my girlfriend!"
The tension was palpable, the air thick with confrontation.