When Will My Childhood Sweetheart Marry Me?

"Hmm."

Xu Kanfeng, who had been kicked, chuckled as he glanced at the mobile in Brother Yan's hand, relieved that the screen wasn't shattered.

They knew Pei Yan had a bad temper; normally cold and taciturn, anyone foolish enough to rub him the wrong way was doomed.

The boss fought with such ferocity that the trio still broke out in cold sweats to this day.

Last time, he literally made a school tyrant from the neighboring vocational school wish he were dead.

Even though the guys had known each other for so long and had a strong bond, they only joked around normally; none would dare truly provoke him, even if they were given a hundred guts.

When the phone snapped off from the impact just now, He Qingzhou tossed over his charger, "Brother Yan, it fits, you can charge."

Pei Yan caught it but absently set the charger aside, his gaze on the phone darkening with irritation, "Can't be bothered to charge; it irks me."

Damn.

Xu Kanfeng found his worries were misplaced.

A moment ago it was about risking his belongings; now it was suddenly irksome.

Since when did Brother Yan contradict himself in his talks?

Meanwhile, what Pei Yan was contemplating was whether he should make a move or slowly strategize concerning the girl on the lock screen who was deliberately avoiding him.

Jiang Shuyao changed her shoes in the entryway while the part-time maid had already served the food and reminded her there was chicken soup cooking, asking her to remember to drink it later.

Given her parents' demanding jobs, she often found herself home alone.

To ensure their daughter was well-fed, her parents had hired a part-time maid to cook and clean daily.

Considering it was still raining outside, Jiang Shuyao took an umbrella from the storage closet for the maid, who gratefully accepted with a smile, "Yaoyao is so clever and capable, and so thoughtful too. Your parents will really benefit from having you in the future."

Her cheeks dimpled slightly, flattered by the praise.

Her independence hadn't developed overnight; often left at home alone when her parents were busy, or sometimes abruptly sent to stay at Pei's villa for a few days.

Uncle Pei and her father had been close friends for years, and Pei Yan's mother had been her mother's best friend since their university days.

The connection between the two families was naturally close. To her and Pei Yan, things were still quite harmonious; the jerk always let her have the nicest snacks and toys growing up, though he usually spoke harshly, he wasn't really bad at heart.

But recalling the remarks her classmate Tang Xing made about him in the school corridor and the reactions of the surrounding students, she realized it was starkly different from her subconscious image of Pei Yan.

Previously, when she attended Qi Middle School, she didn't know that Pei Yan had already established his dominance at Yunzhong or, as she grew older, Jiang Shuyao became more cautious around boys.

Even if they were close, neglecting proper boundaries could lead to trouble.

In certain aspects, Jiang Shuyao was incredibly clear-headed.

After dinner, Jiang Shuyao practiced her calligraphy for a while in the study, worked on a set of physics competition problems from 10:30 to 11:00, then washed up and went to bed.

Outside the rain was sparse, the moon covered by thick clouds, and the night was pitch black.

In the silent house, Jiang Shuyao lay awake, staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep.

She opened WeChat and her conversation with Pei Yan was still paused at his last message about mango pudding.

Given his usual approach, if she deliberately avoided him under his watch, he would definitely find a way to confront her, or at least question her with an intent to chasten.

But the phone had been eerily quiet all evening, not a single message from that scoundrel.

It was too bizarre.

Jiang Shuyao suddenly felt a chill on her back and hurriedly turned off her phone and closed her eyes.

At two in the morning, there was some noise outside in the living room; it was probably her mother returning from surgery.

Half-asleep, she felt someone touch her forehead and smelling the faint scent of disinfectant, Jiang Shuyao cozied her face against the hand comfortingly and drifted back into a blissful sleep.