Finally Being Snatched Away at My Wedding by My Ex-Boyfriend - Chapter 28

Chapter 28: Candidly Drawing Near

Pei Xing felt like he was going crazy.

He knew clearly that Su Yuan couldn’t have gone far, nor would he stay outside for too long with a newly weaned kitten in such cold weather; Su Jingzhang was still in the hospital, so Su Yuan would definitely return.

But what if? What if this was the start of the next two years?

What on earth happened? Su Yuan had used the method that could hurt him most, aiming at his most fearful weakness, and left with utter indifference. Pei Xing had no time to mind the sharp pain in his stomach; he only wanted to find Su Yuan, only wanted to ask him why he did it.

Pei Xing’s heart raced, the hand holding his overcoat trembled uncontrollably, and his body was frozen by a mix of anger and cold.

The fury of being abandoned once again reached its peak the moment he saw Su Yuan squatting by the lake.

“Su Yuan! What are you doing running out here? Do you not know what the temperature is outside?”

He failed to control his emotions; his tone was stern, marking the first time he had ever spoken loudly to Su Yuan, even when he was dumped.

But soon, as he walked closer and saw Su Yuan’s reddened eyes and face pale from the cold, the fire in his heart instantly vanished. Pei Xing wrapped the overcoat around Su Yuan, bent down, and picked him up horizontally.

A crowd of drivers, servants, and security guards followed behind in a swarm.

“Let go of me…”

Su Yuan struggled hard, only to find his body was too stiff from the cold; he couldn’t even lift his hand, and his voice was quickly scattered by the cold wind like a thin mist.

He looked up at Pei Xing. The tight jawline and flat mouth made it seem as though the person carrying him in public wasn’t him, or perhaps as though they were just an ordinary couple having a spat, even though they had almost never argued during their four years together.

Pei Xing kicked the door open.

Su Yuan came to his senses and saw the woman standing in the second-floor corridor. Instantly, his struggling became violent. “Let go of me! Pei Xing, let go…!”

Pei Xing ignored his struggle entirely and took him straight into the master bedroom’s bathroom. After Melanie finished adjusting the temperature of the bathtub filled with mugwort, she closed the door and left.

Su Yuan was placed on the bench beside the tub. Pei Xing took off his overcoat, but just as his hand touched the button on Su Yuan’s chest, a slap landed on his face. “Don’t touch me…”

The slap was as light as a leaf falling onto a lake; the tears that hit the back of his hand hurt more.

Pei Xing didn’t dare look at the silently weeping Su Yuan. He withdrew his hand. “I’m sorry.”

In the steam-filled bathroom, Su Yuan was left alone. He had countless reasons to refuse: they had broken up, unbuttoning his clothes would reveal the scar from the open-heart surgery, and Pei Xing’s fiancée was downstairs… their actions were hurting that innocent lady.

The moment he was surrounded by warm water, his frozen pores relaxed, and both his body and heart regained sensation.

Su Yuan pinched his own ear, sitting in the water in silence.

After getting dressed, Su Yuan walked downstairs, deciding to apologize to Mary and move out of Pei Xing’s house immediately to end this torture.

He took a deep breath and found Mary standing on the terrace. Just as he was about to speak, a man suddenly walked in from the yard, embraced her, and the two kissed.

It was a shocking sight!

Su Yuan froze on the spot, watching Yao Xing whom he hadn’t seen in years release Mary. The two shared a similar smile and kissed again.

He fled as if running for his life. Supporting himself against the wall, he ran into the open Western-style kitchen and found Pei Xing simmering hot soup. He pointed toward the terrace, incoherent: “She, I, you, your fiancée and Yao Xing, they…”

Pei Xing’s hand stirring the ginger soup paused. He turned to look at the stuttering Su Yuan, his brow twitching. “Whose fiancée?”

Just then, Yao Xing walked in from the living room holding his fiancée’s hand.

After greeting the stunned Su Yuan, Yao Xing prepared to leave with Mary, but was stopped by Pei Xing.

“Wait a moment.”

Pei Xing called them to a halt, but his eyes were fixed dead on Su Yuan. He hooked two joined fingers at the pair. “You two, stay and eat together.”

“Excuse me?”

“Pei Xing, save the double date for next time. Our Senior Su is already…”

Pei Xing glanced at Yao Xing, then looked at Su Yuan, handing him the served ginger soup. “Su Xin Xin, do something useful. Take these two guests who are getting engaged next month for a tour of the house.”

Su Yuan’s face turned intensely red.

In the backyard, the camellias bloomed passionately, like a fire burning through the lonely autumn splendid and miraculous.

The three sat around a large white umbrella with a heater lit; the teapot gurgled with rising steam.

Through the white mist, Su Yuan gazed blankly at Yao Xing and Mary sitting opposite him, listening to them recount the romantic story of falling in love at first sight on an island and starting to date.

“We are getting engaged in November at a very beautiful winery in Napa,” Mary looked at Su Yuan. “Su, if you have time, you must come with Pei.”

Su Yuan finally seemed to come to his senses. He extended his index finger and thumb, pointing at Yao Xing. “So, you call Yao Xing ‘Xing’,” then pointed at the villa, “and you call Pei Xing… ‘Pei’?”

Mary smiled and smoothed her hair. “Be kind to me; tones are a very difficult thing. However, we usually call Pei by his English name, it’s just that he won’t let us call him that here now.”

As she spoke, she raised her teacup and gave Su Yuan a subtle smile.

Melanie brought Su Yuan a houndstooth shawl. He didn’t feel cold; his hands and feet were toasty, perhaps because of the heater in front of him, or perhaps something else.

After sending Yao Xing away, Mary looked at him without blinking and suddenly spoke. “Su, why did you think Pei and I were engaged?”

Su Yuan, who was drinking hot water, almost choked. He set the cup down and turned away to cough.

Mary laughed. “Even though this is our first time meeting, because of that, your reaction seemed strange to me in hindsight. Of course, the most important thing is Pei—you should know he cherishes the time spent with you very much…”

Su Yuan’s eyelashes flickered.

“I came to bring him urgent documents and was seen as a disturbance. Keeping us for lunch must have been for a very important reason. Therefore, I deduced that you might have misunderstood the relationship between me and Pei.”

Su Yuan’s fingertips lightly brushed the body of the cup as he whispered an apology to Mary.

“I should also say sorry.”

Mary could sense Su Yuan’s fragility, especially in his unstable relationship with Pei Xing—this fragility and sensitivity would be magnified a thousandfold.

She smiled and leaned forward, taking his hand. “Though I don’t understand how this misunderstanding was caused, I’m sorry. If I could do it over, I would improve my self-introduction. I would definitely state my identity the first time we met.”

Su Yuan hurriedly shook his head, saying polite things like it was fine and just a misunderstanding.

Mary saw he was still somewhat nervous and quickly changed the subject. “Speaking of introductions, my full name is Rosemary. Does your name have any special meaning? Just like Pei’s name matches him perfectly, a man of action through and through…”

Su Yuan smiled and began chatting with Mary about the topic of names.

Yao Xing, returning from the car with a coat, felt a bit jealous at the sight and teased, “Senior Su, leave me a way to live. Can you stop smiling at my fiancée?”

Yao Xing draped the coat over Mary and began talking about Su Yuan’s “romantic debts” back in university.

“…The one who got dumped was furious. They had dated for three years, and then got dumped right after starting university. They insisted on seeing who was so capable that they could steal a soul with a single glance,” Yao Xing looked at Su Yuan. “And the result—”

“Su Xin Xin,” Pei Xing suddenly called him. “Come and give me a hand.”

Su Yuan breathed a sigh of relief and quickly fled from that awkward topic.

He entered the fragrant kitchen, washed his hands, and picked up the knife next to the cutting board.

“What are you doing?” Pei Xing closed the oven and looked at Su Yuan, who was preparing to chop vegetables.

“Ah, you asked me to come help.”

Pei Xing walked over and took the knife from his hand. “Help by moving your drooling kitten away from the lobsters.”

Su Yuan looked at Xiao Hua, who was lying by the sink waving its paws at the lobsters. “How did you climb up such a high kitchen counter?”

Xiao Hua was held in his arms and meowed at Pei Xing, who was looking at them out of the corner of his eye.

Pei Xing chopped the potatoes and soaked them in water, his tone casual. “How was the chat?”

The hand stroking the cat paused. Su Yuan pursed his lips. “It was okay…”

Pei Xing turned to lean against the counter, looking at him. “Su Xin Xin, if you have any other misunderstandings about me, say them all at once.”

Su Yuan lowered his head, not daring to look at him. “There are no more.”

“Really?”

“Really, no more…”

Su Yuan watched the tips of Pei Xing’s shoes approaching him; he took small steps backward and was soon cornered.

His back pressed against the large expanse of beautiful colored stained glass. He tucked his chin, and the dazzling light from the glass fell on his face, carrying a hint of awkwardness and shyness. “Don’t be like this…”

The coquettish-like grumble only made one want to do it more.

Pei Xing stared at his lowered eyelashes for a while, a smile curling at the corner of his mouth, before returning to his busy work at the counter.

Su Yuan breathed a sigh of relief and slowly raised his head, looking at Pei Xing’s back. The black apron tied behind his waist paired strangely well with the white shirt and suit trousers, instantly transporting him back to the days they lived together.

However, Pei Xing seemed to have grown a bit taller, his shoulders broader, and the exposed forearm muscles were full and firm; he looked like he could carry him even more easily than before. Um, did I just slap him earlier…?

Just as Su Yuan was about to speak, Pei Xing turned on the stove and interrupted him. “I’m about to sear the meat. There will be oil smoke; take Xiao Hua outside to play.”

“Oh.” Su Yuan looked back once more and happened to meet Pei Xing’s gaze, so he hurried away.

“Su Xin Xin, try running one more time.”

Su Yuan stopped in his tracks and walked out with small steps.

The noon sun was nice. Mary was setting the wooden dining table in the yard. There were no usable tablecloths or decorations in the house. It was truly plain so she asked Su Yuan if he could pick some flowers from the garden.

He was stunned for a moment and looked toward the owner of the villa, who was putting dressing on a salad by the table. Pei Xing pretended not to notice, acting as if she had asked him (Su Yuan).

Su Yuan had no choice but to take charge and nod.

Yao Xing brought out the red wine originally prepared for his lunch date. Just as he was about to pour a fourth glass, Pei Xing took away the wine glass and placed a glass filled with soda water next to Su Yuan’s plate.

Mary was allergic to cat hair, so Xiao Hua had to go back to the room.

Xiao Hua, who always sat in Su Yuan’s lap to accompany him during meals, was a bit unhappy. Su Yuan went to coax it before returning, only to find the steak on his plate had already been cut.

He glanced at Pei Xing beside him. As he sat down, Mary suddenly spoke.

“Su, he told me that in university, as many people pursued him as they did Pei,” Mary bumped Yao Xing beside her. “Is it true?”

Pei Xing picked up a napkin. Su Yuan leaned back slightly to make it easier for him to spread the napkin, then answered with a smile: “Not when school first started, but later on, more people did pursue Yao Xing.”

Mary was curious. “Why?”

“Yao Xing was very prominent in sports activities, especially basketball games; he was very popular.”

“Then why did fewer people pursue Pei?”

“Because at that time, Pei Xing and I were…” Su Yuan cut himself off under the gaze of the two opposite him, very deliberately picking up his fork and stuffing a piece of meat into his mouth, looking like his mouth was very busy.

Mary gave a laugh and didn’t press further, instead continuing to debate the “who is more popular” topic with Yao Xing.

Su Yuan rubbed his ear and stole a glance at the person beside him.

Pei Xing didn’t seem to have heard his answer clearly; he just looked to be in a good mood, taking a sip from his glass.

Unlike their silence, the two with engagement rings opposite them were lively, always laughing together and occasionally interlocking fingers, appearing extremely sweet.

“No way!” Mary covered her mouth exaggeratedly and looked at Su Yuan. “Su, you and Pei used to date?”

Su Yuan froze in place, clutching his fork.

Mary looked full of gossip. “I’ve known Pei for two years and have never seen him date anyone. What was it like dating him? It must have been very boring. He wouldn’t send flowers, and wouldn’t even buy popcorn when watching a movie?”

Had never dated anyone else.

Su Yuan stole another glance at Pei Xing.

A lot of images suddenly flashed through Su Yuan’s mind, the flowers he had received, and many foods he had eaten for the first time, including popcorn. He smiled. “It wasn’t that exaggerated…”

It wasn’t boring at all.

Mary rested her face in her hands. “Please, give me a bit more dirt on my boss. how many times did you two date?”

How many times had they dated in four years? It seemed there were too many to count.

Su Yuan didn’t know how to answer for a moment and cast a pleading look toward Pei Xing, who hadn’t said a word the whole time.

Pei Xing set down his wine glass. “If it’s the ‘dating’ you’re talking about, not many times.”

Mary didn’t seem ready to let them off. “So, did you have a stable relationship? A few weeks, or a few months?”

Pei Xing raised an eyebrow and threw this question with his eyes to Su Yuan, who was acting like a plate-focused ostrich.

Su Yuan just pretended not to hear, taking small bites of cod as if he had turned into a plant quietly performing photosynthesis.

Yao Xing, watching the show, saw it couldn’t go on and interrupted him, mentioning the Huaihai University anniversary in December and inviting Su Yuan to the engagement party once again.

The atmosphere at the dining table gradually improved. Su Yuan also spoke up voluntarily; his answers were short and his voice light, but it was the kind that made people quietly listen until he finished.

“I love your voice so much; I bet it sounds even better in your native language.” As Mary spoke, she suddenly thought of something. “It also sounds a bit familiar.”

Su Yuan remembered that phone call; he guessed that because he was crying so hard, Mary only heard the last few words, which was why she thought he was looking for Yao Xing and claimed to be the other’s girlfriend.

After lunch ended, Su Yuan went back to his room to take his medicine and accompany Xiao Hua; the other three went to the study to discuss work.

Su Yuan sat on the carpet with his upper body leaning against the sofa, holding Xiao Hua and almost falling asleep.

Suddenly, he smelled the scent on Pei Xing. He forced his eyes open. “What’s wrong?”

“Go back to bed to sleep.” Pei Xing withdrew the hand that wanted to pick him up and helped him up instead.

Su Yuan looked at the two standing at the door and realized they were leaving, so he hurried over to see them off.

Mary gave him a hug, thanking him for today’s lunch.

Pei Xing saw that Su Yuan’s loose hair was a bit messy from Mary’s hug. He reached out to smooth it out and said, “I made lunch.”

Mary thought for a moment. “Are you asking me to hug you too?”

“NO.” After Pei Xing said that, he led the unsteady Su Yuan toward the third-floor master bedroom.

With his back to the bedroom door, Su Yuan stripped himself naked in a few movements. Pei Xing was stunned for a second and immediately turned around to close the door.

Finally shedding the massive snail shell, Su Yuan lay back on the large, soft bed and fell into a deep sleep. Xiao Hua struggled to climb to the third floor. Just as it was about to slip through the crack in the door, it was picked up by Pei Xing, who was sitting by the door.

“—Shh.”

Pei Xing sat leaning against the wall with his legs crossed, continuing to handle work. Xiao Hua’s struggle was fruitless, and he fell asleep sprawled out on his lap.

At dusk, Su Yuan opened his eyes, staring blankly at the empty master bedroom for a while. He immediately sat up, then remembered that Pei Xing didn’t have a girlfriend, and lay back down again, continuing to occupy the large bed in the master bedroom until it was dark.

Pei Xing didn’t have a girlfriend; he had never dated anyone else during the two years they were apart. Pei Xing… Pei Xing…

The discomfort in his heart urged him to get up.

Su Yuan went downstairs slowly, opened a cabinet, and found something to pad his stomach so he could take his medicine.

As soon as he closed the cabinet door, Pei Xing’s face suddenly appeared before his eyes.

Su Yuan was never scared by Pei Xing, but he was scared by seeing Pei Xing right after waking up.

The spacious villa was lit by the moon outside. Su Yuan looked at Pei Xing, unsure if it was a dream or a hallucination. He reached out his hand and poked Pei Xing’s face.

It was real.

“Su Yuan.”

Su Yuan hadn’t yet come back from the thought of distinguishing hallucination from dream. He stared blankly at his fingertip that had just poked Pei Xing and looked up at him, his voice carrying a bit of hoarseness from having just woken up. “Does it still hurt?”

The person standing opposite him seemed to know what he was asking about and gave a light laugh. “It doesn’t hurt.”

Su Yuan said “sorry” in a daze, then nodded and said, “That’s good,” then turned as if to leave.

“Su Yuan,”

Su Yuan bit into a slice of toast and turned around unsteadily. “Mhm?”

“Can I move in now?” Pei Xing asked.