Finally Being Snatched Away at My Wedding by My Ex-Boyfriend - Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Summer Night Fright (P.)

During the summer after his senior year of high school, Pei Xing began spending more time in town tutoring, earning living expenses for when he started university.

Huaihai University had already waived his tuition and accommodation fees, but in a city like that, it felt as if even breathing cost money. For that, Pei Xing needed to work a little harder.

In the evening, he carried his luggage from his aunt’s house back to his parents’ home, with a stray white cat leading the way.

Walking up to the small gray courtyard, Pei Xing crouched down and pinched the cat’s face. “Don’t go in. The tenant might not like cats.”

Or perhaps they wouldn’t like a stray cat with only one eye.

Pei Xing looked up at the main building behind the tall persimmon tree in the yard.

The yard had been rented out for three years, but the tenant only came to stay during the summer.

Pei Xing had just turned eighteen in the first half of the year. Previously, his aunt had handled matters like the rental contract; his responsibility during the summer was to commute daily between the two houses to cook and deliver meals to the tenant’s door. He had never met the person.

This was the third summer.

He had no interest in other people’s privacy; he had only heard it was a painter from Huaicheng. He didn’t understand what this small county offered besides quiet and a crested ibis habitat that made it worth traveling from Huaicheng three years in a row.

Pei Xing also didn’t understand why the tenant had suddenly suggested to his aunt that he move in.

The reasoning that “the delivered food arrived cold” didn’t make much sense. The insulated lunch boxes provided by the tenant performed very well, and it was impossible to only notice that in the third year.

Regardless, Pei Xing followed suit. Moving back would indeed save him a lot of time by eliminating the commute. He only hoped things would remain as before no extra contact or socializing. He didn’t want to waste time on things that weren’t economically productive. He was about to start university in Huaicheng and needed to earn as much as possible this summer.

The stray cat squinted and purred a few times, as if it understood his words.

Pei Xing stood up and walked into the yard.

The yard, enclosed by a waist-high gray wall, wasn’t large and could be seen in its entirety at a glance. On the left was a persimmon tree over a decade old; in the middle were gray-white stone slabs and a small stone table. In the corner, two water vats for collecting rain reflected the setting sun.

There were two small buildings in the yard. The main building where the tenant lived faced the gate. Pei Xing would stay in the one on the right side of the yard.

The outdoor stairs to the second floor were built together, branching off like a fork in the road.

Pei Xing habitually looked toward the second floor of the main building. Lights were on in both windows, and an easel stood on the balcony, blocking his view. As long as it wasn’t raining, that easel was always on the balcony.

The shadow of the persimmon tree fell on the back of the canvas, swaying like the brushstrokes of a summer breeze.

As if possessed, Pei Xing stared for a few extra seconds.

At that moment, a pair of hands gripped the edges of the white frame. With a tilt of the wrist, the frame rotated. The tree shadows brushed across those hands gently and ambiguously.

The white stray cat that had followed him all the way jumped onto the balcony, climbed the easel, and wrapped its tail around that slender wrist.

Pei Xing’s fingers at his side curled slightly, as if grasping a gust of wind.

In the summer of Fu County, even the wind felt cool when held in one’s hand.

Pei Xing’s gaze was like that tail entwining and staring unblinkingly at the stranger’s hand until the phone in his pocket vibrated.

Aunt: Ah-Xing, don’t go looking for Xiao Su. City people don’t like us country folk. Don’t offend him.

Pei Xing didn’t reply immediately. Those hands were still before his eyes; he found that even bowing his head couldn’t stop his peripheral vision from seeking them out. He disliked this feeling and turned to go upstairs.

The room on the second floor of the smaller building was sparsely furnished and very tidy. Pei Xing cleaned it once more, made the bed, and put away his few daily necessities. He sat behind the desk by the window and placed his laptop on the table.

The moment he pushed open the laptop screen, a figure flashed across the opposite balcony.

His finger forgot to let go of the power button, so when the startup sound rang out, the way he pulled his hand back felt abrupt even to himself.

Pei Xing frowned, stood up, and pulled the blue-and-white curtains shut, sealing out the meddling wind.

He prepared his lesson plans and, following his habit, sent messages to the families he was tutoring tomorrow to confirm times, ensuring he could start exactly when he arrived. Just as he was about to close his laptop, someone called out to him in the freshman group chat.

“I heard the Science Top Scorer from Yue City, who only lost points in Chinese, is in our department too?”

“@Pei Xing, there, I @’ed him for you. But his private messages are closed, he has no Moments, and he doesn’t reply to group messages.”

“So cold and aloof?”

“I’ve known Pei Xing since before those rumors started! I can testify at the sophomore math competition, other than answering questions on stage, he didn’t say a single word the rest of the time!”

“You didn’t let him off the hook either.”

Pei Xing closed the screen. The curtains billowed in the night breeze, and warm yellow light leaked through the edges from the building opposite.

He turned and went into the bathroom to shower.

Just as he finished dressing, a short, sharp scream suddenly rang out in the quiet night, followed by the clatter of things hitting the floor.

Pei Xing opened his door, walked down the steps, and stared at the door opposite him.

Simultaneously, a click sounded from the pitch-black main building. The door was flung open, and a young man stumbled out, crashing heavily against the opposite wall.

The impact sent him veering off course, but his footsteps didn’t stop as he stumbled toward the stairs.

Pei Xing rushed forward, gripped the concrete handrail, and opened his arms to catch him.

The moment he held the person in his arms, Pei Xing realized his bracing movement was almost unnecessary. The body was paper-thin and weightless, like a bird that had fallen into his chest. It smelled of jasmine.

“Are you okay?” Pei Xing looked down and asked.

The person in his arms looked up. The lingering shock on his face possessed a sort of cruel beauty. He had been badly frightened; his nose and lips were trembling, and his eyelashes fluttered.

The clouds covering the moon dispersed, and the soft light illuminated his features.

Pei Xing’s fingers tightened again, perfectly gripping the slender wrist resting against his chest.

In a life of poverty, everything was a matter of delayed gratification. It was impossible to possess the things one wanted the moment they were seen Pei Xing had long understood this truth.

This was the first time he experienced a moment of seeing, wanting, and obtaining.

“Are you okay?”

Pei Xing had forgotten he had already asked once.

The other person seemed to find his scattered thoughts only after this second inquiry. He shook his head.

In most cases, asking “Are you okay?” would result in a positive response like “It’s nothing” or “Thank you.”

Pei Xing hadn’t expected this silence and for a moment didn’t know how to follow up.

The person stood a bit straighter but didn’t leave his embrace. Looking into his eyes, he whispered, “The light suddenly went out. I was scared.”

The voice was very low, yet pleasant. His gaze was innocent and frank, appearing completely unguarded.

Pei Xing thought perhaps the circuit had tripped because he had moved in and overloaded it. “I’ll go check the breaker.”

He turned toward the main building, but unexpectedly, the other person reached out and caught his finger.

“No, I’m scared.”

Pei Xing looked back, glancing at the finger that wasn’t even as thick as his own pinky, and then met those pleading, aggrieved eyes.

He looked into the dark room, thought for a moment, and brought the person to his own room across the way. Once the light was on, the other person finally let go.

“Wait for me here.”

“Then you have to come back quickly.”

The tone was as soft as the fingertip he had just touched, the end of the sentence rising slightly like the hook of the crescent moon outside.

Pei Xing nodded, took out a flashlight, and walked toward the dark main building.

The breaker box was inside the room. When the house was first rented out, Pei Xing had brought in an electrician to modify it. Although nothing had ever happened in Fu County, if an outsider moved in alone and someone got ideas, they wouldn’t be able to start from such a simple place.

Now it seemed it was indeed necessary.

Pei Xing flipped the switch. The lights flared to life, and all the appliances beeped and lit up.

Only then did he see the source of the clattering. The floor in the middle of the living room was covered in glass shards and water; more than one glass had been shattered.

He looked for a broom in the room but couldn’t find one. Then he remembered someone was waiting for him outside.

Walking out of the room and looking up, Pei Xing saw him immediately.

He was sitting by the door with his legs tucked in, head resting on his knees. Seeing Pei Xing come out, he slowly sat up straight but didn’t stand.

“Will it turn black again?”

“It shouldn’t. I’ll get an electrician to look at it tomorrow.” Pei Xing walked over, stopping below the steps.

He was about to mention the broken glass inside and tell him not to go in yet, but the other person reached out a hand to him.

“I can’t quite get up.”

Pei Xing walked forward a few steps and pulled him up. Just as he was about to withdraw his hand, he found the other person gripping it tightly, as if they would fall the moment he let go. Pei Xing watched as he took a moment to steady himself before letting go.

“There’s glass on the floor. Let me clean it up before you go back in.”

Pei Xing turned around. Seeing the person behind him made no further move, he went to the yard to get his tools and entered the house.

Judging by the different colors and patterns of the shards, four glasses had been broken.

How could someone use so many glasses?

Pei Xing suddenly spotted pills and capsules among the shards. He paused for a moment before sweeping them away together. Finally, he turned off the light and knelt on the floor using the flashlight to check for glass splinters, mopping it several times before spraying it with alcohol to disinfect.

Once finished, Pei Xing looked back and met the gaze of the person leaning against the doorframe, revealing half of his face.

“You can come in. If Mr. Su doesn’t mind the smell of alcohol.”

“My grandfather is ‘Mr. Su’.”

The person by the door let go and laughed. “My name is Su Yuan. ‘Yuan’ as in ‘Xinyuan’ (wish).”

Su Yuan walked toward him like a pure white Epiphyllum that only blooms on summer nights. Inexplicably, Pei Xing noticed a red mole on his collarbone, and inexplicably, he wanted to retreat.

“Thank you, Pei Xing. Do you want something to drink?”

“No thanks.” He shook his head, picking up the rag from the floor. “What time will you be home tomorrow? I’ll contact the electrician.”

Su Yuan tilted his head and thought. “I’m not sure yet. Can I tell you tomorrow?”

Pei Xing thought about his tutoring schedule for tomorrow; other than coming back at noon to cook, he had no free time.

“Alright. You can write down the times you’re available and leave it at the door. I’ll come check.”

Su Yuan suddenly brushed past him toward the bedroom, returning shortly with his phone. “Perhaps you could give me your contact info. It would be more convenient.”

Pei Xing’s hand tightened slightly on the rag. He recited his phone number.

“I’ve got it.” Su Yuan put down his phone and looked at him. “It seems the 6,000 yuan monthly rent is worth it. You’re a very reassuring landlord.”

6,000?

Pei Xing looked up, meeting Su Yuan’s eyes again. After a moment, he nodded, took his things, and left.

After cleaning his tools, Pei Xing returned to his room and clicked on the chat with his aunt. He quickly scrolled to the transfer records from a few days ago.

Aunt: [Transfer: 1,500]

Aunt: Ah-Xing, for this month’s 3,000 rent, half goes to you as usual, and Auntie will save the other half for you.

He scrolled down expressionlessly, seeing that after Su Yuan requested him to move in, the warnings in the chat had noticeably increased, all telling him to keep his distance from Su Yuan.

Aunt: Ah-Xing, if you don’t want to live there, just tell Xiao Su.

Aunt: Xiao Su is a city person, he always complains to me about what’s not good. You have a cold personality; you won’t get along with him. Try to avoid him.

Pei Xing’s expression remained unchanged. He put down his phone and turned off the bedside lamp.

A few minutes later, the phone screen lit up the dark room again.

No missed calls.

Pei Xing didn’t know what he was expecting; the word “expectation” didn’t really suit him.

The screen went dark again. The room was silent, save for the chirping of insects outside.

The sound of a text message became pleasant to the ear.

[New Message]

I am Su Yuan, ‘Yuan’ as in ‘Wish’. 😀