Save That Miserable Protagonist - Chapter 24

After the seventh day of the grandmother’s passing, life seemed to have been forcibly reset.

During these days, Lu Xun was worried about Pei Tingsong’s mental state. He visited Pei Tingsong every few days. Sometimes he brought food, and sometimes he used the excuse of being in the neighborhood. More often than not, he had no reason at all; Lu Xun simply wanted to see Pei Tingsong with his own eyes to ensure he was not grieving alone.

Although he could not shoulder Pei Tingsong’s sorrow, Lu Xun could at least be there so that the other man did not have to endure it in silence. Having someone there makes things a bit more bearable, after all. He could not let Pei Tingsong truly feel as if he were the only person left in the world.

On this particular day, just as Lu Xun was preparing an excuse to visit, Yu Che suddenly arrived at his door.

Since the previous bar incident, Lu Xun had been preoccupied with Pei Tingsong and had not contacted Yu Che’s circle for a long time. This had left Yu Che in a state of panic, fearing that Lu Xun had distanced himself because of what happened. Having finally found a reason to reach out, Yu Che hurried over.

Rubbing his hands together with a cautious, pleasing smile, Yu Che said, “Brother Lu, I recently opened a new rooftop bar. Today is the grand opening and I have invited quite a few people. I was wondering,” he paused, lowering his voice tentatively, “I was wondering if you would like to bring the Sister-in-Law along to relax a bit?”

The title “Sister-in-Law” hit Lu Xun’s ears, causing him to pause. Strangely, he felt no resentment toward the term. Instead, a tiny, almost imperceptible spark of satisfaction rose within him, one he did not even notice himself.

Although Yu Che did not mention a name, both men knew exactly who he was referring to. Lu Xun’s stony expression softened slightly. He lifted his gaze and corrected Yu Che without much emotion, saying, “Do not talk nonsense. Pei Tingsong is a man.”

Upon hearing this, Yu Che’s eyes lit up. Lu Xun had not actually refuted the implication of the title, which meant there was a chance.

Yu Che grew bolder and laughed, “Right, I will listen to you, Brother Lu. Should I come pick you and Brother Pei up tonight?”

Lu Xun gave a light hum and waved him off. “No need. Just send me the location. I will bring Pei Tingsong there myself tonight.” Lu Xun then remembered something. He curled his lips into a half-smile, looking at Yu Che with a heavy hint of warning. “This is a party you personally invited me to.”

Understanding the look immediately, Yu Che raised his hands in a vow. “I know! Do not worry, Brother Lu! If anyone dares to disrespect the Sister-in-Law this time, you will not even have to say a word. I will bring you my head on a platter!”

In truth, this bar was opened specifically to win back Lu Xun’s favor. Yu Che had repeatedly instructed the entire staff, down to the last waiter, to treat Lu Xun and Pei Tingsong like gods. Flattery was mandatory, and dissent was forbidden.

Yu Che was confident. He had even gone to the medical school to scout out Pei Tingsong’s likes and dislikes. Though he did not get much detail, other than the fact that Pei Tingsong liked working, he at least found out where Pei Tingsong was from. If nothing else, the food at the bar tonight would definitely suit his tastes.

The Rooftop Gathering

Lu Xun knew what Yu Che was up to. He knew no one would dare offend him a second time, so this party was clearly designed to appease him and Pei Tingsong. He figured letting Pei Tingsong out to relax and see a crowd might be good for him.

By evening, Lu Xun practically forced Pei Tingsong into the car.

The bar was on the 32nd-floor rooftop, offering a stunning view of the lights of Jiangcheng. Since they arrived late, the venue was already packed with glamorous people. To Lu Xun’s surprise, aside from the usual socialites, there were many outstanding students from Jiangcheng University. It seemed Yu Che had put in a lot of effort to make Pei Tingsong feel comfortable.

Unfortunately, Pei Tingsong was not one for making friends. To him, fellow students were no different from strangers; perhaps they were only slightly more familiar. Lu Xun, however, appreciated the gesture.

Pei Tingsong was still dressed simply in a white shirt and black trousers. Standing under the dazzling lights, he looked exceptionally clean, almost too much so. He did not seem to fit into this boisterous environment at all. Even with the thumping music, he remained unmoved.

Fearing Pei Tingsong would feel awkward, Lu Xun stayed by his side from the moment they entered. When people came to greet them, Lu Xun responded briefly, his gaze never leaving Pei Tingsong. Seeing that the other man was not initiating conversation but also was not showing signs of impatience, Lu Xun felt a slight sense of relief.

Then, Yu Man appeared.

The girl was like a cheerful butterfly, wearing a glittering short skirt with pearls in her hair. With her large eyes and doll-like face, she was as exquisite as a porcelain figurine. She moved with purpose. As soon as she saw Lu Xun, she rushed over and grabbed his arm, calling out sweetly, “Brother Lu Xun!”

Immediately after, she naturally shook his arm and pouted, “Why are you just getting here? I have been waiting for you for so long.”

At this sight, Pei Tingsong’s steady expression finally shifted. Unsure of what he was feeling, he took a step back and crossed his arms, watching Lu Xun’s reaction with an expression of feigned interest.

When Lu Xun saw Pei Tingsong step back, he froze. He did not have any ill will toward Yu Man; she was a girl who had acted spoiled around him since they were kids, and he viewed her as a younger sister. However, in front of everyone, he could not just embarrass her.

Awkwardly withdrawing his hand, Lu Xun instinctively glanced at Pei Tingsong and explained hurriedly, “Uh, this is Yu Man, Yu Che’s cousin.”

Yu Man pouted unhappily and grabbed his arm again, saying petulantly, “What do you mean Yu Che’s cousin? Brother Lu Xun, am I not your childhood friend and sister?”

“Who is your childhood friend?” Seeing Pei Tingsong starting to sneer, Lu Xun took a step back and shook off her hand. His tone became impatient and cold as he tried to draw a clear line. “We hardly see each other throughout the year. Do not talk nonsense.”

He said this to Yu Man, but it was intended for the silent Pei Tingsong. Hearing this, the smile on Yu Man’s face finally crumbled. She stamped her foot and stomped away.

She expected Lu Xun to come and coax her, but after waiting, she looked back only to see Lu Xun carefully trying to appease Pei Tingsong. Yu Man had never seen Lu Xun act so humble. In her eyes, he was always the high-and-mighty young master whom others catered to. At most, he would tell her to stop being angry, but he would never drop his noble air.

She thought that was what made her special. But it turned out that when Lu Xun truly wanted to coax someone, he was no different from anyone else; he, too, could be humble. He, too, could drop his ego.

Fuming, she could not help but creep closer to eavesdrop.

“Were you angry just now?” Unlike what Yu Man expected, Lu Xun was smiling as he asked this.

“No,” Pei Tingsong replied coldly. Hearing this “no,” Yu Man clenched her fists. She thought Pei Tingsong was being incredibly ungrateful. If Brother Lu Xun spoke to her like that, she would have caved instantly!

“But you were angry enough to sneer?”

“I said I am not angry!”

“Then prove it to me.”

Lu Xun leaned his face close to Pei Tingsong with a grin. Looking at that smiling face, Pei Tingsong felt like his hair was standing on end from frustration. He tried to turn away, but no matter which way he turned, Lu Xun followed, looking at him with a persistent smile. When their eyes met, Lu Xun even blinked.

Pei Tingsong finally snapped. “Are you sick? What is the point of forcing me to say I am angry?”

“If you admit you are angry, then I can coax you.”

Lu Xun said it quickly, without thinking. Pei Tingsong froze. Staring straight at Lu Xun, his mind went blank. He did not know what to say, so he hurriedly looked away. As they both fell silent, an ambiguous tension began to flow through the air. Watching Pei Tingsong’s fluttering eyelashes, Lu Xun rubbed his nose.

He was starting to panic, too. Looking around, Lu Xun blurted out, “Uh, I think I am a bit hungry. I will go grab a drink.”

The moment he turned to leave, Yu Man stepped in.

Having overheard the conversation, Yu Man was driven mad with jealousy. Despite her cousin’s repeated warnings that Pei Tingsong was the apple of Lu Xun’s eye, she did not care. She felt she was better than this man who had nothing but a pretty face.

Standing before Pei Tingsong, she raised her chin and looked him up and down with blatant contempt. “So, you are Pei Tingsong? You do not look like much.” She spoke with the entitlement of the wealthy. “I suggest you stay away from Brother Lu Xun. You are not worthy of him.”

Pei Tingsong finally looked away from the distant Lu Xun. Looking at Yu Man, he remained calm. “Is worthiness something you decide? In what capacity are you saying this to me?” He paused, then curled his lips into a slight smile. “As the childhood sister Lu Xun does not acknowledge?”

After saying this, he mirrored her actions, looking her up and down before letting out a scornful laugh. He did not need to say more; the smile was insulting enough.

Yu Man’s face turned bright red. She stamped her foot, her voice turning shrill. “Do not get cocky! I am telling you, I am the fiancée recognized by the Lu family!”

“Fine then. Congratulations.”

The congratulations were airy and dismissive. Pei Tingsong stopped looking at her and turned back to the neon lights. Normally, he would not speak to a girl like that, but having realized his own feelings, seeing Yu Man act like Lu Xun’s girlfriend sparked an uncontrollable anger.

Only then did he realize he was possessive. He was possessive enough that a few words from Yu Man made him want to give Lu Xun the cold shoulder.

As he was lost in thought, Yu Man felt completely ignored. Having never suffered such a slight, she burst into tears and ran away.

Just then, Lu Xun returned with two drinks. Seeing Yu Man’s retreating, tearful back, he looked at Pei Tingsong in confusion. Handing him a drink, he asked, “What is wrong with her?”

Pei Tingsong did not even take the drink. He gave a cold, humorless laugh. “Your fiancée was driven to tears by me. Are you not going to comfort her?”

Lu Xun was even more bewildered. “What fiancée? Where did I get a fiancée?”

“How is there not one?”

Pei Tingsong knew he was being unreasonable, but he wanted to stir things up. He wanted to see what place he actually held in Lu Xun’s heart. What was this relationship to Lu Xun: something that was not quite a friendship, but was not quite a romance?

Staring straight at Lu Xun, Pei Tingsong said coldly, “That arrogant Sister Yu Man who just critiqued me from head to toe and told me I was not worthy of you. Is she not the one? Besides, I, a grown man, made a little girl cry. Are you going to seek justice for her?”

He had intended to use this to mess with Lu Xun, but by the end, his genuine emotions took over. He became angrier as he spoke, and finally, he turned to leave with a cold face.

Lu Xun was stunned, but once he regained his senses, he pulled Pei Tingsong’s hand, feeling both amused and exasperated. “What on earth are you talking about? Why would I take her side? If I am taking anyone’s side, it is yours! Yu Man is talking nonsense. I have nothing to do with her! What fiancée? The Lu family does not need me for an arranged marriage, okay?”

He explained urgently, his tone becoming increasingly serious. Looking into Pei Tingsong’s eyes, he almost blurted out, “And what do you mean you are not worthy? Who said you are not worthy of me? Of course you are! You…”

He stopped abruptly. Looking into Pei Tingsong’s dark eyes which were waiting for an answer, Lu Xun realized something. He felt that if he continued this conversation, something would shatter, and he and Pei Tingsong would enter a scenario he could not control. He quickly changed the subject and turned to the night view. “Are you hungry? I saw many specialties from your hometown over there. Do you want me to get some for you?”

“Why will you not finish what you were saying?”

Hearing this, Lu Xun’s whole body went stiff. After a long while, he turned around with a forced grin. “What? Are you hungry? I will get you some…”

Pei Tingsong interrupted him. “I asked why you will not finish what you were just saying.” Before Lu Xun could continue acting dumb, Pei Tingsong continued directly, “Were you going to say that I am worthy of you?”

Lu Xun fell silent. The thing he had been worrying about finally surfaced, and the air seemed to freeze. He looked into those eyes that were so close. They were dark, like gems, reflecting his own figure. Looking at those eyes, Lu Xun naturally wanted to admit it. Not only that, he even wanted to take the opportunity to confess his feelings.

But he could not.

Looking at Pei Tingsong’s eyes, which held only him, Lu Xun knew clearly that Pei Tingsong had fallen for him. If he nodded now and said “Yes,” he could fulfill his initial plan and start a relationship with Pei Tingsong.

But then what? After they were in a relationship, what would happen next?

Lu Xun knew too well what kind of person he was. He thought of the system’s original ending for Pei Tingsong, and then thought of his own “three-minute heat” of fleeting passion. He suddenly took a step back. No matter what, Lu Xun did not want to, and could not, hurt Pei Tingsong again.

The color drained from his face. Lu Xun did not dare look at him. His throat and heart felt dry and painful. He tried his best to maintain a joking tone. “Of course. It is me who is not worthy of you.”

Once this truth was spoken as a joke, the words that followed became easier. He lowered his head and his voice grew softer. “Look at you. You got into Jiangcheng University through your own hard work. You win the highest scholarships every year. You are beautiful and have a good personality. Then look at me. I am just a second-generation rich kid waiting to die on my parents’ money. In the second half of the year, I will probably go abroad just to get a degree. I am a superficial person. No matter how you look at it, I am the one who is not worthy of you.”

Hearing this, Pei Tingsong blinked. He did not understand why Lu Xun would say such a thing, but it did not stop him from being certain of Lu Xun’s feelings. He took a step forward, his dark pupils reflecting the surrounding lights. “I know you are not that kind of person.”

Before he could finish, Lu Xun interrupted, “I am.”

“You are not.”

As Pei Tingsong tried to take another step forward, Lu Xun looked up with a look of absolute seriousness. “Pei Tingsong, I am.” He stared straight at him, cutting off whatever he was going to say next. “So, I cannot be with you. Do you understand?”

After saying this, Lu Xun did not dare look at Pei Tingsong. He fled the scene in a panic. Consequently, he did not see Pei Tingsong’s hand reaching out to stop him.

The night wind was strong, blowing the corners of Pei Tingsong’s shirt. Watching Lu Xun’s back disappear into the distance, Pei Tingsong blinked slowly, and the light in his eyes vanished with the motion. Finally, he slowly withdrew his hand.