What Should I do After Binding the Wrong System and the Female Lead comes Knocking at my Door? - Chapter 30

Pei Yuanxi and Gu Qing waited outside for more than two hours before they saw the main group slowly coming from the direction of the back mountain.

The two of them moved into the car to take shelter, not for any particular reason, but simply because Pei Yuanxi didn’t want to engage in any more superficial pleasantries with that group.

With her sister around, she usually just enjoyed herself and didn’t worry much.

After waiting a little longer, the car window was knocked, and Pei Yuanxi looked out. The crowd had dispersed, leaving only her sister and Chu Chu standing there.

Pei Yuanxi curiously asked, “Where are the members of the inspection team staying?”

Pei Muchan reached out to help her sister out of the car. “They’re staying at the guesthouse. They wanted me to go too, but I politely declined.”

“Got it.” Pei Yuanxi nodded.

“Have you been to Chu Chu’s place yet?”

Upon hearing her sister mention it, Pei Yuanxi awkwardly coughed.

“I have, but the atmosphere wasn’t exactly cheerful…”

Chu Qingyan sighed from the side. “It’s not your fault. After all these years of not coming back, I don’t even know how to face them.”

Pei Muchan pulled Chu Qingyan into her arms, softly comforting her. “Don’t be afraid, I’m here.”

Pei Yuanxi glanced at Gu Qing, but didn’t realize that Gu Qing had been watching her for quite a while.

The two exchanged a look, and Pei Yuanxi cleared her throat, deliberately moving closer to Gu Qing, taking her hand as they walked behind.

Pei Yuanxi gently pinched Gu Qing’s finger and whispered, “You’re really cute.”

“Do you want to see something even cuter?” Gu Qing asked in the same low voice.

“What… what?”

Could it be what she thought?

“Toe pads, do you want to play?”

Pei Yuanxi: …

“Uh… well, it’s not impossible.”

Gu Qing: ???

Pei Yuanxi was never shy—who was she afraid of? Little A Qing? Laughable, really.

Sure enough, Gu Qing took a deep breath, stepped on Pei Yuanxi’s foot with force, and walked quickly ahead.

Pei Muchan and Chu Qingyan, who were walking ahead, were also whispering.

“Your sister and the others seem pretty sweet together.”

Pei Muchan didn’t respond.

Chu Qingyan wasn’t going to let up. “Hey, I haven’t asked you yet—now that you’ve met Gu Qing, what do you think?”

“Well, I think they’re quite well-matched. You don’t care about family background or anything, so why are you still holding back? Hurry up and approve of them so they can be together!”

Pei Muchan lightly furrowed her brows. “When did I say I was opposed?”

“If their relationship depends on your approval to move forward, then I think it’s not much of a relationship at all.”

Chu Qingyan clicked her tongue. “You can keep pretending, but who knows what’s really in your heart?”

“If you keep staying silent and not doing anything, you’ll regret it later.”

Pei Muchan paused. Chu Qingyan did have a point.

Since they signed the dating contract, she had been letting Gu Qing meet her as Pei Yuanxi’s friend, always thinking of waiting and observing more.

For her, Gu Qing could only come to see her as her sister’s girlfriend once she fully approved of the relationship.

But keeping up this stance wasn’t really working anymore.

Now that she saw the two of them together, it did seem like Chu Qingyan said—it was a pretty good match.

Her sister also looked genuinely happy.

She knew in her heart that matters like this, just like her relationship with Chu Qingyan, couldn’t be stopped, but it still felt uncomfortable.

Her little girl, the one she had always protected in her hands, was going to belong to someone else…

Now Pei Muchan felt like a father watching his daughter in love, both pained and sad.

But that didn’t stop her from being stubborn. “I feel like I’ve been pretty open-minded about it…”

Chu Qingyan nodded. This couldn’t be denied, since even when Gu Qing and Yuanxi were strangers and signed a dating contract, any normal parent would have intervened long ago.

Pei Muchan sighed and hesitated before saying, “Once we go back this time, your status will be enough.”

Chu Qingyan was taken aback. After so many years of their relationship, she instantly understood what Pei Muchan meant. A smile involuntarily appeared on Chu Qingyan’s face, but she still asked, “What status?”

Pei Muchan: …

“Come on, tell me! What status?”

“My partner, Yuanxi’s sister-in-law.”

Chu Qingyan was satisfied.

She waved her hand grandly. “Alright, what do you want me to do?”

“Just let Gu Qing meet half of the family for now, and help me see if their interaction behind the scenes is really like this. If their relationship is fine… then you can help me out.”

“Got it.” Chu Qingyan nodded with a grin. “Don’t worry, after all, Gu Qing and I have something in common: we’re both women of the Pei family. So, naturally, we have a built-in alliance.”

Pei Muchan: …

The four of them chatted and laughed as they reached the door.

Around Chu Qingyan’s house, villagers had already gathered, discussing and waiting to see if there would be any drama.

Chu Qingyan ignored them and directly walked into the house. As soon as they entered the courtyard, they saw her mother waiting for her at the door.

Chu Qingyan’s eyes suddenly welled up, and she couldn’t help but cry out, “Mom!”

She then quickly ran over and hugged her mother.

Chu’s mother also couldn’t hold back her tears, but she scolded, “You ungrateful thing, you haven’t come back in years! Is it really that hard for you to come home? Tell me!”

“Mom, I’m sorry…”

Chu’s mother snorted, then looked toward the room where Chu’s father was sitting.

Chu Qingyan softly called, “Dad!”

Chu’s father nodded and muttered, “It’s good that you’re back. Hurry up and bring your guests in.”

Chu Qingyan pulled Pei Muchan’s hand to introduce her. “Dad, Mom, this is not a guest, she’s my girlfriend!”

Chu’s father waved his hand. “I’m not blind, come in and sit!”

Chu Qingyan broke into a smile, nodding eagerly.

Pei Muchan gave a slight bow. “Uncle, Aunt, sorry to trouble you.”

Chu’s mother quickly responded and then called to Pei Yuanxi and Gu Qing, who had been quietly observing from the back. “Yuanxi, you two come in too. I’ve caught the rabbits you like. Two big fat ones!”

Pei Yuanxi smiled and said to Gu Qing, “Looks like we’re in for a treat tonight.”

Once they were all seated inside, an awkward silence fell over the room. Pei Yuanxi felt that the atmosphere was even more awkward now than when she had been with A Qing earlier. She wanted to scratch her toes.

Pei Muchan took the initiative to speak. “Uncle, Aunt, I’m really sorry for visiting so suddenly. The main reason we came is that Qingyan has been thinking about you two all these years, so we came to see you.”

Chu’s mother responded, “She must have caused you a lot of trouble over the years. Thank you for looking after her.”

“No, she caused me much more trouble than I caused her,” Chu Qingyan mumbled quietly.

Pei Muchan smiled gently. “The reason we’re here today is actually another one.”

Everyone in the room straightened up, waiting for what would come next.

Here it comes! They’re coming to ask for your daughter’s hand!

Pei Yuanxi couldn’t help but feel a little excited. After all, this was her first time witnessing a family meeting like this.

“I don’t know if Qingyan has told you, but we met in college, and after many ups and downs, supporting each other, we’ve made it to this point. To me, my senior has long become an irreplaceable part of my life, and I can’t imagine how I would go on living the rest of my days without her by my side.”

Pei Muchen stood up, holding Chu Qingyan’s hand, and solemnly promised Chu’s father and mother.

“So, I’m here. I’m here to apologize to you both. I deeply regret delaying Senior Sister for so many years. I am willing to spend the rest of my life by her side, to make her happy and bring her joy. Please, give me a chance.”

Chu Qingyan’s eyes sparkled as she stared at Pei Muchen. Unable to hold back, she tearfully shouted, “I’m willing! I’m willing!”

After shouting, she was not satisfied and immediately kissed Pei Muchen on the cheek.

Everyone in the room was stunned.

Pei Muchen cleared his throat and softly said, “It’s not yet time for you to say you’re willing!”

“I don’t care, I’m willing!”

Chu’s father and mother were silent…

How could they say anything when their daughter was acting like this?

At this moment, Pei Yuanxi’s thoughts seemed to drift off somewhere.

Not because of anything else, but because Pei Muchen’s “Senior Sister” reminded her of that day when Ah Qing had called her “Pei Teacher” while they were on the bed.

When she snapped back to reality, she realized that Chu’s father and mother had already started inviting everyone to the table for dinner.

While no one was paying attention, Pei Yuanxi smiled and secretly poked Guo Xiaoqing.

Just as she was about to say something, she heard Chu Qingyan over by her sister, still bothering her.

“Tonight, I want to hear you call me Senior Sister~”

Guo Qing also heard it. After thinking for a moment, she lowered her head and asked Pei Yuanxi, “What’s wrong, Pei Teacher?”

“Ugh…”

Pei Yuanxi thought to herself that she and Guo Qing must have some kind of unspoken connection.

But right now, hearing “Pei Teacher” didn’t have the same tingling sensation as before…

Guo Qing softly asked, “What’s wrong? Is it not as interesting as that day?”

Pei Yuanxi: ?

Ah Qing, did you just awaken some kind of “mind-reading system”?

“Then, do you want it to be more interesting?”

You said you can’t hear my thoughts!

Pei Yuanxi complained to herself inwardly, but blushed and nodded.

Guo Qing chuckled, “Why are you shy? What I mean is that tonight you can teach your little fan to call you ‘Pei Teacher.’”

Pei Yuanxi: …

Ah Qing, you’ve gone bad!

…

At the wooden square table, Pei Yuanxi took a big sip of the pork rib soup, feeling satisfied, and said, “Uncle and Aunt, your cooking is really amazing! No wonder I often hear Chu Chu mention the food at home.”

Chu’s mother smiled warmly and said, “I dried some radish strips, if you don’t mind, you can take some home whenever you like.”

“I don’t mind at all! How could I? My sister and I, when we were little, also went through hard times. We ate radish strips and such all the time, and they’re perfect with porridge.”

Pei Yuanxi picked up a piece of rabbit meat, tasted it, and gave a thumbs up, then passed a piece to Guo Qing. “It’s really good.”

Chu’s mother, who was distracted by Pei Yuanxi’s words, sighed. “I’ve heard Yan Yan talk about you two sisters, you’ve really had a tough time.”

“Hehe.” Pei Yuanxi waved her hand. “It wasn’t that tough. The real tough one was my sister. Luckily, I’ve made a bit of progress, so now I just want my sister to have happiness and joy for the next few decades.”

Chu’s mother understood the meaning behind Pei Yuanxi’s words and fell silent.

At this point, Chu’s father, who had been silent all along, cleared his throat twice.

“I may be from the countryside, but I’m not backward in my thinking. I don’t know about others, but in my family, there’s no concept of preferring sons over daughters. I only have one daughter. Who else should I cherish if not her?”

“Although we’re poor, Yan Yan hasn’t really suffered. Even my son cares about his sister. The winter of her first year in university, when I heard there was a heavy snowstorm there, my son took a long, grueling train ride, walking step by step through the snow to deliver clothes to her, afraid she wouldn’t buy enough clothes and freeze.”

“My daughter-in-law also cares for my son. She had a big argument with me and her mother over how we favored our daughter too much, but even so, in all these years, she’s never done anything wrong to Yan Yan.”

Chu Qingyan’s sister awkwardly smiled, “Dad, why are you still bringing that up?”

Chu’s father shook his head. “I’m not angry about Yan Yan’s sexual orientation. What makes me angry is that she’s abandoned all the love we’ve given her.”

“You are all great people, and I don’t understand many things. But one thing I am sure of is that love without the blessing of parents is rarely happy. Of course, that’s based on the assumption that the parents truly love their children.”

“I haven’t done much in my life, but Yan Yan has come this far. I can’t imagine all the hardships she’s been through, but now, I can see the smile on her face…”

At this point, Chu’s father looked seriously at Pei Muchen. “Thank you, it’s all thanks to you.”

Pei Muchen lowered his head and shook his head.

Chu’s father raised his wine cup, signaling for Pei Muchen not to stand up. “Hold on, let me toast you with three cups of wine.”

“Uncle, this is too much.” Pei Muchen said softly.

“No, you listen to me first. After these three cups, if you don’t mind our family, I’ll call you Muchen from now on.”

Chu Qingyan cried quietly beside them.

“Dad…”

Chu’s father lifted the first cup and drank it in one go. “Thank you for staying by Yan Yan’s side all these years during her tough times.”

“The second cup is to thank you for considering Yan Yan’s family. When I heard you brought Yan Yan home, I had already accepted it. No matter what kind of ceremony or occasion, in my eyes, nothing is more important than my daughter.”

At the third point, Chu’s father paused for a moment. “This third cup is for you, for the future you. Her mother and I don’t have many years left. So, I want you to remember this last cup of wine. Take good care of her, and if you’re willing, I’ll treat you as my daughter in the future.”

Pei Muchen gently nodded and glanced at her sister.

Pei Yuanxi quickly poured a cup of wine for her sister as well.

Pei Muchen raised her cup and softly called, “Dad.”

Chu Qingyan, unable to hold back, began to sob loudly.

These people were all loving her!

They were all willing to care for and cherish her…

Guo Qing, sitting beside her, lowered her gaze slightly, and at that moment, a hand stretched out from under the table and tightly grasped hers.

It was Yuanxi…

Guo Qing stared blankly at Pei Yuanxi, who was laughing in the distance. Although Yuanxi wasn’t looking at her, she still heard Yuanxi’s voice through the tight grip on her hand.

It felt like she was saying:

“Don’t be afraid, you have me.”

How could such a Pei Yuanxi not make her heart race?

Indeed.

Such a Yuanxi was enough to make her heart flutter.

“So this is what it means to like someone.”

“I’ve realized that my feelings for Yuanxi have never been about possessiveness, but about liking her.”

“Even if there is possessiveness, it’s a possessiveness born out of love.”

“It’s the liking that came first, the love that developed first, and then the possessiveness.”

“I’ve always been fine, and it was my own biases…”

“I can be the one to give Pei Yuanxi a future.”

“Yuanxi, Pei Yuanxi, I can finally loudly tell you, I want to be with you.”