Hu Shi and Pei Zhi both looked up at Lu Mingxu.

Lu Mingxu explained, "Pei Zhi, don't misunderstand."

“I just got back from a business trip abroad. I haven’t been home for months. It must be a mess. There’s nothing there.”

"I'll stay at Hu Shi's house for a few days, and once I've got someone to clean up, I'll go back to my own home."

After explaining, Lu Mingxu looked at Hu Shi and asked, "I've always been like this, haven't I?"

Under Lu Mingxu's threatening gaze, how could Hu Shi possibly disagree?

Pei Zhi wiped her mouth with a napkin. "Okay, you can go stay at his house."

“Perfect timing. I’m getting tired of staying at his place these past few days, so I’m planning to stay at a hotel.”

Hu Shih fell silent. Pei Zhi dealt with Lu Mingxu as if it were child's play.

What hotel are you going to stay at?

Lu Mingxu disagreed, saying, "What's so great about staying in a hotel? It's too dangerous for a girl like you to stay in a hotel."

Pei Zhi didn't say anything, but just leaned back in her chair and looked coldly at Lu Mingxu.

Lu Mingxu said guiltily, "I suddenly remembered that the company booked a hotel for me. I'll stay at the hotel for a couple of days first and then not go to Hu Shi's house to bother him."

Pei Zhi ignored Lu Mingxu and said, "I'm going to buy something. You guys chat first."

Lu Mingxu quickly stood up. "What do you want to buy? I'll go with you."

Seeing this, Hu Shi reached out and pulled the naive Lu Mingxu back.

"It's okay, he's not going. You can go by yourself. We'll wait for you to come back here."

Pei Zhi nodded, then left without looking back.

As soon as Pei Zhi left, Lu Mingxu immediately turned hostile, "What are you doing?"

"Why should I give it back?"

Hu Shi snorted coldly, "If we hadn't known each other for so many years, do you think I would have bothered with you?"

"Do you think that by following Pei Zhi around like this, she won't leave?"

"On the contrary, if you keep bothering her like this, she will only get more annoyed."

Hu Shi was telling the truth; he also didn't like Pei Zhi leaving.

That's why Hu Shih spoke these heartfelt words to Lu Mingxu.

Lu Mingxu kicked the chair next to him hard. "Then tell me, what should I do?"

"She was gone for ten years. Now that she's back, I want to stay by her side, watch over her, and not let her disappear!"

Lu Mingxu cried out hoarsely, "What else can I do?"

Hu Shih had no idea that Lu Mingxu would suddenly have an emotional breakdown.

Over the years, Lu Mingxu has seemed quite normal.

He works hard, from nine to five every day, and apart from not having a woman by his side, he's pretty normal.

"Hu Shi, you are not me, you cannot understand my feelings."

"The only person I've ever liked and deeply loved is Pei Zhi. I really have no way to deal with her."

Lu Mingxu clutched his head in anguish, "She's such a heartless person, leaving whenever she wants without any regard for others."

Hu Shih reached out and patted Lu Mingxu on the shoulder.

"She's back, she's really back, but if she leaves again, I can't even imagine what it would be like, I might go crazy."

Hu Shi opened his mouth, wanting to comfort Lu Mingxu.

With so many girls in the world, what kind of girl couldn't Lu Mingxu find?

If such one-sided words of comfort were useful, Lu Mingxu wouldn't have been single for ten years.

"If you don't want her to leave, then try your best to keep her here."

“Lu Mingxu, I know you’re agitated, but if you keep pushing, you’ll only annoy Pei Zhi. There’s no other way.”

Lu Mingxu rubbed his face. He knew that Hu Shi was saying these things for his own good.

Hu Shi handed a wet towel to Lu Mingxu, who took it, wiped his face, and calmed down considerably.

"I'm sorry, I just snapped at you."

"Hey," Hu Shi said nonchalantly, "We're just the two of us, what's the big deal? Why all this formality?"

“You’re right.” Lu Mingxu put down the wet towel. “Then I should mention, when did Pei Zhi return?”

Hu Shi's expression froze instantly, and his eyes darted around.

"Although Li Chang is a bastard, I still want to thank him."

"If it weren't for him, how long would I have waited to find out that Pei Zhi was back?"

Lu Mingxu put his hand on Hu Shi's shoulder. "Come on, tell me, when did you find out that Pei Zhi was back?"

Pei Zhi has already become Hu Shi's assistant, so she must be back for more than just a day or two.

Despite their decades-long friendship, when Pei Zhi returned, Hu Shi didn't tell him immediately.

Hu Shih shrugged. "Brother, what am I supposed to say about this?"

“Pei Zhi trusted me, that’s why she came to me. It’s immoral of me to betray her like that?”

When Pei Zhi first returned, Hu Shi hesitated, wondering whether he should call and tell them.

But after thinking about it, Hu Shih decided not to do so.

If they are destined to meet, they will eventually meet.

If Pei Zhi returns but only stays for a few days, she will have to set off again.

There's no need to tell them, lest they be saddened again.

Although Lu Mingxu felt uneasy, Hu Shi did this for Pei Zhi's own good.

Lu Mingxu would never truly get angry at anyone who was good to Pei Zhi.

Lu Mingxu took out a cigarette case from his pocket and handed a cigarette to Hu Shi.

"Does Xie Cinian know?"

Hu Shi took the cigarette without saying a word, and instead lit it for Lu Mingxu.

Hu Shi's attentive behavior naturally made Lu Mingxu understand what was going on.

Lu Mingxu said unhappily, "So, I'm the last one to see Pei Zhi?"

Hu Shih quickly explained, "It was truly fate that Xie Ci Nian met Pei Zhi; they were having dinner at the same restaurant and then they bumped into each other."

There are only so many good, private, and upscale restaurants in the city center.

If you call it a coincidence, then there is definitely some truth to it.

"Chi Xiuwen met Pei Zhi at the coffee shop by chance."

Xie Ci Nian met Pei Zhi at the restaurant by chance.

Lu Mingxu flicked his cigarette ash, somewhat disgruntled: "So, it seems like I'm the only one who's not meant to be with her?"

Hu Shi dared not respond to this.

Lu Mingxu scoffed, "Hmph, so what if they're destined to be together? Pei Zhi still didn't want them, did she?"

Hu Shih didn't quite understand why Lu Mingxu would say something like, "It hurts the enemy a thousand while hurting yourself eight hundred."

Lu Mingxu is right, Pei Zhi doesn't want Xie Cinian and Chi Xiuwen anymore.

But... Pei Zhi doesn't want Lu Mingxu anymore either.

Lu Mingxu wasn't much better than Xie Cinian and Chi Xiuwen.

I don't know what's so funny about Lu Mingxu.

Of course, Hu Shi only thought these things to himself; he would never dare to bring them up in public.

Unless, he wants to get punched by Lu Mingxu.

Although Lu Mingxu has become much more composed over the years, he has always been diligent in exercising and maintaining his physique.

The fist will only be harder than before.