Chapter 80 [VIP]

Pei Xingzhi initially thought that Xie Nanyi's statement about staying here with him was just an emotional statement made to create atmosphere.

It wasn't that he didn't believe Xie Nanyi's sincerity towards him, but the idea of ​​Xie Nanyi living with him in this remote little city for the rest of his life was simply impossible.

Given the unavoidable realities of life, Pei Xingzhi kept assuming that Xie Nanyi might leave at any moment. Every time he came home from get off work, he would stand at the door for a while before opening it, imagining what kind of expression and mindset he would have to face Xie Nanyi if he opened the door to find an empty room.

As the saying goes, people often have a profound realization after a serious illness. Although Pei Xingzhi didn't have such a high level of understanding, he was unusually able to stop dwelling on things after that hospitalization and began to try to relax and accept Xie Nanyi.

But there are too many things in life that are beyond our control, and even now, Pei Xingzhi still can't completely let go of himself.

He was never a carefree person to begin with, and he has already given everything he has to get to where he is now.

It seems that Xie Nanyi's words have come true this time. He came here before summer, and now autumn is almost over, but Xie Nanyi still shows no sign of leaving.

Pei Xingzhi considered whether to confess his inner turmoil to Xie Nanyi, but then thought it was unnecessary. His pointless questions would only add to Xie Nanyi's anxiety. Xie Nanyi had already tried hard enough to prove how much he loved her; why should he add unnecessary pressure?

Xie Nanyi has completely integrated into this place, not only becoming one of the locals but also helping Pei Xingzhi expand the dessert shop and open a branch. The shop, which Pei Xingzhi originally didn't expect to make money from, is now earning more than his salary.

Songcheng is a city with four distinct seasons. In autumn, the last fallen leaves are swept away by the cleaners, and then the snow slowly falls.

Pei Xingzhi's winters are very leisurely. He only works half-day shifts and occasionally goes to the shop to sit for a while in the afternoon.

The shop is now managed by Huo Miao. Since Chu Ling went missing last time, Huo Miao has been living with Pei Xingzhi. During this time, he has completed high school studies on his own and applied to a local university in Songcheng. He is still the same as before, and likes to stay with Pei Xingzhi when he has nothing to do. He was even turned by Xie Nanyi without Pei Xingzhi's knowledge and started to call him brother.

There was still no news of Chu Ling; the only thing known was that he was still alive. His brother was also alright—not only alright, but he had even been promoted to a respectable official position. The events in the capital weren't completely over, but there were no further reports. Pei Xingzhi didn't want to know how things had unfolded, and Xie Nanyi hadn't brought it up with him either. His parents… Pei Xingzhi hadn't contacted them in a long time. He didn't know anything about them, nor did he particularly care. So many years had passed, yet he still couldn't completely let go of the past.

Pei Xingzhi sat in the corner, gazing at the counter. The shop was still bustling with customers, so busy that Xie Nanyi had to help out personally. None of the aprons in the shop were his size; even the largest one was too tight. Pei Xingzhi tapped his chin, taking advantage of his secluded position to steal glances at Xie Nanyi's taut muscles beneath his clothes. Sometimes, wearing less isn't necessarily more attractive than wearing more; like now, even with Xie Nanyi so fully covered, Pei Xingzhi was still captivated by his appearance.

"Xie Nanyi would look even better if she were only wearing that apron," Pei Xingzhi thought to himself, licking his lips before covering his face in embarrassment.

...

What was he thinking just now? Was he really that sexually frustrated?

"When did you arrive? Why are you dressed so scantily?"

Pei Xingzhi huddled in a corner, feeling shy, when Xie Nanyi, the "culprit," unconsciously moved closer.

Pei Xingzhi cleared his throat awkwardly, crossed his hands and rested his chin on them, then winked at Xie Nanyi.

"What, you're not welcoming me?" Xie Nanyi always pretended to be very serious in public, but Pei Xingzhi liked to tease him. Xie Nanyi's serious answers to Pei Xingzhi's unreasonable questions were always particularly funny.

"I'm so happy to have you here." Xie Nanyi's reply was as serious as Pei Xingzhi had expected. He turned to look at the other people in the shop, then reached out and moved a potted plant next to them. Pei Xingzhi was about to ask what he was doing when Xie Nanyi's kiss landed on his lips.

After a fleeting, light kiss, Xie Nanyi took off her apron and sat down next to Pei Xingzhi, taking his arm around his.

"Didn't I tell you to wear more layers when you go out these days? Why are you only wearing a coat again? If you get sick and feel unwell, you'll throw a tantrum."

"It's alright today, not too cold. I took a taxi here, not walked, so how could I have caught a chill?" Pei Xingzhi curled his lip dismissively, complaining that Xie Nanyi was making a mountain out of a molehill.

Pei Xingzhi used to be very afraid of the cold, and in winter he would want to wrap himself up like a ball to keep warm. But ever since Xie Nanyi commented that his winter outfits were "like a slowly moving polar bear", Pei Xingzhi completely gave up on his winter dressing.

His cool image in front of Xie Nanyi must not be tarnished!

Another thing is that Xie Nanyi picked him up and dropped him off at get off work this year, so Pei Xingzhi no longer has to wait for the subway or wait in the snow for his taxi to slowly drive over.

He seems to be becoming more and more dependent on Xie Nanyi now.

Xie Nanyi's hands were warm. Pei Xingzhi leaned against him and felt as if he were holding a giant hand warmer, which warmed him up.

He longed to stay close to Xie Nanyi forever, their peaceful life never to be disrupted by that uncertain outcome. The better their life was now, the more uneasy Pei Xingzhi felt. He didn't know if the day of separation would ever truly come; perhaps it would arrive soon, or perhaps it would never.

But as long as this possibility exists, Pei Xingzhi will never be completely at ease.

He doesn't seem to know how to enjoy happiness.

"Is something bothering you?" Xie Nanyi, standing beside him, keenly noticed Pei Xingzhi's slightly downcast mood.

Xie Nanyi was somewhat relieved that the presence of the mark allowed the Alpha to sense the emotional changes of the marked Beta. Xie Nanyi could feel that Pei Xingzhi had been very uneasy lately, but he didn't know why. He did everything he could, hoping that Pei Xingzhi would take the initiative to communicate with him, but Pei Xingzhi had become accustomed to processing all his emotions alone. No matter how many times Xie Nanyi expressed his desire to communicate with him, Pei Xingzhi would always make excuses to avoid it.

Just like now.

"What could be wrong with me? It's probably just that it's been too cold lately and I'm starting to want to hibernate. Actually, you're right, my prototype is probably really a polar bear."

"Polar bears should be measured in heads, right?" Pei Xingzhi didn't want to answer, so Xie Nanyi could only continue along with him. He'd waited so many years; he wasn't in a hurry. Pei Xingzhi was his now, and he would always be his—that would never change.

"It's all the same, it's all the same." Pei Xingzhi leaned lazily against Xie Nanyi's chest and replied. He had felt very energetic just now, but now he was actually a little sleepy.

"It's not even five o'clock yet and you're already sleepy? Don't go to sleep yet. You haven't been eating dinner properly lately. Even if you eat now, you have to eat a proper dinner tonight." Xie Nanyi pinched Pei Xingzhi's cheek and stood up to pull him up. "Eat out or eat at home?"

"Let's eat at home! I want to eat your cooking." Perhaps it was the imprint of his relationship with Xie Nanyi, but Pei Xingzhi's sense of taste was slowly returning, and his hormones were beginning to stabilize. Everything about him seemed to be getting better, except that his mind was still stuck in the past, trapping him in the present and making him complacent.

Pei Xingzhi thought that he really needed to talk to Xie Nanyi again.

The two ate dinner early, and it was only seven o'clock when Pei Xingzhi finished washing up and lay in bed.

Xie Nanyi went to take a shower, leaving him alone in the bedroom, sitting on the bed with a computer, typing away furiously.

He needed to write down what he wanted to say beforehand, otherwise, given his limited language skills, he would definitely get stuck or forget his words later—a trait he shared with Xie Nanyi. He had previously mocked Chu Ling and Huo Miao as two incapable idiots, but upon reflection, he realized he was actually an even bigger idiot than them. He didn't even have the courage to speak.

Xie Nanyi took a very long time to shower, so long that even after Pei Xingzhi had finished writing the manuscript, which took him a total of an hour and a half to revise, Xie Nanyi still hadn't come in.

Pei Xingzhi rolled around on the bed again and again, and finally couldn't resist getting out of bed and opening the door.

Surprisingly, the restroom was empty.

Pei Xingzhi frowned and searched the other rooms again, but still no one was there.

Looking at the empty room, Pei Xingzhi felt a sudden pang of unease. He wiped his face and took out his phone to call Xie Nanyi. The call went unanswered, and no one replied to his messages. Pei Xingzhi stood in the middle of the living room, taking a few deep breaths, his heart pounding wildly.

Xie Nanyi had just eaten with him, and while he was taking a shower, Xie Nanyi was standing at the door asking if he could come in and shower with him. He was clearly talking to Xie Nanyi just a moment ago... How could she have disappeared in an instant...?

What should he do now?

He was going to find Xie Nanyi.

Yes, he's going to find Xie Nanyi.

Xie Nanyi must have left not long ago, so she shouldn't be far away yet.

Pei Xingzhi immediately got up and staggered out the door. It was still snowing outside. Pei Xingzhi was wearing pajamas and slippers, and he wandered aimlessly down the street. The wind and snow blew against Pei Xingzhi's cheeks, but he seemed completely oblivious to the temperature outside, stubbornly continuing to walk in one direction.

He seemed to have lost his hearing and sight, and it was as if he was the only person left in the whole world.

Xie Nanyi left, and he became alone again.

Pei Xingzhi didn't know how long he had been walking. The low temperature made him somewhat confused, and his field of vision became increasingly limited. The next second, Pei Xingzhi completely lost consciousness and fell down.

When Pei Xingzhi woke up again, he found himself lying in his own bed. He rubbed his swollen head and slowly sat up, and Xie Nanyi, who was guarding the bedside, immediately got up.

The two looked at each other in silence. Xie Nanyi leaned down and gently kissed his forehead.

"The fever has subsided. Can you tell me why you went out?" When he returned, his intuition led him to Pei Xingzhi, who had collapsed by the roadside. The frail man was burning hot with fever. Xie Nanyi dared not imagine what would have happened to Pei Xingzhi if he had arrived any later.

"I..." Pei Xingzhi began, his voice hoarse. He coughed to clear his throat, tears welling in his eyes as he hugged Xie Nanyi. "I thought you were gone. I couldn't find you anywhere..."

"I'm so afraid you'll leave. I thought your father came and took you away. I don't want you to leave me. You said you'd always be with me, please don't lie to me!" Pei Xingzhi's voice was choked with sobs, like a child throwing a tantrum. Only at times like this could Pei Xingzhi be a little willful and tell others his wishes.

"I'm not leaving, and I won't leave." Xie Nanyi considered many reasons why Pei Xingzhi felt uneasy, but he never imagined it would be this. He thought he had given Pei Xingzhi enough security, but he had overlooked the uncertainty of his own family. "They can't take me away, and I won't obediently go with them. Don't be afraid, I'll always be with you." Xie Nanyi hugged Pei Xingzhi tightly, patting his back gently, as if comforting a child. The person in his arms gradually calmed down.

"Where did you go? I can't find you anywhere, and you don't answer my calls." Pei Xingzhi had cried enough, and his thoughts slowly returned to calm. He wiped his tears on Xie Nanyi's body and muttered softly.

"I need to go to the store to pick something up. I wasn't answering the phone because I left it at home," Xie Nanyi said, pulling a small box from her pocket. The contents were obvious. "I prepared this a long time ago. Actually, I've wanted to give it to you for a long time, but I was afraid you wouldn't accept it, so I didn't dare take it out. Last night, I finally wanted to take it out, but then I realized I'd left it at the store..."

"I should have prepared everything in advance, but I don't want to put up with it anymore."

Xie Nanyi looked at Pei Xingzhi's face, took a deep breath, stepped back, and knelt on one knee.

"Pei Xingzhi, I will transform your doubts about my feelings into an inseparable bond of kinship. I will dedicate my life to proving my love for you, and I will spend my entire life by your side. Pei Xingzhi, this is not a promise, but a statement of my actions. Pei Xingzhi, I hope you can give me the chance to stay by your side forever. Marry me, okay?"

Xie Nanyi had rehearsed these lines countless times in his mind, but he still felt stage fright when he arrived at this occasion. His hand holding the ring trembled slightly, but his unusual expression seemed to be telling Pei Xingzhi that if he dared to refuse Xie Nanyi, he would ignore his thoughts and bind him to his side forever.

Who would propose with that expression in this kind of situation?

Pei Xingzhi felt that he was about to lose control of his tears.

No one had ever told him what they would do for him for the rest of their life; that promise was too empty.

But he had no doubt that Xie Nanyi could do it.

"Your proposal was so unromantic," Pei Xingzhi said with a smile, extending his hand. "You have to stay with me forever."

"I will always be with you, always and forever."

Pei Xingzhi was an unlucky yet somewhat fortunate person. He never complained about his misfortunes, nor did he ever rejoice in his good fortune. Pei Xingzhi was an ordinary person who wanted to live his life peacefully.

But now, he is going to spend the rest of his life peacefully with Xie Nanyi.

He wanted to live a simple and happy life with Xie Nanyi.

—End of text—

A note from the author:

Even just being happy in an ordinary way is fine.