Chapter 75 Ten years of war and chaos concealed all my biases and obsessions.
After the meeting, Ji Peiheng returned to his office.
I looked around but didn't see the person I wanted to see.
The only indication that she had just been there was a food box she brought from home on the table.
Where are they?
Liao Nan hesitated for a moment before saying, "The eldest young master just came by."
Ji Peiheng's eyes turned cold, and he turned and left the office.
...
The rooftop terrace.
The biting wind blew fiercely, making people's clothes flutter and their hair fly in the air, tangling with the railings.
"Why did you call me here?"
Shi Yang looked at the long, winding street of cars in the distance, not even bothering to glance at him.
There was really nothing for them to say to each other.
She would never have met with him alone if they hadn't bumped into each other in the office.
Ji Jinyu gazed at her still beautiful profile, wanting to say a thousand words, but in the end, he only said one sentence: "The wedding date has been set, after the New Year."
"Congratulations, brother, good things are coming soon."
There was no joy or merriment, only endless bitterness spreading through his heart. He spoke with difficulty, "I was wrong. I realized my feelings too late. I came to you today to ask if you still like me."
"I don't like it anymore."
He was answered by her almost indifferent voice.
"If I could, I wouldn't even want to see you."
With reddened eyes, Ji Jinyu asked, "Why? We grew up together. How can you just forget those feelings like that?"
Shi Yang glanced at him sideways and found it amusing: "Your childhood sweetheart has always been Shi Yue. You only treated me as a substitute. After she got married, every time you smiled at me, it was because I looked like her, to ease your longing. Later on, you probably just enjoyed the process of me chasing after you."
"Brother, the only relationship we have now is because you are Ji Peiheng's older brother."
Having said what she wanted to say, she turned to leave.
Her wrist was grabbed forcefully: "If you have no feelings for me, then what about Pei Heng?"
"Let go!"
Shi Yang shouted sharply, and she glared at him, her eyes filled with disgust. She felt as if she had been touched by something unacceptable, and her whole body felt uncomfortable.
Ji Jinyu was utterly defeated by her undisguised expression, and he tightened his grip even more.
Shi Yang frowned and tried to pull his hand away several times, but he couldn't manage it.
"Brother, you've overstepped your bounds!"
Along with the whistling wind came a chilling voice, devoid of any discernible emotion.
Shi Yang suddenly turned around.
Ji Peiheng stood not far away, quietly watching them.
The cold wind made his clothes flutter loudly, and his whole body stretched into a solitary, cold line.
His gaze moved from Ji Jinyu to Shi Yang, and finally inch by inch downwards, landing on their clasped hands.
That gaze was almost tangible, like a knife, slowly tearing at your bones.
Ji Jinyu's hand unconsciously loosened.
"come over."
He told her.
Shi Yang took a few quick steps, then even jogged a few steps, and ran to the man's side: "Why are you here? Is the meeting over?"
Ji Peiheng didn't respond. Instead, he looked at Ji Jinyu, who was standing still, his eyes narrowed slightly, and his tone was inscrutable: "Big brother, this is the third time."
The first time was at the old house.
The second time was at a restaurant.
The third time, on the rooftop.
Ji Jinyu knew exactly which three times he was referring to.
His fists, hanging at his sides, clenched repeatedly, the force so strong that you could hear the cracking of his knuckles.
He clenched his teeth, a look of pain flashing across his face.
He regretted it; he shouldn't have broken off the engagement, and he shouldn't have given Shi Yang to his younger brother.
They are wrong.
He wanted to correct this mistake.
“Pei Heng, you’ve got Shi Yang…”
"Jinyu—"
Old Shen's voice rang out from behind Ji Peiheng.
Ji Jinyu froze, then slowly raised his eyes to look behind Ji Peiheng.
Ji Cheng'an's eyes were like an eagle's, cold and deep as he stared at him, his eyebrows furrowed in deep lines, exuding an imposing aura without anger: "I have something to discuss with you, come with me."
All the words stuck in his throat. He glanced deeply at the petite figure beside the man, and silently finished his sentence in his mind.
Pei Heng, give Shi Yang back to me.
They left.
Shi Yang tugged at the man's sleeve and quickly explained, "I was waiting for you in the office when my brother came to deliver some documents to you. Actually, I have nothing to do with him..."
"Alright, let's go back."
Ji Peiheng tucked the stray strands of her hair that had been blown by the wind behind her ear and gently pulled her into his arms.
Shi Yang's words stopped abruptly. She carefully observed his expression, and his eyes still held a smile.
It was as if nothing had happened.
"Ji Peiheng, I have something to tell you."
The man still said, "It's windy here, let's go back."
Shi Yang remained frozen in place, while Ji Peiheng had already turned around.
It's happening again!
She broke free from his embrace and ran away angrily. She climbed onto a table piled with miscellaneous items and shouted, "Ji Peiheng, are you secretly in love with me?!"
Ji Peiheng froze.
"Ji Peiheng, you've had a crush on me for so long and you never told me, you coward!"
"Fine, if you're too scared to say it, I will."
Ji Peiheng stopped and turned around.
The little girl stood on a high place, made a megaphone gesture with her hands to her mouth, and shouted loudly at him, "Ji Peiheng, I think I've fallen for you!"
The wind on the rooftop was strong, howling in my ears and hitting my face like a heavy blow, burning and making me feel awake.
Her voice, carried by the sound of the zither, traveled clearly through the wind and reached Ji Peiheng's ears.
He stood frozen in place as if struck by lightning.
Seeing that he still didn't move, Shi Yang stomped her feet a few more times in annoyance, then opened her arms to hug him: "Still looking?"
It felt as if a heavy bell was striking his heart, making his chest vibrate. He awoke as if from a dream, the gloom that had been covering his heart was dispelled, and he smiled.
Laughter that is unrestrained and unbridled...
It's like a beautiful flower in bloom.
Brilliant and magnificent.
He strode lazily up to her, looked up at her, and said, "Say it again!"
"I like you! Ji Peiheng!"
Kiss me!
The little girl leaned down, and the moment their hands touched, the warm, soft touch told him that he was no longer dreaming.
He heard her confession.
He heard a lot of things in the first half of his life: notifications of being admitted to prestigious universities, cheers of winning the first deal after the company's founding, and the joyful sounds of successful business negotiations.
All of it added up.
It was nowhere near as beautiful as one of her sentences.
Shi Yang pushed him away, raised her eyebrows and stared at him: "Is there something else you haven't told me?"
She's already taken the first step; what will his response be?
Ji Peiheng: "What do you want to hear?"
Shi Yang punched him in the chest: "What do you think? If you don't tell me, I might take back what I just said."
Before the last syllable had even faded, she was completely swallowed up by the man's kiss.
He kissed her forcefully, his tongue entwining tightly with hers, as if punishing her.
"No!"
Ji Peiheng held one side of her cheek, lifting her half-drooping raven feathers to reveal her peach-blossom-like, shimmering eyes.
"Ten years of war and chaos concealed all my preferences and obsessions."
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