Saturday arrived in the blink of an eye.
Pei Xi spent most of the day doing her homework. As soon as she came downstairs after finishing, she smelled the aroma of food coming from the kitchen.
Li Ma was standing by the stove, enthusiastically wielding a spatula. On the island, there were the sweet and sour pork tenderloin and pork rib soup she had just made.
Li Ma is in her fifties and has been a nanny for over twenty years. She is proficient in all kinds of cuisines and works quickly and cleanly. Pei Ruoyun recently poached her from someone else at a high price.
Pei Xi walked to the edge of the island counter and couldn't wait to pick up his chopsticks and taste the sweet and sour pork.
While serving the food, Li Ma said with a smile, "You're down? Perfect timing, wash your hands and eat."
"It smells so good." Pei Xi chewed on something, his cheeks puffed out like a little hamster, and gave Li Ma a thumbs up. "Your cooking is absolutely amazing. Sweet and sour pork is my absolute favorite."
"I knew you loved it, so I made it especially for you." After serving the food, Li Ma took the pot to the sink and washed it while saying, "Call your brother down to eat."
Pei Xi carried the dishes to the table and turned back to say, "He's busy. He said we don't need to call him for meals; he'll come down to eat by himself in a bit."
Once Pei Zhi made the bet with Jiang Cheng—or rather, it was his unilateral vow—he became like a wound-up toy, even reducing his frequency of playing ball and enrolling in a fast-track improvement course taught by a famous teacher online.
Every day after I get home, I lock myself in my room and bury myself in studying.
Class is in session right now.
Pei Xi was deeply impressed by this.
Upon hearing this, Li's mother praised Boss Pei for his good fortune, saying, "What good deeds have your parents accumulated to have such sensible and beautiful children? If my rascal were as obedient as them, I would be burning incense in gratitude!"
Pei Xi paused in his hand as he was holding the dish, and unusually, he didn't respond.
Li Ma was completely unaware of what was happening. After finishing her reflections, she busied herself in the kitchen, starting to tidy up the kitchen utensils.
She was very satisfied with the job; it was easy, the employer was generous, and she only had to deal with two children, rarely even seeing the adults.
When she decided to come to the Pei family, Pei Ruoyun took time out of her busy schedule to conduct a video interview with her. Li Ma had never even met Pei Ruoyun in person.
I only remember that she was very beautiful in the video, but not in a tacky way. She had long, narrow, bright eyes, a sharp aura, and spoke decisively.
He looks like a very capable person.
The eldest son of the family looks a lot like her, with long, slightly upturned eyes. He usually has a nonchalant smile, but when he's not smiling, he has a cold and sharp look to him.
As for her daughter, she has almond-shaped eyes that are round and sweet even when she's not smiling. Her amber pupils remind one of a cute little kitten.
In short, she doesn't look very much like Pei Ruoyun.
It is said that sons resemble their mothers and daughters resemble their fathers. Li Ma thought that Pei Xi must look like his father.
The father never appeared.
Li's mother guessed that the couple must have divorced.
A capable and strong woman like Pei Ruoyun even has her two children taking her surname; I doubt any man could stand that.
But these were all other people's family matters, and she never asked any questions.
Li Ma worked quickly and efficiently, and in no time all the kitchen utensils were washed clean, and she also wiped down the stove and range hood.
When they arrived at the restaurant, they saw that Pei Xi had almost finished his meal and was sipping his pork rib soup.
"I need to do a thorough cleaning of the house in a bit; it's been another month," Li Ma said, wiping her hands. "Xiao Xi, is there anything in your room that you shouldn't touch? Let me know in advance."
Pei Xi shook his head, "Nothing particularly important, you can clean without worry."
He added, "By the way, you don't need to worry about my brother's room for now."
"Oh, okay."
Aunt Li nodded, but as soon as she took a step, she turned back. "What about the study upstairs? Doesn't it need cleaning yet?"
Pei Xi paused, holding the soup bowl, and composed himself in the steam before nodding.
"There's no need to clean there; Mom never lets any outsiders in."
Li Ma nodded with a puzzled look in her eyes, but didn't say anything more.
After all, every employer's home has a certain degree of privacy; if they don't let her in, she certainly can't go in either.
"Then I'll go clean up." She said to Pei Xi as she turned around, "Just put the bowls on the table after you finish eating, and Aunt Li will collect them in a bit."
Pei Xi nodded, "Okay."
-
When Pei Zhi finished his class and completed his exercises, his stomach was already growling loudly.
He glanced out the window; the sky had already turned a deep blue.
I opened the door and went downstairs. The house was quiet, and there was no one outside. Li Ma had already gone home.
Li Ma put dinner in the refrigerator, Pei Zhi took it out, microwaved it, and then wolfed it down in no time.
After finishing their meal and going upstairs, they found Pei Xi's room door open, but the lights were off, and the room was dark.
Pei Zhi turned on the light switch on the wall, only to find the bed empty, the blankets neatly made, and Pei Xi's phone still lying on it.
"Pei Xi?"
He went outside and called out softly in the corridor, but the room was quiet and no one answered.
Pei Zhi frowned, then raised his voice and called out again, "Pei Xi? Are you home?"
After waiting a while longer without receiving a response, Pei Zhi frowned deeply, feeling inexplicably panicked.
Turning around, I found the study at the end of the corridor with its door slightly ajar, just a crack open.
He took a deep breath, strode over, and the moment he opened the door and saw the scene inside, his heartbeat returned to normal.
Pei Xi was fast asleep, his face resting on his arm, leaning against the bay window.
The moonlight shining through the window illuminated her face, making her profile appear exceptionally serene and gentle.
Pei Zhi approached and noticed a photo album under her arm.
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