Pei Zhi went to great lengths to explain to Qin Yufan that his family was really fine.
He spoke until his throat was dry, and while drinking water, he sighed that with Da Fan's simple-minded personality, he might be easily deceived by bad people when he enters society!
A deep sense of worry welled up in Pei Zhi's heart.
If intelligence could be divided, he would be willing to give Da Fan a quarter of it, just for the sake of Da Fan's affection for him!
If that's really not enough, one-third is fine too.
Seeing that Qin Yufan was finally convinced, Pei Zhi patted him on the shoulder and concluded, "Don't worry, you haven't met my mother. With my mother's drive, if my family can go bankrupt, then no one else will have a chance to survive."
Qin Yufan had never met Pei Ruoyun before, and this was the first time she had heard of her from Pei Zhi. She was momentarily intrigued and asked, "Brother Pei, is your mother that amazing?"
Pei Zhi was taken aback, and after a moment, nodded and said calmly, "She...she is quite capable."
He subconsciously squeezed the water bottle in his hand. Qin Yufan's unintentional question inadvertently pulled his thoughts to a territory he had never considered before.
Is Pei Ruoyun impressive?
Pei Zhi thought about it seriously. In a sense, in his eighteen years of life, Pei Ruoyun was indeed the most amazing person he had ever met.
Pei Ruoyun rarely talked to him and Pei Xi about her entrepreneurial history, but he knew that she had escaped from her less-than-ideal family at the age of sixteen and started working on her own.
As for exactly how bad it was, Pei Ruoyun never said. He only knew that they had never met their maternal grandparents since they were young.
Pei Ruoyun cut off all contact with them completely.
Then she started from scratch and spent more than 20 years building her business step by step from a small stall in a wholesale market to a well-known domestic bag brand.
The hardships, courage, and strategies involved surpass those of most people in the world.
In Pei Zhi's memory, Pei Ruoyun was like a machine that never made a mistake.
She seems unaffected by any emotions, simply fueled by ambition year after year, tirelessly operating and always appearing calm and composed in public.
Pei Zhi had almost never seen her lose her composure.
Even when her father passed away, she simply stood there quietly shedding tears, without becoming hysterical or wailing like anyone else who has lost a loved one.
Pei Zhi once felt that she seemed indifferent to everyone.
Therefore, he rarely acted like Pei Xi, linking arms with her and being affectionate with her.
It's hard to say whether it's because they don't want to or because they're afraid.
But there was an invisible force preventing him from doing so.
It just so happens that Pei Ruoyun is not often at home, and he is an older boy, so even if he doesn't act that close to her, it's not strange, and life can continue as usual.
As long as the lake is calm, that's fine.
Until two days ago, the fight caused the undercurrents beneath the calm surface of the lake to finally erupt.
He poured out all the accusations he had kept hidden in his heart, and until that moment, Pei Ruoyun remained calm.
Pei Zhi had almost forgotten what he was thinking at the time. He seemed a little surprised, but then calmly accepted her reaction in an instant.
Pei Ruoyun accepted all his anger and all his reckless words. She knew that, in her eyes, these were just the words of a child in a fit of anger.
After listening, she would go back to work, continuing in a consistent routine.
Then the lake returned to its calm state, just like every other day before.
So he accepted Pei Ruoyun's reaction without surprise or disappointment, just a calm acceptance.
He even told her that day that he hated her.
He used such strong words.
But he knew clearly that he did not truly resent Pei Ruoyun.
I hate you, and this isn't just a thoughtless remark or a momentary outburst.
That was just a way of feigning anger.
Anger stems from caring.
The implication is that I am very scared, I miss you, and I need you.
Pei Zhi, you're the older brother, you must take good care of your younger sister, okay?
Yes, I know.
This was the phrase he heard most often from childhood to adulthood. As a child, he would always pat his chest and make the promise with pride and certainty.
But he didn't take good care of his sister, and she got hurt.
Overwhelmed by fear and guilt, Pei Zhi felt a part of himself remaining on the night Pei Xi was injured.
Therefore, the phrase "I hate you" is not just a coquettish act disguised as anger.
That's also a cry for help.
The second half of the sentence, "If you had been home, Pei Xi wouldn't have gotten hurt," is a statement that is difficult to utter.
That sentence was, "I wouldn't feel so guilty and in so much pain."
He knew perfectly well that he might only need one sentence.
A sentence that could only be uttered by Pei Ruoyun.
A sentence she may never say.
Pei Zhi smiled faintly, tilted his head back, and drank the mineral water in his hand in one gulp.
A loud shout suddenly came from not far away: "Anyone playing cards?"
Qin Yufan had already left, but somehow found a deck of cards and stood in the middle of the living room, raising his arm to ask a question.
Several voices responded, and Tong Kai pointed to Pei Zhi sitting on the sofa, "When it comes to playing cards, Pei Zhi is a master."
He beckoned to him, "Come on, come on, you have to join."
Qin Yufan asked, "Do you have any chips? Do you have any money?"
Shi Chen retorted, "What money? If money comes in, it's called gambling."
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