Chapter 27: Entwined Breaths – Will You Be With Me?

The layout of the house hadn’t changed, but all the furniture had been replaced. The creamy whites had given way to a more subdued, businesslike palette of grays, blacks, and browns.

Looking up, the dazzling crystal chandelier screamed opulence. Looking down, the solid wood flooring gleamed—a luxury model Zhong Yang hadn’t splurged on during her own renovation…

When her grandfather gifted her this apartment, the Xiangming Huafu complex hadn’t even been completed yet. She only received the unfinished unit four years later, after graduating from university, and slowly decorated it into the cozy home she had envisioned.

Although she had some money at the time, she couldn’t afford extravagance in the capital. The renovation had focused on cost-efficiency with a minimalist design. Of the four bedrooms, she had only furnished two.

Still, she’d poured her heart into it.

Now, it was all gone.

Standing in the familiar yet unfamiliar room, Zhong Yang couldn’t suppress her sadness.

In the end, she had failed to protect the last gift her grandfather had given her…

Pei Yunzhe took the cat carrier from her and let Bai Yi out in the living room, allowing it to explore its new territory freely.

Noticing something was wrong, he asked, “What’s the matter?”

“Maybe… Do you know who the previous owner of this apartment was?”

Zhong Yang reached out to touch the wallpaper etched with clean, simple patterns, as if through it, she could see the bare concrete walls from four years ago—or perhaps she was looking back at that white, painful, sterile-smelling night when she had just turned eighteen…

She never imagined that her robust, loud-voiced grandfather would suddenly collapse without any warning.

It had been a massive acute myocardial infarction.

After school, upon hearing the news, Zhong Yang rushed to the hospital, praying the entire way: if her grandfather could pull through, she would trade all her luck, or even her life…

Over and over, she made her heartfelt wishes to the heavens.

She had run so fast that her throat tasted like blood. She nearly stumbled and fell at the entrance.

“What are you doing here? Who told you to come?” her stepmother, Du Peilan, blocked her way, not letting her approach the hospital bed.

Zhong Yang didn’t have the strength to argue with her. She stared at the flatline on the monitor, and the tears she had held back began to fall uncontrollably.

She could barely breathe. “…Grandpa.”

That morning he had been just fine. He had reminded her not to overwork at school and to take breaks during classes.

He had promised to personally send her off to Imperial Capital Media University that September, and to live with her in the capital while she studied.

He promised. He promised…

A crushing sense of helplessness overwhelmed her.

Parting. Death. She faced the inevitable pain of life completely unprepared, empty-handed.

The room was silent, save for the girl’s heart-wrenching sobs.

After a while, a female executive standing nearby also began quietly wiping away tears.

…

After all the ceremonies were over, Zhong Yang went to her grandfather’s favorite study.

She curled up on the rosewood recliner by the terrace door. The afternoon sun warmed her.

It was the only place that brought her some peace in those days.

Grandpa loved growing plants on the terrace, so he could glance up from work or painting and see green life, tracking their growth daily.

Now that he was gone, the plants had been neglected for days and had begun to wilt.

Zhong Yang looked away from the pitiful plants, intending to water them.

She opened the large drawer that held gardening tools and pulled out his favorite watering can—only to find a sealed kraft paper envelope at the bottom.

Her fingers trembled uncontrollably.

Inside was a letter, a card, and a red real estate certificate.

On the envelope were five neatly written characters: To my granddaughter, Zhong Yang.

Holding her breath, she wiped away her tears and began to read.

“To my granddaughter Zhong Yang:
Happy 18th birthday. I hope today’s birthday party pleased you. This day is important—it marks your step from a little girl into adulthood.
Grandpa has so much to say, but I’m not good at expressing it, so I wrote it all down.
As I write this, I remember you as a toddler, as soft as a little rice ball, small enough to lift with one hand…
I know you resent your father’s favoritism. He’s never been thoughtful. Failing to raise him properly is my fault too. I’m sorry for all the wrongs you’ve endured…
I used to tell you that being an actress wasn’t a proper path. But that night, when I saw you crying in secret, Grandpa suddenly realized—what’s proper or not? If it makes you happy, then it’s right.
This apartment in the capital and one million yuan are my gift to you. For your 18th birthday, and for your future studies, life, and work.
I want to see you smile. I want you to chase your dreams without fear.
I hope Heaven protects my granddaughter Zhong Yang. Be healthy and happy. That’s all I ask.
—Zhong Xiangsong.”

She sank to her knees. Tears splashed onto the paper, blurring the ink.

“No wonder… No wonder the wish I made didn’t come true…”

Grandpa must have wished first.

---

Zhong Yang lowered her head to hide her teary eyes.

“Sorry, I didn’t know…” Pei Yunzhe tried to speak, afraid to upset her fragile emotions.

Zhong Yang forced a smile. “No need to apologize. I was planning to sell this apartment anyway. If you hadn’t bought it, someone else would have…”

If only her eyes weren’t so wet.

This was the third time Pei Yunzhe had seen Zhong Yang cry. Each time, her tears struck his heart with precision, creating ripples of pain he couldn’t bear.

He wanted to hold her.

“Zhong Yang.”

Pei Yunzhe called her name in a soft, restrained voice.

“Hmm?” She smiled again. “Don’t worry, I’m fine…”

Before she could finish, he pulled her into a warm, wide embrace.

The familiar woody scent comforted her deeply.

“Let me hold you for a while. Please?”

His calm voice murmured by her ear, and suddenly she felt so aggrieved. Her lips trembled. She couldn’t smile anymore.

Tears rolled down uncontrollably, soaking his shoulder.

She had always believed she could handle anything, laugh at anything—even misfortune. After all, she was the coolest, most optimistic, strongest person in the world… what a joke.

It was all a lie. A lie she told herself.

She had always longed for someone to tell her it was okay not to be strong. That someone would hold her when she broke, let her cry for as long as she needed…

Just like now.

It felt like a dream.

Even the night couldn’t conceal their secret anymore.

Zhong Yang gently pushed him away, her eyes still red. “Pei Yunzhe, you smell really good.”

Pei Yunzhe traced a finger across her cheek, wiping away her tears—his answer unspoken.

Their eyes met, unguarded. Emotion ran deep and unspoken, but both understood it.

Zhong Yang rose on tiptoe, grabbed his collar, and kissed him.

Their breaths entwined. Pei Yunzhe stiffened, then returned the kiss, gently, hesitantly. Lips brushed lips, breath mingled, and the sound of his swallowing echoed with his heartbeat in the silence.

Their bodies pressed close through clothes, warmth spreading into heat, pulsing with restrained desire.

Zhong Yang parted her lips slightly, allowing him deeper access.

Status, differences, identity?

None of it mattered.

All she wanted in that moment was to cast aside everything painful and annoying—everything that made her cry—and forget.

In the silence of night, their intimate sounds were clear.

Until something soft brushed her ankle.

“Meow~”

A bit of reason returned.

Zhong Yang pulled away, panting—only for him to move in again, stealing her remaining breath.

“Hmph…”

A soft hum escaped her throat as she weakly pounded his chest.

Pei Yunzhe finally let go.

Zhong Yang said, “We…”

“Can we be together?” His voice was slightly hoarse. “Zhong Yang, I like you. Will you be with me?”

“I…”

She couldn’t meet his gaze.

She had acted on impulse tonight.

She wasn’t ready for a relationship—yet she had crossed the line.

“I… I think we should just be friends.”

Pei Yunzhe frowned lightly. “I want a reason.”

“…I don’t like you.”

“Liar.”

“I’m not.”

“You are.”

She stepped back. He stepped forward, until she was pressed against the cold glass with nowhere to run.

Pei Yunzhe leaned down, locking eyes with her tear-filled ones.

“Zhong Yang, you’re lying.”

“I’m not—”

“Then why did you kiss me at the lake?”

She froze, caught off guard.

“Answer me. Why?”

Her head was spinning. In her panic, she blurted, “Because… I was drunk!”

Pei Yunzhe clearly didn’t buy it. “Then are you drunk tonight too?”

“Mm… I had a bottle of vodka before coming over. Do you believe me?”

Pei Yunzhe slowly shook his head under her hopeful gaze.

“No.”

Zhong Yang wanted to crawl into a hole.

Caught stealing a kiss. If there were a hole, she’d disappear into it right now.

She stammered, “Well, actually, I… um…”

“Trying to come up with a new excuse?”

Pei Yunzhe took a step back and turned away, his voice flat.

“No need to waste brain cells. You have the right to reject me—and to keep the truth to yourself.”

Zhong Yang paused, instinctively wanting to explain, “I didn’t mean to…”

Didn’t mean to what? Kiss him? Lie to him?

She couldn’t say it.

Not that it mattered—he cut her off.

“No need to explain.”

When he turned back, his wrinkled collar was perfectly straight, and his tone was icy.

“I’ll take good care of the cat. You can leave now.”

Zhong Yang felt a heavy drop in her chest.

What did he mean?

Was he… kicking her out?

She stared into his cold, bottomless eyes—and suddenly, he felt like a stranger.