Chapter 22: Is It Wrong to Be Attracted to You?

The moment she tasted the ice cream, she stopped in her tracks, looking at Pei Yan Zhou’s tall back, her eyes narrowed. “Pei Yan Zhou, who are you?”

It was easy for Pei Yan Zhou to investigate her, but even her own parents didn’t know her taste preferences. There was no way to investigate them.

Things like liking lychee-flavored candy might be a coincidence, but what about everything else? The food, the ice cream, they were all her favorites.

Don’t tell her it was a coincidence. She didn’t believe it.

They met at the bar. She had been drinking that day. After she sobered up, she didn’t want to have any more interaction with Pei Yan Zhou. She didn’t want to have too much contact with dangerous people. She didn’t want to put herself in a dangerous situation one day.

But the truth was, she couldn’t control these things.

The banquet, the hospital, his house, the old villa. In these few interactions, she could see the shadow of another person in him. She would sometimes think, had he come back?

She told herself not to get close to him, but she couldn’t help but want to get closer to him.

It was all just her imagination. He had died fifteen years ago. The plane crashed, and everyone died. She would also wonder if he was still alive, if he would appear in front of her one day.

Fifteen years had passed. If he hadn’t died, he should have come back by now. His parents were still here, and his home was still in Beijing.

She stared at Pei Yan Zhou’s back and asked coldly, “What’s your purpose in approaching me?”

She had grown up in the Jian family’s scheming. She could see through some things, but she didn’t expose them. She and Pei Yan Zhou were like parallel lines. They shouldn’t have intersected.

Pei Yan Zhou turned around and looked at her. His eyes held a hint of complexity, but his tone was playful. “You called out my name and still asked who I am?”

“My purpose in approaching you is probably…” He paused and continued, “Because you’re interesting.”

Interesting?

Jian Ruo Ci couldn’t help but find it a little ridiculous. There were many interesting people, but why was it her?

“Pei Yan Zhou, don’t tell me that you found me interesting because I flirted with you at the bar that night.”

“Hmm.” Pei Yan Zhou said in a deep voice. “That’s exactly it.”

Jian Ruo Ci: “…”

Excuse me. She didn’t believe that ridiculous excuse. Besides, he was definitely not a casual person.

Pei Yan Zhou approached her step by step, his thin lips parting as he slowly uttered a few words. “Is it wrong to be attracted to you?”

He moved towards her. Jian Ruo Ci nervously swallowed and stepped back. She didn’t expect Pei Yan Zhou to be so direct.

Meeting his black eyes, she was so nervous that she clenched the chain on her shoulder bag.

Pei Yan Zhou said calmly, “It’s not difficult to investigate your preferences.”

“I know.” Jian Ruo Ci was nervous. “Don’t come any closer.”

Maybe she was overthinking…

But she could really see her little uncle’s shadow in him.

Maybe they just had some similarities. After all, the world was so big, and there were so many people with similar looks and personalities.

Pei Yan Zhou stopped and looked down at the ice cream in her hand. “It’ll melt if you don’t eat it.”

“Eat…” She stammered. “Don’t look at me…”

Pei Yan Zhou didn’t look at her anymore. A subtle smile curved his lips.

After finishing the ice cream, Jian Ruo Ci looked at the drop tower not far away. “Want to go on it?”

“I’ll accompany you.”

“Then let’s go.” Jian Ruo Ci raised her chin slightly. “Don’t be afraid. Big Sister will protect you.”

“Big Sister? Hmm?”

Jian Ruo Ci: “What’s wrong?”

Pei Yan Zhou reached out and lightly tapped her forehead. “Don’t be disrespectful.”

Jian Ruo Ci thought about it. She had forgotten that he was an old man. She shouldn’t call herself Big Sister in front of an old man. It was disrespectful to old men.

Since she was a child, her teachers had taught them to respect the elderly and love the young. They couldn’t be disrespectful to the elderly.

Jian Ruo Ci sincerely apologized to Pei Yan Zhou. “I’m sorry, Uncle Pei. I’ll pay attention to my words from now on.”

Pei Yan Zhou calmly nodded.

She noticed that Pei Yan Zhou didn’t seem to mind her calling him uncle. Normally, a twenty-eight-year-old man would be quite averse to being called uncle by someone five years younger.

She asked, “You don’t mind me calling you uncle?”

“Uncle is better than younger brother.”

Jian Ruo Ci nodded, agreeing with him. “That’s right. You’re too old to be called younger brother.”

After all, he was old…

“Uncle, let’s go. Let’s go on the drop tower.”

Suddenly, she had a feeling of an old father taking his child out.

After the drop tower, Jian Ruo Ci was attracted to the shooting games. There were many prizes on display, mostly plush toys that little girls liked.

She picked up a toy gun and aimed at the balloons three meters away. She shot ten times and only hit one balloon. She felt a little bit of frustration. She put down the toy gun, paid, and prepared to leave.

“It’s normal for girls to miss. Why don’t you let your boyfriend try?” The shopkeeper was a middle-aged man, a little hunched over, but he smiled kindly.

The shopkeeper must have misunderstood her relationship with Pei Yan Zhou. She quickly explained, “I and he…”

It’s not what you think…

Before she could finish her explanation, Pei Yan Zhou interrupted her. “I’ll try.”

He picked up the toy gun and fired at the balloons, hitting every single one.

Jian Ruo Ci watched his movements, momentarily forgetting to explain their relationship.

What should she do? He was so handsome!

The shopkeeper praised, “Little girl, your boyfriend is amazing. You can choose any of these prizes.”

“We’re not…”

Before she could finish, Pei Yan Zhou interrupted her again. “Go choose.”

She looked at Pei Yan Zhou resentfully.

She would choose the prize first. She looked at the green plush dog in the corner and pointed at it. “Boss, I want that one.”

The shopkeeper said in his heart, “Little girl, you can choose a better one.”

The shopkeeper pointed at a pink bear that was as tall as a person. “Girls all like these.”

“No.” She said. “I only want that one.”

This green plush dog was lying in the corner, about the size of two palms. She had fallen in love with it at first sight.

The shopkeeper handed it to her. She thanked him and left with Pei Yan Zhou.

After they left, Jian Ruo Ci asked不满地, “Why didn’t you let me explain?”

He interrupted her every time she tried to explain. He didn’t deny it himself.

“No need.” He said. “Strangers. Explaining or not explaining won’t have any impact on you.”

“How is that not true?” Jian Ruo Ci said. “I’m single. Suddenly, I have a boyfriend.”

“I’m still a virgin. It’s not good for me.”

Pei Yan Zhou stopped. “You’re at a disadvantage if I’m your boyfriend?”

“Of course.” She said. “I’m definitely at a disadvantage. Have you ever seen a man at a disadvantage?”

At this moment, Jian Ruo Ci hadn’t realized what was wrong.

Pei Yan Zhou’s black eyes held a hint of amusement. “You admit I’m your boyfriend?”

Jian Ruo Ci realized that she had been tricked. Pei Yan Zhou’s words were a trap for her.

In front of others, she was cautious and careful. She would carefully consider the meaning of other people’s words before responding. But in front of him, she was completely relaxed. She never considered how many meanings his words had.

He was truly an exception.

“I’m going to the bathroom.” Jian Ruo Ci fled in a panic.

A few minutes later, Jian Ruo Ci dried the water off her hands. Her emotions had calmed down a bit. There weren’t many people who could affect her, and Pei Yan Zhou was one of them.

She threw the paper towel she had used to dry her hands into the trash can and prepared to leave. She ran into an “old friend.”

Su Jingxuan was stunned when she saw Jian Ruo Ci. Then, she put on a triumphant smile. “Miss Jian, what a coincidence. I didn’t expect to run into you, sister, when Brother Xuchen put aside his work to accompany me to the amusement park.”

“I thought you were working part-time in some remote corner to earn money for your burdensome brother’s tuition.”

Although she was smiling triumphantly, her delicate face was full of sarcasm and malice.