Chapter 7
With a sharp "squeak," the tire emitted a piercing sound, and the car came to an emergency stop in the middle of the road. With a loud "bang!" she lurched forward heavily and then fell back, her vision blurring as if everything was fading away, her insides churning violently, while behind her, several cars screeched to a halt, accompanied by curses.
Upon stepping outside, I was greeted by a sky full of stars. The suburbs truly have their charm, with the air carrying a refreshing scent reminiscent of the fragrance after a rain, subtle yet palpable. Even my mind felt increasingly clear.
Her smile is as radiant as a flower, truly beautiful. In fact, when she smiles, her entire face lights up, making her very captivating. However, for some reason, Pingting feels vaguely that there is a kind of indifferent detachment in her smile, as if it were none of her business
As soon as the words left her mouth, it felt as if time and space had come to a standstill, with not a sound to be heard. The silence was almost eerie. He showed no signs of change; even his hands gripping the steering wheel remained perfectly still, his entire demeanor unchanged from the moment before she spoke, exuding elegance and composure.
After a while, she raised her head and saw Pingting looking as if she wanted to say something but hesitated. She couldn't help but chuckle softly: "Just say what you want to say, I won't mind. Are you afraid that I might actually develop feelings and become emotionally invested? Or are you worried that this is just a game, and if I want to end it, it will be over?"
She always dislikes greasy and spicy food. He sat on the side, looking at the dishes with a slight frown, and called the waiter over. The dishes came one by one, and one person exclaimed: "Isn't this a Sichuan restaurant? Why are there also Hangzhou and Shanghai dishes!" Peng Shao, sitting nearby, had already caught on to the situation: "Just eat your food, stop talking so much nonsense!"
She could not articulate her feelings, as so many emotions were tangled together, giving rise to a sense of bitterness. She looked up to meet his gaze: "We should break up!" A good partner, a good rival, what a pity! Ultimately, it was destined to end; it was merely a matter of time. Why deceive oneself? In truth, she was an extremely selfish person; she did not give, she was unwilling to give even a little. Because she knew that giving would yield no return. Even though she had never been particularly interested in the sciences, she understood the relationship between investment and return. She was indeed an extremely selfish person; she did not give, she was unwilling to give even a little. Because she knew that giving would yield no return. Even though she had never been particularly interested in the sciences, she understood the relationship between investment and return. She would never engage in anything that required investment without any return.
He pulled her over, leaning against the back of the sofa behind her, and reached out from behind to embrace her without any reservations: "What are you laughing at?" Her clear laughter had already echoed throughout the entire room, and with such an enticing smile, he felt a twinge of regret for bringing her out. She rarely laughed like this; apart from when watching comedies, she seldom smiled so comfortably and joyfully, let alone in front of him.
At that time, she was not familiar with her; she only knew her because of her hurriedness, rushing to class and rushing out of class. If it had been an ordinary girl who encountered her sprained ankle, she might have left her there and sought help. However, Zi Mo did not do that; she stayed with her the entire time, even as the sun set and the stars came out, she continued to carry her down the mountain step by step. She was a contradiction, with calmness and persistence strangely merging within her. But Zi Mo did not waver; she remained with her throughout, even as the sun set and the stars appeared, she still carried her down the mountain step by step. She was a contradiction, with calmness and persistence strangely merging within her.
Zimo has delicate and refined features; at first glance, she may not seem particularly stunning, but she possesses a beauty that grows on you the more you look at her, exuding a sense of comfort and serene tranquility that is hard to ignore. Yet, she is also quite persistent in nature. Years ago, while descending the mountain, she twisted her ankle and was unable to walk. Zimo, with her unwavering determination, carried her down, navigating the long and steep steps.
She sat quietly, listening to Pingting continue, "I have seen that woman." Her tone was surprisingly calm! She raised her head, only to see Pingting smiling helplessly, exuding an indescribable desolation: "Aside from family background, I really cannot find any other aspect where I am inferior to her." Family background, family background. Her head felt heavy, and her mind was dizzy; why hadn't she thought of bribing better when she was reincarnated.
You get out of the car! He did not turn his head at all, only his breathing became slightly more rapid. In fact, it was not very noticeable. Although the sound of horns outside was deafening, the atmosphere inside the car was excessively quiet, so quiet that she could hear the sound of her own blinking.
He is helping her with the food, not moving himself. Leaning against the chair, he watches her eat, one hand resting on the back of her chair, his posture exuding an indescribable laziness and elegance. There is little conversation between them, and not even the slightest physical contact, yet this way of looking at each other conveys an indescribable intimacy.
Peng Shaozheng was one of the three who played cards with her back then. Seeing the two of them approach, he laughed and scolded, "You two are back to cheat money again!" He chuckled, pulled out a chair for her to sit down, and said, "This time, the work you did has filled your pockets; how can we not let you bleed a little?" Her skills in playing Mahjong were actually quite poor, yet that day her luck was astonishingly good, winning hand after hand. He merely watched from the side, occasionally offering a tip or two. Most of the time, he was just helping her hold the snacks. He pulled out a chair for her to sit down, saying, "This time, the work you did has filled your pockets; how can we not let you bleed a little?" Her skills in playing Mahjong were actually quite poor, yet that day her luck was astonishingly good, winning hand after hand. He merely watched from the side, occasionally offering a tip or two. Most of the time, he was just helping her hold the snacks.
"Say it again!" The cold words struck her head-on. His profile was indifferent, the lines of his face were taut, and based on the experience of the past two years, it could be concluded that he was not in a good mood. It would be best to avoid provoking him as much as possible
She stood for a while, feeling only the cold. She exhaled, rubbed her hands together, and wondered if this year's winter would arrive early, questioning why it was so cold now. Alas, global pollution is severe, and climate change is to be expected! Who can remain unchanged, especially when it comes to the weather!
She turned her head and looked at him closely for a while, only to realize that they had known each other for several years. She felt an incredible sense of disbelief. Being with him was a form of indulgence for her. But everything has an end, and so does her indulgence. While she still does not care, it is better to let go now
The two of them comfortably nestled in the corner of the sofa, each holding a cup of Hangbai chrysanthemum tea. She observed Pingting's hesitant demeanor several times, took a light sip of the tea, and the faint fragrance lingered. She decided to break the silence first: "So, have you reconciled?" Pingting's face flushed slightly: "I don't know how to start talking to you about it. It's just so awkward; he and his parents are also in a stalemate!" It was unexpected that Sun Pinghua was better than she had imagined. The fact that he could endure the awkwardness with his powerful parents for Pingting showed that he still had some feelings for her. It was not in vain for Pingting to have such deep feelings for him.
She turned her head and leaned close to his ear, whispering, "I want to go back." He responded with a soft "Mm," stood up, and said, "You all find another partner. We are leaving now." Young Master Peng smiled with narrowed eyes, concealing a hint of ambiguity, and said, "Good! Good! I can't wait for you to return early. Every time you two join forces, you leave us utterly defeated."
She understood in her heart that the three of them were likely being lenient with her because of him. It was probably due to some prior favor he had done for them. She did not wish to take advantage of such leniency. After playing a few rounds, she pulled on his arm and noticed that the watch indicated it was already midnight. If they continued playing, late-night snacks and such would be endless
Qingting looked at her, hesitating for a long time, stammering softly, unsure of how to begin: "Zimo! That Jiang Shao—do you know him?" Her hands and feet felt somewhat cold, even though there was central air conditioning in the room, and every corner of the villa was kept at a constant temperature. How could it be so cold, especially with winter still some time away? She gripped the transparent cup tightly; the warm water inside transmitted a gentle warmth through the glass, making her feel a bit warmer. It was like the faint sun in winter, sparse yet still carrying a hint of warmth. The water seemed to hold freshly bloomed Hangbai chrysanthemums, adorned with droplets, delicate and vibrant. Upon closer inspection, it turned out they had already been plucked from the branch.
"Alright, I will get off the car," she said as she opened the door and stepped out. His sports car sped away with a whoosh, leaving her amidst the traffic. She stood there, the wind brushing against her, faintly carrying the chill of many days. Cars continued to pass by one after another, as if they were fleeting visitors in life, coming and going in haste.
The man widened his eyes, seemingly incredulous as he looked at Peng Shao: "This person has been possessed; usually, he eats even spicier than I do! He has always eaten spicier than I do, hasn't he told me that it is a glorious tradition cultivated by your Red Army grandfather since childhood?" Peng Shao smiled and said: "Isn't it enough that you can't order? Are you afraid of making me poor? What are you shouting about!" After saying this, he gestured with his eyes, indicating for the young man to look beside him.
They never thought of themselves as suitable. Yet, sitting like this, with that kind of body language, that kind of subtle expression, unexpectedly made Pingting feel a vague sense of appropriateness. It was as if they were meant to be this way, as if they were born to be like this!
It is a rare occasion to go out for a meal with him. Since he started dating her, the opportunities to dine with Peng Shao and his group have decreased. Unexpectedly, I ran into Pingting. Given the current situation, it seems that she and Sun Pinghua have not yet broken up. When it comes to matters of the heart, no one can truly explain them. Today, one might be desperate for him, yet tomorrow they could be living carefree. After all, the Earth does not revolve specifically for one person, nor does it stop for anyone.
She decided to withdraw from this game. It has been more than a year, nearly two years. It is a game, and it should come to an end. She will no longer play! She can no longer afford to play! She closed her eyes and, after a while, found her voice and spoke: "Let's stop here!" It turned out that she really said it, and it was not as difficult as she had imagined. Her pronunciation was quite clear, and there should be no need to say it a second time.
Yuting said anxiously, "Zimo! You are smarter than I am, you clearly know—" She laughed even more heartily, causing the water in the cup to sway, yet her voice remained steady as ever: "Rest assured! He doesn't look at me, and I am not worthy of him. I have this self-awareness. The things he wants, I do not have; what I want, he cannot provide. So you can be at ease!" That man is heartless; how could she possibly develop feelings for him! The things he wants, I do not have; what I want, he cannot provide. So you can be at ease!" That man is heartless; how could she possibly develop feelings for him!
She did not turn her head: "Private topics among women, no men allowed!" He responded with an "Oh," and pulled her hand, saying, "Let's stop that topic here and go play cards instead." There was an intimacy that could easily be misunderstood. He nodded at Pingting as a form of greeting