I wish you only had me

Pei Ningxue just stared at Chen Zhi like that.

"Did you see it?"

Pei Ningxue pushed the phone forward, closer to Chen Zhi.

"Your girlfriend from Renmin University is waiting to pick you up at the East Gate. So, Boss Chen, should Lao Zhao drop you off right now, or will you call a DiDi yourself and continue to show off your 'time management' skills?"

Chen Zhi remained silent for a while, not knowing how to explain.

But before he could organize his words, Pei Ningxue spoke first.

"Forget it."

She pulled her hand back, picked up her tablet again, and swiped the screen a couple of times.

"It's not my first day knowing you're a scumbag."

Hearing Pei Ningxue say this, Chen Zhi made a prompt decision.

He wouldn't go anywhere today; he would just stay with her.

"Are you tired today? Do you want to sleep a little longer?"

Pei Ningxue ignored him. Seeing her stay quiet, Chen Zhi reached out to pinch her cheek.

"Don't touch me, I just finished my makeup."

Pei Ningxue swatted his hand away.

"Aren't you going to keep your other little girlfriend company?"

She didn't look up, and her tone sounded casual, but the jealousy was already wafting in the air.

"What are you talking about? Aren't you my girlfriend too?"

Chen Zhi took out his phone and, right in front of Pei Ningxue, sent a message to Li Zhiyi.

[Chen Zhi: Something urgent came up at the company, I'll come find you later.]

After sending it, he deliberately lit up the screen to make sure Pei Ningxue saw it, as a show of loyalty.

Pei Ningxue glanced at his phone screen and let out a cold snort.

"In the past, when you told me you were busy with something, did you also hold your phone and make up lies just like that?"

Chen Zhi's smile froze for half a second.

He decisively changed the subject.

"Didn't you say you didn't rest well? Go back and take another nap, I'll stay with you."

Pei Ningxue bit her lip and finally just muttered, "Who wants to sleep with you."

Despite her words, she obediently followed Chen Zhi into the bedroom.

With the curtains drawn, the bedroom instantly plunged into darkness.

Pei Ningxue had already ducked under the covers.

Hiding in the blanket with only half of her face exposed, her eyes were closed, her eyelashes fluttering occasionally.

Chen Zhi lifted the other side of the blanket and lay down.

Pei Ningxue didn't open her eyes, but her body automatically shifted closer to him.

Chen Zhi reached out and pulled her into his arms, the back of Pei Ningxue's head resting perfectly beneath his chin.

"Don't move," Pei Ningxue mumbled.

Chen Zhi really didn't move an inch.

After about two minutes, Pei Ningxue's breathing gradually became even.

Pei Ningxue's personality made her look domineering and aloof.

But in Chen Zhi's eyes, she was actually the easiest to coax out of the three girls.

When Lin Wanwan felt wronged, she would cry, act coy, and say "it's always 'next time'" in a heartbreaking tone.

When Li Zhiyi felt wronged, she wouldn't speak; she would just lower her head and wring her fingers, which was even more agonizing than crying.

And Pei Ningxue?

She would call you a scumbag, make sarcastic remarks, and interrogate you in the car.

But as long as you gave her a hug, she would surrender.

This kind of "high offense, low defense" personality was, frankly speaking, having a sharp tongue but a soft heart. She was covered in thorns on the outside, but completely soft on the inside.

Chen Zhi closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep as well.

...

They slept until after four in the afternoon.

The afterglow of the setting sun leaked in through the gap in the curtains, falling right on her ankle, feeling warm and cozy.

She sat up groggily and reached out to feel the space beside her.

It was empty.

Pei Ningxue froze for two seconds, then rolled over and sat up. The strap of her silk nightgown slipped down with the movement, revealing a patch of her fair shoulder.

"Scumbag."

She cursed in a mumble, though there wasn't much anger in her tone.

It wasn't the first time she had experienced Chen Zhi sneaking away.

But when she fully woke up and walked out the bedroom door, she heard a faint noise coming from the kitchen.

The sound of the range hood and the clack-clack of a kitchen knife hitting a cutting board.

Pei Ningxue stopped in the middle of the living room, a bit dazed.

The aroma of home-cooked food wafted through the air.

She lightened her footsteps and walked to the kitchen door.

Chen Zhi was standing in front of the stove, his back to her.

He was wearing that gray loungewear set with an apron over it.

Two pots on the stove were fired up at the same time. One was sizzling with oil, while the other was covered with a lid, steam escaping from the edges.

On the cutting board sat shredded potatoes, soaking in water.

Pei Ningxue leaned against the wall at the corner of the hallway, making no sound.

She just stood there and watched for a while.

Chen Zhi cracked eggs into a bowl, stirred them a few times with chopsticks, and poured them into the pan.

He flipped them a couple of times with the spatula, then picked up a plate of diced tomatoes from the side and tossed them in.

His movements were quite skillful.

Pei Ningxue crossed her arms, tilting her head as she watched him clumsily toss the pan, the corners of her mouth curling up in spite of herself.

At least you're behaving.

She deliberately scuffed her slippers against the floor to make a sound.

Chen Zhi turned around.

"You're awake? It'll be ready in a minute. Go wash your hands first."

Pei Ningxue didn't reply. She walked to the sink and turned on the faucet.

After washing her hands, she walked to the dining table and sat down. Chen Zhi had already brought the dishes over.

"This is it?"

She glanced at the table.

Tomato and egg stir-fry, a plate of shredded potatoes, and a small plate of stir-fried pork.

Chen Zhi untied his apron.

"These are fresh ingredients I just bought from the supermarket while you were asleep. President Pei, you don't even have a grain of salt in your house. It's already not easy for me to whip up these three dishes."

Pei Ningxue picked up her chopsticks, first picking up a piece of the tomato and egg stir-fry and putting it into her mouth.

She chewed twice.

"How is it?" Chen Zhi sat opposite her, his face full of anticipation.

Pei Ningxue picked up a shred of potato next.

Then a piece of stir-fried pork.

"Not bad." She put down her chopsticks, her evaluation concise.

"As long as you like it." Chen Zhi scooped a bowl of rice for her and pushed it over.

Pei Ningxue took the bowl of rice and lowered her head to eat.

To be honest, these three dishes would be worth thirty yuan at most in any restaurant outside. The tomato and egg stir-fry was too sweet, the shredded potatoes were cut unevenly, and the heat control on the stir-fried pork was a bit lacking.

But she felt it tasted better than any meal she had ever eaten before.

"Is it because I'm hungry?"

Pei Ningxue thought to herself.

Or is it because the person who cooked it was him?

The two of them quietly ate all three plates of food clean.

Pei Ningxue put down her chopsticks and stood up to clear the dishes.

"I'll wash."

"I'll help." Chen Zhi stood up as well.

Pei Ningxue carried the plates into the kitchen, turned on the faucet, and squeezed some dish soap onto a sponge.

She had just started scrubbing the first plate when a warm chest pressed against her back.

Chen Zhi wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, rested his chin on her shoulder, and slid his hands down her arms to cover her hands holding the plate.

"What are you doing?" Pei Ningxue tilted her head slightly, the tips of her ears already turning red.

"Helping wash the dishes."

"You call this helping?"

"I get to hug you and get the dishes washed. Killing two birds with one stone."

Warmed by his body heat pressing against her back, Pei Ningxue felt a little flushed, and the movements of her hands slowed down.

The water from the faucet flowed steadily, and the suds slid down their overlapping fingers.

She lowered her head, looking at the plate in the sink.

Chen Zhi, if only you had me alone.

These words rolled around in her throat a couple of times, but ultimately, she never said them out loud.

After washing the dishes, Pei Ningxue wiped her hands on her apron, turned around to lean against the sink, and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Speak."

"Say what?"

"What are you really after, behaving so well out of the blue today?"

Chen Zhi placed the last bowl on the dish rack, took off his apron, and hung it back on the wall.

"Do I need a reason to treat my girlfriend a little better?"

Pei Ningxue stared at him.

His expression was earnest; it didn't look like he was acting.

Pei Ningxue looked away and turned her gaze out the window.

The setting sun had already sunk below the buildings, leaving only a faint orange afterglow on the horizon.

She stood there in silence for several seconds.

Then she turned her head, her tone nonchalant.

"Get out of here and go find your lawyer."

Chen Zhi froze for a moment.

"I don't need you today."

After saying that, Pei Ningxue walked past Chen Zhi and headed for the sofa in the living room.

She picked up her tablet, sat down with her legs crossed, and swiped the screen a couple of times without even looking back.

"Li Zhiyi has been waiting for you all afternoon. If you still don't go, she's going to think something happened to you."

Chen Zhi stood at the kitchen door, looking at the side profile of the woman on the sofa.

The afterglow of the sunset washed over her, dyeing the edges of her silk pajamas a warm orange.

She was sending him away.

But there was no spite in her tone, no cold war, not even a hint of making things difficult for him.

She was genuinely considering the other girl's feelings for his sake.

Chen Zhi walked over and bent down to kiss her on the forehead.

Pei Ningxue didn't dodge, nor did she look up.

"I'll come pick you up for work tomorrow."

"No need, Lao Zhao will come."

"Then I'll come back to keep you company tomorrow night."

"Whatever."

Chen Zhi changed back into his own clothes and picked up his cashmere coat draped over the back of the chair in the entryway.

Before opening the door, he glanced back.

Pei Ningxue was sitting on the sofa, the light from the tablet reflecting on her face.

She didn't look at him.

He took out his phone and sent a message to Li Zhiyi.

[Chen Zhi: I'm done dealing with things. I'm coming to find you now. Where are you?]