I Hate You

Chen Zhi barely spoke a word all morning.

Zhang Guifang was bustling in and out of the kitchen, preparing lunch.

The door to the guest room remained firmly shut.

Pei Ningxue hadn't stepped out once the entire morning, making it seem as though she didn't even exist in the house.

At eleven o'clock, Chen Zhi sat on the sofa and unlocked his phone for the sixth time.

Twenty minutes ago, Lin Wanwan had sent a selfie. She was on the high-speed train, wearing a baseball cap and a face mask, holding up a cup of milk tea. The caption consisted of three words and a string of exclamation marks: Almost there!!!

Chen Zhi replied with a simple "Got it" and locked his screen.

He stood up and walked over to the guest room.

After hesitating for a couple of seconds, he raised his hand and knocked.

"Pei Ningxue."

It was quiet inside for a moment.

"What is it?"

"I'm heading out to pick someone up this afternoon."

Chen Zhi added, "The two families are having dinner tonight. It'll be at a hotel outside, not at home."

There was no response from the other side of the door.

Chen Zhi waited for five or six seconds before turning and walking away.

As he passed by the kitchen, Zhang Guifang threw a question at him without even lifting her head.

"When are you leaving?"

"One-thirty."

"Then eat lunch before you go."

"I'm not really hungry—"

"I said eat, so you eat."

Chen Zhi obediently returned to the dining table and sat down.

Zhang Guifang brought out two bowls of noodles. She placed one in front of Chen Zhi and held the other, hesitating for a moment as she glanced toward the guest room.

"Xiao Pei, come out and have some noodles."

Her voice wasn't loud, but it was enough to be heard inside.

The guest room door opened.

Pei Ningxue walked out. Her hair was neatly tied back, and her face was indifferent, betraying no emotion.

"Thank you, Auntie."

Zhang Guifang brought another bowl from the kitchen, placed it on the table, and set out the chopsticks.

The three of them sat around the table eating their noodles. No one said a word.

The only sound was the clinking of chopsticks against the rims of the bowls.

After taking a couple of bites, Chen Zhi looked up and stole a glance at Pei Ningxue.

She kept her head down, eating bite by bite at a steady pace, her expression blank.

Zhang Guifang was secretly watching her too.

Each preoccupied with their own thoughts, it took them nearly twenty minutes to finish a single bowl of noodles.

Chen Zhi put down his chopsticks, took his bowl into the kitchen to wash it, and came back to grab his jacket from the sofa.

"Mom, I'm taking off."

"Okay."

He cast another glance at Pei Ningxue.

Pei Ningxue held her bowl, not even bothering to look up.

Chen Zhi opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing. He opened the front door and left.

July in Jiangcheng was as hot as a steamer. Chen Zhi stood at the entrance of his residential complex, hailed a cab, and gave the driver the address of the high-speed rail station.

In the car, he stared at his phone, scrolling through Lin Wanwan's messages from top to bottom.

Every word she sent dripped with sweetness.

Hubby, I'm on the train!

Hubby, the high-speed train is so fast!

Hubby, I bought a blind box, guess what it is!

Hubby, what are you doing? Why are you ignoring me!

Whatever, you're probably sleeping in. Hmph.

The last message was from ten minutes ago.

Almost there, almost there, almost there!

Clutching his phone and leaning back against the seat, Chen Zhi felt an indescribable sense of frustration welling up inside him.

He arrived at the station with time to spare, so he found a pillar outside the exit to lean against while he waited.

One fifty-eight.

The station broadcast announced the train's arrival.

The electronic board at the exit refreshed, and the G-series train number turned green.

People began pouring out.

There were middle-aged travelers dragging suitcases, groups of students looking like they were on summer break, people holding up their phones trying to spot whoever was picking them up, and others walking briskly while talking on the phone.

Chen Zhi stood on his tiptoes.

And then he saw her.

Amidst the crowd, a girl in a black-and-white sailor suit walked out, pulling a suitcase behind her.

Her wispy bangs had just been permed, looking fluffy and light. Two small braided pigtails rested over her shoulders, draping across her chest. She had a delicate, petite nose, and her almond eyes were slightly narrowed, as if the sunlight was too bright.

She looked aloof yet sweet, quite different from the giggly persona she usually put on for variety shows.

The wheels of her suitcase rumbled against the ground. She tilted her head, looking around while shielding her forehead from the sun with one hand.

Then, she spotted Chen Zhi.

The eyes beneath her bangs instantly lit up.

"Chen Zhi!"

She let go of her suitcase entirely, letting the wheels roll forward on their own momentum.

Lin Wanwan jogged toward him, jumping when she was still two steps away and throwing herself into his arms.

She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and rested her chin on his shoulder.

"Did you miss me, Chen Zhi?"

Chen Zhi wrapped one arm around her waist and used the other to catch her suitcase, which was about to tip over.

"Please refrain from asking questions to which you already know the answer."

Lin Wanwan lifted her head from his shoulder, putting on an innocent expression.

"But I don't know the answer."

"I missed you to death."

"Hehe."

Hearing the words she wanted, her entire demeanor brightened. When she let go of him, her lips were pouting high as she tugged at Chen Zhi's sleeve, swinging his arm back and forth.

"Look at me, do I look pretty today?"

"You look pretty."

"You didn't even look closely!"

"I did."

"What did you see?"

"Your bangs are newly permed, your braids are freshly done, your dress is new, and your shoes are new. Only you are old."

Lin Wanwan froze for a second before lightly punching him.

"What do you mean I'm old!"

"Childhood sweethearts. The old ones are the most valuable."

That completely won her over. The punching fist turned back into a hand tugging his sleeve, and she practically hung off his arm as they walked out together.

Chen Zhi pulled her suitcase for her as the two exited the station hall.

A wave of heat immediately hit them.

Lin Wanwan let out a "Wow" and fanned herself with her hand.

"It's so hot in Jiangcheng. Even Beijing isn't this hot."

"Yeah, you'll have to get used to it now that you're back."

"Let's go, let's go," Lin Wanwan said, grabbing Chen Zhi's arm and dragging him toward the taxi stand. "I haven't seen Auntie in so long. I want to go to your place and visit her."

Chen Zhi's footsteps faltered.

A cold sweat instantly broke out on his back.

Pei Ningxue was still at his house.

If he brought Lin Wanwan back there right now, his life would be over the second he pushed that door open.

"Shouldn't you go back to your own house first?"

Chen Zhi tried his best to make his voice sound natural.

"Let's go to your place first, Chen Zhi. I miss Auntie."

"Uncle Lin and Aunt Lin would be furious if they heard that. The first thing you do when you get back isn't even to see your own parents."

Lin Wanwan huffed, her little pigtails bouncing.

"My mom and dad aren't that petty. Hmph."

"You still need to go home and drop off your luggage first. It wouldn't look right for you to drag your suitcase to my house."

Even Chen Zhi felt this excuse was a stretch, but Lin Wanwan thought about it and decided it made sense.

"Fine, fine. We'll go to my house first, but you have to come with me!"

"Deal."

Half the heavy stone in Chen Zhi's chest dropped.

They would go to the Lin family's house first, drop off her luggage, chat with her parents, and kill an hour or two. Then, at six-thirty, they would head straight to the hotel for dinner, completely bypassing his own house.

As long as Lin Wanwan didn't set foot in the Chen household today, the situation with Pei Ningxue wouldn't be exposed.

At least, not tonight.

He hailed a cab and gave the driver the address of her old residential neighborhood.

Once the car started moving, Lin Wanwan leaned against his shoulder, chattering away endlessly about funny moments from her variety show shoots, the scenery she saw on the way, and the new gigs her manager, Su Man, had booked for her.

Chen Zhi offered generic murmurs of agreement, while his mind rapidly formulated his battle plan.

At the hotel dinner tonight, both families would be present: Lin Shuxian, Lin Jing, his dad, his mom, himself, and Lin Wanwan—six people in total.

Pei Ningxue couldn't appear at that dinner table.

But leaving Pei Ningxue at home all evening wasn't a solution either. Once his mom got back, the atmosphere would be...

Chen Zhi rubbed his temples.

"What's wrong?" Lin Wanwan tilted her head to look at him.

"Nothing, just a bit hot."

"Turn on the AC then."

Lin Wanwan reached out and turned the car's air conditioning up two notches, sending a blast of cold air blowing through the cabin.

As the car turned into the neighborhood, Lin Wanwan pressed against the window, looking out.

"Wow, that tree has grown so tall!"

"When we were in junior high, it was only about as tall as you."

"How do you remember everything?"

"If I don't remember, who will?"

Lin Wanwan smiled, her two little dimples showing.

The car parked at the bottom of the apartment building.

Chen Zhi helped her get her suitcase out, and the two walked toward the stairwell.

Passing by Chen Zhi's door, Lin Wanwan glanced in that direction.

"Let's go see Auntie first—"

"Let's go to your place first."

Chen Zhi tugged at her sleeve, quickened his pace, and dragged the suitcase straight to the Lin family's door.

Lin Wanwan was pulled along up a couple of steps, panting slightly.

"What's the rush!"

Chen Zhi didn't answer and just reached out to ring the doorbell.

The door opened.

Lin Jing stood at the door in her loungewear, the smile on her face not yet fully blooming.

"Wanwan!"

"Mom!"

Lin Wanwan let go of Chen Zhi's hand and plunged headfirst into Lin Jing's arms.

Lin Jing hugged her daughter, her eyes immediately turning red as she stroked the back of Wanwan's head.

"You've lost weight, so much weight."

"No I haven't, Mom. I've actually gained weight."

"What do you mean gained weight? Your chin is so sharp now."

Lin Wanwan acted spoiled, rubbing against her mother's embrace, looking completely different from the new-generation singer who dominated the stage outside.

Chen Zhi pushed the suitcase inside and stood in the entryway.

"Chen Zhi is here too." Lin Jing looked up and smiled at him. "Come on in. Your Uncle Lin went out to buy some things, he'll be back in a bit."

"Auntie Lin."

Chen Zhi changed his shoes, went in, and sat down on the sofa in the living room.

The Lin family's living room was a bit larger than his own, with newer decor. On the coffee table sat sliced watermelon and a few cans of drinks.

Lin Wanwan was already sitting on another sofa with her arms around her mom. The two had their heads together, whispering, with Lin Wanwan's laughter ringing out from time to time.

Chen Zhi leaned back on the sofa and picked up a piece of watermelon.

His phone vibrated in his pocket.

He glanced down.

Pei Ningxue.

Just a few words.

[What time are you coming back?]

Chen Zhi gripped the phone, his thumb hovering over the screen.

Lin Wanwan's laughter drifted over from the side, crisp and sweet.

Just as he was about to reply, the sound of a key turning came from the entryway.

The door opened.

Lin Shuxian walked in carrying two large bags of groceries. Seeing Chen Zhi in the living room, his expression froze for a moment before breaking into a wide grin.

"Oh hey, Chen Zhi is back?"

"Uncle Lin."

"Good boy, you look more like a grown man now."

Lin Shuxian dropped the bags in the kitchen, walked over, and patted Chen Zhi on the shoulder with quite a bit of force.

"You're doing pretty well for yourself in Beijing, kid."

Chen Zhi's heart skipped a beat.

The fact that Pei Ningxue was the CFO of Deep Space Technology was something anyone could find out with a quick search.

"What has my dad been bragging to you about?"

"He said you started a company in Beijing doing some high-tech stuff. He couldn't really explain the details, but anyway, it's just awesome."

Lin Shuxian plopped down on the sofa casually, picked up a piece of watermelon, and took a huge bite.

"Not bad, kid. You've made something of yourself. Just don't you dare bully our Wanwan in the future."

Lin Wanwan blushed beside them.

"Dad, what are you saying!"

"What did I say? Is there any need to hide things between you and Chen Zhi? From childhood to now, everyone in the neighborhood knows about you two."

Lin Jing smiled and smoothed things over. "Alright, alright, stop teasing the kids."

Chen Zhi sat on the sofa, looking at Lin Shuxian's smiling face, watching Lin Jing gently wipe the sweat from Lin Wanwan's forehead, and seeing Lin Wanwan swinging her legs back and forth in pure happiness.

The heavy feeling in his chest grew even stronger.

These two families had been neighbors for nearly twenty years.

It was precisely because they were so familiar with each other that he felt guilty.

And the things he was doing right now...

Pei Ningxue sent another message.

[Your mom just came in and told me she won't be eating at home tonight, and told me to heat up the leftovers in the fridge myself.]

After a two-second pause, a third message followed.

[So, I'm eating leftovers alone in your guest room tonight?]

"Chen Zhi, have some watermelon," Lin Jing said, offering him a sliced piece.

"Thank you, Auntie."

He took the watermelon and used his other hand to flip his phone face down on his leg.

Lin Wanwan bounced over and sat next to him, tilting her head close.

"What are you looking at?"

"Nothing much, just work messages."

"Tch, still working even when you're home."

Lin Wanwan reached for a piece of watermelon near his hand, took a bite, and spat the seeds out with a "pfft" onto the coffee table.

"Eat slowly."

"Hehe."

Sitting across from them, Lin Shuxian watched the two and exchanged a glance with Lin Jing; both husband and wife were smiling.

Chen Zhi was smiling too.

But the screen of the phone resting face down on his thigh lit up again.

Pei Ningxue had sent another message.

[Chen Zhi, I hate you.]