Pei Ningxue is Going to Study Abroad

Chen Zhi landed at Daxing Airport at eight-thirty in the morning.

He did not even grab his luggage, directly taking a taxi and rushing toward the World Trade Center.

The heavy rain he got caught in last night at Jiangcheng Airport left his T-shirt crumpled and clinging to his body. The scraped skin on his knee had already formed a dark red scab.

Twentieth floor. Deep Space Technology.

As soon as the elevator doors opened, Chen Zhi dashed out.

The atmosphere in the office area was eerie. Usually, at this time, everyone would be slacking off at their desks eating breakfast, but today, everyone was whispering to each other.

Chen Zhi pushed open the door to the CFO office.

It was completely bare inside.

Not a single piece of paper was left on the desk. The lucky cat ornament that usually sat next to the computer was also gone.

Dai Damai ran over from the other end of the corridor holding a laptop, sporting two massive dark circles under his eyes.

Brother Zhi!

Chen Zhi turned around.

Where is President Pei?

Dai Damai swallowed hard and handed over a folder he was holding.

At seven o'clock this morning, President Pei brought two people from a moving company and cleared out all her personal belongings from the office.

Chen Zhi opened the folder.

Inside was a document transferring financial authority, along with an equity return agreement.

Pei Ningxue had already signed it. The handwriting was so hasty that it tore through the paper.

What on earth is going on? Dai Damai's voice was trembling. The legal department did not even dare to accept President Pei's equity return agreement. She is leaving with absolutely nothing! Our Series A valuation is fifteen billion US dollars, and she is just throwing away her fifteen percent options just like that?

Chen Zhi threw the folder onto the desk.

Hold onto the agreement for now.

Brother Zhi, did you and President Pei have a fight? With the look on her face this morning, no one dared to go up and risk her wrath.

Chen Zhi did not answer, turning around to walk out.

Keep an eye on the company for now. I probably will not be able to come in for the next few days.

Chen Zhi went downstairs, hailed a taxi, and headed straight for Wanliu House.

On the way, he kept calling Pei Ningxue.

The subscriber you dialed is powered off.

He called Lao Zhao, and Lao Zhao answered.

Mr. Chen.

Where did she go?

Mr. Chen, President Pei gave strict orders not to reveal any of her itinerary.

Lao Zhao, I am begging you.

Mr. Chen, please do not make this difficult for me. President Pei is truly angry this time. I have been with her for so long, and I have never seen her like that.

The call disconnected.

Wanliu House.

Chen Zhi pressed his finger against the smart lock, and the door opened.

The password had not been changed, and his fingerprint had not been deleted. There might still be hope.

He rushed into the living room.

Half of the throw pillows on the sofa were missing.

He ran up to the second floor and pushed open the door to the master bedroom.

He walked straight to the walk-in closet.

The area that originally hung various haute couture and luxury brands was now left with only a few empty hangers.

The cubbies below for bags were completely empty.

Chen Zhi rushed into the bathroom.

On the sink, that pink electric toothbrush was gone, and her usual bottles of skincare products were missing too.

Only Chen Zhi's own gray towel remained on the towel rack.

She did not even leave a single sheet mask behind.

Just last week, Pei Ningxue was standing here, kicking his calf while brushing her teeth, complaining that he squeezed facial cleanser everywhere.

Now, he could not even find a single strand of her hair here.

Chen Zhi backed out and rushed into the kitchen.

On the double-door refrigerator, all the sticky notes she used to write down recipes had been torn off.

The small soup pot she usually used to clumsily cook noodles for him was still there, but all the bowls and plates with cartoon patterns she bought were gone.

Chen Zhi leaned against the kitchen doorframe, panting heavily.

Pei Ningxue was absolutely determined to leave this time. She did not even leave behind a single item that he could use as an excuse to go looking for her.

He could not just let it end like this.

Chen Zhi took out his phone and opened his contacts. She did not even want her company shares anymore, and she had moved out of the house. Where else could she go?

Chen Zhi's thumb hovered over that name.

He pressed it.

It rang five times before it was answered.

Speak.

Pei Dongcheng's voice was bone-chillingly cold.

Uncle Pei, is Ningxue with you?

The other end was silent for two seconds.

Chen Zhi, you should be glad my daughter did not let me know what you did.

Otherwise, you would not be able to take this call from me right now.

Uncle Pei...

Clean up the mess you made yourself. Do not call this number again.

He hung up.

Chen Zhi gripped his phone, his knuckles turning white.

He started utilizing all his available connections.

He had someone check flight records, but there was no ticket purchase information for Pei Ningxue.

The counselor at Peking University's Guanghua School of Management only answered after three calls, hemming and hawing for a long time.

Student Chen Zhi, regarding Student Pei Ningxue... you should probably make a trip to the Office of Student Affairs.

Chen Zhi's heart skipped a beat.

The Office of Student Affairs.

Why go to the Office of Student Affairs?

He took a taxi straight to Peking University.

Peking University campus.

Chen Zhi sprinted wildly through the campus, drawing sidelong glances from passing students.

He ran until his lungs felt like they were going to explode, his mind full of images of Pei Ningxue completely erasing him from her life.

He ran to the administration building of the Guanghua School of Management and grabbed a student union staff member in the corridor.

Have you seen Pei Ningxue?

The staff member froze for a moment.

Senior Pei? I think I just saw her heading toward the Academic Affairs Office. She was pulling a silver suitcase today, looking like she was going on a long trip.

Chen Zhi let go and ran toward the Academic Affairs Office.

The Academic Affairs Office was at the end of the third floor.

The door was ajar.

Chen Zhi slowed his pace and stood outside the door.

The voice of Mr. Zhang from the Academic Affairs Office came from inside.

Student Pei, this decision is too sudden. Deep Space Technology is currently a star entrepreneurial project heavily supported by our school, with a Series A valuation of over ten billion. As a core founder, going through with study abroad procedures now... shouldn't you reconsider?

Chen Zhi's mind buzzed.

Study abroad?

Pei Ningxue's voice drifted out.

I have already made my decision, sir. Please just stamp it for me. Let us not talk about anything else.

You do not even want the credits for the second half of the semester? This is a direct withdrawal application to transfer to a foreign school, the procedures are very complicated. The school you want to go to in the UK, although it is also a prestigious school, with your current resume, staying in the country for development is definitely better. You are the CFO of Deep Space Technology, ringing the bell on Wall Street is just around the corner, giving up now is a real pity.

It is not a pity. Sir, please stamp it.

Chen Zhi pushed the door open and walked in.

You are going to study abroad? Chen Zhi stared at her.

Pei Ningxue turned her head.

She was wearing a very plain white shirt today, her hair casually tied up behind her head, and that silver suitcase was placed next to her.

Pei Ningxue withdrew her gaze and continued facing Mr. Zhang.

Sir, let us continue.

Pei Ningxue, look at me.

She finally tilted her head and gave him a faint glance.

What does it have to do with you?

Who are you to me?

When those words pierced him, Chen Zhi felt as if his chest had been gripped tightly by someone.

Mr. Zhang looked at Chen Zhi, then at Pei Ningxue, knowing that these two were prominent figures in Peking University's entrepreneurial circle, and quickly gathered the materials and stood up.

Well, you two chat first. I will go pour a cup of water...

The teacher slipped out, closing the door behind him.

Only the two of them were left in the room.

Pei Ningxue remained seated, her back straight, her hands resting on her knees, one over the other.

Chen Zhi walked up to her and crouched down.

"Pei Ningxue, I am the man who is going to spend the rest of his life with you."

"Who agreed to that?"

Her tone was surprisingly flat.

"Chen Zhi, please don't be so full of yourself."

"Ningxue, I was wrong." Chen Zhi reached out, trying to grasp the hand resting on her knee.

Pei Ningxue pushed her chair back a bit, dodging his touch.

Chen Zhi reached for the document folder.

Pei Ningxue took a large step back, widening the distance between them.

"Don't call me Ningxue. We aren't that close."

Chen Zhi's hand froze in midair.

"Pei Ningxue, I was a bastard last night. I will take my punishment. You can hit me or curse at me, but please don't joke around about studying abroad."

"I'm not joking." Pei Ningxue placed the document folder into her suitcase. "My paperwork is already done. From now on, Deep Space Technology, and you, have absolutely nothing to do with me."

Chen Zhi took a step forward and reached out to grab her wrist.

Pei Ningxue violently shook off his hand.

A flash of disgust crossed her face.

"Don't touch me."

Those three words were colder than the torrential rain in Jiangcheng last night.

It wasn't the petty spitefulness of their previous arguments, nor the haughtiness of jealousy. It was a genuine, bone-deep weariness, a clear sign that she truly didn't want to be entangled with him anymore.

Chen Zhi took a step back, his back hitting the windowsill.

The Disciplinary Office was on the third floor of the administration building.

He leaned back against the sill and tilted his head to glance out the window.

Below was a patch of lawn, and further away was a cobblestone path.

The third floor.

Not particularly high.

But not low, either.

It probably wouldn't kill him.

Chen Zhi turned and threw the window wide open.

The hot summer wind blew in, sweeping a few pieces of scrap paper from the desk onto the floor.

"What are you doing?" Pei Ningxue frowned.

Chen Zhi swung one leg over the windowsill.

"Pei Ningxue, I was wrong. I was a monster. Please, give me one more chance."

Pei Ningxue stood where she was, not even batting an eyelid.

"What kind of trick are you trying to pull now?"

"If you don't forgive me, I'll jump and atone with my life." Chen Zhi swung his other leg up as well.

He crouched completely on the sill, half his body leaning outside.

If he just let go, he would fall straight down.

Pei Ningxue looked at him.

Her expression remained entirely unchanged, her tone flat.

"Then jump."

Pei Ningxue turned around and walked toward the office door.

"What happens to you is none of my business."

Her hand grasped the doorknob and pressed it down.

The lock let out a soft click.

Chen Zhi watched her back.

He did not hesitate. Releasing his grip, his entire body tipped outward.

He leaped down.

A sense of weightlessness instantly enveloped his body.

The wind howled in his ears.

The End