Chapter 83

Weisheng Wenzhan raised his hand and placed it over the gap in the closet.

Just a cabinet apart.

But it felt warm.

Suddenly, there was a knock on Qiao Chuchu's door.

She frowned and looked toward the entrance.

Pei Youchuan's deep voice sounded: "Are you still awake?"

She was startled, her anxious mood easing slightly: 【Why is Pei Youchuan here?】

【But it’s good that he came. I’m too unsettled right now. I don’t even dare to sleep alone in my room. I keep feeling like someone is watching me from behind.】

Huai Ling: "…"

She’s quite perceptive.

Qiao Chuchu sat on the bed, directly facing the gap in the closet: "Come in."

Pei Youchuan pushed the door open and saw Qiao Chuchu sitting listlessly on the bed.

It was already midnight.

He asked knowingly: "What’s wrong? Are you upset?"

Qiao Chuchu gave him a helpless look: "How did you know I wasn’t asleep?"

Pei Youchuan hesitated for a moment, then said sternly: "I heard you pacing back and forth. It was noisy."

Qiao Chuchu: "…"

She laughed in exasperation: "Alright, then I’ll stop. You can go back to sleep."

"No, I can’t sleep anyway." Pei Youchuan sat down beside her: "Why don’t you tell me why you can’t sleep?"

Huai Ling’s brow furrowed.

He could roughly understand what they were saying.

But he had investigated—there was a deep rift between the siblings, and they hadn’t lived together for years.

This Pei Youchuan didn’t seem as indifferent to Qiao Chuchu as the information suggested.

He seemed to care about her quite a bit.

Huai Ling pursed his lips warily.

If the people around her cared for her so much, he would have to work twice as hard to stand out.

He nervously glanced at Qiao Chuchu again.

Pei Youchuan also looked at Qiao Chuchu with some tension.

Chuchu’s mood was heavy, and she didn’t want to speak.

【What can I say?】

【That someone wants to kill me? But I don’t have any evidence.】

【I can’t exactly say that I died once and came back to life, only to find out that the entire Qiao Qihang family wants me dead, can I?】

Pei Youchuan’s expression grew darker as he listened: "Qiao Chuchu, whatever you want to say, you can tell me. I’ll believe you."

She was startled and met Pei Youchuan’s gaze.

Pei Youchuan’s beautiful eyes locked onto hers, as if waiting for her to say something.

She opened her mouth, but another thought flashed through her mind.

【If Pei Youchuan had a secret, he wouldn’t tell me either.】

【After all, I’ve caused so much trouble over the years. Pei Youchuan has been hurt by me more than once or twice.】

She forced a bitter smile: "I just… got scared by a horror movie. You know how afraid of ghosts I am."

Pei Youchuan’s eyes instantly dimmed: "Is that so?"

His tone turned cold: "Then go to sleep. I’ll stay here with you."

Qiao Chuchu: "?"

Pei Youchuan ignored her, turned off the main light, and switched on the bedside lamp. Under the warm yellow glow, he sat by her bed: "Sleep."

She was baffled: "What are you doing?"

Pei Youchuan said matter-of-factly: "Like when we were kids, I’ll help you fall asleep."

Qiao Chuchu was stunned as Pei Youchuan pushed her down onto the bed without another word!

Qiao Chuchu: "!"

Pei Youchuan squeezed her to the inner side of the bed, half-lying down, his tone firm: "Close your eyes."

Qiao Chuchu blinked in confusion, the fear in her heart suddenly dissipating: "I don’t need—"

"Don’t say you don’t need it. If you can’t sleep, I can’t sleep either." Pei Youchuan frowned: "Don’t you know I have insomnia? The slightest noise outside wakes me up."

Qiao Chuchu was shocked: "You, the guy who falls asleep the moment your head hits the pillow, have insomnia? I remember your alarm clock woke up the whole house, and you were still sleeping like a log."

Pei Youchuan’s face darkened, displeased: "Just close your eyes already. Don’t make me lose my patience, or I’ll loop a horror movie to scare you!"

Chuchu choked back a retort and reluctantly closed her eyes.

【Time really changes people. Even Pei Youchuan, the carefree guy who could fall asleep instantly, has insomnia now.】Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Pei Youchuan: "?"

【But having someone here is nice. I don’t have to be scared anymore, hehe!】

Pei Youchuan: "…"

At least she managed to save face.

His warm hand rested on the back of hers, gently patting as he hummed a tune: "The boat’s lantern glows, the moss-covered rocks bear new patterns, the drizzle whispers, and the returning swallows won’t wait for anyone…"

Hearing his deep, soothing voice, she nestled closer to him, feeling at ease.

Pei Youchuan’s warm hand covered hers, patting softly.

She gradually relaxed, and drowsiness began to take over.

【So warm, just like when we were kids.】

Pei Youchuan’s heart trembled as he looked down at Qiao Chuchu.

She was still the same as when she was a child, her appearance unchanged, just grown up proportionally.

When she was six, Qiao Chuchu had been pranked by Pei Mu and Pei Ci, shown a terrifying ghost image that scared her so much she couldn’t sleep at night. She had knocked on his door, clutching her blanket.

"Mom and Dad are away on a business trip. Third Brother, can you sleep with me? I’m so scared."

She held her blanket and promised: "I won’t touch you at all!"

Back then, he found it strange: "Why me?"

The little girl pitifully replied: "You’re strong and full of yang energy. Ghosts won’t possess you."

So, Qiao Chuchu lay beside him, covered in her purple blanket.

He fell asleep instantly.

Qiao Chuchu poked him awake: "Third Brother, I still can’t sleep. Can you make some noise? Even snoring would do. I feel like there’s someone under the bed, someone in the closet, and you’ve turned into a ghost."

…

He was angry.

Not at her, but at Pei Ci and Pei Mu.

He sighed and patted the back of her hand: "Mom used to pat me like this to help me sleep. I’ll sing for you too. Will that help you sleep?"

Qiao Chuchu’s eyes lit up: "Thank you, Brother! I’ll do whatever you say tomorrow!"

He snorted, patting her hand as he sang.

Qiao Chuchu flattered him: "You’re the best singer among my brothers. Thank you, Third Brother. You’re working hard."

He scoffed: "What if you didn’t thank me? Would I just ignore you?"

The little girl grinned at him: "I was afraid you’d think I’m a bother, hehe~"

He snorted: "I’m your brother. If you ask, I’ll help."

Pei Youchuan snapped out of his memories and looked at the now-sleeping Qiao Chuchu.

Back then, her hand was so small, his palm could completely cover hers.

Now, her hand was still small, and his palm could still cover it completely.

He stared blankly: "You used to rely on me the most, saying I was strong and made you feel safe. Whenever you were scared of ghosts, you’d come to me first. I didn’t need to hear your thoughts because you’d tell me what you were afraid of."

"Now, you’ve gone through something even scarier than ghosts, but you don’t tell me anything."

"I can only learn about your fears and worries from your thoughts… and the distance you’ve put between us."

Pei Youchuan sat there for an hour, making sure Qiao Chuchu was sound asleep, then turned off the bedside lamp and left with a heavy heart.

Huai Ling silently emerged from the closet, walked over to Qiao Chuchu, and took out a disinfecting wipe from his pocket. He gently wiped the back of her hand.

He patted it with satisfaction.

Clean!

Huai Ling carefully took out a necklace from the pocket at his collar.

The pendant was a teardrop-shaped blue Paraiba.

He smoothly placed it around Qiao Chuchu’s neck and admired it under the moonlight.

It suited her perfectly!

He cautiously tucked a note he had written into her hand and signed to her: 「My sister said that when you meet a girl you want to pursue, you must bring a gift. This Paraiba is something I carefully selected, bought with my first paycheck.」

Weisheng Huailing smiled: 「I hope the gemstone and the new day bring you joy, because every time I hear your voice, I feel happy.」

He left Qiao Chuchu’s suite and turned around, bumping into Weisheng Wenzhan, who was wearing pajamas.

Wenzhan looked at him with a knowing gaze, as if he had long known Huai Ling was hiding in Qiao Chuchu’s room, and signed: 「What are you doing?」

Huai Ling: 「Giving Qiao Chuchu a necklace.」

Wenzhan: 「? Is she awake?」

Huai Ling shook his head.

Weisheng Wenzhan: 「? So you gave it to her while she was asleep? Do you know how creepy that is? No one will like you for doing something like that.」

Huai Ling maintained a distant smile and signed back: 「Stay away from her, Brother.」

Weisheng Wenzhan: "?"

Weisheng Huailing stepped forward, looking at him with an innocent smile. "I'm very dissatisfied with your decision to approach her without permission, which is why I rushed over. Don't do it again next time."

Huailing blinked her moist eyes. "Her matters should be handled by me and my sister."

Weisheng Wenzhan narrowed his eyes. "You don't trust my taste? Do you think I would like someone like Qiao Chuchu?"

Weisheng Huailing smiled. "I believe you. I'm just reminding you."

"Alright," Weisheng Wenzhan replied with a fake smile. "Then you're mistaken."

Huailing: "?"

A hint of mockery flashed in Weisheng Wenzhan's eyes. "Listening to her thoughts is such a fun thing. I can't let you have all the fun, especially since you don't know how important I am to her."

Weisheng Huailing's face gradually darkened.

Weisheng Wenzhan chuckled teasingly. "She drew a manga with me as the prototype. She's very satisfied with my looks. I'm much more important than you. When you manage to get your own manga, then we can compare."

Huailing staggered back, her expression as if she had been struck by lightning.

Weisheng Wenzhan turned around gracefully, his smile deepening.

This is too amusing.

Teasing Huailing is just as effective as teasing Pei Youchuan—it always hits the mark.

He thought of something and turned back to ask, "What kind of jewelry did you give her?"

Weisheng Huailing was still in shock. "...Paraiba."

Weisheng Wenzhan nodded, smiling mysteriously. "Then I'll give her something even more expensive."

Huailing: "!!!!!"