Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Ji Yunshu followed Pei Yufeng toward the Pei house. The sun was still blazing, and the shadows on the ground were short and dark. She walked beside him, her steps a bit lighter than usual.

"Brother Pei," Ji Yunshu initiated the conversation. "Where've you been, all dressed up so fancy? I thought you were on home leave."

"I had some stuff to take care of—needed to send a telegram to the garrison." Pei Yufeng walked with his back ramrod straight, having a hard time meeting Ji Yunshu's eyes.

"Oh! Military stuff—then I won't ask." Ji Yunshu knew the military had confidentiality rules; Ji Haiguo never talked about his work with He Qiuxia either, so she quickly changed the subject. "Brother Pei, I've already eaten half the Soviet chocolate you gave me last time. It's really good, but it's so hot out that a few pieces melted. What a shame."

"The Soviet Union's colder than here," Pei Yufeng sighed. "Next time I'll send it to you in the winter."

"Your island's summer all year round—you forgot!" Ji Yunshu bounced along beside him. "Thanks for thinking of me while you're away, but you don't need to. It's too much trouble."

"It's rare for you to like something, I—"

Pei Yufeng was still trying to figure out how to say it delicately when Ji Yunshu suddenly asked, "Brother Pei, is it really Grandma who wants to see me?"

"No." Pei Yufeng answered without hesitation. He never lied.

Ji Yunshu understood.

She'd wondered how it was such a coincidence that Pei Yufeng happened to come back from outside just as she was walking in the courtyard, and brought her a message. Because in the past, if Grandma missed her, Pei Yufeng would've come straight to her door before leaving, or asked Ji Yunting to pass along the message.

Ji Yunshu also realized Pei Yufeng had said it that way in front of everyone to back her up.

Grandma was the most respected elder in the compound. Every year during the holidays, a lot of cadres would come to pay their respects. First, because Uncle Pei and Aunt Fang died young; second, because Pei Yufeng could've stayed in the compound and lived a safe, peaceful life, but when the country needed him most, he resolutely left home to join the military, dedicating half his life to building the South Sea Fleet. So every household in the compound really respected Grandma.

Every New Year's Day, the first house everyone in the compound visited to pay respects was basically Grandma's—which showed how much influence she had.

Before, one big reason Ji Yunshu could get away with anything in the compound was that she was especially favored by Pei Yufeng's grandmother, who had almost taken over the role of looking after her while Pei Yufeng was away. Now that Pei Yufeng was back, she didn't visit the Pei house as often. Those people probably figured the Pei family didn't favor her anymore either, which was why they dared to gossip where she could hear.

Now, with Grandma and Pei Yufeng looking out for her, even if anyone wanted to say one bad word about Ji Yunshu, they'd only dare to do it in secret—and if Grandma heard about it, she'd really curse them out!

Thinking about it that way—could the first wave of rumors from a few days ago have been shut down by Pei Yufeng too...

Ji Yunshu looked at Pei Yufeng's stern profile and shook her head, thinking it impossible.

In her eyes, Pei Yufeng was kind of clueless about romance. Her biggest impression of him was him sitting upright in solemn silence. Every time Pei Yufeng came to the Ji house to see Ji Yunting, he'd sit in the living room waiting with his back perfectly straight, talking to her one word at a time, as if he were especially nervous—even though Ji Yunting was his closest friend and she really admired him.

Ji Yunshu couldn't figure it out. When they were kids, Brother Pei had been so much fun—he'd help Grandma pick balsam flowers to dye her nails, wash grapes in well water until they were ice-cold and peel them for her to eat, and even catch fireflies to show her!

Why, now that they'd grown up, had Brother Pei become less close to her than he used to be?

Was it because he liked someone?

Ji Yunshu had heard Ji Yunting say that once a man had someone in his heart, he'd automatically distance himself from other women he was close to—that was the right thing to do. If a man kept equally close relationships with two or more women at the same time, then that man had a character problem!

Character problems were no small thing! Ji Yunshu understood that much.

So, the reason Brother Pei had distanced himself from her—was it because he liked someone?

Ji Yunshu stared at her toes, unable to keep herself from wondering.

Pei Yufeng noticed Ji Yunshu had gone quiet. He didn't stop walking, but hesitated for a moment, then said, "Grandma heard what people have been saying outside. She's worried about you. She actually wanted to come straight to the Ji house to see you."

So even without his invitation, both he and Grandma had been thinking about her.

Ji Yunshu felt a warmth surge in her chest. No matter what the future held, at least she knew that right now, Brother Pei and Grandma truly cared about her.

When they reached the Pei house, Pei Yufeng pushed the door open and stepped aside to let her go in first. Grandma was washing something in the kitchen. When she heard the noise and came out to see Ji Yunshu, her face immediately broke into a smile.

"Xiaoshu's here? Come on in, sit down." Grandma pointed to a chair nearby. "I was just washing the peaches. I was gonna bring them to your house for you to eat. Don't take those gossipy words outside to heart—those people are just bored, it'll blow over in a couple of days."

"I'll wash them. Grandma, you sit with Yunshu." Pei Yufeng helped Grandma over, then rolled up his sleeves and headed to the kitchen.

With Pei Yufeng handling the work, Grandma relaxed and sat down on the rattan chair with Ji Yunshu.

Grandma asked Ji Yunshu all sorts of questions, constantly comforting and soothing her. Ji Yunshu felt her nose sting with emotion.

She'd heard so much gossip these past few days. She said she wasn't afraid, but it still stung inside. The fact that Grandma was still thinking of her at a time like this filled her with gratitude.

"Grandma, I'm fine," Ji Yunshu said. "I'm not afraid of what they say."

"Good, that's good not to be afraid." Grandma nodded, waving her palm-leaf fan to cool her off. "You're a good child. Grandma knows."

After a while, Pei Yufeng brought out two bowls of chilled mung bean soup, handed one to Grandma and one to Ji Yunshu, then turned to peel the peaches.

Ji Yunshu took a sip—cool and sweet. Seemed like Pei Yufeng had added plenty of sugar.

She loved sweet things. She hadn't expected Brother Pei to remember that so well.

Grandma watched her finish drinking, then spoke again: "Xiaoshu, breaking off the engagement is fine. We don't do arranged marriages these days—you did the right thing! But tell Grandma honestly, is there someone you like right now?"

Ji Yunshu was caught off guard. She set down the bowl and shook her head. "Not yet."

Grandma sighed and reached out to stroke her hair. "No rush, you're still young. But let Grandma tell you—when you're looking for a partner, you need someone whose background you know well, someone who treats you well. Don't just look at appearances."

Ji Yunshu nodded, unable to suppress a grin.

Who knew Grandma could throw shade like that?

In all her years in the compound, many people said He Jianjun was the most handsome and outstanding man there, because at just twenty-seven, he was already a Deputy Regiment Level Chief of Staff—truly a promising future. So in Ji Yunshu's dreams, many people thought she was reaching above her station by marrying He Jianjun.

But Ji Yunshu thought Pei Yufeng was clearly the most outstanding! At twenty-two, he'd already earned one first-class merit, two second-class merits, and his third-class merits were too many to count on one hand. Now he was only twenty-four. He was also the youngest outstanding graduate of the Naval Academy and the youngest Regular Battalion Level officer in the South Sea Fleet—selected from among all the outstanding naval soldiers across the country! Wasn't that far more substantial than He Jianjun's so-called "best-looking in the compound"?

As for looks... Ji Yunshu also thought Brother Pei was far better-looking than He Jianjun. And on one point alone, Pei Yufeng won—he was younger than He Jianjun!

Ji Yunshu was amused by her own thoughts. She stole a glance at Pei Yufeng, who was seriously peeling and slicing the peaches. His lowered lashes were long, his thin lips slightly pursed, and his slender fingers methodically removed the pit from each peach slice before arranging them on the plate.

He was doing this so earnestly that Ji Yunshu felt her thoughts were somewhat disrespectful to him and quickly stopped herself.

Just then, Grandma spoke again: "Your biological parents—they're still in the capital, right? When they have time, have them come over for a visit. Grandma wants to meet them, to make sure they treat you well."

Ji Yunshu thought of Meng Guangze and Wang Wanru, and her heart softened. "They treat me very well, Grandma, don't worry. They're staying at the guesthouse right now. My father is helping gather documents to transfer my household registration. Once this busy period is over, I'll bring them to see you."

Hearing this, Grandma seemed to finally relax a little. She nodded. "Good, good. Then you should still come by more often. Grandma is getting old—I just hope to see you young ones as much as I can."

She paused, glanced at Pei Yufeng, and lowered her voice with a hint of worry: "Grandma has no other wish in this life than to see you young ones get married and live stable, peaceful lives. But look at your Brother Pei—a grown man with no partner at all. It worries me to death."

Ji Yunshu followed Grandma's gaze to Pei Yufeng once more.

He sat on the small stool, earnestly placing each slice of peach onto the ceramic plate in front of Ji Yunshu. When he heard Grandma's words, he instinctively glanced at Ji Yunshu, his Adam's apple moving slightly—as if he were a bit nervous.

Ji Yunshu thought again of the Pei Yufeng from her dreams.

In the dream, when he died in sacrifice, he was still alone—no wife, no children. At that time, only Grandma was left in the family. Once again, an elder burying the young—how could Grandma withstand such a blow? So in the dream, Grandma didn't last long before she too passed away.

Ji Yunshu looked at Pei Yufeng, and a sudden, inexplicable feeling welled up inside her. He braved the wind and sun at sea, risking life and limb on missions, yet had no one by his side to look after his every need.

Ji Yunshu truly felt for him.

A man this remarkable shouldn't have to go so soon...

Ji Yunshu opened her mouth, and she only realized what she'd asked after the words slipped out: "Brother Pei, what kind of person do you like?"

Author's note:

Of course, it's someone like Xiaoshu!