Endless Fall

“No, I’ve waited long enough.” He hid the love that was overflowing and making him unable to think straight.

If he continued to wait, he felt like he was going to die.

Lin Jiao lay on his shoulder and let him carry her into the master bedroom on the right side of the corridor.

She lifted the blanket and got in. Seeing that he was about to leave, she called out to him, “Don’t you want to sleep with me?”

“I do. I’m just going to take a shower.”

“Then don’t take too long.”

Pei Zhi did not answer.

He pushed open the bathroom door. While washing his body with shower gel, he was immersed in the hot air coming out of the shower.

The moment he went into bed, Lin Jiao, who was so tired that she could not open her eyes, subconsciously snuggled into his arms.

She murmured, “Good night kiss.”

Pei Zhi reached out his right hand and wrapped it around the back of her neck.

He kissed the top of her head. When he felt sleepy and tired, he fell asleep with her.

Nights that weren’t spent alone always made people feel at ease.

Buzz—Buzz—

The sun shone through the window and onto the phone.

Pei Zhi, who was not awake enough, narrowed his eyes at the caller ID and pressed the answer button.

He cleared his throat. “Dad.”

When a deep male voice entered his ears, Lin Hongyuan was shocked and almost lost his grip on his phone.

After confirming that the number was correct, he asked in a questioning tone, “Who are you? What’s your relationship with my daughter?”

Pei Zhi suddenly sat up straight.

He took out his phone and looked at it again. Nervousness and frustration overwhelmed him, making him frown.

“Hello, Uncle. I’m Jiaojiao’s…” He looked at Lin Jiao and said firmly, “Boyfriend.”

“When did this happen?”

“This month.”

Lin Hongyuan thought that it was difficult to get a full picture of the situation over the phone, so he ordered, “Come back for lunch today.”

“Alright.” Pei Zhi could only agree.

He quietly left the room. While going to the fitting room to change, he asked Qu Shao to prepare gifts as soon as possible.

After packing up, it was ten o’clock.

Lin Jiao woke up when he returned to the bedroom.

Her gaze wandered from his carefully styled hair to his suit. “Are you going out for business?”

“No.” Pei Zhi told her what happened.

He put on his watch and his well-defined hand landed on his collar. Just as he was about to button up his tie, his tie was grabbed.

The feeling of being strangled made him lean over and close the distance between them. Lin Jiao locked her arms around neck and climbed onto his body.

Pei Zhi held the back of her head, his thick eyelashes casting a shadow on her cheek.

“I forgot to brush my teeth.” Lin Jiao pursed her lips and lowered her head in embarrassment.

Her face gradually turned red like a blooming flower in spring, making him unable to take his eyes off her.

“I forgot too.” Pei Zhi rubbed her skin, his eyes filled with love. “Will it change your opinion about me?”

“How is that possible?” As if to prove it, Lin Jiao raised her chin and kissed him again.

It was only when her shoulder was grabbed by his hands that she retreated and said seriously, “I really don’t mind.”

Pei Zhi chuckled. “I believe you.”

He carried her to the bathroom and took out the toothbrush he had bought for her earlier.

The fragrance of mint spread in the air.

Two overlapping figures were playing in front of the mirror. The laughter that spread to the bedroom was swept up by the breeze and gradually slipped out of the glass window.

#

A BMW drove through the greenery and into the European-style villa near the fountain garden.

Lin Hongyuan pushed open the door. Hearing the noise, his wife, Fang Liu, came out from the kitchen.

“I thought it was Jiaojiao.”

She handed the crab to the nanny and wiped her hands dry. “Did you go out just to buy these?”

“Isn’t it enough?” Lin Hongyuan opened the bag and placed two bottles of wine and three cigarette boxes on the coffee table.

“I’m afraid her boyfriend won’t like white wine.”

“He should be grateful that there’s wine to drink.”

Fang Liu said with a smile, “You’re already putting on airs before you even become a father-in-law. Aren’t you afraid of scaring him away?”

“There’s still someone else if he’s scared away.” Lin Hongyuan crossed his legs and raised his chin. “My daughter has a house full of suitors.”

The more he talked like that, the more Fang Liu knew that he was the happiest of them all.

She did not argue with him. “I’ll go up and call Yanwen.”

“Is she still asleep?”

“I think so.”

Lin Hongyuan nodded softly.

He shook open the newspaper. He wanted to browse through news like he usually did, but he kept glancing at the door from the corner of his eye, unable to calm down.

When the doorbell rang, he jumped up from his seat like he was sitting on pins and needles.

“Dad, Auntie Fang.” Lin Jiao smiled and held Pei Zhi’s arm as they walked in.

Be it the color of their clothes or their looks, they would strike everyone as compatible.

Fang Liu tugged at Lin Hongyuan, who was in a daze.

He went up and took the pile of gift boxes from Pei Zhi. “Why did you buy so many things?”

Pei Zhi said gently, “I didn’t know what you two liked, so I bought some.”

“Don’t spend so much money next time.” Fang Liu asked them to sit down, feeling inexplicably nervous.

When the hot tea was placed on the coffee table, Lin Hongyuan, who had been absent-minded, finally came back to his senses.

He sized up the young man opposite him and asked, “What’s your name?”

“Pei Zhi.”

“The one from Sheng Heng Corp?”

“Yes.” Pei Zhi sat up straight.

Seeing that his body was tense, Lin Jiao held his hand and gestured for him to calm down.

She looked at Lin Hongyuan. “Dad, do you have any business with Sheng Heng?”

Lin Hongyuan suppressed the shock in his heart.

“I do.” He picked up his teacup and took two sips. “I signed an advertisement contract with them early this year.”

“Are you in the training industry?”

“Real estate.”

Pei Zhi searched his memory.

He thought of the names of Lin Jiao’s parents she had told him before coming and was almost certain. “Is Hongyuan Real Estate your company?”

“I changed the name.” Lin Hongyuan leaned back.

He relaxed and leaned against the soft cushion Fang Liu placed behind his back. “It’s called Hongyun now.”

Lin Jiao was puzzled. “Why did you change the name?”