He kept glancing towards the windowsill, and eventually, everyone noticed.
But no one dared to say anything, except for Xiang Siyuan, who was fearless and teased him.
"What are you looking at, Instructor Peng? Isn't that Sister Chun Chun's room? Why are you always looking over there? She's the most precious treasure of the Zhan family, not someone just anyone can be with. Could it be you've taken a liking to her?"
Peng Fei disliked that Xiang Siyuan observed him so clearly, and he also disliked being reminded like this.
He kicked the leg of Xiang Siyuan's stool. "Do I lose the freedom to use my eyes and look at things? Mind your own business."
Not seeing Zhan Jingchun frequently made him very dispirited, even anxious.
By ten-thirty, their homework for the day was done. They were given an hour to use their phones. Peng Fei slipped away to the Zhan family's residence.
The butler was trimming the flowers and plants in the yard. Peng Fei went to greet him, saying they were out of salt at home and asking where the housekeeper was, if he could borrow some. The butler told him to go straight in.
Peng Fei entered the living room and tiptoed around, looking. He didn't see Zhan Jingchun.
As he wondered what she was up to, the housekeeper came out from the bathroom.
"Little Peng, why are you here? What are you looking at?"
Peng Fei stood straight. "I wasn't looking at anything. Uncle Butler said you were here, but I called out a few times and didn't see you, so I was looking for you."
"Oh, I was just in the restroom and didn't hear. Is there something you need?"
"Nothing much. It's almost noon, and I was preparing to cook, but I found we had no salt. I wanted to come borrow some from you."
Upon hearing this, the housekeeper grew suspicious.
Impossible.
Last night, she had gone into Peng Fei's kitchen. She'd wanted to help, but he hadn't allowed it, so she'd just stood there and chatted with him for a bit.
While talking, her eyes had inadvertently scanned the oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar. A newly opened bag of salt was clearly displayed there. How could there be none?
"Is that so? Are you sure you're out of salt?"
Peng Fei felt a bit guilty and touched his nose.
"Maybe Xiang Siyuan and the others deliberately tricked me and poured it out. I had some yesterday, but I can't find it today. I don't need much, just scoop me two spoonfuls."
The housekeeper believed him. "Yes, yes, we have plenty. That's not what I meant. Here, take this whole bag. Use it, we don't use it very often anyway."
Peng Fei was also puzzled. "Why don't you use it often? Don't you eat three meals a day?"
The housekeeper said yes, "but Chun Chun doesn't eat much and often leaves food. We just reheat it to eat, so we don't use much."
"I see, Miss Chun still doesn't eat properly?"
"Not really, she's been feeling much better these past couple of days. This morning she ate two big bowls of porridge, walked around bouncing happily. This morning, Xiang Siyuan's mother came, and she even went shopping with her."
Only then did Peng Fei learn that Zhan Jingchun had gone out shopping. His heart instantly felt relieved. His objective was achieved, and he excitedly bid farewell to the housekeeper.
"Oh, I'll be going then. Thank you, Auntie."
The housekeeper watched him leave with a smile on his face and thought about chasing after him to give him the salt. But then she paused, as if realizing something.
Good heavens, could it really be like this?
He and Miss...
A fated connection.
There was such a big difference between them. Miss was of noble birth, while Peng Fei...
She truly felt anxious for them.
Zhan Jingchun didn't return until after dinner.
She had a wonderful day playing with Jiang Nan Fang and Chen Jiaojiao, but at the same time, she missed Peng Fei terribly.
It was the first time she realized what it felt like to truly miss someone.
Whether she was walking, shopping, or discussing things with people, his image was constantly in her mind.
She thought of him when she saw someone with a similar silhouette on the street, she thought of him when she saw cool men's clothing, she thought of him when she heard men's voices, and she even thought of him when she saw the men's restroom.
Only then did she realize she was addicted.
So Peng Fei had come to Nancheng to addict her.
She used to be so indifferent to him, hated him getting close, even hated him. How, after such a short reunion, had it turned into this feeling?
Zhan Jingchun didn't know if this counted as liking Peng Fei, but she knew it wasn't good. If people found out, they would laugh their heads off. She couldn't let this continue.
So, she rehearsed the ending of her relationship with Peng Fei in advance.
From the moment she finalized the planned ending, her mood soured.
She ate dinner with little interest. On the way back, Jiang Nan Fang thought she was just tired and told her to get some rest and that she could call her if she wanted to go shopping again.
Her mother never interfered in her life or said much, which Zhan Jingchun was very grateful for.
She got out of the car and stood at the villa entrance. After seeing her and Chen Jiaojiao off, she couldn't help but look at the house across the street.
She thought that at this late hour, Peng Fei must have already gone to bed.
But as soon as she looked over, Peng Fei jumped down from the wall.
He had been waiting for her behind the main gate for several hours.
He had rushed to the base of the wall as soon as he heard the car approaching.
Luckily, he hadn't missed her.
Peng Fei had missed her so much that he felt like he was dying after not seeing her for a day.
Seeing her appear before him in a new outfit she'd never worn before, with makeup on, dressed as beautifully as possible, he almost couldn't resist reaching out a lewd hand and rushing to hug her.
"I missed you so much. Why are you back so late? You smell so good. Chun Chun, you're so beautiful."
Her expression was not clearly visible as she stood with her back to the streetlight, but from his bright white teeth and excited tone, he could feel his happiness.
Reason told Zhan Jingchun that he was going too far and that she should scold him severely and send him away, forbidding him from coming near her again. But she couldn't bring herself to speak.
She liked Peng Fei.
She liked the way he stared at her with undivided attention.
She liked his slightly shy yet direct compliments.
She liked his face, his voice, his rough hands, even the way he climbed over walls.
More importantly, she enjoyed his deference, his admiration, his devotion.
Her heart pounded wildly due to the intense internal conflict.
After Peng Fei finished speaking, seeing that she remained silent and was carrying so many things, he took a couple of steps forward.
"Why aren't you speaking? What's wrong? Are you tired?"
"If you're tired, go back and rest quickly. I'll carry your things."
He reached out to take her things, and his fingers inevitably brushed against Zhan Jingchun's.
Zhan Jingchun's heart immediately pounded even harder. Never before had she wanted to be close to Peng Fei, to embrace him so much.
However, they were at the main entrance. If someone saw them, it wouldn't be good, so she suppressed the impulse.
"Have you decided how to decorate the house?"
Peng Fei was taken aback by the question.
He was deeply infatuated. He had been distracted all day without seeing her. Apart from missing her, he hadn't had time to do anything else.
"I've thought about it, but I haven't started. You're not going out tomorrow, are you? As long as I can see you, I'll have the energy to work. I'll go buy the materials tomorrow."
How could his voice sound so pleasant?
Although it was a simple sentence, due to her sudden infatuation, Zhan Jingchun couldn't help but read a different meaning into it.
"Thump!"
She dropped a bag of luxury goods by the door and took his hand.
"Let's go now. Come on."