Chapter 71—Part 1

Shen Zhi received Pei Yuan’s call in the evening, just after the doctor had finished his rounds.

It was the same doctor from the morning, who teased him with a smile, “Your little girlfriend left?”

Shen Zhi nodded and smiled.

At that moment, his phone rang.

He glanced down—it was an unfamiliar number.

But unlike usual, Shen Zhi didn’t immediately hang up.

Instead, he stared at the screen for a while.

Finally, just as the ringing was about to stop, he pressed the answer button.

“Hello, Shen Zhi,” a pleasant voice came from the other end, cold yet distant.

“I’m Pei Yuan, Ji Ran’s mother. Can we talk?”

Can we talk?

Of course.

Shen Zhi spoke softly, “Please give me an address; I’ll come over now.”

“No need, you’re a patient,” Pei Yuan wasn’t so arrogant as to insist on making an injured person come to her.

She said, “I’ll come to the hospital in a while.”

Pei Yuan arrived quickly.

She must have called when she was close to the building.

Shen Zhi had originally wanted to open the window to let some fresh air into the room.

As he stood by the window, the door behind him opened.

He turned around and saw Pei Yuan standing at the doorway, holding an exquisite fruit basket.

Shen Zhi immediately walked over and greeted her politely, “Hello, Auntie.”

Pei Yuan placed the fruit basket on the cabinet beside his hospital bed.

When she turned back, she glanced at his ankle and pointed to the bed, “Sit down, you shouldn’t be standing for long.”

It seemed Pei Yuan knew where he was injured, and although her voice carried her usual coldness, her tone was kind.

Shen Zhi wasn’t good at conversing with elders like this.

The elder he interacted with the most was Shen Jiming, and his attitude towards Shen Jiming was cold and indifferent.

But with Pei Yuan, he wasn’t sure how to behave.

Clearly, this conversation wouldn’t be a pleasant one.

Or perhaps, it was more of a Hongmen Banquet.

(T/N: A Hongmen banquet is a formal meal for a large group of people, usually held for celebratory occasions. Banquets are often accompanied by some sort of recognition ceremony.)

But the person in front of him was Ji Ran’s mother—the one who gave birth to and raised her for seventeen years.

Shen Zhi could even see Ji Ran’s shadow in Pei Yuan’s face.

Their expressions when deep in thought, lips pressed together slightly, were so alike.

Shen Zhi sighed inwardly.

No matter what Pei Yuan said, he would accept it.

After all, he was essentially planning to steal away the precious daughter she had carefully raised for seventeen years.

Pei Yuan asked directly, “You and Ranran are desk mates?”

The first question wasn’t too sharp. Shen Zhi nodded, “Yes.”

“After the New Year, Ji Ran won’t return to school. She’ll stay in Jiangdu.”

The second sentence was like a bomb dropped on Shen Zhi’s heart, shattering it into pieces.

But deep down, he felt that this was exactly something Pei Yuan would do.

He couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh.

Lowering his eyes slightly, Shen Zhi asked softly, “Have you asked her about this?”

Pei Yuan sneered.

Kids are just kids.

At their age, they always think parents should give them the right to decide, yet they fail to realize they have no choice at all.

She said coldly, “I don’t need to ask her opinion. My decision is enough.”

Shen Zhi could tell that Pei Yuan was a strong-willed person.

Once she decided on something, she would achieve it no matter what.

She wouldn’t ask Ji Ran, nor would she care about her opinion.

Shen Zhi nodded.

He knew he couldn’t convince Pei Yuan.

In a calm voice, he said, “Perhaps you think I’m too young, that I’m not mature yet, or that people our age shouldn’t think about relationships. But I just want to tell you, if you insist on Ji Ran staying in Jiangdu, I will respect your decision. I will wait for her, until we’re old enough.”

Pei Yuan looked at the young man in front of her.

He didn’t seem intimidated by her words.

She sneered, “Do you think I’ll let you two meet again? I know my daughter. She isn’t someone who would fall for someone easily. Between the two of you, I don’t even need to ask who was the one who initiated things.”

“These words shouldn’t even be spoken to you. After all, you’re not my child, and I have no right to lecture you. But you should understand what people your age should be focusing on. I’ve heard Ji Ran say your grades are excellent. That’s exactly why I can’t let this continue. Don’t rely on your current ‘capital’ and act recklessly.”

Shen Zhi looked up.

“Auntie, I won’t affect Ji Ran’s studies.”

Pei Yuan took a deep breath.

She had already played the villain and thought her words would be enough, but it seemed she needed to be even clearer.

In truth, after seeing them together in the morning, Pei Yuan had asked Kevin to investigate.

Ji Ran had told Pei Yuan that the boy was the top student in their grade, and that was easy to verify.

But when Pei Yuan saw the detailed report Kevin handed her, she realized just how complicated the boy’s background was.

The Hengchi Group wasn’t unfamiliar to her.

The boy’s family background was impressive.

But when she read further details about his personal circumstances, Pei Yuan could no longer hold back.

That was the reason she had come to the hospital.

Yes, young love is fleeting.

A single argument could tear two people apart.

Or after the college entrance exams, attending different universities might lead them in separate directions.

But Pei Yuan had always been decisive in her actions.