Chapter 265: Can You Please Not Be Angry? I Apologize to You

She had agreed yesterday to go to the neighbor granny's house to help weave bamboo baskets; although she had never done this kind of work before, she was quite good at chatting with the elderly, so she set out after eating breakfast and tidying up.

She usually lived a secluded life, and there must be many people guessing her background; it would be better to blend into the crowd to dispel those people's doubts, which would also be beneficial for her.

Today she had braided her hair to the side and was wearing an apricot-colored dress; she was over four months pregnant now, but her waist was slim, and the doctor said during her prenatal checkup that the placenta was on the posterior wall of the uterus, so it did not show.

People who didn't know couldn't tell at all that she was pregnant.

Just as she pushed open the door, she heard the sound of a car engine approaching the small courtyard from far to near.

Zhu Yuan held up her parasol and looked up.

An off-road vehicle drove over from the other side of the path.

Through the windshield, she saw Pei Li driving.

Her gaze involuntarily looked toward the back seat; because she was facing the sun, she couldn't see clearly, but she could feel the man's highly present gaze landing on her.

Zhu Yuan gripped the umbrella handle tightly and stopped walking.

The car stopped, and before Pei Li could get out to open the door, the back door was pushed open from the inside.

Pei Ling, wearing black dress trousers and a black shirt, stepped out of the car; even in midsummer, the temperature in Licheng was not very high, and he had his sleeves slightly rolled up, revealing the cufflinks Zhu Yuan had bought for him last time.

"Where are you going?" Pei Ling walked toward her with a natural expression.

After not seeing each other for more than a month, Pei Ling's gaze landed wantonly on her face; she was a bit fleshier than the last time they met, but still thin, and he could cover that face with one hand.

What could he do to make her gain some weight?

Pei Ling actually didn't understand these things very well; he only had the opportunity to eat properly after he became an adult, and it was his naturally gifted genetic condition that allowed him to grow so tall.

As for nutrition or not, for him, being full was enough.

But Zhu Yuan was different.

He had people hire a nutritionist, but couldn't even that help her get healthier?

Zhu Yuan did not notice the complex emotions in Pei Ling's eyes and explained that she was going to the neighbor's house.

"Brother Pei, aren't you busy?"

She still remembered what happened before they parted ways last time, and she felt that Pei Ling must remember too, but they were both adults; Pei Ling had given her a way out, so she felt it was better to act as if it had never happened.

She also did not want the interaction between herself and Pei Ling to be awkward.

"How busy do you want me to be?" He hadn't come to see her for forty days.

Seeing his face darken, Zhu Yuan hurriedly said, "The capable work hard; you are the Second Master of the Pei Family, so of course you are busier than ordinary people. I just asked a question, look at you, getting angry."

"Not angry." Pei Ling's reply came quickly.

How could he bear to be angry with her?

He stood before her, tall and long-legged, his aura sharp, yet when he lowered his head, he was no different from any man facing his beloved, "Did you have a prenatal checkup last week?"

"Yes." Zhu Yuan nodded.

"What did the doctor say?" His gaze moved downward; perhaps because she was wearing a relatively loose dress, it was impossible to tell she was pregnant.

"Very healthy," Zhu Yuan said with a smile, "and growing quite fast."

Pei Ling gave a cold snort, "The food you eat, the nutrition is all absorbed by him."

How could he not grow fast?

"I'm willing, though." A gentle expression appeared in Zhu Yuan's eyes, making her look exceptionally graceful.

Standing before Pei Ling, they were a perfect match.

Even the passing dogs had to take an extra look.

The two walked side by side, and Pei Ling took the umbrella from Zhu Yuan, holding it over her head; their shadows seemed to be pressed tightly together on the ground.

Pei Ling looked down at her as she walked earnestly, his gaze, usually cold toward outsiders, becoming soft.

He knew about Sheng Yu causing a scene at Sheng Hongyao's hospital room, and he also knew that Shen Yijing had died; with so many things happening, even Sheng Yu would be spread too thin to pay attention to his side.

Simply put, he just missed her.

He missed her to the point of going crazy.

So he came regardless of everything.

Before settling her here, he had investigated the three generations of ancestors of all the nearby residents; the local customs here were simple and honest, and the surrounding people were all decent, so he felt very at ease letting her go out.

The two entered the neighbor's house; in front of a window in a building in the distance, a blood-stained dagger fell, and a few drops of fresh, undried blood dripped onto the ground; the wind blew through the gauze curtains, and the room was empty.

……

For the entire morning, Pei Ling stayed by Zhu Yuan's side.

Most of the time, Zhu Yuan kept the old woman company, and those delicate hands even wanted to learn to weave bamboo baskets.

He walked over and took the bamboo strips away from her directly, "You can't do it."

"Can't I learn even if I don't know how?" Zhu Yuan made a move to snatch them back, but Pei Ling was much taller than her, so she had to give up and take bamboo strips from the side.

Pei Ling pursed his lips; did she feel bored?

The old woman looked at Zhu Yuan, then at the man standing to the side with a cold expression, and teased Zhu Yuan, "Is he your boyfriend or your husband?"

"Ah?" Zhu Yuan was stunned for a moment.

Just as she was about to explain, Pei Ling at her side spoke up, "I am her husband."

The old woman smiled in sudden realization and said happily to Zhu Yuan, "I said so! He looks cold, but he is exceptionally caring and considerate toward you; I guessed he might be your husband, and it's true. You two look very well-matched, a talented man and a beautiful woman."

Pei Ling looked at Zhu Yuan, seemingly nonchalant, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.

Zhu Yuan said "oh" in a distracted manner.

On the way back to the small courtyard, she walked quickly; Pei Ling caught up to her in two or three steps, grasped her arm, and pulled her back under the parasol, "Are you angry?"

"No, it's too hot," Zhu Yuan explained.

Pei Ling lowered his eyes to stare into her eyes, his fingers gripping her arm tightening a bit, "If you are angry, tell me."

Zhu Yuan felt the strength of his fingers and sighed, "I know you said it on purpose. In the future, when my pregnancy starts to show, everyone will know I'm pregnant. For an unmarried and childless person like me to appear here, it's easy to become the focus of others. You intentionally said you were my husband so it would be justified, and no gossip could be stirred up."

Her words were righteous and clear, truly leaving one unable to find any fault.

Yet Pei Ling felt an inexplicable tightening in his heart, and he did not let go, "Understanding is one thing, but are you angry?"

The two stood under the scorching sun, with the parasol held entirely over Zhu Yuan's head.

Watching sweat bead on Pei Ling's forehead, Zhu Yuan nodded, then shook her head, "I can't say I'm angry, it's just a bit unpleasant; I felt a little offended that you didn't give me a heads-up beforehand."

"That means you are angry." Pei Ling gripped her arm tighter, his steps drawing a fraction closer to her, his voice softening, "I didn't think anyone would ask like that."

"Can you please not be angry? I apologize to you."