Chapter 142: Okay. Done. Fine

(1)

No wonder they say sugar-coated cannonballs are the most terrifying; it's not the cannonball itself that's scary, but rather you find yourself already inside the "cannonball" without even realizing it.

Shu Lingchen felt he was still too careless!

Too contemptuous of the enemy!

This person not only has money, but also seems quite clever.

Unconsciously, he realized he no longer disliked him as much as when they first met.

This is the most terrifying place!

Fortunately he was quite perceptive, and he snapped to his senses at the crucial moment, so he decided that from now on he would keep at least ten meters away from this person, so as not to be deceived by him.

The boy probably didn't realize that whenever his inner thoughts became rich, his emotions would all be reflected on his face.

For Pei Du, this was practically an open-book exam.

"Just some trivial little things, no need to feel burdened; Shu Lingchen is one of Mu Yin's most valued friends, so I naturally also need to look after her good friend, otherwise I'd just be causing her trouble."

Sister, causing trouble.

This directly triggered Shu Lingchen's keyword.

Then he heard Pei Du say considerately: "I must have fallen short somewhere; because of me, Shu Lingchen doesn't seem very eager to play baseball, so I won't bother you here—have fun, I'm going to go watch Mu Yin and them play badminton."

"..."

Hearing those words, Shu Lingchen suddenly felt an inexplicable guilt well up from his heart.

Baseball was what he wanted to play; this person had arranged all that in advance, yet he didn't even say thank you before letting the person leave.

Isn't that going too far?

"Hey, wait a minute——"

Action over thought, Shu Lingchen couldn't help shouting to stop Pei Du as he was about to head to the badminton court.

"……I, I never said I didn't want to play because of you." Shu Lingchen rubbed his nose: "Are you a reincarnated stepmother screenwriter? How dare you make up plots at will, slandering innocent passersby—you're bound to get called out by the audience."

"My fault." Pei Du twitched the corner of his mouth without changing expression, asking: "So Shu Lingchen, are you actually willing to play baseball with me?"

Shu Lingchen: "……"

He didn't mean that either!

But under Pei Du's "expectant" gaze, if he answered unwillingly, it would still amount to confirming his disdain for this person; the boy had no choice, so he shut his eyes and shouted in despair:

"Willing, willing, I've always been willing—every single angle of 360 degrees is especially willing!"

Alright. Done. Fine.

?????

Thus, Shu Lingchen's decision to keep at least ten meters away from Pei Du lasted less than two minutes.

Crap.

His "compromise" also had another reason.

He and Pei Du had just come over together in front of his mom and sister; they all knew they were going to play baseball together, but before the game even started, Pei Du went back by himself.

Even an idiot could tell they were "having a quarrel."

Later his sister would surely curiously ask about it, and that question would just put her in a difficult spot; he didn't want, after finally coming out to have fun, to leave her with an imperfect memory.

Sigh.

He does it all, for this family.

Without him, the family would fall apart.

Thinking that way,

The boy felt he truly bore a great responsibility.

So compared to that, playing a baseball game with this person isn't such a big deal.

He just needs to have enough resolve.

Then what followed.

Shu Lingchen put on a stern face, furrowed his brows and stared, making his expression look extremely cold, and deliberately deepened his voice to sound solemn as he said to Pei Du: "Come on!"

People who don't know the situation think he's about to attack Saturn.

…

Pei Du raised his hand, signaling to the operator controlling the pitching machine that it could start.

Indeed, as Pei Du said.

The pitching machine was set to its lowest speed; Shu Lingchen could plainly see the ball almost lazily flying toward him.

But since he'd never done this before, he tried to swing his baseball bat like he would a badminton racket to hit the ball, yet the ball grazed past the bat and struck nothing but air.

"It's okay."

"We have plenty of chances."

Pei Du also picked up a baseball bat, walked up to Shu Lingchen, and gave him hands‑on instruction—from stance to grip to when to apply force for optimal technique.

The man in sportswear spoke slowly, his voice low and gentle, accompanying the boy step by step through trial and error.

Throughout, he was extremely patient.

Shu Lingchen unconsciously absorbed it all.

Until he hit the first ball.

Nothing is more joyful than reaping the fruits of one's labor.

"Yay! I hit it! I finally hit it!"

The boy, excited, instinctively turned to give Pei Du a high‑five to celebrate.

Just as he reached out, he remembered who the person beside him was.

Then his palm lingered awkwardly in the air, about to withdraw, when a slightly larger palm bearing an adult's strength lightly struck his palm.

Pei Du: "Impressive."

Shu Lingchen felt a warm, broad sensation faintly coming to his palm; he somewhat unnaturally withdrew his hand: "... cough cough, thanks."

Sugar-coated shells, sugar-coated shells!

Resolute will, must have resolute will!

…

After Shu Lingchen hit several balls in a row, Pei Du silently lowered his baseball bat, walked to the viewing area two meters away, and watched Shu Lingchen play.

This scene inexplicably gave off a sense of mission accomplished and retreat.

Coincidentally.

The family of three I saw here yesterday came again to accompany their son in playing baseball.

They were right beside.

Yesterday Shu Lingchen still felt a bit envious; now he has directly picked up baseball.

As the pitching machine, under Pei Du's indication, was gradually adjusted from low to medium speed, the boy found his feel, hitting harder and harder, his blood boiling throughout his body.

Obviously, he was having a blast.

What Pei Du said was also correct; Shu Lingchen plays basketball well, and his other sports will be good too.

He is innately endowed with abundant athletic genes.

The son's silhouette swinging the baseball bat reflected in Pei Du's gentle, dark eyes.

One plays earnestly, the other watches earnestly, the latter so earnestly as if to make up for what was previously missing.

The atmosphere was nice, just then—

"Watch out!"

A staff member's exclamation came.

All that could be seen was a yellow ball shooting straight toward Shu Lingchen's position at high speed.

The boy lifted his head half a beat late.

He wanted to dodge.

But it seemed already too late.

He instinctively raised both hands, trying to shield his head with his arms.

At the same time, an uneasy thought crossed his mind.

Damn, getting hit by this ball probably wouldn't hurt, right?

Shu Lingchen, already considering himself unlucky, closed his eyes and waited for the ball to strike.

Then.

He felt a gust of wind, probably the ball flying by.

Then.

And then nothing.

Huh? Why doesn't it hurt?

Shu Lingchen dubiously opened his eyes; before him was a dark blur, his vision occupied.

He swayed his body backward.

It was a brown baseball glove, the glove's opening revealing a smooth, curved, cold-white wrist, with a protruding bone in the middle.

Shu Lingchen followed the wrist to the side.

He saw Pei Du.

Pei Du…… had blocked the ball for him.

(2)

"Are you okay?"

Pei Du lowered his hand, tossed the ball aside, furrowed his brows, and scanned Shu Lingchen's condition up and down.

Shu Lingchen snapped out of his daze: "... I'm fine."

He isn't, did he block it for himself?

Not a single hair was harmed.

"Sorry, sorry!"

A middle-aged man with a foreign appearance hurried over, the father of that family of three; he kept apologizing in English to Shu Lingchen, then explained that it was because his son was too mischievous, wildly hitting the ball, causing the earlier accident.

"……"

Shu Lingchen, who had been enjoying himself, was startled and interrupted, feeling a bit angry; but the man's repeated apologies made him unable to stay mad, the apologies were done, and it wouldn't be right to blame him further; despite feeling uneasy inside, he still waved his hand.

Seeing Shu Lingchen's gesture indicating he was letting it go, the man instantly relaxed with relief.

Then, as if the matter had been lightly brushed aside, he smiled lightly and prepared to return to continue playing baseball with his son.

Just as he was about to turn, a patch of shadow fell before his eyes.

He lifted his head, meeting a pair of cold, etched dark eyes.

"……"

Almost instantly, a chill rose from the man's soles up to the top of his head.

Pei Du's complexion was poor, a cold, superior aura spreading around him, the kind he shows to outsiders at work.

With just a glance, like an ice spike, he pinned the man in place, unable to move; his voice low and soft, yet it felt as heavy as a thousand jin as he spoke to the man.

Shu Lingchen listened for a while, and only because he had truly been studying hard, reinforcing every subject, could he somewhat slowly translate Pei Du's words.

He seemed to be saying:

I don't mind; make him apologize once, if your son himself can't apologize.

No.

Translating into English usually requires starting from the back.

So the correct order is:

If your son himself can't apologize, I don't mind; make him apologize once.

Huh?

Does someone have to personally apologize to him?

Shu Lingchen stared blankly at Pei Du, then suddenly understood: this person… was speaking up for him.

Those who can come here on vacation are either rich or noble; the middle-aged man sensed Pei Du's noble and fierce aura, and in a second determined that this was not someone he could afford to offend.

He who knows the times is a hero.

He hurriedly brought his wife and son over, first sternly letting his son apologize to Shu Lingchen, then the whole family solemnly expressed their apology to Shu Lingchen, indicating they would properly discipline their child in the future.

Although the sincerity was unclear, Shu Lingchen had to admit that his slight annoyance was balanced; the teenager slightly raised his chin and said cockily: 'Watch out next time.'

That family of three left, dejected.

They weren't playing baseball anymore.

…

"Can continue playing."

Pei Du gestured with his hand, then retreated to the spectator area again.

Shu Lingchen, however, stared at Pei Du with a strange expression.

Pei Du: 'What's wrong?'

Shu Lingchen said: 'Just now, you seemed like a different person, and now you've changed back.'

Pei Du paused, then asked seriously: 'Did I scare you?'

Was he just too fierce just now, possibly leaving a bad impression on the child?

"No, what guts do I have? Hah, could I be easily scared?"

All good, Pei Du's gaze returned to normal, his eyes asking Shu Lingchen what was wrong.

Shu Lingchen didn't speak.

He turned his head, picked up the baseball bat again, and asked the staff to turn on the pitching machine.

The teenager hit the ball beautifully, occasionally glancing at Pei Du out of the corner of his eye.

He definitely wouldn't say that.

Just now, when Pei Du blocked the ball for him, he thought it was handsome.

This person will definitely be proud.

The sun was about to set, and the four people returned to the villa.

After playing ball for almost an afternoon and sweating a lot, Shu Lingchen headed straight for the shower upon entering.

After washing up and changing into clean clothes, he felt much more comfortable.

He picked up his phone and went downstairs.

Living room.

It was his sister watching TV.

Shu Lingchen looked around and saw Pei Du's busy figure in the kitchen.

This person also changed into clean clothes after returning, then went straight into the kitchen.

He said he would cook tonight.

For some reason, a word popped into Shu Lingchen's mind.

Virtuous.

Shu Lingchen withdrew his gaze, sat on the sofa next to his sister, opened his phone, and replied to Bo Luo Zai: 'I won't return to An Shi before my vacation ends; I'll stay outside to escape the heat.'

Bo Luo Zai and others flooded the group chat, angrily accusing him of being pretentious.

Shu Lingchen threw a really punchworthy emoji, then exited the chat, suddenly recalling: 'Didn't Xiao Gui say he could finish his summer homework in about four or five days?'

It's already the sixth day; we can play games together now.

So he opened a certain chat box on the page:

"Xiao Gui."

"Homework done, right?"

"Games?"

After sending the three messages, Shu Lingchen heard three notification tones in succession coming from the kitchen direction.

It was Pei Du's phone placed on the water bar countertop.

At first Shu Lingchen didn't think much, just glanced at it; while waiting for Xiao Gui's reply, his stomach growled twice.

Exercise consumes a lot of stamina.

"Sis, what's the dinner menu?"

Pei Muyin looked away from the TV and obediently answered: 'Dad said we'll have stir-fried shrimp, braised eggplant, fried chicken wings, and lettuce.'

Shu Lingchen's eyes lit up as soon as he heard stir-fried shrimp.

Then lit up again, and again, and again.

All! All! Are his favorites!

?????

"But wait, how does this person know?"

Shu Lingchen quietly asked Pei Muyin, had Pei Du looked for her before cooking, or had Shu Shu gotten the scripture menu?

Nope.

Pei Muyin blinked doubtfully.

Dad just asked for my and my older sister's opinions; we both said okay, so Dad went ahead and did it.

Shu Lingchen: '?'

Those familiar around him naturally know his taste.

But to be able to prepare all the dishes so precisely to one's liking all at once, besides the little sister and little sister, who else in the family would know?

Could this person really be a roundworm reincarnated?

Otherwise he couldn't figure it out.

Shu Lingchen, legs crossed, swaying as he racked his brain, caught a glimpse of the chat box with 'Xiao Gui' on his phone.

Oh, right.

And Xiao Gui, he seemed to have mentioned it to Xiao Gui while playing a game.

Shu Lingchen hadn't thought deeper yet, idly complaining, Xiao Gui hadn't replied about where he went, so he just sent a question mark.

He heard Pei Du's phone ring again.

Shu Lingchen froze.

Again, such a coincidence?

When he messaged Xiao Gui, someone messaged Pei Du?

Shu Lingchen, as if possessed, moved his fingers and after the question mark sent an emoji pack.

Pei Du's phone at the same time: ding-dong.

……

He paused; this time Shu Lingchen deliberately waited a moment, leaned in to listen to Pei Du's phone—no sound, meaning the person who had messaged Pei Du hadn't sent another.

Then he: emoji pack +2.

Ding-dong.

……

See a ghost.

Shu Lingchen's body involuntarily sat up straight, and a ridiculously unbeatable idea popped into his mind.