Chapter 151: Taking Action

(1)

After Shu Shu left, Pei Du fell into deep thought.

Take action.

How should one do…… to count as taking action.

Pei Du had no clue, but he could be considered a diligent student who asks when he doesn't understand.

After a moment of silence in place, he came to the desk, turned on the computer; the desktop was clean, with only a few scattered original software.

Pei Du entered the search engine, his action paused slightly, he sat upright and typed a line:

"Doing something wrong, making someone angry, what should I do?"

Pressing Enter, millions of pieces of information, all kinds of handling methods instantly loaded and popped up, so many as to be dazzling.

The first thing Pei Du saw was the entry appearing on the homepage:

"It's simple, just say a few nice words, in short it's an apology; you can choose to apologize with ancient poetry, which would make you appear more cultivated; and what specific ancient poems can be used to express apology? Scan the QR code below, follow the public account, and I'll tell you the answer!"

Pei Du: "……"

Such an obvious traffic‑driving ad, feeling like twenty seconds were wasted.

Moreover, he doesn't need to apologize; he already apologized to Shuyin, and she accepted.

Click the cross, exit.

Pei Du saw the second entry:

"If she's angry and ignoring you, just buy something she likes and give it to her to cheer her up!"

... Give a gift?

Pei Du's eyelashes twitched slightly; he felt this method had considerable feasibility, but then in the next second he caught sight of:

"Life advice! Actually spending money to buy things to make someone happy is the most insincere thing in this world! Don't try it! Really don't try! Otherwise you'll surely regret it!"

……

Pei Du's brows furrowed slightly.

It turns out buying gifts is an insincere act, and Shu Shu has expressed that she hopes to receive a sincere apology.

More importantly, he doesn't know what Shu Shu likes, which would require asking her directly, but she also said that asking about anything doesn't count as sincerity.

Silently, he clicked the cross again to exit.

Pei Du then continued to look at other posts.

However, the content was largely no different from the two he'd skipped, offering no reference.

Suddenly.

Pei Du noticed one particularly eye‑catching title in large letters:

"Certified high‑EQ expert! One‑on‑one hands‑on teaching to resolve interpersonal conflicts! Online 24/7! Welcome to consult!"

Live Q&A?

Pei Du hesitated a moment, moved the mouse over the title, then clicked it.

The title was not exaggerated; it was indeed online 24/7. As soon as Pei Du entered, the page automatically switched to a chat window, a little beep sounded, and the person using an avatar of a authoritative‑looking man in a suit with arms crossed instantly sent a message:

"Hello, what would you like to consult about?"

Pei Du copied the title he had just seen and sent it over.

The other side replied: "Okay, please describe the general situation."

Pei Du gave a rough account.

The other side then asked: "May I ask what your relationship is with the 'her' you described?"

Pei Du pondered.

His relationship with Shuyin?

"We first spoke half an hour ago."

The other side questioned: "You're sure… it was half an hour ago? Then you've only just met 'her'; are you sure you still need to consult?"

The implication is that having only known her for half an hour, what's the difference from a stranger, and is there still a need to apologize and seek forgiveness?

Pei Du: "Hmm, sure."

After a few seconds, the other side: "May I ask, are you male or female?"

Pei Du: "Male."

After more than a minute, the other side sent another message: "Dear, based on all the information you provided, we have just tailored a plan to help you resolve the conflict; unlocking the full content costs only 9.9."

"You can simply scan the payment code below to pay~~"

Pei Du: "……"

Seems like, another ad.

But this time Pei Du didn't click the cross again; the youth with dark eyes stared intently at the words "can help you resolve the conflict," and without much hesitation paid 9.9.

Not long after the money was sent, the other side sent a document.

"Please check receipt."

Pei Du almost opened the document with a humble, eager‑to‑learn attitude; as it loaded and unfolded, he looked it over.

Then.

Not knowing what he saw, Pei Du's dark pupils constricted slightly, and his whole body seemed to be stunned as if struck by a boom.

……

All that could be seen on the document's vast blank page were a few lines, in order from top to bottom:

"Dear, based on your description that the other party proactively told you she was angry, requiring you to apologize and to act with sincerity, it can be determined that she is not really blaming you, nor is she truly angry with you."

"Furthermore, you and she only spoke for the first time half an hour ago, yet you persist in consulting; we will help you correct that."

"What you need to do now is not to try every means to apologize, but—to confess."

"Because of you, I fell in love at first sight."

"Here, I'll wish you success with your confession in advance—if you found this consultation helpful, please give it a five-star rating~"

"……"

"Confession."

"Love at first sight."

"Those two words left Pei Du's mind completely blank in an instant, as if all the blood in his body had stagnated, and a surge of heat rushed up to the skin connecting his neck and the back of his ears."

"He came back to his senses from his daze."

"He went to move the mouse, almost in a panic closing the document."

"The next day, noon."

"Shu Shu saw Pei Du appear in the restaurant with two dark circles under his eyes."

"The boy in the dark gray hoodie had a refined side profile, his eyelids half-lowered, his cold-white skin possessing a sickly pallor, making the two shadows under his eyes even more pronounced."

"Fine."

"All her efforts over the past few days have gone to waste."

"That handsome piece of wood must have gotten up again last night to sleepwalk and twist a Rubik's cube, right?"

"Shu Shu placed a bowl of soup on the table, thinking as she went to look at him, but the moment Pei Du saw it was her, he turned his gaze away."

"It was as if, should his gaze accidentally land on her for even a second, the world would end the next."

"Shu Shu: '???'"

"..."

"Shu Shu returned to the kitchen, completely bewildered."

"What's going on?"

"The handsome piece of wood suddenly ignored her."

"Could it be that he found out she was pretending to be angry?"

"Then how did he know?"

"Did he figure it out?"

"Her acting should be decent, with no giveaway anywhere."

"Shu Shu sat on the small stool by the back door of the kitchen, propping her chin, unable to figure it out."

"About ten minutes passed."

"Suddenly, a respectful and surprised greeting came from behind her—Auntie Tao."

"'Young Master?'"

"Shu Shu's motion paused, and she turned her head."

"She saw the tall, silent figure of the boy appear at the kitchen doorway——"

"(2)"

"Pei Du indeed didn't know what Shu Shu liked, but he could know what she liked to eat."

"On a few occasional occasions."

"After finishing his meal, he got up and left the restaurant; passing by the kitchen, he heard the girl say sweetly:"

"'Wow, Auntie Tao's sweet soup is simply world-class—anyone who gets to drink it is practically bursting with happiness.'"

"..."

"Pei Du recalled the name of that sweet soup."

"'……Taro balls fresh milk mochi.'"

"Due to the difference in status, the servants would not dare to look directly at their employer."

"After Auntie Tao greeted Pei Du, she habitually lowered her gaze; when a low, magnetic male voice sounded in her ear, she looked left and right, puzzled."

"'Huh? Who's speaking?'"

"Then she lifted her head and met the boy's eyes, which held a hint of complexity."

"'……' Pei Du again asked Auntie Tao, 'Could you please teach me how to make taro balls fresh milk mochi?'"

"The air fell silent for a few seconds."

"Auntie Tao's face was filled with shock; she even stumbled back a step from the surprise."

"What had she just heard?"

"The young master……spoke?!"

"This was already the third year Auntie Tao had worked as the cook in this villa, and it was the first time she had heard this taciturn young master speak!"

"'Good, good, of course!'"

"Auntie Tao almost incredulously nodded three times in a row, replying, 'You, you wait a moment—I'll go prepare the ingredients!'"

"She said she was preparing the ingredients, but her feet hurried straight out of the kitchen."

"The next second——"

"'Steward Zhou! Do you know what just happened? The young master spoke to me~'"

"Even through two walls, one could hear how overjoyed and astonished Auntie Tao was."

"……"

"In the brightly lit kitchen, only two people remained."

"Pei Du looked at Shu Shu, the boy's voice low and faint as he opened his lips to ask, 'May I?'"

"Upon hearing 'taro balls fresh milk mochi,' Shu Shu guessed Pei Du's purpose."

It's somewhat unexpected.

Alright, it's quite unexpected.

After Piaoliang Mutou thought it over, the action he took to apologize to her turned out to be making sweet water for her to drink.

Huh, so he didn't realize he was pretending to be angry.

Then why did he avoid her as soon as he saw her just now?

Shu Shu couldn't help but admit that Piaoliang Mutou's 'action' hit the mark; her biggest hobby is eating all kinds of delicious food.

Then it would be rude to refuse.

She curled her lips: 'Sure.'

…

Aunt Tao was really excited.

She returned to the kitchen, prepared two identical sets of ingredients, and with utmost enthusiasm taught Pei Du how to make sweet water.

Step by step.

In the meantime.

When Aunt Tao told Pei Du some little tips, Pei Du would occasionally reply with a thank you, and then Aunt Tao, her hands covered in flour, would excitedly run out, shouting as if reporting:

"Steward Zhou, the young master has thanked me three times!"

Pei Du: "..."

After Aunt Tao finished teaching Pei Du once, Pei Du suggested wanting to make a serving of sweet water on his own.

"Alright, alright, alright, then young master, I'll head out first."

Aunt Tao understood the meaning, of course she had no reason to refuse, and readily agreed. She deliberately left Shu Shu to look after, feeling that Shu Shu was about the same age as the young master, peers, so the young master would surely not feel uncomfortable.

After giving those instructions, she took off her apron and left laughing.

Aunt Tao didn't realize, but the fact was completely opposite to what she thought——

Pei Du stood at the sink, using a measuring spoon to scoop brown sugar.

At that moment.

Shu Shu moved the small stool to the side, propping her chin with both hands as she watched Pei Du.

The boy's hand holding the measuring spoon shook, and the twenty grams of brown sugar that had already been scooped was reduced by half.

Shu Shu noticed, leaned in, and asked: 'What's wrong?'

"... Nothing."

Oh.

Shu Shu suddenly grew curious and asked: 'Pei Du, how did you come up with the idea to make sweet water?'

Pei Du glanced sideways and replied: 'What you said, the action.'

Shu Shu: 'In light of your sincerity, I'll forgive you completely.'

Pei Du's quiet gaze fell on Shu Shu's beautiful face: 'Hmm.'

Shu Shu: 'I thought I'd still have to wait two days.'

"What."

"It's your 'action' after all."

After all, Piaoliang Mutou was just yesterday asking how to make her not angry, and suddenly it felt like he had an epiphany.

Shu Shu playfully blinked and said: 'I also wondered if you would go search online or something.'

"...!"

Pei Du's hand motion suddenly halted; after a moment, he said: 'I, I haven't.'

Shu Shu: 'I know.'

No.

You, you don't know.

"What you should be doing now is not trying every way to apologize, but to confess."

"Because, you fell in love at first sight."

Last night, the words on the document were automatically read aloud, and once again they looped in Pei Du's mind.

That warmth seemed to surge up again.

The boy unconsciously pressed his lips.

…

After about ten or so minutes, the sweet water was ready.

Pei Du poured it into a bowl and pushed the bowl across to Shu Shu.

"Well, I'm digging in."

"Hmm."

The sweet water that Aunt Tao had just taught Pei Du to make, Aunt Tao tasted it, smiled, and said it was good.

But even so, Pei Du still lacked confidence in his heart, feeling a bit nervous.

Shu Shu eagerly picked up the spoon and, unable to wait, scooped a spoonful.

The moment she tasted it, her body stiffened.

But it was only a moment; Shu Shu quickly returned to normal, she put that spoonful of sweet water completely into her mouth and praised Pei Du.

"Super delicious."

However, Pei Du did not let the fleeting change in Shu Shu's expression go unnoticed; without hesitation, he also took a spoon, tasted the sweet water he had just poured out and intended to leave for Shu Shu.

The next second.

Pei Du frowned, put down his spoon, decisively snatched Shu Shu's spoon from her hand, then poured all the sweet water in her bowl into the trash can.

"Hey, wait——" Shu Shu didn't even have time to stop him.

Pei Du spat out two words: "Bitter."

The exposed Shu Shu: "……"

"You can't drink it, why would you still drink it?"

Shu Shu pointed at her finger: "This is your precious sincerity and earnestness; I think I should drink it all up."

"……" Pei Du put down his bowl, saying: "I'll make it again."

Just now he must have been distracted, accidentally turned up the heat, and cooked out a bitter taste.

Saying that.

Pei Du was about to really turn around and go make it again.

"No need." Shu Shu hurriedly stopped Pei Du, paused, she exhaled, still choosing to be frank: "Pei Du, I actually wasn't angry with you at all, not from beginning to end."

So, no need to go through all that trouble.

She just wanted him to speak, not wanting to see the handsome blockhead always looking lifeless and glum.

Pei Du silently looked at Shu Shu.

Shu Shu tentatively asked: "Pei Du, you…… are you angry?"

"Can I apologize to you?"

"Sorry, I pretended to be angry to deceive you; I won't do that again, please forgive me."

"Okay?"

"Okay okay okay?"

Shu Shu had only been at the villa for a few days when she quickly blended in; the reason was simple: she was young, pretty, and polite.

Especially when she spoke sweetly, her words made people's hearts go soft, impossible to resist.

The girl with a pair of glistening peach blossom eyes leaned up to Pei Du, saying over and over, "Okay?"

Pei Du's Adam's apple moved, he turned his face away, saying: "No, not angry."