Chapter 159: Yet another business trip

Shu Shu, who had been dazed, became a third more awake.

She glanced at her phone screen; Pei Du had sent a message around nine.

That is, a little over three hours ago.

Shu Shu:

"I just woke up."

"You're on a business trip, so you must be busy."

The implication was that she didn't need to.

Buzz—

The other side almost instantly popped up a new chat.

Pei Du: "Done with work."

Shu Shu: "? That fast."

Pei Du: "I'm here, where's Yinyin?"

Then Pei Du sent a location; Shu Shu froze for a moment—it turned out to be the hotel where she was currently staying—she had come in a hurry, so she had casually booked a place online nearer to that internet-famous shop.

Shu Shu: "... I'm on the twentieth floor of your location."

Pei Du: "What a coincidence."

At the same time, in the hotel lobby lounge.

After replying with those two words, Pei Du pushed his black small suitcase with one hand to the front desk, handed over his ID, and said concisely:

"Please help me open a large suite on the twentieth floor, with a kitchen."

"Sure, please wait a moment."

F City is a well-known tourist city; hotels near the commercial district are equipped with suites that meet short-term rental and long-term stay conditions.

Shu Shu thought Pei Du's "coincidence" merely referred to the same hotel.

About five minutes.

She received another message from Pei Du: "I happen to be on the twentieth floor as well."

Shu Shu: "..."

This is, too much of a coincidence.

Next, Pei Du: "I've already arranged for ingredient delivery; if Yinyin is still sleepy, she can keep sleeping a bit."

It was so thoughtful it almost made one feel embarrassed by the warmth.

…

About twenty minutes or so.

Shu Shu knocked on a room on the same floor; the door opened from inside, revealing a handsome male face.

It's been over a month since we last saw each other.

He seemed a bit different somehow; his formerly pale, lackluster black eyes now had richer emotions.

"Please come in."

Pei Du stepped aside to make way.

Shu Shu walked in.

Pei Du had opened a large suite, similar to a downsized presidential suite, divided into bedroom, living area, and dining area.

The open kitchen connects to the dining area.

Shu Shu saw the stove ignite, bubbles gurgling hotly in the pot.

On the cutting board lay various prepared seasonings, and neatly arranged beside them were several bowls, giving the impression of a competent little cook.

But Shu Shu's impression of Pei Du's cooking was limited to his sweet soup, which once turned bitter.

Back then he wouldn't even let anyone watch him nearby; now she sat beside him, he said nothing, confidently put his gloves back on, and went to stir the pot's contents.

Midway he asked her: "Does Yinyin like it very spicy?"

Shu Shu is someone who can't eat without spice; hearing that, she nodded without hesitation.

"Good."

…

When Pei Du brought the finished dish to the table, Shu Shu felt assured; the color, aroma, and flavor directly took over the color and aroma aspects.

Pei Du: "Has Yinyin not had breakfast?"

Shu Shu nodded: "Yes."

Except when necessary, she usually sleeps past noon before getting up to find food; she can cook, but not everyone who can cook enjoys cooking.

It depends on her mood.

After getting the answer, Pei Du silently swapped the bowl he was going to serve Shu Shu rice in for a larger one.

Under Pei Du's expectant gaze, Shu Shu took the first bite of the finished dish; her eyes lit up instantly, as good as she imagined spicy chicken to be.

"Delicious."

She praised him without reservation, then curiously asked Pei Du: "When did you learn to cook?"

Besides the spicy chicken, Pei Du also stir-fried two other dishes, both tasty.

Pei Du also served himself a bowl of rice, sat opposite Shu Shu at the table, and said softly: "A little over a month ago."

"Why did you suddenly decide to learn cooking?"

The handsome wood·young master version probably doesn't need to have the skill of learning to cook, right?

Pei Du lifted his eyes, locked gazes with Shu Shu for a moment, and said: "If you want to, just learn it."

"Oh."

Maybe it was two meals combined into one, or maybe the spicy saliva chicken was just too fragrant; Shu Shu didn't realize her bowl had more rice, and before she knew it, she'd finished it all.

Pei Du asked if she wanted another serving.

Shu Shu waved her hand and said she was fine, satisfied: "Mm, my stomach has no room left for anything else."

Pei Du's gaze fell on the girl's slender, fair wrist, his expression thoughtful.

…

After the meal.

Pei Du asked Shu Shu what her plans were.

Shu Shu had come to F City specifically for that spicy saliva chicken, but she hadn't expected to run into trouble; fortunately Pei Du was there, making the trip worthwhile.

She had no intention of staying long: "I'll pack up and leave, heading to the next place."

She'd decided that the night before.

Then Shu Shu asked Pei Du about his plans; hearing he'd finished his business trip, Pei Du looked at her for a moment and said, "I'll head back to Jing Shi shortly."

So they said their goodbyes.

At that time, Shu Shu never imagined that just a week later she'd be sitting at the same table with Pei Du again for a meal.

This time it was in K City.

K City's climate was just right—not too cold, not too hot—perfect for a leisurely vacation.

Shu Shu had booked a half‑month homestay, and on the fifth day she received a message from Pei Du:

"In K City, would Yinyin be free to have dinner together?"

Shu Shu: "Another… business trip?"

Pei Du: "Mm."

Shu Shu: "Sure."

Pei Du asked: "What would Yinyin like to eat?"

Shu Shu flicked through a food app twice with little interest; over the past five days she'd already tried every tasty spot nearby and checked them off, so there wasn't really anything special she wanted.

Pei Du had only just arrived in K City, so everything was likely new to him—better to ask his opinion.

Just as Shu Shu was about to reply that anything would be fine,

Pei Du said: "I'll cook; would that be okay, Yinyin?"

Even though a week had passed, Shu Shu still hadn't forgotten the taste of the meal Pei Du had cooked.

So that was perfect.

Shu Shu: "Sure ^? ^"

Soon after, Pei Du sent the location of a temporary private kitchen.

She opened it and saw the place was not far from the homestay—under three kilometers away.

"I'll take a taxi."

She had just sent that message—

Pei Du: "I'm at Yinyin's door."

…… huh?

Shu Shu ran downstairs, crossed the homestay's first‑floor open lobby, stepped over the wooden threshold, turned onto a short pebble path, and right across the bustling street she saw the fresh‑looking figure of a young man in front of a sedan.

One second he was looking at his phone, sensing something; the next he looked up toward her.

…

After getting in the car.

Shu Shu asked: "How did you know I was here?"

Pei Du: "You mentioned it the first day you arrived here, Yinyin."

"Oh." She'd forgotten; Shu Shu tapped her head and asked, "Did you drive here for your business trip?"

Pei Du gripped the steering wheel: "No, I picked up the car locally; in a tourist city it's more convenient to drive yourself."

"I see."

While waiting for the light to change, Pei Du eased off the brake, turned his head to Shu Shu, and asked, "How have you been these past few days, Yinyin?"

"Good."

Shu Shu said she'd joined a tour, visited lots of sights, and bought two sets of new local‑style clothing.

No need to elaborate—Pei Du had just seen it.

The girl wore a light cyan‑blue overlay top with a small floral print on a white long skirt, the hem and skirt edge embroidered with a row of colorful agate stone tassels.

Her soft black hair was tied into a ponytail at the back, the end fastened with a hairband matching her outfit and placed over her left shoulder, revealing a beautiful, flawless face.

She was so bright and lively that one could hardly look away…

But the light turned green.

Pei Du pressed his lips together, turned his head back to face forward, and pressed the accelerator.

They arrived at the private kitchen.

It was actually a DIY kitchen.

The owner charges for the venue and tools, while customers must buy their own ingredients from the nearby fresh market and bring them.

Pei Du listed a few dish names in a low tone and asked Shu Shu for her opinion.

Shu Shu blinked: "All approved."

They're all her favorites.

Pei Du asked: "Should Yinyin wait here, or come with me to the supermarket?"

"Together."

Okay

Shu Shu noticed that Pei Du had changed a little.

Previously, the handsome blockhead spoke with very few words per sentence; now the word count has not only increased, but he also voluntarily speaks many, many sentences.

…

While Pei Du was cooking, Shu Shu rested her chin and waited behind him.

The indoor temperature was noticeably higher than outdoors.

Pei Du took off his jacket, revealing the white short-sleeve underneath; his back was broad and upright, that clean youthful aura not yet fully faded; only seeing him extend his hand wearing a black watch, he skillfully went to light the fire.

The handsome blockhead is always this handsome.

— Shu Shu thought silently.

This dinner Pei Du made had both light and heavy flavors.

Three dishes and one soup, Shu Shu ate her fill.

Pei Du said: "I'll be here these few days; I'm free for lunch and dinner, Yinyin, are you free?"

Shu Shu blinked: "And then you always cook?"

Pei Du nodded: "If Yinyin wants to eat."

If she wants to eat, he'll make it.

…

On the way to send Shu Shu back to the guesthouse, the night markets along the route used to be very lively.

Pei Du noticed the girl's interested gaze, made a U-turn at the next intersection, and stopped the car.

"Yinyin, do you want to go for a walk?"

"Sure."

Shu Shu had that intention.

Then the two got out of the car.

Along the way there were various small vendors; when passing a stall selling flower wreath bracelets, Shu Shu squatted down to pick two strings; the female boss, speaking in dialect, enthusiastically put one string on Shu Shu.

Shu Shu shook her wrist, admired it for two seconds, then stood up and handed the other string to Pei Du.

Pei Du didn't understand at first, asking: "... Should I help Yinyin put it on?"

"No, it's for you."

Seeing Pei Du not moving, Shu Shu simply took his hand and put the bracelet on him.

"This kind of bracelet counts as a lucky charm here." She said while putting it on: "Pei Du, from this second onward, get ready to welcome great luck."

Pei Du's gaze froze, looking at the close distance, the girl tying the flower wreath for him, her head lowered, her curled eyelashes occasionally flickering.

Very like butterfly wings.

It makes one's fingertips inexplicably itch to touch.

Pei Du resisted that itch, hearing his own low voice say: "I seem, sufficiently lucky."

After tying it, Shu Shu let go of his hand, saying: "Then, may you be even luckier."

The rest of the way.

Pei Du from time to time had to raise his hand to look at the flower wreath on his wrist. Someone jostled him accidentally, and he quickly protected his hand in front of his chest.

Afterwards he simply kept that posture unchanged.

Seeing Shu Shu protect the flower so, Shu Shu told him: "These flowers are sold every day; if you really like them, we can come buy them tomorrow too."

Pei Du furrowed his brows, speaking rather seriously: "Not the same."

Afterwards.

Pei Du stayed in K City for a few days then left.

And indeed, each lunch and dinner over those days were made by him and eaten together with Shu Shu.

…

As the saying goes, things never happen more than three times.

Shu Shu arrived in G City.

This time, she directly "bumped into" Pei Du.

Shu Shu curled her lips looking at him: "Again, again, again on a business trip?"

Pei Du kept a straight face, answering seriously: "Hmm."

Shu Shu narrowed her eyes, intentionally asking: "Is your family's business spread all over the country?"

"No."

Pei Du silently pointed to the hotel Shu Shu had just come out of; Shu Shu followed his gaze and saw the hotel sign bore a cursive "Pei" logo.

Shu Shu: "……"

The business wasn't nationwide, but coincidentally the hotel she stayed in this time belongs to the Pei family.

Pei Du: "Yinyin, want to eat together?"

So, Yinyin, want to eat together?

…

After finishing the G City trip, Pei Du did not coincidentally come to Shu Shu's location for business again.

But the next stop, Shu Shu actively set her destination to Jing Shi.

The reason is nothing else.

She wanted to eat Pei Du's cooking.

Every time she changed location she could "bump into" Pei Du, but this time suddenly there was none, and she actually felt a bit unaccustomed, thinking it must be because Pei Du's food was too delicious.

It's a pity that the beautiful wood didn't become a cooking god.

That day.

Shu Shu landed in Jing Shi, and after turning on her device, she tapped out a message to Pei Du:

"Hello Xiao Du Xiao Du, I'm coming to Jing Shi on a business trip, want to have dinner together? ~^? ^"

"Having dinner together" is no longer meant literally between Shu Shu and Pei Du.

Its true meaning is——

Pei Du cooks, and after finishing, he eats together with Shu Shu.

After Shu Shu sent the message, before she could put down her phone, a notification sounded.

It wasn't a notification. It was a phone call.

This was the first time Pei Du called Shu Shu.

Shu Shu answered.

From the other end of the phone, Pei Du's voice came instantly, he sounded a bit disbelieving as he asked: "Yinyin... where are you?"

Shu Shu: "The airport."

Pei Du: "I'll come pick you up."

Shu Shu: "No need, I can get a taxi and be there quickly..."

Pei Du: "Hmm, wait for me in the rest area at the exit, right away—I'll hang up now, see you later."

Beep——

Shu Shu held the phone, stunned: "?"

What she just said was indeed that she would take a taxi, not 'okay'.

Then, okay.

Shu Shu canceled the taxi request.

…

Half an hour later.

Pei Du lifted Shu Shu's small suitcase, his hand pressing the sensor, hearing only a 'di' as the fingerprint lock opened, revealing the modern, delicate interior inside.

This is the place where Pei Du lives in the city center after moving out of the villa.

As he bent down to get Shu Shu's shoes from the shoe cabinet, a white shadow darted out from inside and lunged at her legs.

Pink nose, white fluffy fur, small gray paws on its limbs.

"Da Fu?"

Upon hearing its name, the dog became even more excited and nuzzled Shu Shu.

Unlike that nightmare, Da Fu still remembered her.

Shu Shu squatted down and rubbed the dog.

"Oh my, you've grown so big, you're so chubby."

Da Fu was so excited its tail wagged like a propeller; it missed Shu Shu so much it even stuck out its tongue to lick her face.

Before it could do that.

A hand with distinct joints promptly grabbed its neck——