Volume One, Chapter 72: Lying

The siblings stared at each other, their eyes locked. Pei Jingmo’s face was filled with astonishment, while Gu Chenxi’s carried a look of grievance.

“Brother…” she began, only to be interrupted by Pei Jingmo. “Come in, come in, let’s go inside first.”

Song Qingyu was oblivious to the undercurrents flowing between the two. After stepping inside, she introduced them, “This is Chenxi. Chenxi, this is my husband, Pei Jingmo. Yes, you can call him brother.”

Gu Chenxi glanced at Pei Jingmo but remained silent.

Pei Jingmo had no idea how Chenxi had suddenly appeared here, but judging by Song Qingyu’s reaction, she was evidently unaware of their true relationship.

“Qingqing, dinner’s ready. Would you like to change into something more comfortable first?” Song Qingyu was still wearing her “Bridge of Hearts” volunteer uniform. She smiled at Chenxi, “You sit for a bit, I’ll be back soon.”

Once Song Qingyu had gone to her room, Pei Jingmo led Gu Chenxi out to the balcony. “Chenxi, how did you end up with Qingqing? Does Aunt Tang know you’re out?”

Gu Chenxi angrily shook off Pei Jingmo’s hand, her face full of hurt. “Does Brother not like Chenxi anymore? Are you going to abandon me?”

“How could that be? Brother will always be your brother.”

“But you haven’t come home in ages. You married Sister Qingqing, you live here now, and you don’t want us anymore?”

“Of course not.”

It was only then that Pei Jingmo understood: Chenxi had run away because he hadn’t been home for so long—she missed him. He’d only told Chenxi about his marriage, even boasting to her about Song Qingyu’s photo, so Chenxi must have sought out Qingqing because of that.

With time pressing, Pei Jingmo could only focus on what Chenxi would understand.

“Chenxi, your Sister Qingqing doesn’t know I’m Gu Yuandong, nor that we’re siblings. There are many reasons I can’t explain right now. Can you help Brother keep this secret?”

Chenxi was still sulking. “Chenxi doesn’t lie.”

Pei Jingmo gently patted her head, soothing her, “I’m not asking you to lie. Just pretend you don’t know me, alright?”

Chenxi thought for a moment. “Then can I stay here tonight?”

“No, if you don’t go home, Aunt Tang will be worried.”

“Then I won’t help Brother.”

Hearing the door to Song Qingyu’s bedroom open, Pei Jingmo cursed under his breath and quickly relented, “Alright, alright, you can stay if you want.”

Song Qingyu came out in her loungewear, finding Gu Chenxi admiring a painting in the living room. She walked over smiling, “Chenxi, do you like art?”

“Yes.” Chenxi pointed at the girl in the painting. “That’s Sister.”

“Yes, you have a good eye.”

Pei Jingmo brought the dishes to the table and called out to the two girls, “Dinner’s ready.”

Song Qingyu put her arm around Chenxi’s shoulder, smiling, “Come, let’s eat.”

Song Qingyu loved spicy food, but because she’d often gone hungry as a child, her stomach was ruined. Under Pei Jingmo’s strict orders, she could only eat light dishes.

Gu Chenxi also ate very lightly; their tastes were quite similar.

Song Qingyu picked up her chopsticks and began eating, but noticed that Chenxi hadn’t touched hers. She looked at her in confusion, “Chenxi, why aren’t you eating? Do you not like the food?”

Chenxi glanced at Pei Jingmo.

Pei Jingmo: “…”

Whenever Pei Jingmo was home, Chenxi never needed to serve herself; he would always put food on her plate.

Her mind was simple, not given to twists and turns—her brother only asked her to keep his identity a secret, not to avoid serving her food.

Precisely because she wouldn’t think so much, Pei Jingmo felt troubled.

He leaned closer to Song Qingyu and whispered, “She’s waiting for us to serve her food?”

Song Qingyu looked at Chenxi’s clothes and her refined, noble manner, and guessed it must be so.

She took the communal chopsticks and placed some food on Chenxi’s plate, “Chenxi, eat more.”

Chenxi looked at Song Qingyu, then at Pei Jingmo. Under Pei Jingmo’s signaling gaze, she thanked them and picked up her chopsticks, eating slowly and elegantly.

She made no noise at all while eating, graceful and pleasing to the eye.

After dinner, Pei Jingmo went downstairs to take out the trash. Song Qingyu, seeing it was already dark, asked Chenxi again where her home was.

Her phone suddenly rang. Seeing that it was Gu Yuandong calling, Song Qingyu was surprised and quickly answered.

“President Gu—”

“Miss Song, did you happen to find a seventeen-year-old girl?”

Song Qingyu looked at Gu Chenxi across from her and nodded, “Yes, her name is Chenxi. Do you know her?”

“She’s my sister, Gu Chenxi.”

Song Qingyu was a little taken aback. What a coincidence.

She’d known Chenxi was a wealthy young lady, but hadn’t expected her to be President Gu’s sister.

“Could you hand the phone to Chenxi?”

“Of course—”

Song Qingyu handed the phone to Gu Chenxi. “Chenxi, it’s your brother.”

Gu Chenxi took the call.

Only then did Song Qingyu recall that Chenxi had mentioned having two brothers earlier—weren’t they Gu Mubei and Gu Yuandong?

She wondered what they talked about; soon, Chenxi handed the phone back.

Seeing that the call hadn’t ended, Song Qingyu put it to her ear, “President Gu…”

“Yes.”

She didn’t know if it was her own illusion, but the moment he spoke that word, her ears went soft, and she felt a strange sense of familiarity.

“Miss Song, Chenxi wants to stay at your house tonight. If it’s convenient, could you let her stay?”

Before Song Qingyu could answer, Pei Jingmo added, “She had a disagreement with her family and ran away from home.”

So that was the reason. But why had she sought her out?

Perhaps sensing Song Qingyu’s puzzlement, Pei Jingmo said, “She’s a fan of Teacher Xie, has seen many of Teacher Xie’s paintings of you, and recognized you.”

Song Qingyu understood.

She suddenly recalled the auction some time ago; if Chenxi hadn’t been her mother’s fan, she wouldn’t have been able to obtain her mother’s legacy so easily.

Moreover, Chenxi had donated a large sum to the “Bridge of Hearts” Foundation, helping many who needed assistance.

Letting a benefactor stay for a night was no trouble at all.

“Don’t worry, President Gu—I’ll take good care of your sister.”

“Thank you.”

After hanging up, Song Qingyu excitedly grabbed Chenxi’s hand. “I can’t believe you’re President Gu’s sister! Seeing is believing—you really are an angel.”

Song Qingyu’s hand was soft and warm, and as Chenxi looked at their hands, her heart filled with warmth.

As soon as Pei Jingmo returned, Song Qingyu told him about it.

Pei Jingmo, seeing her happiness, smiled indulgently. “It’s fate, isn’t it?”

“I think so, too.”

Gu Chenxi watched her brother’s joy because of her sister and quietly lowered her head.

That night, Song Qingyu and Gu Chenxi shared a bed.

Song Qingyu found an unworn nightgown for Chenxi.

After changing, Chenxi hugged her little bunny and slipped into Song Qingyu’s bed.

Song Qingyu seemed delighted, eager to give Chenxi all her precious things, but aside from painting, Chenxi didn’t seem to have any other interests.

The two lay side by side, gazing at each other.

Song Qingyu spoke first. “Chenxi, do you look like your brother?”

Chenxi shook her head. “No.”

“Then can you tell me why you ran away from home?”

Chenxi was silent for a while. Instead of answering Song Qingyu’s question, she asked her, “Sister, if someone lied to you, what would you do?”