He kept glancing towards the windowsill, and eventually, everyone noticed.
But no one dared to speak up, except for Xiang Siyuan, who was fearless.
"What are you looking at, Instructor Peng? Isn't that Sister Chun Chun's room? Why do you keep looking over there? She's the most precious treasure of the Zhan family, not someone ordinary people can be worthy of. Don't tell me you've fallen for her?"
Peng Fei hated that he observed him so clearly and hated that he reminded him of it.
He kicked the leg of his stool. "Do I not have the freedom to look at things with my own eyes? Mind your own business."
Not seeing Zhan Jingchun made him very disappointed, even anxious.
By ten-thirty, their assignments for the day were complete. They were given an hour to use their phones. Peng Fei slipped away to the Zhan family's residence.
The butler was trimming flowers and plants in the yard. Peng Fei went to greet him, saying they were out of salt at home and asking where the housekeeper was, if he could borrow some. The butler told him to go straight in.
Peng Fei entered the living room, tiptoeing around, and scanned the area, but didn't see Zhan Jingchun.
Just as he was wondering what she was up to, the housekeeper came out of the bathroom.
"Little Peng, why are you here? What are you looking at?"
Peng Fei stood up straight. "I wasn't looking at anything. Uncle Butler said you were here, but I called out a few times and didn't see you, so I was looking for you."
"Oh, I was just in the restroom and didn't hear you. Is there something you need?"
"Nothing much. It's almost noon, and I'm about to start cooking, but I found out we're out of salt, so I came to borrow some."
The housekeeper's heart stirred with suspicion upon hearing this.
"Impossible," she thought.
She had entered Peng Fei's kitchen last night, intending to help, but he wouldn't let her, so she just stood there talking to him for a while.
As they spoke, her eyes unconsciously swept over the oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar. A freshly opened bag of salt was clearly placed there. How could they be out of it?
"Is that so? Are you sure you're out of salt?"
Peng Fei felt a little guilty and touched his nose.
"Maybe Xiang Siyuan and the others deliberately tricked me and poured it out. There was some yesterday, but I can't find it today. I don't need much, just dig out two spoonfuls for me."
The housekeeper believed him. "Yes, yes, there's plenty. I didn't mean it like that. Take this whole bag. You can use it, we don't use it that often anyway."
Peng Fei was also puzzled. "Why don't you use it often? Don't you eat three meals a day?"
The housekeeper said yes, "But Chun Chun doesn't really like to eat, and she often leaves food. We just heat it up and eat, so we don't need much."
"Is that so? Miss Chun still doesn't eat properly?"
"Not really. She's been feeling much better these past couple of days. This morning she ate two big bowls of porridge, walked around bouncing, and was in a great mood. Xiang Siyuan's mother came this morning, and she even went out shopping with her."
Only then did Peng Fei realize that Zhan Jingchun had gone out shopping. His heart immediately felt at ease. His objective achieved, he excitedly bid farewell to the housekeeper.
"Oh, then I'll be going. Thank you, Auntie."
The housekeeper watched him leave with a smile and thought about chasing after him to give him the salt, but then she paused, as if realizing something.
"Oh dear, could it really be like this?"
He and the young lady…
What a fated entanglement.
The vast difference between them, the young lady being a pampered princess, and Peng Fei…
She truly worried for them.
Zhan Jingchun didn't return until after dinner.
She had a happy day playing with Jiang Nanfang and Chen Jiaojiao, but at the same time, she missed Peng Fei dearly.
For the first time, she discovered what it felt like to truly miss someone.
Whether she was walking, shopping, or discussing things with people, his image was constantly in her mind.
She thought of him when she saw someone with a similar figure on the road, thought of him when she saw cool men's clothing, thought of him when she heard a man's voice, and even thought of him when she saw men's restrooms.
She realized then that she was addicted.
It turned out Peng Fei had come to Nancheng to poison her.
She had been so indifferent to him before, hated him getting close, even hated him. How had it come to this feeling in such a short time since they reunited?
Zhan Jingchun didn't know if this counted as liking Peng Fei, but she knew it wasn't good. If people found out, they would laugh their heads off. She couldn't let it continue.
So, she rehearsed the ending of her relationship with Peng Fei in advance.
However, from the moment she rehearsed the ending, her mood became low.
She ate dinner listlessly. On the way back, Jiang Nanfang thought she was just too tired and told her to get some rest early and that she could call her again if she wanted to go shopping.
Her mother never interfered in her life or said much, which Zhan Jingchun was very grateful for.
After getting out of the car and standing at the villa entrance, she watched them leave, then couldn't help but look at the house opposite.
She thought Peng Fei would have already gone to bed so late.
But as soon as she looked over, Peng Fei jumped down from the wall.
He had been waiting for her behind the gate for several hours.
He had rushed to the base of the wall as soon as he heard the car approaching.
Fortunately, he hadn't missed her.
Peng Fei had missed her so much that he felt like he was dying after not seeing her for a day.
Seeing her in a new dress she hadn't seen before, wearing makeup, looking as beautiful as she could be, he almost couldn't resist reaching out and hugging her.
"I missed you so much. Why are you back so late? You smell so good. Chun Chun, you're so beautiful."
With the streetlights behind her, Peng Fei's expression couldn't be seen clearly, but from his bright white teeth and excited tone, she could feel his happiness.
Her rational mind told Zhan Jingchun that he was going too far, that she should scold him soundly and send him away, forbidding him from getting close to her again. But she couldn't bring herself to speak.
She liked Peng Fei.
She liked the way he stared at her intently.
She liked his slightly shy yet direct compliments.
She liked his face, his voice, his rough hands, even the way he climbed over walls.
More importantly, she enjoyed his admiration, his affection, his devotion.
Her heart pounded wildly from the intense conflict.
After Peng Fei finished speaking, seeing her silent and holding so many things, he took two steps forward.
"Why aren't you speaking? What's wrong? Are you tired?"
"If you're tired, go back and rest quickly. I'll carry your things."
He reached out to take her things, and his fingers inevitably brushed against Zhan Jingchun's.
Zhan Jingchun's heart pounded even harder. Never before had she wanted to be close to Peng Fei so much, to embrace him.
However, they were at the main entrance, and it wouldn't be good if someone saw them, so she suppressed the impulse.
"Have you thought about how to decorate the house?"
Peng Fei was suddenly stumped.
He was deeply infatuated and had been distracted all day without seeing her. Besides missing her, he hadn't had time to do anything else.
"I've thought about it, but I haven't acted on it. You're not going out tomorrow, are you? I'll have the energy to work as long as I can see you. I'll go buy the materials tomorrow."
How could his voice sound so good?
Although it was a simple sentence, due to her sudden infatuation, Zhan Jingchun interpreted it in a different way.
"Thump!"
She dropped a bag of luxury goods by the door and took his hand.
"Let's go now. Come on."