8
“Jinzhou-ge, what are you talking about? I’ve always been like this.”
“Why are you calling me ‘ge’ (brother)? Didn’t you used to hate that?”
He seemed angry, his voice suddenly rising.
After we got together, I never called him “brother” again.
It always felt like there was a barrier—the word “brother” just reminded me he was like Chu Yun to me, nothing more.
“But you also hated when I called you by your name,” I replied, still smiling, though the smile didn’t reach my eyes.
“You told me not to cling to you anymore, and I listened. So what do you want now?”
“Why are you so upset?”
“Oh, by the way, you said you’d introduce me to a better boyfriend than you. When are you going to keep that promise?”
“Chu Zhi! Are you trying to drive me crazy?”
Pei Jinzhou’s face was clouded with anger as he gripped my hand tightly, gritting his teeth.
“That was just drunken nonsense! How could you take it seriously?
Besides, we haven’t broken up. Don’t even think about being with another
man!”
“I took it seriously.” I forcefully pulled my hand free from his grasp.
“From the moment you said that, we were already over. If it wasn’t clear enough, let me make it plain: we’re done!”
“From now on, our relationship is just friends—nothing more!”
“Friends? What kind of crap is that! Did you even consider how I’d feel before saying that?”
He shouted, eyes full of unwillingness.
I took a deep breath and told him again,
“Pei Jinzhou, I regret it. I regret ever being with you, so I want to break up. Do you understand now?”
“I don’t agree! Why do you get to decide we break up just because you say so?”
Because in my last life, I wasted my entire youth on you.
“Pei Jinzhou, did you ever think about Jian Shutong when you said those things? You can’t let her go, and she still loves you. I’m stepping aside so you two can be together—what are you so unhappy about?”
“She’s long in the past! There’s no way I’d get back with her.” His emotions suddenly surged.
“If you mind her being around, I’ll never contact her again. I swear, from now on, you’ll be the only one by my side.”
But not two seconds after he finished speaking, his phone rang.
Pei Jinzhou immediately declined the call.
A second later, it rang again. He declined it once more.
But I saw clearly—the caller ID flashing on his screen read “Tongtong.”
There was no need to guess; it was obviously Jian Shutong.
When she called a third time, he still wanted to decline it.
I said calmly, “Go ahead and answer. Maybe it’s something urgent.”
He hesitated for a moment, then finally picked up.
As soon as the call connected, I heard crying on the other end—it sounded like she’d been in a car accident.
Pei Jinzhou’s face instantly tensed, his voice a mix of anxiety and comfort.
“Don’t be scared. Give me a few minutes, I’ll be right there.”
After hanging up, worry was written all over his face, but he still tried to placate me.
“Zhizhi, I have something really important to take care of right now.
I’ll come find you after I’m done. I don’t agree to breaking up, so
don’t bring it up again.”
With that, he didn’t wait for my response and hurriedly left.