Chapter 49: Outbreak

Pei Qizhou’s face instantly darkened, his brow furrowed deeply. Clearly, he was extremely dissatisfied with Yao Shan’s response, and an indescribable sense of disappointment surged within him.

However, he knew well that arguing at this moment would not only fail to resolve the problem but would also make the already tense situation entirely unmanageable.

Suppressing the displeasure in his heart, he ultimately refrained from questioning her any further.

He turned his head, his gaze falling upon the agitated Pei Yi. He gently patted Pei Yi’s shoulder with a gesture that was tender yet carried an unquestionable firmness, signaling him to calm down as soon as possible.

Although Pei Yi’s emotions were still running high, under Pei Qizhou’s steady and powerful soothing, he gradually calmed down somewhat, and his breathing became less rapid.

Under Pei Qizhou’s watchful gaze, his tightly clenched fists slowly loosened, his knuckles gradually relaxing. The anger that had previously filled his eyes slowly softened, replaced by a deep sense of loss, as if all his fury had been swallowed up by helplessness and disappointment.

Pei Qizhou spoke a few words of comfort and persuasion to him in a voice that was low, gentle, and brimming with an elder’s care and wisdom.

Though Pei Yi was still reluctant inside, under Pei Qizhou’s patient guidance, he finally nodded and silently stepped aside, stopping the argument.

"Yao Shan, come home tonight." Pei Qizhou spoke softly to Yao Shan in a consultative tone.

Perhaps even he did not realize that as time passed, his attitude toward Yao Shan had quietly shifted, becoming increasingly gentle and considerate.

Yao Shan was slightly startled; Pei Qizhou’s gentle tone made her feel a trace of surprise and astonishment.

Involuntarily, she raised her head and met his eyes directly. Within those once-familiar depths, an imperceptible tenderness seemed to have quietly emerged—a subtle change that sent a jolt through her heart.

Her heart fluttered slightly for a split second, as if touched by some lingering emotion, but she quickly forced herself to regain her composure.

She knew very well that no matter how Pei Qizhou’s attitude changed, and no matter how gentle and considerate he acted, it could never alter the facts that had already taken place or the distance between them.

"No, I’ve already arranged with Chu Xun to go to his place tonight."

Yao Shan’s voice was firm and clear, without the slightest hesitation or doubt.

Her tone revealed an unquestionable resolve, as if she were showing Pei Qizhou that she had already made her choice and would never turn back.

She did not want to leave herself any path of retreat, nor did she want Pei Qizhou to harbor any misconceptions that she might return to him.

She hoped to use this approach to thoroughly cut off any lingering thoughts Pei Qizhou might have, making him understand that her decision was irreversible.

"You are living together?" Pei Qizhou furrowed his brow, a look of displeasure crossing his face.

Although he had long suspected this and had even tacitly accepted the reality in his heart, hearing Yao Shan say it aloud still brought a wave of indescribable loss and unacceptability to his core.

"Yes." Yao Shan nodded slightly, a hint of firmness shining in her eyes.

Even though she and Chu Xun did not share a cohabitation in the true sense, under these circumstances, she still chose to reply this way to declare her stance.

Pei Qizhou’s gaze shifted back and forth between Yao Shan and Chu Xun, the complex emotions within him churning like a tumultuous sea, impossible to put into words.

He looked at Yao Shan’s resolute gaze, then turned to Chu Xun’s calm expression; the conflict and struggle in his heart grew increasingly intense.

He took a deep breath, attempting to soothe the turbulence within, yet his voice still carried an imperceptible tremor. "Since you have already made your decision, I will not force it any further." His words revealed a hint of helplessness and compromise.

Slowly turning his head, his gaze fell upon Chu Xun with a complicated scrutiny, as though he wished to pierce through Chu Xun’s exterior and read his soul.

Chu Xun met his gaze with an easy and composed demeanor, showing no trace of evasion or fear, as if silently declaring his own unwavering stance.

Pei Qizhou sighed inwardly, realizing that any further dispute or argument would be futile and would only render the situation more awkward and difficult to salvage.

He knew he had to accept this reality, even though it was not the outcome he had hoped to see.

"Pei Yi, let's go." Pei Qizhou said softly to the person beside him, his tone tinged with helplessness and exhaustion, as if at this moment, he felt a profound sense of powerlessness.

"I'm not leaving!" Pei Yi shouted loudly. "You are coming back with me." He pointed at Yao Shan, his tone exceedingly harsh.

Pei Qizhou shook his head helplessly, understanding that Pei Yi’s emotions still required time to settle.

He crouched down, looked into Pei Yi’s eyes, and said in a gentle yet firm tone, "Pei Yi, you need to calm down right now. Let's go back first, okay?"

"No!" Pei Yi’s mood was as unrestrained as a storm at this moment; his emotions had completely spiraled out of control, like a blazing fire burning fiercely in his chest.

He took a fierce step forward, grabbing Yao Shan without a moment's hesitation. Though he was not exceptionally tall, the sudden burst of strength he exhibited was astonishingly powerful and hard to believe.

"Come home with me!" Pei Yi’s voice carried an unquestionable resolve, sounding like an inescapable command.

Yao Shan was so startled by Pei Yi’s abrupt action that her heart skipped a beat; she had entirely failed to anticipate such a turn of events.

Her body instinctively stepped backward, her eyes widening, filled with an unmasked shock.

At this tense juncture, Chu Xun reacted swiftly. With a single stride, he rushed forward and, without the slightest hesitation, pulled Pei Yi away from Yao Shan’s side, narrowly averting any further impulsive behavior on Pei Yi’s part.

Chu Xun’s movement was decisive and powerful, clearly playing a crucial role at the critical moment.

Held firmly by Chu Xun, Pei Yi struggled violently, his anger surging like a tide as he tried to lunge toward Yao Shan once again to finish what he had started.

However, Chu Xun’s strength clearly far surpassed Pei Yi’s; his arms gripped Pei Yi tightly like iron hoops, rendering him completely unable to break free, reducing his struggles to futility.

Seeing this, Pei Qizhou’s heart tightened. He strode forward rapidly, opened his arms, and pulled Pei Yi tightly into his embrace, attempting to use his own warmth and strength to soothe the agitated young man.

Concern and firmness showed in Pei Qizhou’s eyes; he knew that what Pei Yi needed right now was calmness and rationality.

"Pei Yi, calm down." Pei Qizhou’s voice was low and powerful.