Chapter 51: I Am Tired

However, this did not mean that everything between her and Pei Qizhou had vanished like smoke. Those past entanglements and emotions still remained, merely temporarily set aside.

She raised her head, gazing at Pei Qizhou with a complex look in her eyes. With a tone carrying a hint of gratitude and helplessness, she continued, "I am fine. Truly, thank you for your concern."

Upon hearing this, a flash of disappointment instantly crossed Pei Qizhou's eyes, but he quickly adjusted his emotions and regained his composure.

He nodded understandingly, saying nothing more, and simply stood quietly to the side, his profound gaze fixed upon Yao Shan and Pei Yi as a storm of complicated emotions churned within his heart.

Yao Shan turned her head, looking tenderly at Pei Yi with eyes full of doting affection and care, and said softly, "Let's go, Pei Yi. We're going home."

Xu Miao instinctively opened the front passenger door, preparing to get in.

"You sit in the front; it's warmer up there," Pei Qizhou said, looking at Yao Shan.

Xu Miao's hand once again froze awkwardly in mid-air, disbelief written all over her face.

At that moment, she dared not even confirm whether Pei Qizhou held any lingering feelings for Yao Shan.

"There's no need," Yao Shan shook her head and got into the back seat.

"I've never liked things used by others," she glanced at Xu Miao.

Xu Miao's complexion instantly turned ashen. She had not expected Yao Shan to express her dissatisfaction and repulsion so bluntly.

Her fingers trembled slightly as she suppressed the anger and resentment welling up inside her. With no other choice, she awkwardly withdrew her hand and silently sat on the other side of the back row, maintaining a certain distance from Yao Shan.

The atmosphere inside the car instantly turned awkward and tense, as if even the air had frozen.

Fortunately, the distance from the seaside to home was not particularly far, requiring only about a fifteen-minute drive.

As soon as she stepped through the front door, Yao Shan stated without a moment's hesitation, "I'll take the guest room." Her tone was firm and clear, making it obvious that she had already made up her mind.

For Yao Shan, under no circumstances would she choose to share the same bedroom with Pei Qizhou; this resolve was deeply rooted in her heart.

Hearing her words, Pei Qizhou felt his heart sink slightly, as if a trace of disappointment and helplessness quietly welled up within him.

However, he knew all too well the importance of staying calm and polite at that moment, so he forcibly suppressed his inner turmoil and tried hard to maintain a facade of calm.

He nodded gently, his tone even as he said, "Alright, I've already arranged for someone to thoroughly clean the guest room ahead of time. You can head straight over to rest." A hint of care and thoughtfulness permeated Pei Qizhou's words; despite the turbulence in his heart, he still tried his best to display gentlemanly manners.

Upon hearing his reply, Yao Shan merely responded with a soft hum, saying nothing further.

She turned on her heel and strode directly toward the guest room, her retreating figure appearing somewhat lonely yet resolute.

At that moment, the atmosphere between the two of them felt rather subtle, yet both chose to bear it in silence without further laying bare their inner thoughts.

"I want to sleep with you." Pei Yi's voice was so low it was almost inaudible, sounding as if the words were squeezed out from the deepest recesses of his heart.

He had no idea what was wrong with himself today either. In his memory, it seemed it had been a very, very long time since he last slept alongside Yao Shan.

That feeling of absolute intimacy felt like a distant memory.

Previously, whenever Yao Shan expressed her desire to sleep with him, he would always reject her without the slightest hesitation, sometimes even using cold and insulting words against her, as if that was the only way to grant himself a tiny sliver of peace of mind.

Yet today, for reasons unknown, a powerful craving suddenly surged from the depths of his soul, driving a desperate need to feel the warmth of maternal love.

Hearing this, Pei Qizhou froze, his expression instantly locking into a look of undisguised astonishment.

He slowly turned his head to look at Pei Yi, his eyes filled with puzzlement and doubt, as if the child before him had suddenly become a stranger.

He took a gentle breath, trying his best to keep his voice steady, and asked softly, "Pei Yi, what on earth is wrong with you today? Why the sudden urge to sleep with Mom? This isn't like you at all."

Pei Yi kept his head lowered, not daring to meet Pei Qizhou's gaze, while his hands tightly clutched the hem of his shirt as if that could grant him a shred of courage.

His voice trembled slightly, carrying a trace of a sob as he replied, "I... I just suddenly missed Mom so much, and I want to be with Mom." Every single word seemed to drain every ounce of strength from his entire body, laying bare the vulnerability and helplessness deep within his soul.

Hearing Pei Yi's words, Yao Shan paused in her tracks. She turned her head and gazed tenderly at Pei Yi, her eyes sparkling with maternal radiance.

She said softly, "Pei Yi, Mom misses you too. But Mom is a bit tired today and wants to rest early. Be a good boy and go sleep in your own room, okay?"

At these words, a flash of disappointment crossed Pei Yi's eyes, but he still nodded sensibly and said quietly, "Alright, Mom. Then get some rest early."

With that, he turned and strode off toward his own room.

"Do you have a moment to talk?" Pei Qizhou looked at Yao Shan with eyes full of anticipation, his tone carrying an unnoticeable hint of earnest plea.

Too many words had piled up inside his heart, and he urgently wanted to pour his heart out to Yao Shan, hoping to win her understanding and response.

"I'm tired." Yao Shan's voice was flat and devoid of strength. Her expression appeared somewhat weary, and a clear sense of rejection emanated from her gaze.

Though brief, her words clearly conveyed her current mood, politely yet unmistakably refusing Pei Qizhou's proposal.

Hearing this, Pei Qizhou felt a wave of disappointment well up in his heart, but he also understood Yao Shan's feelings, knowing that pressing the issue now would only make her more displeased.

Therefore, he could only let out a helpless sigh, a glint of resignation and bitterness flashing through his eyes, and dropped the insistence.

He turned silently, his footsteps heavy as he prepared to leave this room that filled him with a trace of awkwardness.

However, the moment he turned around, his gaze inadvertently fell upon Pei Yi, who was standing by the door.

Pei Yi wore a complex expression, watching him as if scrutinizing him, yet also carrying a hint of concern.

Pei Qizhou was slightly startled, then a smile bloomed on his face. He walked softly toward Pei Yi, his tone gentle as he said, "Pei Yi, Dad has some things he'd like to talk to you about. Do you have some time right now to keep Dad company and chat?"

Hearing his father's request, Pei Yi hesitated slightly, his gaze lingering for a moment on Pei Qizhou's eyes, which were filled with gentleness and expectation.

Ultimately, sensing his father's sincere yearning, he nodded, indicating his willingness to accompany him.

Thus, father and son walked into the study together.

Inside the study, Pei Qizhou gently closed the door, shutting out the hustle and bustle of the outside world and creating a quiet, warm atmosphere.

He walked over to the desk, sat down, and looked gently at Pei Yi across from him, waiting to unfold an in-depth conversation with his son.