Chapter Twenty-Five: What to Do When Someone Confesses Their Feelings

As the taxi approached, Pei Xi happened to arrive at the same time. Fang Yuan didn’t get out but waved at her from inside the car. Pei Xi didn’t mind; once she confirmed that Fang Yuan was the one in the car, she climbed in.

"Are you really alright?" Once inside, Pei Xi studied Fang Yuan carefully, as if to make sure he was truly unharmed.

"Of course. Do I look like someone who’s in trouble? What exactly did you eat that you shouldn’t have? It got so bad you had to be hospitalized?"

Fang Yuan believed that concern for a patient should start with understanding them, and although Pei Xi was already discharged and fine, it was the only topic he could think of at the moment.

"If you want to blame someone, blame yourself. I was perfectly fine all day yesterday, but after eating your dinner—your bowl of noodles—I started feeling sick. At first, I didn’t pay much attention, but then things got worse. If the driver hadn’t taken me to the hospital in time, you probably wouldn’t have seen me today."

Goodness, wasn’t it just an upset stomach? How did it become a life-threatening matter in Pei Xi’s hands? She spoke with such emotion, nearly in tears. Her performance—honestly, Fang Yuan could hardly bear to watch.

As long as Fang Yuan wasn’t a fool, he could guess what Pei Xi was about to say next. But he had his own pride; yesterday, Pei Xi had insisted on eating with him. He hadn’t intended to invite her, hadn’t received any payment for the meal, and now she seemed to be blaming him for the whole affair.

Where’s the justice in that?

"If you want something from me, just say it. Don’t act like I’ve wronged you somehow."

Fang Yuan spoke bluntly. Encountering a girl like this would test anyone’s patience.

The driver up front didn’t understand the context—he only heard a tearful girl saying she’d felt unwell after eating something the boy had given her. As a seasoned driver, he’d heard plenty of negative stories like this. He glanced back at Fang Yuan, eyes full of admiration, envy, and a hint of resentment.

Sigh, so what if he looked a bit better, had fairer skin, was in better shape, and a little younger? Why was the treatment so different? The driver just couldn’t figure it out, and his mind wandered as he drove.

"Watch the road," Fang Yuan reminded him from the back. The driver snapped back to attention, slammed the brakes, and narrowly avoided hitting an elderly woman crossing in front. Damn.

Because of the sudden stop, Pei Xi lost her balance and fell into Fang Yuan’s arms.

The driver glanced in the rearview mirror, feeling a sharp pang somewhere inside.

"Are you alright?"

Fang Yuan quickly helped Pei Xi sit upright, then shifted away from her. Still pretending, huh? It seemed the issue wasn’t his own lack of charm, but that he didn’t know how to act and play games like these pretty boys. The driver grumbled to himself, realizing he needed to improve his own performance.

"I still have the same request: teach me to dive, and you can name your price." Pei Xi spoke with confidence this time, knowing Fang Yuan was short on money.

"What if I refuse?"

Pei Xi was the kind of girl who could make you forget everything, but Fang Yuan didn’t want to be coerced, especially since he hadn’t done anything wrong.

The driver couldn’t stay calm after hearing this. The girl had forgiven him, even offered to pay, and yet this guy hesitated? The driver wasn’t worried about an accident anymore; he kept winking at Fang Yuan in the mirror, urging him to agree. Such a good opportunity was hard to find, even with a lantern.

Fang Yuan looked up and saw the driver’s almond-shaped eyes blinking at him incessantly. He worried the driver might strain his eyes from all the winking, which would certainly be his fault.

"If you don’t agree, that’s fine. Just be my boyfriend," Pei Xi said seriously, with no hint of a joke.

No sooner had Pei Xi finished speaking than the car screeched to a halt.

What was wrong with the driver today? He was so distracted while driving.

The driver stopped the car and looked back at Fang Yuan, while Pei Xi turned to gaze at him as well.

As the focus of their attention, Fang Yuan admitted he hadn’t quite understood what Pei Xi had just said. So he didn’t know why both the driver and Pei Xi were looking at him with what seemed like... yes, a longing in their eyes.

When Fang Yuan finally realized what Pei Xi had proposed, he was baffled by the driver’s reaction. It was understandable for Pei Xi to look at him that way, but what was with the seasoned driver? A man his age, giving him that look—wasn’t he embarrassed?

"Um, well... this is a serious matter. I think it’s more appropriate for us to stay friends," Fang Yuan said, never having experienced a confession before. Pei Xi’s sudden proposal threw him off, and he didn’t know what to say.

He remembered reading romance novels where girls, if they didn’t want to accept a confession, would say something similar.

"So you mean you’ll consider letting me be your girlfriend?" Pei Xi laughed, her smile as refreshing as a cool breeze, making Fang Yuan’s heart itch.

Had something changed in Pei Xi after her hospital stay? She seemed like a different person.

With her words, Fang Yuan was at a loss for what to say next—the books had never taught him what to do in this situation. He could only smile slightly, neither denying nor agreeing.

He guessed the driver would be furious today—he felt sorry for him already.

"Wow, Miss Pei actually confessed to you! Fang Yuan, let me tell you, Miss Pei is mine—you can’t steal her away!" Chong Chong said plaintively. Thankfully, Fang Yuan hadn’t agreed right away, or Chong Chong wouldn’t be the only one crying.

"I didn’t say yes, did I? Besides, who knows what Pei Xi is really thinking? We’ve only known each other for a few days. No matter how casual she is, she wouldn’t just pick a boyfriend out of nowhere." Fang Yuan quickly soothed Chong Chong.

If Chong Chong was upset, things wouldn’t go well for him.

"I don’t care. You can’t accept Miss Pei, but you can’t let her be sad either. If she’s sad, I’ll be even sadder." Chong Chong’s words were unreasonable, leaving Fang Yuan at a loss.