I carried all the luggage downstairs by myself before Pei Shi Yu slowly emerged like a young lady. Her designer bag was casually looped around her wrist. Xiao Long and I each sat on a suitcase.

The rhythmic pace and graceful walking posture made me keep my eyes on her. When Pei Shi Yu approached, her first question was, "Why aren't you hailing a taxi?"

"You go. I'm relying on you while we're out." I spoke honestly.

"You don't need to talk to hail a taxi."

"What if the driver asks where I'm going?"

"You can't even say 'airport'?"

Pei Shi Yu looked at me like I was some kind of weirdo. I mimicked her usual tone and replied without any dignity, "If I could speak English, would I still be putting up with your crap?"

She didn't get angry but instead said encouragingly, "You go hail a taxi. If they ask you anything, just tell the driver using my pronunciation."

I hesitated because it was hard to take that step without ever having spoken English before. I was afraid it would sound awkward, even to myself. At that moment, Pei Shi Yu urged, "Airport. The pronunciation is so simple, it's not hard. Didn't you say it yourself, you'll learn as you go? Now that you have such a good opportunity, you don't even cherish it. I'll be there even if you say it wrong."

That day, I'd made such confident remarks, seemingly digging a hole for myself. With heavy steps, I slowly moved to the roadside and hailed a speeding taxi. Before the driver could even ask, I blurted out the address, not to show off my English but because I was afraid of forgetting the pronunciation.

After I told him the address, the driver enthusiastically said a lot of things, but I didn't understand a word. I quickly walked over to Pei Shi Yu and said, "I've hailed a taxi, you take care of it. I can't communicate with the driver."

Pei Shi Yu suppressed a smile, perhaps because it was the first time she'd seen me so dejected. The Lin Che she used to yell at was gone. Now, even calling me pathetic was an overstatement. I deliberately walked to the back to get the luggage, and as soon as I saw the trunk open, I quickly got in.

I, who always liked to sit in the passenger seat, deliberately sat in the back with Xiao Long today, trying to avoid the embarrassment caused by the language barrier.

These past few days, I had hardly spent any money. Except for the few days when Pei Shi Yu went to Milan and when I went shopping with Wang Rui and bought myself a few sets of clothes, I had spent it all on myself. This cost-free trip was worth it.

When the taxi arrived at the airport, Pei Shi Yu still paid the fare. I still had several hundred euros that You Xiang had given me left. I originally wanted to pay the fare, but Pei Shi Yu had already prepared the change, not even leaving me a chance.

The timing was just right. Half an hour later, we boarded the flight to New York, USA. I was quite excited about this sacred and longed-for place. After all, it was my first time going abroad.

Xiao Long sat on the inside, and I sat on the outside, so Pei Shi Yu was surrounded by the two of us men like a princess. Of course, I was the happiest with this arrangement. It was also the first time I'd sat so close to Pei Shi Yu, and it was on an airplane.

As soon as the plane took off, I started talking to Pei Shi Yu, trying to find something to say. "When we get to New York, don't leave us like you did in Rome. It's so boring."

Pei Shi Yu straightened her posture and replied without even looking at me, "It is boring. You can call Wang Rui and have her come keep you company."

Hearing that, I felt something was wrong and immediately turned to look at her, asking, "Are you jealous? You always sound so sour when you talk about Wang Rui."

"Is there a need?"

"I also think there's no need. That's what's strange. Wang Rui is such a good person. In your words, she's either an alcoholic or a drunkard."

"Is there a difference between the two?"

"They sound similar, but there is a difference. Tell me, what is it about her that makes you dislike her? My mom recognized me, and she's always been very magnanimous. We've only known each other for a few days, and she hasn't been distant with me at all, and she's always giving me positive energy."

"You've made her sound like a goddess. If I try to find her shortcomings now, wouldn't that be belittling myself!"

I wanted to resolve the knot between them, so I had to bring up what happened at the restaurant that day...

"I know what you're concerned about."

"Tell me." Pei Shi Yu replied readily.

"Isn't it just that Wang Rui leaned over and asked me a question that day?"

"What did she say?"

"That time I went out to eat with you, I had just met her. My mom invited me out that time, and Wang Rui went too. At the dinner table, everyone knew we were single. Suddenly seeing me with a girl, she was just curious and asked if you were my girlfriend. It's that simple. Now that I've explained it to you, don't have any more prejudice against her."

"It's not prejudice, but I don't agree with what she did at the time. It's disrespectful."

"Oh, don't always be so rigid. You have to try to analyze other people's personalities. Wang Rui is very carefree. In that situation, it must have been a natural reaction. Other than asking me in a low voice, she wouldn't have shouted it out loud, especially since she wasn't familiar with you."

"She's not familiar with me now either." Pei Shi Yu replied quickly.

Regarding the stubborn side of her personality, I thought there was no need to correct her anymore. It's impossible to change someone's personality all at once. If I really have the opportunity to be with her in the future, slowly letting her understand Wang Rui is the best policy. Saying any more would just be a waste of breath.

Pei Shi Yu didn't say anything else, and I didn't dwell on the issue. Xiao Long was gradually getting sleepy during our conversation. Maybe it was because we were on the plane, but his head had already fallen to one side.

"Xiao Long isn't going to kindergarten. Won't the teacher say anything?"

"Her aunt married someone in America and asked me to take her over to stay with her for a few days."

"So that means, once we get to New York, it'll just be the two of us?" I asked in a low voice, but with some excitement.

"Just you. I don't have time to accompany you. Have fun on your own."

"Even if you don't take me this time, I'll still follow you. Anyway, that foreigner you're meeting speaks Chinese."

I suddenly remembered what that foreigner looked like. He was quite friendly and talkative, and I liked the way he talked. I remembered that I even called him once when Pei Shi Yu was drunk.

"He's not free either, and he invited me to his house. Are you going to follow me there too?"

"Yes, I definitely have to go. It's not easy to make a foreign friend." I deliberately tried to cozy up to the foreigner.

"Who's your friend?"

"We've had drinks together, isn't that enough? Just take me. See if he'll be enthusiastic towards me."

Pei Shi Yu was too lazy to argue with me and naturally took off her coat, starting to prepare for sleep.