I thought Pei Shi Yu would move to Zhijiang Road tonight, but she meant what she said about monitoring Pei Xianglong.

After dinner, she stood up and went into her room. Looking at the table full of food, I walked to her father's door and pressed my ear against it, trying to hear what was going on inside. It was very quiet!

I stood there for a while and gently knocked on the door. There was no response. I pushed the door open and went in. The person inside was on the phone. Judging from the expression on his face, he didn't seem angry. It seemed my worries were unnecessary. Pei Xianglong glanced at me and continued to say to the person on the other end of the phone, "Lao Wang, your son is here with me. He and my daughter want to control my marriage. I've lived to such an old age, and they're restricting my right to find a companion."

I didn't interrupt immediately. Anyway, the person on the other end of the phone couldn't hear me. I just stood silently next to Pei Xianglong. It was a bit unfair to say I was restricting him. Pei Shi Yu had the right to speak, but I didn't. I wouldn't interfere in that kind of thing.

After waiting for about two minutes, Pei Xianglong hung up the phone, looked up at me, and asked, "What are you doing here? Did Pei Shi Yu ask you to call me out to eat?"

Remembering what Pei Shi Yu had said earlier and Pei Xianglong's current demeanor, as if he wanted to be taken seriously, I couldn't help but laugh. But I quickly stopped smiling and asked, "Do you think that's her style?"

"Then why did you come in here?"

"She went into her room," I told him directly.

"That heartless thing. She's full and wants to starve an old man to death."

After saying that, he immediately stood up, quickly opened the door, and went to Pei Shi Yu's door, saying, "Pei Shi Yu, is this how you treat an old man?"

The door was pushed open heavily. Pei Shi Yu seemed to be tidying up the room. There were many clothes on the bed, and she was holding a clean towel in her hand. She immediately asked, "How did I treat you? Did I stop you from eating?"

Pei Xianglong was speechless. Standing next to him, I could only hear him breathing heavily. He wasn't a match for Pei Shi Yu in words. I took the opportunity to say to Pei Shi Yu, "Say less. Let Dad eat dinner."

Pei Shi Yu didn't say anything, nor did she yell. The two of them didn't seem to be arguing, nor did they seem to be really angry. It was as if they were forcing someone to soften up first, confronting each other in a stalemate.

Since there was nothing serious going on, I didn't need to interfere. But as soon as my long legs moved, I heard Pei Shi Yu ask very seriously, "Do you want a woman or a companion? You have to make it clear."

I was immediately stunned. Pei Shi Yu was able to blurt out such a sensitive topic. Pei Xianglong didn't seem to expect it either. He looked at me and then said, "You should move out quickly."

"Don't even think about it! Who will control you if I move out?"

"You confounded thing! I just said there would be a suitable candidate at the appropriate time. I didn't say I was in a hurry to find one. Are you trying to make others laugh at me?"

"Don't try to wriggle out of this with me. If you want to find someone, they have to be someone I approve of."

"Are you going to find them or am I?"

Pei Shi Yu didn't answer and closed the door tightly again. I grabbed Pei Xianglong's arm and said, "Eat first. Don't argue with her."

"How can I eat this meal? Make her come out and explain."

"She didn't say you couldn't find someone. She's just angry. Besides, you're not looking right now. Pei Shi Yu just feels it's too sudden and she can't accept it. She'll understand naturally after a while."

"It doesn't matter whether I find someone or not. I just thought that if she gets married, I'll be too lonely."

"I understand what you mean. You're just falling into her trap by getting angry. Eat and drink your fill first..."

Before I could finish, Pei Xianglong interrupted and asked me, "Are you cursing me to kick the bucket soon?"

Seeing that he was still angry, I thought it would be best to leave. So I said with a smile, "I'll go back now."

"Get out of here!"

I had just picked up my coat from the sofa when my phone rang. It was Xiao Wu calling. I answered the phone as I walked outside and asked after closing the security door, "Where are you?"

"I'm home. My phone was dead when you called."

"It's nothing important. I'll see you when you get back."

"I'll be back in a few days. How's Wen Wen's job?"

"Come over when you get back. You're unemployed now too. What are your plans?"

"It's still okay to follow Director Li, but I'm a little scared after what happened, and besides, you're not there anymore."

"It's hard to explain over the phone. Let's discuss it when you get back."

"Okay."

At this time, the elevator had already reached the first floor. I hung up the phone and walked straight to the car. It was still early, and there was nothing to do at home. I didn't get into the car immediately. Taking advantage of the night, I looked up at the sky. The rain had stopped, and the night sky was pitch black. If it weren't for the streetlights on both sides, it would have been impossible to see your hand in front of your face in this weather.

I lit a cigarette, stood next to my car, and reached out to touch it. The shiny paint still had raindrops on it, seeming to leave traces of the spring rain during the day.

After going around abroad, so much had changed in my life in just a few days. The emotional leaps and bounds and Lin Yang's death.

Living in this world, it seemed necessary to accept one test after another in life. Although Lin Yang's death didn't seem to bring me too much sadness, I still had deep feelings when I was at the funeral home in the morning.

On the way, I dialed Wang Rui's phone. As soon as she answered, I asked, "Are you home?"

"Yes, are you coming over?" Wang Rui's voice had a rare sense of melancholy.

"I just came from Pei Shi Yu's house."

"If you want to come, just come."

"That's what I mean. I'm afraid you're not there."

"Does that have anything to do with you coming here?"

"The atmosphere is better if you're there. I won't go if you're not."

"Your mother is here too. Come over quickly."

Wang Rui hung up the phone after saying that. I turned to look at the floor where Pei Shi Yu was. Except for the bottom few floors, which were dark, the rest of the building was brightly lit. I threw away the cigarette butt and got into the car. As I pressed the start button, my eyes stared at the rearview mirror. The trees behind me reflected under the streetlights, still standing tall in the cold spring night.

Facing the cold wind, my car wheels immediately crushed the accumulated water on the road, and the splashed water scattered to both sides of the road.

I only slowed down when passing by someone. Even so, through the car window, I seemed to hear the pedestrian's scream. Even if it wasn't intentional, I looked back again. The person had stopped and was staring straight at the rear of my car, as if accusing me of being reckless.