I can still salvage it chapter 40

Inevitable Avoidance

After New Year’s Day, time seemed to have sped up all of a sudden. It was said that 007, who had returned to headquarters to report, was often elusive, appearing only occasionally. However, the scores it awarded never fell short, always giving a significant boost.

For some reason, Shen Mian felt that 007 seemed a bit anxious, as if it wanted to reach the full score of a thousand as soon as possible. Recently, the scores given were simply overwhelming.

Shen Mian counted on his fingers, realizing that he and Pei Zhiyi were only about 200 points away from completing their mission.

Soon, the final exams arrived. With winter vacation just around the corner, the final exams were both loved and hated. Everyone wanted to finish the exams early and start their vacation, but there was also the fear of performing poorly and ruining the vacation.

Fortunately, Shen Mian’s grades were good this time. He ranked 28th in the class and 462nd in the grade. Compared to his previous grades, it was enough to give comfort to his parents.

Su Ying glanced at the report card and couldn’t help but feel a little emotional. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen you start with a ‘2’ in your ranking. In the past, if it was in the thirties, I would have still been grateful.”

Shen Mian felt a bit embarrassed and muttered in response, feeling a bit awkward.

Sitting beside him were the two top-ranked students, Pei Zhiyi and Shen Yu. Surprisingly, their parents weren’t too surprised. Pei Zhiyi scored over four hundred, which excited his parents.

Even Shen Yu patted him on the shoulder and said earnestly, “Brother, you’ve grown up.”

Shen Mian: “…”

Why did he sense a subtle confusion? Shouldn’t it be the older brother encouraging the younger sister?

But after thinking for a moment, he leaned on his mother’s shoulder and took the opportunity to make a request. “I’ve made progress, shouldn’t you reward me?”

Su Ying was democratic about it. “Tell me, what do you want? As long as it’s not too excessive, I’ll agree.”

Their family always emphasized encouragement and education and never refuted their children.

She also asked Pei Zhiyi and Shen Yu, “Same goes for both of you, tell me what you want.”

Pei Zhiyi was used to being considerate and didn’t have any specific requests.

Shen Yu, on the other hand, had already prepared a list and was waiting for her mother to speak. She even had a Gundam model she had her eyes on, waiting for her mother to approve the expense.

After thinking for a moment, Shen Mian said, “I don’t really have anything else, but Pei Zhiyi and I are planning to go on a trip. Can you sponsor us?”

That seemed like a reasonable request, and Su Ying didn’t hesitate. She transferred the money to him right away.

Upon seeing that, Shen Yu became enthusiastic and tugged on Shen Mian’s sleeve. “Where are you two going? I want to go too.”

Shen Mian ruthlessly pressed her down. “Not taking you. I want to have a private time with your ‘ brother Pei’.”

Shen Yu was furious. “You two aren’t even a couple! What private time are you talking about?” She turned to Pei Zhiyi for support. “Brother Pei,!”

But Pei Zhiyi remained silent, his gaze drifting into the distance, refusing to respond.

In that suspicious silence, Shen Yu realized that Pei Zhiyi didn’t want to take her either.

She let out a frustrated cry, feeling heartbroken that night.

What kind of world was this? Wasn’t a lively and adorable beauty like her welcomed anymore?

During the winter vacation, which lasted only twenty days, Shen Mian and Pei Zhiyi originally planned to rest at home for two days before going on a trip. However, Pei Zhiyi’s mother unexpectedly returned from abroad.

She used to occasionally come back for the New Year, but it was usually right before New Year’s Eve. Coming back this late was rare.

Shen Mian and Pei Zhiyi went to pick her up from the airport, with Su Ying driving.

Su Ying, sitting in the front seat, complained, “The last time we met was two years ago. She’s so heartless, only sending me gifts to appease me.”

They had been best friends for decades, and they used to live at each other’s houses during their teenage years. After all those years, their friendship hadn’t deteriorated.

Pei Zhiyi smiled, feeling quite content.

He had a much better relationship with his mother than with his father, so he was very welcoming of Yu Lian’s return.

“My mom even has to ask about Aunt Su in every phone call. In her heart, I come second.”

Su Ying burst into laughter. “Come on, we’ve known each other for so many years. We’re tired of each other. It’s you two young lads that are more favored.”

When they arrived at the airport, Yu Lian also came out.

From a distance, Shen Mian could already see her. She stood out in the crowd, tall and slender. Despite the cold weather, she was wearing a camel-colored coat, her long hair cascading down. Her features were cold and stunning, giving off an ethereal vibe.

Shen Mian always felt that although Pei Zhiyi looked more like his father in terms of appearance, he had his mother’s personality.

He immediately waved and called out, “Aunt Lian.”

Yu Lian walked towards them calmly. First, she embraced Su Ying, her face lit up with a smile, then she turned to Pei Zhiyi and Shen Mian.

She ruffled Shen Mian’s hair. “You’ve become so handsome.”

Shen Mian chuckled. Yu Lian was the only one at home who would praise his looks. Others always called him cute.

Yu Lian then looked at her own son. Pei Zhiyi and she both had introverted personalities, so when they looked at each other, it felt a bit awkward.

But after a second, she opened her arms to Pei Zhiyi and said lightly, “You see your mom, why don’t you come and hug her?”

Pei Zhiyi helplessly smiled and walked over to embrace her.

“Welcome home,” he said.

Yu Lian hugged him back, her expression slightly melancholic. “You’ve grown so tall.”

She only came back once every few years, and every time, her son had changed in some way. She almost felt like she couldn’t keep up with his pace.

But she quickly let go of Pei Zhiyi. She wasn’t the type to dwell on past joys and sorrows.

She smiled at Pei Zhiyi. “Let’s go. I can stay in the country for about ten days this year.”

After getting off the plane, Yu Lian had her first meal at Shen Mian’s house. Her parents were getting old and didn’t want to disturb them so late. They decided to go back home the next day.

Shen Changhe prepared a hot pot at home, cutting different parts of beef and preparing various dishes.

Yu Lian felt comfortable there. She held a fruit plate and chatted with Su Ying. She didn’t know how to cook and she was currently talking about her second husband with Su Ying.

Pei Zhiyi asked, “Why didn’t you bring him and your daughter back?”

Pei Zhiyi didn’t mind his mother’s remarried family.

After Yu Lian remarried, she had a daughter. She was only six years old, and Pei Zhiyi quite liked this little sister. Although they weren’t as close as Shen Yu, they were still connected by blood.

Yu Lian took a bite of melon. “Her dad doesn’t have much time off, and she went to her grandparents’ place to play. I came back by myself. Next year, I’ll bring them both.”

Shen Mian also quite liked that mixed-race little sister. Although they hadn’t seen each other much, that child resembled Pei Zhiyi quite a bit and had a well-behaved personality. She was as cute as a doll.

Shen Mian could clearly sense that Pei Zhiyi was in a good mood that day. Although he didn’t show it on his face, Shen Mian could feel that Pei Zhiyi seemed much more relaxed.

During dinner, Su Ying and Yu Lian each poured themselves a glass of red wine. With the alcohol, their conversation became more lively, ranging from the latest fashion trends abroad to their past relationships during their school days.

As they chatted, Shen Mian and Pei Zhiyi were also engaged in conversation. The two tall and handsome boys sitting together appeared even more striking under the light. They were like paintings, pleasing to the eye. It was truly admirable how good their genes were.

Yu Lian had been abroad all that time, and in foreign countries, boys at that age would have girlfriends. Seeing her own son showing no signs of romantic involvement, she was a bit puzzled.

With a faint pink hue on her face and softer eyes than in the afternoon, Yu Lian smiled and asked, “Do you two have girlfriends? Especially Mianmian, don’t be afraid of your mom. Auntie supports you finding love early.”

Su Ying sneered, “Do you think I’m the type of parent who constantly insists on things? If he’s not proactive, whose fault is it?”

Shen Mian quickly withdrew his hand from Pei Zhiyi’s palm.

“No, no,” he added unnecessarily, “There’s no girl I like.”

But there is a boy I like.

And that boy is sitting right next to him.

For some reason, he couldn’t bring himself to meet Yu Lian’s eyes.

He still remembered when Aunt Yu Lian was about to go abroad, she had held his hand and asked him to take care of Zhiyi. Ten years had passed in the blink of an eye, and he had ended up taking care of Zhiyi to the point of being his boyfriend.

Fortunately, Yu Lian was just joking casually and turned back to talk to Su Ying.

They had just been discussing how Shen Mian and Pei Zhiyi were already eighteen and about to take the college entrance examination. Time flew by quickly.

Yu Lian said to Su Ying, “My Zhiyi was practically raised by you. Thank you for taking such good care of him. If it were up to me, he wouldn’t be this good. And Mianmian and Yuyu have always treated Zhiyi like a real older brother.”

Su Ying didn’t hold back either. “Of course, who do you think I am?”

But Shen Mian’s heart sank even further.

Among the three parents at the table, including Pei An who wasn’t present, they all thought that they were impeccable brothers.

They had grown up together, with an unbreakable bond. Even in the future, when they had their own families, they would still gather like this, accompanied by their own children.

But he knew deep down that such a day would never come.

Aunt Yu Lian had always trusted them, believing that Zhiyi received better care by staying by their side. But if she knew that she had left her son in the country, leading to the emergence of affection between him and Pei Zhiyi, would she still smile like this?

Shen Mian lost his appetite. He accidentally cracked the boiled egg in his bowl, and the yolk spread throughout the bowl.

He turned his head and found that Pei Zhiyi was also looking at him.

It was as if Pei Zhiyi knew what he was thinking. He held Shen Mian’s hand, lowered his head, and whispered, “Don’t overthink.”

Pei Zhiyi could clearly see what was going on in Shen Mian’s mind.

He understood Shen Mian’s guilt and dilemma, but they would have to face it eventually. There was no avoiding it.