Chapter 914

Pinebrook, Zhongcheng Group. Madeleine saw the girl Carl had mentioned—the one who sold oden—for the first time. She was quiet, pretty, with especially striking eyes—clear and bright. They met in the elevator, and somehow, she was the only one sharp enough to step in front of Madeleine, shielding her from the jostling crowd. Truth be told, Madeleine could have taken the executive elevator, but since this one arrived first, she stepped in without hesitation. The girl seemed to sense she was someone important—her instincts were spot-on. No wonder Carl had argued with Beckett just to keep her around. "Are you an employee here?" Madeleine asked with a smile. The girl nodded, returning the smile. "I'm still an intern." Madeleine found herself charmed by that smile—it was downright heartwarming. "Why are you taking the staff elevator?" the girl asked curiously once they stepped out. "You know who I am?" Madeleine was surprised. The company was huge, and aside from the receptionists and the executive office staff, hardly anyone knew she was Beckett’s wife. "The people from the executive office called you 'Madam' the other day," the girl admitted, scratching her head sheepishly. "I figured you must be Mrs. Zhan or Mrs. Pei." "Oh, and I noticed you kept sneezing last time—probably because the elevator perfume is too strong. You might be sensitive to it. Here, take a disposable mask. You can wear it next time you ride." She pulled out a brand-new, sealed mask from her bag. Madeleine was taken aback. She had been dealing with allergic rhinitis lately, and this girl had picked up on it. "Thank you," Madeleine said, accepting it with a smile. This girl really had a thoughtful heart. "Keep up the good work. I think you've got real talent." Madeleine gave the young girl plenty of emotional validation. The girl nodded excitedly, as if she could already see the light at the end of the tunnel—her path to becoming a full-time employee. After all, winning over the CEO meant first winning over his wife. Beaming, the girl hurried off, while Madeleine walked into Beckett's office with a smile still lingering on her lips. "What's got my wife in such a good mood?" Beckett raised an eyebrow in surprise as she entered. Madeleine had indeed become much more cheerful since their marriage, but she wasn’t usually this radiant just walking around. "Huh?" Madeleine rubbed her cheeks lightly. "Ran into that 'oden girl'—she's like a little ray of sunshine, full of positive energy." Beckett looked puzzled for a moment. Oden girl? "You know, the one Carl insisted on keeping even after arguing with you about it," Madeleine clarified. Beckett nodded. "If she can make my wife walk in here smiling, she must be something special." Madeleine didn’t elaborate. Instead, she wrapped her arms around him from behind. "Honey, you’ve been pulling overtime for a whole week… When is Pei Chuan coming back?" "He says he needs another three months off—something about a honeymoon with his partner," Beckett replied, his expression utterly drained. Madeleine gasped. "He made up with his fiancée?" Beckett shook his head. "Who knows? He won’t tell me anything. Just keeps saying it’s not the right time yet, that he’ll introduce me when the moment’s right..." Madeleine’s eyes widened further, and she covered her mouth. "Looks like Pei Chuan moved on—dumped Linda and married someone else." Beckett nodded. "I think so too." "Who do you think Pei Chuan's wife could be? I'm really curious," Madeleine asked while hugging Beckett. Now Beckett was also intrigued. What kind of person could be so mysterious? ... Taiwan Island. The sea breeze was just right, gently tousling the young man's hair. Gu Yun stood barefoot on the sandy beach, gazing at the distant waves. Pei Chuan rushed over anxiously and wrapped his arms around Gu Yun from behind. "Don't look at the sea—look at me instead..." Lately, Pei Chuan had been genuinely frightened by Gu Yun. Whenever Gu Yun stood at a high place and looked down, Pei Chuan would feel a surge of panic, terrified that he might jump. Because of this, Pei Chuan avoided taking Gu Yun anywhere elevated. Now, even watching the sea made him uneasy. "I promised... we'd travel for three months. I won't do anything reckless," Gu Yun murmured softly. After their marriage, Pei Chuan noticed that Gu Yun's temperament had improved—no longer brooding, gradually learning to smile again. Yet, for some reason, Pei Chuan couldn't shake off his fear. The more composed Gu Yun seemed, the more it unsettled him. "I heard there's a really good dessert shop near the university. Want to try it?" Gu Yun suggested, taking the initiative to ask for sweets. Pei Chuan nodded. "Alright." He would fulfill every one of Gu Yun's requests—except going to high places. "Gu Yun..." After walking a few steps along the shore, Gu Yun turned to Pei Chuan. "Do you regret it?" Did he regret getting married? Gu Yun was plagued by insecurity, always fearing that one day Pei Chuan would recover from his illness and stop loving him... "Gu Yun, I don’t regret it. I know exactly what I’m doing." Pei Chuan met Gu Yun’s gaze earnestly, assuring him that he had no regrets. But Gu Yun didn’t seem to believe him at all. "Gu Yun, I like you." "Gu Yun, I’ve really fallen for you..." Pei Chuan would repeat these words over and over—how much he liked him, how much he loved him—yet none of it seemed to reach Gu Yun’s heart. "Pei Chuan, let’s go to Europe," Gu Yun said abruptly, as if he hadn’t heard Pei Chuan’s words at all. He turned back with a smile, waiting for his answer. Pei Chuan stood still, watching Gu Yun, who seemed as fleeting as the wind, and nodded. "Alright..." Wherever Gu Yun wanted to go, he would follow. Gu Yun mapped out their travel itinerary, arranged their visas, and booked their flights and hotels. Throughout the entire process, Gu Yun insisted on handling everything personally with Pei Chuan, refusing to delegate any tasks to assistants. "I've always wanted a spontaneous trip," Gu Yun said. "At eighteen, I dreamed of traveling the world, but I didn’t have the money. At twenty, I was sent abroad to study... By twenty-five, I returned to Pinebrook... and met you." For Gu Yun, after his unrequited love at eighteen, Pei Chuan was the only man who had ever made his heart race again. "I’ll go anywhere in the world with you." That was Pei Chuan’s promise to him. ... "At eighteen, I had a crush on a senior." On the plane, Gu Yun leaned against Pei Chuan’s shoulder, recounting his past. A flight attendant, unaware of their relationship, smiled and asked in English, "Are you two brothers? You seem so close." Gu Yun instinctively tensed, about to sit upright, but Pei Chuan gently grasped his hand. With a polite smile, Pei Chuan replied, "He’s my husband." Their fingers intertwined, matching wedding bands gleaming on their left hands. The rings had been Gu Yun’s purchase. Originally, Pei Chuan was supposed to buy them, but Gu Yun insisted—he wanted to be the one. "Whoever buys the rings is the husband," he had declared. Pei Chuan had only laughed, letting Gu Yun have his way in these little things. Gu Yun leaned against Pei Chuan, his gaze freezing for a fleeting moment. This dream was so beautiful... He just didn’t know when he’d wake up. "Pei Chuan, I think I’m sick… At eighteen, I loved and couldn’t have. At twenty-five, I loved and still couldn’t have… It’s made me so insecure," Gu Yun murmured softly. "At eighteen, you couldn’t have love so you could meet me at twenty-five. And the struggles at twenty-five were meant to make me realize just how much I love you…" Pei Chuan pressed a tender kiss to Gu Yun’s hair, his heart aching. Gu Yun had never truly been denied love. It was just that his love had come too late. When he was already beyond saving. "You’ll grow tired of me," Gu Yun said with a faint smile. "Never. Not in a million years." That was Pei Chuan’s promise to him. But could he really keep it? They traveled for three months, visiting so many countries that Gu Yun lost count. During that time, they were genuinely happy. But when they landed in the Netherlands, the final straw that broke Gu Yun’s back finally fell. Linda’s parents called Pei Chuan, urging him to fly to the U.S.—Linda had attempted suicide, they said… Gu Yun selfishly and desperately blocked Pei Chuan's path—all he wanted was three months... Just three full months of their honeymoon. Not a single day less... or it wouldn't be complete. Why couldn't he have that? "Don't go... please..." For the first time, Gu Yun despised himself for what he was doing. Tears streamed down his face as he begged Pei Chuan to stay. Don’t leave him behind... He was terrified. Terrified of being abandoned yet again. His sickness—his desperation—seemed beyond saving now. Somehow, he felt that if Pei Chuan walked away, his entire world would collapse. And he wouldn’t survive it.