04: Honey, he hit me! It hurts so much!

Having not slept well last night, and then being dragged out of bed early this morning by the makeup artist to do her makeup, Shang Zhi was still in a daze when she appeared at the wedding venue.

She saw her reflection in the hotel glass, adorned with jewelry, wearing a custom-made wedding dress by Pei Yanxiu, with red lips and delicate eyebrows, surrounded by people, and she really looked quite the part.

She was beautiful, but soulless. She felt like a shell, carried around all day, doing whatever others told her to do. This was her wedding, yet it had nothing to do with her. As a member of this chain of interests, Shang Zhi couldn't even tell whether she was in a superior or inferior position.

"What marriage? They call it marriage, but to put it bluntly, it's just a debt being mortgaged to someone else. This family will do anything for money." Shang Zhi walked towards the next room to get some food, but heard a harsh voice discussing it. It was Shang Can.

"Making money requires ruthlessness and shamelessness, and I don't have that kind of guts." Having failed to obtain her father's shares, Shang Can's wishful thinking fell through, and she was clearly very dissatisfied with the result. She gossiped in the corner, her malice barely contained.

"Maybe not? Didn't they say the two kids were together before? Maybe they just rekindled their old flame?"

"Reignite my ass! I heard the Pei family didn't agree from the start. I don't know what tricks they used, but my niece has a lot of crooked ideas. Instead of learning anything proper, she learns to dance, and she has a whole repertoire of tricks to please men... ah..."

Before Shang Can could finish speaking, Shang Zhi couldn't hold back any longer and smashed the wine and glass in her hand at him.

It's not very harmful, but it's very insulting.

"What are you doing!" Shang Can was stunned for a moment, then roared at Shang Zhi after realizing what had happened. He was already in a bad mood today. At first, he was planning to give him some of his brother's shares, but Pei Yanxiu suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Not only did the duck that was about to be eaten fly away, but the situation would only be more unfavorable to him once Shang Zhi joined the company. He had been so worried that he couldn't sleep for the past few days.

"What did Uncle just say? Could you repeat it to my face?"

"What I say is none of your business. Do elders need to report to a junior like you when they're having a chat? You have no manners!"

"Who are you calling ill-mannered!" Shang Zhi was furious and wanted to tear his mouth apart, but Shang Can was much stronger than her and was also angry. He shoved her and she almost fell over.

"What are you doing?" Pei Yanxiu pushed through the crowd of onlookers and helped Shang Zhi up.

Are you alright?

"Honey, he hit me! It hurts!" Shang Zhi clutched her forehead, putting on quite a show. Pei Yanxiu, seeing her dramatic performance, knew she was probably alright.

"There must be some misunderstanding. Is anyone hurt? Should we go to the hospital? Ah Can, the child doesn't know any better, please don't mind." Mom and Dad rushed over upon hearing the news, and the two were pulled apart.

"Husband, husband, say something!" Shang Zhi became anxious when she saw her parents siding with her uncle. She grabbed Pei Yanxiu's arm and shook it hard, trying to get her new husband to stand up for her. But Pei Yanxiu ignored her.

"Dad, Mom, Xixi might be injured and not thinking clearly. I'll take her to the hospital first. Please take care of things here."

"Don't worry, we're here, everything's fine. You take her home first." Shang Zhi was a little unconvinced and wanted to say something more, but Pei Yanxiu grabbed her hand and pulled her away.

"I'm not hurt! Why are you hurting me! Why aren't you helping me!"

"He said it to me first! I heard it all. People like Shang Can should be taught a lesson!" Shang Zhi muttered all the way home, only stopping when she returned with Pei Yanxiu. Shang Zhi had visited this house four years ago, and stepping into it again felt like stepping into another world.

"Come in. You'll stay here for a while. After all, we're married now. If we stay separately, those tabloid reporters might not know what to write." Pei Yanxiu opened the door for Shang Zhi and gestured for her to come in.

"Are you even listening to me? You're at least my husband in name only, right? I'm being bullied, why won't you help me? Are you even a man?"

Pei Yanxiu loosened his tie, sat on the sofa with his legs crossed, and looked at Shang Zhi: "How do you want me to help you? Join you in cursing Shang Can? Throw wine on him? Or go up and fight him? Make today's front page news?"

"What do you mean? If you don't want to help, just say so!" Shang Zhi walked up to him, her eyes filled with obvious anger.

"Xixi, you're being too impulsive."

"Impulsive? Defending my own rights is considered impulsive? You mean I should be a coward, just accepting whatever others say? Pei Yanxiu, I'm not like you. You're a coward, afraid to fight for anything! You don't even dare to fight for me! Besides controlling me! All you dare to do is control and deal with me!"

"What rights do you have?" He tapped his leg lightly, and when he looked up at her, his expression turned much colder.

"What?"

"If someone says something to you today, you rush up to fight. If someone talks about you tomorrow, you can't stand it and want to argue for an explanation. You beat them up. What do you gain besides becoming a laughing stock? Xixi, can't you think before you act?"

"At least I feel better. I've vented my anger. Keeping it inside would make me sick." Shang Zhi didn't think she was wrong at all. She was the one who was being bullied, so why should she have to endure it?

"Yes, you enjoyed it. You're amazing." Pei Yanxiu chuckled, looking up at her with an unreadable expression.

"Your father is sick, and your mother also has to take time and energy to go to the hospital to take care of him. Have you thought about who has been in charge of the company during this time? I know your uncle is greedy, lustful, and snobbish, but so what? Shang Zhi, what happens after you vent your anger? The mess will still be left for your parents to clean up. Won't they have to be even more careful to maintain their relationship with your uncle? Is this what you call fighting for him?"

Shang Zhi paused upon hearing Pei Yanxiu's words.

“I know you’ve always blamed me. You always say I’m cowardly and don’t dare to fight back.”

“You’re right, I admit it. I’m afraid to take risks. There are too many things I need to be responsible for at the company, and for you too.” Pei Yanxiu sighed softly as he said this.

"Four years ago, you were only sixteen, a kid just starting out in society. Even if I liked you a lot, I always reminded myself not to pluck the fruit, not to let my so-called social experience have a bad influence on you, and not to control you with my thoughts. You might think I was cowardly. I admit I really wanted to help you, and I did everything I could to let you gain more experience because I've been through it myself. I know they won't even give you a heads-up when they hurt you."

“I punished you, scolded you, and urged you to grow up. At that time, I cared about you too much and wanted you to be better, but I didn’t know how to express it. You said I was controlling, but I didn’t argue with you.”

"Xixi, I just want to tell you that you have no right to be reckless when you are not yet fully grown. You escalated the conflict and had no ability to resolve it. You are not only setting yourself up for trouble, but also causing trouble for your parents."

“But he’s sick now and can’t handle any more trouble, do you understand?” After hearing Pei Yanxiu’s words, Shang Zhi’s eyes welled up with tears, her breathing became rapid, and she lowered her head without saying a word.

"I'm sorry, I messed it up." She spoke after a long pause, her voice so soft that even Pei Yanxiu, standing right in front of her, could barely hear her.

"I didn't think that much about it."

“You’re right, I’m far from good enough. I even regret it now. Back then, my parents wanted me to study business management, but I didn’t like it and insisted on studying ballet. You’re right, I’m still too young and inexperienced. I shouldn’t have done whatever I wanted, let alone been so reckless. Now my father is sick, and I’m their only daughter. I can’t continue to be willful. I should support this family.”

"Uncle Pei, you will help me, right?" Shang Zhi stepped forward and grabbed Pei Yanxiu's hand.

"I've already done more than enough by giving Ruikang 300 million. Why do you think I'd still help you?"

"I don't know why, but I know you will help me, Uncle Pei." A tear rolled down Shang Zhi's cheek and slid onto the back of his hand.

Those tears were so hot, they melted his heart.

He reached out and wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes.

She's right, of course he'll help her, as long as she beckons, as long as she asks, no reason is needed.

"Are you hurt today? If you feel unwell anywhere, I'll take you to the hospital."

"It hurts, here, here, and here, it all hurts." Shang Zhi blinked her eyes with a pitiful expression as she pointed to her entire body.

"Should."