07: Tonight, let's sleep together.

"Xixi, what are you thinking about?" At the dinner table, Shang Zhi couldn't help but laugh, and Pei Yanxiu called her softly.

"Oh, it's nothing, I'm full."

“I’m full too. Dad, Mom, I’ll take Xixi home first. I’ll talk to her about some things she should pay attention to when she goes to the company in the next few days.”

"Go ahead, go ahead, come home anytime you want." Her parents were very enthusiastic towards Pei Yanxiu, the kind of enthusiasm that came from the bottom of their hearts. Shang Zhi always felt that her parents were getting a little too into this arranged marriage.

"My parents seem to really like you." Shang Zhi sighed softly as she got into the car with Pei Yanxiu.

"Isn't this better?"

"What's good about this?" She didn't say the second half of her sentence, "It'll be harder for me to complain to them."

"Didn't I tell you to stay home these past two days? Why didn't you tell me you were going out?" Pei Yanxiu's tone was calm, but it inadvertently revealed a faint sense of pressure, making Shang Zhi tense up instantly.

"I forgot." She felt her heart beating even faster than before.

"Forgot?" Pei Yanxiu turned his head and glanced at her.

"Shouldn't we take some measures to make you remember next time?"

"Don't you think so?" Pei Yanxiu's smile gradually faded, and the temperature inside the car instantly dropped several degrees.

"No need for all that trouble, I'll remember next time. Besides, it's my own home, why are you interfering? Don't forget, we only have a marriage of convenience, why are you so nosy? Do you have nothing better to do? Can you stop staring at me all the time and go out and date someone?"

“Xixi, we are a legally recognized married couple. At least for the time our marriage is valid, I expect you to be obedient. Otherwise, I will use my methods to make you obedient.” Pei Yanxiu’s tone was calm, with no hint of joking.

"You might not be very comfortable then."

"Get out of the car." The car arrived at the underground parking garage, and Pei Yanxiu parked the car and got out first.

"What do you mean by that? Pei Yanxiu, that's not what you said back then!" Shang Zhi followed behind him, her voice echoing in the underground parking garage, sounding extremely angry.

“I thought you were all grown up and didn’t need me to worry about you. I gave you a chance, Xixi, but you couldn’t seize it. With me, there’s only one chance. Since your method won’t work, then we’ll do it my way.”

I disagree with what you're saying.

"I didn't ask you whether you agreed or not."

"Have you always been this autocratic and unreasonable? Someone like you will end up alone forever!"

"This only applies to you. If you don't want to be punished, behave yourself and don't cross my line." Once home, the atmosphere between the two became even more tense.

"Pei Yanxiu, you idiot!" Shang Zhi's face flushed with anger.

"Don't swear, Xixi, that's a bad habit."

"Mind your own business!" Shang Zhi stormed back to her room and slammed the door shut.

Just as she was about to cry, Lu Xingqi's message popped up: [Azhi, how is President Pei?]

[What do you mean, good or bad? What are you talking about?] Shang Zhi was completely confused.

Xingxing: [He's injured, didn't you know? It's that environmental organization that reported your Tiancui. I heard they have powerful backers. They sent someone to retaliate against him, stabbing him at an intersection. But President Pei is good at fighting and only got stabbed in the arm, dodging it. Now it's all over the industry, didn't you know?]

In an instant, countless emotions surged within Shang Zhi's heart.

So that's why he's been keeping himself indoors for the past few days.

The phone slipped from her hand, but she didn't bother to pick it up. She rushed to the study and didn't even knock before pushing the door open.

Pei Yanxiu was applying medicine to himself after taking off his shirt when he saw Shang Zhi come in. He frowned slightly and asked, "Why didn't you knock before coming in?"

Shang Zhi walked to his side and lifted his arm.

Seeing that Shang Zhi was upset, Pei Yanxiu comforted her, "It's okay, it's just a minor injury, nothing serious, don't worry."

Pei Yanxiu really didn't take this minor injury seriously. He had practiced martial arts since childhood and had countless injuries, both major and minor. He had just been distracted for a moment today; otherwise, he would never have let a petty thief get so close to him.

"Uncle Pei, I'm sorry." Shang Zhi's tears fell uncontrollably.

Pei Yanxiu was used to her unreasonable and spoiled behavior, but when she dropped pearls in front of him like this, his heart trembled and he almost couldn't take it.

"I was wrong, I shouldn't have made you angry."

"Tell me, where did you go wrong?" Pei Yanxiu sat down with a smile, pulling Shang Zhi to his side, deliberately teasing her. Shang Zhi couldn't answer; answering such a question was too embarrassing! She struggled for a long time without uttering a single word.

"Alright, I won't make things difficult for you. Go and get some rest."

Shang Zhi didn't move, paused for a moment, and then buried herself in his arms.

"What's wrong?" Pei Yanxiu gently stroked her forehead.

"I'm scared. Will you stay with me tonight?" Shang Zhi was genuinely afraid; this was all beyond her imagination, and she couldn't quite accept it. Tonight, she desperately wanted him to be with her.

"Okay." Pei Yanxiu wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes. In fact, she was just a girl in her early twenties who hadn't even finished college and had to face all these things. It was normal that she couldn't accept it for a while.

After taking a shower and changing into his pajamas, Pei Yanxiu went to Shang Zhi's room. It was already late, so he picked up a book and started reading. Shang Zhi was lying on the bed, but no matter how she lay, she couldn't find a comfortable position.

"What’s wrong with you?"

"Don't you know what's wrong with me? How dare you ask?" Shang Zhi blushed.

"Do you want me to apply some medicine for you?" Shang Zhi's face turned even redder, and she buried her face in her arms, but she didn't refuse.

Pei Yanxiu got up to get the ointment, lifted Shang Zhi's blanket and nightgown, moistened the ointment in his palm, and then circled around Shang Zhi's back.

The cool, refreshing feeling was very comfortable. He carefully tended to every nook and cranny behind her.

The night was quiet, and their breaths mingled in the room. Shang Zhi felt a warmth in her heart, an indescribable feeling.

"All done." Pei Yanxiu finished applying the medicine and was about to get up when Shang Zhi surrounded him from behind.

She just stood there around him, not saying a word.

"What's wrong?" His voice trembled slightly.

"Hug me. Aren't we... a legally married couple?" Shang Zhi felt a burning desire, unsure if she was being impulsive. Perhaps too much had happened recently, and she needed some release. Perhaps they should have had this day a long time ago. Perhaps she was tempted by his shirtless appearance today, and at this moment, she truly wanted a release.

Pei Yanxiu turned around and gently stroked her cheek.

Shang Zhi gently kissed his lips, and then felt something pressing against her in front of him.

He gently pressed her down and pulled a small box from a nearby cabinet.

Throughout, she was incredibly gentle.

Shang Zhi slept exceptionally well that night.

Startled by Pei Yanxiu's injury, Shang Zhi behaved herself for several days, not leaving the house at all, and even having Pei Yanxiu buy her daily necessities. Pei Yanxiu was happy to be bossed around by her; he felt a strong sense of importance when Shang Zhi asked him to do things.

To thank him for getting injured because of her, Shang Zhi specially cooked a chicken soup as a token of her gratitude. Cooking was a way for Shang Zhi to express her thanks that she had carefully considered; buying her a gift was out of the question, so cooking a dish showed sincerity without requiring much effort.

But the result was really hard to judge. Shang Zhi couldn't understand it at all. She clearly followed the tutorial, so how could it taste so bad? She suspected that the person who made the tutorial was trying to harm her.

Pei Yanxiu took a bite and then refused with a smile, begging her to spare his life, as he didn't want to die yet.

Shang Zhi vaguely remembered that four years ago she had also cooked for him on a whim, and the result was almost the same.

"I'm going to Guangzhou next week, Xixi, want to come along?"

"I'll go!" Shang Zhi answered without thinking. Normally she might not have gone, but now, she felt safer by his side.

“Okay, it’s good for you to come along and see how the hotels that opened last year are doing.”

"What kind of hotel? A resort hotel?" Shang Zhi thought this job was pretty good; it suited her, and she could also travel around a bit.

"Well, don't just focus on having fun. After you're done with the investigation, submit a few analysis reports to me. I want to hear your opinions."

"Oh." Shang Zhi wanted to protest but couldn't say it out loud. Her parents wouldn't support her either; they kept telling her to learn more from him.

When she was with Pei Yanxiu, Shang Zhi always felt like there was an invisible net waiting to trap her at any moment.

This feeling of being out of control left her somewhat at a loss.

[Ah Zhi, aren't you coming next semester?] Shang Zhi's phone vibrated. It was a message from her classmate and partner, He Yuqing. Yuqing was a great partner. He would protect her during training, bring her breakfast, and gently encourage her when she was injured. When Shang Zhi first entered university, she didn't know him well, and he helped her a lot.

【Yes, I have some family matters to attend to, so I've temporarily suspended my studies.】Shang Zhi replied to Yu Qing, but there was no response for a long time.

"Do you need my help? Guangzhou is very close to Hong Kong." Shang Zhi suddenly remembered that Yu Qing was from Guangzhou.

"No need, I'm fine. I'm going to Guangzhou next week. If I have the chance, I'll treat you to a meal then." Yu Qing replied to Shang Zhi with a cute emoji and sent her a few videos, which were videos he had recorded of her dancing before.

Shang Zhi scrolled through the videos one by one, feeling indescribable. Perhaps this was fate; what you love most may not be what you get, and what you get may not be what you want.

Fate always surprises us.

Shang Zhi looked out the window. The wind seemed particularly strong these past few days, and the waves were higher than usual. However, the weather forecast for the next few days showed sunny skies.

"Xixi, remember to bring a slightly thicker coat, just in case you get cold and don't catch a cold. But you can wear mine too, just remember to tell me if you get cold."

"I brought you sanitary napkins. Ask me if you need any."

"Give me your documents, I'll collect them."

Pei Yanxiu was meticulous in his work, but he was also very talkative. Shang Zhi listened to him in one ear and out the other, basically not paying attention to him.

Yu Qing asked Shang Zhi for her flight information, and Shang Zhi casually sent it to him. She never expected that he would go to pick her up at the airport without even telling her.

When Yu Qing appeared before Shang Zhi and Pei Yanxiu with a large bouquet of tulips, the scene was incredibly awkward. Yu Qing and Pei Yanxiu looked at each other, while Shang Zhi stood by, unsure whether to speak or remain silent.

"Azhi, who is this?"

“I am her husband, Pei Yanxiu.”

"You got married? You dropped out of school because of getting married?" Shang Zhi watched Yu Qing's shock, almost to the point of tears, and didn't know how to explain.

"It's hard to explain in a short time. Yu Qing, what brings you here?" Shang Zhi pulled Yu Qing aside.

"Azhi, I was sad to hear you're not coming next semester. You're such a great partner and a wonderful dancer. I want to tell you that I'll always be waiting for you, waiting for the day you return to the stage. Since your husband is here today, I won't bother you any longer. I'll contact you another day."

"Here, take this flower. I think it suits you very well." He Yuqing handed the flower to Shang Zhi, but Pei Yanxiu, who walked over from the side, pushed it away.

"I'm sorry, she's allergic to pollen," he said casually.

He Yuqing didn't say anything, turned around and left with the flowers in her arms.

"When did I become allergic to pollen?" Shang Zhi rolled her eyes at Pei Yanxiu as Yu Qing walked away.

"It's just a bouquet of flowers, why are you making such a fuss?"

"Can't you afford flowers at home? What kind of flowers do you like? I'll have someone deliver some to you."

“Things outside are unclean.” Pei Yanxiu paused, his voice carrying a hint of pressure.