19: I want to keep bullying her like this.

Shang Zhi stayed at Lu Xingqi's house for a few days. During that time, Pei Yanxiu came to Ruikang to see her several times because of Tiancui's matter, but Shang Zhi acted like she was only interested in business and ignored everything else.

"Xixi, have you been busy lately? Your dad's feeling better these past few days, and he'd like you to come home for dinner tonight." Shang Zhi received a call from Yu Shiya as she finished work and was about to head to Lu Xingqi's place.

"What would you like to eat? I'll have Sister Chen prepare it for you."

"Then I'll have seafood noodles and mango pomelo sago, and the mango pomelo sago should be iced." Speaking of which, Shang Zhi was really hungry. She had been busy with this and that these past few days and was also angry with Pei Yanxiu, so she hadn't had a proper meal.

On the way back, Shang Zhi bought butterfly cookies, which both mother and daughter liked. Eating sweets always makes people feel better.

When Shang Zhi returned home, she had just put the butterfly pastries on the table when she saw Pei Yanzheng carrying the seafood noodles out.

"Mom, why is he here!"

"Look at you, child. Today's meal was specially made for you by Yanxiu. Look, besides the seafood noodles you ordered, there are also sweet and sour pork ribs and braised beef brisket, all of which are your favorites."

"What I mean is, isn't today supposed to be a family reunion? Why did you invite him here!"

"You silly child, isn't Yanxiu family now too? He's been busy here all afternoon, and you don't appreciate it." Yu Shiya gently tapped Shang Zhi's forehead with her hand.

“That’s right, Yanxiu has been thinking about you all afternoon. Look at your attitude.” Dad chimed in to support Pei Yanxiu.

"It's okay, Mom and Dad, I'm not tired. If Xixi isn't satisfied, I'll go do something else."

"It's all my fault for making Xixi unhappy."

Shang Zhi was speechless. This old green tea b*tch! She argued with her and then came to play the virtuous and pitiful woman. Shameless!!!

"What's there to be dissatisfied with? It's all because you spoiled her. She's always picking on this and that, what a problem!"

"mom!"

"Sit down and eat."

"Okay, Mom." Pei Yanxiu obediently sat down, making Shang Zhi so angry she wanted to hit him.

But after eating the steaming hot seafood noodles, Shang Zhi's anger immediately subsided. Pei Yanxiu was a very good cook, no less than the family chef. He was always meticulous in his work and never improvised, and the same was true when he cooked. He strictly followed the recipe and never improvised, so the dishes he made usually tasted quite good.

"Mango pomelo sago, freshly made, please have a taste." Pei Yanxiu pushed the dessert bowl in front of Shang Zhi and carefully offered her a spoon.

"Xixi, it's normal for two people to have conflicts. When conflicts arise, you should communicate more. You're so old, don't act impulsively."

Shang Zhi felt incredibly frustrated during the meal. Her parents adored Pei Yanxiu, their son-in-law, and she was so angry that she pinched his thigh several times under the table in retaliation.

He silently endured her actions.

"If Miss is still angry, how about we pinch her a few more times?" After finishing their meal and getting into the car, in the space between the two of them, Shang Zhi's expression was even more unpleasant than before.

"Pei Yanxiu, what exactly do you want to do!"

"XiXi, I just want you to come home."

"You've overstepped your bounds, Mr. Pei. Don't forget, we're only in a marriage of convenience! You're interfering in my life too much right now! You should learn to respect me first, instead of coming to my house and having my parents force me to go home with you!"

After saying this, Shang Zhi opened the car door and got out. Just as she was about to walk across the street, he grabbed her wrist and pinned her against the car.

Just as Shang Zhi was about to curse, his kiss sealed her lips. She bit him hard, and his eyes instantly filled with tears.

"Let me go."

"Not today."

What do you mean by "not today"?

"XiXi, come home with me."

“My patience is limited. If you come home with me now, I won’t pursue the matter of you running away from home without permission this time.”

"You're not going to hold me accountable? You old fool, if you're out of your mind, go see a doctor! Who do you think you are!" Shang Zhi was so angry that her face turned red, and she raised her hand and slapped him across the face.

After being slapped, a faint trace of bright red blood appeared at the corner of his mouth. He raised his hand to wipe it, and then tore off his tie.

"Pei Yanxiu, what are you doing?"

"Be good, Xixi." He took off his tie, tied her wrists together, opened the car door, and pushed her into the car.

Shang Zhi was furious and cursed him all the way home, but she still couldn't break free and he took her home.

"Pei Yanxiu, I want a divorce!" Shang Zhi struggled with both hands, but he tied them too tightly, as if it were a knot that couldn't be tied.

"Xixi, have some sense of contractual obligation, okay? I agreed to invest in Ruikang on the condition that we get married. Now that things aren't even settled, you want a divorce? It's not that easy."

"Every choice comes with a price, do you understand?" Pei Yanxiu leaned forward, the oppressive aura in his eyes almost burning Shang Zhi.

"Pei Yanxiu, let me go first!"

"I'm not running anymore!"

Shang Zhi's tone softened slightly; now was not the time for a head-on confrontation.

"Do you think I'll still believe you? Xixi, I've noticed you're becoming more and more disobedient. You don't take any of the things I tell you to do to heart."

"I should remind you what you can and cannot do."

Pei Yanxiu sat down next to Shang Zhi, pressing her onto his knees. Just as his hand was about to strike, Shang Zhi wisely changed her mind and pleaded softly, "Uncle Pei, I know, I won't do it again next time, okay?"

"My wrist hurts so much, please put me down!"

"It would have been better if you had done this earlier." Pei Yanxiu's tone softened as he helped her up and removed the tie from her wrists. He felt a pang of heartache as he looked at the red marks left by the tie and gently rubbed them.

"You can't treat me like this again! I'm your wife, not your servant!" Shang Zhi said indignantly.

“You don’t seem to have any leverage to negotiate with me. Besides, I’ve never treated you as a servant; I’m just teaching you when you made a mistake.”

Shang Zhi's cheeks were flushed, and she looked quite adorable with her serious demeanor. He smiled and couldn't resist planting a kiss behind her ear.

"You can't escape, Xixi. I let you get away four years ago, but I won't make the same mistake again this time."

He carried her to the bathroom sink, turned on the shower, and white steam quickly filled the room.

He gently bit open the bow on her chest, and his fingertips lightly rubbed against her smooth skin, sending a shiver down her spine.

The kisses traveled down her neck to her lower abdomen.

She turned her head, but he lifted her chin again, meeting the burning gaze in his eyes.

"Remember to come home on time next time."

Under the dim bathroom light, her hair was wet, and her fair and aloof face was flushed. A wicked thought arose in his mind.

He wanted to keep bullying her like this.

He looked at her, standing before him.