27: Mind your own business, okay?

Shang Zhi and Pei Yanxiu went to the Four Seasons Hotel for a dinner party. On the way there, she was still trying to send Yu Qing a message, but he never replied. Ten days had passed since the last performance, and she wondered if he had already left Hong Kong.

Pei Yanxiu was slightly annoyed by her absent-mindedness and wanted to see what she was looking at, but every time he peeked over, she would snatch the phone away.

The child is not focused, oh well, I won't argue with her about this.

"Good evening, Mr. Pei!"

"President Pei, I didn't expect you to come in person!"

The moment Pei Yanxiu appeared in the banquet hall, he attracted a lot of attention. Several bosses whose names Shang Zhi didn't know walked up to him with eager smiles on their faces, and the people around also turned their heads to look.

He was undoubtedly the center of attention, and many people wanted to talk to him, but he only lingered around a few important business partners.

"Let me tell you, that new boy is really good. I heard he's a student at the dance academy, and he's got guts!" Amidst the bustling crowd, Shang Zhi was drawn to a murmur of conversation not far away.

She instantly pulled her arm out of his hand, anxiously searching for the source of the sound.

Pei Yanxiu turned and glanced at her, but said nothing.

"Do you have any photos? I've been thinking of going out and having some fun lately. My husband is never home these days. Rather than staying home and getting angry all the time, I'd rather just do my own thing. Don't you think so?"

Shang Zhi quickly pinpointed the source of the sound; it was a group of women gathered together. Holding a glass of wine, she casually walked toward them, glancing at the phone held up by the woman in the middle, but it was too far away to see clearly.

"Hey, what was the name of that bar you just mentioned?"

"It's a code word, isn't it? I'll take you next time..."

Shang Zhi secretly typed the words "Fuhua Bar" into her hand. It wasn't far from here. If she went there now, she should be able to come back in an hour or two if all went well.

Thinking this, she lowered her head and took a few steps toward the door. Just as she was about to step out, a large hand grabbed her waist with a familiar strength.

Instantly, I felt an electric shock.

Pei Yanxiu slowly walked up to her, lowered his eyes and stared intently at her: "Want to go out for some fresh air? I'll go with you?"

"You've seemed distracted all day. Is something wrong?"

"No," Shang Zhi replied coldly. She didn't like his controlling manner, but the more she acted this way, the tighter he held her.

Pei Yanxiu had been in a bad mood these past few days, and he knew exactly what she was thinking—her mind was wandering because of that little kid. Anyway, his performance was over, and her concern for him should stop there. What was she doing, letting her mind wander like this! Had she forgotten who she belonged to?!

"I'm sorry, Xixi, I've been too busy lately, giving you too much time and energy to waste on your kids."

"When we get home, let's have a good discussion about what you should and shouldn't do in your free time, okay?"

"It's also my fault; I gave you too much freedom."

"Pei Yanxiu, do you feel uncomfortable unless something happens to you? Why are you staring at me all day long?!"

"I'm already being generous by coming out with you, so can you please stop clinging to me like a dog! I can manage my own life, and I don't need you to interfere!"

"Xixi, don't be presumptuous." Pei Yanxiu frowned and said in a low voice.

The hand gripping her wrist tightened: "Have I been too lenient with you lately, making you lose your sense of propriety?"

"If you continue to be so unruly, I'll tie you up at home and make you reflect on what you should and shouldn't do."

"I mean what I say."

"What should I do and what shouldn't I do? The worst thing I ever did was agree to marry you, you old bastard! You're keeping me tied up at home? What gives you the right?!"

"Based on the fact that Wan Jia's new quarterly payment to Rui Kang will arrive tomorrow, Rui Kang needs to use this money to repay the loan that is about to expire, and Dad was talking to me about this last night, Shang Zhi, do you think this reason is enough?"

He called her Shang Zhi, not Xi Xi, and she shuddered.

Are you threatening me?

"I'm just trying to be helpful, Xixi. You should focus your attention on the right things and not let irrelevant people bother you. A person's time and energy are limited, and there's no need to waste your time on those who only drain you."

"Don't tell me what to do."

"Haven't I taught you enough? How much of your skill comes from my teaching? Xixi, I'm not teaching you these things so you can get entangled with those low-class people, understand?"

"Leave me alone! I don't need your help!" Shang Zhi gritted her teeth, her pent-up anger flaring up, and turned to leave.

"Where are you going? Go back." This wasn't a discussion; it was an unyielding tone.

"Let's talk about it when we get home, Xixi. It's so late, where are you going alone?"

"Stop making a scene, okay?" Shang Zhi's anger flared even more upon hearing these words. Who was making a scene here?

"President Pei, President Shang, it is truly an honor for me to have you both grace us with your presence today. I would like to offer you both a toast and wish your businesses continued success." In the middle of the argument, Chen Kang's boss suddenly appeared out of nowhere and offered a toast without any regard for the others.

Pei Yanxiu reached out and stopped Shang Zhi from drinking: "I'm sorry, my wife has a bad stomach, and I don't allow her to drink at home."

"Who said I have a bad stomach? I'm going to drink." Shang Zhi took the wine glass and drank it all in one gulp. Pei Yanxiu had originally meant well to help her avoid drinking, but seeing her so unappreciative, his expression changed slightly.

"What a heroine, Ms. Shang." The CEO who was offering the toast wasn't stupid either. Seeing this situation, he could tell that the couple was in a bad mood and not to be trifled with. After offering the toast, he left in a hurry.

At this moment, Pei Yanxiu's assistant stepped forward and told him that there were important business partners waiting for him. Pei Yanxiu then gave Shang Zhi a few more warnings in a low voice before going inside.

The moment Pei Yanxiu's suit disappeared into the crowd, Shang Zhi almost didn't think twice. She went out, got into her car, and asked the driver to take her to the secret code. She couldn't wait any longer; she had to go and see if it really was Yu Qing.

The entrance to the coded message was a bit hard to find; it took Shang Zhi a while to figure it out. Once inside, she was enveloped in the subtle scent of cedar and the rich aroma of whiskey. Shang Zhi looked around, but didn't see Yu Qing in the booths. Just as she was wondering whether to check out the private rooms, someone on stage started preparing to begin a performance.

The person in the very center, wearing a mask, began to dance energetically in the atmosphere. Even with the mask on, Shang Zhi could still recognize that it was Yu Qing. Even though it was a different dance, she could immediately tell from the movements that it was him.

They had practiced together so many times, how could she not recognize him?

She watched as they stuffed tips into his chest and trousers.

There were both boys and girls.

Shang Zhi felt suffocated by a suppressed emotion, as if something was stuck in her chest, and she couldn't express it. She came out, not looking any further, and didn't tell Yu Qing that she had been there.

She didn't want to blame him; everyone has their own difficulties.

But she doesn't want to go home either. That old woman has really gone too far lately; she'd love to buy a cage and chain her up! If this continues, she'll have no personal freedom at all!

"Xingqi, are you busy? Want to go out for a walk to clear your head?"

-

An hour later, the plane broke through the clouds, and Shang Zhi and Lu Xingqi were already on the plane bound for Koh Samui.

"Aren't you really going to tell your CEO, Mr. Pei? Wouldn't that be inappropriate?"

"Don't mention that unlucky name," Shang Zhi whispered to Lu Xingqi.

"Our goal is the Sunshine Coast. Who cares what that old man thinks? I married him, I didn't sell myself to him! Do we have to ask his permission to go anywhere? How dare he!"