39: Whether you hate me or not, I'm informing you now that you are not allowed to leave this villa without my permission during this period.

When Shang Zhi returned to her office, her assistant brought her a package, saying it was sent from out of town. She was a little puzzled, as she hadn't heard of any friends sending her anything recently.

Inside was a worn-out geological model, photos of her parents, and a card with only two words on it: Stop. A chill ran down Shang Zhi's spine, and the items in her hand slipped and fell to the ground with a loud thud.

"Mr. Shang, are you alright?" The assistant peeked in from the doorway when he heard the noise.

"Cris, I happen to have something to ask you about the cave. Have you heard anything about it lately? What are people's opinions?"

"I don't have this either..."

"Please tell me the truth, this is very important to me."

"Okay, Mr. Shang, but don't tell anyone I told you. Right now, both Ruikang and Wanjia are saying that President Pei is extremely dissatisfied with the project budget overrun. They're saying that in order to keep his position, President Pei has no choice but to sacrifice Ruikang to save Wanjia."

"Of course, this is just a rumor, it may not be true, but that's what everyone's saying..."

"By the way, Mr. Shang, I received an email this morning that was a bit strange. I'll forward it to you now."

"This is... a bill?" Shang Zhi looked at the message Cris sent her, somewhat puzzled.

"We don't know who sent the email yet, and we can't verify its authenticity at the moment. I checked, and the sender should be President Pei's overseas account."

Where is the recipient?

"The recipient appears to be the environmental organization from this morning."

"What?" Shang Zhi was furious upon hearing this. She felt like she had been played by him, and a surge of blood rushed to her head in a daze.

"But that might not be true, Mr. Shang. It could be a deliberate fabrication by someone with ulterior motives, not only to sow discord between you and Mr. Pei, but also between Ruikang and Wanjia. Although I haven't met Mr. Pei many times, my intuition tells me he's not that kind of person. And even if he were, he wouldn't be so careless in his actions."

Cris's words actually made a lot of sense, but Shang Zhi was completely deaf to them. One thing after another had happened in the past few days, and at this moment, his dissatisfaction with Pei Yanxiu had almost reached its peak.

【XiXi, I'm going to New York tonight. I've been keeping an eye on TianCui's situation. Don't worry, I'll be back in about three days.】

[It's an emergency, I don't have time to explain to you right now. I've asked Mingyu to stay with you for the next couple of days. You can contact him anytime if you need anything. Also, you must avoid Tiancui until I get back, understand?]

Shang Zhi couldn't tell whether he really had something to do or was deliberately avoiding her.

-

During Pei Yanxiu's three days in New York, Shang Zhi didn't idle around as he pleased. She spent almost every day at the construction site, discussing the details of the cave construction with the designers and builders. In truth, people are strongest when they are helpless; if you don't trust him, you can only trust yourself.

Shang Zhi worked until late at night and even forgot that it was the day he was coming back. When she went out, rubbing her sore shoulders, she saw Pei Yanxiu sitting in the car waiting for her.

She got into the car expressionlessly, closed her eyes, and refused to communicate with him. Seeing her like that made him angry. He had clearly told her, clearly instructed her, so why wouldn't she listen? He should lock her up! Tie her hands and feet with chains!

Both of them were suppressing their anger when they arrived at the villa halfway up the mountain. She kicked off her high heels and wanted to go back to her room, but he pulled her away.

"Xixi, what exactly do you want? Why can't you just listen to me?"

"President Pei, have you had enough of this act? All these years, have you always thought I was easy to fool? Why do you keep bothering me? Is it because I'm the easiest person to fool in your life?"

Pei Yanxiu was stunned when he heard Shang Zhi's words, and a hint of anger flashed in the corners of his eyes.

"XiXi?"

"Was everything orchestrated by you? Was it all your doing? Threatening and intimidating me, ruining Tiancui, killing Ruikang, and ultimately devouring Ruikang was your ultimate goal, wasn't it?"

"If I wanted to take down Ruikang, I would have done it when Tiancui was in crisis. Why would I wait until now? Shang Zhi, are you crazy?!"

"Back then, it wasn't so easy for you to take it away! My uncle was also watching. You had a bigger plan, getting involved in Tiancui's project through investment and gradually taking control of Ruikang!"

"Shang Zhi, can't you even use your brain?! Is it worth it for me to go through all this trouble?! We've known each other for so long, and is this really how you see me?! Can't you just trust me for a little bit?!"

"I trusted you too much! That's why you've bullied me all these years! I trusted you too much! That's why I actually believed there was love between us! Pei Yanxiu, I will never trust you again!"

"Is that how you see me? A despicable person who will stop at nothing to achieve their goals? Xixi, I don't know what you saw that makes you think that way, but do you really believe that everything that has happened between us over the years has been a lie?"

"Did you ever love me?" Pei Yanxiu's eyes were tinged with a terrifying crimson.

Shang Zhi almost laughed out of anger. Love? He talks about love to her when the two of them are arguing so fiercely?

"I don't love you, I never loved you. I hate you, I hate that you control me, I hate that you manage me. We were just in a marriage of convenience, weren't we? Whether we love each other or not doesn't matter at all, does it?"

"I only love your money."

Shang Zhi knew she was just saying it in anger, but watching the light in his eyes gradually fade away before her eyes, she felt a strange, indescribable feeling.

"Once the Tiancui project is finished, I will part ways with you. I hope we will never see each other again."

"Don't even think about it." Pei Yanxiu suddenly looked up, reached out and pinched Shang Zhi's chin, pushing her onto the sofa.

Every word she spoke tonight was like a knife, piercing deep into his heart. He couldn't understand why they had become like this, why everything he did was seen as having ulterior motives by her, why she couldn't appreciate his good qualities at all, and why they couldn't work together to deal with the outside world.

"Whether you hate me or not, I'm informing you now that you are not allowed to leave this villa without my permission for the time being."

"Why should I!"

"Isn't that what you think of me because I'm despicable and shameless?"

"Pei Yanxiu, have you gone mad?!"

"I'm crazy! I really didn't expect that our relationship is worthless in your heart. Xixi, since you won't listen to my explanation, then there's no need for me to explain anymore."

"Stop testing my limits, Xixi."

"Behave yourself, or I won't tolerate you this time."