51: Too drunk tonight

"Didn't you already know?" Shang Zhi said irritably, pushing him away.

"What do I know? Explain yourself!" He persisted, continuing to kiss her, forcing her lips apart, and reaching his hand down to her body, only to be bitten hard on the shoulder by her.

Pei Yanxiu's chest heaved as he looked at her. He seemed to sense something, but said nothing.

The next day, Pei Yan was in a meeting when Sister Hua called him, saying that Miss was unhappy and had smashed several of his very valuable vases.

Then he sat alone in the house, sulking.

Pei Yanxiu calmly told Sister Hua that it was nothing, just a quick clean-up would do, and there was no need to worry. Sister Hua breathed a sigh of relief. After the meeting, when Pei Yanxiu returned to his office alone, Shang Zhi was sitting in his seat.

Why are you here?

"What, you're not welcoming me?"

"That's not what I meant. I meant, what did you come to see me for?"

"Give me money, I want to buy a bag."

What bag?

"Don't worry about what kind of package it is, just pay me." Pei Yanxiu chuckled, knowing she was deliberately causing trouble.

But she didn't say anything, just silently transferred three million to her card. Once the money was in her account, she left without looking back.

"Young Master Shang's temper is too much, even though he's a married man," the secretary who came to deliver documents to Pei Yanxiu whispered after Shang Zhi left.

"You really like to meddle in your boss's personal affairs?"

"I'm sorry, Mr. Pei." The secretary's face turned pale instantly.

-

Honey, do you like this red bag or this blue one? Can you help me choose?

Three minutes have passed, why haven't you replied yet? Didn't you say you loved me? Don't you love me anymore?

Honey, what are you doing? People are getting impatient!

While Pei Yanxiu was in a meeting, Shang Zhi called him on video. He hung up because he was discussing something important, but Shang Zhi persisted and kept sending him messages.

Shang Zhi never used to consult him when buying things, and he knew she was deliberately causing trouble to make him unhappy. The reason for this was probably because the villa's secret had been discovered, and she couldn't accept it immediately.

He couldn't understand what she couldn't accept. He had bought the house for her, and he had given her all the money. He was just reminding her not to have any inappropriate thoughts.

After Pei Yanxiu finished his meeting, he checked his phone again. Shang Zhi had sent him a location—a bar near a shopping mall. He called her, and she answered, but the noise made it impossible for him to hear what she was saying. Pei Yanxiu took a deep breath. He felt that she had trained him to be much more patient than before over the past two years; at least he could now realize that the problem lay in their communication, and neither of them could convince the other from their own perspective.

Perhaps it's not anyone's fault, but rather the natural differences between people.

When Pei Yanxiu arrived at the bar, Shang Zhi was in the middle of the dance floor, and she seemed to have drunk a lot of alcohol.

He walked over to her and gently pulled her close, calling her name in her ear. She looked at him, her eyes filled with unreadable emotions.

Neither of them spoke on the way home.

Pei Yanxiu brewed some hangover tea for Shang Zhi and brought it to her as she collapsed on the sofa.

"I won't drink it."

"You can drink half, otherwise you'll have a hard time sleeping at night."

"I said I won't drink!" Shang Zhi pushed his hand away. The atmosphere in the room was very heavy. Pei Yanxiu sat down next to her.

"I know you're angry with me." Shang Zhi sneered. He's such a smart man, of course she knows he knows, but he hasn't given her the explanation she wants these past few days.

“Xixi, I meant no harm. You know I just helped you tidy up, and I don’t think there need to be any secrets between us.”

"There's no need for any secrets?" Shang Zhi had already been drinking, and hearing Pei Yanxiu's nonsense only made her feel a splitting headache.

"I can't communicate with you."

"Then who can you communicate with? That Lu Ke? Xixi, I haven't even told you about your private meeting with him yet."

"You've really gone too far, Pei Yanxiu! What's wrong with me seeing him in private? Am I not allowed to see him, and do I have to tell you everything?"

"You're right, I can communicate with him. At least he's not like you, a control freak!"

"I'm doing this for your own good, Xixi."

"Then should I thank you? Pei Yanxiu, you simply don't understand!"

"You've had too much to drink and you're too emotional. Let's talk again tomorrow when you're sober, okay?"

"I'm not drunk! I know exactly what I'm saying!"

Actually, Shang Zhi still held a sliver of hope for Pei Yanxiu today.

But now she understands that he doesn't think he's done anything wrong. He feels he has the right to control everything, and he won't change.

She should have known this would be the outcome.

The next day, Shang Zhi woke up and went straight home. Her mother told her that her father was doing well recently and that she didn't need to worry too much, just take good care of herself.

"After the Tiancui Project ends, I want to go back to school. Mom, what do you think about this?" Shang Zhi told her mother her thoughts, but she was actually a little uneasy.

"If you want to go, of course I support you."

"Really?" Shang Zhi was pleasantly surprised, not expecting her mother to agree without even thinking.

"Of course, your dad doesn't really need me around anymore. He'll be able to get the hang of his job in a while. Xixi, I know you've probably been unhappy lately and have suffered a lot of grievances. You can leave whenever you want, and come back anytime you want. You've done a fantastic job during this time."

“You helped Ruikang out of the predicament and truly shouldered the responsibility. You are your parents’ pride.”

"But does Yanxiu know about this? You're married now, so there are some things you should tell your partner."

“I didn’t tell him, I couldn’t tell him.”

"Marriage requires adjustment, Xixi. You may not understand what I'm telling you now, but I can tell that Yanxiu is right for you. He is someone who truly cares about you."

"Perhaps he will make mistakes in this process, or rather, he is bound to make mistakes. Do you know why?"

"Why?"

"Because he treats you with his heart and his feelings, not with reason. Emotions can make people lose their reason, Xixi."

"But I can't accept his irrationality."

“It’s okay. Maybe after you go back to school and the two of you are separated for a while, you will understand what you really want. No matter what choice you make in the end, Mom will support you, Xixi.”

"However, Lu Ke's mother doesn't think much of him."

"Don't believe what the media is saying, there's nothing between him and me." Hearing her mother's words, Shang Zhi's face turned bright red.

"You may have nothing, but others may have plenty. I heard he came to Hong Kong recently. Can you say it has nothing to do with you?"

"That's his job, it really has nothing to do with me."

"Okay, okay, whatever you say. What do you want for dinner? I'll arrange it for you."

"I want to eat shrimp and bamboo shoots."

"Okay, you wait."

Back home, Shang Zhi felt very relaxed. She ate more than usual and went to bed later. Pei Yanxiu sent her messages every day, but she didn't reply.

She really didn't know what to say to him at that moment.

After not replying to her messages for two days, Pei Yanxiu appeared at her doorstep, looking at her with a hint of resentment in his eyes.

What are you doing here?

"Yanxiu, come in quickly." The mother pulled Shang Zhi aside to stop her from speaking and served tea to Pei Yanxiu.

"Thank you, Mom. Xixi hasn't been home for a few days, so I came to see her."

"It's nothing. She hasn't come to see us for a while, so she wants to come back and stay for a few more days. Yanxiu, if you feel it's inconvenient, you can come and stay with Xixi for a few days."

"Mom!" Shang Zhi's resistance was obvious.

"No need, Mom. I'll stay home and pick Xixi up when she wants to go back." Pei Yanxiu scratched his head sheepishly. He knew that if he insisted on being with Shang Zhi right now, it would only backfire and annoy her.

"Then you stay and let's have a meal together. Yanxiu, you've really been working hard lately. I know that the Tiancui project is selling so well now, and it's all thanks to you."

"Don't say that, Mom. We're all family. Let's not talk about these things."