63: He too has countless worries, feels pain and loss, feels helpless and heartbroken.

"Men in love are really scary. Don't bother asking a master to perform rituals to win Xixi back. I think you should find a master to examine your illness. I think you're quite ill."

"Get lost." Pei Yanxiu's eyes darkened, and he made a move to hit him, but A Wang slipped away quickly.

"Stop thinking about useless things. I'll give you a suggestion, bro. Use the self-inflicted injury trick. Get yourself drunk and pass out at Xixi's doorstep. She definitely won't leave you to die."

"This... isn't this a bit inappropriate? It feels a bit shameless."

"Whether you value your reputation or your wife, you should weigh the options carefully."

After much deliberation, Pei Yanxiu felt that although this plan had limited chances of success, he had no other special options.

When facing Xixi, he felt that he had done everything he could, but he was still powerless. Sometimes he even thought of just kidnapping her and bringing her back regardless of everything.

That night, when Pei Yanxiu, reeking of alcohol, appeared at Shang Zhi's door and knocked urgently, Shang Zhi was startled. Pei Yanxiu was always a respectable person, and she had never seen him so drunk. His shirt, which he usually kept impeccably dressed, was half-open, and his tie was askew. When she opened the door, he just lay there on top of her.

What are you doing!

"Xixi, Xixi." He didn't answer, but only called her name in a deep voice. Shang Zhi could only drag him home and help him to the sofa.

She felt a mix of emotions. She had never seen him like this before. In her memory, he was always so assertive, self-assured, and arrogant, never listening to anyone's opinions.

But at this moment, he hung his head, slumped in the sofa, looking utterly defeated.

Seeing that he was very drunk, Shang Zhi decided not to argue with him anymore. She went to the room to get a blanket to cover him. She gently lifted his head and laid his body flat, covering him with the blanket. But as she turned around, he grabbed her hand.

He seemed still drunk, his eyes tightly closed and his brows slightly furrowed, but when he held her hand, it was so warm and so firm.

"Don't go, Xixi."

"XiXi, I'm sorry."

"I was wrong."

"I was wrong."

As Shang Zhi's tears fell onto the back of his hand, in that instant when her blood rushed to her head, she suddenly realized that he also had countless worries, and that he too could feel pain, loss, helplessness, and heartbreak.

In the moment when Shang Zhi turned around in a daze, he wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, his warm breath brushing against her ear, and let out a long sigh.

"I will change. I can change anything, as long as you stay. I will do anything you ask."

"XiXi, please."

"You've had too much to drink, let's not talk about this."

“I’m not drunk, I know very well. Xixi, I know I have many, many problems. Maybe I’m too domineering and suffocating you, maybe my way of treating you is too self-centered. Please give me another chance, okay? I can change everything. I really can’t live without you.”

"You've had too much to drink. Let's talk again tomorrow when you're sober."

"Don't go, hug me. Xixi, it's so cold, so very cold."

Shang Zhi gently touched Pei Yanxiu's head; it was burning hot. He had a fever. She had no choice but to help him to his room. As she helped him undress, she noticed more scattered whip marks on his back. He must have had another conflict with Pei Qing'an and been beaten; no wonder he had a fever.

Shang Zhi covered him with a blanket, but he pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly, and she couldn't break free.

She could only nestle in his arms and fall asleep without realizing it.

When Shang Zhi woke up the next day, Pei Yan was in the kitchen making breakfast for her. He saw her point to the bread and coffee on the table, indicating that she should eat first.

Shang Zhi walked straight to his side, reached out and touched his forehead, and Pei Yanxiu was stunned.

"You have a fever."

"Um."

"Last night...I drank too much and don't remember what I said. You've probably forgotten too. Now that your foot is better, when are you planning to go back to school?"

"I'll be going back next week. There's a performance next month, and I hope I can make it."

"That's good. Do what you want to do. Maybe your previous life really wasn't right for you. I have some things to do today. I've made breakfast, so take your time eating. I'll be going now."

“I saw you were injured yesterday, you need to get it treated.” Shang Zhi grabbed Pei Yanxiu’s wrist as he was about to leave.

Then I put it down.

"It's alright, I can apply the medicine myself when I get back, no need to trouble you."

"If anything happens, remember to come find me." Pei Yanxiu reached out and ruffled Shang Zhi's hair, just like before.

Shang Zhi felt like she must have lost her mind. She was the one who wanted to break up with him, but watching his departing figure, she actually felt a little lost.

She tried to remind herself that she had broken up with him because she couldn't stand his control. If she went back, the same problems would reappear, and he might even go so far as to tie her up at home and prevent her from going anywhere.

She didn't want that, absolutely not.

But why does my heart still ache?

"Xixi, what are you doing?" Shang Zhi's phone rang; it was Pei Wang calling.

"Get to the point if you have something to say, otherwise I'm hanging up."

"Look at you, you're such a grown-up and your emotions are still unstable. Look at me, my emotions are so stable now."

"Are you alright or not?"

"I have something to show you. Send me your address and I'll come find you."

Pei Wang soon appeared at Shang Zhi's door.

"Why aren't you at home with Xingxing? What are you doing in Los Angeles?"

“I had no choice, it was arranged by the old man.” Pei Wang shrugged.

Where is the stuff?

"Are you kidding me?" Shang Zhi pretended to hit him, but Pei Wang turned around and dodged.

"Look at you, I was trying to help you, and you wouldn't even give me a sip of water before you started hitting me. You're becoming more and more like my brother."

"What can you do to help me?" Shang Zhi rolled her eyes.

"Take a look at this." Pei Wang handed Shang Zhi a box.

“The maid found it when she was cleaning the room. Hehe, actually my brother has it tough too. I know he’s stubborn and no one can argue with him. He’s always right.”

"But do you know, during the four years after you broke up with him, he was really in a lot of pain. Others might not be able to tell, but I do. My brother is a bit stubborn and single-minded. If he likes you, he will always like you."

“People might think that Tian Cui did it for money, but I know he didn’t. It was an opportunity he had been waiting for day and night. In fact, quite a few people had expressed their feelings for him during those years, and some even asked his parents to inquire about him, but he rejected them all.”

"Perhaps it was a blessing from heaven that he finally got this opportunity."

"Xixi, I just want to say something for my brother. I know he has mental issues, but could you please give him another chance, considering how he waited for you for four years?"

Do you really think there's absolutely no love left between you and him?

"It's not that there's no love, but that we have many problems."

"Cuteness always triumphs over everything, doesn't it?"

"You just said he waited for me for four years?"

"Yeah, he didn't mention it to you?"

"No, never." Shang Zhi's hands trembled slightly as she picked up the box Pei Wang had given her. Inside was a thick notebook with neat and elegant handwriting, clearly written by Pei Yanxiu.