68: How long are you going to keep acting like this? Aren't you free enough?

"Okay, thank you." Pei Yanxiu's eyes were unreadable. He paused for a moment and then sat down to the side.

He wasn't entirely without desire for Shang Zhi, but he was worried that he might say or do something that would upset her, so he simply kept quiet.

Shang Zhi's phone rang, and before she could speak, Yu Shiya's anxious voice came through: "Xixi, you're divorced? Why didn't you tell me you got divorced!"

"Mom, Tiancui's matter has been resolved, hasn't it? This is a matter between Pei Yanxiu and me, so don't worry about it."

“Tian Cui’s matter has been resolved, Xi Xi. Mom just doesn’t understand why you want to divorce him. Yan Xiu is such a good child. He has only ever had you in his heart all these years. You can talk about any conflicts between you two properly. Xi Xi, listen to me. You are still young and don’t understand. Sincerity is the most precious thing in this world. Don’t get a divorce. Solve any problems first.”

“It’s not that I haven’t tried, but the problems between him and me are simply unsolvable. Mom, there’s a limit to matchmaking. We originally agreed to a marriage of convenience, didn’t we? Now that the agreement is finalized, I should be able to make my own choice.”

Shang Zhi was a little agitated. Pei Yanxiu walked up to her and gestured for her to hand over her phone. Shang Zhi handed over her phone with some doubt.

"Mom, don't worry, we're fine, there's nothing wrong, I'll stay here with her."

"That's good, that's good." Yu Shiya's tone softened slightly on the other end of the phone.

"Mom!" Shang Zhi stepped forward, wanting to say something more, but the phone was disconnected at that moment.

"How can you talk such nonsense!"

"I just don't want to upset Mom." Maybe you'll come back, won't you? If you come back, I won't mention any of this in the past anymore, Pei Yanxiu thought to himself.

"She'll find out sooner or later, so there's no point in trying to fool her now."

How can you guarantee that? Maybe?

Pei Yanxiu was also upset by Shang Zhi's words. He was trying to help her out of kindness, so why was she so ungrateful?

"Maybe what?"

"Maybe one morning you'll wake up and figure things out, and come back to me."

Shang Zhi could no longer listen to him. Filled with resentment, she kicked him in the back of the knee. Pei Yanxiu was not prepared and almost fell to his knees.

"I kindly helped you, and this is how you repay me?"

Pei Yanxiu smiled and stood up, gently pressing Shang Zhi's shoulder against the cold wall. His warm breath fell on her neck, and the long-lost heat made Shang Zhi panic for a moment.

What are you doing!

He was forceful, stealing her breath. Every fold of his black suit and shirt was just right, and his unrequited gaze stirred the deepest desires within her.

He loosened his tie, his Adam's apple bobbing. She told herself not to look, not to fall into his trap.

But everything seemed just right, and what lingered in my mind was his broad shoulders, narrow waist, and the leg shape that outlined the trousers almost perfectly.

She didn't miss him as a person, but she missed all the good things about him.

This isn't love, it's just human instinct, Shang Zhi tried so hard to comfort herself.

Her increasingly rapid breathing revealed a desire she was unwilling to admit yet unable to suppress.

He had seen through her long ago. A warm sensation came over her lower abdomen. He kissed her forcefully, one hand roaming over her waist and abdomen. He reached out and pulled her back into the room. She did not resist. The familiar feeling quickly returned. Shang Zhi herself couldn't tell whether what she did was right or wrong.

Pei Yanxiu looked to be in good spirits when he woke up.

"Good morning, my baby." He opened his eyes and saw her still lying in his arms.

"The rain has stopped, you can go now." Pei Yanxiu was stunned when he heard Shang Zhi's words. How could she just use him and then kick him out like that, turning her back on him after she'd done with him?

Where to go?

"How am I supposed to know where you're going? You can go wherever you want."

"What about yesterday...?"

"It's just a minor accident; it doesn't prove anything."

"I will take responsibility for you, Xixi, let's remarry..."

"I will not remarry you. Don't even think about it. It's just that we slept together. Do you think that's enough to lock me up for life?"

"You know that's not what I meant! Xixi, I just wanted to be by your side and spend more time with you."

"I will contact you when I need you, and you don't need to show up when I don't need you."

"What do you take me for? A plaything to be summoned and dismissed at will? Hehe, I'm your husband, not a gigolo you order!" Pei Yanxiu's tone turned angry, but Shang Zhi inexplicably wanted to laugh.

“I didn’t say that.”

That's exactly what you think!

"Whatever, there's nothing I can do if you think that way." Reaching out, she hooked his chin. Looking at him, who was sighing helplessly because of her, Shang Zhi secretly felt a sense of satisfaction, as if she had finally gotten her revenge.

He has suppressed her and controlled her for so long; it's time for him to experience what it feels like to be out of control.

"Be good, okay? I like it when you're good." As she stood up, Shang Zhi returned the words he had once given her to him.

"No, don't push your luck."

Pei Yanxiu's gaze lingered on her buttocks. He really wanted to order her to turn around and give her a good scolding, just like before! Until she learned to behave!

"Want to hit me?" Shang Zhi hooked her arms around his neck and sat on his lap.

"No, I'm not that violent." He gently rubbed her waist, suppressing the urge to immediately pin her to his knees.

He regretted it. He shouldn't have given her so much freedom in the past. He should have kept a closer eye on her, even closer, so that she could never escape his grasp.

"Xixi, why don't you want to come back? I can give you anything you want."

"I want freedom, can you give it to me?"

"XiXi, when are you going to stop this nonsense? Aren't you free enough? You came to America without a word, how much more freedom do you want, to go to Mars? I've already given you enough understanding, you can't expect me to kneel down and be your dog!"

"You've been so strict with me, I've never done anything that crossed the line even slightly. I'm so young, I should be enjoying my youth. Be my dog? Mr. Pei, please understand the situation. Do you know that the men who want to date me stretch from here to Australia? You'd have to wait in line to be my dog. You're not qualified."

"Nonsense! Do you know what you're saying? Xixi, is this something you should say?" Pei Yanxiu's vision went black, he could hardly believe his ears. Over the years, he had spent so much effort on her, guiding her onto the "right path," teaching her what she should and shouldn't do. And now, after only a few days apart, she was completely out of control.

Am I wrong?

Shang Zhi watched Pei Yanxiu's lips twitch slightly and felt secretly pleased. She liked the feeling that he was helpless against her; it was intoxicating.

He deserves it.

"You really think I can't do anything to you?" Shang Zhi's breath hitched, and before she could react, he turned and left.