83: I love you, I love you (The End)

Shang Zhi couldn't tell whether she was awakened by the birds chirping outside the window or by the faint pain coming from behind her.

She slept well last night, but she was lying on her stomach all night, and it hurt when she turned over.

The lazy sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating her silk pajamas. She reached out and rubbed her buttocks, still able to feel the faint ridges. That old man was ruthless; she remembered it all. Sooner or later, she would get her revenge on him!

He stretched and got out of bed; he was cooking in the kitchen.

"Why is Mr. Pei cooking himself today? Why are you so interested?"

Men look good when they're working, and they look good even when they're in the kitchen wearing an apron. She feels very safe when she wraps her arms around his strong, slender waist from behind and presses her arms against his broad back.

He had beautiful hands too; she liked the way his long, strong hands held the spatula.

"Feed yourself first, then you can feed me, okay?" Shang Zhi understood the meaning behind his words and slapped him.

Pei Yanxiu served the freshly cooked abalone and chicken congee. Shang Zhi took a bite and found that the rice grains were almost melted, with a smooth and delicious taste.

"Be careful, it's hot. Here are some shrimp dumplings for you."

"There's something else I need to tell you. I've enrolled in the EMBA program at the University of Hong Kong, and I'll be attending classes every Friday to Sunday for the next few months."

"Really? That's wonderful, honey. Don't worry, I mean, I'll miss you!" Shang Zhi's joy was genuine. He was going to class and wouldn't have time to look after her at home, so she could enjoy a period of carefree days. She was going to take advantage of his absence to ask her girlfriends to do all the things he usually forbade her to do!

Call Xingxing; she's been cooped up at home taking care of the kids for ages!

"You're so happy while I'm not home?"

"What are you saying, honey? Of course I'm not happy. I don't want to be separated from you for even a second. The thought of not being able to see you all day makes me so sad I want to cry."

"Touch, touch my heart, it's so sad."

"Like this."

Pei Yanxiu leaned closer to Shang Zhi, reaching out to stroke the softness of her waist. His tone changed, "My dear, how could I bear to see you sad? So I not only signed up for myself, but I also signed up for you. Are you happy?"

"What?" Shang Zhi was dumbfounded, furious at the man in front of her. Just how many tricks did he have up his sleeve to deal with her!

"What's wrong? Didn't you just say you didn't want to break up with me? Why do you look unhappy?" Pei Yanxiu raised an eyebrow, his eyes filled with tenderness as he looked at Shang Zhi.

She was his woman, and he could see through her little schemes at a glance. She was just pretending, thinking that others couldn't see through her.

"You can study by yourself, honey. If we study together, we'll have to pay for another tuition. Besides, I'm going to France for a fashion show next month, and it'll be hard to schedule a time for that!"

"I'm informing you, Mr. Shang, not discussing this with you. If there's a conflict, we'll move it aside."

When he called her President Shang, her heart softened. She felt that no matter where she went in the future, she would still be the same as before to him.

He leaned down towards her, becoming much more serious. He didn't seem to be joking with her. Although she had already established herself at Ruikang, there was still much she needed to learn, and she couldn't slack off.

But it doesn't matter, no matter how many difficulties and dangers lie ahead, he will walk with her.

Even through those winding and difficult days, as long as my loved one was by my side, bitterness was sweet.

"I haven't been feeling well lately, I have a headache, honey, I feel like I need to rest at home." She leaned against his warm chest and said coquettishly, the man's tall figure looming over her, making her feel quite intimidated.

"oh."

Pei Yanxiu stopped listening to her excuses, placed his hand on her bruised buttocks, and lowered his voice: "Get a beating or go to class? The choice is yours."

"Go to class? I choose to go to class! I love going to class!" Shang Zhi's expression changed quickly under the threat of a slap. She had been threatened by his slaps many times and was very experienced. She had no doubt that he would not hear the answer he wanted and that the slap would fall in the next second.

"Okay, then it's decided. I'm not forcing you, it's your own choice, right?"

“…Oh right, you’re absolutely right.” Shang Zhi rolled her eyes at Pei Yanxiu.

"Don't roll your eyes at me." He pulled her onto his lap, and the breeze from the window brushed against her long eyelashes. The morning air was slightly cool, and her collarbone trembled slightly as his gaze swept over her.

"That old man has a lot of fuss about him!" Shang Zhi expressed her dissatisfaction verbally, pinched his chest and bit him. He looked at her without complaining of pain, and after a moment, he pressed heavy kisses against her neck, wave after wave.

"Finished? Now it's my turn." With a slight movement of his lips, he scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the hot spring pool in the courtyard in a few strides. The pool was already filled with water; she then realized that he had prepared everything in advance!

Her silk pajamas, soaked with water, outlined her figure beautifully, like a girl stepping out of an oil painting. The man's strong arms supported her, and his hands, kneading her body, brought a tingling sensation.

He kissed every part of her body, and she felt as if she were melting into the pool of water.

Pei Yanxiu had sent all the servants away beforehand, leaving only the two of them in the large courtyard. From the pond to the room, the encounter was incredibly satisfying and exhilarating. In the end, Shang Zhi felt as if her soul was about to be shattered by him.

Afterwards, her legs felt weak and tingly; she couldn't tell if it was because she felt so good with him or because of the bath.

She couldn't tell the difference, but she felt extremely satisfied, both physically and mentally.

Afterwards, she lay on the bed, and he took the ointment to apply the medicine.

"Don't move." Turning around, she saw his profile with furrowed brows. He gently pressed on her waist, then circled the ointment around her wound.

"It hurts." She frowned, her eyes welling up with tears.

"You have to apply medicine even if it hurts, so it will heal faster."

A cool sensation seeped into her skin, relieving the pain in her buttocks. Shang Zhi leaned on her arm as the man's movements were very serious, as if he were restoring a work of art.

"Don't do things you're not allowed to do next time."

"Be obedient."

"Learn a lesson from this."

He kept muttering to himself; he's always muttering to himself, a habit he's had for the past four years.

He always told her to focus on her studies, eat well, and come home on time. He cared about her and loved her, though his words were often harsh, but his strong hands always protected her from the wind and rain.

Love her in your own way.

He said he didn't understand love, he only knew to give her everything he had.

Like helping a sapling grow, prune its branches and watch it grow in the bright sunshine.

"Nonsense," she protested softly, glancing back at his expression. He simply smiled and looked down at her.

“These days have been tough, Xixi. I know it hasn’t been easy for you. From the moment you returned to Ruikang and Tiancui, every step has been difficult. I understand your pressure and helplessness.”

“With me, you’re either punished or scolded, so it’s understandable that you’re angry with me.”

"I want to learn to be gentle, but I'm also worried. I'm worried that you won't grow up, that you won't be able to learn, and most of all, that you'll be bullied by others. They're very mean."

Shang Zhi's nose stung with tears. She got up and threw herself into his arms, tears streaming down her face.

I didn't understand you before, but now I'm not a child anymore.

Your confinement, your restrictions, and all your means are aimed at achieving greater freedom.

I understand.

This world is cold, with one storm after another, but your palms are warm.

Shang Zhi hugged his neck tightly, tears streaming down his back.

I'm not angry with you. How could I be angry with you? I used to get angry with you all the time because I thought you had a bad temper and were too controlling. But later I realized that those trivial daily things were your love.

It is a very substantial and impressive expression of love.

-

From the first moment I saw you, I knew I would love you.

I don't want restraint, I want passion.

I don't want to be calm, I want to be passionate.

I want you to have me in your body, your heart, and every thought you have.

I am hopeless, I will make sure you have nowhere to escape, I will leave my mark on you.

I want love and pain to happen simultaneously.

I want to see where your soul has found its home.

I want to love you.

I love you even more.

So that you can never forget it.

-

The sunlight outside the window gently spread across her body, warm and comforting. She clung to him, holding him close, without saying a word, just quietly listening to each other's breathing.

-

(End of text)