Meng Shuyao froze.
A crowd around them was watching the drama unfold.
Abroad, kissing someone on the cheek was actually a very common social etiquette, so this punishment was not particularly unusual.
But for Meng Shuyao, it put her in a difficult position.
Aside from Pei Yuzhou, she couldn’t kiss anyone else.
But in front of so many people, she was embarrassed.
Even if she could thicken her skin, Mr. Pei might not be willing to cooperate.
Zhao Hesong watched with amusement. “This isn’t hard, is it?”
Meng Shuyao clenched the hem of her dress, looked toward Pei Yuzhou, and asked softly for help, “Mr. Pei, I can’t drink.”
She had already had two glasses of fruit wine at dinner. If she drank more, she would definitely get drunk.
She had just been about to shift a little closer to him when she suddenly heard him say, “I’ll drink for you.”
Zhao Hesong clicked his tongue. “Now that’s no fun.”
Pei Yuzhou asked, “When did anyone say substitutions weren’t allowed?”
He reached out, picked up the glass on the table, and downed it in one go.
Zhao Hesong muttered, “Boring.” He had wanted to see what someone’s reaction would be to getting kissed.
In the next few rounds, Meng Shuyao was no longer the perennial loser, and the others more or less each drank a glass or two as well.
They played until midnight, and the card game ended.
Zhao Hesong was considerate. “It’s too late. If it’s inconvenient to go back, stay here for the night. I’ll have the servants prepare rooms.”
Everyone was tired from playing, so they didn’t stand on ceremony with him.
The butler led them upstairs to assign guest rooms.
“Zhou-ge, the first room on the left on the fourth floor is reserved for you.” Zhao Hesong knew he was a clean freak. That guest room was the largest apart from the master bedroom, and no one else had ever slept in it.
Pei Yuzhou nodded.
Winnie had drunk a little too much and was now so sleepy she was dazed. Her steps were light and unsteady, so Meng Shuyao supported her into the elevator.
The servant said the rooms on the third floor were all full, so they could only arrange for the two of them to sleep on the fourth floor.
As soon as they entered the room, Winnie collapsed onto the bed and fell into a deep sleep.
Meng Shuyao took off her shoes for her, then rummaged through her bag for makeup-removing wipes and wiped her face.
Only after settling her did Meng Shuyao go wash up and tidy herself.
By the time she lay down in bed, it was already half past twelve, but she wasn’t sleepy. After tossing and turning several times, afraid of waking Winnie beside her, she simply went out to the balcony for some air.
The night was dense and dark, utterly still.
A light was on on the balcony, coming from next door.
She saw Pei Yuzhou there smoking. Half his figure was sunk in the dimness, smoke veiling the deep, defined contours of his brows and eyes, lending him a touch of loneliness.
The balconies of the two rooms were almost right next to each other.
Wearing slippers, she walked to the railing. “Mr. Pei, why aren’t you asleep yet?”
Pei Yuzhou held a cigarette between his fingers, his gaze turning sideways. “Aren’t you awake too?”
“Do you have insomnia too?” Meng Shuyao clung to the handrail and tilted her head to look at him. “Is it because work is too tiring?”
Pei Yuzhou’s eyes stilled slightly.
Ever since his mother passed away, no one had ever asked him whether he was tired.
But after so many years, he had long since grown used to it.
Even if he worked around the clock for twenty-four hours straight, he did not feel much.
He watched the clear, clean eyes before him. The light fell into their depths, shimmering like rippling water.
Obedient, sly, bold—all of them were her. Perhaps there were even more sides to her.
After a long silence, when she received no answer, Meng Shuyao began speaking to herself again.
“I thought you wouldn’t come today.”
“You don’t really reply to my messages either, and I can’t see you.”
“All right, I know you’re very busy. You can’t pay attention to me at all.”
As if murmuring to herself, she continued, “This semester is almost over, and I still haven’t found a gallery internship. My dad wants me to go back to China, but I don’t want to go back for now.”
That home was suffocating. It was not her home.
For the past ten years, she had always been taught to be obedient and sensible, to observe etiquette and rules, to watch every word and action at all times, to cultivate hobbies she did not like, and to befriend people she did not like.
And now, the Meng family was forcing her into a marriage alliance, sacrificing the rest of her life for the family’s interests.
After her sister’s accident, she did not even have anyone to rely on or confide in. She could only face everything alone.
Pei Yuzhou caught the weariness and sadness in her eyes, a completely fragile side of her, as if she would shatter at the slightest touch.
Meng Shuyao straightened up and met his gaze. “Mr. Pei, are you…”
The words reached her lips, but she paused again.
Pei Yuzhou said, “What?”
Meng Shuyao shook her head lightly. “Nothing.”
She had wanted to ask if he didn’t like her at all.
Previously in the hot spring pool, last time on the cruise ship, and just now with the game’s punishment—he had been unmoved by all her initiatives.
Mia had said before that if a man felt no impulse toward you at all, then he definitely did not like you.
Physical attraction and emotional attraction—if there was not even the former, how could one dare hope for the latter?
But if Pei Yuzhou did not like her at all, why had he helped her again and again?
A man’s thoughts were so hard to guess.
Meng Shuyao lowered her head, rested the side of her face on her arm, leaned over the railing, and closed her eyes.
The wind felt very comfortable, carrying a coolness as it brushed past.
Loose strands of hair lifted in the air.
All around was quiet, and the sound of her shallow breathing could be heard clearly.
Pei Yuzhou thought she had fallen asleep. He stepped closer and reached out to brush the hair away from her face.
Her bare face had not a trace of makeup; not even her pores could be seen. Her skin was smooth and flawless, cool white in tone, delicate as congealed cream.
Meng Shuyao smelled the faint scent of tobacco on him. She opened her eyes and grabbed his hand.
For the first time, she realized his hand was actually so large.
Raised blue veins crisscrossed the back of his hand, extremely sensual.
Their palms pressed together, a warm sensation passing between them.
She held on tightly. Pei Yuzhou told her to let go.
Meng Shuyao looked at him, her voice very soft. “Can you… let me hug you?”
She looked at him pitifully. “Just one hug is enough.”
Let her lean on him for a little while.
Pei Yuzhou was silent for a moment. “It’s late. Go to sleep.”
Meng Shuyao muttered in dissatisfaction, “Rejecting me again.”
She let go of the man’s hand. “Then say good night to me. Is that okay?”
Pei Yuzhou’s thin lips moved slightly. “Good night.”
His voice was low, slow, and magnetic, melting into her eardrums.
A faint curve lifted at the corner of Meng Shuyao’s lips. “Good night.”
She turned and went back into the room.
Pei Yuzhou lowered his arm, as if that soft, tender sensation still lingered in his palm.
-
The next day.
When Meng Shuyao woke up, it was already nine o’clock. She woke Winnie. “Get up. We need to tidy up and go back to school.”
Winnie remained on standby for five minutes, her brain rebooting. She scratched her messy hair, still looking a little dazed. “Where is this?”
Meng Shuyao got out of bed and walked toward the bathroom. “Mr. Zhao’s house. You drank too much last night, so we stayed here for the night.”
Winnie remembered. “That red wine had way too much of an afterkick. I only drank two glasses.”
“Does your head still hurt? Go downstairs later and drink some honey water to soothe your stomach.” Meng Shuyao tied up her hair and turned on the faucet to wash her face.
“Mm.” Winnie collapsed back onto the bed and rubbed her temples.
After half an hour of taking turns getting ready, they left the room and went downstairs.
Zhao Hesong happened to be in the living room.
Meng Shuyao greeted him. “Good morning, Mr. Zhao.”
“Morning.” Zhao Hesong walked toward the dining room. “There’s breakfast in the kitchen.”
Winnie said weakly, “Please get me a glass of honey water or yogurt. Thank you.”
The servant nodded. “Of course, miss.”
Zhao Hesong chuckled. “You’re that bad at drinking?”
Winnie pouted. “It’s your red wine that was too strong.”
Zhao Hesong said, “It’s rather old. People who aren’t used to it do get drunk easily.”
The servant brought breakfast to the dining table.
Meng Shuyao pulled out a chair and sat down, just about to speak.
Zhao Hesong immediately guessed what she was going to ask. “Zhou-ge left early this morning. He’s been very busy lately.”