Meng Shuyao had not expected that she would truly get herself into trouble.
She had found out that the upstairs floor was for VIP private rooms, a place where businesspeople talked deals, so she had taken the elevator up. In the end, she ran into a spoiled second-generation rich kid who pestered her and dragged her into a private room to drink with them.
She could not afford to offend that group. Not only did they make her drink with them, they even tried to put their hands on her.
She had finally found a chance to run out. The moment she stepped through the door, she saw Pei Yuzhou. Meng Shuyao did not know whether this counted as a blessing amid misfortune.
No matter what, at this moment, he was her only lifeline.
“Mr. Pei, please help me. They forced me…” She clutched tightly at the man’s shirt, a tremor leaking into her voice, her damp eyes looking up at him in appeal.
Anyone who saw her would have been moved, at least a little.
Pei Yuzhou, however, frowned. “Let go.”
The girl in his arms had disheveled hair, and there were wine stains on her dress, rubbing against his white shirt.
His mysophobia had flared up. The fact that he had not thrown her off on the spot was already restraint.
The men from the private room chased out.
Meng Shuyao looked back, then instinctively hid behind Pei Yuzhou. “They bullied me… I’m not letting go…”
The wastrel young master was instantly dumbfounded when he saw this. Fear rose in his heart, and he stammered, trembling, “Mr. Kerwin, she… is she one of yours?”
Pei Yuzhou glanced at him coldly. “Who gave you the nerve to cause trouble here?”
The powerful aura of someone in a high position seeped out invisibly, commanding respect without anger.
The man’s legs went weak with fright, a chill running down his back. “I’m sorry, I’ll never dare again. I’ll get lost right now.”
Meng Shuyao watched the man who had been so overbearing not long ago now bowing and scraping as he fled in panic.
Sure enough, Mr. Pei’s status was useful anywhere.
“Let go,” Pei Yuzhou repeated.
Meng Shuyao hurriedly released him and apologized. “I’m sorry…”
“Thank you for helping me just now.”
Pei Yuzhou’s gaze swept over her chest.
Her light-colored clothes had been soaked by the wine and were clinging to her body, faintly revealing the outline of the lace underneath.
He withdrew his gaze and signaled to Mark. “Give her the jacket.”
The latter froze for two seconds before handing the suit jacket in his hands to Meng Shuyao.
Mark was merely surprised. Sir had never been the sort to cherish and protect delicate women.
In the past, plenty of women had tried every possible way to throw themselves into his arms. He had only ever felt disgust.
If he did not want others near him, then no one could get close.
Meng Shuyao lowered her head for a look, her face flushing in embarrassment. She took the jacket and held it in front of her chest. “…Thank you.”
Mark reminded him aloud, “Sir, would you like to change your shirt?”
A six-figure shirt had been stained with champagne, and the side of the waist had been wrinkled from being grabbed. It was as good as ruined.
Pei Yuzhou’s brow remained furrowed. “Back to the car.”
Seeing that he was about to leave, Meng Shuyao hurriedly grabbed his sleeve. “Mr. Pei, don’t go.”
If he left, wouldn’t her trip here today have been for nothing?
Pei Yuzhou narrowed his eyes slightly, warning her to know when to stop.
Meng Shuyao shrank her hand back and looked at him with reddened eyes. “I’m afraid they’ll retaliate against me.”
Pei Yuzhou tugged at the corner of his lips, whether in mockery or something else. “If you’re timid, don’t come to places like this.”
“I thought this place was safe,” Meng Shuyao said in a low, weak voice.
After all, it was a high-end club, and the people it received were all figures of status. Who could have expected something like this to happen?
She braced herself and asked, “Where are you going? Could you give me a ride? My school isn’t far from here.”
Pei Yuzhou’s brow bone shifted slightly. “Miss Meng, do you know how to write the words ‘pushing your luck’?”
“…You’re the only person I know here.” Meng Shuyao pleaded, “Please do a good deed to the end, all right?”
It was the first time Pei Yuzhou had heard someone use the words “good person” to describe him. He gave a derisive laugh. “Who told you I was a good person?”
Meng Shuyao met his eyes and was drawn in by them. Those deep, dark pupils revealed no emotion; no one could see through them. “You helped me. Of course you’re a good person.”
“Naive.” Pei Yuzhou intimidated her. “Do you know the consequences of casually getting into a man’s car?”
Meng Shuyao was not an innocent little girl ignorant of the world. Even if he was not a good person, she had no other choice.
Either way, she had reached a dead end. She might as well take a gamble.
“It’s so late. It isn’t safe for me to take a taxi alone either. The consequences might be even worse…”
Pei Yuzhou ignored her, turned, and strode toward the elevator.
Meng Shuyao did not know what he meant—whether he had agreed or not. Couldn’t he at least say something?
After hesitating for a moment, she hugged the jacket to herself and silently followed, keeping close behind him step for step.
The man’s back was tall and straight, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist.
His legs were long. One step of his required Meng Shuyao to take two or three.
Mark called the driver and told him to bring the car to the entrance of the club.
When they came out of the lobby, dense threads of rain swept toward them, the biting chill burrowing into the skin.
Meng Shuyao could not help shivering. She hugged her arms and wrapped the suit jacket around herself more tightly.
His clothes carried an elegant scent of cold fir, mixed with a faint aroma of tobacco, probably left behind by a cigar. Strangely, it did not smell unpleasant at all.
The jacket was large, its hem reaching her thighs, making her figure look even more slender and frail.
The driver got out and came over with an umbrella.
Mark took the handle and opened it for Pei Yuzhou.
“Mr. Pei…” Meng Shuyao murmured, “On a rainy day, it’s very hard to get a taxi.”
Pei Yuzhou turned sideways to look at her, his low voice indifferent. “Get in.”
Meng Shuyao was secretly delighted and curved her lips. “Thank you, Mr. Pei!”
The driver stepped forward and held the umbrella over her head.
After they got in, the car door closed, shutting out the cold air.
The Cullinan slowly started and drove away from the club.
Mark sat in the front passenger seat and asked, “Miss Meng, where is your school?”
Meng Shuyao replied, “The art college in the Loop District. Sorry for the trouble.”
The brief conversation ended, and silence fell inside the car.
The lights of the buildings swept past the window, blurring into shifting spots of color.
Meng Shuyao quietly glanced sideways with the corner of her eye.
The man had his left hand propped against his temple, his eyes closed as he rested against the seat.
Even in the alternating light and shadow, the contours of his side profile remained deep and sharply defined. His bone structure was far too imposing, combining the best features of Western and Asian appearances.
Meng Shuyao stared, entranced.
She did not expect him to suddenly open his eyes.
His sharp gaze shot over.
Her heartbeat skipped.
She hurriedly looked away in a panic and searched for a topic. “Mr. Pei, I’m sorry. I dirtied your clothes. I can send them to be dry-cleaned for you.”
She could not afford to compensate him. Her little bit of pocket money was nowhere near enough.
Pei Yuzhou’s voice was low and deep. “You’re very noisy.”
Meng Shuyao shut her mouth awkwardly. It was the first time in her life someone had disliked her for being noisy.
Did he have to be this aloof?
At that moment, Mark glanced back at Pei Yuzhou and reported in a low voice, “Sir, the plane has already been arranged. You can depart tomorrow.”
The man gave a faint “Mm.”
Meng Shuyao bit her lip, wanting to speak but holding back. In the end, she could not help it. “Mr. Pei, are you leaving tomorrow?”
He lifted his eyelids slightly. “What?”
“Your jacket. How should I return it to you when the time comes?”
“Throw it away.”
“…”
Such an expensive jacket, and he could just throw it away?
If she threw it away, what reason would she have to look for him again?
“Um…” Meng Shuyao faltered. “Can I ask a question?”
“Speak.”
A single word, as sparing as gold.
Meng Shuyao fell silent for a moment and secretly took a deep breath. “Mr. Pei, do you have a girlfriend?”