Extreme Pampering-Chapter 16 - Its Not a Transaction Between Us
Chapter 16: Chapter 16 It’s Not a Transaction Between Us.
Chapter 16: Chapter 16 It’s Not a Transaction Between Us.
“I’m glad you’re not upset.”
Pei Yu gently kissed her nose, lowering his voice, imbued with a hint of ambiguity, “Didn’t you say I’m your rock? I have to do something to earn that title.”
That had all been drunken babble, and his serious way of bringing it up made Shen Zhiyi both embarrassed and flustered, slightly turning her face to dodge his kiss, “I didn’t say that,”
someone else had.
And though he had admitted it then, she seemed to have denied it.
“It doesn’t matter,” his sparse gaze fell on her radiant, beautiful neck, there was a slight itch at his teeth as Pei Yu said indifferently, “because I truly am.”
He wasn’t a patient man; no sooner had he spoken than he kissed her. Shen Zhiyi couldn’t escape, her entire being enveloped tightly by the warm agarwood scent exuding from his body, with only the sound of her own slightly hurried breathing and the chatter of men inside aside from that.
“…Brother Pei just returned to the country not long ago, how come he suddenly has a woman?”
Qin Fang muttered, “He doesn’t even bring her to meet us, how inconsiderate.”
The deep male voice said flatly, “Do you not know Pei Yu’s temperament? He’s so cautious; he’d rather hide everything away than bring it out, you wish.”
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Qin Fang sheepishly agreed, “True, he’s always been like this since childhood and has only gotten worse with age.”
It was said that the cautious man was just behind a screen tormenting the beauty he spoke of. Shen Zhiyi pushed him slightly, her face deeply flushed, fearing that the others might hear any noise, her voice barely audible, “Do we have to do this here?”
Separated just by a screen, this gave Shen Zhiyi the false impression of being in a public place, yet Pei Yu was completely oblivious.
Flicking the moisture from the corner of her lip with his fingertips, Pei Yu mimicked her whispered tone in a teasing manner, “Not satisfied here?”
How could she respond to that?
She sighed lightly, wrapping her arms around his neck and leaning against him, her voice falling into his ear, “Your friends are too loud.”
She was deliberately mimicking his earlier words.
Although Pei Yu knew she was embarrassed, he appreciated that she stood by him, tightening his hold on her waist as he pulled her up, “Then let’s go home.”
The word “home” fell from his lips, causing Shen Zhiyi to lose her composure for a moment; she had always lacked a true home, making her particularly sensitive to the term.
She looked up, Pei Yu leading her by the hand and walking a bit faster ahead, leaving her with the sight of his tall, broad back and sharply contoured profile.
With whom would this man form a home?
The night wind fluttered, wrinkling the shirt on Pei Yu’s body. His eyes lowered, observing the path of Shen Zhiyi’s skirt fluttering against his legs. After a while, he almost imperceptibly smiled, silently; the trace quickly faded, so much so that no one noticed his fleeting gentle expression.
When Shen Zhiyi turned her head, all she saw was his eyes lifting, his hand on her waist, earnestly straightening the part of her skirt that the wind had tousled.
Her gaze followed downward, watching his beautifully slender fingers, “Thank you for helping me this time, but please don’t go out of your way for me in the future.”
Pei Yu paused his movements, looking up only after he had adjusted her skirt, his expression half-hidden in the night and street lights, “Are you trying to distance yourself from me?”
“No,” Shen Zhiyi didn’t want to upset him, but, contrary to her wishes, she explained herself, “I know it’s just a matter of a few words for you, but to me, it’s a debt of gratitude I can’t repay. I don’t like owing someone, and if the debt grows, what will I use to repay it?”
She simply wished for a peaceful parting, unentangled by obligations in a distant future. If she accepted this favor and enjoyed the various benefits he provided, how could she bear to part without remorse?
Accustomed to being alone, Shen Zhiyi was most afraid of owing favors, especially those she simply couldn’t repay.
“Who asked you to repay?” Pei Yu’s expression was cold, “Are you calculating so clearly because you’re afraid I’ll use this to bind you?”
Shen Zhiyi couldn’t respond for a moment.
“Shen Zhiyi,” Pei Yu turned his head, his tone carrying his unique arrogance, “our relationship isn’t a transaction, what I give you isn’t a reward; you think too lowly of yourself.”
He leaned forward, brushing the hair that had been blown onto her cheek, “Can’t accept what I give you with a clear conscience? Then remember it well, don’t forget any of it.”
Shen Zhiyi looked at him puzzled, not understanding what he meant. She didn’t want to accept the benefits he offered precisely because she didn’t want their relationship to turn into a transaction, but he insisted on giving and also denied the term “transaction.”
She didn’t understand.
If it wasn’t a transaction, then what exactly was their relationship?
Pei Yu avoided her confused and blank gaze, standing in the night, his silhouette shivering in the wind, his voice somewhat low against the darkness, “Shen Zhiyi, my kindness is for you to remember.”
Didn’t want to owe him, wanted to cleanly break it off? He wouldn’t let her have her way.
The night blurred his figure, Shen Zhiyi couldn’t clearly see his expression as he spoke those words, only from the last lightly pronounced word did she sense his stubbornness and care.
Was his demand simply for her to remember?
“Come here,” Pei Yu walked back into the light, his tone and demeanor returning to normal, extending his hand towards Shen Zhiyi, his palm facing up, fingers slightly bent. Only then did Shen Zhiyi notice a faint scar in his palm, unaware of how it had formed.
She pursed her lips, extending her hand, “Don’t be angry, you want me to remember, I will remember well.”
What profound principles could she discuss with such a person? He always did as he pleased, wanted to give and just gave it; it was a mere trifle for him, she was being too earnest.
“Even if I get angry, I wouldn’t take it out on you.”
Pei Yu’s expression was indifferent, his eyes showed a trace of self-mockery. She was so compliant precisely because she was afraid he would make things difficult for her, couldn’t she see?
In her eyes, he couldn’t compare with her acting career.
Initially, he had taken advantage of her vulnerability by banking on her nature, knowing what she cared about most. Although he was clear in his heart, seeing her balance their relationship on the scales of benefit still angered him.
Shen Zhiyi quietly observed his expression, the corners of her lips tight, her eyes downturned, a cold look spread across his face; indeed, he was really angry.
Though she didn’t understand why he was angry, she knew he didn’t like her recent words, didn’t like her negotiating with him; perhaps that was what triggered him.
She sighed softly, but couldn’t say anything more to placate him.
The next day, Pei Yu went overseas to handle business, leaving at dawn, leaving just a message for Shen Zhiyi.
Butler: “Sir said he would be back in no more than five days.”
Shen Zhiyi looked at the now empty master bedroom, “Was he still angry when he left?”
The butler smiled, “It didn’t seem like it.”
It didn’t seem like it? Yet Shen Zhiyi inexplicably felt his anger hadn’t subsided yet.
