Jiang Mei took a longer route home and returned a bit late. As soon as she entered, she heard Zhou Lan complain, "Sister-in-law, my brother finally came home. Why are you only returning now? The food has all gone cold waiting for you."
"Zhou Lan," Zhou Hongyuan's face darkened, "Apologize! Who taught you to be so disrespectful to your elder sister-in-law?"
"I was just telling the truth. Brother, why are you being so unreasonable?"
Zhou Lan pouted, looking aggrieved. Zhou Hongyuan didn't indulge her and directly shut her back in her room: "Reflect on yourself properly. You can eat again only when you realize your mistake!"
Zhou Lan wailed loudly inside the room, but Zhou Hongyuan turned a deaf ear, instead bringing out the food that had been kept warm in the pot.
Seeing him go to such lengths, Jiang Mei couldn't stay angry. She took another bowl to set aside some food for Zhou Lan, but Zhou Hongyuan stopped her: "Don't mind her. Since our marriage, you've been managing this household. If she's so ungrateful, she needs to learn a lesson."
Zhou Hongyuan was usually gentle and polite, but when it came to Jiang Mei, he was firm and uncompromising.
These past days of anxiety and unease finally gave way to a sense of security for Jiang Mei.
After the meal, Jiang Mei helped Zhou Hongyuan apply medicine.
Zhou Hongyuan had no visible injuries on his face and had acted normally during dinner, so Jiang Mei thought his wounds weren't serious. However, when he removed his upper garment, his body was covered in whip marks.
The person administering the punishment had been ruthless. Zhou Hongyuan's flesh was torn open in several places, with some wounds having reopened and started bleeding again.
Furious and heartbroken, Jiang Mei's eyes welled up with tears: "I'm sorry, it's all my fault. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have suffered like this."
As Jiang Mei's tears fell, Zhou Hongyuan immediately became flustered: "I'm a man; these minor injuries are nothing. You've done nothing wrong. If anyone's to blame, it's me for being incapable and making you live in fear."
Zhou Hongyuan cupped Jiang Mei's face, wiping her tears. Meeting her watery, reddened eyes, his ears flushed crimson instantly.
Well-read and unlike ordinary men driven by base desires, he was always courteous and proper in front of Jiang Mei. Even though they were already married, because of Mrs. Li's warning not to hinder his studies, he had never overstepped any boundaries.
The atmosphere grew ambiguous. Sensing what might happen, Jiang Mei was about to pull away when Mrs. Li suddenly knocked on the door: "Meiniang, I suddenly feel a tightness in my chest. Go to the clinic and get some medicine for me."
The intimate mood vanished instantly. Jiang Mei shoved the medicine into Zhou Hongyuan's hands, secretly relieved.
Zhou Hongyuan dressed and went out with Jiang Mei. Seeing Mrs. Li clutching her chest in apparent pain, he immediately offered to carry her to the clinic. Mrs. Li refused, gasping, "It's just an old ailment; a dose of medicine will do. Don't just focus on your wife; let your mother have a good look at you too."
As she spoke, tears glistened at the corners of Mrs. Li's eyes. Not wanting to put Zhou Hongyuan in a difficult position, Jiang Mei quickly said, "Husband, stay home and take care of Mother. I'll go get the medicine."
With that, Jiang Mei left. But as she turned the corner, she was pulled into a narrow alley.
Instinctively, Jiang Mei kicked out in resistance. Her assailant, however, anticipated this. A long arm slipped behind her knee, lifting her effortlessly and rendering her immobile.
"Too slow to react, too weak in force. Is that how I taught you?"
The familiar voice exploded above her head. Jiang Mei looked up and, unsurprisingly, saw Pei Jingchuan.
Wasn't he supposed to be out shopping? How did he end up here?
This alley wasn't remote; people could pass by at any moment. If discovered, Jiang Mei would instantly become a social pariah, scorned by all.
"I didn't know it was you, I'm sorry."
Jiang Mei softened her posture, hoping Pei Jingchuan would let her go, but he remained unmoving, gazing down at her: "What were you hiding from?"
He was referring to her earlier escape on the street.
They weren't exactly a relationship that could be seen in the light of day—under broad daylight, should she not have hidden? Should she have gone up to chat with him instead?
"There were so many people on the street, I was afraid of causing trouble for you, so I hid."
Jiang Mei tried to smooth things over, but Pei Jingchuan didn't believe her. He sneered coldly, his eyes dark and unfathomable, like a boundless black sea threatening to drown her.
He had just released Zhou Hongyuan, and she immediately started avoiding him—did she take him for a fool?
"Can we talk somewhere without people?"
Jiang Mei tugged at Pei Jingchuan's sleeve, her voice soft and delicate, deliberately pleading and ingratiating.
Pei Jingchuan remained unmoved: "What are you afraid of? Don't tell me your useless husband knows nothing?"
"He really doesn't know."
Jiang Mei replied, her eyes red and watery, filled with fear.
She had just been crying.
Pei Jingchuan could easily tell, but it wasn't for him.
In front of him, she only showed unease and fear.
Anger coiled around Pei Jingchuan's heart like vines.
Born into nobility, countless women sought to climb into his bed. His pride would never allow him to cling to a woman—it was Jiang Mei who had provoked him first. Yet even in his arms, her thoughts were still of another man.
Jiang Mei didn't know what Pei Jingchuan was thinking, only sensing his expression growing increasingly gloomy, his arm tightening around her waist. Just then, she heard voices.
It was Aunt Liu from next door and her daughter-in-law!
If they didn't leave now, they would be discovered.
Jiang Mei couldn't help but push against Pei Jingchuan, but her strength was too feeble to move him an inch. As the voices drew nearer, she mustered her courage, stood on her toes, and kissed him.
She was truly frightened—her lips were cold, trembling uncontrollably.
The moment her lips touched Pei Jingchuan's chin, he finally used his lightness skill to carry her to a nearby carriage.
In the dim, cramped space, Pei Jingchuan's presence was fierce, as if branding her soul with his mark alone.
Afterward, Pei Jingchuan still gave Jiang Mei the bottle of medicine.
He had been rough and relentless, as if trying to strip her alive. Jiang Mei hadn't expected him to have prepared medicine and was momentarily stunned before whispering, "Thank you."
Only after Jiang Mei's figure disappeared around the street corner did Pei Jingchuan depart in his carriage.
The cold wind rustled the carriage curtains, carrying away the lingering scent of decadence in the air. Pei Jingchuan's face was cold as he idly toyed with the ring on his finger, while Jiang Mei's insincere, soft moans still echoed in his ears.
Did she really like that man so much?
Enough to sell her body once more, willingly sinking into the mire.
Frightened by Pei Jingchuan and thoroughly exhausted, Jiang Mei still had to pretend nothing was wrong and brew medicine for Mrs. Li upon returning home. Pushed to her limit, she fell ill with a high fever the next day.
In her dazed state, she felt someone undressing her and immediately woke in alarm.
Weak and powerless, Jiang Mei's eyes were filled with panic and fear.
Zhou Hongyuan quickly reassured her: "Meiniang, it's me, don't be afraid. You're sweating heavily. I asked Lan'er to help wipe you down and change into clean clothes so you can sleep better."
Zhou Hongyuan's eyes were clear and bright, brimming with concern.
Even so, Jiang Mei's heart ached with a dull, heavy pain.
Pei Jingchuan had left many marks on her body, which could easily be discovered if she wasn't careful.
She hurriedly said, "No need, I can do it myself."
Her refusal came too quickly, causing a flicker of surprise in Zhou Hongyuan's eyes. Jiang Mei bit her lip in embarrassment.