Bai Yanzhou rested his head on Pei Wanyou’s lap as she gently massaged his throbbing temples.
“Brother, how’s my service?” Pei Wanyou looked down at Bai Yanzhou, who had his eyes closed, completely relaxed, and wore an expression of pure contentment.
Bai Yanzhou slowly opened his eyes. Those deep, solemn blue eyes now held a hint of softness. “Speak.”
Pei Wanyou tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “It’s like this—Lulu lives alone, and she invited me to share an apartment with her. Since our parents aren’t home, you don’t care for me, and I dislike you, wouldn’t this be perfect?”
Bai Yanzhou lifted his arm, hooked it around Pei Wanyou’s neck, and pulled her down to meet his gaze. Having drunk alcohol, his voice was slightly hoarse. “Dislike me?” His tone was slow, exceptionally lazy.
“Uh—”
Had she not made it obvious enough?
But then again, his face was just too good-looking. Even up close, there were no flaws to be seen—the high bridge of his nose, his thin lips, those slightly drunken eyes…
Her heartbeat involuntarily quickened.
“I’ve said it before—come straight home after school, or I’ll break your legs.” After saying this, Bai Yanzhou adjusted his position, crossing his legs and resting them on the arm of the sofa.
Pei Wanyou gritted her teeth. Had all her massaging and concern been in vain?
“Brother, why do you smell like blood?” Pei Wanyou leaned down and sniffed, especially around his hands.
At the thought of those two men’s conversation, Bai Yanzhou’s expression darkened. How dare someone actually speak about Pei Wanyou behind her back, describing her as an accessory, a plaything.
Seeing that Bai Yanzhou ignored her, Pei Wanyou returned to the previous topic. “Brother, think about it. I’m such a big third wheel at home—isn’t it inconvenient for you and Alma to take things further?”
Bai Yanzhou closed his eyes. She carried a faint milky scent—not exactly pleasant, but certainly not unpleasant.
Pei Wanyou pressed her fingertips against Bai Yanzhou’s temples. “Brother, just agree, won’t you? You’re not getting any younger—don’t you want a gentle, capable wife?”
Bai Yanzhou sat up, resting his elbows on his knees. “Do you really enjoy giving away things you’ve used yourself?”
“Hey, you—what nonsense are you talking about?” Pei Wanyou quickly stood up. What kind of analogy was that…
Bai Yanzhou rose to his feet. “I’m going to take a shower. I’ll check your homework later.” Frowning, he headed toward the bathroom.
Pei Wanyou nearly flipped him off behind his back. He couldn’t stand the sight of her at home, yet he wouldn’t let her move out either.
In the bathroom, Bai Yanzhou braced his hands against the cold wall as water traced the contours of his well-defined muscles. His eyes were filled with self-reproach and regret.
Some things, once done, could never be undone.
Pei Wanyou sat in the courtyard, wrapped in a coat. The maid was in the main house looking after Shushu, who had already fallen asleep. Pei Wanyou’s fingers flew rapidly across the keyboard.
A gentle breeze brushed past, tousling her hair. She pouted and muttered softly, “With such a controlling nature, who would dare marry him in the future?”
Bai Yanzhou stood in a black robe, arms crossed, watching Pei Wanyou. He had never seen anyone curse while doing homework.
Hearing the sound of a lighter, Pei Wanyou complained, “Don’t smoke. Grandma said men who smoke deserve a good scolding.”
“Deal with me?” Bai Yanzhou took a drag of his cigarette, the smoke obscuring his expression at that moment.
Pei Wanyou thought about it and also felt it was unlikely—even his mother couldn’t do anything about him.
“I’m going to accompany Lulu tomorrow to buy some daily necessities near the school. I’ve already promised her.” Pei Wanyou closed her laptop. “If you don’t agree, I’ll move in with her.”
The “Roof-Removal Effect” (When a room is too dark, suggesting opening a skylight will likely be rejected, but if you propose removing the roof entirely, they’ll compromise and agree to the skylight.)
“No.” Bai Yanzhou replied curtly.
Pei Wanyou quickly stood up and stomped over to Bai Yanzhou, her face flushed with anger. “How can you be like this! I’m going!”
Seeing Pei Wanyou’s face redden with rage, Bai Yanzhou flicked the ash from his cigarette. “You want to try?”
Pei Wanyou’s breathing changed. She was quick to lose her nerve; before the argument even started, half her courage had already vanished. “Try it then, who’s afraid of who!” she said, wiping away her tears. In truth, she was still scared—otherwise, she wouldn’t have negotiated for so long.
“Crying won’t help.” Bai Yanzhou lowered his head. That’s all she amounted to.
At that moment, like most inflexible parents, he viewed the situation from his own perspective, using the excuse of “doing what’s best for her” to assert his authority.
Pei Wanyou opened her mouth and bit down hard. So infuriating…
Bai Yanzhou gritted his teeth around the cigarette, enduring the pain. Like a dog, resorting to biting. “Finished biting? Now it’s my turn, isn’t it?”
Pei Wanyou bit down on Bai Yanzhou’s arm, tears welling in her eyes as she looked at him. She had forgotten—with her parents not home, no one was there to back her up…
“I’m never talking to you again.” Pei Wanyou finished with a sob and ran out of the room.
Bai Yanzhou walked over to the desk and opened Pei Wanyou’s laptop, intending to check her homework. But just then, someone sent a file.
Lulu: [Sweetie, check these out, they’re shaking it so provocatively.]
Bai Yanzhou frowned and clicked to take a look. The man in the video was barely dressed, swaying his hips seductively with flirtatious eyes, thrusting his pelvis, and occasionally making lewd gestures.
Pei Wanyou was still smugly pleased with her “little cleverness” when Bai Yanzhou kicked the door open, startling her.
Bai Yanzhou threw the laptop onto the bed. “Is this what you study every day at school?”
The dancing and hip-swaying were nothing compared to the videos that followed, which were even more indecent when opened.
Pei Wanyou glanced at the laptop: “…” After school, Lulu had said she’d send her some “good stuff,” but she had forgotten about it.
“I’m not a child anymore. It’s not like you haven’t watched plenty either…” Pei Wanyou’s voice grew softer and softer.
Bai Yanzhou thought she was asleep and knew nothing, but she had actually been awake and aware. She had even been curious about it back then.
Raising a child as they grow up is truly worrisome.
Pei Wanyou sat on the bed, chin raised, and let out a light “hmph.” “Just because you’re six years older than me, you trick me, coax me to sleep, and then secretly watch it yourself.”
The worse his expression became, the happier she felt inside. Served him right for not letting her go out and have fun.
Bai Yanzhou had been drinking. Although most of the drunkenness had worn off while showering, at this moment, Pei Wanyou opposing him was clearly not a wise choice.
Pei Wanyou thought to herself, at worst, she’d just get punished. What else could he do?
Bai Yanzhou directly pulled Pei Wanyou up from the bed. She was wearing thin pajamas, which was why she had put on a jacket earlier.
“What are you doing?” Pei Wanyou stumbled as she followed behind Bai Yanzhou. “You’re hurting me.” His strength was overwhelming.
With a grim expression, Bai Yanzhou dragged Pei Wanyou out of the courtyard.
The butler was arranging the placement of new furniture. Hearing Pei Wanyou’s voice, he turned to look.
“Young Master?” The butler froze. What was going on now? Fortunately, the two were siblings. If they were husband and wife, there would be plenty of drama to watch for the rest of their lives.
Pei Wanyou’s arms were red, and she was barefoot. The cobblestones hurt her feet. “Let go of me. I didn’t see it—wasn’t it you who received it?”
When it was time to yield, she had to yield.
Bai Yanzhou’s face remained dark. His long legs took large strides, forcing Pei Wanyou to keep up quickly, or her arm would be pulled off.
“Young Master, the young lady is still young. Please talk things out calmly,” the butler hurriedly stepped forward to intervene.
Bai Yanzhou was furious at the moment. Still young?
The main gate opened, and Pei Wanyou was thrown out directly. “Didn’t you want to move out? I’ll grant your wish.” He then looked at the two men guarding the door. “Do not open the gate without my permission.”
The butler broke into a cold sweat. It was late at night, and outside was only an open-air parking lot and a pavilion, with winding mountain roads on both sides. What if something happened?
Pei Wanyou trembled with anger. “This is my home! How dare you kick me out!”
Bai Yanzhou slammed the gate shut. For every word he said, she had a hundred waiting for him.
The butler followed Bai Yanzhou. “Young Master, this won’t do. The young lady isn’t even wearing shoes. It’s the changing season, and the temperature difference between day and night is huge. What if she catches a cold?”
Bai Yanzhou’s temples throbbed with pain. He hadn’t intended to do this…
Pei Wanyou stood alone at the gate, tears streaming down her face in grievance. In all her life, this was the first time she had been thrown out.
Pouting, tears flowed uncontrollably. She would never forget that Bai Yanzhou had driven her out of the house.
If he didn’t want her back, fine. If it weren’t for Shushu, she wouldn’t have been trying to warm up to his cold indifference.
“Young lady, please put on shoes first,” one of the brothers guarding the door took off his shoes.
Pei Wanyou shook her head. She only felt absurd. The brother who had doted on her since childhood could turn into a completely different person.
But who could she blame? Wasn’t she the one who had caused all this?
“Young lady, sit here for a while. The young master will calm down soon,” he said, taking off his suit jacket.
Pei Wanyou turned and walked barefoot down the mountain. One must take responsibility for their actions, even if no one had told her exactly how to do it.
Bai Yanzhou hadn’t gone far. He lit a cigarette. Despite Pei Wanyou’s loud protests, she was timid and wouldn’t dare to go far.
The butler was torn. If he chased after her, the young master would only get angrier. If he didn’t, he worried—what if something happened? When the madam returned, it would be a disaster.
After finishing his cigarette, Bai Yanzhou motioned with his chin for the butler to open the gate.
Two living ancestors.
Once the gate opened, the butler looked left and right. “Where is the young lady?”
The two men guarding the door pointed. “She went down the mountain.”
“I…” The butler was momentarily at a loss for words. “Can’t you tell what’s more important—guarding the gate or the young lady?” With that, he ran down the mountain, still shouting, “Young lady!”
Bai Yanzhou stood waiting at the gate. With those short legs of hers, how far could she have gone in the time it takes to smoke a cigarette?
“…”
“Have you seen the young lady?” the butler asked anxiously. Logically, she should be nearby.
The brother standing guard by the roadside with a gun shook his head. “No.”
The butler was baffled. There was only one road. The brother guarding the gate said the young lady had gone down the mountain, but the brother stationed here said he hadn’t seen her.
Bai Yanzhou waited a while, and when the butler didn’t return, he stepped outside. “…”
The butler wiped cold sweat from his brow. “Young master, the young lady is missing. The brothers guarding the mountain say they haven’t seen her. The key issue is that the fence along the mountain edge is damaged, and the streetlights were removed along with it. They haven’t been replaced yet.”
“Damn it—”
Bai Yanzhou headed down the mountain, only to receive the same answer: the brothers guarding the mountain hadn’t seen Pei Wanyou.
Late at night, the entire Bai household was brightly lit. The brothers guarding the mountain began searching the area. Bai Yanzhou held a cigarette between his fingers while operating a drone.
Alma walked out, draped in a coat. “Brother Yanzhou, what’s going on?” She was a little scared. Could someone be bold enough to attack the Bai family?
In the distance, the lookout posts lit up, sweeping the area with hundreds of beams of light.
Three whole hours passed, and Pei Wanyou seemed to have vanished into thin air. They had searched the foot of the mountain and checked the surveillance footage…
Bai Yanzhou smoked, appearing calm on the surface but utterly panicked inside.
Alma said anxiously, “Could she have accidentally fallen and gotten stuck somewhere?” It wasn’t an impossible scenario.
She knew the pain of losing a loved one and was genuinely worried now. She didn’t want Pei Wanyou staying at home—she was in the way—but she had never intended to harm her.
“Get lost.” Bai Yanzhou’s tone was harsh. Even though it was a winding mountain road, if Pei Wanyou had really fallen, there would have been traces left behind.
Where could a delicate young girl like her possibly go?
The Bai family’s patrol drones circled overhead, emitting deafening roars.
Lu Shu’an, dressed in black tight-fitting clothes, led dozens of people behind him. Everything was fine earlier in the evening, but by midnight, she was missing. Bai Yanzhou really knew how to dig his own grave—not only blocking his own path but also building several walls around it.
Alma stood beside Bai Yanzhou. An idea occurred to her, and she tiptoed to whisper in his ear. “Let’s make a deal. I’ll help you find Wanyou, and you’ll… with me…”
She had already been captivated by the man before her.
Bai Yanzhou turned his head to look at Alma.
“If you don’t say anything, I’ll take it as your agreement.” Alma finished speaking and ran off to find the butler.