He caught her mid-motion when she woke, his eyes like a deep abyss, sending an inexplicable tremor through her heart.
She subconsciously tried to sit up straight, but her arms had gone numb from sleeping in the same position for too long. She lost her balance and fell back onto the sofa.
Her fingers instinctively gripped the edge of the cushion, knuckles turning white from the force.
The faint moon-shaped scar on the back of her neck glowed under the light, making her fair skin look even more translucent.
“Mr… Mr. Pei.” Her voice was still soft from sleep, slightly hoarse, the ending syllable unintentionally drawn out.
She hurriedly lifted a hand to fix her hair, but accidentally knocked over the teacup on the coffee table, producing a sharp clink.
Both of them reached out at the same time to steady it.
Her cold fingertips brushed against the back of his hand.
The warmth from his skin seeped through hers, making her instantly pull her hand back as if burned.
To cover her embarrassment, she broke the silence.
“Mr. Pei, is the restoration finished?”
“Yes.”
As soon as he finished speaking, his phone rang again. He glanced at it and walked toward the balcony.
She patted her cheeks lightly.
She shouldn’t have said anything unnecessary just now.
The lingering heat in her ears still hadn’t faded.
She had just had a dream.
A dream where he was coaxing her on the bed, asking her to call him “baby,” and when she refused, he kept kissing her relentlessly.
Her gaze drifted to the restored diary on the coffee table. The handwriting inside wasn’t very clear, but she could still barely tell it was written by a woman.
As expected… a man’s heart always has many different women in it.
Thinking of her dream, she felt a bit irritated. She picked up her phone, and when she saw he was still on the balcony talking, she quietly left.
She thought he didn’t notice—but the moment she stepped out, he had already seen her.
“You went to Qingcheng again?”
“Didn’t Grandpa already know?” he replied casually.
Old Master Pei’s expression darkened. “Cough… she already—”
“Grandpa, it’s late. You should rest.”
“….”
Beep—beep—beep.
The call ended.
Old Master Pei frowned. “This isn’t the first time he’s hung up on me.”
A man nearby stepped forward. He looked around forty, well-groomed and strikingly handsome, though a scar at the corner of his left eye made him look intimidating when he wasn’t smiling.
“Godfather,” the man said lazily. “Men forget things once they get married. Everyone has a first love. I heard the Qin girl has taken a liking to him. She’s beautiful—no man wouldn’t like her. Except me.”
“Enough. Go back. I called you here for a few minutes and your mind isn’t even here. Keep an eye on A’chen’s side. Don’t let random women mess with his mind again.”
“Yes.”
As he turned to leave, he added, “Oh right, Godfather, I ran into Second Young Master overseas. He was working part-time in a milk tea shop.”
At the mention of Pei Yu, Old Master Pei’s brow furrowed. “Let him be.”
Meanwhile—
Pei Ranye’s thumb hovered above the end-call button. The faint orange-blossom scent in the room—her usual perfume—lingered and disturbed his thoughts.
Every time he closed his eyes, he saw her face.
Irritated, he unbuttoned his shirt, preparing to go to the bathroom.
Suddenly, someone pushed the door open.
“Mr. Pei, you really are here.”
“Who let you in?” he said coldly, re-fastening his buttons. “Get out.”
“I… I’m Qin Rongyin. You remember me, right?”
“I don’t.”
“We had a blind date before…” She spoke softly, shyly. “I couldn’t reach you, so I came myself. My mother wanted to meet you—do you have time?”
“What does my relationship with you have to do with me meeting your mother?”
A deep voice came from the doorway.
Just as Su Yi was about to go in to retrieve something the restorer had left behind, she paused.
Inside… there was another woman.
Qin Rongyin.
Perfect makeup, a black designer dress, understated luxury under the lights—every detail screamed aristocratic refinement.
She withdrew her hand and lowered her gaze, listening.
“I… my mother really wants to meet you…”
So he was going to meet her parents?
She had read about Qin Rongyin.
A daughter of the Qin family, an internationally renowned pianist—always praised online, flawless, elegant.
Only such a woman… was truly worthy of standing beside him.
If he was preparing to meet her family, that made sense.
After all, she had seen people get married after just two days of dating.
But if he got married… what would happen to Nian Nian?
Su Yi closed her eyes, her chest heavy as if pressed by a stone.
Why now, of all times?
Inside the room—
“I like you. The first time I saw you, I liked you.”
“I don’t have feelings for you,” the man said coldly. “Don’t waste your time. Get out.”
“Feelings can be developed slowly…”
“Do you like me, so I must like you? Qin Rongyin, what do you take me for?”
“Either you leave yourself, or I’ll have security escort you out.”
The dismissal was final.
Qin Rongyin’s expression stiffened. She forced herself to remain composed, then turned and left.
Bang.
The door slammed shut.
She was furious. She had never been rejected like this before.
Then she thought of his secretary and dialed a number.
“Old Master Pei, sorry for disturbing you so late…”
“Of course not, just speak,” the old man replied warmly.
“Grandpa Pei… there seems to be a woman around Ah Chen. Her name is… Su…”