Jian Jinci stood before Pei Yanzhou, a faint smile playing on her lips. “Mr. Pei is quite generous.”
“I’ll pass on the koi fish—I’m afraid it might bring bad luck.”
Pei Yanzhou’s lips twitched slightly. Though not entirely natural, she was certain he had smiled.
Jian Jinci said, “With such a handsome face, you should smile more. Looking so stern is quite intimidating.”
The curve of Pei Yanzhou’s lips froze for a moment, but he didn’t retract his smile. He asked, “Are you afraid?”
“No.”
Jian Jinci answered without hesitation, her tone light. “You haven’t hurt me, so why should I be afraid of you?”
Hearing her words, a complex emotion flickered in Pei Yanzhou’s dark eyes.
Her words transported his thoughts back to his youth.
Back then, a little girl who wasn’t doing well herself had smiled brightly and said, “You’re really good-looking. You should smile more. Looking so stern is quite intimidating.”
As a young boy, he had asked the girl if she was afraid.
She shook her head and said, “No, you haven’t hurt me, so why should I be afraid of you?”
Noticing Pei Yanzhou lost in thought, she fell silent. Suddenly, warmth enveloped her wrist. She looked down to see Pei Yanzhou gripping her wrist, leading her inside.
She walked beside him. He was very tall, easily over six feet, while she only reached his shoulder—a full head shorter.
She could clearly feel the warmth of his palm, and her heartbeat quickened. Flustered, she exclaimed, “Pei Yanzhou!”
“Wash your hands.”
Pei Yanzhou said, “You just touched the fish.”
It was rare for him to offer an explanation. Jian Jinci glanced down at her hands—they were sticky.
She stammered, “Well… men and women shouldn’t be too familiar. I can walk by myself.”
The man beside her chuckled softly, his voice low and magnetic. He stopped and looked at her with a teasing smile. “Men and women shouldn’t be too familiar?”
He gave her a meaningful once-over, his gaze finally settling on her face. “What haven’t you seen of me?”
Jian Jinci: “…”
Her cheeks instantly flushed. Why was he bringing this up again? What happened when she was drunk and unaware shouldn’t count.
Under Pei Yanzhou’s gaze, she grew flustered and angry.
“Pei Yanzhou!”
“I’m here.”
Jian Jinci glared at him. “Can we just drop this? You know I was drunk.”
“Hmm?” Pei Yanzhou replied, “Not really.”
Jian Jinci: “…”
She closed her eyes, pursed her lips, and repeatedly reminded herself not to get angry. She was the one who had gotten drunk, she was the one who had teased him—she was in the wrong. She couldn’t be unreasonable; she had to persuade him with logic.
When she opened her eyes again, the anger on her face had vanished, replaced by a pitiful expression. She looked at Pei Yanzhou with moist eyes. “Brother Pei, that day… I had just been cheated on by my boyfriend. It’s a painful memory I’d rather not recall.”
“I’m sorry for teasing you.”
“I hope we can put this behind us. Let’s both forget this unpleasant memory.”
As she spoke, her eyes reddened. She sniffled—her acting was so convincing that anyone else would have believed her.
“No.” Pei Yanzhou said, “I was the victim.”
“…”
Goodness, this man was utterly unyielding. So difficult to deal with.
“Pei Yanzhou, I was the one who suffered that night. I gave you my first kiss, and…” She hesitated, struggling to find the words, but finally stammered out, “You saw me completely naked…”
“So, if you bring this up again, I’ll make you take responsibility.” She then proceeded to analyze the pros and cons for Pei Yanzhou.
“My family background isn’t good, and I’m unemployed. My ex-boyfriend isn’t even worthy of tying your shoelaces, and even he looked down on me, which proves I’m no good in every way. I have some self-awareness—I’m not worthy of you.”
“Plus, I have a younger brother. I’m a ‘brother-dependent’ type—if I make you take responsibility for me, you’ll not only have to support me but also my brother. It’s not worth it, and I don’t want to ruin your life. Let’s just move past this.”
“If you keep talking about it, I’ll make you take responsibility. You’re powerful, influential, and good-looking—it wouldn’t be a loss for me anyway.”
Since he was being stubborn, she switched to threats. With her complicated family background, most people would avoid her like the plague.
She raised an eyebrow at him. “Doesn’t that make sense?”
“As a capitalist, you’re best at weighing pros and cons. So, I believe you can make the right choice. A man as outstanding as you should find a girl from a suitable background.”
Jian Jinci mixed threats with flattery, hoping only to put this matter behind her as soon as possible.
“You make a very reasonable analysis,” Pei Yanzhou said.
“Right? Then let’s just drop it.” Her efforts weren’t in vain.
Pei Yanzhou: “So, I’ve decided to take responsibility for you.”
“…” Jian Jinci: “You…”
She was so angry she nearly spat blood. This was by far the most difficult man she’d ever encountered.
Pei Yanzhou curled his lips. “Then you take responsibility for me.”
“…”
Someone save her—she desperately needed heart medication right now.
She glanced down at her dirty hands, then at Pei Yanzhou’s clothes. A mischievous smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.
If that’s how it was, then she wouldn’t hold back.
She looked toward the open black wrought-iron gate. After causing trouble, she’d make a run for it—a perfect plan.
The little devil inside her stirred. She reached her hand toward Pei Yanzhou’s clothes.
“Two hundred thousand,” Pei Yanzhou said, his gaze fixed on her outstretched hand. “This outfit costs two hundred thousand.”
Just as she was about to touch his clothes, Jian Jinci quickly stopped and withdrew her hand.
Fine, she lost. But she didn’t lose to him—she lost to money. There’s no shame in bowing to wealth; everyone does it.
The final negotiation ended in failure, and Pei Yanzhou never brought up the matter again afterward.
After washing her hands, Pei Yanzhou showed her around. As long as they didn’t talk about that night, she could speak to him calmly.
She hadn’t expected the villa to be even larger than it appeared. Aside from the front yard, the backyard featured a garden straight ahead—lush green lawn, white wooden fence, a pebble-paved path, and white roses climbing the wall in one corner. Next to the garden was a fountain water feature.
The garden was filled with various rare flowers. In April, most of them were already in bloom.
To the left was an indoor swimming pool, transparent on three sides. Between several white pillars beside the pool were potted plants, lounge chairs, tables, and sofas. The indoor pool had a white theme, simple and fresh.
To the right was a greenhouse, inside which stood a piano.
Walking to the greenhouse, she stared at the piano inside for a long time.
Pei Yanzhou’s voice came from behind her. “Can you play?”
“A little.”
“Want to give it a try?”
Jian Jinci: “No, it’s been a long time since I touched one.”
After helping Jian Ying cheat in the piano competition, she had never touched a piano again.
By now, the sun had already set. She had lingered here for quite some time and it was time to head back. She said, “Pei Yanzhou, I’m going back. Thank you for taking me to the hospital that day, and thank you for having Qingyun help me apply the medicine.”
It made her thoroughly chilled heart feel a trace of warmth.
She prepared to leave, but Pei Yanzhou grabbed her wrist. “Stay for dinner.”
He paused for a moment, then added, “If you want to thank me.”12 – What haven’t we seen?
Chapter 12: What Haven’t You Seen of Me?
Jian Jinci stood before Pei Yanzhou, a faint smile playing on her lips. “Mr. Pei is quite generous.”
“I’ll pass on the koi fish—I’m afraid it might bring bad luck.”
Pei Yanzhou’s lips twitched slightly. Though not entirely natural, she was certain he had smiled.
Jian Jinci said, “With such a handsome face, you should smile more. Looking so stern is quite intimidating.”
The curve of Pei Yanzhou’s lips froze for a moment, but he didn’t retract his smile. He asked, “Are you afraid?”
“No.”
Jian Jinci answered without hesitation, her tone light. “You haven’t hurt me, so why should I be afraid of you?”
Hearing her words, a complex emotion flickered in Pei Yanzhou’s dark eyes.
Her words transported his thoughts back to his youth.
Back then, a little girl who wasn’t doing well herself had smiled brightly and said, “You’re really good-looking. You should smile more. Looking so stern is quite intimidating.”
As a young boy, he had asked the girl if she was afraid.
She shook her head and said, “No, you haven’t hurt me, so why should I be afraid of you?”
Noticing Pei Yanzhou lost in thought, she fell silent. Suddenly, warmth enveloped her wrist. She looked down to see Pei Yanzhou gripping her wrist, leading her inside.
She walked beside him. He was very tall, easily over six feet, while she only reached his shoulder—a full head shorter.
She could clearly feel the warmth of his palm, and her heartbeat quickened. Flustered, she exclaimed, “Pei Yanzhou!”
“Wash your hands.”
Pei Yanzhou said, “You just touched the fish.”
It was rare for him to offer an explanation. Jian Jinci glanced down at her hands—they were sticky.
She stammered, “Well… men and women shouldn’t be too familiar. I can walk by myself.”
The man beside her chuckled softly, his voice low and magnetic. He stopped and looked at her with a teasing smile. “Men and women shouldn’t be too familiar?”
He gave her a meaningful once-over, his gaze finally settling on her face. “What haven’t you seen of me?”
Jian Jinci: “…”
Her cheeks instantly flushed. Why was he bringing this up again? What happened when she was drunk and unaware shouldn’t count.
Under Pei Yanzhou’s gaze, she grew flustered and angry.
“Pei Yanzhou!”
“I’m here.”
Jian Jinci glared at him. “Can we just drop this? You know I was drunk.”
“Hmm?” Pei Yanzhou replied, “Not really.”
Jian Jinci: “…”
She closed her eyes, pursed her lips, and repeatedly reminded herself not to get angry. She was the one who had gotten drunk, she was the one who had teased him—she was in the wrong. She couldn’t be unreasonable; she had to persuade him with logic.
When she opened her eyes again, the anger on her face had vanished, replaced by a pitiful expression. She looked at Pei Yanzhou with moist eyes. “Brother Pei, that day… I had just been cheated on by my boyfriend. It’s a painful memory I’d rather not recall.”
“I’m sorry for teasing you.”
“I hope we can put this behind us. Let’s both forget this unpleasant memory.”
As she spoke, her eyes reddened. She sniffled—her acting was so convincing that anyone else would have believed her.
“No.” Pei Yanzhou said, “I was the victim.”
“…”
Goodness, this man was utterly unyielding. So difficult to deal with.
“Pei Yanzhou, I was the one who suffered that night. I gave you my first kiss, and…” She hesitated, struggling to find the words, but finally stammered out, “You saw me completely naked…”
“So, if you bring this up again, I’ll make you take responsibility.” She then proceeded to analyze the pros and cons for Pei Yanzhou.
“My family background isn’t good, and I’m unemployed. My ex-boyfriend isn’t even worthy of tying your shoelaces, and even he looked down on me, which proves I’m no good in every way. I have some self-awareness—I’m not worthy of you.”
“Plus, I have a younger brother. I’m a ‘brother-dependent’ type—if I make you take responsibility for me, you’ll not only have to support me but also my brother. It’s not worth it, and I don’t want to ruin your life. Let’s just move past this.”
“If you keep talking about it, I’ll make you take responsibility. You’re powerful, influential, and good-looking—it wouldn’t be a loss for me anyway.”
Since he was being stubborn, she switched to threats. With her complicated family background, most people would avoid her like the plague.
She raised an eyebrow at him. “Doesn’t that make sense?”
“As a capitalist, you’re best at weighing pros and cons. So, I believe you can make the right choice. A man as outstanding as you should find a girl from a suitable background.”
Jian Jinci mixed threats with flattery, hoping only to put this matter behind her as soon as possible.
“You make a very reasonable analysis,” Pei Yanzhou said.
“Right? Then let’s just drop it.” Her efforts weren’t in vain.
Pei Yanzhou: “So, I’ve decided to take responsibility for you.”
“…” Jian Jinci: “You…”
She was so angry she nearly spat blood. This was by far the most difficult man she’d ever encountered.
Pei Yanzhou curled his lips. “Then you take responsibility for me.”
“…”
Someone save her—she desperately needed heart medication right now.
She glanced down at her dirty hands, then at Pei Yanzhou’s clothes. A mischievous smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.
If that’s how it was, then she wouldn’t hold back.
She looked toward the open black wrought-iron gate. After causing trouble, she’d make a run for it—a perfect plan.
The little devil inside her stirred. She reached her hand toward Pei Yanzhou’s clothes.
“Two hundred thousand,” Pei Yanzhou said, his gaze fixed on her outstretched hand. “This outfit costs two hundred thousand.”
Just as she was about to touch his clothes, Jian Jinci quickly stopped and withdrew her hand.
Fine, she lost. But she didn’t lose to him—she lost to money. There’s no shame in bowing to wealth; everyone does it.
The final negotiation ended in failure, and Pei Yanzhou never brought up the matter again afterward.
After washing her hands, Pei Yanzhou showed her around. As long as they didn’t talk about that night, she could speak to him calmly.
She hadn’t expected the villa to be even larger than it appeared. Aside from the front yard, the backyard featured a garden straight ahead—lush green lawn, white wooden fence, a pebble-paved path, and white roses climbing the wall in one corner. Next to the garden was a fountain water feature.
The garden was filled with various rare flowers. In April, most of them were already in bloom.
To the left was an indoor swimming pool, transparent on three sides. Between several white pillars beside the pool were potted plants, lounge chairs, tables, and sofas. The indoor pool had a white theme, simple and fresh.
To the right was a greenhouse, inside which stood a piano.
Walking to the greenhouse, she stared at the piano inside for a long time.
Pei Yanzhou’s voice came from behind her. “Can you play?”
“A little.”
“Want to give it a try?”
Jian Jinci: “No, it’s been a long time since I touched one.”
After helping Jian Ying cheat in the piano competition, she had never touched a piano again.
By now, the sun had already set. She had lingered here for quite some time and it was time to head back. She said, “Pei Yanzhou, I’m going back. Thank you for taking me to the hospital that day, and thank you for having Qingyun help me apply the medicine.”
It made her thoroughly chilled heart feel a trace of warmth.
She prepared to leave, but Pei Yanzhou grabbed her wrist. “Stay for dinner.”
He paused for a moment, then added, “If you want to thank me.”