Pei Yanzhou lifted his head and gently pressed a soothing kiss to her slightly swollen lips, his voice low and coaxing: “Relax, no one can come here.”
This was his private parking area, with exclusive access and security—ordinary employees couldn’t get close.
Still, Shu Hua was terrified, convinced someone would walk by at any moment and see the ridiculous scene inside the car. She clung tightly to his neck, burying her flushed face in his nape, as if that could make the reality vanish.
Pei Yanzhou chuckled, pressing his nose against the collar of her blouse. The earlier struggle had undone the top two buttons, revealing a teasing strip of black lace.
“Black lace?” he murmured hoarsely, voice teasingly knowing.
Shu Hua blushed furiously, unsure how to respond, cursing him silently in her head: Why does he have to talk so much!
Then he said something that made her blush with a mix of shame and fury.
“Spread your legs a bit.”
His hand, which had been teasing her thigh, deftly slipped under the tightly bound hem of her pink fishtail skirt and disappeared completely.
“Ugh…”
When it finally settled, Shu Hua felt utterly limp, not even wanting to move a finger.
She lay against Pei Yanzhou’s broad, firm chest like a delicate flower battered by a storm, tears of helpless vulnerability slipping down uncontrollably, soaking his expensive shirt.
Her skirt was a wrinkled, damp mess, clearly unwearable. Even Pei Yanzhou’s crisp black trousers bore subtle, intimate traces of their encounter.
He let her weep softly against him, one hand idly stroking her back.
Then he fetched some tissues, not particularly gentle but meticulous enough to wipe her clean. After helping her, he carefully cleaned his own fingers, one by one, with extraordinary care.
Shu Hua buried her face in his chest, too embarrassed to look at the scene, her ears glowing red.
Once cleaned, Pei Yanzhou removed his tailored suit jacket and wrapped it around her waist, tying it securely so she could sit comfortably.
Satisfied, he kissed her tear-streaked, flushed little face, voice lazy and content: “Going home?”
Shu Hua’s legs felt weak, almost powerless. She nodded softly, voice nasal and shaky: “I… I need a moment.”
He didn’t rush her, simply held her quietly, fingers playing with the soft curls of her hair.
Only when he sensed her body no longer trembling did he carefully place her back in the passenger seat, wrapping her in his jacket, before returning to the driver’s seat and starting the car.
Back at the villa, Shu Hua’s legs were still too weak to support her.
Pei Yanzhou stepped out, circled around, and scooped her up in his arms, steady and strong, heading straight upstairs to the bedroom.
The moment her feet touched the floor, she bolted like a startled rabbit, blushing furiously: “I’m taking a bath!” clutching her pajamas as she dashed into the bathroom and slammed the door with a click.
Pei Yanzhou rubbed his nose, a trace of helpless amusement in his eyes—she was guarding herself like a wary little wolf.
He turned and went to the guest bathroom next door.
Inside the master bath, Shu Hua stood under the shower, letting the warm water wash away the lingering stickiness and the man’s domineering scent.
Seeing the fresh, intimate marks on her body in the mirror, her cheeks burned again, and she muttered: That damn Pei Yanzhou!
To soothe her sore, exhausted body, she decided to take a proper bath. She filled the tub with hot water, added a few drops of rose essential oil, and slid into it.
The warm water enveloped her completely, easing the tension and discomfort.
Her eyes fluttered shut as the gentle heat and fragrant steam worked their magic, and for the first time in hours, she felt completely safe and cocooned.
The bath was so relaxing… that before long, she found herself drifting, body sinking deeper into the water, eyelids growing heavy…
Even in the bath, Shu Hua’s exhaustion overcame her—she was about to fall asleep.
As she soaked in the bath, a wave of exhaustion washed over Shu Hua like a rising tide. Her eyelids grew heavier and heavier until, finally, she tilted her head and drifted into a hazy sleep amidst the swirling steam…
Pei Yanzhou had quickly showered in the guest room, changed into his home clothes, and returned to the master bedroom.
Nearly twenty minutes passed. The only sound from the bathroom was the initial flow of water, which gradually faded into complete silence. Yet, she still hadn’t emerged.
He furrowed his sharp brows and approached the door, knocking lightly with his fingers.
“Shu Hua?”
No response.
He knocked again, firmer this time: “Shu Hua? Finished yet?”
Still nothing.
Pei Yanzhou’s eyes darkened instantly; his aura sharpened, cold and forbidding. He pushed the door open, and a cloud of steam greeted him. Shu Hua was slumped against the edge of the tub, head tilted, eyes closed, her flushed face even more alluring in the warm mist. She had fallen asleep.
“Shu Hua!” His heart clenched violently. He crossed the distance in a few strides, not caring about the water, and gently tapped her cheeks. “Wake up! Shu Hua?”
Startled by his touch and urgent voice, she blinked open her eyes, still dazed and fuzzy. “Huh…? You came in?”
Seeing her awake, the tight knot in his chest finally loosened, replaced by a rush of fear and a tinge of anger.
Suppressing his frustration, he ignored the faintly revealing view of her body under the water, leaned over, and carefully lifted her from the slightly cooling bath. He grabbed a large, soft bathrobe nearby and wrapped her from head to toe.
“Falling asleep in the bath is dangerous, you know that?” His voice was lower and sterner than usual, carrying the weight of admonishment.
Shu Hua, cradled in his arms, knew she was in the wrong. She nestled her wet head against his shoulder like a little kitten, soft and apologetic. “I… I didn’t think I’d fall asleep…”
Her voice was naturally sweet, instantly melting the flicker of anger in Pei Yanzhou’s chest.
All his sternness melted away. The harsh words he had planned remained unspoken.
He sighed and carried her out of the bathroom, gently placing her on the soft sofa in the bedroom. Grabbing a dry towel, he awkwardly but meticulously dried her still-dripping hair.
“Next time, no more sleeping in the bath.”
“Mm-hmm, got it.” Shu Hua obediently nodded, tilting her flushed, steam-warmed face up at him, letting him tend to her.
“Hungry?” he asked. “Once you get dressed, we’ll go eat.”
After the bath and the nap, Shu Hua’s stomach was indeed empty. She nodded eagerly, rubbing her belly. “I’m hungry.”
Pei Yanzhou set the towel aside and went to the wardrobe to fetch a set of soft, pale-blue silk pajamas for her. He helped her put them on personally.
Shu Hua blushed, but didn’t resist, enjoying this rare, slightly shy attention from a man who could command the business world with ease.
Dressed and settled, they finally went downstairs.
Auntie Chen had prepared dinner, the table brimming with dishes.
Pei Yanzhou guided Shu Hua to sit beside him and first ladled a small bowl of yam and pork rib soup for her, setting it in front of her.
“Drink some soup first.”
She really was hungry. Taking the small bowl, she sipped carefully, letting the warm broth soothe her from the inside, eyes half-closed in comfort.
Pei Yanzhou continuously served her food—steamed sea bass, boiled shrimp, stir-fried vegetables… Soon, her little plate was piled high.
“Eat slowly,” he chided gently as she dug in eagerly, adding a carefully boned piece of fish to her plate.