Shu Hua’s cheeks were puffed up with food, like a little hamster storing provisions, nodding repeatedly.
Eating too quickly, she accidentally swallowed the wrong way and started coughing violently, her delicate face instantly turning bright red.
Pei Yanzhou immediately set down his chopsticks and gently patted her back with one hand, brow furrowed. “Drink some water. Slow down.”
At that moment, his phone rang.
He glanced at the caller ID, keeping one hand on Shu Hua’s back while answering the call with the other.
“What is it?” His voice carried a slight chill.
On the other end, Ji Zexu sounded momentarily stunned. “…Yan Ge? What’s going on over there? What do you mean slow down?”
Pei Yanzhou glanced at the small woman beside him, teary-eyed and pitiful from coughing, and explained patiently, “Didn’t tell you.”
Ji Zexu immediately understood, his tone taking on a teasing lilt, dragging out his words: “Got it, got it! So Sister-in-law is by your side, huh? Well, Yan Ge, holding a beauty like that is definitely different—you even speak more gently. You scared me just now; I thought some strange thing had possessed you.”
Pei Yanzhou, uninterested in banter, returned to his usual concise and cold tone: “Cut the nonsense. Get to the point.”
Shu Hua finally caught her breath and sipped some water, overhearing Pei Yanzhou on the phone for the next five or six minutes, only giving short replies:
“Mm.”
“Fine.”
“Do as you see fit.”
“Hang up.”
Then, he ended the call decisively.
Shu Hua blinked and quietly asked, “Ji Zexu?”
She remembered seeing him at the wedding—the more flamboyant of the two groomsmen, dressed like a flashy peacock.
“Mm,” Pei Yanzhou acknowledged. “Something?”
“Nothing, just asking,” Shu Hua shook her head.
She lowered her head and dug into her bowl of rice, her thoughts still lingering on that hurried wedding day. Carelessly, her teeth accidentally hit the tip of her tongue.
“Ouch—!” She gasped, pressing her hand to her mouth. Her perfectly arched brows furrowed, and tears welled up in her eyes.
Pei Yanzhou had already looked up the moment she made a sound, setting down his chopsticks, brow slightly knit. “What’s wrong?”
“N-Nothing…” Shu Hua mumbled, her tongue burning painfully, giving her words a pitiful nasal tone.
“Bit it?” Pei Yanzhou stood and walked over to her. “Open your mouth, let me see.”
Shu Hua covered her mouth, shaking her head, feeling too embarrassed: “No need… it’ll be fine in a minute…”
“Shu Hua.” His voice dropped, taking on its usual commanding tone as he cupped her small face without waiting for consent. “Be good. Open your mouth.”
Hesitant, she finally parted her lips slightly.
“Stick out your tongue.”
Shu Hua’s cheeks flared crimson, feeling even more embarrassed than when he had just stared at her, but under his focused gaze, she slowly and carefully extended a little pink tip of her tongue.
Pei Yanzhou leaned in slightly to inspect it.
The faintly sweet breath she exhaled brushed his nose. On that small, moist tip of her tongue was indeed a clear bite mark, red and slightly swollen.
He frowned even more. “Bite mark’s a bit deep.” “Sit still.” He released her face and turned toward the living room cabinet. “I’ll get some medicine to spray on it.”
Pei Yanzhou quickly returned with a home first-aid kit and pulled out a spray bottle.
“It might feel a bit cold. Bear with it.” He bent slightly in front of her, twisting open the bottle.
The icy nozzle just approached, and Shu Hua instinctively shrank her neck, trying to pull back. She hated sudden cold sensations like this.
“Don’t move.” Pei Yanzhou placed his free hand gently on the back of her neck. His voice unconsciously softened, coaxing, like he was calming a child. “It’ll be over soon. One quick spray and it heals faster, otherwise it’ll hurt even more tomorrow.”
His rare gentle tone bewitched her. She stiffened her neck and closed her eyes, long lashes trembling with tension.
“Good girl,” he whispered, pressing the nozzle.
The icy mist hit the sore spot, sending a sharp tingle through her. Shu Hua made a soft “uh” sound but stayed still.
Pei Yanzhou sprayed carefully twice, then withdrew his hand.
Only then did Shu Hua dare to open her eyes, still misted with a thin veil of moisture.
During the spraying, her gaze had involuntarily drifted to Pei Yanzhou’s face, so close to hers. He looked intensely focused, lips slightly pressed, the bridge of his high nose casting a faint shadow in the light, long lashes hanging down… so his eyelashes were really long.
She stared absentmindedly for a moment.
It wasn’t until he put the bottle away and met her startled gaze that she felt caught, quickly looking away, her cheeks flushing even more.
“All done.” Pei Yanzhou stood, returning the first-aid kit to its place. “Be careful with what you eat these next couple of days. Nothing too hot or irritating.”
“Oh…” Shu Hua murmured. The lingering coolness and medicinal taste on her tongue made her lose her appetite. “I’ve eaten enough.”
She set down her chopsticks, then suddenly remembered something, her eyes lighting up. “Ah! Right!”
“What?”
“Wait for me! I’m going upstairs to get something!” Shu Hua said, hopping up and shuffling quickly in her slippers.
Pei Yanzhou watched her scurry about, frowning. “Shu Hua, slow down.”
No response.
A short while later, Shu Hua came bounding down the stairs—“tap tap tap”—holding two elegantly packaged deep blue velvet boxes.
She approached Pei Yanzhou, presenting them like treasures, her brows curved with a hint of pride. “Here! For you!”
Pei Yanzhou took them, raising an eyebrow.
“Although… I used your card,” Shu Hua said sheepishly, touching her nose, then quickly straightened up, trying to sound confident. “But I picked them out myself! Took me forever! This sentiment is precious, you know!”
Pei Yanzhou opened the boxes.
One contained a deep blue tie with subtle patterns—high-quality, understated luxury. The other held a pair of platinum cufflinks with diamonds, simple and classy.
Clearly expensive.
Seeing her so genuinely proud, even though she had “borrowed the flower to offer it” (using his card), and speaking so sweetly with a hint of playful flattery, a faint smile flickered in Pei Yanzhou’s eyes.
Noticing he only looked at the gifts without speaking, Shu Hua’s smile faded, her small mouth pouting unconsciously, eyes wary. “What’s wrong? You… don’t like it? I spent so long picking them out…”
“I like them.” Pei Yanzhou closed the boxes and looked up at her.
Shu Hua’s eyes lit up instantly. She quickly handed both boxes into his hands, beaming sweetly. “If you like them, they’re yours!”
Then, she gave a slightly coaxing smile and winked. “Um… can you wash the dishes later? Look, I did my nails—they’re new and it’s inconvenient for me to wash dishes, plus dish soap is harsh on skin.”