Her little face flushed instantly, even her fair neck turning pink.
Meanwhile, he remained impeccably dressed in his abstinent black suit, gold-rimmed glasses reflecting a cool, rational light. The stark contrast between extreme propriety and extreme intimacy struck her senses head-on.
“What are you thinking about? Why is your face so red?” he asked lazily, one large hand steady on her waist.
“N-Nothing,” she avoided his gaze. “Maybe… it’s just a little hot.”
Because of her nervousness, her chest rose and fell gently, the tempting curve faintly visible beneath the slightly open cardigan.
Pei Yanzhou’s eyes darkened instantly.
Staring at her, his voice carried unquestionable authority. “Before you come back, you’re not allowed to unbutton it.”
Shu Hua froze for a second, then understood.
Hah. His possessiveness was pretty strong.
The tiny streak of rebellion in her bones was stirred. Lifting her chin slightly with a hint of provocation, she said, “What if… I insist on unbuttoning it?”
She blinked, a little smug. “Anyway, you wouldn’t see it.”
Behind his lenses, his eyes narrowed slightly, danger spreading in the air. “Are you sure you want to go against me?”
“What? Is there a problem?” she still hadn’t sensed the approaching storm.
The next second, his lips crashed down on hers.
It wasn’t so much a kiss as it was punishment.
He captured her mouth forcefully, prying past her defenses, tangling in a way that left her no room to retreat.
“Mmm—”
Caught off guard by the sudden intensity, Shu Hua instinctively leaned back, trying to escape.
But he was faster. One hand pressed firmly against her slender back, pulling her tightly against his chest.
Forced to arch slightly, her fragile swan-like neck and delicate collarbones were completely exposed before him.
His kisses followed—trailing from her neck downward. The cool cardigan slipped off her shoulder as his scorching lips claimed her skin, leaving deliberate, possessive marks.
A tingling current rushed through her body. Shu Hua went weak all over, clinging helplessly to his shoulders, enduring the unmistakable imprint he left behind.
Only when a fresh, vivid red mark bloomed against her chest did he seem satisfied. He lifted his head and pressed a lingering kiss to her luminous shoulder.
She had wondered earlier why he buttoned her cardigan from the bottom up—and why he’d left the top two undone, saying he’d fasten them later.
Now she understood completely.
“Still going to unbutton it?” he asked hoarsely, his voice rough with restrained desire.
Her eyes were misty, breathing uneven. This time, she was truly scared.
She shook her head quickly.
A wise person knows when to yield.
If she kept challenging him, she might not make it out the door today.
“Good.” Pei Yanzhou kissed the top of her head in satisfaction, helped her button up properly, and gently patted her back to steady her breathing.
“The card I gave you has no limit. Buy whatever you like.”
Shu Hua rested against his chest and nodded obediently. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll spend all your money?”
A low chuckle rumbled above her, brimming with absolute confidence. “Even if you spent a hundred million a day starting a hundred years ago, you still wouldn’t be able to finish my money.”
“…”
In Shu Hua’s mind, her little abacus clattered noisily.
Mm. This political marriage wasn’t a loss at all. Husband with looks, with a body, and money that couldn’t be spent out—what a massive win.
“I might have to work late tonight.” He rubbed her hair. “Sleep first. Don’t wait for me.”
She nuzzled into his arms and said softly, “Then… I’ll leave the light on for you.”
The moment the words fell, she clearly felt his body stiffen ever so slightly.
Silence settled briefly in the room.
He had always been consumed by his career, long accustomed to a regimented life alone. Yet because of her simple sentence, a faint ripple stirred unexpectedly in his heart.
The afternoon sunlight spilled like scattered gold over the private lounge seats in the rooftop garden of the “Platinum Joy” Hotel.
Shu Hua’s seaweed-like wavy hair cascaded lazily over her shoulders, revealing delicate, jade-like collarbones. Tilting her head slightly, she stirred her rose latte with a small silver spoon. She looked both pure and alluring at once—utterly captivating.
“Clink—”
Her best friend, Chi Yuchu, set down her coffee cup with emphasis and leaned forward abruptly. Her beautiful eyes locked precisely onto the faint reddish mark beneath Shu Hua’s ear—one that foundation hadn’t fully concealed.
“Baby, you…” Chi Yuchu lowered her voice, unable to suppress her excitement and teasing. “You newlyweds had quite the intense battle, huh?”
Shu Hua instinctively lifted a hand to touch her earlobe. Her delicate face flushed instantly, like a ripe peach. “W-What are you talking about?”
“Still pretending?” Chi Yuchu arched a brow triumphantly, pointing with her manicured finger at the “evidence.” “What’s this, hmm? That’s one wild mosquito you’ve got. And such a strategic location too!”
Shu Hua’s face burned even hotter.
Unbidden, fragments from last night flashed through her mind—dim, hazy lights; Pei Yanzhou’s scorching body heat; the tight lines of his abdominal muscles; the heavy, restrained breathing against her neck…
Calm and self-controlled? He had completely lost control later on!
Chi Yuchu shook her head knowingly. “Just look at that flushed face and those dewy eyes. You’ve clearly been thoroughly cherished. Is President Pei living up to his name—like a wolf or a tiger?”
“D-Don’t talk nonsense!” Shu Hua avoided her friend’s all-seeing gaze and mumbled softly, “He… he’s actually very gentle.”
Even as she said it, she felt guilty.
“Gentle?” Chi Yuchu leaned closer with a wicked grin. “Baby, when it comes to this kind of thing, a man’s ‘gentle’ is usually just the prelude~ Come on, tell me the details! Do his abs feel amazing? Did you see his Adonis belt?”
“Chi Xiaochu!” Shu Hua nearly sprang out of her chair in embarrassment, reaching out to cover her mouth, her ears burning red. “Y-You female hooligan! Stop talking!”
Her kitten-like strength was no match for Chi Yuchu.
Dodging her, Chi Yuchu continued her “analysis.” “Tsk tsk. I knew it! A man like Pei Yanzhou—always in tailored suits, aloof and abstinent-looking, all cold and untouchable in public—those types are the most explosive in private! Poor little tender cabbage of ours. First night and already thoroughly claimed!”
“He’s not like that!” Shu Hua defended instinctively, her voice soft but earnest. “He… he’s really good.” At least in the beginning, he had truly taken care of her feelings. It was just… later on that things had gotten a little out of control.