Jiang Ruobai moved into the car almost inch by inch.
Pei Sichen sat upright inside, radiating an “untouchable” aura that made Jiang Ruobai wish he could put as much distance between them as possible. He even held his breath deliberately, trying his best to minimize his presence.
He sat close to the opposite door, leaving a gap between them large enough to fit another person.
Pei Sichen sat with his legs crossed, staring silently ahead, not deigning to offer him even a single glance.
Jiang Ruobai struggled to suppress his breathing. It felt as if he were sitting next to a ticking time bomb, and he was terrified that even the slightest movement might trigger it.
Pei Sichen’s intensity was far too overwhelming. The arrogance and unruliness cultivated within a top financial dynasty had long been embedded in his marrow. If he was already this overbearing and autocratic within his own family, it went without saying that he would be even more unrestrained in front of outsiders.
To sit securely on a high pedestal amidst a pack of wolves, one needed a ruthless, decisive, and bloodthirsty nature to suppress the hungry wolves waiting to strike.
Jiang Ruobai’s upbringing was worlds apart from Pei Sichen’s. As a young man who grew up in the simple and honest atmosphere of a small county town, his personality was gentle, sincere, and grounded. He was not well-versed in the ways of the world, but he treated people with genuine kindness, much like a harmless breeze on a summer night that made one feel comfortable and warm.
Pei Sichen had taken an interest in him for precisely this reason. He was simple, obedient, and blank, like a sheet of paper upon which he could paint any color he desired.
“From now on, you will live at my place. That house is yours. Do not come back here ever again. As for your original belongings, it is best if you throw them all away. I will have someone buy you new ones,” Pei Sichen said, speaking in a nonchalant tone.
Upon hearing the words “live at my place,” a chill ran straight down Jiang Ruobai’s spine. The thought of living in the same house as Pei Sichen made his skin crawl. However, when he nervously looked up to refuse, he collided with Pei Sichen’s bottomless, dark eyes.
His tiny shred of courage dissipated instantly. He quickly lowered his head to the side, all his complex, swirling emotions suppressed by fear. In the end, he just kept his head down and let out a faint “Mm.”
Having received a satisfactory answer, Pei Sichen ignored him further. He rolled down the car window, took a pack of cigarettes from inside the car, lit one, and smoked it in silence.
The faint light of the cigarette glowed and dimmed, resembling fleeting shadows racing past.
Jiang Ruobai leaned his head against the car window, feeling utterly exhausted.
Time passed in this way for who knew how long.
“Come here.”
The slightly raspy voice carried a touch of warmth against the backdrop of the night.
Jiang Ruobai, who had been drifting into a daze, felt his mind clear instantly upon hearing Pei Sichen’s voice. His body tensed up instinctively as he struggled to whisper, “Young Master Pei, I have not showered yet. I am very dirty.”
“Come here.”
Pei Sichen repeated the command, his voice dropping by three degrees, clearly having lost the patience he started with.
Knowing there was no room for negotiation, he bit his lower lip and slowly moved to Pei Sichen’s side.
His body was as stiff as a board, clearly unsure of how to perform such an intimate gesture.
“Tsk.”
Pei Sichen was obviously losing patience with such hesitation. He suddenly reached out and, with a punitive intent, grabbed the hair at the back of Jiang Ruobai’s head and yanked it hard.
“Ugh!”
Pulled by the pain, Jiang Ruobai fell forward off balance.
His forehead hit Pei Sichen’s firm thigh, and a rich, overbearing scent of rum immediately filled his nostrils.
The overly intimate action caused his brain to crash on the spot, and he dared not move a muscle.
The temperature inside the car was set very low. Compared to Pei Sichen in his suit and leather shoes, Jiang Ruobai, wearing only a short-sleeved shirt and shorts, began to feel cold after a while.
Pei Sichen’s fingers traced from his cheek down to his neck, slipped inside his loose T-shirt, and slid all the way down to his firm, toned abdominal muscles.
Although Jiang Ruobai’s physique could not be called muscular, it radiated a vibrant sense of vitality.
Pei Sichen’s fingers slid slowly, sending shivers wherever they touched.
“Young Master Pei!”
He froze in place, bewildered. He wanted to reach out and stop him, but his hand stopped mid-air.