Pei Chen’s deep, slightly hoarse voice fell upon her ears, its grainy texture brushing against her, igniting a fiery heat.
Liang Zhiyi watched as his slender, well-defined fingers gripped his bowtie and slowly pulled it down. The cold white of his wristbones stood out, and the dark eyes full of desire gazed straight at her, as if she were prey that could not escape his grasp.
Her heart skipped a beat, utterly captivated by the way he looked at this moment.
How could someone be so intoxicating when drunk…
Was he deliberately seducing her…
The tie was pulled off and set aside. Pei Chen’s hand moved to her slender waist, his gaze so close, as he coaxed in a low, raspy voice, “Do you want to?”
Her eyes became misty, her consciousness crumbling under his influence.
“Mm…”
He took her hand and guided it to the first button of his shirt.
Then, his burning kiss fell upon her.
He traced and outlined her lips, his breath cool yet laced with the scent of alcohol, lingering and intertwining with hers.
The young girl closed her eyes, her cheeks flushed with the intoxication of the moment, as she slowly unbuttoned his shirt, feeling a wave of familiar yet unfamiliar sensations surge within her.
The room’s temperature steadily climbed. Under the dim, amber light, the space seemed to turn sweet and damp. Clothes fell to the floor, the humid air clinging to their skin, intensifying the rich, heady scent of gardenias emanating from the girl.
After a long time, the drawer was opened. Then, she was lifted, facing him as he held her in his arms.
The lights before Liang Zhiyi’s eyes blurred, and after a moment, she collapsed, sobbing, against his shoulder. “Pei Chen…”
His husky voice came close to her ear, “Hm?”
She wanted to beg for mercy, but no words came out, tears welling in her eyes.
How could Pei Chen be like this when drunk…
After a while, she was laid back down, her head cradled in his palm, hitting the headboard again and again with force. Pei Chen seemed oblivious to the pain, his eyes tinged red as he lightly bit her swollen lips:
“Zhizhi, I had a dream back in high school.”
Her heart raced as she heard his breathy whisper:
“In the dream, it was just like this.”
He had always felt unworthy, too restrained to love her, yet he couldn’t help but want to defile the divine, flawless image she represented.
Now, everything had become reality.
It was a hundred times more consuming than in the dream.
Liang Zhiyi blushed deeply upon hearing his words, fully aware of the mischievous nature hidden within him.
“Zhizhi, you are mine.”
He looked at her intently.
Her nose tingled with emotion, and she couldn’t help but hug him tightly. “Mm…”
She would always belong to him.
Pei Chen kissed her lips again, and the young girl, now dazed, completely lost herself in his overwhelming love.
—
The next day, the sunlight was bright and clear.
They had stayed up late the previous night, and now the girl slept in until the sun was high in the sky.
When she woke up groggily, she reached out to find the space beside her on the pillow empty.
Confused, she mumbled a few calls, and Pei Chen, who was in the study handling some work, immediately came into the room. “Awake?”
“Mm…”
He sat down beside her, and as she stretched lazily, he pulled her into his arms.
Liang Zhiyi opened her sleepy eyes, and upon seeing the marks on her body, she remembered his reckless behavior from the night before. Angry, she tried to push away his wandering hands. “Go away, go away…”
Pei Chen’s lips curled into a smile as he coaxed her softly. She glared at him in embarrassment and frustration. “Were you drunk last night?”
“No.”
“You definitely were.”
Otherwise, how could he have been so wild last night…
He leaned in close to her ear, explaining with a teasing smile that men can’t do that when they’re truly drunk.
“I was just a little tipsy.”
She hummed softly in response and poked his chest. “I need to buy a little notebook to record all your misdeeds from now on.”
He chuckled lightly and asked, “And then, who will you complain to?”
She sighed softly, resting her head on his shoulder. “No need to complain, but it could be a keepsake for you. After all, someone might not be up to it in a year or two.”
Hearing her teasing, his eyes darkened, and he laid her back down again. “Not up to it?”
She burst into laughter as he tickled her, quickly begging for mercy. “I was wrong, I was just joking…”
After a bit of playful banter, she tried to get out of bed to freshen up, but as soon as her feet touched the ground, she felt a soreness in her legs that made them weak. She was so annoyed that she wanted to hit him.
“Pei Chen, for the next three days, don’t even think about it. As punishment, you’re not allowed to kiss me today.”
She walked to the bathroom, and Pei Chen followed her, leaning down to embrace her. His voice was soft and low: “Zhizhi, I was wrong.”
She pressed her lips together, speaking sternly, “No, admitting you’re wrong won’t work.”
Pei Chen tried to kiss her, but she deliberately dodged. After a few attempts, she saw his pitiful and frustrated expression and couldn’t help but laugh.
The contrast between this and his usually cold demeanor was too striking.
How could he be this adorable?
After freshening up, she left the bedroom and wandered toward the kitchen. “Peipei, I’m hungry.”
“I bought breakfast; I’ll heat it up for you.”
“Then I’ll go pack the suitcase.”
She carried the suitcase to the master bedroom while Pei Chen busied himself in the kitchen. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. He went to answer it and saw a woman in a short dress standing outside.
The woman smiled shyly at him, her voice soft and sweet, “Hello, I’m your neighbor from across the hall. My last name is Qiao.”
Pei Chen looked down at her slightly, his eyes obscured by his tousled hair. His tone was indifferent, “Hello, what can I do for you?”
“Sorry to bother you, but I’m living alone and don’t have anyone to help me. The light bulb in my living room is broken, and I can’t reach it. Could you help me change it? I’m not tall enough.”
Her eyes were filled with flirtation as she looked at him, her voice delicate and feeble.
Pei Chen glanced at her, instantly recognizing her intentions. His tone remained icy, “I have a ladder at home. You can borrow it if you need it.”
“But I’m afraid of heights. I don’t dare to climb a ladder…”
Before the woman could say more, a soft, sweet voice called from inside, “Pei Chen…”
The woman turned her head and saw a girl in a slip dress approaching. Her skin was fair as snow, with long, glossy black hair draped over her shoulders. Her bright almond-shaped eyes carried a hint of innocence, and her striking features perfectly balanced sensuality and purity.
Liang Zhiyi walked up to Pei Chen, who instinctively pulled her into a close, affectionate embrace. The woman stood frozen, stunned by Liang Zhiyi’s beauty.
She had seen Pei Chen come home alone several times before and assumed he didn’t have a girlfriend. She had even thought about flirting with him, only to find out that not only did he have a girlfriend, but she was also far more beautiful than she could ever hope to be.
Liang Zhiyi looked at her, blinking in confusion. “Is something wrong?”
The woman, now embarrassed, stumbled over her words. “I… I just came to borrow a ladder to change a light bulb.”
“Sure.”
Liang Zhiyi asked Pei Chen to get the ladder from inside. He handed it to the woman, who later returned it with a sheepish thank you. Liang Zhiyi smiled warmly and didn’t say anything else.
After closing the door, Liang Zhiyi walked into the kitchen and stood at the counter. Pei Chen wrapped his arms around her from behind, his voice deep and resonant:
“Jealous?”
She stubbornly insisted, “No, I’m not jealous.”
He kissed her earlobe, his voice soothing with a smile, “Don’t be jealous. I haven’t met her before. Even if you weren’t here, I would have turned her down.”
“Well, it seems like some people are always on someone else’s mind, no matter where they go.”
He gently turned her around to face him. Pei Chen leaned in close, his voice tender, “That’s why I asked you to move in, to claim your territory, so everyone can see how beautiful my girlfriend is.”
She couldn’t help but smile, “Alright then…”
He kissed her lips, and as her heart swelled with sweetness, she suddenly remembered. “Pei Chen, we agreed you wouldn’t kiss me today!”
However, Pei Chen cupped the back of her head, firmly pressing her against the counter as he kissed her again.
After a long moment, he slowly pulled back. Liang Zhiyi, recalling how she had just lost herself in the kiss, blushed and grumbled shyly, “Pei Chen, you’re such a rogue…”
Pei Chen smiled, his gaze intense, “Yes, but only you know that.”
Hearing this, her heart melted all over again. “I’m still hungry…”
He chuckled, patting her head gently, “Let’s go eat breakfast.”
—
After Liang Zhiyi moved into Pei Chen’s apartment, their sweet cohabitation officially began.
At first, Liang Zhiyi suggested splitting the rent with him, but Pei Chen refused. He told her he didn’t like her being so formal. Whether it was eating out or buying things for her, he was never stingy despite not being wealthy. He always did his best to give her the best he could.
This had been his way even back in high school, something that deeply touched Liang Zhiyi. She also knew that being too calculative might hurt his pride as a man, so sometimes she would reciprocate in her own way. She would buy him suits, ties, and other gifts to show her love and appreciation for him.
Living together gave them even more time to be close. Pei Chen became more uninhibited in their intimacy, and through their repeated moments of extreme passion, their love deepened. Their relationship was like honey, growing sweeter every day, as if they were perpetually in the honeymoon phase.
They cooked together, studied and read together, fell asleep in each other’s arms, and woke up together in the morning light that filled the room. They shared the warm, romantic, and sometimes mundane moments of life.
As time passed, autumn arrived in Lincheng. After Hua’an Investment’s funding, Chengzhi Tech’s ShanZhi first-generation rehabilitation robot officially entered the market, quickly capturing the industry’s attention. This domestic brand earned recognition from many medical institutions, leading to numerous collaboration requests. The feedback on their initial deliveries was overwhelmingly positive.
Meanwhile, the research team continued to develop more functions for the rehabilitation robots, securing registration certificates from Australia’s TGA and the European Union’s CE.
With the FDA and CFDA certifications already in hand, their ShanZhi first-generation robot achieved a grand slam in rehabilitation robot certifications, firmly establishing its position in the field.
By the end of the year, as the studio expanded, Pei Chen officially founded a company. The unveiling ceremony drew many business figures from Lincheng, with even the city’s mayor attending and personally revealing the company’s plaque.
After the company was established, the internal structure became more detailed, with clear divisions into various departments. The company also moved to a larger technology park, and following the successful completion of Series B financing, Chengzhi Tech’s valuation reached 50 million. The company became a hot commodity in the industry.
After New Year’s Day, as the new year began, Lincheng experienced an unusually cold winter.
In January, the temperature in Lincheng approached freezing. Although it didn’t snow, the damp and chilly southern climate still made it unbearably uncomfortable.
Pei Chen had been staying overnight at the company for the past two days, working with the research team on the development of the second-generation robot. He hadn’t come back to the apartment to sleep.
Since the company was founded, Pei Chen had been busier than ever, dealing with more tasks and social engagements. Seeing this, Liang Zhiyi wasn’t sad about the reduced time they spent together; rather, she was worried about his health.
When she got up in the morning, she realized her period had started. She was always sensitive to the cold, and coupled with the fact that she hadn’t been sleeping well alone the past two nights, she ended up with menstrual cramps, something she didn’t usually suffer from.
But there was still a lot to do at work, and she didn’t want to take a day off. Before leaving, she sent a message to Pei Chen: “I’m heading to the office now. I’ll bring you breakfast.”
After a while, Pei Chen called her. She was in the elevator on her way down and answered the call. His low, gentle voice came through the line:
“Zhizhi, good morning—”
Hearing the weariness in his hoarse voice, she asked with concern, “Are you resting now? Did you stay up all night again?”
“I was busy all night, just got two hours of sleep.”
Pei Chen pressed his temples as he stepped out of the office lounge.
She frowned, her voice soft with worry, “You shouldn’t push yourself so hard. What if you exhaust yourself?”
“It’s fine. Once I finish up, I should be able to rest properly tonight,” he reassured her gently. “How did you sleep last night?”
“Pretty well…”
She didn’t want to tell him that she had been too cold to sleep properly.
“Why do you sound a bit weak? Did you catch a cold?” Pei Chen asked, puzzled.
Clutching her aching stomach, she furrowed her brow but kept her tone light and cheerful, “No, just a little sleepy since I just woke up.”
They chatted briefly, but when Liang Zhiyi heard an employee calling for Pei Chen on the other end, she quickly said goodbye, telling him to focus on his work.
She didn’t mention her cramps to Pei Chen.
She didn’t want him to worry, especially since he was already so tired from work.
When she arrived at the company, she dropped off the breakfast she had bought for Pei Chen at his office. Since he was at the research center, she left the food on his desk along with a few neatly organized documents, and then she left.
At 9:30 a.m., the company’s weekly meeting was about to begin. Ji Fei’er walked into Liang Zhiyi’s office and saw her lying on the desk.
“Zhizhi, it’s time for the meeting.”
Liang Zhiyi had just finished some work and was stealing a quick five-minute nap. Hearing Ji Fei’er, she straightened up, rubbing her sleepy eyes. Ji Fei’er noticed how pale she looked. “What’s wrong? You look awful.”
“No, it’s just my period.”
“Are you okay? Should I make you some brown sugar water?”
She smiled and stood up, “No need, just some hot water will do. Let’s start the meeting.”
The two of them walked to the main conference room, where employees were gradually gathering, filling the room.
After a short while, the door to the conference room swung open, and a group of people entered.
Leading the group was Pei Chen. He was dressed in a suit with a long, double-breasted dark brown coat draped over his shoulders. One hand was casually tucked into his pocket, his tall, straight figure exuding a commanding presence. His sharp, cold features only added to his stern aura.
The employees in the conference room all turned their attention to him, and the room instantly fell silent as everyone focused intently.
Pei Chen, along with Xuan Xia and the other members of the research team, took their seats at the conference table. His dark eyes swept across the room before he spoke in a calm, steady voice:
“Let’s begin.”
Xuan Xia chaired the meeting, and as it officially started, each department began reporting on their respective areas. Pei Chen listened, his composed expression revealing no hint of emotion.
After a while, his gaze shifted, and he suddenly noticed how pale Liang Zhiyi looked.
She was resting her head on her hand, her face showing signs of fatigue. With her other hand, she was discreetly rubbing her stomach, looking both weary and uncomfortable.
Seeing her like this, Pei Chen quickly recalled the date and realized—today was her period.
He knew she often suffered from menstrual cramps when the weather was cold.
He remembered how she used to curl up in his arms when she was in pain, asking him to rub her stomach, like a soft, helpless kitten.
Now, he noticed the thin sheen of sweat on her forehead, and it was clear that she was struggling to sit through the meeting. His brows immediately furrowed, and a heavy feeling settled in his chest.
No wonder she had sounded weak this morning.
And she hadn’t said anything to him about it.
Pei Chen glanced at his assistant and motioned him over. The assistant leaned in, and Pei Chen whispered a few instructions. The assistant nodded and quickly left the conference room.
Ten minutes later, the assistant returned, carrying a small bag from a pharmacy, which he placed in front of Pei Chen.
The manager of the marketing department had just finished speaking. Pei Chen addressed a few issues, then said, “Let’s take a ten-minute break. We’ll continue afterward.”
Normally, Pei Chen was known for his emphasis on efficiency and rarely paused meetings. The employees were momentarily surprised, but the next moment, they watched in shock as he got up and walked straight over to Liang Zhiyi.
She had her head down, feeling dizzy from the pain, when suddenly she sensed someone standing in front of her. Then, she felt a gentle hand on her head, and Pei Chen leaned down into her field of vision, his voice soft and full of concern:
“Zhizhi, are you okay? Are you in a lot of pain?”
Everyone around them saw the rare tenderness in Pei Chen’s expression and instantly understood the situation.
So it turns out the sudden pause in the meeting really was because of President Pei’s most cherished Liang Zhiyi!
Damn, another dose of public displays of affection!
She was momentarily stunned, then instinctively shook her head. But before she could react further, he took her hand and pulled her to her feet. “Come with me to the office.”
Just like that, Pei Chen led Liang Zhiyi out of the meeting room in front of everyone. Once they were back in his office, he asked her, “Are you having menstrual cramps?”
She realized she couldn’t hide it any longer. “Mm…”
Pei Chen went to pour a cup of hot water, took out some ibuprofen capsules from the bag, and then guided her to sit on the sofa.
Holding her in his arms, Pei Chen insisted she take the medicine. After she drank the water, she softly murmured, “Pei Chen…”
He frowned as he looked at her pale face, his voice deep with concern:
“You’re having cramps and didn’t tell me? Do you want to make me worry even more?”