Pei Jiangmu didn't answer.
Suddenly, the glass soy sauce bottle on the next - door table was knocked over.
The moment the dark liquid spread across the plastic tablecloth, Pei Jiangmu's left hand shot out like lightning to hold the tilting bottle.
The movement was so fast that it left a blurred after - image, and the veins on the back of his hand bulged like gnarled tree roots.
"Be careful."
He steadied the bottle firmly, and a bit of the spilled soy sauce happened to drip on the needle hole on his hand.
The bruise stung at the touch of the salty liquid. It even looked painful.
But he treated his own limb as if it belonged to someone else, slowly wiping it with a tissue.
Facing her gaze, Pei Jiangmu only said calmly, "It's okay. It doesn't hurt."
Meng Ruozhao suddenly didn't dare to look at the skin that had been repeatedly abused.
Countless speculations churned in her mind: How many times of repeated harm would it take to dull the human instinctive pain reflex?
But prying into others' secrets was inappropriate and offensive.
So she suppressed her doubts, averted her gaze, and quietly ate the breakfast in front of her.
Pei Jiangmu peeled a tea - egg and put it on the plate in front of her, the corners of his mouth curving slightly.
Curiosity was the beginning of everything.
After breakfast, Pei Jiangmu held down the phone she had raised.
"I'll pay."
Their fingers briefly touched above the scanner.
Meng Ruozhao didn't argue with him. She just withdrew her hand as if electrocuted and didn't notice him secretly rubbing the fingertips that had touched hers.
"I'll drop you off at the store first and then go home. It's on the same route anyway."
After they got in a taxi, she turned to him and said.
Pei Jiangmu naturally had no objections.
He wished she could be by his side all the time. But since he had troubled her all night, he should let her go back and have a good rest.
When they parted at the door of [Floating Cloud Pavilion], Meng Ruozhao put the spare key in his palm.
Unexpectedly, the moment Pei Jiangmu took the key, he suddenly coughed. His shoulders shook and he bumped into the glass door.
Meng Ruozhao instinctively reached out to support him. When her palm touched the small of his back, she could clearly feel the tense muscles under his T - shirt.
"Why do you keep coughing? I'll bring you loquat paste when I come tomorrow."
She quickly withdrew her hand. The keychain swayed between them, emitting a blinding silver light.
The light dazzled her eyes, so she didn't see the fleeting arc on his lips.
But soon he couldn't smile anymore. He asked, "Sister won't come today?"
Meng Ruozhao remembered her dinner appointment with Yan Qiubai in the evening and shook her head.
"I have something to do tonight. I'll catch up on sleep in the morning and make preparations in the afternoon."
Anyway, Du Feng would never allow her to meet Yan Qiubai looking haggard.
There was no need for her to go back and forth.
After a pause, she added,
"You don't have to guard the store. Just do whatever you need to do. The store is closed today anyway."
"And if you need help moving your luggage from the landlord's, then..."
Pei Jiangmu interrupted her.
"No need. I can handle it."
A nearly transparent smile reappeared on his pale face.
"Sister should go back to sleep."
He deliberately let the word "sleep" linger on his tongue for half a second longer, watching her ear tips quickly turn red.
Meng Ruozhao turned around so quickly that she didn't see the intense emotions surging in the man's eyes as he stared at her back.
He just stood on the steps, watching Meng Ruozhao get back into the taxi.
It wasn't until the shadow of the car completely disappeared that the harmless smile on his lips gradually faded.
Just going to meet that dog - like man. Did she really need to prepare so carefully?
Was he even worthy?
Half an hour later, after confirming that Meng Ruozhao wouldn't return.
A long - awaited black Maybach silently slid in front of him.
His assistant, Qi Yu, got out of the car and opened the door for him.
After the car started, Qi Yu in the front seat reported respectfully.
"Little Master Yan has booked a viewing seat at the Cloud - Top Restaurant. Ninety - nine Ecuadorian roses have been delivered. And..."
Qi Yu handed over a tablet, on which the order record of a ten - carat diamond ring was displayed.
"This just completed customs clearance this morning."
"The delivery address is the Yan family's, but it's not certain if it's for Miss Meng."
Pei Jiangmu's knuckles tapped lightly on the car door.
Roses and a diamond ring. Was this usurper trying to propose?
He recalled her expression when she said she wouldn't come to the store today during their parting just now. The old wound on his wrist began to throb faintly.
Was she looking forward to the date tonight?
"How long has it been since the fire - fighting system at the Cloud - Top Restaurant was inspected?"
He stroked the bruised needle hole on his hand, where the stinging pain from the soy sauce still remained.
"I remember their automatic sprinkler system in the kitchen is very sensitive."
Qi Yu understood and dialed a phone number.
When the Maybach drove into the tunnel, the in - car screen showed an urgent news: The Cloud - Top Restaurant was temporarily closed due to fire - fighting hazards.
Pei Jiangmu stroked the secretly taken photo of Meng Ruozhao sleeping on his phone and then looked up at Qi Yu in the passenger seat.
"What's the situation with Du Xixi?"
Qi Yu reported in a low voice.
"According to the investigation, she is rather impetuous and eager to prove herself in front of Du Feng, but her ability is average."
"We've already asked General Manager Wang to cancel the order with her."
"We've also arranged someone to contact her about a new project. The project procedures are all well - prepared, and she won't notice anything amiss."
Before Pei Jiangmu could ask again, Qi Yu continued.
"Little Master Yan is a bit of a tough nut. He is very low - key and rigorous in his work. There's not much other information about him."
"But we've arranged someone to work in the Yan family's old mansion. We can start with other members of the Yan family."
The back seat of the Maybach was filled with the scent of pinewood incense. Pei Jiangmu put down his phone and his fingertips slid across the newly sent surveillance image on the tablet.
Du Feng was pacing anxiously in the meeting room. The blue light from the projector reflected his angry expression.
General Manager Wang had just unilaterally terminated the 30 - million clothing - processing contract.
The reason was that he thought the plan Du Xixi proposed was mediocre, and someone else had provided a more suitable one.
"Give the order. That batch of Burmese jadeite rough can be shown to Miss Du."
His fingers tapped twice on the screen.
"Remember to add a penalty - clause in the delivery contract."
"As for Yan Qiubai, I remember his cousin is quite capable."
Qi Yu immediately understood. "I'll contact her right away."
After giving these instructions, Pei Jiangmu narrowed his eyes.
"Don't forget to delete the records at the hospital. Don't let the family find out."
Qi Yu quickly replied, "I know. I've already given the order."
Pei Jiangmu stopped talking. He sank into the shadow of the back seat and closed his eyes completely.
When the motorcade drove across the river - crossing bridge, he suddenly rolled down the window.
The river wind, carrying the unique fishy smell before rain, rushed in.
It seemed that there would be rain tonight.
If his Chaolao didn't go to dinner, would she come to the store because she was worried about him?
In the shadow, his Adam's apple rolled, and a faint anticipation welled up in him.
On the other side, Meng Ruozhao returned to the Du family's house.
Before she even entered the living room, the third bone - china cup that Du Xixi had smashed exploded at Meng Ruozhao's feet.
Fortunately, Meng Ruozhao hadn't had time to change into her slippers. Even so, there were still two faint scratches on the top of her foot.
"Now you finally come back?"
Du Xixi rushed over in her silk pajamas, her cheekbones flushing unnaturally.
"Qiubai called seventeen times asking about your whereabouts!"
The smell of perfume on her mixed with the mint smell of the fever - reducing patch, creating a nauseating odor.