The taxi was cruising smoothly on the way to the school.
The street scenery outside the window blurred into a flowing stream of light and shadow.
Inside the taxi, however, an invisible and suffocating low-pressure atmosphere pervaded.
Pei Jiangmu seemed to be relaxing against the backrest.
Yet this extremely faint but unmistakably clear citrus fragrance was like a poisoned silver needle, constantly piercing into his nostrils.
It was clear, sunny, and carried a touch of youthful vitality.
It was the favorite scent of that person, the perfume that person always used!
Pei Jiangmu's hand resting on his knee twitched imperceptibly, his fingertips digging deep into his palm, leaving crescent - shaped red marks. He maintained his posture of looking out of the window, as if the street scene had suddenly become extremely fascinating.
Only the slightly tightened jawline betrayed a hint of the turbulent emotions he was desperately suppressing.
His Adam's apple rolled soundlessly and extremely slowly, as if he were swallowing some unbearably bitter venom.
The heart in his chest, however, began to pound uncontrollably.
Each beat slammed heavily against his ribs, emitting an angry and jealous rumble that only he could hear.
Meng Ruozhao was still lost in the memories of her teacher and didn't notice his unease.
It was the driver in the front who stole a glance at the two of them in the rear - view mirror, so nervous that his palms were sweating.
After taking a deep breath, Pei Jiangmu stopped looking out of the window.
His gaze slowly and naturally shifted back, landing on Meng Ruozhao beside him.
His eyes were as deep as a bottomless cold pool. Calm on the surface, but surging with undercurrents capable of swallowing everything inside.
His gaze was like an invisible tentacle, greedily and dangerously tracing the outline of her profile.
From her smooth forehead, to her dainty nose tip, and finally settling on her slender neck - was that where the fragrance was the strongest?
Finally, Meng Ruozhao seemed to sense his gaze and turned her head curiously, "What's wrong?"
In that instant, Pei Jiangmu's lips curved upwards into a gentle arc.
It even carried a touch of youthful innocence.
His voice was steady, with a hint of just - right innocent smile, "It's nothing. I was just imagining what you looked like as a student."
After a pause, he continued with a tinge of regret, "You must have been very beautiful. I'm so envious of your classmates back then."
Meng Ruozhao blushed at the straightforward compliment.
"Students are all beautiful because they're young."
She was still young now, but sometimes she felt an indescribable sense of fatigue.
Suddenly, Pei Jiangmu reached out his hand and gently brushed the stray hairs beside her temple.
His fingertips barely grazed the skin on the side of her neck, with a deliberate and possessive touch.
The moment his cold fingertips touched her warm skin, the darkness in his eyes seemed to deepen a bit.
"You're still very young, sister."
Before Meng Ruozhao could react, he withdrew his hand.
It was as if that touch was really just an unconscious gesture to tidy up her hair.
Meng Ruozhao was briefly confused - this action was very intimate, but she didn't feel the slightest bit of disgust.
If it were someone else, they probably wouldn't even have touched her before she would have dodged away.
At least, she had never had such an intimate interaction with Yan Qiubai.
Pei Jiangmu had been observing her reaction.
The fingertips that were now resting on his knee again seemed to still retain the smooth feel of her skin and that loathsome citrus fragrance.
He adjusted his sitting posture slightly.
His body tilted imperceptibly towards her, his shoulder almost touching hers.
The distance between them was instantly compressed.
His scent - a clear cedar mixed with the clean smell of soap - spread aggressively, silently besieging that wisp of citrus fragrance.
"What perfume are you using, sister? It's different from the one you wore the other day."
Only then did Meng Ruozhao come to her senses and felt a bit uncomfortable.
"Really? I didn't wear any perfume today. It might be the smell of the laundry detergent."
As she spoke, she pretended to be nonchalant and moved towards the other window, trying to create a bit of distance.
However, this subtle movement was like a spark that completely ignited the suppressed darkness in Pei Jiangmu's eyes.
He suddenly raised his head and stared straight at her.
His gaze was no longer the gentle pretense, but a deep, scrutinizing and possessively crazy stare.
It was as if he wanted to suck her whole into his own domain and keep her firmly imprisoned.
The gaze was so intense and penetrating that Meng Ruozhao's heart skipped a beat.
Just when she was almost swallowed by the storm in his eyes, Pei Jiangmu suddenly averted his gaze and looked ahead again.
He even let out a soft laugh, the sound deep and pleasant.
"So it's the smell of the laundry detergent. But I still think this smell doesn't suit you very well, sister."
His voice was very soft, as soft as a lover's whisper, but it clearly struck Meng Ruozhao's heart.
It carried an undeniable and chilling sense of possessiveness.
Meng Ruozhao even wondered if she had misseen.
How could he have such a look in his eyes?
But before she could recall it carefully, the taxi had stopped at the entrance of No. 1 Middle School.
"We're here."
The driver's voice broke the inexplicable oppressive atmosphere in the taxi.
Pei Jiangmu scanned the code to pay the fare before Meng Ruozhao and then turned to her with a gentle smile.
"Let's go, sister."
This innocent look showed no trace of the powerful sense of oppression from before.
Meng Ruozhao thought she must have misseen.
She had been under too much pressure recently, to the point that she could hardly distinguish between reality and fantasy.
She dispelled her doubts and got out of the taxi with Pei Jiangmu.
It was the break time, and the noise of the students came from the school from time to time.
Meng Ruozhao frowned and sized up the school gate in front of her.
She had no memory of this place where she had spent three years and was not familiar with it at all.
The security guard didn't recognize her either and said officially, "If you can't tell me which teacher you've made an appointment with, I can't let you in."
She couldn't even remember the names of any of her teachers, so how could she possibly make an appointment?
Pei Jiangmu spoke up in time, "Can't we just visit?"
The security guard shook his head, "Of course not. If everyone wants to visit, how can we do our jobs? This is a school, not a tourist attraction."
After being firmly rejected, Meng Ruozhao had no choice but to give up.
She planned to think of a way to contact her former classmates or teachers after she got back.
"Forget it. I just came here on a whim. Since it's not possible, then let's go back."
Saying that, she was about to hail a taxi to go home.
Naturally, Pei Jiangmu didn't want to part with her like this. He suggested, "I know there's a snack street near here. Do you want to go for a stroll, sister?"
Actually, No. 1 Middle School wasn't very far from Haicheng International School. There was a snack street between the two schools.
Meng Ruozhao thought for a while and thought it was okay.
Since she couldn't get into the school, maybe she could recall something outside the school.
"Sure. Let's go for a stroll. I'll treat you to milk tea."