"Is your friend really willing to rent out this house?" Meng Ruozhao couldn't help but speak up, her voice tinged with a hint of disbelief.
The decoration and the atmosphere were so much like the little nest she had always dreamed of for herself, even better than she had imagined.
Such a wonderful house clearly showed that it had been carefully decorated, and everything was brand - new. How could the owner be willing to let others live in it?
Pei Jiangmu's heart skipped a beat, but he remained calm on the surface, even adding a touch of well - timed "helplessness".
"My friend is well - off and not very concerned about money."
"Since he may not return to the country in the short term, the thing he is most worried about is these flowers and plants."
He pointed to the few vibrant green plants on the windowsill.
Meng Ruozhao pursed her lips.
She involuntarily walked to the bay window, gently ran her fingers over the soft pillow, and then looked at the excellent view outside the window.
A strong impulse to stay welled up in her heart.
It was quiet, comfortable, and safe, far away from her father's control.
Moreover, for some reason, it made her feel an inexplicable sense of peace.
"The master bedroom has an en - suite bathroom. It's over there." Pei Jiangmu spoke up in good time, pointing to a half - open door.
"The second bedroom is a bit smaller, but it's still usable, and it also has its own bathroom."
He paused for a moment, and his tone became more "practical" as he threw out the most crucial advantage.
"Most importantly, it's very close to 'Fuyunxuan'. It's only a fifteen - minute walk."
"You'll find it much more convenient to commute to work, and you can even come back for a rest at noon."
He keenly caught the wavering in her eyes and tried his best to persuade her.
Meng Ruozhao turned around and scanned the space that made her so enchanted once again.
The broad view, the comfortable colors, the excellent location... It all seemed to be tailor - made for her.
It was even a bit too suitable.
But exhaustion and the longing for stability finally overwhelmed the hesitation in her heart.
"This place is really great." She said softly, with genuine fondness in her eyes.
Pei Jiangmu's heart almost leaped out of his chest. He forced himself to remain calm and just nodded slightly.
"As for the rent, the market price here must be quite high."
She took out her phone and quickly checked the rent information of the nearby area.
Then, she reported a common price.
"Can I pay 12,000 yuan a month?"
Pei Jiangmu didn't know the rent here, so he subconsciously mumbled, "Isn't that too high?"
This house was his, but Qi Yu had bought and decorated it according to his requirements.
So he had no idea how much it had actually cost.
He knew even less about the local rent.
After all, there was no such thing as "renting" in his life.
But he knew Meng Ruozhao well and knew that 12,000 yuan was definitely not a low price.
She was the kind of person who was most afraid of owing others. Since she was satisfied, she would surely offer a figure higher than the average.
"No. I can't let your friend suffer too much." Meng Ruozhao smiled and went to take a look at the bedroom.
In the room, even the bed was already made.
Pei Jiangmu followed her.
"Everything here is new. My friend prepared them specially before going abroad, and no one has used them yet."
"So you can rest here for the night."
It had to be said that this was a very appealing offer.
Meng Ruozhao looked at the big bed with the light - colored sheets.
She could even imagine herself curled up in this bed, sleeping soundly until dawn without a single dream.
"Okay." She was too lazy to think about anything now.
She was already physically exhausted due to her period, not to mention the tiring journey and the psychological blow.
All she wanted to do now was lie down and have a good sleep.
Pei Jiangmu was a bit surprised that she agreed so easily.
He had thought he would have to spend more time persuading her.
It seemed that she was really extremely exhausted.
"Then go and rest early, sister. I'll go back to the store." He used a tactic of retreating to advance.
As he said this, he casually raised his hand.
Meng Ruozhao noticed his injured hand, frowned, and before her mind could react, the words blurted out.
"You can stay here. Isn't there a guest room?"
After saying that, afraid that Pei Jiangmu might find it sudden, she quickly added,
"In case you need anything at night, we can take care of each other."
She really meant it.
She was physically and mentally exhausted, and Pei Jiangmu was even an "injured person".
Pei Jiangmu held back his surging emotions and pretended to hesitate for a moment.
But it was only for a moment. Then, as if afraid that she would change her mind, he quickly agreed.
"Okay. I'll be in the next room. If you need anything, sister, just call me."
He emphasized the words "anything you need" slightly, but his face still looked innocent.
So Meng Ruozhao thought that it must be because she was too tired that she had a momentary wrong thought.
Both of them were not feeling well, so they quickly went to rest.
The night was deep and everything was silent.
The high - class apartment had excellent sound insulation. Only the central air - conditioner made a very faint humming sound.
After making sure that the last ray of light under the door of the master bedroom had been out for a long time, Pei Jiangmu, like a lurking nocturnal animal, quietly pushed open the unlocked door.
The room was filled with Meng Ruozhao's faint, haunting scent, mixed with the clean smell of the newly changed bedding.
With the faint light from the never - extinguished city outside the window, he clearly saw the curled - up figure on the bed.
Meng Ruozhao was lying on her side, breathing evenly and steadily. She was obviously sound asleep.
Her long eyelashes cast a small shadow under her eyes.
Her face, completely defenseless, looked extremely gentle and vulnerable in the night, but also incredibly real.
Pei Jiangmu's heartbeat was infinitely amplified in the silence.
He gently walked to the bedside without turning on the light and just silently sat on the soft carpet.
Leaning against the cold edge of the bed, his eyes greedily traced every inch of her sleeping face.
From her smooth forehead, to her small nose tip, and then to her slightly open, soft lips...
Every curve was precisely engraved deep in his soul. She was a treasure found again and the source of his crazy obsession.
He didn't dare to touch her, afraid of waking her up and breaking this brief, stolen tranquility.
He just quietly looked at her, feeling her breath so close.
The suspicion and rage that had burned because of the report and the "preparing for pregnancy" were strangely soothed by a more surging and sticky possessiveness and pity.
She was his.
At this moment, she was in his territory, under his gaze.
This realization brought a distorted, almost pathological sense of satisfaction.
He was actually extremely exhausted, and his wound was also aching faintly.
But he needed to stay by her side.
Yes, it wasn't that she needed him, but that he needed her.
He needed the warmth of her breath in the air, needed the even rhythm of her heartbeat to pierce through the silence.
She was his only redemption at this moment.
Pei Jiangmu maintained this half - kneeling position.
His fingertips almost touched the shallow indentation she had left on the bedsheet, but at the last moment, he suddenly clenched his fist, his nails digging deeply into his palm.
The pain kept him just a bit awake, reminding himself not to scare her.
He was like a child guarding a candy jar. Although he was extremely eager, he could only greedily stare through the glass.