Their eyes met.
Pei Jiangmu was propping himself above her. His deep-set eyes were right in front of her, swirling with complex emotions that hadn't fully subsided.
There was the shock from the fall just now, and the momentary flutter caused by their bodies pressing tightly against each other.
But deeper still was the almost uncontrollable, intense possessiveness and jealousy.
Her breath was so clearly lingering around him.
Her body was so softly trapped in his embrace...
This position and this proximity ignited the most primitive desire deep in his heart.
His gaze involuntarily swept across her blushing cheeks from embarrassment and her slightly parted, soft lips...
His Adam's apple rolled silently.
Meng Ruozhao's mind went completely blank.
Being pinned down on the bed in such an ambiguous posture by an adult man.
Even through their clothes, the strong sense of presence and oppression made her body go rigid.
Her heart was beating so fast it felt like it was about to jump out of her throat!
She could clearly see the dark emotions churning in his eyes. That was definitely not the look of an "innocent college guy"!
Dangerous and full of aggression.
She subconsciously held her breath and even forgot to struggle.
She just stared at him with wide eyes, like a fawn caught in a trap.
Time seemed to freeze again.
The air was as thick as honey, or as if it were filled with invisible fuses, just waiting for a single spark to set it off completely.
The muscles in Pei Jiangmu's arm propping beside her were tightly tensed, and his injured right hand unconsciously curled up, as if he was desperately trying to restrain something.
His gaze lingered on her face, with an almost greedy scrutiny.
Meng Ruozhao felt her whole body heating up under his gaze, and even her toes curled up.
She wanted to push him away, but her hands were too weak to exert any strength.
A strange yet familiar, shivering flutter spread from where their bodies were tightly pressed together.
Just when the air was thick with ambiguity and on the verge of exploding.
Suddenly, the sound of a car engine came from downstairs.
Then, there was a loud slamming of a car door!
It broke the almost solidified air in the second-floor room.
Meng Ruozhao instantly woke up from her dazed state, and her pupils suddenly contracted.
A huge wave of embarrassment and panic swept over her.
The lust in Pei Jiangmu's eyes was instantly replaced by clear embarrassment.
He propped himself up and quickly got off Meng Ruozhao.
He moved so fast it was as if the ambiguous moment had never happened.
He straightened his slightly wrinkled clothes, and his face returned to that "college guy" expression with a hint of awkwardness and apology.
As if the accident just now was really just an accident.
But the look in his eyes when he glanced towards the door was, for a moment, as cold as ice.
The annoying person was back.
Meng Ruozhao also scrambled out of bed in a hurry.
She quickly stuffed the embarrassing lingerie to the bottom of the suitcase and casually closed the lid.
As if she was also closing the door on that embarrassing social death scene that had made her soul leave her body.
Her heart was still pounding, and her face was alternating between red and white.
Embarrassment, panic, and the inexplicable flutter towards his body were all mixed together, making it almost impossible for her to think.
She didn't even notice the changing expressions on his face.
She took a few deep breaths, trying to calm the burning on her face and the wild beating of her heart, but with little success.
The noises downstairs should be from Xia Lian and Du Xixi.
When she came back, they weren't downstairs.
Judging from their habits, they probably went for a beauty treatment.
At that time, she secretly felt lucky that these two probably didn't expect her to come back so early in the morning.
So they didn't stay "to watch the fun" under the guise of concern.
She just didn't expect that within less than an hour of her return, they would rush back immediately.
She wondered who in the family had tipped them off.
Later, she was probably going to be sneered at again.
Meng Ruozhao let out a bitter smile in her heart. She grabbed some skin care products, picked up her suitcase, and took a look at Pei Jiangmu beside her.
He had completely returned to that "innocent college guy" look.
There was just the right amount of awkwardness on his face.
He even reached out to help her carry the suitcase, but Meng Ruozhao shook her head and refused.
She didn't want to let this injured person exert himself anymore.
The two walked downstairs one after the other.
Sure enough, the atmosphere in the living room was even more solemn than before.
Du Feng was sitting unhappily on the main sofa.
Wu Qian was standing beside him with her hands hanging down, in a respectful posture, but her eyes were calm, like a statue without emotions.
And Xia Lian was standing in the middle of the living room.
Her carefully painted eyes were like searchlights.
With undisguised vigilance and scrutiny, she sized up Wu Qian from head to toe.
Du Xixi was leaning against the console table with her arms crossed, a sneer of watching a good show on her lips.
"Husband, who is this?"
Xia Lian's gaze finally landed on Wu Qian's overly young and overly beautiful face.
Her voice was drawn out long, full of harsh suspicion.
"Why haven't I seen this assistant before? Is this the one you said accompanied Zhaozhao to the hospital?"
"She's quite 'capable', isn't she? She accompanied Zhaozhao to the hospital yesterday and came to the house to find you early this morning."
She deliberately emphasized the word "capable", and the implication was self-evident.
Wu Qian didn't even frown. She just bowed slightly, her voice flat and emotionless.
"Good morning, madam. I'm Wu Qian, Mr. Du's special assistant. I just transferred here recently and am responsible for assisting in handling some special affairs."
She deliberately emphasized "special affairs", clearly drawing a line, neither overbearing nor humble.
"Special affairs?"
Xia Lian let out a sneer, obviously not believing it.
"What special affairs require you to come to the house early in the morning?"
"You even lost the person yesterday? Assistant Wu, your work ability... tsk tsk."
She mercilessly pointed the finger at Wu Qian.
Trying to find a breakthrough in her and vent the anger she had been holding in since she heard there was a "young and beautiful woman" looking for Du Feng early this morning.
Meng Ruozhao originally wanted to leave directly.
But when she realized that Xia Lian had rushed back, seemingly not for her, she got interested.
After all, who doesn't like to watch a show?
So she stood on the stairs and didn't move.
Pei Jiangmu quietly stood behind her.
Taking advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention and she couldn't see, his gaze boldly swept across the top of her head.
The first time he tied someone's hair was for her.
At that time, the two of them had run into the woods. There were no adults around, and the little girl was in a complete mess.
Her hair was in a mess, and her beautiful little face was covered in dust.
But she just wouldn't cry. She just stared at him with a pair of overly bright big eyes.
Wherever he went, she would follow.
If she tripped, she wouldn't cry either. She would quickly get up and continue following.
His situation wasn't much better at that time, but he just couldn't bear to really leave her behind.
Finally, seeing her messy hair and thinking it was affecting his mood, he took the beaded bracelet in his hand and spent a long time tying a lopsided ball head for her.
Yes, it was because he was afraid it would affect his mood.
It definitely wasn't because he saw her constantly pushing her hair back to see the way and getting her little face even dirtier.
...