Meng Ruozhao pulled down her sleeve somewhat uneasily to cover the mark.
Then she forced a relaxed smile on her face.
"It's okay. I just accidentally bumped into something. It'll heal soon."
She tried to brush it off lightly.
Accidentally? Pei Jiangmu sneered inwardly.
It seemed that it was Yan Qiubai who did it.
After all, besides him, who else would dare to treat her like this?
A surge of fury welled up in his heart instantly, almost overwhelming his rationality.
He couldn't wait to tear that guy surnamed Yan into pieces right away.
But he couldn't.
He was just an ordinary, even somewhat down - on - his - luck student now.
He forcibly suppressed the surging killing intent. His chest heaved violently several times before he managed to make his voice sound just worried.
"Are you really okay? I saw that mark... Did someone bully you?"
He asked cautiously, his eyes fixed intently on hers, not missing any hint of emotion.
"You bought so much alcohol. Is there something bothering you?"
Meng Ruozhao avoided his overly sharp gaze, lowered her head, and pretended to continue selecting drinks, trying to sound nonchalant.
"No one bullied me. I'm old enough. How could anyone bully me?"
"I just made a big decision today. I feel relieved. It's a kind of liberation, I guess."
"Anyway, don't worry."
She picked up the bottle of whiskey, put it in the shopping cart, and smiled at him.
A big decision?
What decision?
Pei Jiangmu's heart skipped a beat.
Could it be that she was going to marry Yan Qiubai?
Then the wound on her wrist wasn't caused by Yan Qiubai, but by Shen Xinyin when she heard this and got angry?
This speculation made him angry and heart - broken.
Whether it was Yan Qiubai or Shen Xinyin, how dare they lay a hand on her?
He looked at Meng Ruozhao's side profile as she pretended to be strong, his heart in turmoil.
He wanted to ask if she really liked Yan Qiubai.
What was there to like about that kind of guy who was still attached to his ex - girlfriend and always surrounded by other women? He was such a self - indulgent scumbag.
For a moment, he really wanted to abandon his plan of taking it slow and just take her back to France directly.
Then lock her up in that villa until she could no longer see anyone else and wouldn't want to leave him.
But his remaining rationality kept him from doing anything but just thinking about it.
"Is sister going to celebrate?"
He couldn't ask directly what decision she had made, so he had to beat around the bush.
Meng Ruozhao was taken aback.
Celebrate?
This wasn't really something to celebrate, was it?
She thought for a while and said, "Let's just say I want to indulge myself."
Indulge?
What decision could it be that required indulgence?
The point was, why did she have to rely on alcohol to indulge?
Wasn't he a better option?
His body, his everything, was always at her service. He was sure he could make her experience the ultimate pleasure and satisfaction...
But these words could only rage in his heart. Not a single word could be spoken.
Finally, he took a deep breath, suppressing all the surging emotions back into his heart. His voice became extremely gentle.
"Okay, then let's indulge."
"But drinking on an empty stomach is bad for your stomach. Pick some more snacks to go with the drinks, okay?"
"You said you liked that brand of spicy beef jerky last time. Let's buy two more packs."
He naturally changed the topic and didn't ask any more questions, just quietly accompanied her to pick some more snacks and food to go with the drinks, and then they went to check out together.
The two carried the shopping bags back to the apartment.
Meng Ruozhao went to change into her home clothes, while Pei Jiangmu turned on the warm - colored lights and arranged the cooked food and drinks they bought on the coffee table.
When they bought the alcohol, they also bought two beautiful glasses.
Pei Jiangmu washed the glasses, poured the red wine, and then sat obediently on one side like a loyal dog, waiting for her to come out.
On the other side of the city, in the Du family's villa.
Du Feng had just finished a business call when there was a knock on the study door.
Xia Lian walked in with a cup of ginseng tea, wearing her usual gentle smile.
"Old Du, are you done with your work? Drink some tea to sober up."
Du Feng took the tea and was about to take a sip when his private phone on the desk rang.
He was about to frown, but when he saw the familiar number, he immediately put on an obsequious smile.
His tone was also enthusiastic and respectful.
"Assistant Zhou, good evening."
A calm and formulaic male voice came from the other end of the phone.
"Good evening, Mr. Du. I'm sorry to bother you so late."
Zhou Qiao was Yan Qiubai's assistant. He had met Du Feng twice and talked to him on the phone a few times.
Du Feng knew that he was a favorite in front of Yan Qiubai, so he naturally didn't dare to treat him lightly.
"It's no bother. You're being too polite, Assistant Zhou. Did you call to tell me that the agency right has been approved?"
Yan Qiubai had never given a definite answer about Du's company getting the agency right of Yan's company.
He didn't dare to push too hard before, because the abortion report was a threat.
But now, since they couldn't find the specific records, they could just insist that it was a slander.
So this morning, he called Yan Qiubai to talk about the agency right again.
Yan Qiubai was in a meeting at that time, and the call was answered by Zhou Qiao.
Zhou Qiao said on the phone that he would convey his message.
Calling at this moment, there must be a result.
Du Feng could hardly contain his excitement. He subconsciously sat up straight.
Assistant Zhou's voice was calm but carried an undeniable weight.
"It's not about the agency right."
"Mr. Du, Mr. Yan doesn't know about this call."
"I've actually been struggling with whether I should call you."
"But I don't want you to waste so much effort."
As soon as these words were said, Du Feng's alarm bells went off in his head. He didn't even dare to breathe loudly.
"Assistant Zhou, please just say it. If there's anything wrong with Du's company, I'll immediately have someone rectify it."
After building up the suspense, Zhou Qiao sighed.
"Mr. Yan invited Miss Meng to dinner tonight, but there was some unpleasantness between them."
"Miss Meng broke up with him on the spot."
Du Feng's heart instantly rose to his throat.
How dare that girl Meng Ruozhao lose her temper with Yan Qiubai? And even dare to break up?
Didn't she know what this marriage meant to the Du family!
But he didn't dare to show the slightest bit of anger. He just asked cautiously.
"This... How could this happen? Ruozhao is young and doesn't understand. I'll apologize to Young Master Yan on her behalf. I..."
Zhou Qiao interrupted him. His tone was still cold.
"Mr. Yan doesn't need an apology."
"He gave Miss Meng three days to think it over. If Miss Meng still insists on breaking up after three days, he won't try to persuade her to stay."
"Mr. Du, you know that once the engagement is annulled, it's even more impossible for Mr. Yan to cooperate with Du's company."
"I'm calling you privately because I think it might be better for you, as her father, to talk to Miss Meng."
"After all, the alliance between the two families concerns more than just the two of them. Am I right, Mr. Du?"
The implication and pressure in these words were obvious.
Even though Zhou Qiao had always emphasized that this was a private call.
But Du Feng knew very well.
It was just that Yan Qiubai was too proud to go and try to win her back himself.
Of course, a high - and - mighty young master shouldn't lower himself to do so.
This call was Yan Qiubai's last chance.
He wanted Du Feng to apply pressure on Meng Ruozhao, forcing her to go back obediently and apologize to maintain this marriage.