Chapter 8: He’s a Madman  

Inside the car, Pei Yuezhou shifted his attention from the computer screen to Yu Zhi. “I need to go back to the company. Do you want to head straight home, or…”  

Yu Zhi replied, “How about I wait for you at a café near the group? I can also take a stroll around the area.”  

Pei Yuezhou didn’t answer immediately, simply staring at Yu Zhi as if lost in thought.  

Yu Zhi tilted her head and nudged him with her hand.  

*Say something.*  

Pei Yuezhou caught her mischievous hand in his. His palm was warm, but not as scorching as his gaze, which seemed intense enough to melt her.  

He repeated his instructions firmly, “Don’t wander off. I’ll come pick you up as soon as the meeting is over.”  

“Got it.”  

After they parted ways, Yu Zhi entered the café.  

Thanks to Assistant Xu’s prior arrangements, the staff greeted her warmly and led her to a more secluded spot.  

Yu Zhi ordered a latte and a dessert.  

Since the coffee was freshly ground and the dessert made to order, the wait was naturally longer. But what surprised Yu Zhi was that the first thing delivered to her table wasn’t her order—it was a bouquet of roses.  

Assuming it was arranged by Pei Yuezhou, Yu Zhi picked it up with a bright smile.  

However, the moment she saw the accompanying card, her smile vanished.  

It was from Song Chuhe. The card even included his contact details.  

Yu Zhi immediately called over a waiter.  

“Sorry, could you please throw this away?”  

The flowers were clearly expensive, but noticing Yu Zhi’s displeasure, the waiter didn’t dare comment and simply took them away.  

Xiao Shui, who had always spoken highly of Song Chuhe, suddenly chimed in: *[I think there’s something off about him. Even after you beat him up, he still shamelessly seeks you out.]*  

The waiter returned with the latte and dessert, and Yu Zhi gave him a slight nod.  

Only after he walked away did she respond to Xiao Shui, “Right? Either he’s got a screw loose, or he’s up to no good. So Xiao Shui, stop relying on that flawed data of yours. Anyone can do a few good deeds or buy some bots—once public opinion shifts, anyone’s data can look impressive.”  

Xiao Shui had no rebuttal for that.  

Meanwhile, Assistant Xu, watching the screen as Yu Zhi unhesitatingly had the bouquet disposed of, let out a sigh of relief.  

He stole a glance at his boss.  

*Good, the oppressive aura from earlier is gone.*  

*Another beautiful day.*  

**Pei Private Hospital**  

Yu Heng, now seated on the bed, had switched into work mode. Wearing gold-rimmed glasses, he looked far more reliable than his earlier wailing self.  

His assistant, Zhou Qiyin, kept glancing at him, still seemingly in disbelief over his recovery.  

When Zhou Qiyin had first received Yu Zhi’s message, he’d thought it was some kind of scam.  

Even after crying his heart out hugging his boss earlier, sitting here now still felt surreal.  

“Pei Group’s medical tech is this advanced now…?”  

He accidentally muttered his thoughts aloud.  

Then came Yu Heng’s *Knife Eyes*.  

“Slacking off, huh? Salary deduction.”  

Zhou Qiyin wailed in despair, “No, Boss! Think about it—I’ve been with you since college. No matter how tough these past seven years were, I never even considered jumping ship. Even if I haven’t achieved much, I’ve put in the effort!”  

Yu Heng scoffed, unmoved.

But when his gaze returned to the documents, his brows involuntarily furrowed slightly.

Though he often acted irresponsibly, he wasn’t a fool.

His sudden recovery was undoubtedly connected to that sister of his.

Yet Yu Heng couldn’t comprehend one thing—what kind of ability could create a medical miracle within mere moments?

Lost in thought, he accidentally snapped the pen in his hand with a crisp crack, ink splattering all over his fingers.

Yu Heng’s pupils contracted slightly.

But he casually discarded the broken pen without a trace of reaction.

There were no free lunches in this world—what price had that fool paid to achieve this?

For a moment, Yu Heng felt unusually agitated.

Yet he knew Yu Zhi wouldn’t tell him the truth about this matter.

He ran a hand through his disheveled hair and exhaled slowly.

In the café, Yu Zhi had just stepped out of the restroom when a stranger blocked her path.

The man spoke politely, “Miss Yu, my employer Mr. Song requests your presence.”

Song Chuhe again.

Like a ghost that wouldn’t leave her alone.

Yu Zhi instinctively felt repulsed but decided to make things clear, otherwise this harassment might never end.

“Call him now. I only have ten minutes.”

The man seemed taken aback by Yu Zhi’s firmness but immediately made the call.

After stepping aside briefly, he returned with a smile. “Miss Yu, my employer says that’s sufficient.”

Following the man, Yu Zhi was led upstairs.

She hadn’t expected private rooms here.

The man opened the door for her but made no move to enter.

Yu Zhi pressed her lips together, catching the scent of sandalwood drifting from inside. Suppressing her emotions, she stepped in.

Song Chuhe sat on the sofa, his condition surprisingly better than she’d imagined. He greeted her with a gentle smile.

Yu Zhi felt even more disgusted.

“I prepared Mont Blanc for you. You’ll like it.”

Yu Zhi sat across from him without glancing at the dessert he pushed forward.

Great. Now she wouldn’t be able to stomach this dessert for three days.

“Song Chuhe, what exactly do you want? I’ll report you for harassment!”

Unfazed by her sharp words, Song Chuhe remained composed.

“Calm down first. I just want to remain friends. Your attitude toward me wasn’t like this before. Can you tell me what changed?”

He slid a cup of coffee toward her. “Try this Coconut Latte.”

Yu Zhi’s frown deepened. “Consider me blind before. Save your efforts—whatever your goal is, your tricks won’t work on me.”

She tapped the tabletop and added, “Also, I hate coconut as much as I hate you.”

Hearing her dislike for coconut, Song Chuhe’s eyes brightened. Good-naturedly, he moved the coffee away.

Yu Zhi checked her watch. “Three minutes have passed. You’d better say something worthwhile.”

Song Chuhe interlaced his fingers. “It seems my impression has indeed worsened in your eyes. But compared to me, Pei Yuezhou isn’t much better.”

Yu Zhi couldn’t listen anymore and grabbed her bag to leave.

“I suppose you don’t know about his medical history?”

Yu Zhi’s steps faltered, her heartbeat suddenly irregular.

She turned to Song Chuhe: “What do you mean by that?”

Song Chuhe pointed to his head: “Him? He once suffered from severe mental illness and spent a long time in a psychiatric hospital six years ago.”

“Just when his family thought he had recovered and brought him home, he immediately took a knife and killed his own uncle.”

“What nonsense are you spouting?!” Yu Zhi trembled slightly with anger.

Pei Yuezhou had always been close to his uncle—such a thing couldn’t possibly have happened!

“Everyone says he’s a madman. Do you think it’s baseless? You think just because Pei Yuezhou grew up pampered and privileged, he’s clean? The dirty deeds he’s done far surpass mine.”

Song Chuhe pulled up a photo on his phone.

Upon seeing the person in the photo, a wave of nausea overwhelmed her.

“This is his handiwork. You’re smart, Yu Zhi. You don’t need me to tell you how dangerous that madman is, do you?”

Yu Zhi’s legs felt as if they were filled with lead, rooted to the spot, unable to utter a word.

“So, Yu Zhi, I can help you escape this misery. Stop avoiding me.”

But to Song Chuhe’s surprise, Yu Zhi’s gaze turned frosty, chillingly cold.

“Song Chuhe, what makes you any better?”

Over the years, the Song Family’s collateral branches had been thoroughly purged. None of the younger generation his age had made any waves—only he had risen unstoppably, reaching the pinnacle of power.

A bastard who clawed his way out of the Song Family’s den of wolves to attain his current status—the underhanded means he must have employed didn’t bear thinking about.

“You have no right to speak of Pei Yuezhou.”

With those final words, Yu Zhi turned and left without looking back.

Clutching his aching wound, Song Chuhe let out a bitter laugh.

“But it was you who taught me to be ruthless. Why do you despise me now…?”

He and Pei Yuezhou were the same kind of people.

So why couldn’t it be him?

Yu Zhi returned to her seat as if nothing had happened.

[Host, how much of Song Chuhe’s words do you believe?]

No matter what, Xiao Shui felt Pei Yuezhou was far too unpredictable—hardly a suitable match.

“He’s already said it. How much I believe doesn’t matter. Song Chuhe wants to sow discord between A Yue and me. Right now, I can’t play into his hands.”

As for the rest, Yu Zhi would verify it herself.

No matter how much irrefutable evidence others presented, she trusted only her own judgment.

[That makes sense. But if what Song Chuhe said is true, then staying by Pei Yuezhou’s side now would be…]

Yu Zhi understood Xiao Shui’s concern for her safety.

Without hesitation, she replied, “He won’t hurt me.”

Xiao Shui sighed helplessly, hoping its Host wasn’t making this judgment purely out of blind love.

Well, at least they still had a trump card. If things truly reached a dead end, Yu Zhi could still make a clean escape and disappear somewhere under a new identity.

Pei Yuezhou finished earlier than Yu Zhi expected. Tall and striking, his appearance alone drew attention, especially with several sharply dressed business elites trailing behind him.

The moment he stepped into the café, all eyes were on him.

Yu Zhi adjusted her expression and walked over to him.

“A Yue, let’s go home.”

She took the initiative to reach out and grasped Pei Yuezhou’s hand.

“Mmm.”

Throughout the journey, Yu Zhi had been unsettled by Song Chuhe’s words. What concerned her most was the medical history he had mentioned.

Thus, her gaze towards Pei Yuezhou couldn’t help but carry more worry.

A Yue had once been sent by the Pei family to a psychiatric hospital for treatment—why hadn’t she received any memory of this? Was he truly ill or…

Yu Zhi didn’t dare to dwell on it further.

The man who had been feigning sleep suddenly opened his eyes.

“You… seem off. Did something happen?”

Under his scrutinizing gaze, Yu Zhi had to admit his vigilance and sharpness were truly remarkable.

“Nothing. I’m just worried about your injuries.”

After all, the concern in her eyes wasn’t feigned.

She just didn’t know how much of it Pei Yuezhou believed.

But he only remained silent for a few seconds before speaking: “Don’t worry.”

Yet he raised his hand to send a text message to his assistant Xu.

[Arrange scar removal surgery for me.]

The assistant didn’t dare delay and immediately set about handling it.

Pei Yuezhou put away his phone, his expression inscrutable.

He didn’t dare gamble on how much of Zhi Zhi’s affection for him had returned. But at the very least, he had to maintain this appearance.