Chapter 49

Pei Yuning sat on the sofa: “No, but the subsidiary’s general manager forced a female employee to drink, and I couldn’t stand it.”

“What era is this? Their drinking culture is still so stinky and rotten? And looking at the reactions of the people at the table, it seems like they’re all used to it. This is not a good sign. There will always be people who refuse to follow the crowd. If things get out of hand one day, the Pei Group will be the one in the spotlight. We need to eliminate those tumors as soon as possible.” Pei Yuning analyzed.

Pei Yunzhi: “Okay, I’ll have someone investigate this matter thoroughly. When you’re out, don’t leave your bodyguard’s sight. Don’t be annoyed by them following you.”

Pei Yuning: “Got it, brother.”

Pei Yunzhi: “You’ve been busy all day. Get some rest early tonight.”

Pei Yuning: “Okay, you don’t work too late either.”

Pei Yunzhi: “Okay, I’ll hang up.”

Pei Yuning hung up the phone and sat on the sofa for a while. She called the hotel operator and asked for a cup of vanilla milk to be delivered in an hour.

Taking her robe, Pei Yuning went into the bathroom.

After coming out, she finished the vanilla milk on the table and went back into the bathroom to take care of her skin.

After applying a cleansing mask, Pei Yuning played with her phone for a while and video called Shang Yanci.

He answered quickly.

Before she saw him, she heard his voice: “Madam, wait a moment.”

The screen was initially foggy, then showed a palm and the marble wall of the bathroom. He must have placed his phone in a wall-mounted transparent box.

Then, Shang Yanci appeared on the screen. His wet black hair was swept back, revealing his prominent brow bone. His long eyelashes were damp with water droplets, drooping lazily, giving him a kind of handsome, languid look.

His long, white neck, the kiss mark on his Adam’s apple was even more vivid after being steamed by the hot water. His collarbone was sharp and distinct, and only half of his white chest muscles were visible because of the limited height of the phone placement.

Although the water was coming from the shower, it gave the impression that he was sweating.

Pei Yuning froze for a few seconds, her mouth dry. She said slowly, “I’ll call back later.”

He never takes his phone into the bathroom, so why is he doing this tonight? Is he waiting for her message?

Shang Yanci looked at her, a gentle smile on his lips. He asked, “Is there anything on me that Madam can’t see?”

Then why don’t you lower the phone a little? Pei Yuning muttered to herself.

Pei Yuning: “Then don’t hang up. Go ahead and wash. I’m taking care of my skin too.”

Shang Yanci looked at Pei Yuning who seemed busy but he didn’t know what she was doing. He couldn’t help but smile: “Madam, don’t be so cute.”

Pei Yuning’s ears flushed red: “Hurry up and wash!”

Shang Yanci took his time washing: “Did everything go smoothly today?”

Pei Yuning: “Pretty smooth. The partner is actually my college senior, what a coincidence.”

Shang Yanci said calmly: “Well, then it seems that the business was very pleasant.”

Pei Yuning: “It was okay. We’re not close.”

Shang Yanci: “What’s your definition of ‘not close’?”

Pei Yuning thought for a moment and replied, “We don’t chat often, haven’t video called, haven’t had dinner together. Basically, anyone I don’t have a personal relationship with is considered not close.”

Hearing this, Shang Yanci felt reassured. He dried himself with a towel while asking, “Did you drink the vanilla milk?”

Pei Yuning: “I did.”

“Good girl.” Shang Yanci put on his robe and walked out of the bathroom with his phone.

Pei Yuning lowered her eyes, her eyelashes fluttering. Why does he always say those two words? Does he know that I like being praised like this?

Shang Yanci lay down on the bed. The bedroom felt empty, even though nothing was missing.

On the bedside table was a vintage lily-of-the-valley lamp that Pei Yuning had just bought. The book she was reading was marked with a beautiful bookmark.

On the sofa was her special light blue blanket with fluffy white clouds, and on the table were five cute and quirky cups.

She actually doesn’t like drinking water, but she always patiently encourages herself to drink for beauty.

Novelty cups are one of her key strategies for encouraging herself to drink water. The cabinet next to the wall is full of her cups, a dazzling array.

Shang Yanci looked at Pei Yuning on the screen, carefully taking care of her skin, and said softly, “Madam, I miss you.”

Pei Yuning paused her application of eye cream, her heart ached from his straightforward words: “I miss you too.”

Shang Yanci: “I know.”

Pei Yuning pursed her lips and smiled: “It won’t be long. Today is over. I’ll try to get back to Beijing as soon as possible.”

Shang Yanci: “Okay, I’ll wait for you at home.”

Pei Yuning: “Okay.”

After finishing her skincare, Pei Yuning lay down on the bed.  She felt the familiar comfort and asked, “A Yan, did you change the mattress?”

Shang Yanci: “Yeah, I wanted you to sleep more comfortably.”

Pei Yuning smiled, her eyes crinkling: “I’ll sleep soundly tonight.”

Shang Yanci looked at her intently: “Even without me, you’ll sleep soundly?”

Pei Yuning: “… I mean, compared to my usual business trips, I’ll sleep soundly tonight because of the vanilla milk and the new mattress.”

Shang Yanci lowered his eyes and said softly, “I’ll be sleepless tonight without you.”

Pei Yuning: “Why don’t you go downstairs and make a cup of vanilla milk?”

Shang Yanci: “It won’t work for me.”

Pei Yuning thought for a moment: “Then I’ll find some philosophy books and read them to you to help you sleep.”

“Read to me to help me sleep?” Shang Yanci chuckled softly, his voice tender. “Thank you for your kindness, Madam, but no. Reading is tiring.”

Pei Yuning said in a troubled tone: “But what if you can’t sleep? You have work tomorrow.”

Shang Yanci asked, “How much battery does your phone have?”

Pei Yuning checked: “98%, I charged it while I was showering.”

Shang Yanci: “Then let’s keep the video call going tonight, okay?”

“Okay.” Pei Yuning sat up and took out the phone stand from her suitcase. “A Yan, there’s a phone stand on the top shelf of my bedside table. Use that later.”

Shang Yanci: “Okay.”

Pei Yuning adjusted the stand to the right height and placed it on the bedside table.  She lay on her side, her gaze drawn to the bright red kiss mark on Shang Yanci’s Adam’s apple: “A Yan, did you wear a turtleneck today?”

Shang Yanci: “Why would I wear a turtleneck?”

Pei Yuning was stunned: “Didn’t you cover up the kiss mark on your Adam’s apple?”

Shang Yanci chuckled lazily: “Didn’t you say you wanted to leave a mark for me, to remind me that I’m a married man, and most importantly, to remind others to stop coveting me? If I covered it up, wouldn’t I be disrespecting your good intentions? I’m not a foolish man.”

Pei Yuning: “… You’re so thoughtful.”

Shang Yanci: “Thank you for the compliment.”

They chatted for a while, and noticing Pei Yuning’s drowsiness, Shang Yanci got up, took the stand from the bedside table, turned off notifications, placed his phone, and lay down on his side: “Time for bed.”

Pei Yuning blinked: “Are you tired?”

Shang Yanci: “Yes, I’m tired.”

Pei Yuning: “Good, goodnight, A Yan.”

Shang Yanci: “Goodnight, Madam.”

Pei Yuning slowly closed her eyes, her breathing gradually calmed, and she fell asleep.

Shang Yanci watched her on the screen, reaching out to touch her, hating the distance.

A WeChat message popped up. Shang Yanci scrolled down to read it.

Yi Huan: [Shang Heng agreed to go to Gangcheng.]

Shang Yanci opened the booking app and bought a ticket to City A for tomorrow night.

To see his beloved.