Chapter 10

According to the book’s plot, Pei Yu was supposed to be an unfeeling, ruthless villain, yet he seemed to feel guilty toward her.

Just as she was about to examine his expression more closely, Pei Yu reverted to his usual cold demeanor.

I must have imagined it, she thought. This was the man who later sent the original owner—his supposed ‘white moonlight’—to a mental asylum without batting an eye.

She had no idea what madness had possessed Pei Yu today, insisting she join him for dinner. With no appetite whatsoever, she tried to decline politely: “I’m really not hungry, but thank you for inviting me downstairs.”

“Did you take your medicine?” Pei Yu asked.

Yun Yin suddenly remembered Aunt Lin bringing her medicine at noon. She had set it aside and completely forgotten about it.

“I’ll take it later,” she replied.

“You need to eat first,” Pei Yu insisted.

“…Fine,” Yun Yin sighed. It seemed this meal was unavoidable.

Reluctantly, she threw back the covers and got out of bed.

She was wearing loose silk pajamas, the sleeves and legs hanging empty, accentuating her slender, almost ethereal figure.

Pei Yu glanced at her briefly before averting his gaze.

After tidying up and coming downstairs, Yun Yin found that Aunt Lin had already prepared dinner.

The two sat across from each other at the dining table, Yun Yin slowly sipping her porridge.

Under the bright, soft light, Pei Yu could clearly observe her.

She lowered her head to drink her porridge, her slightly hunched back revealing the faint outline of her spine through her silk pajamas. Her complexion wasn’t as vibrant as before.

In just two days, Pei Yu felt she had grown noticeably thinner.

Perhaps time had blurred his memories, but he struggled to recall her original appearance.

After finishing her bowl of porridge, Yun Yin considered her task complete and rose to go upstairs.

“Hey!” Pei Yu suddenly reached out and gently grasped her wrist, careful not to hurt her.

“Finish this before you go,” he said, holding her wrist to keep her from leaving.

Yun Yin truly didn’t understand what was wrong with Pei Yu today. With a sigh, she said, “I’m already full.”

He had never shown her such concern before.

Could it be…?

“Pei Yu, do you need me to do something for you?”

Pei Yu paused, slightly taken aback. “Why do you ask?”

Yun Yin hesitated to be direct, dodging the question with a vague answer. “You just seem… different today.”

After a moment’s thought, Pei Yu understood her implication. His eyes deepened with intensity. “Is this not how I should pursue someone?”

Yun Yin: “……”

Facing Pei Yu, Yun Yin found herself increasingly speechless. She regretted more than once why she had casually given such a reason in the first place. Anything else would have been better than this.

Now, it was too late for regrets. With no other choice, Yun Yin forced herself to continue the charade.

“No,” Yun Yin said after a moment’s thought. “Just because you pursue me doesn’t mean I’ll automatically agree.”

Given her current health, she didn’t have much time left. As long as she helped Pei Yu avoid the Capital Suburb Project pitfall, he wouldn’t have the chance to turn dark again. Until then, she could live her life to the fullest.

With this realization, Yun Yin no longer felt the same trembling fear she had at the beginning. Knowing her fate, she resolved to enjoy her remaining time.

This mindset carried a kind of reckless abandon, like someone who had already broken the jar and decided to throw the pieces away.

The male lead, the villain—none of that concerns me.

Having said this, she glanced at Pei Yu with a hint of pride, her sickly eyes suddenly brimming with unusual vitality.

“Is that so?” Pei Yu asked calmly, his dark eyes fixed intently on her.

She reminded him of a white Ragdoll cat Xu Jingyi had once kept—a beautiful, noble creature with clear, innocent eyes, just like Yun Yin’s now.

Yun Yin felt inexplicably flustered by his gaze. She turned her head to avoid Pei Yu’s profound stare, forcing herself to say, “Yes.”

Now it was her turn to bluff.

Pei Yu seemed to see through her pretense, but he showed no sign of letting her off the hook. “Then tell me, what should I do?”

What should I do?

Yun Yin tilted her head slightly, as if she didn’t quite understand his question.

In her imagination, Pei Yu shouldn’t have reacted this way.

According to her plan, as long as she behaved herself, she and Pei Yu should have remained separate, like water from different wells. But reality seemed to be unfolding differently.

Yun Yin lowered her gaze, her earlier arrogance fading. After a moment of earnest contemplation, she looked up at Pei Yu and said seriously, “Pei Yu.”

“Mmm.”

“You should be nicer to me,” Yun Yin said slowly, a hint of imperceptible petulance in her voice.

Yun Yin thought she saw the corner of Pei Yu’s lips twitch upward. The next moment, he asked, “For example?”

“For example, you shouldn’t force me to do things I don’t want to do.” Yun Yin was still annoyed at being woken up earlier.

Unseen by Yun Yin, a clear smile flickered in Pei Yu’s eyes. “Anything else?”

Pei Yu looked genuinely earnest. Sensing the rare relaxed atmosphere, Yun Yin pondered briefly before whispering, “Also, you shouldn’t scare me anymore. My heart isn’t strong enough to handle it.”

Whenever Pei Yu fell silent, his dark eyes fixed intently on her, Yun Yin’s heart would race with anxiety. It felt as if he might throw her into a mental asylum at any moment.

Pei Yu met her bright, clear gaze, his lips curving slightly downward. “I’ll try.”

Yun Yin: “?”

What did he mean? Did he still intend to force her to do things she didn’t want to do? Was he still trying to scare her?

Yun Yin lowered her gaze, bit her lip, and muttered sullenly, “You’re not sincere.”

What kind of person pursued someone with such an attitude?

Even if he was acting, he wasn’t even putting in the effort.

Forget it. I can’t be bothered with him.

Yun Yin turned her head away from Pei Yu. “Let go of me. I need to take my medicine.”

Pei Yu didn’t release her hand. After a moment, he asked softly, “Are you angry?”

Yun Yin refused to look at him, stubbornly replying, “No.”

Finally, Pei Yu released Yun Yin’s wrist.

This time, he was careful, leaving no marks on her skin.

Watching Yun Yin’s retreating figure as she climbed the stairs, Pei Yu thought again:

As expected, beautiful and fragile things require careful nurturing.

But that alone wasn’t enough.

—

Several days later, Yun Yin’s fever finally subsided completely.

After days of torrential rain, the sky cleared at last.

Yun Yin had been worried about the flowers in the garden, but to her surprise, they had been carefully protected and spared from the storm’s fury.

Watching the vibrant blossoms bathed in sunlight, her mood lifted.

But this brief joy was shattered by a phone call.

Yun Yin picked up her phone, her smile fading as she saw the caller’s ID.

Yun Yang’s voice boomed through the receiver the moment she answered: “Dad wants you to come home tomorrow.”

Yun Yin had no desire to interact with the Yun Family, but she knew that if she didn’t resolve this, she’d never find peace. After all, she was still publicly known as their daughter.

“Mm,” she replied expressionlessly. “I’ll be back tomorrow.”

She didn’t need to guess Yun Cheng’s motives. Pei Yu had likely run into trouble, and Yun Cheng wanted her to fix it. He would use her to maximize his own gains.

Yun Yang continued talking, but Yun Yin tuned him out. After a few perfunctory responses, she hung up, tossed her phone aside, and leaned back on the swing.

The warm sun should have soothed her, but instead, she felt restless and irritable.

Everything about this place grated on her nerves.

For no particular reason, she thought, No wonder Pei Yu turned dark. These people are truly infuriating.

Despite having to return to the Yun Family the next day, Yun Yin slept until she woke up naturally before leisurely getting out of bed.

For convenience, the villa came with a driver. After quickly tidying up, Yun Yin got into the car and headed to the Yun Family estate.

This was the first time Yun Yin had ventured out alone since transmigrating into the novel. Ignoring her destination, she found the street scenes outside the car window surprisingly novel.

The Yun Family estate was in the opposite direction from Yunman Lake, requiring about an hour’s drive. The long journey began to make her carsick.

Just as she was about to give up, they finally arrived at the Yun Family estate.

The Yun Family’s villa was built into the mountainside, occupying a vast area. Outside lay a sprawling lawn, making it appear no different from any ordinary mansion from the outside.

Passing through the entrance hall, she entered the living room, where the entire space opened up before her.

The first thing that caught her eye was the extreme luxury: marble floors, mirror-like tiles, and an elaborate crystal chandelier overhead. The furniture was crafted from rare, ancient wood, exuding both antiquity and weight.

Yun Yin blinked. The Yun Family truly was wealthy.

As she stepped further inside, she saw three figures seated on the sofa.

One was Yunyang, whom she had met before, lounging with his legs crossed, still sporting his usual carefree demeanor.

The other two were a middle-aged couple, well-maintained and clearly the original owner’s parents.

Yun Cheng, the original owner’s father, frowned at Yun Yin’s late arrival and instinctively demanded, “Why are you so late?”

At that moment, the Yun Family’s nanny brought Yun Yin a cup of clear tea. Yun Yin accepted it and slowly replied, “I felt a little unwell this morning.”

Yun Cheng, aware of Yun Yin’s delicate health, didn’t press the matter. As if struck by a thought, his tone softened. “Did you come alone today?”

Yun Yin nodded casually. “Mm.”

“Didn’t Pei Yu drive you back?”

Hearing Pei Yu’s name, Yun Yin glanced up at Yun Cheng. After a moment’s pause, she said quietly, “He’s busy with work.”

This wasn’t a lie; Pei Yu was indeed very busy.

However, Yun Yin had never mentioned her plans to visit the Yun Family today to him.

Zhao Yuqin, Yun Yin’s mother, spoke up from her seat beside them. “Ah Yin, where do you feel unwell? I’ll call a doctor to check you over.”

Yun Yin shook her head. “There’s no need.”

Yun Cheng chimed in with concern, adopting the demeanor of a caring father. “How have you been feeling lately?”

Yun Yin lowered her head to sip her tea, her brow furrowing slightly in a dismissive gesture. “Fine.”

After a few more perfunctory inquiries, Yun Cheng subtly steered the conversation toward Pei Yu. “How are things between you and Pei Yu these days?”

Yun Yin set down her cup and answered casually, “Same as always.”

Yun Cheng frowned, clearly displeased with her vague response. But he quickly composed himself and said earnestly, “What are your thoughts on your relationship with Pei Yu?”

Yun Yin remained silent for a moment, lost in thought. During this brief pause, Yun Cheng’s gaze lingered on her.

It had only been a month since he last saw her, but his daughter seemed to have grown even more beautiful. He had always been pleased with Yun Yin’s appearance—after all, she was destined for a strategic marriage with someone from the upper echelons of the capital.

The more beautiful Yun Yin became, the more advantageous it would be for him. This would maximize the benefits he could reap.

Just look at now—hadn’t Yun Yin secured a project worth tens of billions for the Yuncheng Group?