Chapter 27.2

Seeing her silent, Pei Yu kindly asked, “Need me to remind you?”

Yun Yin bit her lip, trying to act as if nothing had happened and changed the subject. “I didn’t act too crazy when I was drunk, did I?”

Pei Yu raised an eyebrow and casually replied, “No.”

That’s good.

Yun Yin hadn’t even had time to exhale the breath she’d been holding when he added slowly and deliberately:

“You said you hate me.”

“……”

Yun Yin froze.

Then she took a deep breath and defended herself, “No, how could I hate you?”

When Pei Yu remained silent, Yun Yin spoke again, “I was drunk and talking nonsense.”

If Pei Yu hadn’t tricked her into taking that medicine, she wouldn’t have said such things.

If anyone was to blame, it was Pei Yu himself.

“Is that so?” Pei Yu looked up at her, a half-smile playing on his lips. “You also said you wanted to marry me. Was that nonsense too?”

Yun Yin: “?”

Marriage!

The next moment, she hastily denied it. “I was drunk. I don’t remember saying that.”

She genuinely didn’t recall those words.

Lost in self-doubt, Yun Yin failed to notice the meaningful undertones in Pei Yu’s smile. Had she done so, she would have realized he was teasing her.

This drunken episode also solidified Yun Yin’s resolve to never drink carelessly again. Her alcohol tolerance was embarrassingly low, and she had no idea what other shocking things she might blurt out when intoxicated.

Pei Yu had work to attend to, and Yun Yin’s heart condition prevented her from soaking in hot springs for too long. After two days at the hot spring resort, they returned home.

Once in the car, Yun Yin lazily leaned back in her seat, ready to close her eyes and rest.

Seeing her eyes closed, Pei Yu pulled out his tablet and resumed working on his documents.

But before the car had traveled far, Yun Yin’s eyes snapped open.

She realized she was getting carsick.

She hadn’t felt any motion sickness on the way there, but now she felt inexplicably nauseous.

To distract herself, Yun Yin turned her gaze to the window, listlessly watching the passing scenery.

“Feeling unwell?” Pei Yu set aside his tablet and glanced at her.

Yun Yin hummed in response. “Just a little carsick.”

Pei Yu frowned. He didn’t remember her having motion sickness on the way there. “Is it bad?”

Yun Yin shook her head. “Just a bit uncomfortable.”

He hadn’t anticipated her sudden carsickness and hadn’t brought any medication. There wasn’t a pharmacy nearby either.

Pei Yu casually set his tablet aside, drew Yun Yin close so she could lean against him, and patted her back gently. “Close your eyes and rest for a while.”

Yun Yin obediently closed her eyes, nestled against his chest, and unconsciously rubbed her cheek against his shirt. Pei Yu’s pleasant scent finally eased her discomfort.

After an unknown amount of time, lulled by the familiar fragrance, Yun Yin drifted into a drowsy sleep in his arms.

Yet her brow remained furrowed in discomfort.

Pei Yu gazed at the woman in his embrace, twirling a strand of her hair between his fingers. His eyes darkened.

Delicate.

Hard to care for.

But even if she were the most delicate, the hardest to care for, he would keep her by his side.

---

After returning from the hot spring resort, Pei Yu resumed his busy work schedule, while Yun Yin slipped back into her usual lazy routine.

The afternoon sun was warm and gentle.

In the garden, Yun Yin lay on the swing, the warmth making her drowsy.

She covered her face with a book, ready for a nap, when her phone vibrated.

Yun Yin picked it up—it was Yun Yang.

After a few seconds, she answered casually, “What is it?”

Yun Yang’s voice sounded normal, but a hint of barely concealed anxiety crept in. “Why didn’t you answer my calls earlier?”

“Didn’t hear them.”

“What about my messages?” Yun Yang couldn’t help but ask. He had been trying to reach her by phone and WeChat for days, without a single reply.

“Didn’t see them.”

Yun Yang: “……”

“Yun Yin, are you…”

Remembering why he had called, Yun Yang managed to control his temper. This wasn’t the time for arguments; he still needed Yun Yin.

“Ah Yin, where’s Pei Yu?” His tone softened. “I heard he was away on a business trip a few days ago.”

“Mm,” Yun Yin replied absently. “He’s back now.”

“Didn’t Pei Yu say he was going to invest in Yun Cheng?” Yun Yang continued.

“He did mention it.”

But since Yun Yin’s relapse after returning from the Yun family, Pei Yu had been stalling the investment in Yun Cheng. It seemed the deal hadn’t gone through yet.

This funding was crucial for Yun Cheng, as it would determine whether he could partner with the Zhou Corporation to develop the land in the suburbs of Beijing.

Yun Yang’s face lit up with hope. “Then something must have delayed it.”

“I don’t know,” Yun Yin said casually. “You’ll have to ask Pei Yu about that.”

Yun Yang was well aware that Pei Yu held the final decision-making power. He had already tried to reach him, but Pei Yu’s secretary claimed he was away on a business trip with an uncertain return date. Left with no other option, he had turned to Yun Yin.

“I’ll take you to see him tomorrow,” Yun Yin said, cutting to the chase. She knew Yun Yang’s call was likely orchestrated by Yun Cheng and saw no need for pleasantries.

“As always, Yun Yin has a solution,” Yun Yang said with a smile, though his words carried an undercurrent of sarcasm.

Yun Yin stared out at the lake, frowning. A sudden wave of nausea washed over her.

Unwilling to prolong the conversation, she hung up abruptly.

That evening, when Pei Yu returned, Yun Yin told him about the call.

Pei Yu’s brow furrowed slightly. “Come to the office with me tomorrow.”

“Okay,” Yun Yin nodded.

Noticing she didn’t seem upset, Pei Yu asked, “Did he say anything else?”

“Nothing much,” Yun Yin replied, wrinkling her nose. “Just… it’s so annoying.”

It’s so annoying when they keep popping up to bother me.

Pei Yu gently squeezed her fingers, reassuringly. “They won’t trouble you for much longer.”

I promise.

---

Yujiang Group, President’s Office.

“President Pei, President Yun has arrived.”

“Hmm, have him wait for me in the conference room.”

Hearing the voice, Yun Yin dazedly sat up from the sofa. She had woken up too early and hadn’t gotten enough sleep, still feeling drowsy.

“I’ll go see him,” Pei Yu said, ruffling her hair. “Want to sleep more?”

Yun Yin shook her head. “I’ll go with you.”

“Alright.”

Yun Yang waited a long time in the conference room before Pei Yu and Yun Yin finally arrived.

“Ah Yin, President Pei,” Yun Yang greeted them with a smile, forcing himself to stand despite his growing impatience.

Pei Yu gave a slight nod, then led Yun Yin to sit beside him.

Once they were seated, Yun Yang wasted no time getting to the point. “President Pei, does your offer to invest in Yun Cheng still stand?”

Pei Yu raised an eyebrow. “Of course.”

“Here’s the latest project proposal. I’m confident Yun Cheng won’t disappoint you.” Relieved by the confirmation, Yun Yang produced the prepared documents.

Pei Yu took the proposal and lowered his gaze to read it. He remained silent for a moment, seemingly deep in thought.

After a while, he said, “The project is excellent, but I have one concern.”

“What is it, President Pei? Please, speak freely.”

Pei Yu tapped his finger lightly on the table. “It’s a four-phase project spanning a year, yet Yu Jiang is expected to provide all the funding upfront. That’s a significant risk for Yu Jiang.”

Yun Yang seemed confident about the project. “Risk and opportunity always go hand in hand, as we both know. Yun Cheng’s financial resources can’t compare to Yu Jiang’s, and we need their support. Therefore, once the project becomes profitable, Yun Cheng will offer an additional 20% of the profits as a gesture of goodwill.”

“I’m very optimistic about this project, but…” Pei Yu paused, “even if I approve this investment, the company’s board of directors might not.”

Yun Yang wasn’t a fool. Sensing Pei Yu hadn’t finished speaking, he interjected, “So, President Pei, what are you suggesting?”

Pei Yu stopped tapping the table, a faint smile playing on his lips. “Yu Jiang needs a guarantee.”

“What kind of guarantee?”

“I’ve heard Yun Cheng owns the land in the Southern District.”

Yun Yang froze.

After a moment, he replied, “Yes, that’s correct.”

Pei Yu spoke slowly, “I’m very interested in that Southern District land.”

Hearing this, Yun Yang instinctively glanced at Yun Yin, his lips moving silently as he struggled to find the words.

After Yun Yang left, Yun Yin couldn’t help but chuckle at his frustrated expression.

Even if he knows I’m the one truly interested in that land, what can he do?

Unable to offend Pei Yu, he’d have to swallow this bitter pill in silence.

In the end, the Southern District land would inevitably be hers.

Thinking of this, Yun Yin’s lips curled upward uncontrollably. She lowered her head, pressed her lips together, and tried to force the corners of her mouth down. When she realized she couldn’t suppress her smile, she stole a glance at the man beside her.

She found him watching her with a smile, as if he could see right through her little schemes.

“Happy?” Pei Yu asked, looking down at her. “If you want to laugh, just laugh.”

Yun Yin didn’t try to hide her smile any longer. She beamed at him, her eyes sparkling. “I’m very happy.”

The Southern District was considered a suburb of Kyoto City. As it stood, it held little development value, but its vast size made it promising.

When several plots of land were auctioned simultaneously, the original owner had immediately recognized the potential of this particular plot. Ignoring all objections, she had single-handedly secured it.

Since it was originally hers, it should rightfully belong to me now. That won’t change.

---

Yuncheng Group.

“Pei Yuzhen really said that?” Yun Cheng asked.

“He did,” Yun Yang replied irritably. “Even though the Southern District land isn’t as valuable as the outskirts of Beijing, its sheer size means we could still fetch a decent price if we sold it.”

Yun Cheng pondered this for a moment, then mused, “Why is Pei Yu so insistent on using the Southern District land as collateral? There are better options.”

“Why else?” Yun Yang scoffed. “Didn’t Yun Yin want that land ever since she returned from abroad?”

But the Southern District land had been sitting idle for nearly a year, with no signs of development policies on the horizon. The group’s cash flow was strained. If Pei Yu refused to invest, the land would eventually have to be sold.

Yun Yin understood this perfectly. Whether they agreed or not, she was determined to acquire the land.

She wasn’t worried about their stalling tactics. After all, they were the ones in a hurry.

After a long silence, Yun Cheng half-closed his eyes and tapped his fingers on his desk. “Is Pei Yu so certain we can’t meet the contract’s requirements on time?”

Yun Yang’s expression darkened further. Pei Yu had undoubtedly considered this possibility.

“If we can complete it, all the better,” Pei Yu had said. “Either way, Yu Jiang won’t lose.”

Yun Cheng paused, then chuckled. “I underestimated Pei Yu.”

How could a truly ambitious man be swayed by a mere woman? For a businessman, profit was the only eternal driving force.

After a long deliberation, Yun Cheng made his decision. “Ask Yu Jiang when they can sign the contract at the earliest.”