Chapter 8

In less than twenty minutes, the black Maybach pulled up in front of a narrow alley.

The alley was too narrow for the car to enter, so they had to get out and walk.

Yun Yin followed Pei Yu into the alley, flanked by the distinctive architecture of Capital City. Two minutes later, they stopped before a secluded courtyard.

Stepping inside, they discovered a hidden oasis.

Green plants were artfully arranged around artificial rock formations, and a medium-sized lotus pond occupied the center. The lotus flowers had already withered, leaving only scattered leaves.

Pei Yu clearly wasn’t a first-timer. He effortlessly navigated around the pond and led her to a private dining room.

As soon as they were seated, a server in a cheongsam entered. “Mr. Pei, the usual?”

“Yes,” Pei Yu replied, glancing at the menu. After marking his selections, he handed it back. “And add these two dishes.”

“Certainly, Mr. Pei.” The server took the menu and left.

The door closed, leaving the two of them alone in the quiet room.

Having overheard his exchange with the server, Yun Yin surveyed the room’s decor before turning to him. “Do you come here often?”

“A friend of mine owns it,” Pei Yu replied.

“Oh,” Yun Yin said thoughtfully. After a moment, she couldn’t resist probing, “That project in the 京郊… are you really planning to hand it over to Yun Cheng?”

Pei Yu looked at her and smiled enigmatically.

Yun Yin felt a flutter of unease. Villains weren’t so easily fooled.

Under her anxious gaze, Pei Yu finally spoke with a hint of condescension, “Isn’t this what you wanted?”

The outcome was indeed what she desired, but something felt deeply wrong.

Yun Yin pressed her lips together, momentarily silent.

Then, Pei Yu spoke again, his tone laced with mockery, “After all, I’m still pursuing you.”

“……”

That had just been a casual excuse she’d tossed out. How had he remembered it?

She realized he would never reveal his true motives.

With this thought, Yun Yin lowered her head, took a sip of her tea, and remained silent. She was genuinely afraid Pei Yu would dig another trap for her to fall into.

She could play at cleverness, but when it came to scheming, she was no match for him. She knew her limitations well.

In short, she had excellent self-awareness.

Soon, the dishes they had ordered arrived.

Yun Yin glanced at the dishes, recognizing them as local specialties from Jiang City.

The book had mentioned that Pei Yu wasn’t originally from Capital City. He had lived in Jiang City until university and hadn’t returned since moving to the Capital.

The book didn’t provide further details, only hinting that Pei Yu’s childhood in Jiang City had been difficult.

“Won’t you try some?” Pei Yu’s deep voice interrupted Yun Yin’s thoughts.

Yun Yin snapped back to reality, picked up her chopsticks, and took a piece of shrimp. After a few seconds, her eyes sparkled as she looked at Pei Yu, her eyebrows arching involuntarily. “It’s delicious!”

Under the gaze of those clear, bright eyes, a fleeting, unreadable light flickered in Pei Yu’s eyes before vanishing too quickly to be noticed.

Yun Yin hadn’t been particularly hungry, but the vibrant colors and artful presentation of the dishes, especially the golden crab roe tofu, had whetted her appetite.

As Yun Yin spooned the crab roe tofu, she didn’t notice Pei Yu’s usually composed expression suddenly shift as he watched her.

Before Yun Yin could even bring the spoonful of crab roe to her mouth, she heard a clattering sound.

Her movements froze, and she instinctively looked up toward the source of the noise.

Pei Yu set down his chopsticks, his dark eyes fixed on her. “Something fell into it just now. I forgot to mention it. You can’t eat this dish anymore.”

Something fell in? How had she missed that?

Yun Yin didn’t dwell on his words, assuming she simply hadn’t noticed. With a sigh of disappointment, she set down the crab roe tofu.

For Yun Yin, it was just a minor incident.

When Pei Yu made his decision, he had already obtained Yun Yin’s personal information.

The file clearly stated that she had a severe crab allergy.

No one could forget their own allergens.

Unless…

Pei Yu glanced across at Yun Yin, who remained oblivious, an unreadable emotion flickering in his eyes.

The meal ended quickly.

Yun Yin followed Pei Yu back to the CEO’s office.

As soon as they returned, Pei Yu resumed his work.

It was usually her nap time, and having woken up early that day, she was already feeling drowsy.

Pei Yu had only been working for a short while when he looked up and saw Yun Yin nearby, her eyes closed as she leaned back on the sofa, seemingly asleep. After a moment’s thought, he stood up and walked over to her.

The woman who had appeared to be asleep just moments ago opened her eyes, looking bewildered and confused at the sudden appearance of Pei Yu. “What’s wrong?” she asked, her voice slightly hoarse and her eyes heavy with drowsiness.

Pei Yu leaned down to meet her gaze. “If you’re tired, go rest in the lounge.”

Yun Yin blinked, hesitating. “Wouldn’t that be inappropriate?”

The lounge was Pei Yu’s private space, and Yun Yin, with her strong sense of boundaries, felt it might be intrusive and impolite.

“No,” Pei Yu stated firmly.

After a moment’s consideration, Yun Yin nodded. “Alright then.”

Her presence in the office had made the secretaries glance at her every time they passed, making her feel self-conscious. Moreover, with her there, it was inconvenient for Pei Yu to discuss matters with his staff.

The lounge was located on one side of the office. Yun Yin pushed open the door and stepped inside.

The room’s decor was a minimalist blend of black, white, and gray, furnished only with a bed, a wardrobe, and a sofa. Without excessive ornamentation, it exuded understated elegance—a style Pei Yu would undoubtedly appreciate.

Instead of choosing the bed at the center of the room, Yun Yin walked straight to the sofa.

The curtains in the lounge weren’t fully drawn, and a dim, yellowish sunlight streamed through the gaps, falling across Yun Yin’s sleeping face. As time passed, the sunlight slowly shifted from her pale pink lips to her eyelids.

In her dream, Yun Yin seemed to sense the glare. She frowned and shifted her body toward a darker corner, away from the light.

After an unknown length of time, Yun Yin felt a dull ache in her head. She slowly opened her eyes and realized it was almost completely dark outside.

Just as she reached for her phone to check the time, the lounge door suddenly swung open.

Her mind still hazy from sleep, Yun Yin startled at the abrupt noise. The sudden movement only intensified the throbbing in her head.

Once she regained her composure, she recognized Pei Yu standing in the doorway.

“What time is it?” Yun Yin asked, too tired to check her phone. Her voice sounded muffled and hoarse.

The moment the words left her lips, Yun Yin was shocked by her own voice. How had it become so raspy in just one afternoon?

Not only that, but Yun Yin also felt a burning pain in her throat when she spoke, and her body began to shiver.

Pei Yu noticed something was wrong with her. Instead of answering her question, he frowned and asked, “Didn’t you go to bed?”

Yun Yin hummed in response, pressing her temple. Her voice sounded even hoarser. “I didn’t realize I’d sleep so long.”

She had only intended to take a short nap on the sofa, but she ended up sleeping the entire afternoon.

Given her delicate health and the sudden drop in temperature, it was no wonder she had caught a chill after sleeping on the sofa.

Pei Yu’s gaze shifted to the bed, which remained perfectly neat, showing no signs of use. His frown deepened. “Why didn’t you sleep in the bed?”

The rest area was already a private space, and the bed even more so. Yun Yin wasn’t comfortable enough to simply sleep in his bed.

She wanted to explain, but before she could speak, an itch in her throat triggered an uncontrollable cough. She covered her mouth, lowered her head, and held her breath, hoping it would subside.

“Cough… cough… cough…”

The coughing didn’t stop; it only grew more violent, and tears welled in the corners of her eyes.

The early autumn evening was noticeably cooler. The window in the lounge wasn’t fully closed, and a chilly breeze slipped through the gap.

Yun Yin lowered her head further, her shoulders trembling slightly as she tried to bury her chin in her collar. She was wearing only a thin, pale pink knit sweater that looked woefully inadequate against the cold.

Pei Yu strode to the bed, shut the window, and watched her cough. Her eyes were red-rimmed, her face pale and pitiful.

If the coughing is so bad, a gentle pat on the back might help, he thought. But he didn’t reach out. His fingers tightened into a fist, his Adam’s apple bobbed slightly. “I’ll take you home first.”

Yun Yin slowly lifted her head, still covering her mouth with her hand. “Okay,” she murmured weakly. “Thank you for your trouble.”

As she spoke, an unhealthy flush bloomed on her cheeks. Tears brimmed in her peach blossom eyes, wetting her long lashes.

Pei Yu remained silent, an inexplicable restlessness stirring within him.

When her coughing subsided, Yun Yin tried to stand. Still unsteady, she stumbled slightly, but a large hand steadied her.

Regaining her balance, Yun Yin murmured, “Thank you.”

Though unwell, she wasn’t about to faint.

As his hand left her arm, Pei Yu’s irritation deepened.

Leaving the lounge, Pei Yu grabbed his coat. After a moment’s hesitation, he frowned and draped his black suit jacket over Yun Yin’s shoulders. “Let’s go back. A doctor will come.”

The jacket enveloped her in a faint, slightly bitter woody scent that instantly soothed her. Yun Yin lowered her head, savoring the aroma.

Hearing Pei Yu’s words, she listlessly replied, “Mm.”

By the time they left the CEO’s office, night had fully fallen.

Lu Lin wasn’t around this time, so Pei Yu drove them home himself.

Settling into the passenger seat and fastening her seatbelt, Yun Yin couldn’t resist closing her eyes.

Pei Yu didn’t start the car immediately. Instead, he pulled out his phone and sent a message.

He drove quickly this time, and Yun Yin felt like she had only closed her eyes for a moment before they arrived at Yunman Lake.

As she stepped out of the car, she noticed a light drizzle had begun to fall. The autumn night wind carried fine raindrops that relentlessly burrowed into her clothes.

Yun Yin instinctively tightened her coat, the woody scent from her nose becoming more pronounced.

Fortunately, the garage was close to the main entrance, and they reached it in less than a minute.

Upon entering the lobby, she saw a doctor in a white coat sitting on the sofa, looking as if he had been waiting for quite some time.

Aunt Lin was the first to notice them and hurried over. “Eldest Miss Yun, please have this to warm up.”

Yun Yin accepted the hot soup and sat on the adjacent sofa, taking a small sip. The burning sensation in her throat immediately eased.

“Thank you, Aunt Lin.”

The living room was warm, and Yun Yin no longer felt as cold as before. She now noticed the doctor sitting nearby.

This wasn’t the same doctor she had seen at the villa. He looked quite young, wore glasses, and when he caught her gaze, he looked up and smiled warmly.

Yun Yin returned a polite smile.

At that moment, Pei Yu suddenly stood up and walked over to the doctor, intentionally or unintentionally blocking the line of sight between Yun Yin and him.

“Qi Ye, come and take a look at her.”

Qi Ye rose and approached Yun Yin, finally getting a clear view of the legendary Eldest Miss Yun, the woman Pei Yu was rumored to be infatuated with.

Her skin was remarkably fair, and the fever-induced flush on her cheeks was striking. Her eyes were exceptionally beautiful peach blossom eyes, now glistening with moisture. When she looked at people, her gaze was soft and luminous, showing none of the rumored arrogance or capriciousness.