Luckily, Pei Shi didn’t seem inclined to bring it up either. After giving Bai Tao a warning look, he rubbed his brow, drank a bottle of cold water with restraint, and then took a shower before finally coming out and leaning against the bed with his eyes closed to rest.

Perhaps due to the fatigue from business trips and intense negotiation dinners, about an hour later, when Bai Tao sneakily observed Pei Shi again, she noticed he had already fallen asleep in the position he was leaning against the bedhead.

Bai Tao sighed in relief, finally feeling the tension dissipate once Pei Shi was asleep. She leaned back on the sofa and played games for a while, unknowingly drifting off herself.

The sofa was uncomfortable, though, and the next morning, with aching back and sore waist, Bai Tao woke up earlier than expected. After stretching her body, she walked over to Pei Shi’s bedside.

Pei Shi was still sleeping, his long eyelashes peacefully resting, his straight and handsome nose above lips that seemed somewhat indifferent. His lips were pale, his skin fair. Bai Tao’s gaze traced the contours of his face, moving across his cheeks and then down to the prominent lines of his throat.

If Pei Shi hadn’t been awake, Bai Tao might have believed this scene was as beautiful as a painting.

But it wasn’t. This man was going to wake up.

Recalling Pei Shi’s demeanor last night and the intimidating outline beneath his bathrobe, Bai Tao felt anxious. Pei Shi had probably restrained himself when drunk to avoid hurting her, but… in a normal marital relationship, they couldn’t avoid this forever, right? Always finding excuses to avoid it didn’t seem like a long-term solution. Otherwise, Pei Shi might start doubting her intentions? After all, they were an extraordinarily loving couple!

Bai Tao pondered for a moment and decided she needed to find a way to protect herself!

She rubbed her sore waist from sleeping on the sofa, wondering if inspiration struck in desperation. She stopped rubbing and a brilliant idea flashed through her mind—

If she just had the courage, maybe every night could be a holiday!

Glancing at Pei Shi again and seeing no signs of him waking up, Bai Tao quickly and stealthily pulled back the covers on the other side of his bed, then cautiously slipped under them…

*****

Thirty minutes later, Bai Tao heard the sound of Pei Shi turning over beside her, followed by the rustle of clothing rubbing against each other as the man finally woke up. Sensing the movement on the other side of the bed, Bai Tao pretended to naturally wake up as well, blinking groggily at Pei Shi. Then, in a coy tone, she drawled, “Darling…”

Pei Shi furrowed his brow, staring at Bai Tao in bed. “What…?”

First strategic success—strike preemptively!

Bai Tao immediately pouted at Pei Shi. “Darling, you were too rough with me last night.”

Pei Shi paused for a moment, then looked at Bai Tao with confusion. “What?”

“Just… you were really… later on last night…” Bai Tao blushed shyly, lowering her head under the covers. “You kept going even after I said no, and you wouldn’t stop…”

Pei Shi didn’t say a word, just stared at Bai Tao as if he’d seen a ghost.

Seeing Pei Shi’s lack of denial, Bai Tao continued her act. “In the end, I couldn’t sleep all night. You’re so insatiable, always demanding this and that…”

Pei Shi remained expressionless, observing Bai Tao.

For the sake of her future innocence, Bai Tao went all in. As if in pain, she slowly and deliberately got out of bed, mimicking the expressions she’d seen in comics, pretending she was injured somewhere. She stood up slowly, clutching her waist in apparent agony.

Feeling both embarrassed and impatient, she glanced at Pei Shi. “My back feels like it’s broken after last night.”

Seeing Pei Shi’s lack of reaction, Bai Tao raised her voice slightly, implying, “Darling, they say moderation is key in marriage. I feel like we used up about three months’ worth last night.”

Glancing at Pei Shi again, Bai Tao pretended to moan in pain from her sore back, then boldly suggested, “Maybe we should take a couple of months off.”

The brilliant idea struck Bai Tao when she woke up sore from the sofa earlier. Since Pei Shi had slept through it all last night, why not pretend that last night he got out of hand due to the wormwood wine?

Now, with courage in action, Bai Tao stealthily observed Pei Shi’s reaction, only to find it quite different from what she expected. His face showed not shock, not embarrassment or confusion, nor self-doubt. Instead, he remained strangely calm.

He simply watched Bai Tao as if waiting for her to continue with whatever antics she had planned.

Stay bold and composed!

Assuring herself inwardly, Bai Tao cleared her throat and, with determination, patted Pei Shi’s shoulder. With a brave face, she continued, “You naughty husband, you wore me out last night. Why can’t you control yourself? And you were so rough… I’m still in pain now…”

“…..”

******

Due to the wormwood wine, Pei Shi hadn’t slept well all night. The high alcohol content gave him a headache, and he slept lightly. When Bai Tao got up from the sofa and approached his bed, Pei Shi was actually startled awake, but due to lingering drowsiness, he didn’t open his eyes. Later, he sensed the blanket beside him being lifted, and Bai Tao slipped in…

Then came Bai Tao’s splendid performance upon waking up again.

Pei Shi didn’t expose her, just quietly and expressionlessly watched Bai Tao. As a result, she thought he tacitly agreed and exaggerated even more—

“Darling, I don’t think a couple of months will do. I need a three-month rest. You… you were too amazing last night, I couldn’t handle it. Look, for the next three months…”

Unaware of Pei Shi’s thoughts, Bai Tao continued, theatrically. She paused and glanced at Pei Shi, her face full of shyness but secretly proud, feeling she had bet correctly. If Pei Shi could be this indulgent now, agreeing to abstain for a month when she suggested, maybe he’d agree to three months now, and who knows, maybe she could stretch it to six!

As expected, Pei Shi immediately agreed to her request, “No problem.” His voice was calm, demeanor collected, and he even proposed a better offer, “I think three months might be too short for your recovery, don’t you think?”

What defines a good man? This is what defines a good man!

Bai Tao was almost moved to tears, looking at Pei Shi, willing to suppress his desires just to make her happy! If he could abstain for one month, maybe she could stretch it to six! She was about to sweeten the deal with a kiss when Pei Shi continued,

“Actually, why not do it once and for all? I’ll try harder, and for the next ten months, you can rest properly.”

When Bai Tao heard “ten months,” she was initially overjoyed, but the next moment, Pei Shi leaned over and pinned her down on the bed.

His presence was overwhelming, his breath close and full of intensity and hormones. Bai Tao was shocked by this sudden turn of events and couldn’t move.

She repeated instinctively, “Ten months?”

“Yeah, ten months,” Pei Shi nodded expressionlessly. “If I try a bit harder, after your ten-month break, you can rest a few months and then have another ten-month recovery period. Are you interested in taking maternity leave next year?”

Author’s Note:

Bai Tao: Not interested!