The black Maybach sped down the highway like a hurricane.
*Bang*
The villa's front door was violently kicked open, the loud noise sounding like an outburst of frustration.
Su Banxia twitched her ears, displeased but knowing she was in the wrong, so she kept her mouth shut.
"Who is it? What's going on?"
The commotion startled Pei Shaoyin so much that she didn't even bother with her face mask, rushing downstairs immediately. When she saw Su Banxia, barely dressed and curled up in her older brother's arms, her eyes went wide.
"Bro, what's this about?"
She hurried over, wanting to help.
Pei Shaoze gave her a cold glance, sidestepping her outstretched hand with a hint of disdain in his brow. "Didn't I tell you to go back? Why are you still here?"
Pei Shaoyin was stunned by his ruthlessness. Her doll-like face scrunched up as she fake-cried pitifully. "You really are my dear brother!"
"Heh."
Pei Shaoze let out a cold snort, not even sparing her a sidelong glance.
At the corner of the second-floor staircase, he paused, his expression turning stern as he stared at her intently.
"Forget everything you saw today!"
Society today called for gender equality, but where was the real equality?
A woman's reputation sometimes mattered more than anything else.
Yan City wasn't big, but it wasn't small either—rumors spread fast enough.
This wasn't a discussion; it was an order!
That unquestionable tone was absolutely infuriating!
Pei Shaoyin nodded frantically. "Got it, bro. I swear no third person will know."
The crystal chandelier overhead cast a dazzling light, falling on Pei Shaoze's sharply defined jawline, making him look incredibly charming and reassuring.
He was still radiating anger, a low pressure that made her afraid to lift her head. Yet despite that, he still took the time to give careful instructions.
But her moment of gratitude lasted barely three seconds before Su Banxia was roughly thrown onto the bed by the man.
The bed was soft, and she even bounced a little. But with the injury on her back, the impact made her let out an uncontrollable scream.
Seeing the woman's pale face on the bed, Pei Shaoze's expression shifted slightly, a flicker of regret passing through his dark eyes. Still, his face darkened as he scolded:
"Stupid woman!
Going alone to drink with a man—what, you think you're tough enough?"
Su Banxia pressed a hand weakly over the wound on her back, her chest heaving violently from the pain. After a moment to steady herself, she replied sullenly, "My business isn't your concern?"
"Not my concern?"
Pei Shaoze's handsome face turned as dark as water.
Just thinking about what might have happened to Su Banxia if he had been even a step later made him want to kill!
In that moment, he lost control of his words. "Ha, you don't want me to come? What, is a loser like Li Yi good enough for you? Are you that desperate?"
"Su Banxia, you're truly shameless!"
The last sentence was practically shouted.
Ye Hengtian's scheming, Li Yi's shamelessness—what had happened half an hour ago had already terrified Su Banxia, and she still hadn't recovered. Being scolded like this now, a wave of grievance crashed over her!
"Pei Shaoze!
Saying that about me—do you have any conscience?
Yes, I was stupid enough to make a deal with Ye Hengtian in private!
But Li Yi—I wanted to help you secure that order from him!"
Tears slid down Su Banxia's pale cheeks, slowly trickling into her delicate collarbone.
The woman's almond-shaped eyes were filled with tears, a single crystal droplet clinging to her long, thick lashes, making her look utterly pitiful.
That sight stirred something shameful in Pei Shaoze.
He quickly cursed under his breath, scolding himself for being inappropriate.
When he looked again, an indescribable tenderness welled up in his heart.
"Stupid woman, stop crying."
Pei Shaoze strode over to the bed in a few steps, one long leg bent on the mattress as he roughly wiped the tears from her face.
But the tears were like seawater—no matter how much he wiped, they wouldn't stop!
In fact, they flowed even harder!
"Hey, stop crying!"
Born with a silver spoon in his mouth, Pei Shaoze had always been the one pampered and catered to. Never having comforted anyone before, he was at a loss, his handsome face twisting into a fierce expression.
"Cry one more time, and I'll throw you off the second floor!"
If she had sobbed loudly, it might have been easier. But this—saying nothing, suppressing even her sniffles, silently weeping—made him flustered, his heart aching with each passing moment.
Su Banxia paused at his threat, then felt the warmth of his fingertips on her cheek. Her heart seemed to tingle with his touch.
Like a current flowing through her chest.
"You."
Su Banxia hiccupped through her tears, her reddened eyes glancing out the window. "Anyway, it's only the second floor. At worst, I'd be crippled, not dead."
"You!"
Now it was Pei Shaoze's turn to be speechless, his tone harsh. "I've never met a woman so clueless about romance."
Without thinking, Su Banxia blurted out, "Miss Ye knows all about romance—why don't you go to her?!"
The moment those words left her mouth, the air temperature dropped by at least ten degrees!
Pei Shaoze clenched his fists so tightly, fighting the urge to strangle this woman.
His face darkened, his voice icy. "You want me to be with her that badly?!
Damn woman!"
A fist suddenly swung toward her, too fast to react.
In a flash, unable to dodge, Su Banxia quickly shut her eyes.
But after waiting for what felt like an eternity, the expected pain never came.
When she opened her eyes, she saw the man's gaze, deep and unfathomable like a cold pool.
"I don't hit women."
Pei Shaoze turned his head to explain.
Su Banxia paused, then let out an "Oh."
Half an hour passed, and the drug in her body fully took effect, like thousands of ants gnawing at her, restless and uneasy.
She shifted uncomfortably, accidentally pulling at the wound on her back.
"Hiss—"
She let out a soft moan, her voice as helpless and alluring as a kitten's.
Her pale cheeks had somehow flushed with two patches of red, her fair skin blushing like a ripe peach, exuding an enticing fragrance.
Coupled with that unconscious, soft whimper, it was like a thousand feathers tickling his heart!
Pei Shaoze's Adam's apple bobbed sensually as his large hand gripped her frail shoulder, carefully turning her over.
Without hesitation, he lifted the clothes covering her.
The fabric was suddenly pulled away, and with the bright lights on, Su Banxia instinctively flinched, a wave of shame washing over her.
Knowing this wasn't the time to be coy, she forced herself to stay still.
Any lingering romantic thoughts vanished the moment he saw her back, like a bucket of ice water dumped over his head—gone without a trace!
Su Banxia's skin was as luminous as fresh snow, but now her porcelain-white back was covered in welts.
The flesh was torn, with scattered specks of blood on the surface, like ugly centipedes crawling across her back.
Horrifying.