Chapter 17: Gotten Himself Some Trouble
When Meng Shuyou woke up, her head was still throbbing, and her whole body felt limp and soft.
She sat up from the bed, looking around in confusion.
Her thoughts gradually came back.
Last night she drank half a bottle of wine, got drunk and drowsy, cried and made a fuss in front of Pei Yuzhou, and later clung to him, not letting him leave.
Getting drunk wasn’t scary, but what was scary was remembering everything she did while drunk.
“Meng Shuyou, let go.” The man’s voice was cold and low.
It was the first time she heard Pei Yuzhou call her full name, and her heart skipped a beat, “Why are you so fierce?”
The air stagnated for a moment, and she said softly again: “Add a contact method and I’ll let go, okay?”
Pei Yuzhou’s brow furrowed slightly, and he relented: “Mobile phone.”
Meng Shuyou’s lips curved up, and she immediately reached into her pocket, but came up empty, “My mobile phone is missing…”
“It should be at the restaurant. I’ll have someone send it over tomorrow.”
“But… will you keep your word tomorrow?”
He patiently hummed in response.
“Alright then.” Meng Shuyou finally let go of his hand, “Goodbye, Mister Pei.”
The memory faded.
She fell back onto the bed, burying her face in the pillow.
So she was this clingy when drunk? It was a miracle Pei Yuzhou didn’t throw her out.
After dawdling in bed for ten minutes, Meng Shuyou finally got up to wash up, shower, and change clothes.
By the time she finished tidying up, it was already ten in the morning.
Last night she only drank and barely ate anything, and now her stomach was starving.
She used the villa’s landline phone to call for room service.
About half an hour later, the staff knocked on the door and brought her mobile phone along.
Meng Shuyou quickly thanked them.
After finishing brunch, she took her mobile phone and went out.
The staff said Mister Pei lived in the villa next door.
Just a few steps away.
She walked to the doorway and pressed the doorbell.
Mark opened the door, “Miss Meng, is something wrong?”
Meng Shuyou asked: “Is Mister Pei busy?”
Mark said: “He’s upstairs handling work. Do you want to come in and wait?”
“Okay.” Meng Shuyou entered the house and quietly sat on the living room sofa.
Mark poured her a glass of water.
Meng Shuyou took it with both hands, “Thank you.”
She suddenly thought of last night, “Um, I have a question I want to ask you.”
Mark nodded, “Go ahead, Miss Meng.”
Meng Shuyou lowered her voice, “Who was that girl having dinner with Mister Pei yesterday?”
Mark: “Cooperator’s younger sister.”
Meng Shuyou was puzzled; why would the cooperator’s younger sister have a private dinner?
Before she could follow up, footsteps came from the staircase entrance.
Her gaze shifted toward the source of the sound.
Slender and straight trousers revealed legs that were firm and powerful, with a casual top made of high-quality fabric that was impeccably tailored, outlining a superior figure.
His posture was relaxed, yet it didn’t diminish his nobility in the slightest.
Meng Shuyou stood up and called out: “Mister Pei.”
Pei Yuzhou’s gaze swept over her as he approached and sat on the sofa opposite her, crossing his long legs casually, “Sober now.”
“Mm.” Meng Shuyou’s face flushed slightly with embarrassment, “I came to apologize. I was drunk last night; it was all unintentional. Don’t hold it against me.”
After a pause, she added weakly, “But you still have to honor what you promised me.”
Pei Yuzhou raised an eyebrow, a light scoff rolling from his throat, “You remember everything, huh.”
Meng Shuyou fell silent.
She didn’t want to remember either; it was too embarrassing.
But looking on the bright side, if she could add his contact, it wouldn’t be a total loss of face.
Pei Yuzhou glanced at Mark, “Give her the number.”
Mark nodded, “Miss Meng, sent it to you.”
Meng Shuyou looked down at her mobile phone, immediately saving it and adding his name to the contact.
Pei Yuzhou picked up the financial daily newspaper beside him and said indifferently, “Anything else?”
Meng Shuyou lifted her eyes, thought for a moment, “Are you busy this afternoon?”
She turned to look outside the window, “The weather is so nice out; aren’t you going to go out?”
“You can go.” Pei Yuzhou found her noisy and got up to head to the restaurant.
Meng Shuyou chased after him, “But I want to go with you.”
Pei Yuzhou walked to the coffee machine and pressed the switch to preheat.
The little girl chattered nonstop beside him.
“Go boating on the lake?”
“Oh no, there’s a boa constrictor; can’t go.”
“Hey, wait, boa constrictors live in South America; there aren’t any here.”
“Mister Pei, you’re scaring me.”
Pei Yuzhou turned to glance at her, his voice deepening slightly, “Be quiet.”
Meng Shuyou shut her mouth sullenly, but within seconds, she asked again: “So are we going or not?”
Pei Yuzhou had no doubt that he had brought this trouble on himself.
–
At four in the afternoon, half the sun was hidden behind the clouds, with the light and temperature just right.
The lake surface shimmered with ripples.
Surrounded by woods, bird calls sounded occasionally amid the rustling leaves.
A wooden boat was moored at the shore, its hull with smooth lines and exquisite grain.
The staff prepared tea and desserts and brought them onto the boat, arranging everything properly, “Mister, Miss, you can board now.”
Meng Shuyou lifted her skirt hem and carefully stepped onto the stern, “Is this boat safe? It won’t capsize, right?”
The staff smiled, “Rest assured, it’s absolutely safe, and there are lifeguards patrolling nearby.”
Meng Shuyou felt a bit relieved.
After just two steps, the boat suddenly rocked, and she lost her balance, falling backward with a cry of alarm.
She almost thought she was going to fall, but her waist was steadily caught by a hand.
The arm was strong and powerful, effortless.
“Stand steady.” Pei Yuzhou released his hand and went into the cabin to sit down.
The cold fir scent at her nose tip faded away.
Meng Shuyou took a deep breath to calm her heartbeat, “That scared me to death.”
Pei Yuzhou picked up the teapot to brew tea, “You dare race cars but fear sitting in a boat?”
Meng Shuyou held onto the nearby railing and sat down opposite him, “This is different.”
Once they were seated, the boatman rowed away from the shore.
Layers of ripples spread across the water.
The cabin space was small, with a rosewood square table in the middle.
Tea aroma wafted gently.
Pei Yuzhou sat with his legs apart, his long fingers with distinct knuckles holding the tea cup to his lips for a sip.
Meng Shuyou propped her left cheek on her hand, took a piece of butterfly pastry with her right and popped it into her mouth, secretly lamenting how his long legs were cramped.
After swallowing the dessert, she tentatively asked: “Mister Pei, that girl yesterday… does she like you?”
Pei Yuzhou’s gaze was flat, “Whether she likes me or not has nothing to do with me.”
Meng Shuyou retorted, “How is it unrelated? You had a private dinner with her.”
Who knew if he gave opportunities to others too.
Pei Yuzhou raised his brow slightly, “So? Trying to say I’m a scumbag?”
Meng Shuyou hurriedly denied, “I didn’t.”
Sober, she wouldn’t dare say that.
“What I said last night was drunk talk; don’t take it seriously.”
“Not private.” He corrected.
“Hm?” Meng Shuyou reacted after a moment.
Not a private dinner meant there were others present.
Alright, looks like it was a misunderstanding.
A light “plop” sounded by her ear.
Meng Shuyou leaned her head out the window and saw a fish leap out of the water, splashing.
Several fish were swimming around the boat, swishing their tails.
“So many fish; I’ll feed them some food.”
She took a packet of fish food from the table, opened it, and generously scattered a handful.
The small fish instantly gathered, mouths open gulping it down, cheeks puffing out.
These fish were fed by dedicated staff every day.
Pei Yuzhou spoke unhurriedly, “Are you trying to overfeed these fish for an all-fish feast tonight?”
“…”
