Chapter 68:
Mark nodded, “Alright, I’ll go ask the servant.”
Meng Shuyou thanked him.
After Mark left for a few minutes and returned, he gave her a kraft paper bag, just big enough to fit it.
Everything was packed up.
Mark said: “I’ll take your luggage to the car first.”
“Okay.” Meng Shuyou handed him the suitcase and the sketch portrait together.
Just as they were about to go out, Pei Yuzhou came over. His gaze swept over the kraft paper bag, and he asked, “Where did the painting come from?”
Meng Shuyou paused slightly and answered, “Well… a friend gave it to me.”
Pei Yuzhou’s gaze darkened slightly, “Take it out and let me see.”
Mark opened the bag and took out the painting for him to see.
Pei Yuzhou’s eyes were dark, he tugged at his lips, and commented with faint amusement, “It’s painted pretty well.”
Meng Shuyou’s heart sank.
His voice was flat, “What kind of relationship allows someone to give a portrait painting?”
Mark sensed something was wrong and tactfully made space, “Mister, I’ll take the luggage to the car first.”
Pei Yuzhou didn’t speak.
Mark set down the picture frame, wheeled the suitcase out of the room, and closed the door on his way out.
With a “click,” her heartbeat skipped a beat.
Meng Shuyou explained, “It’s really just a normal friend. We’ve only talked about art-related topics… I couldn’t refuse…”
Pei Yuzhou stared into her eyes, “Is it that you couldn’t refuse, or that you didn’t want to refuse?”
Misinterpreted by him like this, Meng Shuyou was unhappy too. She met his gaze frankly, “I didn’t know beforehand that he would give me a portrait. If you’re angry, I’ll give it back, okay?”
“You’re not allowed to give it back.”
Letting another man look at her portrait every day would make Pei Yuzhou even more displeased.
Meng Shuyou murmured: “Then I can’t just throw it away.”
Pei Yuzhou followed her words and countered, “Why not?”
Meng Shuyou frowned slightly, “Of course not.”
She was a creator herself and knew deeply that every artwork poured in effort and should be respected, not trampled.
“It’s someone’s labor after all. Throwing it away is very disrespectful.”
Pei Yuzhou’s voice was cold and low, “Then was it respectful of him to paint your portrait without your permission?”
Meng Shuyou was speechless.
The atmosphere was tense.
The mobile phone ringtone rang abruptly, breaking the heavy silence.
She took out her mobile phone from her pocket and glanced at it.
Caller ID: William.
Calling at a time like this was just adding to the chaos.
Just as she was about to hang up, she heard Pei Yuzhou ask: “Why aren’t you answering?”
Meng Shuyou said softly: “I don’t want to answer.”
Pei Yuzhou parted his lips, emphasizing the words, “Answer it.”
A chilling sense of oppression pressed in.
Meng Shuyou was a bit scared. Not daring to make him angry, she hesitated for a few seconds and pressed to answer with her fingertip.
Pei Yuzhou took her mobile phone, turned on speakerphone, and placed it on the side table nearby.
William’s voice came from the receiver: “Elara, I’ve thought about it for a long time, and I feel some words still need to be told to you in person.”
Meng Shuyou’s eyelids twitched. Her intuition told her he wasn’t about to say anything good.
“Actually, from the first time I saw you, I felt you were different. I don’t know how to describe that feeling—my heart raced uncontrollably, my eyes were drawn to you, countless inspirations burst forth. It’s probably what you Chinese call ‘love at first sight’.”
Pei Yuzhou scoffed meaningfully, his eyes cold.
Meng Shuyou’s heart tightened. Before she could react, he suddenly picked her up and sat her on the rosewood table behind her.
The man’s arm braced on one side of her body, parting her knees. His right hand gripped the back of her neck, pulling her down into a kiss, his breath dominating as it poured in.
The movements weren’t gentle at all.
The voice on the phone continued.
“Elara, I’m very sure. I like you—there’s admiration and also infatuation. You’re really a great girl. I’m afraid saying this in person would embarrass you, so I can only do it this way…”
Pei Yuzhou kissed harder and harder, with a punitive force.
Meng Shuyou had trouble breathing, her heart rate too fast, and she held back any sound.
Finally, Pei Yuzhou released her lips, and the kisses trailed down her slender neck.
This height was just right.
Several fresh red kiss marks bloomed on her collarbone.
The ruffled shirt collar fell open.
His palm slipped in from under her hem, stroking her smooth, flawless back.
As thin as a piece of paper, yet with flesh where it should be.
The clasp came undone.
Meng Shuyou held her breath, her upper teeth biting her lip.
Not hearing her voice, William paused and asked: “Elara, are you listening?”
Meng Shuyou’s mind was in chaos, her thoughts slow.
Pei Yuzhou pinched her maliciously.
Meng Shuyou let out a soft cry.
William sounded worried, “What’s wrong, Elara?”
Meng Shuyou moved her lips, keeping her voice as steady as possible, “I’m fine.”
William didn’t notice anything unusual, “Sorry to suddenly tell you this. I don’t want to trouble you, but I’m afraid I won’t have the chance later, so after thinking it over, I still confessed to you…”
Meng Shuyou caught her breath and hurriedly interrupted him, “Sorry, I already have someone I like.”
William was stunned for a moment, his voice unable to hide his disappointment, “Sorry, I interrupted.”
The call ended.
Meng Shuyou breathed a sigh of relief for the moment and pushed at the man in front of her, “Don’t bite…”
Pei Yuzhou bit harder on purpose, “Learn your lesson.”
Meng Shuyou was about to be bullied to tears, her eyes misty, “I didn’t know he had those intentions toward me.”
She couldn’t be so narcissistic as to think every opposite-sex person approaching her had romantic feelings.
Pei Yuzhou raised his hand to wipe the tear from the corner of her eye, “Now you know.”
Meng Shuyou covered her open collar, her cheeks burning red, “The painting should still be returned through the servant.”
Pei Yuzhou was displeased, “Why return it? So he can think of you every day when he sees it?”
Meng Shuyou hadn’t thought of that at all, “Then what should we do?”
Pei Yuzhou made a telephone call, instructing the bodyguard to take the painting back to the manor warehouse.
Meng Shuyou busied herself fixing her clothes, buttoning them one by one.
The area on her chest was full of kiss marks.
Luckily the shirt wasn’t low-necked, or she couldn’t even go out the door.
It took half an hour.
Before leaving the castle, Madame Isha saw them off personally and brought William over to say hello.
Meng Shuyou hadn’t expected to see him again so soon after that call, and she felt uncomfortable all over.
William was equally astonished, “Elara, you and Mister Kerwin?”
Pei Yuzhou reached out and pulled Meng Shuyou’s waist, “What’s this? You know my female companion?”
William was silent for a moment, suppressing all his emotions, “We chatted casually once.”
Madame Isha chimed in, “It was probably about art topics, right?”
William nodded, “Yeah.”
Meng Shuyou tugged at Pei Yuzhou’s clothes and said softly: “If we don’t leave soon, we might miss the airplane.”
The man said indifferently: “Thank you for your hospitality these past two days, Madame Isha. We’ll be going now.”
Madame Isha smiled warmly: “No need to mention it. It’s my honor that you came. See you next time if there’s a chance.”
Mark opened the rear car door.
Watching them get in the car and leave, Madame Isha’s smile faded. She turned to William, “What’s going on? When did you meet Kerwin’s woman?”
William was absent-minded, “I didn’t know Elara was his.”
Madame Isha knew him too well, “Pull yourself together. Kerwin is very special about this female companion of his. Don’t offend her.”
