"Mr. Pei—"
The master bedroom's carved door was slightly ajar. Shen Zhiyi gently pushed it open, unable to find Pei Yu's shadow in the living room.
"Come here."
The voice came from the dressing room. Shen Zhiyi hesitated before walking over. The door was also half-open, allowing her to glimpse the lean and upright silhouette of the man. He was looking down with his eyelids partially lowered, his shirt mostly unbuttoned. A dark blue tie was wrapped around his clearly articulated fingers, his movements unhurried, his tone slightly cold, "What is it?"
Shen Zhiyi stood at the doorway without entering. The dim yellow light of the dressing room cast a faint haze over the man's figure. Although he didn't look up, his lips were slightly pursed, radiating a strong sense of coldness.
Her voice was very soft, "Is Mr. Pei unhappy?"
Intuition told her that Pei Yu's mood had turned cold, perhaps because of her. Shen Zhiyi was particularly sensitive in this regard. She didn't want to be at odds with Pei Yu, especially now while their relationship was still maintained.
The tie was carelessly thrown aside, and Pei Yu finally looked up. Shen Zhiyi was staring at him, her expression clearly confused and anxious.
He admitted candidly, "Yes."
In the light, the man's dark pupils faded in color, like frozen amber. His tone was leisurely, "So?"
Unexpectedly, Shen Zhiyi walked towards him. In a moment, they were both enveloped in the same light and shadow. After a few seconds of hesitation, Shen Zhiyi slowly raised her hand, reaching for the fourth button of his shirt under his gaze.
Her fingers were slender, tips tainted with a faint pink, deftly undoing the button while asking in a low voice, "Did I make you unhappy?"
The two were very close. Pei Yu looked down, observing the fair nape of Shen Zhiyi's neck revealed as she bowed her head, where kiss marks that he had left were still visibly marking their presence. His Adam's apple moved slightly, and in that posture, he leaned in to kiss her earlobe, his whisper-like voice clearly reaching Shen Zhiyi's ears, "Since last night until now, you haven't smiled at me."
Last night, she was crying for another man, and today, she only showed a faint smile to the butler.
His lips were burning hot. Shen Zhiyi's fingertips trembled from the heat, and then she heard his response.
So, was he upset about this?
Shen Zhiyi looked up, but Pei Yu still maintained the posture of leaning in to kiss her. Suddenly, their breathing was audible. She looked into the man's deep and clear black eyes, tilting her face slightly, and lightly touched his lips with hers, then quickly turned her head away, her cheeks flushing, "It wasn't intentional."
She whispered softly, "Please don't be angry with me."
She had resolved at the moment of her agreement to get along with him peacefully for the duration of their relationship; upsetting him was never her intention.
"Are you trying to appease me?"
Pei Yu narrowed his eyes, his voice lazy, as his fingertips slid from the side of her face to her lips, gently pinching her full lower lip, and the next moment, he tilted his head to kiss her, his voice muffled between their lips, "This isn't enough."
His hand around Shen Zhiyi's waist tightened slightly, pulling her fully into his embrace. Sensing her body stiffen, he slowed his movements, and even his tone softened considerably, "Stay with me tonight."
Hopefully, the guest bedroom is just for show.
Shen Zhiyi's breath caught, tense but not surprised. Wasn't this the nature of their relationship?
"Marks," her face turned fiercely red, "you can't leave any more marks."
She had work tomorrow.
Pei Yu lowered his gaze, his lips landing on her two straight and slender collarbones, "They can be left where nobody else can see."
The night quieted down, and Shen Zhiyi silently consented.