Chapter 59: Chapter 59 Jealousy
 

She glanced at the time and realized it was the day she had been hospitalized with a high fever and had fallen into a coma.

At that time, Pei Yansi seemed to have been by her side the whole time. Could it have been him who took the call? He hadn’t said anything he shouldn’t have to Shen Jiangli, had he? After all, that madman was the sort who suspected her of messing with his head even if she just had a meal with someone.

Just as Shen Heyu was pondering this, coincidentally, she received a phone call from Shen Jiangli.

She answered the call nonchalantly in front of the maids at home.

On the other end, Shen Jiangli asked with concern, “Heyu, are you feeling better now?”

Shen Heyu replied politely, “Much better, thank you for your concern.”

“Why so formal with me,” laughed Shen Jiangli, “I’m glad you’re better. I had intended to visit you, but I heard your husband was with you the whole time, so I didn’t want to intrude. I’m truly sorry, my behavior has been inappropriate given that you really are married.”

“It’s fine.” Shen Heyu smiled faintly, thinking to herself that not many people knew about her secret marriage with Pei Yansi; those who did wouldn’t believe it, especially Shen Jiangli, who was always abroad.

Shen Jiangli then said, “We all have to attend Madam Pei’s birthday party. I’m preparing to go out to pick a gift, would you like to join me? Rest assured, I have no ulterior motive, it’s just a friendly invitation, nothing more than choosing a gift together.”

Shen Heyu just remembered that she hadn’t prepared a present for her grandmother yet. She saw nothing wrong with going with Shen Jiang to select a birthday gift for the same person and agreed, “Sure. This afternoon then.”

Shen Jiangli was very pleased and waited eagerly for the agreed-upon time.

He even offered to come pick up Shen Heyu, but she didn’t want outsiders to know her husband was Pei Yansi, so she declined.

Shen Heyu had her family’s driver take her to the mall.

Shen Jiangli was waiting for her at the agreed spot; almost the moment she got out of the car, the two saw each other.

He approached her proactively, but maintaining a distance, not as intimately warm as before, and said, “What do you think Madam Pei would like? The Pei Family is wealthy, so buying something expensive seems pointless. But it feels wrong to get something cheap.”

That was precisely the difficulty of selecting gifts for rich people.

Shen Heyu thought for a moment, then seriously considered, “Elderly people tend to believe in Buddhism and value symbolism. Grandma… Madam Pei is probably no exception, caring more about the meaning behind a gift than its price, I guess?”

“That makes sense. I remember, when I was little, I drew a longevity peach for my dad, and he was happy for many days.”

Shen Jiangli said this, with a plan forming in his mind, and finally bought a figurine of an elder holding a longevity peach.

Shen Heyu also picked out a meaningful gift. As they prepared to leave, upon exiting the store, they noticed almost all the shoppers had cleared out, the place was eerily empty.

She found it strange when, right then, she saw a crowd of people in black escorting Pei Yansi approaching from outside the mall.

Dressed in a smart business suit, Pei Yansi was the center of attention, like an ancient local tyrant. The moment he stepped inside, he spotted Shen Heyu… and the man beside her.

His expression chilled, he wanted to say something, but considering their secret marriage, he chose to act as if he didn’t know her. However, as he walked past them, he asked the mall manager seemingly on purpose, “Didn’t I say to clear the place? What’s with these two?”

The manager, sweating profusely, said, “This is the young master of the Shen Family; we didn’t dare to. And they were about to leave…”

“Is that so?” Pei Yansi replied with a cold smile, his insinuating gaze landing on Shen Heyu’s face, sending a chilling shiver down her spine.

She hesitated, and before she could say anything, Pei Yansi had already left.

Shen Jiang glanced at his retreating figure and said to her, “Let’s go, it’s nothing. He’s from the Pei Family, a large family business. It’s not unusual for him to be arrogant.” He wasn’t the hot-headed young man anymore, not one to score points in a verbal exchange.

He believed that since she worked under him, she must understand this.

Shen Heyu nodded slightly and followed Shen Jiang out of the mall. As they prepared to get into the car, he said, “I can tell you’re not happy. It might be related to your marriage. I don’t know who your husband is, but if you want out, you can always come to me for help.”

His words were softly spoken yet caused tumultuous waves in Shen Heyu’s heart.

She had always wanted to divorce Pei Yansi and be free, but she couldn’t win against him. What if Shen Jiangli were to help?

She felt somewhat dazed, and Shen Jiangli, noticing this, felt his suspicions were confirmed. He left it there and didn’t say more, getting into his car and driving away.

Shen Heyu took her family chauffeur’s car back home, but she was restless all the way, unsettled by Shen Jiangli’s words.

If there was a chance to leave Pei Yansi…

She was still thinking about it late into the night, even after bathing, wrapping her grandmother’s birthday gift, and sitting in bed ready to sleep.

She didn’t even notice when Pei Yansi entered the room.

Casually sitting on the bed, he smelled her scent and said, “What’s got you so engrossed? Shen Jiangli?”

His sudden voice interrupted her thoughts, making her come back to reality, but she became somewhat flustered by his mention of that name.

Pei Yansi watched her expressions, noticed the slight changes, and scoffed coldly, “So, you really were thinking of him?”

As he spoke, he reached out and caressed her cheek, his touch slowly moving down to her tender and slender neck.

He could even feel her carotid artery throbbing beneath his fingers.

His actions were slow and deliberate, unnervingly strange, causing Shen Heyu to stiffen.

“Tell me, what were you thinking about him?”

Pei Yansi said this as he climbed onto the bed, pulling her towards him.

Shen Heyu felt his anger in his actions and was scared for a moment, desperately struggling, “I wasn’t thinking anything!”

“Why hide? We’re married, and Grandma nags us to have children every day.”

Pei Yansi spoke as he started to peel away her clothes.

…

Pei Yansi had already come out of the bathroom, only to see that she still had not moved. He frowned, his tone sharp, “Even now, you’re still thinking about Shen Jiangli?”

He reached out, grabbed her chin, “Do you think I’m dead?”