Chapter 53 If you want to piss me off, keep apologizing.

Amid the cheerful singing of Happy Birthday, Qin Xiaoran cut the first piece of cake for Qin Fang, and the second piece was for Pei Yu. Knowing that Pei Yu would not touch it, he handed it directly to Shen Zhiyi.

She winked playfully, "I received the gift that Sister Zhiyi gave me, but Brother Pei Yu, why didn't you prepare a gift for me?"

Pei Yu picked up another glass of wine. His brows and eyes looked indifferent under the cold white light. He tapped the rim of the glass twice with his fingertips. "One family should not give two gifts."

He lowered his eyes lazily, "If it's too little, I'll give it to you after the New Year."

There was a sound of cups breaking in the crowd. Qin Xiaoran was stunned for a moment, but soon smiled and said, "Okay, then I'll wait for Pei Yu's New Year's gift."

The most important part was over. Fu Songzhi and Qin Fang came to talk to Pei Yu. Seeing that he looked cold and confused, after a while, the hotel manager came to inform Qin Fang.

He frowned after hearing this, "Is the injury serious?"

The manager smiled bitterly, "Two ribs, and the head was split open."

"Tsk," Qin Fang shook his head. "It's quite capable to be able to provoke Pei Ge'er to take action. Tell him that I'll pay for his medical expenses. I'll go to his house later."

Of course, he didn't go there to apologize, it was more like he was going to hold someone accountable.

The injury was Pei Yu's fault, and Qin Fang hasn't gotten his revenge yet.

Returning to his seat, Qin Fang roughly understood why Pei Yu was unhappy, but he had already been beaten, so he shouldn't look so angry. Qin Fang winked at Fu Songzhi, who shook his head, indicating that there was nothing he could do.

However, Pei Yu did not stay too long and left early. On the way back to Huating, he did not say a word, with his eyes closed as if he was asleep, and a faint smell of alcohol lingered on his body.

He drank quite a bit today.

After sitting in silence for a while, Shen Zhiyi moved very gently towards him, and when her fingers touched his, she hooked them lightly as if tentatively, waiting for his response with almost holding her breath.

Soon, he shook it back, but still didn't open his eyes or speak.

Not sure whether his mood had improved, Shen Zhiyi sighed silently, feeling that this was a difficult situation.

It seemed like he was always unhappy.

Back in Huating, Pei Yu let go of his hand and opened his eyes. His eyes were clear and it was obvious that he was not really asleep. He rubbed his eyebrows, looking uncomfortable. He couldn't stand the smell of alcohol on his body, so he went into the bathroom as soon as he got back.

The housekeeper glanced upstairs with concern. He seemed fine and in good spirits when he left, but how come he had such a cold face when he came back?

Looking at Shen Zhiyi again, he also looked like he was worried.

The sound of water in the bathroom continued. Pei Yu stayed in the bathroom for a long time, so long that he still hadn't come out when Shen Zhiyi finished washing up.

She was a little worried and asked, "Pei Yu?"

The sound of water stopped. After a while, Pei Yu came out with a bath towel tied loosely around his waist. He wiped himself perfunctorily, his hair dripping with water, which spread along his skin texture. He raised his eyes and glanced at her, and uttered a low "hmm" as a response.

Shen Zhiyi followed him and saw him sitting down on the sofa, so she followed him and said, "Let me see your injury."

"No need," Pei Yu didn't want her to touch it. The wound on the side of his neck was caused by broken glass. After being soaked in hot water, it turned shockingly red. He was too lazy to deal with it.

"Pei Yu," Shen Zhiyi called him in a soft voice, looking at him quietly.

It didn't last long. Pei Yu came over silently, lowered his head, and let her see the wound clearly.

She didn't know if it was an illusion, but she felt that the wound seemed to be more serious after all this ordeal. Shen Zhiyi disinfected the wound, put a Band-Aid on it, and whispered, "Did you hit him?" A closer look revealed that the wound was caused by glass. She had experience and guessed that it was the wine bottle.

Pei Yu lowered his head, his eyes fixed on her nightgown. They sat close together, and the hem of her nightgown reached his knees. He asked nonchalantly, "Who are you hitting?"

She refused to admit that she was bullied, and he refused to admit that he had hit her.

"I'm sorry," Shen Zhiyi apologized, "I didn't mean to lie to you."

Pei Yu finally looked at her, his eyes were cold and calm, not fierce, "You don't want to lie to me, you just think it's unnecessary, right?"

This is exactly what he finds most difficult to accept. It’s unnecessary, it’s unnecessary. How can it be unnecessary?
"No," Shen Zhiyi put down her hand, she was so unsure that she didn't know how to explain it, so she had to apologize again, "I'm sorry."

It was because she didn't want him to interfere, she was not used to accepting help from others, she instinctively didn't want him to be involved with a bad person, and she was subconsciously avoiding them - all the crazy men after drinking reminded her of her shameful past, when she was insulted and beaten by her drunk father... She was always afraid and always stayed away from them.

She didn't want to recall or mention it at all.

"If you want to piss me off to death, I'll keep apologizing," Pei Yu said expressionlessly. He didn't want to hear her say these three words at all.

Shen Zhiyi looked confused. Even an apology wasn't any use?

After looking at her for a while, Pei Yu suddenly let himself fall over, his wet hair brushing against her neck, feeling cool. She was held by Pei Yu, and heard him ask, "Why didn't you say anything when you were bullied? Am I not worthy of knowing?"

He bit her shoulder and said, "Shen Zhiyi, I don't care who you complained to when you were wronged before. Now I am the only one who can support you. The name Pei Yu is so useful, why don't you use it?"

He blinked very slowly, feeling an unknown sour feeling in his heart. Shen Zhiyi hugged him back without saying anything.

She knew that Pei Yu was very good to her.

Her hair was too wet and soon soaked her nightgown, even making her skin feel cold. Pei Yu frowned and went back to the bathroom to blow-dry her hair.

Before going to bed, Shen Zhiyi asked curiously, "Did you really beat that guy?"

It is unclear what that person's identity is, but those who can come to Qin Xiaoran's birthday party are basically from that circle, either rich or noble.

"Well," Pei Yu was not interested in talking about other people's affairs, so he said lightly, "I hit him and kicked him."

Shen Zhiyi breathed a sigh of relief. He was just hit by a wine bottle and kicked once. The injuries shouldn't be too serious.

She didn't know whether she wanted to coax him or defend herself, so she took the initiative to confess, "Actually, I also wanted to hit him with the bottle. I had already picked up the bottle, but you came at the right time."

She meant to say that she wasn’t someone who wouldn’t fight back when bullied, she just didn’t want other people to get involved.

It was still hard to say whether she had repaid the favor she owed Huo Heng. The huge burden it brought to her made her waste several years without realizing it. She didn't want to owe anyone anything anymore. Being entangled would only bring pain.

But he still protected me.

Pei Yu chuckled, as if he was amused by her. He kissed the top of her head and praised her leisurely, "I know you are good."

But he also knew that she had faced such difficulties dozens of times without any help. When he thought of how many times she had been isolated and helpless like this, he wished... he wished he could go back to the past and take her away.

He couldn't bear to let her be bullied again, and he was also making up for his shortcomings.

(End of this chapter)