Sweet Temptation! The Beauty in President Pei's Palm is Too Alluring

The weather in Hwaseong in June grew hotter and hotter each day, with the sun shining brightly.

Shu Hua has been working at Pei's for two months now, and she'll be officially promoted to a permanent position in another month. Her work is becoming increasingly stable, and there haven't been any major problems for the time being. She's gradually adapting to work life.

That afternoon, Shu Hua went home on time after get off work.

Aunt Chen had already prepared dinner, but she didn't have much of an appetite. She ate a little and then played with her little rabbit "Tangyuan" in the living room.

Tangyuan has grown quite a bit recently, a fluffy little ball, and is especially cute. Shuhua put it on the carpet and played with it using toys.

While she was playing, she wasn't paying attention and Tangyuan suddenly skipped away.

"Tangyuan!" Shu Hua quickly chased after her.

The little rabbit ran quite fast, hopping all the way, and finally ran into a room at the end of the corridor.

Shu Hua hadn't been inside that room yet. It was where Pei Yanzhou kept his private collection, and he didn't use it much normally.

Shu Hua pushed open the door and went in, and saw Tang Yuan squatting under an antique shelf, looking around curiously.

"You little rascal," Shu Hua walked over and picked it up, "how did you get here?"

She hugged Tangyuan to her chest and glanced around the room. Her gaze, however, was drawn to a painting.

It was an oil painting, framed in an exquisite frame and hung in the most conspicuous place.

The painting depicts a rose garden at dusk. The afterglow of the setting sun shines on the blooming roses, creating a play of light and shadow, with colors that are both intense and gentle. In the lower right corner of the painting, there is a small signature: S.

Shu Hua slowly walked over and stopped in front of the painting.

This painting...she knew it all too well.

This was created by her three years ago abroad, when she was using the pseudonym "S" and had just begun to make a name for herself in the international art scene. It was the first piece she sold.

I remember at that auction, this painting was ultimately sold for a staggering 1.2 million yuan to a mysterious buyer from China. At the time, it set a new record for the highest price ever paid for a painting at auction.

At the time, she was very curious about who the mysterious, generous Chinese buyer was, but the rules of the anonymous auction protected the privacy of both parties, so she had no way of knowing.

She never imagined... that the person who bought her painting would be Pei Yanzhou!

Did he know that "S" was her?

She probably... doesn't know, right? Even her family doesn't know her identity; only Chi Yuchu and Ding Lun are aware of it.

Did Pei Yanzhou buy this painting simply for appreciation, or...?

She stayed in the collection room for a while longer, carefully examining the other paintings to confirm that only "Twilight Rose" was her work. Only then did she leave, carrying the glutinous rice balls.

Back in the living room, she sat back on the sofa and took out her phone to search for reports about that auction and auction records of the "S" artwork.

It has been confirmed once again that the painting was indeed purchased by a "mysterious Chinese buyer".

Just then, I heard the sound of the door opening.

Pei Yanzhou has returned.

He came home relatively early today, and when he saw the petite woman sitting on the sofa, his eyes softened.

Shu Hua's eyes lit up, and she ran over in her slippers, opened her arms, and sweetly called out, "Pei Yanzhou~"

Pei Yanzhou was slightly taken aback by her enthusiastic welcome, then opened his arms and caught her.

Shu Xiang was like a koala, clinging to him, her legs expertly wrapped around his strong waist, and her arms around his neck.

Pei Yanzhou held her firmly with both hands supporting her hips, keeping her close.

"Are you so happy today?" Pei Yanzhou looked down at her.

Shu Hua tilted her head back and pouted, "Kiss me."

Pei Yanzhou obediently lowered his head and kissed her lips a few times.

Shu Hua was satisfied. She hugged his neck and said in a muffled voice, "I missed you a little."

Pei Yanzhou carried her to the sofa and sat her down, letting her sit on his lap: "Have you eaten?"

"I ate something," Shu Hua said, playing with the buttons on his shirt. "Have you eaten?"

"I ate at the company." Pei Yanzhou pinched her cheek. "Why are you being so clingy today?"

"You won't let me stick it on?" Shu Hua retorted confidently, deliberately tugging at his collar with her little hand.

Pei Yanzhou smiled, then lowered his head and kissed her lips: "Here. My sweetheart."

Shu Hua leaned against him, and after a long while, she suddenly spoke: "Pei Yanzhou..."

"Um?"

"That painting..." Shu Hua paused, "...the one in your collection room, 'Twilight Rose,' when did you buy it?"

Pei Yanzhou was taken aback for a moment, then realized what he meant: "Three years ago. Why are you suddenly asking this?"

"It's just...curiosity," Shu Hua observed his expression, "Why did you buy that painting? Because you liked it?"

Pei Yanzhou remained silent for a few seconds before slowly speaking: "That painting... reminds me of someone."

Shu Hua's heart skipped a beat: "Who?" Had he already guessed that S was her?

"Wen Che".

"Brother Wen Jiani?" Shu Hua's tense nerves suddenly relaxed, and a faint sense of loss welled up inside her. It turned out... it wasn't because of the painting itself, nor because the painter was "S", but because the painting reminded him of someone from the past.

"Hmm." Pei Yanzhou responded, looking down at the person in his arms. "Wen Che is... extremely gentle and kind, a very pure person with a good temper and none of the frivolousness found in other aristocratic scions. He's a few years older than me. Ji Zexu and I were basically raised by him when we were young."

"Wen Che has had a congenital heart condition since childhood, and his body is very weak," Pei Yanzhou continued. "The Wen family protected him very well, but it was also like a cage. He didn't like the constraints at home, he didn't like those rules and regulations, and he didn't like having to stay in the house alone to recuperate. He longed for freedom and craved something passionate and pure."

Shu Hua listened quietly, captivated by the Wen family's eldest son, who was completely different from her imagination, through his words.

"He is very talented and gifted, especially in painting." Pei Yanzhou gently stroked the back of Shu Hua's hand with his fingertips. "If it weren't for his health and family responsibilities, he might have become an outstanding artist."

As Shu Hua listened, a complex mix of emotions welled up inside her. She could imagine that feeling: loving something but being forced to watch from afar because of one's status and responsibilities.

"That painting, 'Twilight Rose,' is very much like him. The rose in the painting is passionate and sincere, yet gentle, just like him."

He paused, his voice softening further: "Although Wen Jiani is an adopted daughter, she gave Wen Che hope for so many years. Due to some accident, it was Wen Jiani's parents who saved Wen Che. Her parents died in that accident, and Wen Jiani also developed severe asthma because of it."

Shu Hua's eyes widened in surprise: "Wen Jiani has asthma?"