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

"Come on, let's go shopping," Chi Yu Chu said, pulling her along. "Shopping is the best way to soothe a mood!"

Shu Hua, holding the glutinous rice ball, asked sullenly, "What about the glutinous rice ball?"

"Let's take it to a pet store, get it groomed, and board it for a day." Chi Yuchu acted swiftly, already picking up her phone. "I'll have Ding Lun pick us up."

Shu Hua looked up with tear-filled eyes: "Ding Lun?"

"Hmm." Chi Yuchu's eyes flickered. "With you here, he'll definitely come."

Shu Hua recalled the entanglement between the two, and wanted to say something, but ultimately swallowed it back.

Half an hour later, Ding Lun arrived downstairs in his black SUV right on time.

He got out of the car, took the glutinous rice ball from Shu Hua's arms, and skillfully placed it into a pet carrier. He remained silent throughout the process, only occasionally glancing at Chi Yu Chu with his eyes lingering briefly.

The three of them first went to a pet store to take Tangyuan for grooming. Then Chi Yuchu started shopping, dragging Shu Hua from the first floor to the fifth floor of the IFC Mall.

"This one looks great!" Chi Yuchu held up a light pink dress against Shu Hua's body. "Want to try it on?"

Shu Hua shook her head: "I don't want to try."

"Then let's buy them." Chi Yuchu said directly to the sales assistant, "Wrap them up, and the bag we were looking at earlier too, together."

"At first..."

"It's my treat today." Chi Yuchu took her hand and lowered her voice, "Just keep me company, okay? I need to vent too."

Shu Hua looked at her forced smile and finally nodded.

After shopping, Chi Yuchu glanced at the time: "It's only five o'clock. Let's go for a drink."

"drink wine?"

"Yeah, the usual place."

The "old place" that Chi Yuchu mentioned is a quiet bar that they occasionally go to. It's hidden in an old villa in the Wutong District, with a quiet environment and good privacy.

Ding Lun parked the car at the entrance of the alley and followed them inside.

"Ding Lun, you sit down too." Chi Yuchu pulled out a chair. "Since we have to drive anyway and can't drink, just keep us company."

Ding Lun hesitated for a moment before sitting down in front of her.

Chi Yu Chu ordered two specialty cocktails and a soda water for Ding Lun.

"Come on, cheers!" Chi Yuchu raised her glass. "To hell with love!"

Shu Hua was amused and clinked glasses with her.

Shu Hua had something on her mind, so she drank a little too quickly. Her alcohol tolerance was about the same as Chi Yu Chu's; both of them were the type who were "poor in quantity but addicted to alcohol." After a few glasses of specialty cocktails, her cheeks began to flush, and her eyes became hazy.

Alcohol amplifies emotions; all the grievances and sadness that were suppressed find an outlet and surge up all at once.

"Chu Chu," Shu Hua said, resting her chin on her hand, "don't you think all men are like this? They don't cherish what they have once they get it?"

Her voice gradually turned sobbing: "He promised to come back... I waited for him for so long... I even cooked for him, and the food got cold..."

Chi Yuchu patted her hand: "Alright, alright, don't cry. Let's not think about him anymore, let's drink!"

After two drinks, Shu Hua's cheeks began to flush.

"Pei Yanzhou...you big bad guy..." She slumped onto the table, tracing circles on the glass with her finger. "You're the busiest person in the whole world. I don't care about you at all, you might as well be busy to death..."

Ding Lun sat opposite her, looking at Shu Hua with a slight frown.

Chi Yu Chu gave him a wink, meaning "It's okay".

"Huahua, stop drinking." Chi Yuchu pressed down on her hand as she was about to pour a third cup. "Alright, alright, let's not drink anymore. You'll feel uncomfortable if you drink any more."

"No!" Shu Hua hugged the cup tightly, her eyes reddening again. "I want to drink it... I'll feel better after I drink it..."

"Sweetie, let's go home, okay?" Chi Yuchu coaxed her.

"Go home?" Shu Hua raised her wet eyes and shook her head vigorously. "No way! I... I'm going to hide so he can never find his wife again!"

"Okay, okay, I won't go back," Chi Yuchu went along with her. "Then come to my place?"

"No need." Shu Hua stood up unsteadily. "I'll go back to my own place."

It seems she's determined not to go back to the home she shared with Pei Yanzhou.

Having no other choice, Chi Yuchu and Ding Lun half-carried and half-helped Yi Shuhua into the car and took her back to her downtown apartment.

-

Nine o'clock at night, Banshan No. 1.

Pei Yanzhou rushed as fast as he could and finally finished dealing with the most urgent matter before nine o'clock. He declined all subsequent social engagements and hurried home.

In the past, when he came home, Shu Hua would sit in the living room watching TV series, arranging flowers, and playing with Tangyuan. But tonight was unusually quiet.

"Hua'er?" he called out, but there was no answer.

Aunt Chen came out of the kitchen, saw him, and hesitated to speak.

"Where is your wife?" Pei Yanzhou loosened his tie.

"Madam said... she won't be coming back tonight," Aunt Chen said cautiously.

Pei Yanzhou paused, his heart sinking: "Not coming back? Where did you go?"

"Madam didn't say..." Aunt Chen hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Sir, have you and your wife had a fight?"

Pei Yanzhou remained silent.

"Madam hasn't seemed very happy lately," Aunt Chen said softly. "I've been through this before, so I can tell. Madam truly loves you. Yesterday, when she learned you were coming back, she was overjoyed and even came to learn how to cook from me..."

"Cook?"

Aunt Chen sighed, "Yes, Madam said she wanted to cook a dish for you herself. But she accidentally cut her hand while chopping vegetables."

"You cut your hand?" Pei Yanzhou pressed, his brow furrowing. "How serious is it? Has it been treated?"

"It's not serious, just a small cut, and it was treated promptly," Aunt Chen continued. "She tried making that dish three times before she succeeded. Last night, she didn't eat a single bite of food while waiting for you to come back."

Pei Yanzhou felt as if something was clenching his heart.

Aunt Chen hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Sir, I may be being a bit presumptuous. But I've worked for the Pei family for so many years, watching you grow up and seeing Madam marry into the family. Madam is a good girl, simple-minded, and genuinely likes you. Marriage is like running a small shop; it requires both people to put in the effort and work together. One-sided enthusiasm won't last long."

"I understand." Pei Yanzhou's voice was hoarse. "Aunt Chen, you should go back and rest."

Aunt Chen nodded and went back to her room.

Pei Yanzhou immediately took out his phone and called Shu Hua.

The first call went unanswered.

The second call went unanswered.

He sent a message: "Hua'er, where are you? I'm coming to pick you up."

No reply.

Pei Yanzhou stared at his phone screen, feeling a sense of helplessness for the first time.