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

Downtown penthouse apartment.

Chi Yuchu had just helped the drunken Shu Hua get a proper shower, changed her into clean pajamas, and tucked her into bed. Shu Hua's phone on the bedside table vibrated persistently several times, the screen lighting up and then going dark.

"Huahua, your boss Pei called, should you answer?" Chi Yuchu asked her, taking the phone from her.

Shu Hua closed her eyes, her brows furrowed: "I'm not answering, it's so annoying. Chu Chu, I want to sleep..."

"Okay, okay, I won't answer. Let's go to sleep." Chi Yuchu put her phone on silent and placed it aside. "Ding Lun made you some hangover tea. Drink some before you sleep, or your head will hurt tomorrow."

Shu Hua nodded, still a little dazed.

Ding Lun brought in a cup of hangover tea. Chi Yuchu took it, helped Shu Hua sit up, and fed her the tea little by little.

"It's bitter..." Shu Hua muttered.

"It's not bitter because of the honey," Chi Yuchu coaxed softly.

After drinking most of the glass, Shu Hua lay down again and quickly fell asleep.

Chi Yuchu and Ding Lun left the bedroom and closed the door behind them.

For a moment, only the two of them remained in the living room. The air suddenly became somewhat awkward.

"Um..." Chi Yuchu cleared her throat, "Thank you."

Ding Lun glanced at her; her face was also slightly flushed from the alcohol. "You've had some wine too," he said, his voice flat. "Go get some hangover tea; there's some in the kitchen."

Chi Yuchu's eyes lit up, and she took a step closer, saying, "Pour it for me, and I'll drink it."

Ding Lun stared at her silently for a few seconds without saying a word, then turned and went to the kitchen to pour out another bowl, which he then handed to her.

Chi Yuchu held the bowl, sipping the warm tea with a subtle sweetness, which was indeed very comforting. She couldn't help but praise, "It's so delicious... Ding Lun, has your cooking always been this good? Whoever marries you will be so lucky."

Ding Lun ignored her teasing and checked the time: "I should go back now. Take good care of Miss."

"Hey, don't rush!" Chi Yuchu grabbed his wrist. "Let's walk together later, can you give me a ride home?"

"But Miss..."

"Don't worry, someone will take care of Hua Hua." Chi Yu Chu glanced at the time. "We'll be there in half an hour."

Ding Lun stopped talking and just sat quietly.

The living room was very quiet.

Chi Yuchu stared at Ding Lun's profile and suddenly asked, "Do you really hate being with me that much?"

Ding Lun stiffened: "No."

"Then why do you always avoid me?" Chi Yuchu asked softly. "Is it still because of what happened that night?"

Ding Lun's Adam's apple bobbed, but he didn't answer.

"Ding Lun," Chi Yuchu stood up and walked to him, "I'm an adult, and I also bear responsibility for what happened that night. You don't need to feel sorry for me or feel responsible for anything."

She paused for a moment: "But if you're avoiding me because you hate me, then please just say so."

Ding Lun finally raised his head and looked at her with a complicated expression.

"I don't dislike you," he said, "it's just...we're not a good match."

"What's wrong with it?"

"You're the young lady's friend, I'm her bodyguard," Ding Lun said in a low voice. "We're not from the same world."

Chi Yuchu smiled, a bitter smile tinged with sadness: "So you still think that night was a mistake?"

Ding Lun remained silent.

About half an hour later, the doorbell rang.

Chi Yuchu ran to open the door.

Pei Yanzhou stood outside the door, looking travel-worn. He had clearly rushed over; his hair was slightly disheveled, his collar was open, and there was still lingering fatigue and urgency in his eyes.

"President Pei." Chi Yuchu stepped aside. "Come in, Huahua is asleep."

Pei Yanzhou walked in, saw Ding Lun in the living room, and nodded.

"I couldn't stop him; he drank a bit too much." Chi Yuchu pointed to the bedroom. "He just fell asleep."

Pei Yanzhou looked towards the bedroom, his gaze softening.

"President Pei," Chi Yuchu said earnestly, "I know there are some things I shouldn't say, but painting is my best friend, and I can't help myself."

"She's really fallen for you this time. Ding Lun and I grew up with her, and we've never seen her care about anyone so much before, nor have we ever seen her so heartbroken for anyone. She really likes you and cares about you a lot."

Pei Yanzhou nodded: "I know."

"So please pay more attention to her," Chi Yu Chu said softly. "Don't make her sad."

"I will," Pei Yanzhou said solemnly. "Thank you for taking care of her tonight."

"Of course." Chi Yuchu tugged at Ding Lun. "Then we'll be going now. Take good care of her. If anything comes up... talk to her properly."

After seeing Chi Yuchu and Ding Lun off, the apartment became completely quiet.

Pei Yanzhou pushed open the bedroom door. He thought Shu Hua was already asleep, but to his surprise, she was not.

She hugged her knees, burying her face deep in her arms. Her thin shoulders trembled slightly, like an abandoned kitten.

The moment Pei Yanzhou saw this scene, it felt as if his heart had been shattered, the pain almost suffocating him. He walked over quietly, sat down by the bed, and said in a hoarse voice, "Hua'er..."

Upon hearing his voice, Shu Hua's body stiffened.

She didn't look up, her voice muffled as she said, "Get out. I don't want to see you."

Pei Yanzhou's Adam's apple bobbed, but he didn't move; he just stared intently at her.

"I told you to get out!" Shu Hua suddenly raised her head, her face covered in tears and her eyes red and swollen. "I told you, I don't want to see you, you bad person, right now."

Pei Yanzhou remained motionless. He reached out to touch her, but she forcefully pushed his hand away.

After a few seconds of stalemate, Pei Yanzhou slowly stood up.

Shu Hua watched him turn and walk step by step towards the door, her heart tightening. He really left... He just left like that... He broke his promise last night, and today he wasn't even willing to coax her? Did he really not care about her that much?

Should she consider... getting a divorce?

The moment this thought crossed my mind, my heart ached so badly I could hardly breathe.

Just then, she saw Pei Yanzhou walk to the door, but instead of opening it to leave, he gently closed the door.

A soft "click" sounded.

He closed the door, turned around, and walked towards her again.

Shu Hua was stunned, staring blankly as he walked to the bedside again, sat down, and then stretched out his arms, without saying a word, firmly pulling her and the blanket on her into his embrace.

"Why...why don't you leave?" she asked, choking back tears.

"What will you do if I leave?" Pei Yanzhou hugged her tightly, resting his chin on the top of her head.

Shu Hua finally burst into tears: "But you've been gone for so long already, haven't you?!"

Pei Yanzhou's heart was breaking.

"I'm sorry." Pei Yanzhou cupped her face in his hands and wiped away her tears with his fingertips. "I'm sorry, Hua'er, it's my fault. I didn't balance work and family well and neglected you."

He thought that as long as he handled things well and went back as soon as possible, it would be good for her.

But he forgot that no matter how sensible his daughter was, she was only twenty-three years old, a young girl pampered and cherished by her parents and him. What she needed was not just material security and promises for the future, but also companionship and care in the present moment.

"But I'm so tired, Pei Yanzhou..." Shu Hua sobbed, unable to catch her breath. "I don't want to wait for you every time, I don't want to revolve around you every day. It's like a scale between us, and I'm losing more and more... I don't feel secure. It seems like things aren't even between us anymore..."

She lifted her head, her eyes blurred with tears, and looked at him: "To you, am I just a responsibility? So when you're nice to me, when you say you like me, it's just out of a sense of duty?"

Pei Yanzhou felt a pang of pain in his heart.

"Have you forgotten?" Shu Hua continued, "I am also your wife. I also want to care for you, take care of you, and share your burdens. But you never give me that chance."

She grew increasingly aggrieved as she spoke: "Or is it that in your eyes I'm really just a delicate, useless vase, something to be married off as a decoration? I also want my husband's company and care. You always say you're busy, always busy..."

Tears streamed down her face, landing on Pei Yanzhou's hand and burning his heart with pain.

He never knew that she had been harboring so much anxiety and resentment.