Mr. Pei! Don't force yourself into circles you can't fit into.

He poured out all his grievances in one breath, and with his red eyes and slightly trembling voice, he truly seemed to have suffered a great injustice.

Actually, it wasn't all acting.

He was truly wronged. Pei Lin could be so gentle, like a completely different person. A few days ago, he was so hungry he couldn't sleep, and it was Pei Lin who got up in the middle of the night to cook noodles. He had poisoned the fish and burned down the kitchen, but Pei Lin hadn't actually thrown him into the snake pit. In those moments, he was genuinely touched, and even felt a slight, inappropriate affection for him.

But before that budding affection could even sprout, it was nipped in the bud by Pei Lin's scheme.

Pei Lin's performance today made one thing crystal clear to him: this person can pamper you, but he can also scheme against you. He is truly dangerous.

Shen Jicheng stared intently at Pei Lin, his heart pounding like a drum. He couldn't fathom what Pei Lin was thinking; his dark, deep eyes were devoid of emotion, like a stagnant pool.

But he had no way out. He couldn't show weakness, otherwise the other party would see through his act and realize that he was just putting on a brave face.

"Baby," Pei Lin finally spoke, his voice unhurried, "Are you questioning me?"

He paused, then his tone shifted slightly, taking on a dangerous tinge, "Do you know the consequences of offending me?"

He knew. Of course Shen Jicheng knew. It was precisely because he knew that he couldn't compromise at this time.

Shen Jicheng pursed his lips, stubbornly staring back at Pei Lin, and asked in return,

"So... I'm no different from those people, right? In your eyes, I'm not special, not an exception, right?"

Pei Lin's smile faded slightly.

He didn't speak. Shen Jicheng waited a moment, only to be met with silence. That silence was like a dull knife, cutting into his heart again and again.

Shen Jicheng suddenly chuckled softly, a resolute glint flashing in his eyes.

"If in your eyes I'm the same as everyone else... then... I'd rather not have it."

The moment he finished speaking, he grabbed the vase from the coffee table and smashed it to the ground. With a loud crash, shards of porcelain flew everywhere. He bent down, picked up the sharpest piece, and held it in his hand, the razor-sharp edge pointing at his throat.

He bet that Pei Lin had some feelings for him, and that Pei Lin treated him differently from others.

Just as the porcelain shard was about to pierce the skin, Pei Lin's eyes suddenly darkened. His movements were so fast they were almost invisible. He stepped forward, grabbed Shen Jicheng's wrist tightly with one hand, twisted it forcefully, and swiftly snatched the shard of porcelain away with the other, throwing it hard to the ground.

"Clang—"

The broken porcelain bounced twice on the floor and rolled under the coffee table.

Pei Lin's eyes were frighteningly deep, and his tone was unreadable.

"Baby, do you even know what you're doing, huh?"

He rarely showed true anger. Keeping his emotions hidden was his norm. But at this moment, although his tone was casual and he seemed indifferent, his jaw was clenched, and his knuckles were white as he gripped Shen Jicheng's wrist, clearly indicating a difference between his outwardly calm demeanor and his inner turmoil.

Shen Jicheng felt a sharp pain from Pei Lin's grip, but he didn't utter a sound. He stubbornly stared back at Pei Lin, his eyes showing no fear, only an unyielding stubbornness.

He won his bet.

He lowered his eyes, his gaze falling on his wrist, which had been gripped red. His lips moved, and he asked softly, "Do you care?" Do you care that I got scratched?

The living room was so quiet that you could hear the ticking of the clock on the wall.

Pei Lin did not answer; his eyes were dark and gloomy.

Time passed by, second by second.

Shen Jicheng waited a long time, so long that he thought he would never get an answer. He lowered his eyelashes, preparing to pull away from Pei Lin's hand.

"I care." A deep voice replied.

Shen Jicheng's eyelashes trembled slightly, but he did not look up.

The grip on his wrists gradually loosened. Those hands slowly lifted his chin, their thumbs gently wiping away the moisture at the corner of his eye, where another tear had fallen without him noticing.

"It's precisely because I care that I tested you. Because..." He paused, his eyes growing increasingly dark.

"I don't like being deceived. I'm afraid you'll get involved with the Shen family."

Shen Jicheng was silent for a moment, his lips moved slightly, and he asked, "Why... do you think I'm a member of the Shen family?" He never thought he had given anything away.

Pei Lin didn't hide anything, "Although the young master of the Shen family has never appeared in public, there are some rumors that he is unruly and arrogant, and causes trouble everywhere. His favorite place is the tavern where you and I first met."

He lowered his eyes, his fingers idly stroking Shen Jicheng's chin. "There aren't many people who could drug me. At the time, I thought it was someone sent by the Shen family. After all, the Shen family and I have never gotten along."

Shen Jicheng's heart tightened.

"After investigating, it became clear," Pei Lin changed the subject, "that there was a traitor among my people. It has nothing to do with you."

Shen Jicheng secretly breathed a sigh of relief, then remembered something and tentatively asked, "What exactly is your grudge with the Shen family?" He was genuinely curious. His elder brother, Shen Mingxiao, was calm and reserved, and rarely clashed with powerful families, let alone the Shen and Pei families, which had reached a point of life and death.

Mentioning the Shen family, Pei Lin's eyes darkened noticeably, and his tone turned cold. "I also want to know why the Shen family has been opposing me at every turn all these years." He paused, a cold, detached smile curving his lips.

"But it doesn't matter. They ruined my offshore project, so I'll make sure their other projects suffer the same fate. I'm a vengeful person; those who offend me never have a good ending."

Shen Jicheng didn't ask any more questions. He was never very clear about work matters; his older brothers handled them, and the family never brought business troubles home. He just remained silent for a moment, then asked again,

"So... what are you going to do with the person who betrayed you?"

What he really wanted to ask was, if one day you find out that I am Shen Jicheng, what will you do with me? Will you throw me into a snake pit? Or throw me into the sea to feed the sharks?

Pei Lin paused for a moment, then chuckled softly, a hint of coldness in his voice. "He paid the price he deserved."

He didn't elaborate, whether out of concern that Shen Jicheng would be frightened or for some other reason. Shen Jicheng didn't press further, but simply lowered his eyes and remained silent.

After a moment of silence, Pei Lin reached out and pulled Shen Jicheng into his arms, wrapping his arms around his shoulders and resting his chin on the top of his head. The embrace was neither too tight nor too loose, just enough to completely encircle him.

"Baby," Pei Lin's voice came from above, much gentler, "This was my fault. I shouldn't have used you to test Shen Yanhe." He paused, his tone becoming more serious.

"Don't worry, it won't happen again. This is your safe haven. As long as you don't betray me, I'll give you whatever you want."

Shen Jicheng buried his face in his chest, feeling the powerful heartbeat vibrating against his eardrums. He closed his eyes, trying to comfort himself.

It's alright. Pei Lin will get tired of him eventually and dump him. If he doesn't get tired of him... he'll find a way to make Pei Lin get tired of him. By then, even if Pei Lin finds out who he is, he probably won't bother to care, right?

It's just a nice idea.