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

He pulled out his phone, ignoring Jiang Jin's restraint behind him, and shoved the screen in front of Pei Lin. Several photos were neatly arranged in the album, each showing Shen Jicheng's back as he entered and exited the Round Moon Entrance. The lighting wasn't bright, but the clothes, the figure—it was unmistakable.

"You know that place is the most extravagant," Pei Shuli's voice was low, tinged with a hint of malicious intent, "Maybe your darling already belongs to someone else—"

"Shut up." Pei Lin said coldly.

His gaze lingered on the photos for a long time.

He put down his phone and looked at the person kneeling on the ground.

"Is there anything else you want to say?"

Shen Jicheng's eyes were red, but he didn't cry. He just lowered his head, looking at the spiderweb-like shards of glass on the floor, and said in a hoarse voice, "No."

What else could he say? The evidence was there: he stole the documents, and he went to Yuanyue. Every single one of these acts was a seed he had sown himself, and now he was reaping the consequences. He had no choice but to swallow it.

Pei Shuli's lips curved into a smile, and he raised his hand again, his voice light and joyful.

"I have some! I still have more!"

Shen Jicheng: "..." This is a grudge that no gentleman would leave unavenged.

Sooner or later, he will make Pei Shuli pay the price.

Pei Shuli fiddled with his phone again, and then a voice rang out in the quiet living room.

The background music was a bit noisy, like being in a bar.

Before Shen Jicheng could figure out what Pei Shuli meant, a familiar voice came from the phone—it was Song Yiyang's voice.

"Dude! Tell me the truth, do you have a crush on Pei Lin?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Jicheng's heart skipped a beat. Before he could react, his own voice came from inside again.

"How is that possible!"

"How could I possibly like Pei Lin? He's such a ruthless person. I can still remember the day I was tied up and dragged into the sea on the ship. It was terrifying. I don't like him."

Song Yiyang spoke again, "We've been brothers for so many years, don't lie to me. I don't believe you have absolutely no feelings for Pei Lin."

Shen Jicheng's voice came from inside.

"no."

At this moment, Shen Jicheng's mind was a complete mess. Wasn't that the safest place? Why was he being recorded? Who recorded it? It was just him and Song Yiyang! There was no one else there!

Who is it?

No, there was also a bartender delivering the drinks!

Shen Jicheng instantly understood the key point: the bartender had probably been bribed by Pei Shuli long ago! That's why things had turned out this way.

But now he has no time to think about anything else. If there was still room for maneuver at the beginning, now even the slightest spark in his heart has been extinguished.

Pei Lin's face was extremely grim. His dark eyes were fixed on Shen Jicheng, who was kneeling on the ground, his gaze as heavy and cold as the dark clouds pressing down before a storm. He leaned down, grabbed Shen Jicheng's collar tightly, his knuckles white, and almost lifted him off the ground.

"Do you know what the consequences will be for betraying me?"

Shen Jicheng trembled with fear at Pei Lin's appearance. His eyes were red, and he nodded frantically, his voice broken and trembling uncontrollably.

"I...I know..."

Pei Lin nodded slightly, his cold gaze sweeping over Jiang Jin's tear-streaked face without the slightest emotion. Then he released his hand, straightened up, and gestured to Jiang Jin beside him.

Under Shen Jicheng's horrified gaze, Pei Lin parted his thin lips and uttered a few words, "Throw him into the sea and feed him to the sharks."

Shen Jicheng felt all the blood rush to his head in that instant, his mind went blank, and before he could utter a single "no," his arms were already being grabbed by the bodyguards on both sides. The force left no room for negotiation, and they dragged him around towards the door.

"No! No—!" Shen Jicheng's scream changed tone. He struggled desperately, but the two men's hands were like iron clamps, not moving an inch. His feet kicked wildly on the ground, leaving messy marks on the carpet.

His fear of the sea completely overwhelmed his reason at that moment.

With a strength he didn't know he possessed, he suddenly broke free from his restraints, staggered back, and grabbed Pei Lin's leg. The force was so great that he even bumped his knee, but ignoring the pain, he simply looked up, his face a mess of tears, his voice urgent and rapid, choked with sobs.

"Pei Lin, no! Don't throw me into the sea! Please, I know I was wrong, I really will change. Please give me a chance, don't throw me into the sea, I can't swim, I really will die—"

His fingers gripped Pei Lin's trouser leg so tightly that his knuckles turned white. His body trembled uncontrollably, and tears streamed down his chin, dripping onto the carpet.

Pei Lin lowered his eyes, his gaze falling on the upturned face. He looked into those red, tear-filled eyes, his tone indifferent and devoid of any emotion.

"Let go."

Shen Jicheng shook his head and hugged him even tighter. He pressed his face against Pei Lin's knees as if clinging to a last shred of life, "No, I don't want to... I don't want to be thrown into the sea..."

The bodyguards around him received no further orders and stood motionless. Pei Lin looked down at the person crying so bitterly, remained silent for a few seconds, and then spoke in a calm tone.

"You don't have to throw it into the sea. Throwing it in a snake pit is also a good option. You choose."

Shen Jicheng's sobs paused. He looked up, two lines of tears still clinging to his cheeks, his voice choked and broken, "Do...we really have to choose...?"

Pei Lin looked down at him and said, "Mm."

Shen Jicheng lowered his head, biting his lip. He desperately weighed the options in his mind: one meant drowning, the other meant being bitten by a snake. It seemed like neither offered much hope. But snakes in their dens always find a way to hide, while in the sea, he wouldn't even have a chance to struggle.

"My patience is limited. You only have three seconds to consider," Pei Lin urged impatiently.

"Three." He began to count down.

Shen Jicheng's heart was pounding like a drum.

"two."

"Choose the snake den!" His and Pei Lin's voices rang out almost simultaneously. Shen Jicheng repeated, "Snake...snake den, I guess..."

Pei Lin's lips curled into a cold smile, the curve of which was indifferent: "Fine, I'll grant your wish."

He gave Jiang Jin a wink. Shen Jicheng was immediately lifted up again. This time he didn't struggle, but just lowered his head, tears streaming silently down his face.

Only Pei Lin and Pei Shuli remained in the living room.

Pei Lin picked up Pei Shuli's phone from the coffee table, his fingertips fiddled with the edge of the screen, his gaze never leaving the table, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger.

"It must have taken you a lot of effort to track him, right?"