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

He remembered it clearly: a week ago, when their CEO Pei carried Mr. Shi back to that room, his face was as black as the bottom of a pot, and he wished he could throw Mr. Shi into a snake pit right then and there.

But in the end, he managed to hold back and had someone add a combination lock. The entire Pei family knew the password to this room, except for two people: Mr. Shi himself and Pei Lin.

Zhang Xu couldn't figure out what their CEO Pei was thinking at the time, but after following him for so many years, he could at least figure out a few things.

He was probably afraid he would lose control and actually throw the person into the sea. After all, Mr. Shi couldn't swim, and throwing him into the sea would only mean certain death.

Pei Lin's expression was gloomy, and his tone was unfriendly.

"Stop talking nonsense. Give it to me."

Zhang Xu spoke quietly, "...six zeros."

Pei Lin turned and headed towards the stairs, but after two steps he suddenly stopped, turned his head, and asked coldly, "The password is so simple, what if he unlocks it and runs out?"

Zhang Xu opened his mouth, but swallowed back the words that were about to come out, and forced out a single word, "...Yes."

Haha, there's no such "what if".

After all, Mr. Shi hadn't even had a chance to escape yet, and some people were already impatiently going to release him.

-

"Click."

The sound of the combination lock being unlocked was particularly clear in the quiet corridor, and the door was pushed open from the outside.

Shen Jicheng remained lying on the ground without moving.

He assumed it was a servant bringing something, or someone coming to collect the wreckage he had smashed. He didn't even lift his eyelids, his face buried in his crossed arms, his breathing heavy and slow.

The people behind him, however, did not make a move.

There were no footsteps, no tidying up, and even breathing was barely audible.

Shen Jicheng paused slightly.

He slowly straightened up and turned his head.

Pei Lin stood at the door.

He leaned against the doorframe, one hand casually in his pocket, his posture relaxed, yet the expression on his face was as cold as if covered by a thin layer of ice. His gaze descended from above, slowly and deliberately surveying the person on the ground.

"How's your self-reflection going?"

If Pei Lin had asked this three days ago, Shen Jicheng would have immediately put on a pitiful look, blinked his eyes and said, "Brother, I was wrong." But now, he has been locked up for eight whole days.

Eight days. Everything in the room that could be smashed was smashed, everything that could be cursed was cursed, but the anger not only didn't subside, it burned even brighter, like charcoal trapped in a cauldron. Hearing those words now was like adding fuel to the fire.

Shen Jicheng pursed his lips, not uttering a single word. He looked up at Pei Lin, his peach blossom eyes burning with undisguised, even provocative, anger.

Pei Lin did not step back. He stepped in, stood in front of Shen Jicheng, looked down at him for two seconds, and then squatted down to be level with Shen Jicheng.

He reached out and pinched Shen Jicheng's chin with his index finger and thumb, forcing him to tilt his head back.

"Baby," Pei Lin's voice was soft, but his tone was cold.

"Isn't the money I gave you enough for you?"

Shen Jicheng remained silent as his chin was being pinched. The force from the pinch on his jaw wasn't strong, but it was impossible for him to break free.

Pei Lin didn't let go and continued to ask, "I understand you. I know you like money. I know you've had a hard life before and need more money to feel secure. I understand that too. But you could have just told me directly. Why did you choose this method?"

Shen Jicheng opened his mouth, then closed it again.

How can I put it? No matter how I put it, it's wrong.

Silence is the best answer.

Pei Lin stared at him for a few seconds, then released his grip on Shen Jicheng's chin. His fingertips, however, slid down, his fingertips gently brushing against Shen Jicheng's cheek.

"I checked. The person who transferred the money to you wasn't from the Shen family; it was Pei Shuli's prank."

Shen Jicheng's eyelashes trembled slightly.

"Even if that was a fake account for ten million, the fact remains that you betrayed me for ten million." Pei Lin's gaze darkened, becoming as black as a bottomless pool.

"I've said it before, what I hate most is deception and betrayal."

He handed the crumpled photos to Shen Jicheng. In the brightly lit booth, under the dim lighting, Shen Jicheng was sandwiched between two shirtless men.

"See, you have both."

He gently placed the photo on the ground and pushed it in front of Shen Jicheng.

"How can I forgive you?" he asked. "Hmm?"

Shen Jicheng's gaze fell on the photo. After a few seconds, he turned his head away, his chin slightly raised, his lips pressed into a stubborn line. "I have nothing to say. You can hit me or punish me as you please."

"So you have nothing to explain to me? What Pei Shuli said, was it all true?"

Are the things said in that recording... also true?

Did you really never like him?

Shen Jicheng frowned, as if trying to recall what he had said.

"Yes. Pei Shuli is telling the truth. The documents he gave you are all real. I did go to Yuanyue. I did lie to you. The reason I didn't let you continue investigating was because I was afraid you would find out about my time in Yuanyue."

Pei Lin's face darkened inch by inch.

Shen Jicheng didn't want to hide it anymore; it was too tiring. So he simply took this opportunity to tell everyone, "I do have more than one brother, and I've touched more than just your abs..." Rather than keeping it to himself and suffering every night, it was much better to be honest.

Before he could finish speaking, a strong hand suddenly grabbed his cheek.

The fingertips dug deep into the soft flesh of his cheek, with such force that it felt like they were going to crush his jawbone. Shen Jicheng gasped in pain.

Pei Lin's face was right in front of him, his eyes gleaming with cold light. "I advise you to think carefully before you speak. Don't make me angry."

But Shen Jicheng was the type who wouldn't respond to force. Spoiled by his family since childhood, he was a wildcat at heart. All the anger he'd been holding back for a week was now seeping into his throat, and instead of backing down, he stubbornly retorted.

"So what if I made you angry?! You've already locked me up for eight days, what more do you want?"

"Or... do you still want to throw me into the sea?"

"Just like the person I met on the ship that day."

Pei Lin's fingers suddenly tightened.

It hurt. His bones were screaming that they were about to crack. But Shen Jicheng didn't flinch. He looked straight into Pei Lin's eyes, and the two were locked in a stalemate, neither willing to give in.

The room remained quiet for a long time.

Finally, Pei Lin's grip loosened. His Adam's apple bobbed up and down as he lowered his head, his forehead almost touching Shen Jicheng's temple. His voice was much softer than before, but still somewhat tense.

"I'm asking you one last time."

He raised his eyes and looked into Shen Jicheng's eyes.

Do you love me?