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

Shen Jicheng opened his mouth, but swallowed the words back. He couldn't bring himself to talk about the dream, so he turned his face away.

"It's nothing... I just bumped into something."

Pei Lin raised an eyebrow but didn't expose him.

Shen Jicheng's mind was in turmoil when a thought suddenly flashed through his mind, and his eyes lit up. He looked up, his gaze fixed intently on Pei Lin.

"So you stayed home all day today?"

Pei Lin glanced at him with lowered eyes, his tone neither hurried nor slow.

"I can't say for sure. It depends on my mood. If I'm in a good mood, I'll stay; if I'm not, I'll leave."

He paused for a moment, then continued, "Right now... I'm not in a good mood."

Just as the light in Shen Jicheng's eyes was about to dim, that dream popped up again at an inopportune moment.

Wasn't Pei Lin quite happy in his dream?

He stared at Pei Lin's face for two seconds, his gaze involuntarily sliding down, past the jawline, past the Adam's apple, past the line on his chest hidden by his shirt, and further down, stopping at a place that shouldn't linger for long.

He himself was completely unaware of how direct that gaze was.

Pei Lin felt a chill run down his spine from being stared at. He frowned slightly and was about to speak when Shen Jicheng tilted his head back first, his bright, sparkling eyes brimming with innocent recklessness.

"Will you stay as long as I make you happy?"

Pei Lin paused for a moment, raised an eyebrow, and answered decisively, "Yes."

As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Jicheng moved.

Pei Lin reacted so quickly it was as if his body acted before his brain. The moment those hands made a move, he had already gripped Shen Jicheng's wrist, his fingers tightening with considerable force. His brows furrowed deeply, and his voice was forced out from his throat.

"What are you doing?"

Shen Jicheng didn't feel anything was wrong when his wrist was grabbed. He looked up at him and said, "I'll help you."

Pei Lin's face visibly turned cold.

He didn't let go; instead, he pulled Shen Jicheng up from the ground and pinned him against the wall.

Shen Jicheng's back slammed against the cold wall, and he groaned. Before he could even cry out in pain, he heard Pei Lin's cold, deep voice descend from above.

"Who taught you that?"

Shen Jicheng's back ached so much that he frowned, completely baffled as to why this person was angry again. Pei Lin, however, had little patience, and his words were dripping with sarcasm.

"Just because I'm unhappy, you'd go to this extent? You're so willing to degrade yourself like this?"

Shen Jicheng was stunned by the scolding. It took him a couple of seconds to react; the burning pain in his back made his tone harsh as well, "If you don't want it, then don't! Why are you attacking me personally? I meant well!"

"A good intention?" Pei Lin's gaze suddenly darkened.

"Do you do this when every man in the world is unhappy?"

When those words were spoken, the surrounding air seemed to freeze.

Shen Jicheng was stunned for a full three seconds before he slowly realized the meaning behind Pei Lin's words. His pupils trembled slightly, and his lips moved.

"Pei Lin...do you know what you're saying?"

Pei Lin grabbed his chin, forcing him to raise his head.

"Isn't that right? You don't like me, yet you're willing to do this for me. What about someone else? Would you do the same thing no matter who it is?"

He was so angry that he lost his temper, and all he wanted now was a definite answer.

I want him to admit out loud that I am special to him.

However, the timing wasn't quite right.

When has Shen Jicheng ever suffered such humiliation and injustice since he was a child?

He used to beat up anyone who verbally offended or provoked him, let alone say something so humiliating.

At this moment, his fists were clenched tightly, his gaze defiantly meeting Pei Lin's, and his inherent rebelliousness led him to utter defiant words.

"right."

"No matter who it is, I will—"

Before she could finish speaking, her lips were sealed.

Pei Lin's movements as he leaned in were swift and forceful, his kiss carrying an irrepressible fire. Shen Jicheng tried to push him away, his chest thrusting outwards, but Pei Lin's arms were too tight, trapping him between his embrace and the wall, making it impossible for him to break free.

Pei Lin finally released him when he was almost out of breath. The man, barely regaining a shred of his sanity, looked down at him, his Adam's apple bobbing, his voice terribly hoarse.

"I'm sorry... baby."

Shen Jicheng leaned against him, his chest heaving violently.

Pei Lin did not let go, maintaining the embracing posture.

"I didn't mean that. I just..." He paused, his voice lowering, "wanted to know what I really mean to you."

Shen Jicheng's eyelashes trembled slightly, and he lowered his eyes without saying a word.

Pei Lin waited a few seconds, but didn't get an answer. Finally, he let go of her arm, turned around, and left.

Shen Jicheng leaned against the wall, a dull ache rising in his chest.

What was it? He couldn't explain it himself. He only knew that he didn't want to lie to Pei Lin, but he had no choice but to.

After lying to him, I couldn't sleep and felt suffocated.

He didn't like seeing Pei Lin sad. He felt bad when Pei Lin was sad, but he also felt wronged when Pei Lin ignored him.

But if this counts as liking someone, how can someone like another person but not even dare to say their real name?

he does not know.

When Zhang Xu was called back to Beishan Villa by a phone call, his mind was still blank. Didn't President Pei give him the day off today?

Upon entering the living room, he immediately saw Shen Jicheng curled up on the sofa, clutching a cushion in his arms, his chin resting on the cushion, his whole body huddled into a small ball, clearly in a bad mood.

Zhang Xu's heart skipped a beat. He didn't dare to ask any more questions and quickly went upstairs.

When the study door was knocked open, a strong smell of tobacco wafted out. The crystal ashtray on the desk was piled high with stubbed-out cigarette butts, and their CEO, Mr. Pei, leaned back in his chair, looking somewhat weary.

"President Pei, what are your instructions for calling me back?"

Pei Lin stubbed out the last cigarette in his hand, his voice slightly hoarse from smoking.

"I won't be going to the office for the next week. Leave the unimportant documents there, and send the important ones over."

Zhang Xu paused for a moment, "Do you have something important to do?"

Pei Lin nodded. "Yes. Bitten by a poisonous snake." He paused.

"The bite is quite severe; I can't go to the company."

Zhang Xu's expression immediately changed.

"How could this happen? I'll contact the hospital right away! I'll get you treated!" Are you kidding me? Being bitten by a venomous snake is no small matter. What if he doesn't get paid? Wouldn't he starve to death and die with them?

Pei Lin reached out to stop him, his tone casual.

"Haven't been bitten yet."

Zhang Xu: "?"

"I'm about to be bitten by a poisonous snake."

"?"

"My little darling responds better to gentle persuasion than force." Pei Lin frowned and clicked his tongue, looking quite troubled. "This is the only way I can do it."