I excitedly waited for my father’s praise, saw him extend his hand, I longed for him to pat my head and say ‘well done’, but instead… he gave me a slap.”
As she spoke, she turned away, afraid he would see her already moistening eyes, but her slightly choked voice still revealed her emotions.
“You must find this strange, right? Actually, it’s nothing. That day he was in a bad mood and had told everyone not to disturb him, but I barged in anyway.”
“Just like that?” Shang Peng’s brow furrowed deeply.
“Just like that. My dad has always been like this, doing what he thinks is right.”
“Bastard!” He couldn’t help but exclaim.
Am I suddenly thinking that I’m… vain? Is that bad?”
”Do you think you are like that?”
”Probably.” She looked up, with a slightly defiant gaze, “Who doesn’t want to pursue a better life? I just can’t accept abandoning one’s husband and children for such a reason, especially… how could she bear to leave such an adorable child?”
”You feel sorry for Xiao Jing?” He noticed her pitying look towards Xiao Jing and asked with a smile.
”Of course.”
”Well, I now find that you, this young lady from a wealthy family, are not so bad after all. At least you still know how to empathize with others.”
What kind of remark was that? Are all young ladies from wealthy families heartless?
Zhi Wei glared at him fiercely, “I now also discover that you are not only malicious but also quite perverted.”
”Hey, why are you scolding me again?”
”Isn’t it true? One way on the surface, another way in secret!”
”Which way is which? I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
”What you said to Xiao Jing is one way, but what I’m feeling now is another!” Damn! Presenting himself as a victim in front of others, as if she had wronged him. But when facing her, he never fails to take a jab at her.
”So which way do you think is real?”
”Nonsense! No matter how stupid, I won’t be stupid enough to believe what you said to Xiao Jing is true! If you really liked me, you wouldn’t treat me like this!”
”Then what do you want? I’ll tell you directly, I really like you, I want to pursue you. Would you believe me then?”
”You, I…” Zhi Wei’s mouth opened in an ‘O’ shape. Was this man being serious or playing games?
”Scared you, right? I knew you wouldn’t dare accept my pursuit.”
”What’s there to be afraid of? I—” Zhi Wei suddenly changed her thought, her eyes sliding sideways, pursing her lips in a suppressed laugh, “If you really want to pursue me, just try your best. Why use provocation tactics?”
Shang Peng burst into laughter, “Looks like you’re not stupid. I’m liking you more and more. Well, since you’ve given me the green light, don’t go back on your word later.”
He said he liked her again… Zhi Wei’s heart felt light, but this feeling was immediately jolted awake by his words—what did he mean by later? What had she just said?
At this moment, the meal was served, timely distracting her uneasy mood.
That night, they lingered at the noodle stall for a long time. With Boss Lao Wei joining them, the two men started reminiscing over drinks. Zhi Wei stayed close to Xiao Jing, helping to clean up dishes and occasionally trying to soothe the baby in the crib.
”Is the baby brother hungry? Want milk? Let me try, okay?” She eagerly took the baby, excited.
Soon after, after feeding, Xiao Jing’s disappointed voice came: “Auntie, that’s not how you do it.”
”Didn’t you just say to pat him after feeding?”
”But you can’t keep patting his bottom! Pat his back!”
Shang Peng and Lao Wei couldn’t help but laugh.
Leaving the noodle stall, Shang Peng sincerely said to her: “You worked hard tonight.”
”No… I’m very happy.” Facing his sudden politeness, Zhi Wei felt somewhat at a loss, “Sitting there listening to you talk, I found holding the baby much more enjoyable.”
”I notice you really like children. Want to have your own?”
Uh? She was stunned, then forced a dry laugh. “Sir, have you had too much to drink?”
”No, I haven’t had enough yet.” He raised the paper bag, which Lao Wei had stuffed with braised goods before they left, “How about continuing at your place?”
”At my place?” Zhi Wei’s eyes flickered.
He laughed, “Are you worried about losing control after drinking?”
”Get lost! I’m afraid of your beastly nature!”
”This time your place should have no ropes, right?”
Ropes? Zhi Wei remembered when she had tied him up. “No, only chains.” After saying this, she burst into laughter.
Suddenly, she realized—he had somehow put his arm around her shoulders, and she was actually leaning entirely into him!
After thinking about it, her reaction was—no reaction. Because she didn’t want to react; because this warm, intimate feeling was so good!
Especially his exceptionally broad and solid arms, leaning against which gave her a solid sense of security.
Security? Zhi Wei laughed at her own thoughts. She was leaning on a wolf! And a wolf who openly and confidently wanted to devour her completely.
And what was she doing now? Inviting a wolf home? “I’ll go change, make yourself comfortable,” she said, leading the man inside and then turning to her room.
Sit? Where? Shang Peng turned around and couldn’t help but smile.
The small studio was divided by a sliding curtain, with a bed on the other side and a living room here.
In this living room, there was only a huge floor cushion that people usually call a “lazy bone”.
Next to the lazy bone was a small Japanese-style table with some snacks and fashion magazines. A small TV sat on a low cabinet against the wall.
Looking around, Shang Peng imagined how this young woman lived simply.
He had to admit that everything he had seen about her so far was incredible.
When he initially suggested she work at the company, he didn’t think she would lower herself to work there. Even if she was willing to try, he didn’t believe she could adapt to the diverse workplace environment, so he was prepared for her to leave at any moment.
But she stayed.
Was his perception of her wrong? Or had her transformation been remarkable? Shang Peng leaned on the lazy bone, beginning to seriously review his various new discoveries about her during this period.
