His reaction was too intense.
Almost abandoning all dignity, he rested his chin on her shoulder like an injured puppy, rather than the exalted ruler of the Triad Society.
Xu Si observed his demeanor, her heart softening, yet she didn’t step back an inch.
It was indeed him she recalled—his voice the same, his identity precisely alike, and even his appearance was so similar.
Aside from his hair color, his personality had changed slightly.
The Pei Zhen she remembered didn’t like her and even held a grudge against her.
Xu Si couldn’t possibly tell him that her approach, her affection, her care, and her protection all had ulterior motives—that she exploited his vulnerability in the past to secure his support for the future.
She gently curled her fingers. Perhaps this way, she could reach through skin and flesh to soothe that frenzied heart. Her voice also grew tender.
"Azhen, I didn’t lie to you. I was thinking of you. If I speak falsely, then let me be abandoned by all and go broke. You know that would be the greatest punishment for me."
Pei Zhen gazed into her eyes, probing to the core, his deep inspection aimed at her soul, seeking any hint of deception or any trace left by a lie.
How could there be none?
She shouldn’t be seeing him.
Pei Zhen was certain of that. He couldn’t be mistaken.
So, there must be an issue somewhere.
He remained still, his eyes reflecting Xu Si’s radiant face. He suddenly calmed down, then smiled, his voice becoming ethereal and light as never before.
He needed to figure out her true purpose in getting close to him and why she claimed to see him when she clearly was looking at someone else.
In this world, could there really be another him?
Heh, how truly interesting.
For some reason, when he said those words, "I believe you," Xu Si felt the soul hidden within her shell shudder for a second. It was as if her thoughts had been seen through; a chill ran down her spine, and her sixth sense began to scream, urging her to flee in panic.
But she was the one in control of this conversation.
Xu Si paused. When she returned to her senses, she glanced down at her hand, which he held against his chest. She seemed to remember something. She instinctively freed her hand from his grasp, furrowed her brow, pushed aside his silvery-white hair, and began intently unfastening his clothes.
Last time they escaped from the Underground City, his wound was still bleeding profusely.
This time, she didn’t know whether it had healed, and yet he was pulling her hand to it again.
If this happened again and again, could his wound ever heal properly?
The tea room was silent and still, the scent of tobacco mingling with the aroma of burnt wood, creating a relaxing atmosphere.
Pei Zhen watched her actions for two seconds.
His fingers absentmindedly spun the ring on his hand. Seeing his clothes nearly pulled open, he reached out to stop her.
He smiled and said slowly, "So sudden? Doing this here, wouldn’t we be seen?"
Xu Si hesitated, then explained, lifting an eyebrow, "That’s not what I meant. I wanted to check your wound."
Pei Zhen tilted his head, lazily readjusting his clothes. His gaze, like the tempestuous seas of the Underground City, was hidden within their light grey depths, yet a hint of a smile played within them.
"Actually, even if that was what you meant, I wouldn’t mind."
Xu Si bit her lower lip, laughing in frustration.
She rose from him, incidentally pulling out a room card. "Mind the public eye. I’ll come to your room later to check it. I have medicine in my bag. Butler Ge put it there in case I was assassinated."
He raised an eyebrow and replied teasingly, "Welcome."