It seemed Pei Yansi had known all along, and he had brought her here on purpose.
Lu Yi didn’t want it this way, and he was actually a bit worried. If it became known, then his image in Shen Heyu’s heart would...
But Pei Yansi was aggressive.
He placed the thermometer right in front of him, with Shen Heyu also beside him, apparently genuinely worried and wanting him to take his temperature.
In the end, Lu Yi had no choice but to really tuck the thermometer under his armpit.
The three of them sat in the room and waited for a while. During that time, no one spoke, and the atmosphere was somewhat strange.
Everyone watched Lu Yi.
A few minutes later, Lu Yi finally took the thermometer out.
Pei Yansi caught it before he could look at it and glanced at it, saying, "Looks normal."
After he said that, he handed the thermometer to Shen Heyu. She glanced at it and saw that the numbers were indeed normal; clearly, he didn’t have a fever.
Shen Heyu gave him a peculiar look and said, "You don’t have a fever, Doctor Lu, so you are?" She scrutinized him; he really did look quite weak, and she was somewhat at a loss for words. She instantly realized something.
He was feigning illness just to have her come here to take care of him.
Feeling her gaze, Lu Yi was incredibly uncomfortable, and his heart felt even worse. He hadn’t spoken yet when Pei Yansi beside him said, "Doctor Lu has only just arrived here, and it isn’t to participate in the academic research, right?"
Rather, it was that he had come following us with a plan in mind.
Lu Yi looked at Shen Heyu.
She was frowning too and judging him with her own eyes. She had previously heard from Pei Yansi that he suspected Lu Yi of secretly following them. At first, she didn’t believe it, but today, she learned that he had faked his illness. She felt perhaps this was indeed the truth...
She just hoped that Lu Yi would tell the truth.
Lu Yi seemed to see through the words in her eyes. He pondered for a moment before saying to Shen Heyu, "I’m sorry..."
Faced with her probing eyes, he truly couldn’t bring himself to lie to her.
After his words fell, Pei Yansi let out a cold laugh. He turned to look at Shen Heyu and said, "Do you believe it now?"
Shen Heyu frowned. She pressed her lips together and looked at Lu Yi for a few seconds before finally saying, "I know why you did this. But I hope you can respect what I’ve said before."
She had previously said that she felt only friendship towards him and hoped he wouldn’t overstep his bounds.
Yet what he had done now had not only crossed the line, but it also had a sly undertone that made it feel devious and induced wariness.
Almost like being watched without consent.
Lu Yi lowered his head, not even daring to look into Shen Heyu’s eyes. He really just wanted to be close to her so much and was worried about her coming with Pei Yansi that she might be taken advantage of.
Nevertheless, Shen Heyu seemed to not want to hear any more of his explanations. This mattered seemed grave, yet not to such a degree... It was hard to fully judge.
She stood up, took one last glance at Lu Yi, and left his room.
Pei Yansi also stood up and followed her out. Once back in their room, Pei Yansi grabbed her and pulled her into his embrace, saying, "So now you’re finally willing to believe me?"
Shen Heyu said, "I don’t believe you."
Trapped in his arms, her hands bound, she could only rest them against his chest as she said, "I don’t know why you’re so eager to prove he lied to me. Don’t you understand the concept of a white lie?"
Hearing her say this, Pei Yansi fell silent. He gazed at her deeply, starting to wonder, what if he told her about Shen Jiangli then?
Did he need to offer her a white lie?
If so... she was his kin.
Pei Yansi suddenly didn’t know what to do.
Seeing Shen Heyu’s bright eyes, faintly tinged with barely perceptible hatred, he couldn’t articulate the sorrow in his heart.
Shen Heyu noticed his expression had suddenly changed, somewhat oddly. When did this man start to look so poetically melancholic? She reached out and waved her hand in front of his eyes, asking, "What are you thinking about now?"
Pei Yansi snapped back to reality, said nothing, but hugged her tightly and then bent down to kiss her forehead.
It was a gesture filled with tender pity.
Shen Heyu was slightly startled by his action, her heart beating erratically, wondering why he had suddenly changed so much toward her.
She pushed him gently.
He released her, but stayed close, seated beside her, saying, "Let’s go out and pick a gift, okay?"
And reached out to take her hand, caressing it in his palm, looking at her face and saying, "We choose a wedding anniversary gift."
Shen Heyu didn’t immediately agree.
She looked at Pei Yansi, whose brows and eyes were still handsome, not very different from the man she remembered from the past.
He still resembled the young man she remembered, only many things were no longer as before. To be honest, she was already certain in her heart that she would leave him in seven days. At that time, wouldn’t that gift just seem ironic?
Shen Heyu was silent, which made Pei Yansi panic, a fear of rejection set in. He rubbed the ring on her finger insistently and said, almost ingratiatingly, "Let’s pick it out together... I want to give you something, and I hope to receive something from you."
Such words would represent a different meaning.
Their marriage had gone so poorly, he just wanted to use all the ways he could think of to leave it with some sweet memories.
After all, in seven days, she really would leave him.
Shen Heyu studied his features, and, moved by something, she asked, "If I accompany you, will you keep your promise and let me go after seven days?"
Pei Yansi was stunned.
He hadn’t expected her to suddenly mention this - and again using leaving him as leverage.
His brow furrowed as he asked, "Does it have to be this way?"
Shen Heyu nodded firmly, "You know, this is the only thing I want right now."
Pei Yansi’s heart bled when he heard her words.
So, her only wish right now was to leave him.
Since it was her wish, even if it meant leaving him, how could he not agree? Pei Yansi gave a bitter smile and said, "Okay. I promise you."
Only he knew how much courage it took to say those words.
Shen Heyu replied, "Then I promise you too."
Pei Yansi nodded and held her hand tightly as if afraid she would slip away. When they left the house, Yuexue was still sleeping, and Zhao Jin was there watching over her. They went out alone.
It was already snowing overseas at this time; Pei Yansi held Shen Heyu’s hand as they walked towards the shopping district.
Pei Yansi said ambiguously at her side, "I hope you will pick it out seriously this time."
After all, it would be the first wedding anniversary gift they had chosen together in the many years they had been together.