Lu Yi, a tall and imposing man, was truly too conspicuous. Pei Yansi, looking through the car window at the people outside, found his view completely blocked by Lu Yi; he couldn’t even see a single strand of Shen Heyu’s hair.
Pei Yansi’s eyebrows furrowed deeply and, without hesitation, he pushed open the car door, stepped out, and walked up to Lu Yi, locking eyes with the wary man in front of him.
"I was talking to Shen Heyu; you have no right to speak here," Pei Yansi said, not wishing to waste time with Lu Yi.
"She doesn’t want to face you, and I hope you won’t bother us anymore out of misplaced affection."
Lu Yi had agreed to accompany Shen Heyu to the Chen Family’s wedding because he had heard through the grapevine that Pei Yansi, busy with official duties, would not attend. Thus, he had felt reassured not to object.
But unexpectedly, Pei Yansi had changed his plans at the last minute and showed up. It was clear that he had come for Shen Heyu, causing Lu Yi’s heart, which had just settled, to leap into his throat.
"If you truly cared for her, you wouldn’t refuse my offer. The sky has darkened, and this place is so remote there are no roads nearby; do you really want her to suffer with you, waiting here in hardship?"
Pei Yansi’s eyes darkened as he stared at the man before him.
Lu Yi wanted to retort but found himself speechless, the words stuck in his throat, unsure of what to say.
He was considering Shen Heyu’s well-being, but the argument Pei Yansi now offered seemed somewhat twisted.
It was getting late, and this section of the road was isolated. Even if help was called, it would take hours, and Lu Yi did not wish for Shen Heyu to endure waiting with him.
"I can’t decide this matter; you should ask her yourself. If she’s willing to go with you, I won’t say another word."
"But I must warn you, if she doesn’t want to go with you, you must not force her, or I definitely won’t let it go."
Lu Yi clenched his fists, seemingly struggling internally for quite some time, debating with himself before finally stepping aside silently.
With him no longer in the way, Pei Yansi could finally see Shen Heyu, who looked beautiful today, like an elegant black swan.
But the anguish for Pei Yansi was that he was not the first to appreciate her beauty.
With his hands in his pockets, Pei Yansi took a step forward, only for Lu Yi, unyielding, to raise his hand and block his path.
Lu Yi guarded against him as one would a fierce beast ready to strike at any moment, each of Pei Yansi’s moves seeming amplified in his watchful eyes.
"Speak if you want to speak, but don’t come too close. I’m here, and you absolutely cannot hurt even a single hair on her head."
Pei Yansi ignored Lu Yi’s caution and kept his deep gaze fixed on Shen Heyu.
He had not seen Shen Heyu for days, and now the woman he longed for day and night stood before him, but her face showed neither surprise nor any ripple of emotion.
He didn’t know what Shen Heyu was thinking.
In truth, although Shen Heyu appeared calm on the surface, her heart was not still. She forced herself to stay rational, to stay cool while conversing with him.
"Thank you for your concern, but I think..."
Shen Heyu’s words had not yet been fully spoken, but the refusal was already clear, so Pei Yansi interrupted her.
"You don’t need to rush to reject me, I’m only considering Yuexue’s mother’s well-being. I, for one, do not wish to watch her mother suffer helplessly."
"Hey! Stop using Yuexue as a shield all the time. I’m telling you, even if you bring up Yuexue, Heyu will definitely not waver."
"Yuexue also wants a peaceful life, and I think she does not want us to be entangled with each other anymore. Since we both have our own lives now, let’s start afresh and forget everything in the past."
Shen Heyu lifted her head and looked straight into Pei Yansi’s eyes; her words "forget everything in the past" pierced like an invisible sword into Pei Yansi’s heart.
A hurt expression flashed through Pei Yansi’s eyes.
Yet, a dull pain filled his heart, but he suddenly forced a smile on his face.
In fact, his smile was exceptionally charming, but today it was tinged with bitterness and self-mockery. Seeing his expression, Shen Heyu could not help but frown.
"If President Pei has nothing else, then you may leave now. Your time is worth tens of thousands per second; there really is no need to waste it on someone insignificant like me."
Upon hearing her words, Pei Yansi instinctively deepened the smile on his lips.
"Some things can’t just be measured with money, like you."
Shen Heyu smiled faintly, "But I’m not valuable. The ties between us have already been severed, and the only connection we might have is that we share a daughter, but if you marry Miss Chen from the Chen Family, you will have your own children."
"That won’t happen," Pei Yansi immediately denied Shen Heyu’s words.
Shen Heyu was slightly perplexed; she really didn’t need to continue this topic with Pei Yansi, but at that moment, it seemed as if she was compelled to delve deeper.
"I mean I won’t have children with any other woman. I only want to have a perfect family with you."
"Even if you now see Lu Yi as a suitable candidate, and he has won Yuexue’s heart, have you thought about the fact that Lu Yi is an outsider? If one day you two are together, Lu Yi might also hope to have children with you."
"If you and Lu Yi have children, then Yuexue will surely be less favored."
"What nonsense are you talking? Even if Yuexue is not biologically related to me, I’ve always treated her as my own daughter and that will never change, even if Heyu and I have our own children."
Lu Yi’s voice suddenly rose in volume, countering what Pei Yansi had said.
Yet in contrast to Lu Yi, Pei Yansi just calmly smiled at Shen Heyu.
So many women had gone to great lengths, using every possible means to get close to Pei Yansi, yet the woman who he had always tied to himself was desperately trying to escape to the outside world.
Shen Heyu was different from other women. Pei Yansi had always distinguished her from other women.
"That’s my life too. Since Yuexue is with me, I will definitely do everything in my power to make her feel happy. You don’t need to worry about that."
"My relationship with him isn’t finalized yet, but your deal with Miss Chen is almost like a done deal. What standing do you have to remind me to provide Yuexue with a complete family environment?" Shen Heyu retorted.