Chapter 153: Stealing Fragrance (8)
The moment those words left her mouth, the atmosphere instantly froze.
Xiao Ji sat opposite Pei Yinnian, spared him a glance, but said nothing.
Pei Yinnian subconsciously glanced at Xiao Ji, then his handsome face darkened as he told the proprietress:
“Get out.”
Seeing this, although the proprietress didn’t understand why, she knew she had been too quick-tongued and said the wrong thing. She cursed her luck, wishing she could slap herself twice.
But she also knew that the more she said, the more mistakes she’d make. She quickly complied and left in a hurry, closing the door behind her.
Pei Yinnian looked at Xiao Ji.
Clearly, he and Xiao Ji were currently nothing more than casual acquaintances. Even if he were to take seventeen or eighteen concubines, it should have nothing to do with Xiao Ji.
Yet at this moment, he felt an intense surge of guilt.
He stared at Xiao Ji, waiting for him to ask.
But Xiao Ji was very patient; he just wouldn’t ask.
He appeared neither curious nor concerned, yet he stubbornly refused to meet Pei Yinnian’s gaze or speak to him.
After a long time, Pei Yinnian finally lost his patience and took the initiative to explain:
“Xiao Lanxiang is the younger sister of a deceased comrade. she works here. There is no personal relationship. When my subordinates or I come, we just have her serve tea or water as an excuse to give her some money.”
Waitresses in these places often had their own regular patrons. If a regular had a strong background, their lives would be easier and they wouldn’t be bullied as easily.
Pei Yinnian was a man of integrity; he didn’t use his own name to give Xiao Lanxiang convenience as a formal backer. He just showed a bit more care whenever he or his men visited.
Hearing this, Xiao Ji let out an “Oh” with a rising tone.
“Is that so?”
Pei Yinnian stated firmly, “My shadow doesn’t lean because I stand straight. If Mister Xiao doesn’t believe it, you can go out and verify with the hotel staff right now.”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Ji suddenly laughed.
“Young Master Pei’s words are interesting. I am not the Eldest Young Madam of the Pei family. I was just asking; what are you panicking for?”
Pei Yinnian was speechless. He truly couldn’t explain why he was panicking.
He cleared his throat. “I have always valued my reputation and don’t want the Mister to misunderstand.”
Xiao Ji gave another knowing “Oh” and stopped talking.
The hotel was well-acquainted with Pei Yinnian’s tastes. Pei Yinnian asked if Xiao Ji wanted to look at the menu, but Xiao Ji declined.
Soon, the girls in qipaos entered in a line, placing one exquisite dish after another on the table.
Each of them waited with hope for Pei Yinnian to spare them a glance. Unfortunately, Pei Yinnian kept his eyes fixed on the first dish served—Sizzling Shredded Eel—without looking away once.
Only after the dishes were all served and everyone had left the room did he seem to breathe a sigh of relief. He used the serving chopsticks to place two portions of food on Xiao Ji’s plate.
“Try it. See if it suits your palate.”
Regardless of his words or his eating manner, Xiao Ji exuded an air of nobility. He dressed poorly, but his behavior and speech were far from it.
Pei Yinnian held a high position, but because he spent years in military camps, he wasn’t particularly refined. He was someone who called the shots in Huating and never cared for others’ opinions, yet as he watched Xiao Ji eat, he subconsciously restrained himself and began to chew more slowly.
Xiao Ji’s reticence only fueled Pei Yinnian’s curiosity.
Halfway through the meal, he called for fine wine and began to talk with Xiao Ji. He asked about his family’s past and the details of his time studying abroad.
When he asked, Xiao Ji answered.
This atmosphere once again caused the reality of the situation to overlap with Pei Yinnian’s dreams.
When the alcohol started to kick in, Pei Yinnian even felt a momentary trance, unable to tell if this scene was real or a dream.
Thus, when he handed the wine glass to Xiao Ji again, he grasped Xiao Ji’s fingertips.
“Do you know why I want to help you?”
Xiao Ji didn’t move. He lowered his eyes to look at Pei Yinnian’s hand holding his fingers.
“I don’t know.”
Pei Yinnian said, “I have seen you.”
Xiao Ji didn’t know about Pei Yinnian’s dreams. He was surprised but kept his composure.
“When? Where?”
Pei Yinnian looked at Xiao Ji’s face and didn’t answer. He simply followed his heart and said:
“You’re too far from me. Sit closer.”
The private room had a round table and a square table. The round table was too large, so they had sat at the square table by the window upon entering. On both sides of the square table were double-seated leather sofas.
Xiao Ji didn’t move, pulling his fingertips away. “You’ve drunk too much.”
Pei Yinnian denied it. “You underestimate me too much.”
Xiao Ji still didn’t move.
Pei Yinnian took another sip of wine and patted the sofa beside him.
“What are you afraid of? It’s not like I’m going to eat you. Come over; I just want to talk to you.”
Only then did Xiao Ji follow Pei Yinnian’s wish and sit beside him.
Pei Yinnian leaned back against the sofa, looking at the straight-backed Xiao Ji with misty eyes.
His Adam’s apple bobbed.
“The Mister is a year older than me. You’ve also reached the age to start a family. Is there any sign of a marriage in your future?”
With the distance closed, Pei Yinnian’s leg rested against Xiao Ji’s.
Xiao Ji looked down. “No.”
Hearing this, Pei Yinnian fell silent for a moment. He slowly leaned toward Xiao Ji, reaching out to pluck the glasses from the bridge of Xiao Ji’s nose. Before Xiao Ji could react, he grasped Xiao Ji’s chin.
“I don’t know if anyone has ever told you, but the Mister’s looks are even more delicate than a young lady’s.”
Xiao Ji didn’t resist. He allowed Pei Yinnian to stare at him, meeting his gaze.
“Are you flirting with me?”
At such a distance, Pei Yinnian could clearly smell the fresh soap scent on Xiao Ji and the faint aroma of red wine when he spoke.
That small mole beneath Xiao Ji’s eye once again acted like a hook, snagging deep into Pei Yinnian’s heart.
Pei Yinnian didn’t ask if Xiao Ji had someone he liked or if he was seeing any girl. He only knew that his head was spinning and a heat was building in his lower abdomen. Ignoring Xiao Ji’s feelings entirely, he pressed his lips against those thin, light-colored ones.
He was used to being domineering. To prevent Xiao Ji from struggling, he took the initiative and pressed Xiao Ji directly against the sofa’s backrest.
Feeling Pei Yinnian’s warm and overbearing tongue sweep across his lips, Xiao Ji intentionally began to struggle.
Who would have thought that Pei Yinnian was seemingly prepared for a forced encounter? He directly pulled a gun from his waist, pressing it against the edge of Xiao Ji’s jawline. He told him:
“Don’t struggle. Open your mouth.”
The gun wasn’t loaded, but this was the first time Xiao Ji had been threatened like this. He found it amusing in his heart, but on the surface, he settled down, opening his mouth to let Pei Yinnian have his way.
Pei Yinnian felt that Xiao Ji was like a harmful poppy. One taste brought a blissful death, a state where one could never get enough.
He knew it was wrong, but once he touched him, he couldn’t help himself and couldn’t pull away.
Dissatisfied with Xiao Ji’s lack of response—his coldness that neither resisted nor cooperated—he pressed the muzzle a bit harder and commanded:
“Respond to me.”
Translator’s Note: “My shadow doesn’t lean because I stand straight” (身正不怕影子歪 – shēn zhèng bù pà yǐngzi wāi) is a classic way to say “a clear conscience fears no accusation.” But then Pei Yinnian goes and pulls a gun during a kiss! Talk about “forced love” tropes.
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