Extreme Pampering
Chapter 186: Hooking Up With Me Before Nightfall.

Chapter 186: Chapter 186: Hooking Up With Me Before Nightfall.

As the Spring Festival approached, Beijing saw several heavy snowfalls, and the Pei Family Estate had someone clearing the snow from the paths every morning and evening. However, because Shen Zhiyi wished to see the snow, they specifically left a courtyard uncleared for her enjoyment, where the snow lay thick and pristine.

When the butler brought over a pot of warmly stewed fruit soup, she saw Shen Zhiyi gazing outside the window, "It’s too cold outside; you can’t go out to play in the snow."

Perhaps because her hometown was in the south, where it rarely snowed, Shen Zhiyi was somewhat fond of snow. However, since she had come to Beijing, she either had been busy or frequently ill, and she only ever watched the snow from a distance.

She redirected her gaze, "Are you really not taking a leave?"

Most of the staff at the Pei Family Estate had already taken leave to go back to their hometowns, which had made the place increasingly quiet these days. The butler, however, had no plans to leave.

"The overtime pay during the Spring Festival is very good," she said, "There aren’t many people at my home; celebrating the New Year here is just as good."

Moreover, if she left, she would be rather worried about leaving Shen Zhiyi alone at home.

"I also think it’s nice for you to be here," Shen Zhiyi smiled, "You can keep me company and chat with me."

Pei Yu’s workload had lessened considerably, but it was not possible for him to stay at home with her every day.

"The New Year’s goods will be delivered in a while," the butler said as she watched Shen Zhiyi finish the fruit soup, "I didn’t order much, is there anything else you want?"

The Pei Family wasn’t like other families that had a lot of relatives; even during the New Year, there weren’t many family gatherings. Usually, they didn’t order New Year’s goods because Pei Yu wasn’t often at home. This year was an exception, and it was the first time the butler was preparing these items; she was afraid she might have missed something.

"No, that’s all," Shen Zhiyi didn’t have much experience in this area either. She wouldn’t even put up couplets during the New Year, just rest for a few days and then get back to work. She didn’t feel the holiday was any different from other days. If it weren’t for the butler’s reminder, she would have forgotten about it entirely.

"I want to go outside and play," her thoughts were entirely captivated by the vast expanse of snow in the courtyard outside, "Pei Yu’s not here, could you let me go out and play for a bit?"

The butler was helpless, "You’ve only just recovered from a cold."

"I’ll dress warmly, it won’t be a problem," Shen Zhiyi negotiated with her, "Just for half an hour."

In the end, the butler acquiesced to her request and wrapped her in a thick down jacket before letting her out.

The temperature outside was very low, and Shen Zhiyi wore her hat and gloves. She stepped on the snow for a while, then crouched down to build a snowman. As her own efficiency was quite low, she dragged the butler into it, and they each shaped a snowball.

"It’s a bit ugly," the butler, who always strove for perfection, couldn’t believe she had made such a clunky snowman and couldn’t bear to look directly at it.

"After a few more tries, it’ll be better," Shen Zhiyi was quite satisfied with her own creation. She took out her phone and snapped a few pictures, feeling her hands and feet grow cold, "Let’s go back."

She loved to play, but she was also afraid of catching a cold, mainly because Pei Yu would get upset and then coax her to take medicine once she fell ill.

With that in mind, she quickened her pace even more.

Pei Yu emerged from the garage and saw, from a distance, the plump figure at the door in a down jacket, his brows slightly raised.

Secretary Qin, who came to retrieve some documents, followed behind him. He caught only a glimpse of a blurry white shape, "What is that?"

"A rabbit that sneaked out," Pei Yu said leisurely.

Secretary Qin: "...?"

Since when did the Pei Family Estate keep rabbits?

When Pei Yu entered, Shen Zhiyi had just removed her down jacket and, feeling guilty, she hid her ice-cold hands behind her back, pretending as if nothing had happened.

"You’re back?"

Pei Yu responded with a "hmm" and reached out his hand toward her.

Her hands hadn’t warmed up yet; if he touched them, she would definitely give herself away. Shen Zhiyi diverted the topic, stepping to the side, "I have a message to reply to."

Pei Yu nodded and signaled Secretary Qin to go upstairs to the study to get the documents, beating Shen Zhiyi to her phone that was left on the coffee table.

He glanced at the screen, "There are no unread messages."

"... It’s one I’ve read but haven’t replied to yet," Shen Zhiyi said, growing more nervous by the second, hesitating to come closer.

Pei Yu hummed a non-committal chuckle, his tone level, "Come here."

It seemed that he had already seen through her lie.

Shen Zhiyi had no choice but to turn herself in, "I only played for a little while."

The floor-to-ceiling window on the side offered a view of the courtyard, which had not been cleared of snow, and the ugly snowman was facing this way.

Pei Yu scooped her up and sure enough, both her hands and face were cold, "You built such a big snowman, and you call that playing for a little while?"

"Actually, it was mostly the butler’s work," Shen Zhiyi tried to bluff her way through, "I only did a little."

Pei Yu didn’t believe her, "The butler wouldn’t build such an ugly snowman."

"..."

Shen Zhiyi was astonished, "Are you saying that only I could build such an ugly snowman?"

She frowned, "Although my handiwork is indeed a bit lacking, jade carving and snowman building aren’t on the same level. How do you know I can’t build a good-looking snowman?"

She was busy arguing with Pei Yu and without realizing it, she was embraced by him, and her face and hands gradually warmed up.

Pei Yu raised an eyebrow, "Is that the point?"

"...No."

Shen Zhiyi looked at him with a bend in her eyes, "I really didn’t play for long, and I was dressed warmly."

Although she did catch colds easily, her constitution wasn’t that weak; Pei Yu was just seeing shadows everywhere, overly cautious.

When she felt guilty, she loved to act cute, and of course, this move was also very effective on Pei Yu.

He lifted her in his arms and carried her upstairs, "Today, you can only stay indoors."

Instead of going to the bedroom, they went to the study. Shen Zhiyi watched as he took out paper and brush, his movements practiced and smooth.

"What are you going to write?"

"Couplets," Pei Yu pulled her in front of him, letting her hold the brush as well. "We’ll write them ourselves this year."

"I can’t do it," Shen Zhiyi didn’t dare to write, knowing full well that her handwriting would definitely be soft and unattractive.

"I’ll guide you to write," Pei Yu held the brush and her hand together, his low voice ringing in her ear, "Relax."

The ink and brush slowly unfurled on the paper. Shen Zhiyi was initially nervous, afraid that any movement of her hand would ruin the whole piece, but her attention was soon drawn to Pei Yu, who was writing earnestly.

His eyes were slightly lowered, his long eyelashes straight and thick, his profile particularly handsome—a noble and aloof appearance. When writing, only his wrist moved, yet he remained perfectly straight.

"Why are you looking at me?"

With his peripheral vision, Pei Yu noticed that she was distracted. His writing flowed smoothly without even raising his eyes, "It’s not dark yet."

Shen Zhiyi blinked, "What does that have to do with it getting dark?"

Finally finishing the piece, Pei Yu chuckled lightly, his gaze shifting to glance at her, "You’re seducing me, and it’s not even dark yet."

Shen Zhiyi’s face immediately flushed red, "I just took a few extra glances at you, you’re the one overthinking it."

Pei Yu, feeling fully justified, pressed on, "You’ve been staring at me for so long, if you say your thoughts are pure, I don’t believe it."

Shen Zhiyi found it hard to defend herself, pushing him embarrassingly, "Nonsense."

Seeing that he had teased her into agitation, Pei Yu laughed and coaxed her back, "Alright, I’m talking nonsense."

Maybe he was projecting his thoughts onto her.