Extreme Pampering
Chapter 196: Kept in the Dark.

Chapter 196: Chapter 196: Kept in the Dark.

Shortly after the start of summer, Shen Zhiyi entered the final stages of shooting the film, while Pei Yu went to the United States for work. His trip was longer than any of the previous ones, but fortunately, during this time, her filming schedule was heavy, and she had other engagements to rush to, so she didn’t suffer from insomnia every night as before. Yet, she still deeply missed him.

The two of them video called each other every night. In the first few days, Shen Zhiyi hadn’t noticed anything—she was so busy herself that she didn’t focus much on Pei Yu until after she finished the wrap party and was on her way back to the hotel when it suddenly occurred to her that Pei Yu had been gone for nearly ten days.

This number felt strange to her, and she didn’t know what kind of work could keep Pei Yu away for so long.

During their video call that evening, as she looked at Pei Yu’s figure on the screen, she thought he looked thinner than when he had left. "When are you coming back?" she asked.

It was pouring rain outside, and the internet connection was a bit patchy. It seemed like Pei Yu hesitated momentarily before he answered, "I will definitely return next week."

That was a vague answer. Previously, he would at least have pinpointed it to an exact date.

Shen Zhiyi was worried for him, "Is it very troublesome?"

She never interfered in or understood Pei Yu’s work affairs. Under Pei’s vast enterprise were countless businesses, and even if she wanted to start understanding them, she wouldn’t know where to begin. Seeing Pei Yu staying away for so long this time, she suspected he might have encountered a major problem.

"No," Pei Yu smiled at her, "It’s nothing, I’ll be back next week."

"Don’t you have an exact date?" Shen Zhiyi missed him a lot, "Is it Monday or Sunday?"

Pei Yu paused, glanced at someone off-camera, then replied, "Friday, can you wait a bit longer?"

Shen Zhiyi watched him for a while, "Okay."

That night, she was again sleeping alone. Shen Zhiyi had been extremely busy during the day, barely having any time to rest. Now, she should have been fast asleep, but she suddenly woke up half an hour after falling asleep.

Her heart was racing, and she felt a deep unease, different from the fright of a nightmare—it was an inexplicable fear.

The night was dark, and a fierce storm raged outside, with no moon in sight. Shen Zhiyi sat up for a while, but the feeling of fear and anxiety did not subside.

She began to call Pei Yu.

"Madam," as always, Secretary Qin spoke, "Chairman Pei is in a meeting."

With her heart still racing, Shen Zhiyi couldn’t settle until she saw Pei Yu, "Then could you bring the phone into the meeting room? I won’t make any noise, I just want to see him."

Secretary Qin evidently hadn’t expected her to make such a request and hesitated, awkwardly saying, "That’s not very convenient, I can’t attend confidential meetings either."

He was Pei Yu’s most trusted secretary, and it was rare for there to be matters that even he couldn’t listen to.

Shen Zhiyi then asked, "When can he finish?"

This time, Secretary Qin was even slower to respond, "... about four hours."

Shen Zhiyi frowned, "What meeting lasts four hours?"

"It’s...." Secretary Qin seemed to want to explain but only started before it seemed like he gave up and instead said, "Madam, Chairman Pei is currently in the operating room."

Instantly, Shen Zhiyi’s previously fast-beating heart slowed down. She closed her eyes and felt her throat turn dry, "Is it a heart problem?"

Pei Yu had a scar from a gunshot wound near his heart. At first, Shen Zhiyi thought he had always been unwell, but since he seldom showed signs of frailty in front of her, she gradually forgot about it.

"Yes," Secretary Qin said softly, "the bullet grazed his heart and left some complications. Chairman Pei undergoes a check-up every year, and this year’s results weren’t great. He needs to undergo surgery, but don’t worry, the surgery has a high success rate. It’s just that Chairman Pei hasn’t been in good health recently and didn’t want you to know, so he kept it from you."

Shen Zhiyi simply didn’t know what to say. She had been too busy these days and hadn’t noticed anything unusual. When Pei Yu left, she thought he was just going to work as usual. Only now did she realize he had been hospitalized for several days.

"Help me book a ticket," she finally spoke after a long while, "the soonest one available."

A few hours later, aboard the plane, Shen Zhiyi received a message from Secretary Qin. Pei Yu’s surgery had gone very well, and he was now under observation. He would wake up in a little while.

Her thoughts were in disarray. Ever since she learned the news, she had been deeply worried. She hadn’t slept during the several hours of the long flight. When she disembarked, the cool breeze mixed with light rain made her head ache.

Secretary Qin sent someone to pick her up, and it wasn’t until she arrived at the hospital that she felt somewhat grounded.

"Madam," Secretary Qin opened the door to the VIP ward for her, "Chairman Pei is resting."

It was already past midnight. Shen Zhiyi responded softly, "Thank you for your efforts. You should go rest."

Pei Yu’s hospital room was decorated simply, resembling a normal apartment, which was why Shen Zhiyi didn’t notice anything amiss during their many video calls.

She didn’t turn on the light, quietly sitting by the bed, watching him by the moonlight streaming in through the window.

No matter how casually Secretary Qin put it, this was still a condition that required surgery. In just a few days, Pei Yu had become noticeably thinner, his lips pale, exuding an air of illness.

The drizzle continued outside the window until it stopped at dawn. The effects of the anesthesia had completely worn off, and Pei Yu woke up in the morning due to pain from the surgical wound, his brow furrowed weakly.

He heard water running in the restroom and thought it was Secretary Qin, not paying much attention.

After a while, he heard Secretary Qin’s voice through his groggy state, "Chairman Pei, your breakfast has arrived."

Lacking appetite and feeling irritable, Pei Yu’s voice was cold, "Take it away."

The bathroom door opened, and Shen Zhiyi walked out, speaking faintly, "If you take it away, what will I eat?"

Just in a day, she looked as if she had lost weight along with Pei Yu, her bare face expressionless, not even looking at him as she directly walked to the dining table.

Pei Yu’s breathing halted, and only after confirming it wasn’t a hallucination, he furrowed his brow and looked at Secretary Qin.

"Don’t look at him," Shen Zhiyi said, even without lifting her head she could guess his reaction, her tone slightly mocking, "If it weren’t for Secretary Qin, I’d still think you’re just busy at work."

"Zhizhi," Pei Yu couldn’t see her expression, his heart uneasy, and his tone was very gentle, "I just didn’t want you to worry."

Secretary Qin quietly left, leaving just the two of them in the room. Shen Zhiyi finished her breakfast at the table outside, and she didn’t speak again throughout.

Pei Yu lay in bed, unable to go to her, the waiting time feeling endlessly prolonged. He knew Shen Zhiyi was truly upset this time.

It wasn’t until the medical team came for a routine check and left that Shen Zhiyi appeared in front of Pei Yu. She remained silent, listening to the doctors speak, standing by the door without moving even after everyone had left.

Pei Yu was truly panicking, wanting to get out of bed.

"Don’t move," Shen Zhiyi looked up at him, "Do you want to go into the operating room again?"

"Then will you come over, please?" Pei Yu softened his tone, "Zhizhi, please don’t ignore me."