Reborn to Redeem: Their Abusive Love
Chapter 82: Berry Wine and Forcing Oneself

Chapter 82: Berry Wine and Forcing Oneself

Heartbeats accelerate in an atmosphere of absolute stimulation.

Only the abnormally large moon bore witness to the entire process of Xu Si drugging the drink.

Xu Si entered the room, holding the Berry Wine, her face calm and composed. Her eyes were gentle, the corners of her mouth slightly raised, revealing an alluring expression. Her other hand was hidden behind her back, easing her tense emotions.

Unexpectedly, the man was dressed in white loungewear, the same style as the black one he had worn before. It was only a different color, but it complemented his smooth silver hair, lending him a divine air. Barefoot, he stood on the lush, dense carpet, gazing at the moon by the window. Xu Si could see his handsome brows were raised. Bluish veins lay beneath his pale skin, and his long fingertips held a glass containing brown vodka.

Fine wine, moonlight, a dark mansion, and a god-like man. If a photographer were to capture this, it would surely yield a top-quality photo.

The pale grey moonlight from the arched window cast a lattice pattern upon him, bathing half his body in light. He narrowed his eyes, tilted his chin upwards, and let the liquor slide down his throat, his tone drunken and hazy.

"Why have you come?"

"To have a drink with you," Xu Si responded.

Xu Si gently placed the drink on the table and sank into the soft sofa, letting her body relax.

Pei Zhen casually set the glass on a hidden shelf near the bed and walked unhurriedly to the sofa in the lounge area. He did not sit as close to Xu Si as before, facing her, his voice blurred as he asked, "Can I drink it now?"

Xu Si poured him a glass. "It should be ready now. No need to soak it too long; the berries turn sour if soaked for too long."

"I just had vodka. I’ll cleanse my palate and try it in a bit."

He did not pick up the glass of Berry Wine. Instead, he opened a cigarette case, lit a cigarette that had a faint mint fragrance, and the smoke wafted from his lips towards the window, where it was swiftly consumed by the greedy evening breeze.

Xu Si did not rush him.

She wondered if it was psychological. Her gaze kept inadvertently observing the surroundings, trying to avoid direct eye contact with Pei Zhen.

The familiar room maintained the same layout. The only new addition was a wooden sculpture placed on a cabinet. Tiny chips of wood lay scattered on the floor with a carving knife beside it. Overall, it was an unfinished statue of a goddess, her face still covered with a black velvet cloth.

Xu Si was somewhat surprised. "You still have time for this?"

"Why wouldn’t I have time?"

"Managing the Triad Society must keep you very busy."

He leaned slightly towards the window. The back of his white hand showed faint red marks from holding the knife. They weren’t severe, but against his pale skin, they looked striking.

He regarded her with a half-smile. "Director Xu, if I, despite my injuries, still had to slave away daily for my subordinates, then I might as well quit as head of this society and just jump off a building."

"..."

What to do. Xu Si felt he made a good point. It wasn’t a matter of him being upright or not; the Triad Society was already at the apex in the Underground City and surrounding countries. He indeed didn’t need to expend much effort. As long as his subordinates were loyal, others would naturally take care of everything for him.

The scent of the Berry Wine, unnoticed, spilled from the open cup, overpowering the smell of vodka and spices, infiltrating one’s nostrils.

Because she had drugged it, Xu Si tensed up every time Pei Zhen glanced at the drink. To avoid giving herself away, she stood up and walked over to the wooden sculpture.

"May I take a look?"

"Feel free."

Xu Si inspected the sculpture up close. As she leaned in, her nose caught the delicate aroma of precious wood. This material was likely very expensive; wealthy collectors of fine art and curios would go crazy for it. He was actually using such valuable wood just for carving practice.

Xu Si thought for a moment, then reached out to grab the thin black velvet cloth, giving it a tug. The cloth brushed against the sculpture’s face and slipped off.

The features of the goddess were exposed. Glistening peach-blossom eyes, a high nose, and slightly upturned lips, all conveying a compassionate expression.

Yet, it seemed strangely familiar.

Xu Si turned back. Her finger pressed against the wood, picking up a faint trace of wax, and then she touched the statue’s face, asking, "Which goddess did you carve?"

Pei Zhen, his eyes tender and his face shrouded in smoke, replied, "The savior."

A sting of pain shot through her hand.

Xu Si withdrew her hand, her voice lazy and hoarse. "This savior of yours looks very familiar. Her face is almost identical to mine. Shouldn’t I charge you an inspiration fee?"

Pei Zhen’s brow smoothed into a smile, his ash-gray eyes lowering. "How much?"

Clutching the black velvet cloth, Xu Si’s gaze slowly moved from the woodcarving to Pei Zhen’s face. "Whatever I ask? Would you give ten million?"

The obscuring smoke dispersed somewhat as he tapped his cigarette ash into the ashtray, his expression nonchalant. "I’ll give it."

Xu Si let out a light laugh. "You people from the Underground City really don’t see money as an object."

Ten million in this era was a vast sum. It was enough for someone to make a fortune in the stock market using leverage, or enough to destroy a fairly well-developed company.

Pei Zhen did not speak, just looked at Xu Si with his heterochromatic eyes. His eyes were several degrees brighter than an ordinary person’s. Maybe that’s why he could see so many things so clearly.

He mulled over the words "you people," a dull, burning ache constricting his heart.

It seemed so; they were already people from two different worlds.

But what did that matter?

Pei Zhen laughed. He extinguished the cigarette he held between his fingers in the ashtray, then twisted open a bottle of water. After a few sips, the lingering scent of whisky on his breath completely dissipated.

Only then did he pick up the glass of Berry Wine.

The woman’s gaze became fixed as she followed his movements.

Xu Si took a deep breath. Don’t worry about it, she told herself. Paying too much attention will give me away. However, no matter how she tried to shift her gaze, it only moved from his pale hands to the glass.

The rippling Berry Wine reflected nothing.

The man held the glass, gently swirling the liquid inside and scrutinizing it closely. A finger adorned with a gemstone ring twitched for an instant. Then, he suddenly lifted his eyes to Xu Si, a vague, almost unreal smile in their depths.

Sometimes, he really had no way of dealing with Xu Si.She knew too little about this place, and too little about him.Yet she dared to drug him so rashly. And he, for some reason, just couldn’t bring himself to punish her audacity.

Xu Si was constantly watching his expression. When his sharp, desire-filled gaze landed on her, she felt like she was about to suffocate.It was a physiological suffocation.Like being watched and judged by demons and gods.

Fortunately, his gaze lingered only for a few seconds before he put the glass to his lips and took a small sip.

Xu Si’s eyes flickered. She asked in a warm voice, "How is it? Does it taste good?"

Pei Zhen poured a new glass and slid it to her, his smile not reaching his eyes. "Not bad. You try some too."

Xu Si looked up at the halo around the moon outside the window.

The diluted dose should be fine to taste, she thought. I already tried it. Apart from being a bit strong, it didn’t make me dizzy.

Fearing Pei Zhen might grow suspicious, she picked up the glass and took a sip, as if to prove it was safe.

However, after she had taken just two sips, Pei Zhen pried her fingers open, took the glass away, his gaze direct.

"You’re actually drinking it?"

"Aren’t you afraid of getting sick from drinking something that’s been tampered with?"