She Asks for a Divorce Again
Chapter 288: Attendance

Chapter 288: Chapter 288: Attendance

He walked up to Shen Heyu’s side, looking at her in the mirror. She was wearing a winter formal dress, draped with a fur shawl that extraordinarily accentuated her already fine figure.

Her slender waist could hardly be grasped in one hand, and Pei Yansi stood behind her, extending his hand, embracing her waist as if holding on to nothing. He lowered his head, close to Shen Heyu’s ear, and spoke in a steady voice, "You’re beautiful."

When others said "you’re beautiful," there was often a hint of color in their words. Whenever Shen Heyu heard it, she always felt uncomfortable, but Pei Yansi could imbue those two words with a different flavor.

He was simply praising her, without any indecent implications, and this made her feel comfortable.

She met his gaze through the mirror and asked, "The clothes in my wardrobe, did you pick them out yourself?"

"Do you not like them?" inquired Pei Yansi.

Their eyes locked in the mirror, each reading the other’s emotions. Shen Heyu was rather reluctant, while Pei Yansi reveled in it.

"It’s nothing," said Shen Heyu, "I’m not saying that."

Pei Yansi nodded in acknowledgment, saying no more. Petty quarrels with Shen Heyu over such trivial matters were beneath him. Besides, if she didn’t like the clothes he bought for her, she could toss them out at will.

After all, he could simply replace them once she discarded them.

Pei Yansi took the initiative to hold Shen Heyu’s hand and led her out of the old house.

Zhao Jin was waiting in the car and looked towards them upon hearing their approach. During the evening sunset of winter, the two walked hand in hand, emerging from the glow of the setting sun.

It truly was a beautiful picture.

Zhao Jin couldn’t help but muse to himself that they were a match made in heaven, a perfect pair—provided one ignored Shen Heyu’s reluctance.

Within Shen Heyu’s gaze was dissatisfaction with the man beside her. She occasionally struggled to free her hand from his grip.

But Pei Yansi held on firmly. The more she struggled, the tighter his grasp became.

Once inside the car, Pei Yansi directly picked her up and sat her on his knees, positioning her on his lap as usual.

With an intimate posture, he forcibly held Shen Heyu in his embrace.

Half an hour later, their car arrived at the hotel.

Once they alighted, Pei Yansi signaled for Shen Heyu to link arms with him.

Shen Heyu was unwilling, preferring to enter normally like everyone else, but Pei Yansi watched her for a long moment, seeming to anticipate her refusal. He directly attempted to pull her hand onto his arm.

Regardless, he wanted to display intimacy with her.

Shen Heyu tried to withdraw her hand again.

Pei Yansi pressed down on her wrist with a stern face. He leaned closer to her ear in a way that, to outsiders, they appeared to be an extremely close couple.

However, only Shen Heyu knew the threat the man whispered into her ear, "You can throw a tantrum at home all you want, but outside, you best behave and follow me obediently."

"Don’t make me angry."

Pei Yansi’s voice had turned cold. Shen Heyu frowned but ultimately didn’t withdraw her hand.

Now satisfied, Pei Yansi entered the hotel lobby with her in an extremely close position.

Many guests had already arrived inside, with soft music playing throughout the hall, and the guests were bustling about. As Pei Yansi entered, many came forward with drinks in hand to exchange pleasantries.

Most were seeking to ingratiate themselves.

Pei Yansi wore a faint smile on his face and, with Shen Heyu by his side, he drank the drinks handed to him one after another.

Shen Heyu stood by his side, forced to hook her arm through his, and dared not let go easily. Seeing him suddenly so amenable, she found it odd.

At that moment, someone asked, "President Pei, who is this?"

Shen Heyu looked towards the source of the voice and saw a man in a suit evaluating her with his gaze.

Pei Yansi glanced at her and said with a smile, "My woman."

The people around them fell silent for an instant, including Shen Heyu, who all held their tongues.

For many years, Pei Yansi had always publicly claimed to be a bachelor. Even though there had been one or two women around him, he had never acknowledged any relationship.

Shen Heyu was the first woman he had brought with him to a public event, and when asked, he openly declared their relationship.

Instantly, the way other people looked at her changed, filled with a mixture of respect and jealousy.

Shen Heyu glared at Pei Yansi, dissatisfied.

That look said that he had promised, before coming here, not to reveal their identities in public.

Yet, not even half an hour into the event, he had started speaking nonsense.

Angrily, Shen Heyu pinched his arm in secret.

She didn’t hold back with the pinch, and Pei Yansi winced, furrowing his brows. He lowered his head to look at her, and seeing her angry expression, her eyes bright and lips slightly pouting.

Her appearance was unexpectedly lively; he was momentarily disoriented before chuckling, saying softly, "That’s Xiao Ye for you."

Their voices were so low, only the two of them could hear.

Shen Heyu’s frown deepened. At such a moment, he still had the mood to joke around.

People nearby then softly began toasting, offering their blessings. And Pei Yansi drank every toast, thanked them, and mentioned that he would certainly send out wedding invitations when the time came.

Shen Heyu couldn’t bear to listen any longer. She let go of his hand and, ignoring his earlier instructions, she turned and walked away.

But she didn’t dare to leave the banquet, instead finding a corner to sit down and quietly eat.

Pei Yansi watched her retreating figure and smiled slightly. Meeting the puzzled gazes of those around him, he said, "She’s shy and not used to meeting strangers."

The onlookers chuckled knowingly, all their expressions conveying an understanding.

Pei Yansi, too, smiled. He wasn’t angry at Shen Heyu’s actions but rather thought it was better than when she used to distance herself from him.

Now, at least, she would get angry at him.

The people watching Pei Yansi’s smile and expression all became convinced of Shen Heyu’s special significance to him.

They also knew how to curry favor with him.

Shen Heyu held a dessert in her hands and sat attentively tasting it on the plush sofa. Having skipped dinner to attend the banquet, she intended to eat her fill.

As she ate seriously, she suddenly heard a commotion from afar. Looking up, she saw a woman being surrounded like the moon flanked by a myriad of stars.

The woman possessed outstanding looks and a compelling presence, with every move exuding the elegance of a woman from a distinguished family.

Thinking back to what Pei Yansi had told her upon their arrival, Shen Heyu assumed that this woman was the evening’s main focus, Chen Lingmeng.

Perhaps it was Chen Lingmeng’s exceptional aura that made Shen Heyu watch her involuntarily.

Chen Lingmeng walked past the crowd and immediately spotted Pei Yansi in the distance. Almost without thinking, she positioned herself by his side and took a glass of red wine from a passing waiter.

She smiled at him and said, "President Pei, long time no see."