Master Pei! Don't force yourself into a circle that doesn't want you to.

Zhang Xu: "..." Hehehe, how come the poisonous snake didn't bite you to death?

"Then there's no need for President Pei to take the risk; there's no need to actually get bitten by a snake."

Pei Lin glanced at him indifferently. "What do you know? I don't want to lie to my darling, so I have no choice but to make this a fact." He paused, as if talking to himself.

"I've already upset him, so I have to find a way to make him happy."

Zhang Xu: "...Yes." Serves you right for having a wife.

In the courtyard downstairs, Shen Jicheng sat by the fish pond, holding a small handful of fish food in his hand, and was throwing the food into the water one by one.

The newly arrived koi fish gathered and dispersed beneath the surface of the water, which should have been pleasing to the eye, but at this moment his mind was filled with other things. Pei Lin's words, "What am I to you?" were like a thorn stuck there, causing a dull pain when touched.

He hesitated. Should he tell Pei Lin his feelings? He had kept his identity a secret for too long, and he didn't intend to hide anything else.

He was usually a decisive person, but when it came to matters of the heart, he couldn't make up his mind. He thought about it and thought about it again, but in the end, he still didn't have the courage to take the initiative to find Pei Lin.

Lost in thought, a figure strode over from the courtyard gate. It was Jiang Jin, whose usually expressionless face was now contorted with rage, his steps hurried and rapid as he spoke on his cell phone.

Shen Jicheng subconsciously glanced at him a couple more times. He rarely saw Jiang Jin show such an expression.

"A venomous snake? How could Master Pei be bitten by a venomous snake?" Jiang Jin's voice was deep and urgent. "Quickly call a doctor and bring an antivenom serum."

Shen Jicheng paused, and fish food slipped through his fingers and fell into the water.

He jumped to his feet, rushed over, and blocked Jiang Jin's path, his voice filled with panic.

"Who did you just say was bitten by a snake?"

Jiang Jin stopped and looked at Shen Jicheng's face, his expression clearly showing his impatience.

He had never liked this Mr. Shi, and now, his impatience had made him even more impatient, so his tone was rather impolite. "Since Mr. Shi has already betrayed Master Pei, why bother pretending to care?"

Shen Jicheng had no time to dwell on the barbs in his words; only one thing was on his mind. He turned to rush into the building, but Jiang Jin stepped forward and blocked his way.

"Mr. Shi, you'd better not go and cause trouble." Jiang Jin's voice was icy cold.

"Master Pei is in dangerous condition right now, and you won't be of much help going up there. Besides..." He paused, his tone growing increasingly indifferent, "Master Pei doesn't want to see you right now either."

After saying that, he strode into the living room, leaving the person standing there.

Shen Jicheng stood in the courtyard, his steps halted by those words, and he didn't move forward. He lowered his eyes, looking at his fingertips still covered with fish food crumbs, and couldn't quite describe the feeling in his heart.

Pei Lin didn't want to see him. That's what Jiang Jin said, but he himself knew that after the argument that morning, Pei Lin probably really didn't want to see him.

Then I shouldn't go and cause trouble. With Zhang Xu and Jiang Jin around, nothing will happen. He comforted himself like this, but his feet seemed rooted to the spot, and he didn't move for a long time.

Jiang Jin strode upstairs, and in his haste, he pushed open the door without even knocking. But he stopped abruptly after taking just one step inside.

Inside the room, their CEO Pei was leaning against the headboard, looking quite weak, with only half of his arm visible. His arm was indeed red and swollen, with two small holes faintly visible, like snake bite marks. Zhang Xu stood at the foot of the bed, a subtle sympathy in his expression, casting a meaningful glance at him.

Jiang Jin was about to ask what was going on when Pei Lin moved first. He turned the computer in front of him so that the screen was facing Jiang Jin. The screen clearly showed the live surveillance footage from downstairs, displaying everything that had just happened in the courtyard.

Jiang Jin's expression changed for a moment.

Pei Lin's voice came from above, as somber as clouds pressing down on a storm.

"I finally managed to trick him into coming up here, and you ruined it all with just one sentence: 'He doesn't want to see you'?"

Jiang Jin opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

"I don't want to see him? If I didn't want to see him, why would I have pulled this stunt?" Pei Lin's voice was cold and deep, filled with intense anger.

"Why would I wait for someone if I don't want to see him?"

Jiang Jin: "..."

Zhang Xu: "..." Tsk tsk tsk, luckily he has good judgment.

Pei Lin took a deep breath, as if forcibly suppressing the fire rising in his heart, and then made a decision indifferently.

"Figure it out yourself. By any means necessary, bring him up here."

Jiang Jin bowed his head and replied, "Yes." He then turned and walked out.

Another cold, detached comment drifted from behind.

"Don't lay a hand on him. Make him do it willingly."

Jiang Jin: "..."

In the living room, Shen Jicheng paced back and forth, glancing up at the stairwell every now and then. He waited for a while, but the doctor didn't come in, and his anxiety grew stronger.

He thought with a sliver of hope: perhaps Jiang Jin realized Pei Lin's injuries weren't serious, so he didn't call a doctor. Thinking this, he breathed a sigh of relief.

But Jiang Jin came down.

Shen Jicheng was stunned for a moment, and before he could ask a question, Jiang Jin had already walked up to him. On that face that was never expressionless, a subtle look appeared at this moment, as if he had swallowed something particularly difficult to swallow.

Shen Jicheng was about to ask him about Pei Lin's situation when the other person beat him to it.

"Mr. Shi, why don't you go up and check on Master Pei?"

His tone was much softer than before, even carrying a hint of stiff sincerity. Shen Jicheng was stunned. He thought for a moment, then remembered what Jiang Jin had said to him, and shook his head.

"Never mind... he won't want to see me."

Jiang Jin's lips twitched, and he managed to squeeze out a sentence, "You'll only know if you want to see them when you get there."

Shen Jicheng refused to believe it.

Jiang Jin had always been hostile towards him, but this sudden change in attitude might just be a trap he was setting for him to fall into. If he actually went, Pei Lin might get even angrier seeing him. He didn't want to upset Pei Lin while he was injured; he'd wait until he recovered.

"No, thank you." Shen Jicheng sat down on the sofa, having made up his mind.

Upstairs in the room, Pei Lin stared at the monitor, his face extremely grim. He turned his head and said, word by word, "Deduct Jiang Jin's entire year-end bonus."

Zhang Xu lowered his head, his lips twitching slightly. "...Yes."

Downstairs, Jiang Jin seemed to sense something, and his back inexplicably tensed. He was silent for a moment, then looked down at the stubborn figure on the sofa, walked over, and spoke in a slightly heavy tone.

"Master Pei... I want to see you one last time."

Shen Jicheng's body stiffened instantly. In that instant, all the color drained from his face.

A few seconds later, he sprang up from the sofa, rushing upstairs while yelling a curse.

"Why the hell didn't you say so sooner?!"

Jiang Jin breathed a sigh of relief: Mission accomplished!