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

"They said they stepped on a loose manhole cover when they went out...that's why they hurt their leg."

Pei Lin was about to casually say, "Don't worry about him," when he suddenly seemed to remember something, his brows furrowing slightly. "You mean, when he came to Beishan Villa, he was in a wheelchair?"

"yes……"

"What's he doing here?" Pei Lin's tone turned cold.

Zhang Xu was taken aback by his question. What else could he be doing at Beishan Villa? Of course, he was here to freeload a meal.

His mind raced, and he suddenly realized something was amiss. These past few days, Pei Shuli hadn't seemed to stay for a meal at Beishan Villa. Previously, the Third Young Master would always come and freeload, but lately he'd only stayed a short while each time.

Zhang Xu stood there trembling, unsure how to answer. He only saw their CEO Pei's face turn cold at a visible speed.

"You said before that Pei Shuli didn't go anywhere else after he arrived?" Pei Lin's voice was very low.

"Yes... the Third Young Master always just talks to Mr. Shi for a bit and then leaves."

A shadow fell over Pei Lin's eyes. "I had no idea when they became so close."

He stood up, his tone cold and stern.

"Bring Pei Shuli back to me immediately. Interrogate him thoroughly."

Pei Shuli was so excited after receiving the contact information that he almost stood up from his wheelchair.

He couldn't wait to push the wheelchair towards Beishan Villa, firstly to thank Shen Jicheng for the idea, and secondly to ask what the next step should be.

He never expected that when he pushed his wheelchair through the iron gate, the surroundings would be eerily quiet.

He looked around, feeling a little strange, but didn't pay much attention, since his mind was completely occupied with the number on his phone.

"Shi Jiaming! Come out here right now!" He shouted excitedly as he entered the living room, "I'm telling you, I did it! I got it—!"

Before she could finish speaking, she met a pair of cold, dark eyes.

Pei Lin was standing at the doorway at some point, backlit, with a blank expression on his face.

Pei Shuli was so startled he almost jumped out of his wheelchair, his voice cracking.

"A ghost—!!"

Pei Lin ignored his yelling and only gave Jiang Jin a look.

Jiang Jin stepped forward and gently placed a hand on the back of the wheelchair, immediately immobilizing Pei Shuli. If his leg hadn't been injured, he might have had a chance to struggle, but now he could only sit in the wheelchair, at the mercy of others.

Pei Lin walked over unhurriedly, looking down at him.

"I've been busy with company matters these past few days and haven't had much time for you guys. I didn't know your relationship had become so good?"

After he finished speaking, he glanced upstairs almost imperceptibly.

At the corner of the stairs on the second floor, Shen Jicheng was gripping the railing and sticking half his head out, his big, watery eyes looking innocently at Pei Lin, looking just like an abandoned puppy.

Pei Lin glanced at it once and then looked away. He knew all too well how alluring this little dog was; looking at it any longer would probably make him lose all interest in interrogating it.

He ignored the gaze from upstairs, turned and walked to the sofa, sitting down with his legs crossed. His tone was casual. "Tell me," he said, "what have you all been doing these past two days?"

He paused, his gaze returning to Pei Shuli's face. "Also, you just said you succeeded. What did you succeed in?"

Pei Shuli opened his mouth, his back already sweating.

Before he could come up with a story, he heard hurried footsteps on the stairs.

Shen Jicheng ran downstairs without even putting on slippers, and barefoot, he threw himself into Pei Lin's arms, naturally wrapping his arms around his neck, his voice soft and sweet.

"Honey~ Honey~ Are you tired? How about I give you a shoulder massage?" Pei Lin simply raised an eyebrow, his voice gentle, "Baby, that won't work on me~"

Shen Jicheng blinked, looking pitiful. "I was just worried about whether you were tired... How could you say that to me? Do you think all my kindness is for ulterior motives?"

These words left Pei Lin speechless; he opened his mouth but couldn't find a reply. Shen Jicheng lowered his eyes, his voice softening.

"Okay, I was overthinking it. I'm leaving now." She said, getting up from his arms.

Pei Lin grabbed his wrist and pulled him back, his tone carrying a hint of helpless indulgence.

"Alright, I was just asking, I didn't say what I wanted to do." He squeezed Shen Jicheng's fingers, his voice softening slightly.

"As long as you don't cross my bottom line, why would I punish you?"

Shen Jicheng silently complained to himself: If I hadn't crossed your line, would it have come to this? If I were in your shoes, I would have already caused a huge uproar!

Despite his thoughts, he still wore a sweet smile, "My husband is so good."

He quickly calculated in his mind how to gloss over the matter, glancing at Pei Shuli almost imperceptibly.

Pei Lin steered the conversation back to the main topic.

"So, tell me, what have you been talking about lately?"

Shen Jicheng spoke first, his words coming out at lightning speed.

"We haven't been doing anything lately, just chatting casually. So…" His mind raced, and he blurted out, "Which species of ornamental fish in your pond dies the fastest?"

Pei Shuli: "..." Is this something I can just say?

Sure enough, Pei Lin laughed at his words, giving his cheek a light pinch. "So that's your reason for using a fishing rod to lure me in?"

Shen Jicheng simply leaned over and gave him a loud kiss on the cheek.

"What are you saying, honey? I didn't even want to go fishing, I just wanted to hook you!"

Pei Lin's expression softened noticeably, his tone filled with helpless indulgence, "Quick-tongued."

Pei Shuli, sitting in his wheelchair, stared in disbelief.

That's it? You just... just brushed it off like that?

He thought Pei Lin wouldn't pursue the matter further, but unexpectedly, his gaze fell on Pei Shuli in the wheelchair, and his expression turned cold.

"Why have you been coming here so often these past few days?"

Pei Shuli, recalling Shen Jicheng's earlier explanation, quickly copied it, "Shi Jiaming and I haven't been doing anything lately, just chatting."

He even mimicked Shen Jicheng's tone, adding in a sweet, coquettish voice, "Husband~"

Pei Lin's face instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot. "Believe me or not, I'll rip your tongue out!"

Pei Shuli glared at him indignantly, "He can call you 'husband,' but I can't! Pei Lin, you've gone too far! I will never forgive you!"

"Unless you stop asking about it!"

Shen Jicheng: "..."

Pei Lin, enraged, laughed coldly and gestured with his chin towards Jiang Jin.

"Go, bring Xiao Hei over here."

Pei Shuli instantly exploded, "No! No! I'll talk! I'll talk, okay?!"