Chapter 9

 Bao Ning exerted a great deal of effort to pull Pei Yuan back onto the bed. He was tall and broad-shouldered, sleeping like a log, as heavy as a bull. Bao Ning was afraid of touching the wound on his leg, so she struggled for a good while.

When Pei Yuan finally lay properly on the bed again, Bao Ning was sweating profusely and panting on the side.

After resting for a while, she got up to light the lamp.

The wine jar had broken, and the floor was covered in broken porcelain. The strong smell of alcohol pierced her nostrils, making her feel nauseous.

Didn't this man know how to take care of himself?

She served him well every day, hoping for his quick recovery. If he continued to drink like this, all her efforts would be in vain.

Bao Ning was angry.

She lit the candle, casting a dim light. Bao Ning protected the flame with her hand and went to check on Pei Yuan.

He had almost fallen to the ground just now, and she didn't know if he had injured his leg.

The firelight shone on Pei Yuan's face, and Bao Ning's heart skipped a beat. His face was pale, beads of sweat dotted his forehead, probably from drinking too much. His lips were dry and cracked, with blood seeping out.

She had only been gone for a day, how could he have tortured himself like this?

Bao Ning's heart pounded. Afraid that Pei Yuan might be seriously injured, she half-knelt in front of him and whispered, "Fourth Prince, Fourth Prince?"

Pei Yuan remained motionless. Bao Ning grew more anxious. Without thinking, she reached out to touch his eyes, shouting, "Pei Yuan, wake up, don't scare me!"

"Pain..." Pei Yuan's eyeballs moved slightly, finally opening his eyes and murmuring.

Bao Ning almost cried out, quickly retracting her hand. "Okay, I won't touch you. Where does it hurt? Tell me, okay?"

Pei Yuan gradually regained consciousness, but all he could hear was a buzzing sound in his ears. He thought it was his imagination, furrowing his brow in discomfort and rolling onto his side, curling up and not saying a word.

Seeing him in such a pitiful state, Bao Ning's anger dissipated almost entirely.

She placed the candle on the table and sat beside him, using a handkerchief to wipe the sweat off his face. She softly asked, "Does your leg hurt?"

Pei Yuan tightly pressed his lips together, still refusing to speak.

Seeing his posture, Bao Ning furrowed her brows and reached out to touch his abdomen. Due to lying on his side, to make this movement, Bao Ning's arm had to wrap around Pei Yuan's waist, inadvertently pressing against her skirt. Bao Ning stumbled, her fingertips brushing against Pei Yuan's waistline.

She didn't touch his skin, just grazed against his clothing, but Pei Yuan reacted suddenly. He abruptly opened his eyes, grabbing Bao Ning's wrist and pressing it down.

Bao Ning was pulled down, her cheek hitting his groin, the pain making tears well up instantly.

Pei Yuan sat up, grabbing her neck with his other hand, sternly asking, "Who?"

This set of movements was smooth and fluid, as Pei Yuan thought he was encountering a surprise attack and used all his strength. Bao Ning's wrist hurt, her face hurt, her neck hurt. She was weak and couldn't break free, like a cat being pressed down by Pei Yuan on the bed, coughing incessantly, unable to utter a complete sentence.

In the dim light, Bao Ning saw Pei Yuan's eyes, fierce and sinister, like a wolf.

Pei Yuan finally saw Bao Ning's face clearly, her eyes red and swollen from crying, her neck held in his hand, delicate and soft.

His mind, which had been in a haze, cleared instantly, quickly letting go of her hand and pulling her up, tentatively asking, "Bao Ning?"

Bao Ning finally caught her breath, wiping away the tears on her face, muttering, "I really am too kind-hearted." She stood up, ready to leave.

"Wait a moment." Pei Yuan subconsciously reached out to grab her sleeve, accidentally pulling it against his stomach. He broke out in a cold sweat, his strength failing, and he fell back.

Bao Ning stopped in her tracks, originally determined to ignore him, but hearing Pei Yuan's gasps, she softened and went back to help him.

Pei Yuan was awake, but still drunk. His actions just now were purely instinctive reactions. Supported by Bao Ning against the wall, he was as soft as mud.

After struggling a few times, he still slipped down. Bao Ning was annoyed. She scolded him softly, "Sit up, or else I won't care about you anymore!"

Pei Yuan lifted his eyelids to look at her, as if understanding, and propped himself up with his arm, finally sitting steadily.

Bao Ning said, "It would have been better if you did this earlier instead of making people scold you."

Pei Yuan lowered his head, coughed twice, frowned, and belched.

Bao Ning sighed, waved away the smell of alcohol in front of her nose, and asked him, "How much did you drink?"

Pei Yuan gestured with his hand, indicating two.

Bao Ning asked, "Two catties?"

Pei Yuan shook his head. "Two jars."

"... You're courting death," Bao Ning said angrily, glaring at him.

"Don't scold me," Pei Yuan closed his eyes. "I feel terrible."

He was much cuter when drunk than when sober, at least now he was willing to talk, unlike before, always so cold.

Bao Ning told herself not to argue with a drunkard. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she patiently asked him, "Where does it hurt? Tell me, okay?"

Her tone was gentle, and Pei Yuan fell for it. He replied softly, "My stomach hurts. I haven't eaten all day."

"I left food for you, didn't I?" Bao Ning said, going to find the basin that had been delivered in the morning. Opening the lid, she found that it was still untouched.

Even with her good temper, Bao Ning couldn't stand him anymore. Frustrated, she said to Pei Yuan, "If you were Ji Yun, I would have hit you by now."

Pei Yuan kept his mouth shut.

Bao Ning sighed and coaxed him, "Alright, be obedient. Lie down first, and I'll make you some porridge, okay?"

Pei Yuan nodded.

He was like a block of wood. Bao Ning wrinkled her nose in resignation and went to help him. Pei Yuan obediently lay down, and Bao Ning covered him with a blanket before turning to leave.

Before she could take a step, Pei Yuan suddenly reached out and grabbed her sleeve. "Where are you going?"

"I... I'm going to cook!" Bao Ning stomped her foot, not wanting to argue with him anymore. She tried to pry his fingers off hers. "Let go."

Pei Yuan said, "No."

Bao Ning slapped his hand, frustrated. "Why are you so stubborn?"

Pei Yuan persisted, "No."

Lying there with his neck stiff, he seemed to be saying, "What can you do to me?" His eyes were slightly open, showing a pair of bright, black pupils.

Pei Yuan had double eyelids, long and narrow eyes that slightly tilted upwards at the corners. He usually had a cold and distant demeanor, but now he looked like a stubborn and childish rascal, annoyingly sticking to her.

Bao Ning took off her coat and handed it to him. "You wanted sleeves, right? Here you go." She was only wearing a thin dress and shivered from the cold, hugging herself as she walked out.

Pei Yuan looked at the coat in his hand, seemingly confused. He watched as Bao Ning was about to leave the room, then suddenly remembered something and called out, "Bao Ning."

Bao Ning turned around, scolding him fiercely, "If you keep bothering me, I'll really hit you!"

Pei Yuan said, "Let's discuss something."

Bao Ning glanced at him, seeing his serious expression, and asked, "What's the matter?"

Pei Yuan said, "Let's discuss something. Don't leave."

Bao Ning was stunned. She suddenly realized that Pei Yuan had made himself look like this today because he thought she was going to leave him, so he gave up on himself?

Pei Yuan thought she was hesitating, so he pressed his temple with his thumb and swore with three fingers extended, "I promise you, if I ever mistreat you again, I'll..."

Bao Ning interrupted with a smile, "What will you do?"

Pei Yuan said, "I won't drink alcohol for three days."

Bao Ning's smile faded, and she stopped looking at him, fidgeting with her fingers.

Pei Yuan asked softly, "Are you angry?"

Bao Ning asked back, "Shouldn't I be angry?"

"Don't be angry," Pei Yuan said. "I'll treat you to a drink."

Bao Ning retorted, "Who wants to drink your stinky wine?"

Pei Yuan lowered his head to smell himself. "It's not stinky, it smells like jasmine."

Bao Ning was amused by his words, but she quickly composed herself and took back her coat. "I'll go make porridge for you."

Pei Yuan asked, "Are you still leaving?"

"Why do you talk so much?" Bao Ning sighed helplessly. "I didn't plan to leave in the first place. I went out during the day to buy things."

Pei Yuan said, "Oh," and fell silent. He pulled the blanket over his head, leaving only a pair of eyes outside. Feeling drowsy, he closed his eyes and fell asleep again.

Bao Ning chuckled, tightened her collar, and pushed the door open.

The author has something to say: Pei Ge's true colors are revealed.

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