CHAPTER 143: I CAN’T KEEP UP THE LIE

On the deep-colored leather sofa, Xu Si’s eyes were calm and steady. Her slender wrist exerted strength, smoothing out the wrinkles on the pillow. The fabric’s fine texture, soft like pastry against her pale skin, was exceptionally breathable and comfortable.

Leaning against a large black wine rack, she wore a solemn and detached expression as she spoke earnestly, "I’m not doing anything. I’ve just decided to sleep in your room to make it convenient for you to silently suck my blood in the middle of the night."

The atmosphere immediately shifted.

Pei Zhen leaned against the iron railing by the windowsill, his handsome eyes half-closed, his gaze hotly fixed on her. A finger ignited a cigarette, and he exhaled a stream of smoke with restrained ease. Within the light haze, a smile pulled at his lips, his violently enchanting features becoming even more enticing. His voice was as cool as the Devil’s breath.

"Sister, are you blaming me?"

He could indeed see through people’s hearts.

Xu Si lowered her gaze, the tenderness and tolerance in her eyes slightly diminished. Looking up at him, she exuded the coldly aloof temperament of a Hong Kong Island heiress.

"Somewhat," she said, her tone a little heavy. "If you’re planning to do something, you should at least tell me, not sneak around to find me. That behavior isn’t right. I don’t recall teaching you to act that way."

Pei Zhen’s lips curved imperceptibly, restraining an impulse to chuckle, his voice growing more provocative as it teased the night air.

"But it seems like I’m the one being bullied."

Xu Si raised an eyebrow. "...What?"

Pei Zhen, as if prepared, pointed to a folder on the table. "Take a look."

Xu Si picked up the folder and placed it on her lap, flipping open the stiff cover. Inside were many photographs.

It was surveillance footage of the blurry late-night corridor. The images showed her walking out of her room, wandering aimlessly, bumping into a low stool, and even a moment where she nearly jumped from a balcony—all recorded.

Then, Pei Zhen emerged from the darkness, mysteriously stopping her bizarre behavior.

Xu Si stared at the photos, frozen for a long time, unaware even when Pei Zhen came to her side.

How could this be?

How could she exhibit sleepwalking-like behavior? Butler Ge hadn’t reported such incidents to her, nor had she ever considered this possibility.

"There’s more," Pei Zhen said from behind her. He reached out, his fingers gently closing around hers, his expression composed. "Aren’t you going to look?"

The moon outside the window was abnormally large, casting a ghostly glow on the room filled with Xu Si’s cedar fragrance.

Xu Si looked at the beautiful hand on the back of hers, coiling around her fingertips like a snake.

She turned the page. There she was, sitting on uneven steps. First... she kicked Pei Zhen. Then, she slapped him across the face. After that, the footage showed him taking her back to her room.

His actions were presented so openly, woven so seamlessly, that he hardly needed to explain.

Xu Si understood what had happened.

From astonishment to surprise, then to a focused gaze, she eventually began to doubt her own sanity. Her voice was rough as she said, "I’ll find time to see a doctor."

She turned her head to look at his remarkably striking face. "Does it hurt?"

He savored the contact, holding her hand without letting go, lightly touching her fingertips before restraining himself and releasing her.

His tone was light, a teasing smile in his voice. "It doesn’t hurt."

Xu Si was startled. She put down the pillow and said softly, "Have someone bring a pair of handcuffs. If that’s not enough, you can handcuff me. That way, you won’t have to worry about me bullying you."

He acted as if he hadn’t heard. A sharp pang shot through his heart. His voice, hoarse from the smoke, was low and trembled with something like both tears and laughter.

"What am I supposed to do? I can barely keep up this deception. You’re truly harsh on yourself."