"I turned back around and looked at her, asking, 'Just for this?'

'What do you think?'

'Something that could have been completely handled with a text message. Why go to all this trouble in the middle of the night?'

'What if you didn't come back?'

I finally couldn't help but retort, 'I know you're concerned, but can't you just express it directly? Is it that difficult?'

'Concerned about you? Would you believe it if I said that?'

'I would!'

'Narcissist.'

After saying that, Pei Shiyu turned to go back to her room. I added from behind, 'I'm not just narcissistic, I'm also very confident.'

She spun around sharply and asked, 'What's the basis for your confidence?'

'No basis. I could even interpret your attitude tonight as you falling for me.'

As soon as I finished speaking, I immediately slammed the door shut with a 'bang.' I realized my heart was racing. It was a clumsy way to take advantage of the situation and express myself. I thought I'd escaped a disaster, but the knocking started immediately. I didn't dare open the door, just asked through it, 'What is it now?'

'Open the door first.'

I hesitated for a few seconds before opening it just a crack. How had I, who had always been so tough, become like this? Pei Shiyu was even more domineering than me, pushing the door open with her foot and barging into my room. She immediately demanded, 'Who's falling for you? Explain yourself!'

'Don't you think it's a bit suspicious to break into a man's room in the middle of the night wearing a bathrobe?'

'Did I come in before you said that?'

Pei Shiyu probably didn't realize how attractive she was at that moment, especially in front of a man who'd been single for so many years. But I was still quite rational. I gently pushed her away and said, 'Get out of here, you're annoying.'

My careless words might have hurt her pride. She ungracefully lifted her foot and kicked me hard. The bathrobe was tied loosely to begin with, and her movement caused a dangerous situation to occur. Her open-style figure was immediately revealed before me. My eyes were glued to the scenery inside, as the see-through fabric exposed a black lace underwear set, a sight that could directly lead someone to commit a crime.

Of course, I was no exception. As she panicked and tried to cover herself, I moved faster, skillfully pulling her into my arms. The next moment, I lifted her chin and kissed her sexy lips, with complete abandon. Although Pei Shiyu struggled fiercely, she was once again like an ant in front of a man who had been aroused.

Throughout the entire process, she kept pinching my waist with her nails. Because I was so completely absorbed, I chose the latter between pain and pleasure, until she grabbed my ear and pulled it hard, feeling like it was about to be torn off. Only then did I stop.

After letting go, I became calm. I licked my lips, as if savoring the taste Pei Shiyu had left behind. It felt good, and it was the first time I kissed someone with genuine emotion. I looked at her, knowing my fate was now in the hands of the woman standing in front of me.

Her first action was to close her open bathrobe and retie it tightly. Her movements looked childish, which made me grin. The moment she looked up, she saw my frivolous expression.

Unafraid, I spoke first, 'I warned you to get out. Now you know why, right? Don't challenge a man's bottom line. Leave now, before I commit a crime.'

She was about to get angry, but my counterattack left her speechless. She just awkwardly replied, 'You can get lost right now.'

After saying that, she fled my room with a panicked and angry expression, not even closing the door. After she left, I started to feel a little afraid, afraid of losing her trust and damaging my image. If she completely hated me, I wouldn't need her to tell me; I'd have to immediately grab the suitcase in the corner and get out of here tomorrow.

I then took off my suit and sat on the sofa with my phone. After the fear passed, I started to calm down. I swiped the screen and sent her a message: Although it was your fault just now, I still want to apologize. Blame my male instincts for not being able to control themselves.

After sending it, I threw the phone onto the bed and immediately went into the bathroom. The facilities inside were very exquisite. If this hotel wasn't the best in Rome, I think it should be among the top, especially since it was a room booked by a woman with such good taste like Pei Shiyu.

The moment I took a shower, I forgot about my worries and hummed a tune while scrubbing my back, with a 'bring it on' attitude. I realized my mindset was slowly changing. The negative emotions that had filled me before had been swept away by the involvement of Wang Rui and my mother. A slightly confident and positive mood was gradually leading me onto the sunny path, which was the kind of life I wanted. I had a strong desire to live a life like You Xiang.

After lying down, I saw that Pei Shiyu had replied to my message. Of course, it wasn't anything nice, she criticized me severely, calling me worthless. She also sent a long paragraph: As a repeat offender, I can understand you, but don't make excuses for your crimes. It's shameless. I was blind and even tried to convince myself to forgive you.

Looking at this message, I wasn't angry. Instead, it relieved my worries. Because if Pei Shiyu was truly angry, my intuition told me that she wouldn't talk to me at all. The fact that she replied with such a long message meant that I could interpret it as just an emotional outburst, a way to save face for herself.

I quickly replied to her, using a gentlemanly tone: You have to get up early tomorrow, so go to bed early. The crime was because you were too tempting. If a normal man wasn't tempted, that would be your tragedy. When I wake up tomorrow, I'll go take care of Xiao Long. Focus on your work and rest assured that I'll wait for your safe return.

Pei Shiyu didn't reply again. After all the commotion, I couldn't fall asleep as quickly as usual. My mind was full of images of her naked body, to the point where I was having wild thoughts. Although it was indecent, I couldn't control the scene from earlier. Her skin was fair and rosy, her body was perfectly proportioned, and the way she fled was still vivid in my mind. If I guessed correctly, it was probably the most embarrassing moment of Pei Shiyu's life.

This night was destined to be painful. I didn't know whether to rejoice in my impulsiveness or pay the price for my actions. It all depended on whether she would take Xiao Long with her tomorrow. If she took him, it would mean that she had a negative attitude towards me; if she left him, I thought I would see the dawn, a ray of sunshine that would break through the darkness and shine directly on me. The whole night was spent reflecting and analyzing, until I gradually fell asleep."