Pei Ji believed him.
Many years later, when he recalled this day, the memory was still vivid, especially the sight of Shen Qingqing's eyes at this very moment.
They were the light of hope.
Pei Ji's voice was hoarse, "I believe you. We will definitely make it back alive."
Shen Qingqing smiled, "Don't worry."
At this moment, the warehouse door opened.
Pei Xi stood at the entrance, his back to the sunlight. His face was cast in shadow, making his expression unreadable, like a demon from the dark night.
"Having a nice chat, I see."
Pei Ji's body stiffened.
If it weren't for the lingering fever, he would have had the strength to charge at Pei Xi and fight him to the death.
Suddenly, his arm was patted.
He looked up and saw Shen Qingqing's profile. She wasn't looking at him, yet this slender woman gave him a sense of security at this moment.
It felt as if as long as she was there, nothing could go wrong.
Shen Qingqing asked, "Did you get everything I asked for?"
Pei Xi walked over and tossed a white plastic bag.
Inside the bag were two boxes of fever reducers, a notebook, and two neutral pens.
Shen Qingqing nodded with satisfaction, "It seems you can still keep your word."
Pei Xi sat down on the large white bed nearby, his gaze fixed on the two of them. "I overheard you two talking at the door just now. Why don't you share what you were discussing with me?"
"He isn't fully aware of the current situation. I was just briefly explaining it to him. Is that a problem?" Shen Qingqing opened the fever reducer, poured one pill into her palm, and fed it to Pei Ji.
Of course, there was no problem.
Pei Xi looked at her, then at Pei Ji, and seeing her solicitousness, he let out a cold laugh. "I really didn't expect her to be so good to you."
Pei Ji remained silent.
Pei Xi's subtle smile slowly vanished. "I'm warning you, don't try any tricks. All the advantages are currently with me. If I discover you two plotting anything..."
He lowered his voice, his tone hoarse, like a spectral whisper from hell.
"I will kill you."
Unfortunately, the two being threatened paid him no mind. Shen Qingqing was busy administering the medicine and had no time to bother, plus she had her own leverage.
As for Pei Ji, he hated Pei Xi with a passion. If he could, he would have dragged Pei Xi down with him in death.
He was still alive, burning with fever, his finger lost, and with multiple internal and external injuries. Every inch of his body ached.
He felt as good as dead himself.
Pei Xi was displeased at being ignored by both of them. He strode forward and kicked Pei Ji in the stomach.
The kick landed squarely on his abdomen. Pei Ji grunted in pain, veins bulging on his forehead, his face contorted in agony.
The sudden assault caught even Shen Qingqing off guard.
Pei Xi, not satisfied with the single kick, attempted to deliver a second one. This time, Shen Qingqing intervened.
"What are you doing?!" she demanded, glaring at him.
"Teaching him a lesson," Pei Xi stated without remorse. "He's my hostage now, so he should obey me. If he dares pretend not to hear me, of course I have to discipline him!"
Shen Qingqing slapped his wrist away, a look of disgust, as if she had touched something filthy, on her face. "You forgot your promise not to lay a hand on him. If you don't keep your word, then I have no reason to keep mine."
Pei Xi asked coldly, "What, are you going to turn against me for him? Don't forget, you're also my prisoner right now."
Shen Qingqing remained unyielding and fearless. "Then kill us both."
Pei Xi sneered, "You don't need to threaten me. If I don't kill you both, I can at least kill one of you. The one who lives, I can..."
His gaze fell again on Pei Ji's hand, a deep malevolence and cruelty hidden in his eyes.
"How dare you!" Shen Qingqing stepped in front of Pei Ji, her bright eyes blazing with fury. "Pei Xi, I'm warning you one last time. We are negotiating now. If you don't abide by my rules, I won't talk to you anymore. I don't mind a mutually destructive fight."
"With this good-for-nothing?" Pei Xi scoffed.
Pei Ji, lying on the ground, stiffened. Gritting his teeth, his eyes crimson, he looked at Pei Xi. "At worst, I can die. I will never be a burden to her."
"You heard him."
Shen Qingqing looked directly at Pei Xi. "If you dare to act rashly again, then I'll reconsider whether to proceed with this deal."
"Don't you care about your son, your husband, or your family?"
Pei Xi retorted.
Shen Qingqing remained calm. "Before I came here, I had already made all the necessary arrangements. I will do my utmost to ensure we both return alive. But if fate dictates otherwise and we don't make it back, then we can only accept our destiny."
As she spoke the truth, her expression was blank, making it impossible for Pei Xi to discern if she was being sincere. But then again, it wasn't entirely impossible.
Shen Qingqing, this woman, appeared normal on the surface, but was a lunatic at heart. Her ability to match him blow for blow was proof of that.
Pei Xi didn't dare to underestimate her.
"Fine, I won't lay a hand on him," Pei Xi conceded.
Shen Qingqing, however, remained wary. "Please stay away from us."
Her words were polite yet carried an undertone of defiance.
Pei Ji thought Pei Xi would get angry, but to his surprise, Pei Xi chuckled. It was a low, chilling laugh that made one's scalp tingle.
Pei Xi gritted his teeth and asked, "What are you laughing at?"
"Laughing at how lucky you are," Pei Xi said, walking slowly to the bedside and sitting down, clearly pleased that his attention was now focused on the two of them. "There are always so many people by your side, protecting you."
There was envy in his tone.
Pei Ji almost doubted his hearing, but then, considering Pei Xi's background and his ruthless nature, it was understandable that he wouldn't have anyone willing to protect him.
"That's what you deserve."
Pei Xi, in a surprisingly good mood, didn't bother to argue. "Say whatever you want. Anyway, this is the best you can do now."
"What do you mean by that?" Pei Ji asked.
Pei Xi didn't answer. He turned to Shen Qingqing. "Hurry up and write down what you have in your mind in that notebook."
"This is my brain, not a computer," Shen Qingqing opened the brand-new notebook. "I need to think."
Pei Xi nodded amiably. "No problem, take your time. But I must remind you, we don't have much time. I hope you can finish writing that book before the deadline."
"How much time isn't much?"
Pei Xi thought for a moment. "Two days."
Today, he had gone to the bank with the card. He had intended to transfer the money directly into his account, but the bank informed him that due to the large sum, he needed to be present in person.
If the person could not come in person, they could record a video and present their ID card, but this service required applying one day in advance.
He applied today, and the transfer would be processed tomorrow.
Two days was more than enough time.