That day, after conducting several more tests and confirming that all the test results were normal, the doctor informed Bai Tao that she could be discharged from the hospital.
Then, Bai Tao looked cautiously at Pei Shi, “So, are we going home?”
“Yes.”
Pei Shi’s response was as brief and concise as ever. However, on the way back, Bai Tao became increasingly restless—
Now, she and Pei Shi are married, and they appear to be incredibly close and loving. According to her notes, their intimacy seems frequent and intense…
Well…
Even though she has accepted that Pei Shi is her husband, it doesn’t mean she’s ready for the intimacy…
From what’s described in the notes, moments after reuniting, like a couple newlywed, although Pei Shi might restrain himself in public and seem decent, once inside the house, he might turn passionate. She imagines them against a wall, on a table, everywhere…
The more Bai Tao thinks about it, the more nervous she becomes.
It might be better to take initiative now!
Bai Tao mentally braces herself, then leans carefully against Pei Shi’s shoulder. She rubs her forehead and says softly, “My head… Husband, I feel like I haven’t completely recovered from the car accident. I still feel a bit tired.”
Caught off guard by her sudden move, Pei Shi stiffens.
Leaning against Pei Shi, looking at his face so close, Bai Tao realizes they are too close—close enough that a slight lean from Pei Shi would lead to a kiss…
Bai Tao feels embarrassed. She plans to move away discreetly but the car hits a pothole causing her to fall into Pei Shi’s arm.
Her heart races. Is her body responding automatically to Pei Shi due to their past?
Will the tension escalate? She gets even more anxious. Especially since this Bentley can raise a partition between the driver and the back seat…
This is serious!
She must protect herself!
She quickly moves away from Pei Shi, declaring, “Not tonight!”
To which Pei Shi frowns and asks, “What’s not happening tonight?”
Bai Tao thinks Pei Shi is pretending not to understand. “I’m tired tonight! I want to sleep!” she responds, then adds with a flirtatious smile, “You too need rest. Don’t stay up late. I’ll make sure you turn off the lights and sleep early!”
Pei Shi looks at her oddly. Why is she deciding his sleep schedule?
He has an international video conference tonight, so sleeping is out of the question. Trying to ignore Bai Tao’s nonstop reminders about the importance of sleep, Pei Shi finally says, “I’m not sleeping tonight. If you’re tired, you sleep. It won’t matter.”
Unbeknownst to Pei Shi, his words shock Bai Tao. She’s exasperated thinking he doesn’t even care if she sleeps, implying he has other “plans” in mind. His declaration of staying up all night baffles her.
Is he even human? Who could endure this?!
Seeing that words aren’t helping, Bai Tao resorts to another plan. Before reaching the villa, she starts texting on WeChat…
Pei Shi, trying to relax, hears constant WeChat notifications. He picks up his phone, opens WeChat, and sees a barrage of articles shared by Bai Tao.
“Men Who Restrain Have the Best Life”
“The More You Do, the Faster You Age!”
…
“One Hundred Drawbacks of a Promiscuous Man”
“A Man’s Virtue: Why One Shouldn’t Want a Promiscuous Man – Being Promiscuous Leads to Ruin and Waste”
“…”
At this moment, Pei Shi finally comprehended the meaning behind Bai Tao’s earlier statement, “Not tonight.”
Just then, the car reached its destination. With an innocent “I did nothing” expression, Bai Tao swiftly slid out of the car under Pei Shi’s gaze.
Bai Tao felt her signals, both overt and subtle, were clear enough. After all, how else would Pei Shi’s face have turned as dark as an ink-squirting squid upon receiving those messages?
But if she said no, she meant it. Bai Tao chose to ignore Pei Shi’s darkened expression and darted into the villa.
This mountaintop villa, located in the most expensive area of Rong City, is a standalone property. The serene and unique surroundings were evident, and as Bai Tao entered, she couldn’t help but admire Pei Shi’s taste—
“This interior design is truly exceptional!”
It wasn’t the intricate European style, nor the flamboyant American style. The house had its own unique style. Every piece of decoration, furniture, even a potted plant in a corner, was perfectly placed and unique. Every detail showcased the homeowner’s impeccable taste…
However, after expressing her admiration, Bai Tao felt something was amiss. Pretending to be sweet, she looked at Pei Shi and added, “Though I’ve seen it many times, every time I look at our house, I can’t help but marvel. Husband, your taste in home decoration is as impeccable as your taste in choosing a wife!”
“…”
However, perhaps due to Bai Tao’s earlier declaration of “Not tonight,” Pei Shi seemed less than pleased. Even when she praised his taste, he didn’t look happy. Instead, he looked like he genuinely wanted to die.
Of course, having such a beautiful wife right in front of him and not being able to get close must be frustrating. If roles were reversed, Bai Tao would probably feel the same. Thus, Pei Shi’s reaction was understandable.
Thankfully, Pei Shi didn’t delve into the topic further. His phone rang. Bai Tao took the opportunity to explore the villa. As she was about to open the door to the second-floor bedroom, Pei Shi stopped her.
He finished his call: “The magazine sample sent to you a few days ago has been placed in your room on the third floor, not in mine.”
?
Upon reaching the third floor, Bai Tao discovered he was right. The room clearly had a feminine touch. She realized they weren’t sharing rooms as there was only her stuff – no sign of Pei Shi’s belongings.
But… weren’t they supposed to be an inseparable, loving couple? Why were they not only in separate rooms but on different floors?
Bai Tao looked to Pei Shi for answers, but before she could ask, he spoke: “You threw a tantrum earlier and kicked me out.” He composed himself and continued, “So, I had to move to the second floor. We used to share a room, our relationship was good, no issues.”
Oh, so that was it!
Poor Pei Shi was thrown out of his own room!
In this world, some people were so humble for love. Having a house but not a room to sleep in.
Initially, Bai Tao hadn’t given much thought, but now seeing Pei Shi, she felt a hint of dejection in his composure.
After all, being the powerful figure he was outside, when had he ever been treated this way? Yet, speaking it, he was calm, showing he might have gotten used to such treatment.
For a moment, Bai Tao felt pity for him, but also found it amusing.
See, why start something if this was the outcome?
Soon, she grew tense again. She suspected Pei Shi might ask her to let him sleep in her room tonight.
No way!
Alertly, she watched Pei Shi, sensing his growing tension.
He’s definitely going to ask to come back to the room. This man is truly relentless! Always thinking about intimate matters. Maybe the reason he got kicked out was his insistent advances. She wasn’t made of iron!
Bai Tao quickly voiced out: “I want to sleep alone tonight…”
But before she could finish, Pei Shi interjected, “Not tonight.” His voice tense, “I got it, no need to say more.” He looked down at her, “Not just tonight, not ever.”
Bai Tao’s immediate thought was: He’s upset!
It’s often said that when men’s advances are rejected, they get angry. It was true! Look at Pei Shi now. Just because he wasn’t getting intimate, he was furious.
This probably wasn’t enough for Pei Shi, as he made one more declaration before leaving for work: “Don’t send me that kind of stuff again. I am not that kind of person.”
…
He’s still holding a grudge.
As soon as Pei Shi left, Bai Tao felt relieved. After some time, she remembered something he mentioned.
Books sample?
Connecting to the third-floor bedroom was a study room. There, on the desk, she found a stack of books.
Since her time travel, apart from her marriage to Pei Shi, Bai Tao’s most significant realization was that she was now a successful and renowned comic artist.
Coincidentally, the work that made her famous was the story of her time travel five years into the future. She self-published this work right after her graduation, not expecting it to become a massive hit, which paved her way as a professional comic artist.
Now, she was looking at the hardcover revised edition of that comic. This was its fourth re-release, with cumulative sales over half a million, close to breaking a million.
Bai Tao felt a surge of pride. Those publishers who rejected her were blind! She was truly talented!
Soon, she discovered that comics were now not only published traditionally but also on online platforms and apps. Bored, Bai Tao opened an online comic platform to see the trending comics.
By chance, she clicked on a comic titled “Close to You Like This,” a workplace romance between a CEO with emotional disorders and a lackadaisical female assistant. The story had elements of humor, romance, and drama. The dialogue was witty, the art beautiful and cute, and the side character storylines were rich and full.
Bai Tao laughed heartily at the hilarious interactions between the leads.
It was so good!
But, to her dismay, the latest episode was paused right when the female lead was about to confess her love to the male lead!
This abrupt end was frustrating!
“Trashy author! Another damn cliffhanger!”
Some authors intentionally stop at the most gripping parts of the plot just to keep the readers hanging. Bai Tao, being a comic artist herself, understands this, but as a reader, she couldn’t help but fume with irritation.
When Bai Tao first started reading this comic, she hadn’t noticed who the author was. Now, she became curious: “Let me see which dog this is…”
She mumbled her dissatisfaction as she navigated back to the comic’s homepage, only to see her own name displayed as the author.
???
“…”
How embarrassing…
The ‘dog’ is herself…
Looking at her name on the screen, a whirlwind of emotions engulfed her. For a moment, her only feeling was:
It’s definitely me!!!
Who else could draw such a down-to-earth yet uniquely brilliant work? Who could illustrate such exquisitely styled yet unpretentious characters? Who could create such a tight narrative and romantic storyline without missing a beat? Who could leave such a tantalizing cliffhanger?
“Trashy author! Another damn cliffhanger!”
Some authors intentionally stop at the most gripping parts of the plot just to keep the readers hanging. Bai Tao, being a comic artist herself, understands this, but as a reader, she couldn’t help but fume with irritation.
When Bai Tao first started reading this comic, she hadn’t noticed who the author was. Now, she became curious: “Let me see which dog this is…”
She mumbled her dissatisfaction as she navigated back to the comic’s homepage, only to see her own name displayed as the author.
???
“…”
How embarrassing…
The ‘dog’ is herself…
Looking at her name on the screen, a whirlwind of emotions engulfed her. For a moment, her only feeling was:
It’s definitely me!!!
Who else could draw such a relaxed, down-to-earth yet uniquely brilliant work? Who could illustrate such exquisitely styled yet unpretentious characters? Who could create such a tight narrative and romantic storyline without missing a beat? Who could leave such a tantalizing cliffhanger?
It’s me! It’s me! It’s me! Always me!
Lost in her self-admiration, her phone rang, displaying the name “Song Yan”.
Based on Bai Tao’s previous knowledge, Song Yan had been her assistant at the comic studio for the past few years.
What could the assistant possibly want with her?
For a popular and successful comic artist like herself, such a call was likely about a business proposition or commission.
Bai Tao steeled herself, mentally preparing before answering the call.
Successful individuals should always remain composed, no matter the magnitude of the deal at hand.
Yet just as Bai Tao was mentally chanting her mantra of calm, she was met with Song Yan’s ear-piercing roar over the phone:
“Ms. Bai Tao! When are you submitting your draft?! Are we going to miss another release?! You’ve already taken a break for the last issue! We can’t keep this up! Many fans are getting frustrated, threatening to abandon ship! And our contract with the platform specifies penalties for late submissions! Should I calculate the late fee for you?!”
Damn, why is this assistant so aggressive?!
“…” Overwhelmed by the bombardment of questions, Bai Tao stuttered, “Wha-what?”
Song Yan, each word dripping with desperation, said, “Your ‘Close to You Like This’! When’s the next chapter? You promised it’d be today. If this continues, I might just hang myself outside your door. I’m only 21, haven’t even held a man’s hand. Can you bear that, Ms. Bai Tao?”
“…” Bai Tao instinctively replied, “I’ll… I’ll submit it right away!”
“We have five days to the deadline! Define ‘right away’! Do I need to book a hotel room for you and lock you in without internet until you finish?”
No… that won’t be necessary!
Bai Tao immediately swore she would start drawing right away.
The young assistant, known for her quick mood shifts, immediately sweetened her tone upon receiving Bai Tao’s promise, “Also, Ms. Bai Tao, it’s been a while since you last posted on social media, hasn’t it? Time to update! Remember, our public image is humble and down-to-earth. Do post some of your daily life snippets with Mr. Pei. Everyone is waiting!”
After ending the call, Bai Tao stared at her computer screen, sinking into deep thought.
Temporary solutions work for the moment, but not forever.
Most people who time-travel gain advantages, but her own journey seemed a bit bleak.
She genuinely had no idea how to develop the comic’s plot next; her mind was a blank canvas.
While most time-travel to the past, recite poems, reference classics, or even come up with lottery numbers or investment opportunities, she, on the other hand, traveled to the future with no knowledge of what’s to come.
She searched around her room but couldn’t find any notes, drafts, or outlines.
Well, with a few days left to the deadline, maybe a good night’s sleep would bring inspiration?
After Song Yan’s call, Bai Tao felt a sense of strangeness. Was her public image really that of someone so humble and down-to-earth? Could she really be seen as such?
And the snippets of her daily loving life with Pei Shi?
Thankfully, she had recorded several memories. Bai Tao selected one and posted it on social media.
Regardless, she was now a renowned comic artist and the beloved wife of Pei Shi. This thought made her slightly proud. What about Pei Fei?
Thinking of Pei Fei, Bai Tao couldn’t resist searching for her.
Five years had passed; what was Pei Fei up to? Why hadn’t she seen her for so long? After all, she was her sister-in-law. Having been through an accident, shouldn’t Pei Fei have visited her?
She wished she hadn’t looked. Upon searching, Bai Tao became upset. Pei Fei had an entry on Baidu Baike (similar to Wikipedia)!
“Pei Fei, a renowned pianist, currently residing in Austria. She exudes an elegance comparable to an orchid, gracious and sophisticated. Hailing from a cultured family, words like elegant, noble, and dignified define her…”
What nonsense! This description for Pei Fei? Noble? Elegant? Bai Tao remembered a time when Pei Fei slapped her without hesitation and spewed insults.
No wonder she could be seen as modest and unassuming, when even Pei Fei could be described as noble and elegant!
Such a vast world, full of surprises!
[Mini Dialogue]
Bai Tao: The future of humanity is bright!!!
Pei Shi: The future of humanity may be bright, but your personal future doesn’t seem that promising.
[…] Peach Oolong Tea Chapter 4 […]
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