Xiao Yanzhi stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, the tip of the cigar in his fingers glowing and fading in the dim light. The study was heavy with the scent of expensive Cuban cigars, mingling with the subtle fragrance of his custom-tailored suit, yet nothing could dispel the chill deep within his heart. He gazed out at the neon-lit night, his thoughts inevitably drifting back to the woman he both loved and ached for—Pei Lan.
It was a rainy night five years ago when Pei Lan stumbled into his world like an injured little beast. Back then, she was drenched to the bone, but her eyes held a stubbornness that tugged at his heartstrings. Almost on an impulse, he brought her home, and from that moment on, he knew his destiny would be inextricably bound to hers.
"Mr. Xiao, Miss Pei smashed another vase in her room." The housekeeper's cautious voice interrupted his reverie. Xiao Yanzhi gave a light chuckle, though there was not a trace of warmth in his eyes. "Go buy an exact replica. No, buy ten, twenty—whatever makes her happy."
Chapter 180