Sorry, your boyfriend is taking a shower right now.

At four o'clock in the afternoon, the plane landed smoothly at Shanghai Hongqiao Airport.

Chen Zhi pushed his suitcase, following closely behind Pei Ningxue as they walked out of the VIP channel.

Just outside the arrivals gate, a black Toyota Alphard with a Shanghai A license plate was already waiting by the curb. The driver, dressed in a crisp black suit and white gloves, respectfully pulled open the door to the captain seats.

The two of them got into the car.

"To the Bulgari Hotel," Pei Ningxue instructed.

The Alphard merged smoothly onto the elevated highway, heading toward the Bund.

Soothing instrumental music played in the cabin. Chen Zhi leaned back in his seat, watching the Shanghai streetscape speeding past the window, and unexpectedly felt a long-lost sense of relaxation.

Being forcibly dragged to Shanghai on a business trip by Pei Ningxue, though nominally here for work, was actually a vacation in disguise.

Far from the office and its pressures, he no longer had to count every second on the clock.

"What are you smiling at?" Pei Ningxue turned her head, looking at the irrepressible curve of Chen Zhi's lips, and raised an eyebrow. "Are you that happy to be on a business trip to Shanghai?"

"Of course I'm happy," Chen Zhi replied shamelessly. "Being able to go on a solo business trip with our Boss Pei is a blessing many people could only beg for. This is joy from the bottom of my heart."

Pei Ningxue gave a soft snort.

"Save it." She reached out and pinched Chen Zhi's waist. "When we meet President Li from NIO tomorrow, you'd better keep up this good mood. I've asked around in advance; that President Li is notoriously difficult at the negotiating table and drives a very hard bargain."

"He's difficult, but aren't I difficult too?" Chen Zhi shifted his posture nonchalantly. "The core technology is in our hands. Moss's autonomous driving technology leads the world. No matter how good he is at haggling, he'll still have to obediently hand over the money."

Seeing his self-confident appearance, the corners of Pei Ningxue's mouth curled up slightly.

Over an hour later, the Alphard pulled up to the main entrance of the Shanghai Bulgari Hotel.

A bellboy quickly walked over to open the car door and help with the luggage.

Chen Zhi straightened the hem of his jacket and very gentlemanly let Pei Ningxue walk ahead. The two walked side by side into the magnificent hotel lobby.

"Hello, we'd like to check in."

Chen Zhi walked to the front desk, took out his ID card, and slapped it on the marble counter. "Please book two suites, preferably next to each other."

He said this entirely with the demeanor of a perfect gentleman, keeping things strictly business.

The receptionist at the front desk was a young woman in uniform. With a smile on her face, she took the ID card with both hands and typed a few keystrokes on her computer.

Soon, a trace of apology appeared on her face.

"I'm sorry, sir, but we don't have two of your reserved room types available at the moment. Our hotel is quite full today, and there is only one king room left."

Hearing this, Chen Zhi's brows instantly knitted together.

He slammed his hand on the front desk counter.

"Are you kidding me?"

Chen Zhi looked thoroughly displeased. "It's not a holiday right now, nor is it peak tourist season. You're the grand Bulgari Hotel, and you can't even free up two rooms?"

The front desk receptionist was startled by his imposing manner and hurriedly stood straight, bowing repeatedly.

"I am truly very sorry, sir. There really is only one river-view king room left in the system right now. I am so sorry."

Chen Zhi put his hands on his hips and paced back and forth a couple of steps, his expression extremely regretful.

"Your service is really lacking. How are we supposed to stay here?"

As he complained, he turned his head and looked at Pei Ningxue, who had been standing silently on the side.

Chen Zhi sighed and spread his hands, putting on an extremely helpless look.

"Boss Pei, you heard her." Chen Zhi looked at Pei Ningxue. "This hotel is too unreliable; they actually ran out of rooms. Should we change to another one? Or... I guess we'll just have to make do and squeeze together tonight?"

After saying this, his heart was actually blooming with joy.

Pei Ningxue crossed her arms over her chest, just quietly watching him act.

Waiting until Chen Zhi had finished reciting all his lines, Pei Ningxue finally took a step forward.

She looked at Chen Zhi with a smile.

"That's really a pity." Pei Ningxue's voice was very gentle, but her words were as precise as a knife.

"President Chen, have you been so busy lately that you're confused?"

Chen Zhi froze for a moment. "Huh?"

Pei Ningxue stretched out a fair finger and lightly tapped the marble surface of the front desk, the smile at the corners of her mouth growing deeper.

"The flight tickets to Shanghai this time, as well as the hotel accommodation, were all booked in advance by the company's administration at my request."

Pei Ningxue looked at Chen Zhi's gradually stiffening expression and continued to twist the knife.

"When the admin was booking the hotel, she specifically called to confirm with me. I told her that in order to save the company unnecessary expenses, booking one king room would be enough."

Pei Ningxue leaned in a little closer, her warm breath hitting Chen Zhi's chin.

"So, President Chen, who exactly were you trying to put on a show for by losing your temper at the front desk just now?"

The air seemed to stop flowing at this moment.

The receptionist, who had been apologizing desperately just a moment ago, was now looking at Chen Zhi with an extremely complicated gaze. There was sympathy in that gaze, but also contempt.

Even if Chen Zhi's skin was thicker than a city wall, he felt a bit embarrassed at this moment.

He had been too hasty.

He was so busy setting up his perfect gentleman persona that he forgot this entire trip was arranged single-handedly by Pei Ningxue.

"Ahem..."

Chen Zhi coughed dryly, quickly dropping his previously exasperated and angry facade, changing his expression faster than turning the page of a book.

He turned his head and gave the front desk receptionist an amiable smile.

"Well, it's a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding. One king room is perfectly fine. Please help us check in."

The receptionist tried hard to hold back her laughter and deftly prepared the room cards.

"I wish you both a pleasant stay."

Chen Zhi took the room cards, grabbed his suitcase, and walked dejectedly toward the elevator bank.

Pei Ningxue followed behind him, looking at his defeated back, and finally couldn't help but laugh out loud.

The two entered the elevator. As soon as the doors closed, Pei Ningxue leaned against the elevator wall, laughing so hard she was shaking.

"Chen Zhi, did you really think your acting was so good that you could fool me?" Pei Ningxue reached out to pinch his cheek.

"I was just cooperating with your performance," Chen Zhi stubbornly insisted. "I saw at a glance that you booked the room. I deliberately played along just to give you a sense of accomplishment."

"Is that so?" Pei Ningxue raised an eyebrow. "Then will President Chen find it too much of a squeeze to share the bed tonight?"

"Not a squeeze, not a squeeze at all." Chen Zhi took the opportunity to wrap his arm around her waist and pull her into his arms. "Warming the bed for Boss Pei is my bounden duty as the CEO of Deep Space Technology."

"Get lost," Pei Ningxue cursed with a smile, but she didn't push him away.

The elevator stopped at the top floor with a ding.

Chen Zhi swiped open the room door.

It was indeed a Bulgari river-view king room. With an area of over two hundred square meters, the panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows offered a dazzling night view of the Huangpu River. The Oriental Pearl Tower flashed with neon lights in the night, and cruise ships slowly sailed across the river.

Right in the center of the room was an absurdly large, custom-made double bed.

Chen Zhi pushed his suitcase aside, spread-eagled himself onto the soft, large bed, and let out a comfortable sigh.

"I am exhausted," Chen Zhi muttered, burying his face in the pillow.

Pei Ningxue took off her trench coat, hung it on the rack, walked over to the bed, and nudged Chen Zhi's calf with the tip of her toe.

"Go take a shower."

"Right now?" Chen Zhi rolled over and looked up at her, a wicked smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "President Pei, it is only 5:30 PM. Aren't you being a bit too impatient?"

"What are you thinking?" Pei Ningxue rolled her eyes at him. "We have a dinner appointment with the Vice President of NIO tonight. Your clothes are covered in wrinkles. How can you go out and meet people without showering and changing into something presentable?"

Chen Zhi sighed and resignedly dragged himself out of bed.

"Evil capitalist, arranging work for me the second we get off the plane."

"Are you working for me, or am I working for you? Cut the nonsense and go." Pei Ningxue pushed him toward the bathroom.

Listening to the splashing water from inside, Pei Ningxue walked over to the floor-to-ceiling windows. Looking out at the river view, she let out a long, deep breath.

She had finally pulled this man out of that war zone in Beijing.

At least for these few days in Shanghai, he belonged entirely to her.

Just as Pei Ningxue was about to grab a change of clothes from her suitcase, a phone suddenly started vibrating from inside the black backpack tossed on the nightstand.

Chen Zhi had not taken his phone in with him.

Pei Ningxue paused.

She walked over, unzipped the backpack, and pulled out the phone.

The screen was lit up.

It was a WeChat video call request.

The contact name consisted of only two words, but it instantly made Pei Ningxue's eyes turn ice-cold.

Wanwan.

Holding the phone, Pei Ningxue turned her head and glanced toward the bathroom. The water was still running; Chen Zhi obviously could not hear the commotion outside.

The video call rang for a long time before it automatically hung up.

Immediately after, two WeChat messages popped up on the screen.

Wanwan: Chen Zhi, are you out of class yet?

Wanwan: Sister Su said she would give me half a day off tomorrow. Can I come to your school tonight for a late-night snack? I miss you so much.

Pei Ningxue stared at the words I miss you so much on the screen, her fingers gently stroking the metal frame of the phone.

A cold sneer crept onto her lips.

Looking for him for a late-night snack?

Sorry, but your boyfriend is currently taking a shower in a bathroom at the Bulgari Hotel in Shanghai.

Pei Ningxue simply powered the phone off.