**Chapter 1214: No Bottom Line**
In the time it took Pei Kexin to buy a set of underwear, Pei Zongrui called her again.
Of course, she didn’t answer. Every time he called, she hung up. Over and over.
After several rounds of this, Pei Zongrui shamelessly switched to texting her on WeChat.
*"Where are you? Why aren’t you answering? When are you coming back? Send me your location—I’ll pick you up."*
Message after message, his tone arrogant, as if he were her rightful husband.
It was then that Pei Kexin fully realized he had lost his mind.
Afraid he’d harass her all night, she read the messages, then turned off her phone completely.
She spent a relatively peaceful night at the Wanlong Hotel and woke up promptly at seven the next morning.
After changing and freshening up, she turned her phone back on.
The moment it powered up, notifications flooded in—one after another, vibrating so intensely her hand went numb.
She didn’t even need to look. Aside from a few work-related messages from her assistant, the rest were all from Pei Zongrui.
They were all the same: asking where she was, when she was coming back. But when she didn’t reply, his messages escalated into outright verbal abuse.
Pei Kexin rubbed her temples in frustration.
The successor the old man had pinned all his hopes on turned out to be this shameless, bottom-feeding scum. Should she report the truth to the old man, or just turn a blind eye?
Personal frustrations aside, work still had to be done.
After enduring Pei Zongrui’s harassment for less than two minutes, she checked the time, steeled herself, and called the two engineers to confirm their itinerary. Then she headed downstairs for the breakfast buffet.
But what she didn’t expect was Pei Zongrui’s sheer persistence.
Her phone had only been on for ten minutes, yet he’d already tracked her down and was waiting for her in the lobby.
Seeing him sitting there, impeccably dressed, lying in wait like a predator, Pei Kexin’s patience snapped.
She had originally planned to let things slide, to give him a chance to turn over a new leaf.
Now? She was determined to report every single one of his actions to the old man.
Pretending not to see him, she walked straight toward the restaurant with her bag.
Pei Zongrui slowly stood up, hands in his pockets, and strolled up behind her.
As she picked up a plate and began selecting food, he shadowed her every step.
*"Avoiding me? You came all the way here just to hide from me? Pei Kexin, what’s your problem?"*
She kept her movements steady, her face blank.
*"Isn’t it obvious?"*
*"Pei Zongrui, let’s not even mention the fact that I’m married. Even if I weren’t, aren’t you afraid people will think you’re insane for clinging to me like this?"*
Pei Zongrui wasn’t fazed. *"Do you look down on me?"*
*"..."*
*"That man you married—so poor, so useless, still studying at his age. What can he do besides drag you down? If you’d settle for him, how dare you act like I’m beneath you?"*
Pei Kexin couldn’t help but turn and give him a look reserved for the mentally unstable.
*"Your brain must’ve stopped developing before you were born. There’s no reasoning with you."*
*"How can you even compare yourself to him? It’s absurd!"*
Pei Zongrui had spent the entire night agonizing over how to win her over.
He’d even wheedled her location out of her driver and rushed here first thing in the morning to wait.
And this was the treatment he got? That tone? That look?
Rage burned through him. His pride felt trampled.
Suddenly, he grabbed her wrist, yanking her toward him. With his other hand, he snatched the plate from her grip and slammed it onto the counter.
*"Don’t test me, Pei Kexin! Come with me! Let’s find somewhere private—say all that again to my face if you dare!"*
Men were still men. Even though he was a few years younger, when it came to brute strength, Pei Kexin was no match for him.
Effortlessly, he dragged her forward, her steps unsteady as she struggled and cursed.
*"Pei Zongrui, stop this! I’m not someone you can push around, and I won’t just swallow my anger if you do!"*
*"Let go! Keep harassing me, and I’ll call the police!"*
Whether he didn’t believe her or simply didn’t care, Pei Zongrui ignored the threat and kept pulling her toward the exit.
*"Go ahead, if you’ve got the guts."*
*"I haven’t kissed you or touched you. I’m just asking my dear aunt to come home early. Let’s see what the police can even do about that."*
So that was his loophole.
Pei Kexin was speechless. She turned to the restaurant staff for help.
*"Help me! Is this how your hotel handles things? You’re just going to stand there while a guest gets harassed? Call the police! I don’t know this man—he’s insane! Call them!"*
The staff had initially assumed it was just a lovers’ quarrel—they were a handsome pair, after all.
But at Pei Kexin’s plea, one employee moved to hit the alarm.
Pei Zongrui reacted instantly. *"Wait!"*
The staff froze, looking at him.
He pulled two work IDs from his suit pocket.
*"See for yourself if we know each other. These are our employee badges. Check the names, the photos, the company. Still want to make a false police report?"*
Staff: *"??"*
*"We’re family. Just a work disagreement."*
*"We have an important contract signing today, and she’s throwing a tantrum, refusing to cooperate. You really want to enable that?"*
*"You call the cops? If this messes up my deal, I’ll sue you for obstruction. Believe that?"*
Staff: *"..."*
Pei Zongrui had clearly anticipated every possible scenario before making a scene in public.
He came prepared. Pei Kexin knew arguing was pointless. Force wouldn’t work—she needed to outsmart him.
Seeing the staff buy his lies, she stopped resisting.
Playing along, she let him lead her out, saying,
*"Fine, fine. I’ll go with you. I won’t fight you. But you’re hurting my wrist—loosen your grip."*
Pei Zongrui ignored her attempt to placate him.
Pei Kexin switched tactics.
*"I booked the room for three days. My ID’s still upstairs. If we’re leaving, at least let me check out and grab my things. Let go—I’ll go pack."*
He didn’t believe her, eyeing her skeptically.
*"You came empty-handed yesterday. What ‘things’ could you possibly have left behind? Think I’m a child?"*
Pei Kexin: *"My cosmetics, my underwear, a new pair of shoes I bought last night—why would I lie?"*
She sounded utterly confident, her tone leaving no room for doubt. Pei Zongrui studied her for two seconds, then a mischievous idea seemed to strike him. He decided to humor her.
*"Alright. Go get them. I’m coming with you."*
*"...You’re seriously following me just to grab a few things?"*
*"Got a problem with that? Unless you’re planning something."*
*"Pei Zongrui—"*
*"I know you love saying my name. Go ahead."*
*"..."*
Her previous understanding of him had been too shallow. She’d thought he was just a spoiled, ambition-less playboy.
Now she realized he did have one redeeming quality—persistence.