C14 Give Me Some Time to Consider!

The sudden pain in his leg made him instinctively let go. As the world spun around her, Pei Xinxiao fell into Shen Yunsheng's arms.

"It's okay now, you're safe," he reassured her.

His embrace felt unfamiliar to Xinxiao, and she tried to push away, but Yunsheng held her too tightly for her to break free. With nowhere else to go and Yunsheng being the only one willing to take her in, she had no choice but to stay at his place.

Curled up in a corner of the sofa with a warm glass of milk, she kept her eyes lowered, leaving Yunsheng, who had been watching her for a long time, puzzled about her thoughts.

He got up, retrieved a document from his bedroom, and placed it solemnly in front of her. His expression was serious. "Take a look."

He knew she had been living with guilt for years, never truly happy. He hoped this document might finally bring her some relief.

Xinxiao glanced at him suspiciously before opening the file. In that moment, she froze. Tears began to fall, and her delicate hands trembled uncontrollably.

She looked up at him, her voice filled with emotion, "This is real, isn't it? My brother is alive, isn't he?"

Yunsheng nodded. "Yes, I spent a long time investigating to find this out."

Years ago, Zheng Rulan had bribed the family butler to deceive Pei Zijin, but Zijin had seen through the ruse halfway and demanded the butler take him back home. This led to the butler losing control of the car, and they both ended up falling off a cliff.

The butler died instantly, while Pei Zijin fell into the water and narrowly escaped death. However, he hit his head and lost his memory, wandering aimlessly, unsure of his current whereabouts.

"The evidence is on the last page," Shen Yunsheng reminded, leaning back casually on the sofa.

Pei Xinxiao took a deep breath and carefully read through the document. She set it down heavily and met his relaxed gaze with determination. "I want revenge."

Her stepmother, Zheng Rulan, had wronged her so deeply, blaming everything on her, causing her father to misunderstand and kick her out. She couldn't stand it and felt she had to reclaim Pei's. Otherwise, how could she face her missing brother?

Shen Yunsheng looked up at her, a teasing smile on his lips. "Do you really think you can get revenge on your own? Not to mention that Old Pei is elderly and in poor health, but his trust in Zheng Rulan and her daughter is strong. Do you think you can just appear out of nowhere and win?"

Pei Xinxiao twisted her fingers, knowing she wasn't confident, but she was unwilling to watch Pei's fall into Zheng Rulan's hands.

"I can help you, but I have a condition," Shen Yunsheng said slowly, resting his chin on his hand. It was time to prove himself.

"What condition?" Pei Xinxiao asked eagerly. "As long as it's within my ability, I'll agree."

He looked into her eyes, speaking deliberately, "I want you to be my wife."

He knew she didn't like him, maybe even disliked him, but he loved her. Besides, they had a daughter together, and he believed he was the best choice for her husband. He was confident he could treat her well for a lifetime.

Xinxiao turned her head slightly, her voice soft, "Let me think about it."

She couldn't imagine spending her life with someone she didn't love, even though she knew his feelings for her were genuine.

"Don't you think this is a win-win situation?" Yunsheng wasn't upset by her response. There was no hint of emotion, as if he had anticipated her answer. "You need to reclaim your family's legacy and get rid of those who wronged your brother. Only then will your father see the truth. And for you? You'll gain a loving family, a wonderful child, and someone who loves you. I'm sure that in time, you'll fall in love with me too. Then, we can be truly happy together."

"Please... just let me think about it," she replied, turning to go back to her room.

As she closed the door, tears began to fall again.

After a sleepless night, the next morning, Xinxiao said goodbye to Yunsheng. She felt it was best if he stayed out of her affairs.

Unexpectedly, when she mentioned leaving, Shen Yunsheng stopped her. His eyes were filled with a mix of urgency, sadness, and tenderness. He was reluctant to let her go. "Is it really so hard for you to accept me?"

Pei Xinxiao lowered her head, silent. Until she reclaimed her family's company, she didn't want to think about relationships. She feared distraction and believed he deserved someone better.

"Between us... it was just a mistake. Please, let's not prolong this." Facing his intense gaze, Pei Xinxiao spoke sincerely, "Let's just end this marriage."

She saw it as a mistake, but he didn't. If it weren't for this so-called mistake, how would he have met someone as wonderful as her? It was love at first sight for him.

"I'm just unlucky. You won't be happy with me," Pei Xinxiao took a deep breath, meeting his eyes.

Besides, his family would never accept her. When the storm hit, could he really protect her until the end?

Seeing her sincerity, Shen Yunsheng softened his tone. "Don't reject me just yet, okay? I'll give you time to think. If you ever need my help, I'll do everything I can to clear any obstacles for you."