The young one was momentarily bewildered, but soon Pei Chiyao completed the transaction.
Seeing that the small brocade box was worth a staggering five billion, Zhi Yao suddenly felt a profound sense of imbalance.
After all, five billion could buy an absurd number of milk teas!
"I'll put it on you when we get back."
Having completed the deal, Pei Chiyao swiftly headed for the exit.
However, before he could leave, Zhi Yao's body suddenly jolted.
The familiar sensation soon followed.
She hurriedly bit down on Pei Chiyao's sleeve, and from her state, he immediately understood what was happening.
"What... what do we do... Pei... Pei Chiyao..." Zhi Yao uttered softly. If she transformed here, she would absolutely be surrounded and gawked at!
"Don't worry." Pei Chiyao reassured her. "I know the owner of this cruise ship; I'll have him prepare a room."
With that, Pei Chiyao summoned a waiter, who promptly provided him with a room key.
As he turned to head upstairs, Gu Changlin stubbornly intervened once more.
"Young Master Pei..."
Before he could finish, Pei Chiyao cut him off, "Get out of my way! I don't have time for your nonsense!"
"Young Master Pei!" Gu Changlin roared. "If you don't leave the jade pendant here today, you won't be leaving this place!"
As if the fallen Pei family was worth offending!
For the little lady, he would go to any lengths!
Zhi Yao could barely contain herself any longer. Why... why did it have to happen now, of all times?
She gritted her teeth, holding on fiercely to Pei Chiyao's sleeve, terrified that she might cry out at any moment.
But Gu Changlin showed no signs of backing down.
Pei Chiyao's expression suddenly darkened.
Before he could speak, Gu Changlin pulled out a gun from his pocket, cocked it, and aimed it directly at Pei Chiyao's head. "Young Master Pei, my apologies! I'll count to three. If you hand over the jade pendant, we'll consider the Gu family indebted to you, and you can collect that favor or the five billion from us whenever you wish. But if you don't hand it over... then you'll be leaving your life here today."
Gu Changlin had become utterly brazen!
Upon hearing this, Pei Chiyao finally deigned to cast him a glance.
"Threaten me?" He let out a cold laugh. "Who do you think you are?"
Gu Changlin declared, "For the little lady's sake, I would sacrifice my life without hesitation!"
"Three..."
"Two!"
"One!"
"Pei Chiyao!"
Seeing Pei Chiyao remain motionless, Gu Changlin could no longer restrain himself.
At that very moment, Pei Chiyao suddenly sprang into action.
With one arm holding Zhi Yao, he took advantage of Gu Changlin's momentary distraction and swiftly kicked his wrist.
In an instant, Gu Changlin fired his gun, but it was too late. As the bullet left the barrel, the gun fell from his hand.
Pei Chiyao deftly evaded the shot with a nimble sidestep.
He had no time to waste on Gu Changlin's ranting, not even sparing him a glance as he hurried upstairs with Zhi Yao in his arms.
Zhi Yao had reached her limit.
The moment he closed the door, the young lady dashed to the bed and tightly wrapped herself in the covers.
Pei Chiyao retrieved the jade pendant from the box, flung open the covers, and placed it on Zhi Yao. As the two pendants reunited with a crisp "click" sound, a brilliant flash of white light suddenly enveloped Pei Chiyao's vision, momentarily blinding him.
When his sight cleared once more, the little fox was gone.
In her place was Zhi Yao.
The instant he laid eyes on the young lady, Pei Chiyao was rendered utterly motionless.
Zhi Yao had... transformed...
Her features were undoubtedly the same, yet there was an indescribable quality about her now.
Purer, more alluring, more beautiful.
A mere glance from her captivating eyes seemed capable of bewitching souls.
This was a beauty that left one breathless – a stunning, heart-stopping beauty!
If before she was an innocent maiden, then Zhi Yao had now blossomed into womanhood.
Her ears and tail were gone, too.
Most striking was the flower-like birthmark between her brows.
Pei Chiyao couldn't resist reaching out to gently touch the mark on Zhi Yao's forehead. Suddenly, it felt as if something flashed through his mind...
He felt his heart gripped, as though it might burst.
Seeing Pei Chiyao's pained expression, Zhi Yao, who had initially been shy, could no longer hold back. She rushed forward and embraced him tightly. "What's wrong with you?"
As the words left her lips, Zhi Yao froze.
Her voice... how had it changed like this?
It sounded... even more beautiful?
Sweet without being cloying, yet somehow managing to melt half of one's body with its mere sound.
She was entirely oblivious to her own transformation.
By the time Pei Chiyao regained his senses, he found the young lady clinging tightly to him.
Her soft, cloud-like breasts were pressed firmly against his chest.
And Zhi Yao, in her urgency, kept rubbing against him restlessly.
Pei Chiyao took a deep breath. "Yao, don't be naughty."
Seeing his expression soften, Zhi Yao asked, "Are you alright now? You looked like you were in a lot of pain just now."
Pei Chiyao remained silent.
He was in even more pain now.
"I'm fine now," he finally said.
Bulging veins protruded on the back of Pei Chiyao's hand, and he truly did seem to be in great discomfort.
"Yao, let go now."
Zhi Yao shook her head, clinging even tighter. "No. I... I'm not wearing any clothes..."
As she said this, Zhi Yao still felt a hint of shyness.
In her earlier haste, she had failed to notice. If she were to let go now, wouldn't that mean exposing herself fully to Pei Chiyao?
That would be far too embarrassing.
Pei Chiyao dared not reach out to touch Zhi Yao, knowing that the slightest movement would bring him into contact with her silky smooth skin, like the finest jade.
Lowering his gaze, the young lady's flesh outshone even snow, as if glazed with a luminous sheen. Their eyes met, and Pei Chiyao noticed flickering starlight within Zhi Yao's.
His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard. Then, leaning down, he pinned Zhi Yao beneath him...
"Yao..." Pei Chiyao called out softly, his voice strained. It seemed... he could no longer wait.
As the words fell, he captured Zhi Yao's lips with his own.
The young lady was no longer unfamiliar with kissing and even tentatively learned to respond.
But this time, Pei Chiyao kissed with unbridled passion, trailing from her lips down her neck, collarbone, and even further...
Those swaying mounds left Pei Chiyao dizzy and lightheaded. If Zhi Yao demanded his life at this moment, Pei Chiyao would likely be willing to surrender it.
"May I? Yao?"
His voice had already grown husky beyond recognition, but Zhi Yao only looked at him with a hint of bewilderment. "May you what?"
The young lady raised her hand, attempting to cover her body in modesty.
