Pei Chuan and I are known in our circle as the ultimate love-hate couple.

He ended up paralyzed after a reckless car chase for his so-called "white moonlight," and in revenge, I subject him to forced intimacy night after night.

That evening, as usual, I slipped into my nightgown and headed back to my room like we were strangers. Collapsed on the bed, Pei Chuan’s face flushed crimson as he sneered viciously:

"Pathetic performance, and you call this punishment?"

But the next second, his inner voice suddenly echoed in my mind:

*Damn, my wife’s skills are getting better—I can barely hold back!*

*Even her cold glare is adorable!! Kiss kiss lick lick!!*

*Wifey, please stop liking that guy… Look at me, look at me…*

Me: ?

1.

My hand, poised to slap him, froze mid-air.

The next moment, warmth enveloped my fingertips.

I looked down.

There was Pei Chuan, gazing up at me with smoldering intensity—his lips wrapped around my finger.

He seemed momentarily stunned as well, quickly turning his face away and assuming that icy expression I knew all too well.

"Scared just because I licked your finger?"

"You torment me every single day, and now you can dish it out but can't take it?"

Perhaps out of embarrassment, Pei Chuan's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, his voice turning hoarse.

Meanwhile, I was still reeling from the inner thoughts I'd just overheard.

"What, no words? Do I disgust you that much?"

Seeing me frozen in silence, Pei Chuan grew even more agitated, assuming his actions had frightened me.

Abruptly, he turned back, leaning in close until his breath brushed my ear. With a light nip at my earlobe, he smirked, his lips curling in provocation.

"I *want* to make you uncomfortable. I *want* to drive you crazy."

Caught completely off guard, I could only stare blankly: "..."

Then his inner voice echoed again:

*[Does my wife hate me now? Why won’t she even look at me??? I’d rather she yelled at me or hit me.]*

*[She’s right here beside me, so why does it still feel like she’s miles away?]*

*[Finally got to kiss her—even if it had to be like this.]*

*[Her perfume smells incredible today. God, I just want to melt her into my bones.]*

["What should I do? I can't hold back anymore!!"]

["Darling, please don't leave... or I'll end up hiding in the study crying again..."]

Sitting on his lap, my cheeks burned with heat. My movements grew more intense without me realizing it.

Yet the disgust and resistance in Pei Chuan's eyes remained unmistakably real.

His inner voice claimed he loved me?

Impossible.

I must be hallucinating from exhaustion.

Besides, he knew full well about my germaphobia—biting me like that was clearly meant to make me uncomfortable.

Just as I was about to wrap my arms around his neck to tease him further, those whispered thoughts gave me pause.

Would he really cry?

Pei Chuan and I had grown up together. He'd always been proud, never showing weakness—not even after the car accident left him paralyzed.

Pei Chuan... crying?

Now that would be something.

I decided to test him. Abruptly stopping my movements, I rose decisively to my feet.

Pei Chuan was still panting, lost in the throes of passion, but quickly snapped back to reality. A mocking smirk tugged at his lips.

"What’s wrong? Do I disgust you? Or are you punishing me again?" His voice dripped with sarcasm. "Jiang Yao, that’s the only trick you’ve got, isn’t it?"

As he spoke, his gaze drifted toward the desk drawer—where I’d deliberately stashed those things just to provoke him.

He loathed me, so I only doubled down on tormenting him.

---

Over the past six months, the little "toys" I’d bought had already filled the hidden compartment in the walk-in closet.

Suddenly, his inner monologue echoed in my mind:

*"Wife always says she’s punishing me, but she has no idea how much I love it!"*

*"Huh? Which one’s she gonna use on me today?"*

*"That little whip last time almost made me slip up..."*

*"Want to pin her against the wall—"*

The rest of his thoughts were far too explicit. I shook my head, trying to dispel the intrusive whispers.

Untying the silk tie binding his wrists, I turned to leave without another word.

Pei Chuan froze as he watched my movements, only snapping out of it when he realized I was actually leaving. Panic flashed across his face.

"Where are you going?"

I couldn't be bothered to answer.

Seeing the slight lift of his waist, a mischievous urge suddenly bubbled up inside me. Biting back a laugh, I kept my voice icy. "Didn't you hate me the most? Fine, I'll leave then."

Honestly, I'd had my fun.

What did I care if he was happy or not?

Striding out the door, I quietly pressed myself against the wall beside it, listening intently for any movement inside while tuning in to his thoughts.

Just moments ago, he'd been agonizing over our relationship—until a few shocking lines burst into my mind:

*"Waaah, don't go, wifey... Please don't leave..."*

*"Sweetheart, don't be mad! You can hit me, yell at me, anything...!"*

*"Is she really gone...? I miss her already..."*

Quickly, I fished out my phone and hit record, carefully angling it toward the door crack.

The next second—

The sound of muffled sobs drifted from the room.

The Pei family and ours had been business allies for generations. To solidify our commercial empires, our families arranged a marriage pact between us since childhood. The Pei family had two sons—the elder Pei Sheng and the younger Pei Chuan. The elders said I could choose which brother to marry when I grew up.

Pei Sheng was several years older. By the time I formed childhood memories, he'd already gone abroad for studies. In my mind, he remained that "model child" parents always praised. But Pei Chuan was different—we grew up together. Whether skipping classes to visit internet cafes or racing cars at bars, we were inseparable throughout those rebellious teenage years. Yet none of these were the real reason I ultimately chose him.

3.

After entering high school, something subtle shifted between us. He no longer pulled my hair on a whim or touched me casually. Though he spoke less, his quiet care became ever-present.

The ginger tea with brown sugar he brought me when I had menstrual cramps.

The homemade birthday cake he made with his own hands.

The amusement park he took me to after final exams.

On graduation day, his face flushed as he asked if I wanted to attend college in the same city as him.

I thought it was his awkward way of confessing his feelings, so I happily agreed.

But just one month before our families were set to discuss marriage, Pei Chuan crashed his car while driving drunk—leaving him paralyzed from the waist down.

My mother came to me, hesitating before she spoke.

"Pei Sheng's circumstances are actually better. I think he's more suited for you."

I knew my parents weren’t the type to judge based on status—they wouldn’t abandon Pei Chuan just because he was disabled.

I pressed for the truth.

Only then did I learn that Pei Chuan had been drinking because the girl he’d secretly loved for years was getting married.

He had kept it from me. His heart had belonged to someone else all along.

Then what was I to him?

What did all those years of tenderness and care even mean?

Furious, I stormed off to confront him—but the moment I saw his hollow expression and lifeless legs, my anger faltered.

All my fury dissolved into bitter resentment.

In a fit of anger, I decided to marry him.

I’m no saint—I wasn’t about to forgive his deception just because he got hurt.

He had someone else in his heart, yet he treated me so well, making me believe I was special.

Since he chose to hurt me, he deserved to pay for what he’d done.

His older brother, Pei Sheng, was innocent. I couldn’t drag him into this.

But Pei Chuan, that liar—

Wasn’t there some unattainable "white moonlight" he couldn’t let go of?

Fine. I’d marry him, then. I’d make sure he never got the one he truly wanted.

For the rest of his miserable life, he’d endure my humiliation and torment. That was the punishment he deserved.

But now…

His innermost thoughts were betraying him.

This man, who played the cold and indifferent act in front of me—had he loved me all along?

His mental confessions grew bolder, more shameless.

My fingers trembled, and my phone clattered to the floor.

The crying in the room came to an abrupt halt.

I barged in and slapped him twice across the face.

Just as I was about to demand an explanation for his deceit, it hit me—he had kept me in the dark all this time, making me suffer for nothing.

Fury boiled over, and I struck him two more times.

Pei Chuan's eyes reddened. After enduring four slaps, a low groan escaped his throat.

Damn it.

He was actually enjoying this.

That only made me angrier.

4.

*So good, so good, so good... Getting slapped by my wife feels incredible...*

*I want to crush her into my arms, make her mine forever.*

*My wife is so twisted—I love it.*

*No, I can’t let her find out how I really feel. I don’t deserve her.*

*I’d rather have her hate me than leave me.*

*She smells so sweet, so soft... I just want to kiss her.*

In the past, whenever Pei Chuan angered me or deliberately distanced himself,

I would never hesitate to punish him—using the most intimate methods to make him yield.

My hand moved out of habit, but the moment I touched his scorching skin, I jolted awake.

No more rewarding him with pleasure!

Pei Chuan tilted his head back, his gaze hazy, his Adam’s apple bobbing rapidly, his chest heaving with each ragged breath.

When he noticed me pausing to stare at him,

those beautiful eyes instantly frosted over, brimming with the usual disdain.

Just as his inner thoughts revealed—this man was nothing but a facade in front of me.

I let out a cold laugh.

Releasing his collar, I stood and stepped back.

Picking up the glass of ice water from the table, I flung it mercilessly into his face.

The freezing droplets trailed down his cheeks, soaking his shirt and clinging to the sculpted contours of his body.

My gaze dropped lower.

Without hesitation, I pressed the sharp tip of my stiletto against him.

Watching his pained yet restrained expression, I curled my lips into a smirk, though my voice remained icy.

I'd never dare say I like you.

Before the car accident, you deliberately kept your distance.

Now you're still pretending to loathe me.

Why should I forgive you so easily just because I heard your inner thoughts?

"Do you know how I feel every time we get intimate?"

I gripped his tense jaw, forcing him to meet my gaze—those eyes brimming with raw desire.

"Pei Chuan, I’ll admit, you’ve got an impressive physique."

He stayed silent, but his spine straightened almost imperceptibly, as if preening under my attention.

With a cold laugh, I withdrew my hand and stepped back.

My voice was glacial.

"Too bad that’s all you’ve got going for you."

"Did you actually think I had feelings for you?"

I threw his own words back at him, syllable for syllable.

"Don’t be naive. This is nothing but a marriage of convenience."

Watching the color drain from Pei Chuan’s face, I felt a surge of satisfaction. Without another word, I turned and walked out of the room.

That night, the sound of running water from his shower never stopped.

I slept soundly and woke up in high spirits, heading downstairs for breakfast.

Pei Chuan, already seated at the dining table, immediately looked up when he saw me, his eyes lighting up for a fleeting moment before he quickly lowered his gaze again.

Tying my hair up casually, I scooped a spoonful of steaming congee and asked nonchalantly,

"Is Pei Sheng coming back today?"

The Pei family patriarch, now advanced in age, had originally planned to hand over the reins of the conglomerate once Pei Chuan and I got married. But Pei Sheng had always been devoted to his research, with no interest in the cutthroat world of business.

Then, unexpectedly, Pei Chuan’s accident happened.

My own family’s company was in the middle of restructuring, barely keeping up with its own affairs—let alone having the capacity to support the Pei Group. Left with no choice, the family had to recall Pei Sheng from his lab to temporarily take charge.

If I remembered correctly, these next few days should mark his return.

Pei Chuan’s expression darkened instantly. He lowered his head and stirred his congee violently, as if taking out his frustration on the bowl.

*[Why does she keep bringing up my brother? Does she like him more?]*

*[I knew it—she must think I’m useless now that I’m crippled.]*

*[I cried too much last night… My eyes are all swollen. What if she thinks I’m ugly now?]*

"If my wife keeps ignoring me, I might as well eat the dishes too."

My chopsticks paused mid-air as I caught sight of his red-rimmed eyes from the corner of my vision. Just as I was about to speak, Pei Chuan abruptly lifted his head, wiped his mouth, and feigned composure.

"The air conditioning was too cold last night. I just didn’t sleep well—it’s not like I cried over what you said yesterday. Don’t flatter yourself. Weren’t you the one who said this was just a marriage of convenience..."

Before he could finish, I waved my hand impatiently, signaling him to shut up.

Pointing at the basket of steamed buns in front of him, I said, "Pass me those."

Seeing how utterly indifferent I was to his explanation, Pei Chuan’s face paled further. He froze in his wheelchair, unmoving.

Auntie Zhang, sensing the tension, quickly set down her work and handed me the basket of buns from his side.

I took a delicate bite, then glanced up again.

Pei Chuan’s expression softened slightly, his eyes brimming with hope.

I spoke again. "And pass me the garlic sauce too."

Now.

He looked like he was suffocating.

This breakfast.

Pei Chuan was unusually silent the entire time.

After finishing the last spoonful of congee, I stood up, threw on my coat, grabbed my bag, and headed for the door.

Pei Chuan, who had been lost in thought, suddenly straightened up, his eyes locking onto me.

As my hand touched the doorknob, he blurted out,

"Wait for me. I'm not done yet."

I turned back, puzzled.

"I'm going to the airport to pick up Pei Sheng. What's the point of you coming along with your leg like that?"

*Clatter.*

The spoon slipped from Pei Chuan's fingers and clattered onto the table.

His eyes widened in disbelief, his voice sharp with sudden intensity.

"So that's all you remember about today? That *he's* coming back?"

"What else?"

"You really forgot that today is—"

Pei Chuan's fingers clenched around the armrests of his wheelchair, his entire body trembling with barely contained fury.

He bit back the words halfway, swallowing them down like shards of glass.

Turning away, his voice was ice.

"Never mind. Go pick up my brother. May you live happily ever after."

"......"