Persuade With Reason

"Savior?" Zhao Jiuyu turned to look at Jin Fei.

Jin Fei met his gaze calmly, as if agreeing with Shi Yibai's words.

Two years were enough to make a girl even more beautiful, but also slightly unfamiliar.

In his memory, Jin Fei was always impeccably dressed, as ethereal as a fairy, aloof and untouchable. Though she had many admirers, she rarely showed them a genuine smile.

Her smile was perfect, polished, yet distant and polite.

In the past, she wouldn't raise her eyebrows at people, nor would she smile so... alluringly.

"It's good that you're fine," Zhao Jiuyu looked away. "I'll take you home."

Jin Fei glanced at Shi Yibai, who smiled gently at her. "Since Mr. Zhao is here to pick you up, I won't intrude. Please give me a call when you get home."

Zhao Jiuyu silently observed Shi Yibai.

"Sure," Jin Fei replied casually, turning to take the luggage bag from Assistant Yang, but Zhao Jiuyu grabbed it first.

"Let's go," Zhao Jiuyu's tone was stern.

Jin Fei glanced at him, then turned to Shi Yibai. "Mr. Shi, be careful when you're out alone in the future."

"Thank you for the reminder, Miss Jin. I will," Shi Yibai smiled warmly.

"Goodbye," Jin Fei nodded at Assistant Yang.

"Goodbye, Miss Jin," Assistant Yang's eyes sparkled as he looked at her.

Little did Jin Fei know, in Assistant Yang's mind, she had inexplicably become a masterful and charming "player."

As soon as she got into Zhao Jiuyu's car, Zhao Yue eagerly asked, "That Mr. Shi is truly a rare gem among men. How did you become his savior?"

"I saw a car trying to hit him, so I drove over to block it," Jin Fei said nonchalantly. "In a way, that counts as saving his life."

"Tsk tsk, saving his life..." Zhao Yue's tone was layered with meaning.

"Fei Fei," Zhao Jiuyu turned off the car's music. "That was too dangerous. You shouldn't have done that."

"When that car was coming, I calculated its speed and distance to ensure my safety," Jin Fei explained patiently, knowing Zhao Jiuyu was concerned. "But if I hadn't stopped it, Mr. Shi's chance of survival would have been less than ten percent."

"Accidents happen," Zhao Jiuyu's voice was heavy. "What if your calculations were wrong? Do you want Uncle Jin and Aunt Zhou to grieve for you?"

"Brother..." Zhao Yue whispered, "Fei Fei is fine now."

"This time, yes. But what about next time?" Zhao Jiuyu sighed. "Fei Fei, you're just a girl..."

"Which is why I should be brave," Jin Fei smiled. "Bravery, resilience, and staying true to oneself—these are the beautiful qualities of women."

The wind picked up outside the car.

Zhao Jiuyu watched the tree branches swaying along the street.

He remembered over a decade ago, when Jin Fei heard that Jin Bo was being bullied by older boys, she rushed out and got into a fight.

After that fight, her pretty braids were undone, her clothes were covered in dust, and her arm was bitten. She cried all the way to the doctor.

From then on, Jin Fei started learning martial arts. But later, she always dressed beautifully, surrounded by boys and girls, making him forget that this girl had an unyielding heart.

The ride was silent. Zhao Jiuyu parked the car at Jin Fei's house. She invited Zhao Jiuyu and Zhao Yue inside, but Zhao Jiuyu declined.

"Fei Fei..." Zhao Jiuyu hesitated. "That Mr. Shi is a scheming man. You shouldn't get involved with him."

Jin Fei smiled at him, neither agreeing nor refusing.

On the way back, Zhao Yue glanced at Zhao Jiuyu several times before finally speaking up. "Brother, even though we're siblings, I have to say something."

"What?"

"Don't you think... you're being a bit too controlling?" Zhao Yue's voice grew softer and softer. "Fei Fei is twenty-three, not two or three. She should decide for herself who she befriends and how she lives her life."

"Do you want those shady people to get close to her?" Zhao Jiuyu's expression darkened. "And that Xie Lisu, what kind of person is he?! She's twenty-three, she can't keep living like this..."

"Some people's charm is impossible to hide," Zhao Yue shook her head. "When Fei Fei is in a crowd, even if she does nothing, her every smile, every frown, is captivating. A pearl attracts admiration, but should we blame the pearl for being too beautiful?"

"Brother, you've watched Fei Fei grow up. She's practically your sister," Zhao Yue said, puzzled. "You should be proud that your sister has grown into such an outstanding person."

Proud?

Zhao Jiuyu almost cursed. He clenched his jaw and said nothing more.

Back in her room, Jin Fei changed into her pajamas and turned on *Tom and Jerry* when she received a message from Shi Yibai.

[Miss Jin, have you arrived home safely?]

Jin Fei replied: [Yes.]

[Rest well and have sweet dreams.]

Putting down his phone, Shi Yibai stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, looking out at the bustling yet cold cityscape.

The wound on his hand had started to scab, making it easier to recall the past.

"Boss," Assistant Chen knocked and entered. "The profiles of the young elites who have been highly sought after by major conglomerates this past year are all here."

"Leave them," Shi Yibai took out a few red strings from the drawer and began weaving them rapidly.

"Also..." Assistant Chen hesitated. "Miss Jin is on this list."

The unfinished knot fell apart. Shi Yibai picked up the document and opened it. The first page was Jin Fei's profile.

The "Awards" section was densely packed with entries.

Her young life was almost perfect.

This was a girl who had been exceptional since childhood, never seeming to make a misstep.

No.

Shi Yibai looked at the photo on the document. Dating Xie Lisu might have been her only mistake.

"I really have no interest in that Xie Lisu. You don't have to avoid mentioning him around me," Jin Fei explained seriously to her family. "Don't worry, I'll definitely marry a very good man in the future."

Jin Bo: "..."

He wanted to say that "marry" wasn't the right word here. But considering Jin Fei's charm, he suspected that even if she said "marry," there would be men lining up to say, "I do."

Thinking this, Jin Bo glanced at his parents. Shouldn't they correct her?

But all he saw was his dad sipping tea and his mom silently peeling fruit.

This family was hopeless.

As the only sane man in the house, Jin Bo felt the pressure.

"You guys rest, I'll go tidy up the study," Jin Bo said, deciding to escape before his sister's words corrupted him further.

"Little brother, even though you're a boy, you shouldn't be too domestic," Jin Fei said earnestly. "Otherwise, you'll get taken advantage of in the future."

Please, just stop talking.

If she kept this up, he might as well start planning his own wedding.

The study was mostly used by Jin Fei. Since she had been sick, it had been neglected. Jin Bo hated cleaning, but thinking his sister might use the study soon, he reluctantly started organizing.

He couldn't understand most of the foreign books, so he left them untouched.

On the most secluded shelf, there were stacks of gossip magazines and cheesy novels.

Who would have thought that the perfect goddess in everyone's eyes secretly enjoyed reading trashy novels and celebrity gossip?

*Thud.*

A book fell to the floor.

Jin Bo bent down to pick it up.

Oh, the title was *The Domineering Prince and His Charming Consort*. Simple and straightforward.

Wait...

Charming Consort?

Consort?!