Chapter 10: Even If Your Mind Is Healed, You’ll Still Drool

Pei Qiaonian flicked his finger, and the glowing phone screen in the darkness dimmed instantly.

He turned, his gaze as proud and disdainful as ever. As his eyes swept past Xu Mu Ning, he noticed a bandage plastered to her forehead, which made her look rather ridiculous.

He scoffed, his tone dripping with contempt. “Pei Jin doesn’t want me. Do you really think he’ll want you? Please, get it straight: he came to break off my engagement, and even if the role was yours, he’d do the same to you.”

Xu Mu Ning glared fiercely at Pei Qiaonian. “Not a chance! Brother Pei Jin and I grew up together. The bond between us is something you could never match!”

Pei Qiaonian looked at her quietly, eyes narrowing. He tossed out a few words, cool and sharp. “Even if your brain were cured, you’d still drool.”

Xu Mu Ning, furious, lunged toward him as if to tear him apart. “What’s that supposed to mean!”

Pei Qiaonian regarded her with disgust.

Late-stage lovesickness—hopeless.

“What are you two sisters squabbling about? Come inside; I have some things to ask you.” Father Xu glanced at Pei Qiaonian, then strode ahead.

Madam Xu clearly had no desire to see her daughter; she didn’t even ask a question, following right behind her husband.

A stranger’s voice suddenly broke the silence: “Yun Zhuo, it’s been so long. Are you well? Is there anything you need your brother’s help with?” His eyes brimmed with concern.

Xu Mu Ning hurried to cling to the man’s arm, pouting. “Brother, why do you care about her? Yun Zhuo hit me today, you know; look, my forehead’s all scraped up and it hurts.”

The man’s refined features softened with helplessness; he stroked Xu Mu Ning’s head tenderly. “Don’t provoke your sister.”

Xu Mu Ning rolled her eyes at him and flung his hand away, stalking off.

Since he appeared with the Xu family and Xu Mu Ning called him brother, he must be Xu Yun Zhuo’s brother as well.

Pei Qiaonian pondered, his memory sharp. Occasionally, Assistant Gao would mention bits of gossip, and he’d listen half-heartedly. He recalled hearing that aside from Xu Yun Zhuo, Father Xu had adopted a son named Xu Yu, grooming him as heir. This must be the man before him.

Pei Qiaonian appraised him: handsome brows, gentle demeanor, elegant and cultured, exuding an easy charm that inspired instant goodwill.

Xu Yu looked at him with resignation. “Yun Zhuo, why do you look at me that way? We’ve only been apart three months—do you not recognize your brother anymore?”

He stepped forward, gently ruffling Pei Qiaonian’s hair. “I returned to attend your wedding, but I didn’t expect your engagement to be broken. Don’t be sad; you always have your brother.”

Pei Qiaonian shuddered inwardly.

Though outwardly a woman, he was a man through and through.

He instinctively brushed Xu Yu’s hand away, eyes cold. “If you want to talk, talk. Don’t touch me.”

Pei Qiaonian thought he glimpsed disappointment in the man’s eyes. He searched Xu Yu’s features, finding them oddly familiar.

“Yun Zhuo…”

Unable to stand another moment with Xu Yu, Pei Qiaonian turned and walked away.

Xu Yu glanced down at his reddened hand, his dark eyes swirling with suppressed emotion as he watched Pei Qiaonian’s retreating back.

When they entered the hall, bright lights illuminated the space.

Pei Qiaonian studied Father Xu more closely and realized why Xu Yu seemed familiar—upon inspection, Xu Yu’s features bore a faint resemblance to Father Xu.

He chuckled inwardly.

The Xu family certainly was interesting.

Xu Mu Ning was lovesick.

Xu Yun Zhuo was an infamous sycophant.

And now, a scheming adopted brother had returned from abroad.

How amusing.

Father Xu spoke in a low voice, “How did things go with Pei Jin today? Will the wedding still proceed as planned?”

The engagement had been set for a few days prior, with the wedding scheduled for a month later.

But fate intervened.

The engagement ceremony couldn’t be repeated, so only the wedding remained.

Pei Qiaonian’s phone vibrated. A message from Xu Yun Zhuo appeared:

[Forgot to mention, Pei Jin broke off the engagement with me. Your grandfather was so angry he kicked him out of the house.]

Pei Qiaonian raised an eyebrow, surprised.

Pei Jin had wanted into the company for ages, but now he’d cut ties with his family for Ning Qinghuan.

Thinking of that woman, Pei Qiaonian felt his attitude shift.

At first, he’d considered her a mere amusement—something pretty to keep around, nothing more. Beautiful women made pleasant company. But now, she was not to be underestimated.

She’d managed to captivate him, and at the same time, win Pei Jin’s unwavering devotion.

Pei Qiaonian’s eyes flickered. Xu Yun Zhuo’s almond-shaped eyes, beautiful and vibrant, seemed more spirited thanks to his manner. He smiled, lips curving. “The engagement is broken. It seems things won’t go as you hoped.”

Father Xu stared at him in shock, then erupted in anger. “I gave you such a good opportunity, and this is how you repay me?”

Xu Mu Ning’s joy was impossible to hide, fanning the flames nearby. “If it were me, I’d beg Brother Pei Jin on my knees for just one glance.”

Pei Qiaonian looked at her, half-smiling. “What, you want to try kowtowing?”

Xu Mu Ning instinctively covered her forehead, feeling aggrieved and annoyed. As her gaze slid over Pei Qiaonian’s dazzling face, jealousy flared. Xu Yun Zhuo was stunning; even if she was a mess, that face was universally acknowledged online as a ‘vase beauty.’ She’d always been timid, but now her aura had changed—just standing there, she was impossible to ignore. Xu Mu Ning felt a deep sense of crisis.

Madam Xu’s expression was icy. “You were the one who found your way back, and then schemed so that the elite circles of Beijing learned you were the real eldest Miss Xu, lost years ago. The engagement that should have belonged to Ning Ning only returned to you because of Old Pei’s words. We set clear terms back then: if you couldn’t marry Pei Jin and bring benefit to the Xu family, we wouldn’t care about your adoptive mother’s life. Xu Yun Zhuo, the opportunity was yours to lose; you can’t blame us.”

“Of course, there’s another option. President Wang of Ding Sheng Technology, our longtime partner, has taken a liking to you. If you’re willing to marry him and bring the Xu family enough profit, we’ll continue paying for your adoptive mother’s medical bills.”

Pei Qiaonian listened quietly.

Father Xu remained silent, tacitly agreeing with Madam Xu.

Xu Mu Ning’s schadenfreude was plain to see.

Only Xu Yu watched him with apparent concern, though he didn’t speak up for him.

Pei Qiaonian suddenly thought of Xu Yun Zhuo.

He’d learned that name because of Pei Jin—whenever Pei Jin came home, he’d complain about a clingy nuisance he couldn’t shake, annoyed yet forced to tolerate Xu Yun Zhuo’s pestering thanks to Old Pei’s wishes.