Chapter 13: Civil Affairs Bureau

Xu Yunzhu couldn't help twitching the corner of her mouth, silently complaining in her heart that if the person marrying Pei Qiaonian were Ning Qinghuan instead, Pei Jin would probably be furious. But she didn't dare say that aloud.

Instead, she asked, “Are we really getting married?”

She felt that things were fine as they were. If there was something important, they could just send each other a message. Why not remain the most familiar strangers? Why insist on marriage?

Pei Qiaonian glanced at her indifferently. “You’re unwilling? This is the perfect chance to get back at Pei Jin. When he calls you ‘sister-in-law’ in the future, won’t that make you happy?”

Xu Yunzhu was speechless.

But on second thought…

It did sound satisfying!

But wait, something wasn’t right…

Right now, she was in Pei Qiaonian’s body. The title “sister-in-law” would be addressed to him. By the time her real self heard Pei Jin call her that, they’d probably have switched back.

Once they switched back, what awaited Xu Yunzhu was a divorce. What was the point of being called “sister-in-law” then?

She forced a laugh and tried to persuade him earnestly, “Sure, it sounds fun, but you can’t just sacrifice your whole life for that! I think things are fine as they are. If we get married and then switch back, you’ll have been married twice. That doesn’t sound great.”

Pei Qiaonian sneered dismissively. “You think too highly of yourself. You’re not significant enough to affect my whole life. Even if I get married four or five times, there’ll still be plenty of women chasing after me. You don’t need to worry about that. Besides, there’s no way I’d ever like you. So, Xu Yunzhu, mind your own business and don’t cross the line. I’ve already told you I don’t trust you, or believe a word of your nonsense about liking me. If you ever leak company secrets to Pei Jin and leave me with nothing, our current relationship is enough for me to drag you down to hell with me. Try me if you don’t believe it.”

He really was a petty man.

No wonder he was the deranged villain—when he got ruthless, not even he was spared.

What else could Xu Yunzhu say?

She chose silence.

Pei Qiaonian didn’t care whether she agreed or not. He needed to make sure his own situation was secure. As for Xu Yunzhu?

She never entered his calculations.

“When we switch back, I’ll give you a sum of money. You’d better leave China and settle abroad. If I ever see you in China again, you know what’ll happen.” He looked up at her.

His cold, heartless words were spoken with such a beautiful, alluring face, but the threat behind them wasn’t as intimidating as he thought.

Xu Yunzhu had no other option but to nod and agree for now. After all, her legs were her own; she could leave whenever she wanted!

Seeing how obedient she was, Pei Qiaonian’s expression softened a little, his brows slightly furrowed. “Your parents cut off your foster mother’s medical expenses. What are you going to do about that?”

Mentioning her foster mother—

A subtle, inexplicable sadness welled up in Xu Yunzhu’s heart. It took her several seconds to compose herself. Was this another wave of the original owner’s emotions?

It seemed the foster mother was a very important person to the original Xu Yunzhu.

The first time she’d felt that stab of heartache was due to Pei Jin breaking off the engagement.

The original owner had liked Pei Jin, so it made sense that the lingering emotions from the broken engagement were so vivid.

This was the second time—just at the mention of her foster mother.

An intense sadness crept over Xu Yunzhu.

She took a deep breath and silently promised herself she would take good care of her foster mother.

Only then did the pain subside.

Her memories showed her foster mother bedridden, dependent on medication to survive.

Being jilted was what had started the original owner’s descent into darkness, but her foster mother’s death was the main reason she became so twisted, so desperate for the heroine’s downfall.

“I’ll find a way myself. And thanks for helping me get rid of those leeching relatives. President Pei, right now the only way I can make money is in the entertainment industry, so before we switch back, please take your work seriously. Don’t mess things up.” Xu Yunzhu pressed her palms together in a pleading gesture.

Pei Qiaonian had been waiting for Xu Yunzhu to ask him for help with her foster mother’s medical bills—such a small sum was nothing to him.

But she insisted she’d handle it herself.

He swallowed his words and coldly replied, “Do whatever you want. You’re so penniless, I honestly doubt you’re even the real daughter of the Xu family. Your parents treat that fake heiress better than they do you.”

Xu Yunzhu just shrugged indifferently. “Whether they treat me well or not doesn’t matter. I didn’t grow up with them anyway, so it’s only natural if they can’t accept me all of a sudden. Their love or lack of it can’t hurt me. It’s just a shame I won’t get the Xu family inheritance.”

Compared to that vague, fleeting affection, Xu Yunzhu wanted money more.

In her world, she had no expectations for familial love.

She’d only gone back for the sake of the inheritance.

And ended up dying miserably.

She suspected she was nothing but a scapegoat, dragged out as cannon fodder.

Pei Qiaonian was surprised by Xu Yunzhu’s nonchalance. He had to admit, he saw her in a new light—maybe she wasn’t beyond hope after all.

With those kinds of relatives, the only options were to leave them behind or to fight until they retreated. If you let them exploit you, they’d devour you to the bone.

The conversation fell silent.

Five seconds passed before Pei Qiaonian asked, “What’s your relationship with Ning Qinghuan?”

Xu Yunzhu wasn’t surprised in the least.

Ning Qinghuan had been the original owner’s best friend, someone very important to her.

It wasn’t strange that Pei Qiaonian would know about Ning Qinghuan—he’d been using her phone after all.

What’s more, Ning Qinghuan was the woman he would one day love to the point of madness, even resorting to captivity just to possess her.

According to the plot, ever since Ning Qinghuan appeared at Xu Yunzhu’s engagement party, the two had become estranged.

Even when Ning Qinghuan tried to make amends and apologized, the original owner never forgave her.

From best friends, they’d become bitter enemies, constantly at odds with each other in the entertainment world.

But Xu Yunzhu’s fate was especially cruel.

She died before Ning Qinghuan.

She answered truthfully, “We used to be good friends. I suppose we won’t be anymore.”

Pei Qiaonian replied calmly with a simple “Oh.”

Xu Yunzhu grinned at him. “President Pei, how about we make a deal? I’ll help you win over Ning Qinghuan, and after we switch back, can I stay in China? I promise I won’t get in your way.”

Pei Qiaonian nearly thought he’d misheard. “Win over who?”

Xu Yunzhu gave him a knowing smile. “I know exactly what you’re thinking. Don’t worry, I’ve got this.”

Pei Qiaonian was taken aback.

Help him pursue Ning Qinghuan?

In all his life, he’d never chased after a woman.

No, that wasn’t right—there had simply never been a woman worthy of pursuit. None of them deserved it.

He looked at Xu Yunzhu with a faint, mocking smile. “You think you know?”

Xu Yunzhu patted her chest confidently. “You can trust me.”

Pei Qiaonian let out a cold laugh, neither agreeing nor denying.

“Let’s go. To the Civil Affairs Bureau.” He strode ahead.

Xu Yunzhu took it as his tacit approval.

Special Assistant Gao had been waiting outside the whole time. As soon as Xu Yunzhu appeared, he hurried over respectfully, glancing at Pei Qiaonian behind her.

He asked, “President Pei, are we heading to the company next?”

Xu Yunzhu stepped forward eagerly and opened the car door for Pei Qiaonian, then turned to reply, “We’re going to the Civil Affairs Bureau.”

“Oh, to the Civil Affairs Bureau…” Gao repeated, then suddenly snapped to attention, his voice trembling, “W-where did you say?”

Before Xu Yunzhu could repeat herself, Pei Qiaonian’s icy glare cut across. “Gao Yan, if you can’t understand plain words, you’d better take your salary and get lost.”

Gao was speechless.

The look and tone—

Why did this Miss Xu seem more like his boss than the actual boss?