Chapter 3: You Must Carefully Maintain Pei Qiaonian’s Persona

Xu’s father assumed Xu Yunzhu was simply refusing to speak, unaware that Pei Qiaonian, having just learned he had swapped bodies with Xu Yunzhu, was still in shock.

Pei Qiaonian had seen all manner of storms and the wild swings of the stock market in his life, but never anything so bizarre—he had switched bodies with a woman, and not just any woman, but his cousin’s fiancée.

While Xu Yunzhu remained lost in thought and silent, Xu’s father grew angry. “Xu Yunzhu, are you listening to me? Go find Pei Jin right now and ask for his forgiveness. You must have done something wrong for him to talk about breaking off the engagement. While the engagement isn’t officially over, you’d better make it up to him.”

“Shut up!”

Pei Qiaonian’s temples throbbed from the noise, and he glared at the others in the hospital room with a look so fierce that Xu’s father fell silent in astonishment, staring wide-eyed at Xu Yunzhu.

Pei Qiaonian’s mind was in turmoil. If he didn’t deal with this soon, he might not make it out of the hospital before tearing Xu Yunzhu apart. Every time he looked down, all he saw was the most conspicuous part of his borrowed body. Even breathing felt like a burden. He closed his eyes in despair.

Uncertain whether his own body was now occupied by Xu Yunzhu, he knew he needed to see it for himself and put an end to this absurd farce.

His face was icy, utterly unlike the usual Xu Yunzhu.

Xu Yunzhu had never dared raise her voice to her father, let alone tell him to shut up. She had always been timid—a parasite living off the Xu family.

The problem stemmed from the childhood engagement made between Xu Yunzhu and Pei Jin before she went missing. Upon her return, Old Master Pei insisted the engagement must not be changed, which made Xu Muning sick with resentment. She tried to win back her family’s love and even wanted to steal the man Xu Muning cared for most.

Xu Muning, her eyes darting, suddenly knelt down in tears. “Sister, let me kowtow to you. It’s not father’s fault that Brother Pei Jin broke off the engagement. He’s just worried about you. Blame me if you must, but don’t treat father this way.”

She made a show of kowtowing, and Madam Xu hurried to stop her. “Ning Ning, this has nothing to do with you. It’s all her own fault.”

Xu’s father, recovering from his shock, realized he’d been silenced by a girl. His gaze turned wrathful as he looked at Xu Yunzhu. “Ungrateful child! If this engagement falls through, you know the consequences.”

Xu Muning, still kneeling and nestled in Madam Xu’s arms, cast a provocative look at Xu Yunzhu, making it clear that even if Xu Yunzhu was the real daughter, the family’s love would always belong to her.

Pei Qiaonian, seasoned in business intrigue, couldn’t help but laugh coldly.

In this world, he threatened others—no one had ever dared challenge him like this.

“Do you know what it means to kowtow?” Xu Yunzhu’s normally gentle voice emerged cold and hard.

Everyone froze. Xu Muning blinked in confusion. “What?”

Pei Qiaonian strode over, seized Xu Muning by the head, and forced her down until her forehead struck the floor and blood appeared. Only then did he release her, his tone languid. “Remember that feeling? That’s what kowtowing is.”

A scream echoed through the room.

The entire upheaval took but a moment.

Xu Muning, terrified, broke free and scrambled to the corner, clutching her forehead, tears in her eyes as she stared at Xu Yunzhu, who now seemed a vengeful spirit.

She trembled inside.

What was happening?

How had she changed so completely after sleeping for two days?

“Ning Ning!” Madam Xu rushed to embrace her, casting a look of disgust at Xu Yunzhu. “Xu Yunzhu, how can you be so vicious?”

Xu’s father recovered and raised his hand to slap Xu Yunzhu.

Pei Qiaonian, reacting swiftly, caught Xu’s father’s wrist in a slender but firm grip. A storm of emotion flashed in his eyes. Though lacking a man’s strength, he shoved Xu’s father aside and shook his own wrist, his violent glare freezing Xu’s father in place.

“Get out of my way.”

With that, he headed for the door.

If he was right, his own body should also be in this hospital.

The hospital’s VIP ward was in another building. As he reached the main hall, he saw a crowd escorting someone—his own body.

Xu Yunzhu, sensing the intensity of his gaze, turned and nearly collapsed in fright when their eyes met.

In that instant, both knew—they had switched bodies.

Pei Qiaonian’s glare could have killed. He looked at her as if she were already dead. Xu Yunzhu could imagine that if they ever switched back, she might not survive in one piece.

Pale-faced, Xu Yunzhu grabbed the elegant Mrs. Pei and hurriedly pulled her along. “Quick, let’s run!”

Mrs. Pei was baffled.

Pei Qiaonian tried to give chase, but was blocked by several bodyguards. “Miss Xu, please behave yourself. Right now, you should be thinking about how to appease our young master’s anger.”

Pei Qiaonian said nothing, his gaze sweeping over their faces.

The first thing he’d do once he got his body back was fire every last one of them!

Outside the hospital, a luxury car was already waiting for Xu Yunzhu.

A special assistant stood ready by the car, respectfully opening the door for her.

It was the first time Xu Yunzhu had ridden in such a car. Nervous, she bumped her head as she got in.

“Ow—ow, that hurts!”

The assistant froze, peeking through the open door at the imposing six-foot-two man inside, now gently rubbing his head and pursing his lips in a petulant whimper. The assistant nearly fainted.

His toes curled in embarrassment.

He glanced at Mrs. Pei, as if to ask, “How did a normal person come out of the hospital so… changed?”

Mrs. Pei herself was at a loss for words. After a deep breath, she said heavily, “Take the young master back to the main house. I need to speak with the doctor again…”

As the secretary took the driver’s seat, he checked the rearview mirror—thankfully, their usually stern young master had returned to his normal self, face blank and imposing as always. The secretary breathed a silent sigh of relief. No change… Thank goodness.

Meanwhile, the reason Xu Yunzhu looked so stiff was that the wretched system had followed her.

According to its explanation, a bug had caused this incident. Since the system was bound to her soul, it would go wherever she went.

This body swap was wholly unexpected. The system instructed her to stay calm while it searched for a solution. In the meantime, she couldn’t neglect her mission: only by raising Pei Jin’s affection to one hundred could she return.

Xu Yunzhu, on the verge of tears, asked, “How am I supposed to stay calm? Pei Qiaonian already knows we’ve switched bodies. What if he decides to kill me?”

077 responded, “...He won’t, as long as you maintain Pei Qiaonian’s persona and don’t do anything out of character. Otherwise, I’m afraid you’ll be his first target when you switch back.”

Xu Yunzhu fell silent.