Chapter 40: Setting Out for Haicheng

What followed was a melodramatic family reunion. Her adoptive mother was saved, and she continued to fulfill the obligations of the true heiress in the marriage arrangement. The memories blurred at this point—as if they were recollections the original person was reluctant to revisit. Perhaps those five years in the Xu family were far from happy.

The hospital nurse regarded Xu Yunzhu with curiosity. Pei Qiaonian’s appearance was so striking that wherever he went, he drew attention like a magnet. Unable to restrain herself, the nurse stepped forward and asked, “Sir, may I ask whom you’re looking for?”

“Cen Qiuhua in room 316,” he replied.

The nurse eyed him suspiciously. She’d heard the patient had no relatives, only a daughter, and now this man claimed to be here for her, which seemed dubious. She grew more alert. “And who are you to the patient?”

Xu Yunzhu remembered she still wore Pei Qiaonian’s body, so she improvised. “I’m a friend of the patient’s daughter. She’s been busy lately, so she asked me to visit in her stead.” She scrolled through her phone and showed her own photo. “See, this is her daughter.”

The nurse recognized Xu Yunzhu and allowed her to pass. “Go ahead, but visiting time is limited to thirty minutes. The patient needs injections soon.”

Xu Yunzhu nodded, waited for the nurse to leave, then stood at the door of the ward, peering inside through the window rather than entering. Cen Qiuhua’s condition was severe; she would never walk again, her legs shattered from the beating, and the adoptive father had vanished after leaving jail. No one knew where he’d gone.

Xu Yunzhu took a deep breath. With her current identity, meeting her adoptive mother was inappropriate. She glanced inside, then turned to leave.

But to her surprise, upon turning, she encountered Xu Yu.

He looked gentle and refined, his eyes registering surprise at her appearance. “President Pei?”

Xu Yunzhu was startled as well. Why was her nominal brother in this hospital too? She felt reluctant to interact, but fortunately, Xu Yu kept his distance.

She maintained a cold expression, nodding slightly in greeting.

“What brings you here?” he pressed.

Xu Yunzhu felt violated by his persistence. In her memories, this brother had always been exceedingly attentive—so much so that he would even select her underwear for her, and her wardrobe was filled with clothes he preferred. He even dictated her daily meals. In short, for a brother, he had no sense of boundaries.

Even the original person found him intolerable, and Xu Yunzhu herself was repulsed. She responded with disdain, “What I’m doing here is none of your concern.”

Xu Yu realized his overstep and quickly bowed his head. “Forgive me, President Pei. I shouldn’t have asked.”

Xu Yunzhu brushed past him and left. Xu Yu stared after her for a full minute before turning his gaze to room 316. She had just been at that door. But that was Xu Yunzhu’s adoptive mother’s room—why was Pei Qiaonian visiting? There was no connection between Pei Qiaonian and Xu Yunzhu.

Cen Qiuhua’s medical bills were paid, and Xu Yunzhu always visited her adoptive mother at least once a month. But this month had nearly passed, and the staff arranged by Xu Yu had not spotted her. He pulled out his phone and sent Xu Yunzhu a message, only for it to return with a red exclamation mark—he’d been blocked!

Such a thing was previously unimaginable. Xu Yu’s face darkened, a sickly glint flashing in his eyes.

Xu Yunzhu!

He took a deep breath, suppressing his restless anger and the feeling of things slipping beyond his control. She would come back; hiding from him could only last so long.

Soon, the day arrived to leave for Haicheng.

Pei Qiaonian insisted she book a room at the same hotel as him—the very hotel arranged by the program team, where filming would last three days before moving elsewhere. This season’s reality romance show would be broadcast live, allowing viewers an authentic immersion into the love stories between celebrities and ordinary people.

Pei Qiaonian was appointed as a romance observer—in other words, he would handle all the dirty and tedious work, barely appearing on camera. He didn’t travel with Sister Cheng but instead shared a business class seat with Xu Yunzhu. The cabin was empty except for the two of them.

Pei Qiaonian pulled out a stack of documents to brief Xu Yunzhu on Fu Tianze. Cunning and vindictive, Fu Tianze was a petty man, notorious for being stingy. Their feud began when Pei Qiaonian outbid him for a piece of land. Fu Tianze, unwilling to spend, blamed Pei Qiaonian for driving up the price. Over time, their rivalry deepened, and their companies never collaborated.

Fortunately, one was based in the capital, the other in Haicheng, so business rarely overlapped, allowing a tenuous peace. But now, the land dispute had brought them together again.

Pei Qiaonian’s advice was to resolve everything with money if possible. Once someone like Fu Tianze latched on, escape became difficult. The negotiations would be handled by professionals.

He handed Xu Yunzhu a document. “Fu Tianze’s extra land will be settled by Assistant Gao at a final price of 2.3 million. Though it’s a bit of a loss, it won’t delay the resort’s construction. You’ll have escorts throughout, and you and Fu Tianze need only sign the agreement. Understood?”

Xu Yunzhu nodded. She could handle such minor matters.

She wanted to discuss something about the entertainment industry, but recalling his recent aggressive behavior, she swallowed her words. It was best not to invite humiliation.

The moment their flight landed in Haicheng, her phone rang.

It was Elder Pei calling.

Pei Qiaonian gestured for her to answer, and Xu Yunzhu put the call on speaker.

“Hello, Grandpa.”

Elder Pei’s voice was cold and devoid of emotion. “I hear you’re in Haicheng?”

Xu Yunzhu glanced at Pei Qiaonian before replying, “Yes, on business. Is there something you need?”

No sooner had she finished than Pei Qiaonian shot her a glare.

Xu Yunzhu: “???”

Had she said something wrong?

“Hmm,” Elder Pei’s voice softened unexpectedly. “While you’re in Haicheng, please visit the Yun family for me. My health isn’t good, so I must trouble you with this errand.”

“Yes, of course,” Xu Yunzhu replied gently.

Pei Qiaonian’s expression turned as sour as if he’d swallowed something foul.

Xu Yunzhu hurriedly said, “Grandpa, if there’s nothing else, I’ll hang up now.”

Pei Qiaonian sneered. “How dutiful you are.”

Xu Yunzhu: “……”

As a model socialist successor, Xu Yunzhu had always kept the values of respecting elders and caring for the young close to heart. She forced a smile. “It’s just ordinary conversation with your grandfather. He’s nearly eighty—if I were rude to him, people would gossip about you even more.”