Chapter 44: At My Age, Finding a Wife Isn't Easy

Pei Qiaonian had met Xie Zhiyuan once before.

At least in front of him, this woman was gentle, modest, and courteous—a person of good family and upbringing. Even when dealing with servants, she never lost her temper.

Yet he felt no particular interest in this Xie Zhiyuan.

No matter how outstanding she was in every aspect, including her looks, she simply did not move him. There was no spark between them; they were not suited.

Now, having swapped bodies with Xu Yunzhuo, it was easy for him to discern at a glance whether people he’d met before were friend or foe.

This included Ning Qinghuan, for whom he had once harbored a bit of fondness.

Thinking back on it now only made him feel nauseous.

If he ever lost his head over a woman like Ning Qinghuan without first knowing her true character, he’d want to slap himself silly.

On the other side, Xie Zhiyuan had of course met Pei’s mother.

Pei’s mother had told her everything—how Xu Yunzhuo had barely left Pei Jin’s side before trying to seduce Pei Qiaonian.

She said nothing aloud, but in her heart she was already cursing Xu Yunzhuo for her shamelessness, her lack of morality. No decent person would behave in such a way, becoming a laughingstock. Yet not only had Xu Yunzhuo done so, she still refused to let go of Pei Qiaonian.

Her dislike of this coarse and rude Xu Yunzhuo only grew.

[Am I crazy? I actually think Xu Yunzhuo is really handsome. Am I out of my mind? She’s so beautiful and cool, especially when she says she wants to fight.]

[Honestly… I kind of want to see her fight. Haha, she’d be the first to ever throw a punch on a reality show.]

[I can’t help feeling a little sorry for her. Aside from Hu Biting, it seems like the other five don’t like her at all.]

Next came the drawing of lots.

Pei Qiaonian would announce the results and choose a couple to follow, recording their sweet moments.

The first couple: Gu Qi and Xie Zhiyuan.

The second: Ning Qinghuan and Yan Feixing.

The third: Pei Jin and Hu Biting.

[Ahhh, how could this happen! None of my favorite pairs ended up together—I’m going to cry.]

[Gu Qi and Xie Zhiyuan??? Oh my god... I’ve heard Gu Qi has a terrible reputation and is a total playboy. Xie Zhiyuan looks like such a goody-two-shoes—they don’t match at all!]

[Pei the Movie King and Hu Biting look decent together... but Biting is way too cool, she looks more manly than he does. He can’t possibly be into her type, right?]

Gu Qi’s eyes lit up when he learned his partner was Xie Zhiyuan.

The Xie family had been red royalty for three generations. Though they weren’t in business, such a powerful background was a temptation to any businessman.

Rumor had it she’d been seeing Pei Qiaonian—if that were true, Pei Qiaonian was a fool not to cherish such a prize.

He immediately walked over to Xie Zhiyuan like a gentleman and extended his hand. “My dear Miss Zhiyuan, I hope we have a smooth romance in the coming days.”

Xie Zhiyuan smiled gently, declined his hand, and instead gave a light handshake. “Looking forward to working together.”

She had said “working together,” not “romance.”

Anyone with eyes could see she was politely refusing him.

But Gu Qi pretended not to notice, grinning: “I’ll treat you well from now on. You’re my one and only.”

Pei Qiaonian didn’t know if Gu Qi felt embarrassed, but when he saw Xie Zhiyuan’s stiff smile, he couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Gu Qi immediately glared at him. “What are you laughing at!”

Pei Qiaonian toned down his smile a bit, but only a little. “Your nose is red.”

Gu Qi: “???”

He looked confused. “What does that mean?”

Pei Qiaonian gave a faint smile. “Nothing.”

[Hahaha, our crazy sister is calling him a clown. Gu Qi’s clueless look is killing me.]

[Does he really think he’s being romantic? This greasy guy thinks I didn’t get enough oil at dinner?]

[Xie Zhiyuan: politely refused, not interested. Haha, from her expression, I can see she finds Gu Qi distasteful. Honestly, a rich heir with a rich heiress is a good match—money power couple.]

At that moment, the host spoke: “Xu Yunzhuo, it’s your turn to choose a couple to follow and record their day of romance.”

Pei Qiaonian glanced over the three pairs and pointed at Pei Jin. “I choose him.”

Pei Jin shot him a cold look. Pei Qiaonian smiled faintly at him, watching as the disgust in his eyes deepened.

Pei Qiaonian felt only one thing: satisfaction.

Meanwhile, in her hotel room watching the live broadcast, Xu Yunzhuo was speechless.

[Warning: target’s affection level -65.]

Xu Yunzhuo finally understood why.

Why did Pei Jin’s favorability toward her drop so low, even though she had done nothing?

It was all because Pei Qiaonian was provoking him.

No wonder they were sworn enemies.

Even though he was in her body—a woman—the grudge could not be forgotten.

Xu Yunzhuo felt like crying.

Wei Zhichen emerged from the bathroom to find Xu Yunzhuo glaring furiously at the TV broadcast.

His gaze shifted from her face to the TV screen.

It was a newly-launched reality show.

At that moment, the camera was focused on a captivatingly beautiful woman. Xu Yunzhuo was staring intently at her.

Wei Zhichen dried his hair with a towel. “Qiao, what are you watching?”

Xu Yunzhuo turned at the sound, only to be visually assaulted—Wei Zhichen, who had always looked cool and aloof in clothes, now showed off his smooth muscles and bare skin. She instinctively averted her eyes. “Why are you wandering around undressed!”

Wei Zhichen sat down beside her. “We’re both men, what’s there to be shy about? Unless you secretly had gender reassignment without telling me?”

As he spoke, his eyes drifted downward.

Xu Yunzhuo’s face flushed bright red.

“Even if we’re both men, we should keep our distance! If you get too close, it’ll…”

Wei Zhichen cocked his head slightly, his gaze cold. “It’ll what?”

Xu Yunzhuo swallowed quietly, forcing herself to speak. “It’ll make my wife suspicious!”

Wei Zhichen: “?”

His cold expression turned to confusion. “Since when do you have a wife?”

Xu Yunzhuo almost slapped herself—what nonsense was she spouting?

But the words were out, and besides, Pei Qiaonian had once said he worried his buddies would think he liked men.

So Xu Yunzhuo pointed at the TV, where Pei Qiaonian—inhabiting her body—was filming the show. “There, that’s my wife. Beautiful, isn’t she? He doesn’t allow me to hang around men, so you’d better keep your distance. I’m afraid he’ll get jealous.”

Wei Zhichen looked more closely. “Xu… Yunzhuo?”

Xu Yunzhuo raised her chin. “What? Do you have a problem with that?”

“Isn’t she Pei Jin’s fiancée?”

Xu Yunzhuo feigned nonchalance as she poured herself a glass of water. “To be precise, ex-fiancée.”

Wei Zhichen fell silent.

“You…” He hesitated, words on the tip of his tongue.

Then he thought, this was exactly the sort of thing Pei Qiaonian would do.

Stealing his cousin’s girl, probably wanting the whole Pei family to know.

Xu Yunzhuo shot him a sideways glance and repeated, “What? Do you have a problem with that?”

“Are you serious?” Wei Zhichen pressed.

To ward off any further pestering, she hurried to clarify her position. “You know, at my age it’s not easy to find a wife. Last time we went out, Song Qingli ordered me eighteen male models. You’ve no idea how jealous my wife got—I had to coax him all night! So adorable when jealous. So, brother, I think it’s best if we keep our distance.”