Chapter 59: Pei Qiaonian Is Already Married

Ning Qinghuan moved her lips. “I just forgot to remove my mascara; I wasn’t wearing any makeup.”

Even if Pei Qiaonian was clueless, he knew that eyelashes grew on the face.

He curled his lips in speechless disbelief. “Oh, so your eyelashes are dressed separately from your face? Have your features all rented their own one-bedroom apartments?”

Ning Qinghuan was silent.

Her face flushed with anger, her eyes damp, and she turned to leave.

Yan Feixing clicked his tongue as he watched him.

“You’ve made her leave in a huff.”

Pei Qiaonian never accepted others’ manipulative tactics. “She was embarrassed by my honest words; staying would only make things worse for her. She left because of that, not because I made her angry. Please phrase it accurately—don’t make me look like the villain.”

Yan Feixing fell silent.

He suddenly realized that the man before him was just as sharp-tongued as his uncle in a distant country.

Unable to resist, he messaged his uncle across the ocean: “Uncle, did you leave some genes behind outside? I have a friend whose tongue is as poisonous as yours.”

He meant it as a joke.

Unexpectedly, his uncle replied instantly: “What does he look like? Any photos?”

Yan Feixing was speechless.

He hadn’t expected his uncle to take the joke seriously.

It was the first time he’d gotten such a quick reply.

But since he was about to depart, he didn’t have time to chat further and decided to respond later.

On Pei Jin’s side, his agent called him.

He cast a complicated look at “Xu Yunzhu,” who wasn’t far away.

From appearances, Xu Yunzhu was flawless in beauty, and because of him, targeting the girl he liked was troubling.

So he avoided the cameras and walked over to Pei Qiaonian, lightly pursing his lips. “Can we talk?”

Pei Qiaonian raised an eyebrow.

Seeing the cameras had been withdrawn, he crossed his arms. “I have nothing to discuss with a scumbag like you. Best you stay away from me.”

Pei Jin glanced at his cheek and noticed a scratch, frowning. “How did you get hurt?”

“None of your damn business.” Pei Qiaonian had no patience for him.

Seeing how Pei Qiaonian had wrapped himself up like a hedgehog, Pei Jin couldn’t help but recall the Xu Yunzhu of the past—always caring for him, bringing him breakfast every day for five years straight. Even if he threw it in the trash, she’d only let her eyes dim for a moment before gathering herself to approach him again the next day.

This continued until the day the engagement was canceled. After that, she never sought him out again. Even when they met, Xu Yunzhu’s attitude was now confrontational.

He knew that falling for Ning Qinghuan was a betrayal to Xu Yunzhu, but feelings weren’t about who came first; you liked who you liked, there was no explanation.

So when he saw Pei Qiaonian’s hostile targeting of Ning Qinghuan, he felt uneasy.

With rare guilt, he said, “I know you like me, but Xu Yunzhu, please look at the people around you. There are plenty better than me. I’ll give you a million as compensation for the five years you spent on me. From now on, let’s have nothing to do with each other.”

Pei Qiaonian was stunned.

Such luck.

He took out Xu Yunzhu’s phone, found her bank account, and told Pei Jin, “All right, transfer the money.”

This was what Xu Yunzhu deserved!

“From now on, you stay away from me, and I’ll stay away from you. Don’t ever come close—understand?” Pei Qiaonian continued.

He was clever; with a few words, he had resolved a major issue for Xu Yunzhu. She would be grateful, after all, Pei Jin was just a scumbag.

Pei Jin was taken aback, but seeing Pei Qiaonian’s serious expression, he transferred the money.

Pei Qiaonian grinned—so this was what it felt like to get something for nothing. Quite satisfying.

Having received the money, he wasted no time and told the director he wanted to switch observation groups, heading directly to Xie Zhiyuan’s team.

Pei Jin should have felt relieved.

By choosing Xie Zhiyuan’s group, Pei Qiaonian avoided both him and Ning Qinghuan. He ought to have been happy, but strangely, he felt a little empty.

So she cared more about money than about him?

Pei Jin shook his head—what did it matter what Xu Yunzhu liked, as long as she didn’t bother him anymore.

In her new hotel room, Xu Yunzhu was preparing to sleep.

A mechanical voice rang in her mind.

“Ding, target’s affection score: 10. Current affection score: -70.”

Xu Yunzhu sat upright in bed, astonished. Pei Jin’s affection score had actually risen.

It was no longer negative.

Had Pei Qiaonian reconciled with Pei Jin?

Or had she, in her body, given Pei Jin a little help, making him grateful?

Xu Yunzhu was baffled.

No longer sleepy, she immediately opened the livestream and saw that Pei Qiaonian had switched observation groups.

From Pei Jin’s group to Xie Zhiyuan’s.

She couldn’t help but twitch her lips.

No wonder the affection score had risen—it was because he had distanced himself.

Thinking of this, Xu Yunzhu rubbed her chin as a sudden idea flashed through her mind. This seemed to be another way to increase affection.

Pei Jin already disliked her; if she approached him rashly, the negative affection would max out. But if she kept her distance and didn’t disturb him, perhaps Pei Jin’s attitude would soften. Once she reached a safe zone, she could move forward slowly.

With this in mind, she sat up straight. “077, when can I switch back?”

077 replied, “No idea, Host. See if there’s an opportunity. If we have to wait for a fix on our end, it might take some time.”

Xu Yunzhu was speechless.

She opened her phone and messaged Pei Qiaonian: “Come to my place tonight.”

Then she sent him her location. “I’ll have Special Assistant Gao pick you up.”

Pei Qiaonian was busy recording the show and had no time to check his messages.

He was finding that the whole world was hostile toward him.

No, rather, toward Xu Yunzhu.

He had just joined Xie Zhiyuan’s group.

Xie Zhiyuan pulled him aside for a private conversation.

“Xu Yunzhu, I believe you’re smart. If you don’t want trouble, keep away from Pei Qiaonian. He’s not someone you can reach. People should know their place.”

Xie Zhiyuan shed the mask of gentle sophistication, revealing her superficial, petty nature.

Pei Qiaonian sneered. “I’m not good enough, but you are? He doesn’t care about me, and he certainly won’t be blind enough to care about you. You’re good at pretending—so vicious inside, yet you act so harmless.”

Xie Zhiyuan snorted, unconcerned by his words, as if exposed nerves were only a sign of anger. “Aunt Pei already said I’m her chosen daughter-in-law. You’d best give up.”

Indeed, changing bodies brought clarity to many things.

He could now distinguish between friend and foe.

Seeing her arrogant demeanor, Pei Qiaonian’s lips curled in a wicked smile. Leaning close to her ear, he whispered, “Did she tell you Pei Qiaonian is already married? And his wife is the person you most look down on.”

Xie Zhiyuan’s eyes widened in disbelief, her face pale as she stared at him, shaking her head. “No, impossible. How could he possibly marry you?”

Pei Qiaonian savored her impending breakdown, took out his phone for the final blow, and displayed his chat records with Xu Yunzhu, murmuring, “I’m not lying. See, tonight I’m going to the hotel to sleep with my husband!”