Chapter 8: The More You Look Down on Them, the More They Lose Their Composure

After settling the matter with the photo, Xu Yunzhu sent it straight to Pei Qiaonian. When she looked up again, she noticed everyone’s eyes fixed on her. Unperturbed, she returned to her seat, gestured at the luxurious dishes spread out on the table, picked up her chopsticks, and began eating heartily without the slightest hesitation. She even beckoned to the others, “Come on, eat! Why are you all staring at me? Don’t you like the food? The dishes taste wonderful today.”

Xu Yunzhu had never tasted such exquisite cuisine before. Coincidentally, her life closely mirrored that of the Xu Yunzhu in this novel—she, too, had been discovered to be the true daughter later in life. The only difference was that this world’s Xu Yunzhu had been taken in by foster parents, while she herself had grown up abandoned in an orphanage. At twenty-three, she was finally brought back to her family, but before she could enjoy her new life, she received the tragic news that her biological parents had died in an accident. She had a brother whose whereabouts were unknown, and she was forced to inherit her parents’ fortune, only to die the very next day—tragically and inexplicably.

At this thought, Xu Yunzhu quickly pushed the memories aside. How could she let such misfortunes ruin her appetite? On the bright side, she now had another chance; as long as she completed her task, the hundreds of millions would still be hers.

Of all those at the table, Xu Yunzhu ate with the greatest gusto, even helping herself to another bowl of rice. She smiled at the servant who served her and said, “Thank you.”

The servant was so startled that he nearly jumped. Was he seeing things? It was the first time anyone had heard the words “thank you” come from Pei Qiaonian’s mouth.

Old Master Pei looked at her in surprise, his gaze lingering on the bandages on her head. His tone was oddly curious, “One fall and you’ve turned into a different person?”

Xu Yunzhu smiled faintly, “Grandfather, you misunderstand me. I’ve always been a polite person.”

Old Master Pei choked and coughed, looking as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he remained silent.

Xu Jingsi glanced at Xu Yunzhu with open displeasure. “Such pretentiousness.”

If Pei Qiaonian hadn’t appeared out of nowhere, the position of head of the Pei family would have gone to her son. How unfair the world was, that even an illegitimate child could rise to such heights! She was determined to do whatever it took to make Pei Qiaonian uncomfortable.

Her eyes darted slyly, and she changed the topic with a laugh. “Qiaonian, why did you want us to take a family portrait? And not even include yourself—is that your way of saying you don’t consider us family? Surely you’re not upset because none of us went to visit you at the hospital, are you?”

As she finished, Xu Jingsi covered her mouth, but there was not a hint of apology in her eyes.

Xu Yunzhu was genuinely exasperated. Why was Pei Qiaonian’s second aunt so infuriating? She forced a smile. “Second Aunt, you really understand me. Your lack of concern made me so sad, I could die from heartache. Since you care so much about not visiting me, why not make it up to me with a gift? I’ll forgive you for it.”

Her gaze swept across the room as she held her head. “Everyone, you should all give me gifts—as belated hospital visit presents. Consider it compensation for my emotional distress.”

Everyone fell silent.

Xu Jingsi hadn’t expected her to be so shameless, brazenly asking for gifts. “You—!”

“That’s enough, Jingsi, say no more,” interrupted the middle-aged man beside her.

Xu Yunzhu checked her phone for a message from Pei Qiaonian. He had marked the photo she sent with a red arrow and replied with a long message, ending with: [If anyone targets you, just curse them out. Don’t bother being polite. You know how to give them the cold shoulder, right? The more you look down on them, the more rattled they get. I don’t need to teach you this, do I?]

Xu Yunzhu was speechless. How direct and blunt! But... Pei Qiaonian’s personality was quite different from what the book had described.

She put her phone away. The middle-aged man who had spoken was Pei Qiaonian’s second uncle, Pei Zhiyuan. He wasn’t involved in the main Pei business but ran a branch elsewhere. Rather than being sent away to expand the company, it was more accurate to say that after Pei Qiaonian seized control, he forced them out, not letting their family have a share.

“Dad,” Pei Zhiyuan turned to Old Master Pei, “Xiao Jin is already twenty-five this year. Isn’t it time he got some experience at the company?”

Old Master Pei looked toward Pei Jin, who had been distracted throughout the dinner, constantly checking his phone. “I can let Xiao Jin join the company, but he must fulfill the marriage agreement. This is a promise I made to Yunzhu’s grandmother, and I won’t go back on my word.”

Pei Jin’s handsome features grew even colder. “Grandfather, must my happiness be sacrificed for a promise you made? I don’t like Xu Yunzhu—I never have, and I never will. Please, stop forcing me.”

As his words fell, Xu Yunzhu felt a sharp pain deep within her soul, staring at Pei Jin in a daze. The unfamiliar sensation didn’t belong to her—it was the original Xu Yunzhu’s feelings.

In the novel, Xu Yunzhu would do anything for Pei Jin. She believed that he didn’t like her because she wasn’t good enough, so she worked hard, striving to become outstanding and dazzling, hoping to be the girl he liked. When she learned Pei Jin had entered showbiz, she debuted as a girl group trainee just to be closer to him. So, when she discovered her fiancé had betrayed her with her only friend, Ning Qinghuan, she turned to the dark side. That very intensity propelled her rise in the entertainment industry.

But Pei Jin never spared her a glance; his heart was solely for Ning Qinghuan. That’s when she began plotting against Ning Qinghuan, her once-confidante. In the end, she died in a man-made mudslide. The novel claimed it was Pei Qiaonian’s doing—for he was fiercely protective, never allowing any harm to come to Ning Qinghuan.

Xu Yunzhu shook her head. Neither she nor the Xu Yunzhu of this world had done anything wrong. Their fates shouldn’t be determined by a few strokes of a pen. So before finishing her task, Xu Yunzhu was determined to change the fate of the Xu Yunzhu in this novel—at the very least, she wouldn’t die so soon.

As that strange feeling vanished, Xu Yunzhu sized up Pei Jin. The target of her mission was right before her, yet she was powerless to act. She slumped back in her chair in resignation.

Old Master Pei’s expression darkened. “Xiao Jin, are you sure you want to defy me?”

Xu Jingsi quickly pulled Pei Jin aside. “Xiao Jin, listen. Don’t make a scene now. So what if you have to marry a woman? Yunzhu has chased after you for five years—you know her inside out…” She shot Xu Yunzhu a disdainful look. “Don’t let others laugh at you…”

She was even more afraid that Pei Jin would anger Old Master Pei and be denied entry into the company.

“I refuse.” Pei Jin coldly shook off Xu Jingsi’s hand. “My fate should be my own. I have the right to pursue love. I won’t marry her, and Xu Yunzhu has already agreed to break the engagement. I don’t want us to become resentful strangers. Grandfather, please grant my wish.”