CEO's Ugly Flash-Marriage Wife Hides So Many Identities
Chapter 145: If there’s a will, there’s a way

Chapter 145: Chapter 145: If there’s a will, there’s a way

Song Xun stood at the door, and when he saw Qiao Rui, his gaze still lacked emotion. He simply glanced at her and said, "Miss Rui, please make way."

"Mr. Song doesn’t need to be polite. I would have left regardless," Qiao Rui replied with a composed smile.

Song Xun’s brows furrowed slightly. This woman was very clever.

From his superior position, he scrutinized her, his gaze sharp as he locked onto Qiao Rui.

Qiao Rui, on the other hand, remained calm, allowing him to size her up.

"Miss Rui, how did you and my sister become so close so quickly?" Song Xun suddenly asked.

Qiao Rui laughed, her words layered with meaning, "To come together, one only needs the desire. Without it, even together, they will part."

Song Xun shuddered, staring at Qiao Rui, his eyes laced with a cold sharpness, "Miss Rui does seem very righteous. Are you standing up for my sister?"

"When the road is uneven, naturally someone will step on it. Mr. Song is a passionate man himself. How could you expect me to ignore my friend’s suffering?" Qiao Rui didn’t mince words with Song Xun.

Song Xun looked at Qiao Rui again.

Before she left, she gave Song Muyu an encouraging look.

Only then did she start to walk outside.

She brushed past Song Xun’s shoulder, not even trying to dodge, bumping directly into his arm. After walking out, she said, "My apologies, Mr. Song, you were blocking the path, and I bumped into you."

She had clearly bumped into him on purpose, yet she remained so innocent.

Song Xun furrowed his brows and said, "No matter."

Qiao Rui walked out.

Song Xun nearly instantaneously closed the door behind her.

Qiao Rui glanced back at the tightly shut door, a trace of worry surfacing in her eyes.

Muyu was no match for Song Xun. Her passion was destined to mean that the person she loved deepest would be the most hurt.

Turning back, she saw Pei Liyan standing at the end of the corridor by a doorway, looking at her.

Qiao Rui had anticipated that Pei Liyan would stay there tonight. He was waiting for her, right?

But she wasn’t sure if it was about Muyu being rescued or a private matter.

She walked over to the door next to his, stopped, opened it, and didn’t glance at him.

But she was sure that Pei Liyan’s gaze remained fixed on her face and never left.

As she opened the door, ready to walk in, Pei Liyan finally spoke, "Miss Rui, may we have a word?"

Qiao Rui stopped in her tracks, stood at the door, and glanced sideways at Pei Liyan leaning against the entryway, "What would Mr. Pei like to talk about?"

Hearing that, Pei Liyan’s eyebrows lifted slightly, a hint of amusement in his eyes. He said, "I thought I was going to receive another ’get lost’ from you."

Qiao Rui was taken aback, remembering how she had cursed him like that on the phone last time.

She didn’t show much emotion, only replied coolly, "Mr. Pei seems to miss being cursed at. If you like, I could pay someone to do it."

"It seems I don’t have a good reputation in your heart," Pei Liyan commented lightly, his lips curving into a small smile that seemed to reflect his good mood.

Qiao Rui watched the smile at the corner of his lips, thinking about the three days and nights in the Pei Family’s secret room, and all she felt was irony.

He’s trying to hit on a girl!

This behavior, it’s plainly flirting.

Even though she knew what was really going on, thinking about his casual attitude towards marrying and using women, she couldn’t help but feel contempt.

"Get to the point," Qiao Rui said indifferently.

"Very well," Pei Liyan said with a light smile, "Miss Rui’s identity seems quite special, untraceable."

"Why are you looking into me?" Qiao Rui countered.

Pei Liyan smiled, "Just curious, is that not allowed?"

"Mr. Pei, curiosity killed the cat. Be careful, too much curiosity might backfire," Qiao Rui replied with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

Pei Liyan, ever so astute, "Miss Rui, you seem to harbor quite some hostility towards me."

Ruirui thought that this scoundrel had quite the sharp senses to feel that way. Perhaps her emotions were leaking out too much, making him feel that.

She laughed lightly, "Why would you say that, Mr. Pei?"

"My intuition is usually very accurate. You are hostile towards me," Pei Liyan proclaimed confidently.

Qiao Rui gave him a cool look, "Feel however you like."

"Is it because of that night in Xinyang?" Pei Liyan asked with a smile.

The mention of that night made Qiao Rui’s eyes darken, her gaze sharpening as she looked at Pei Liyan. Shameless man, to bring it up.

If it’s mentioned, it’s for a purpose.

She looked at Pei Liyan coldly and said, "If you want to talk about that night, I truly regret it."

Pei Liyan’s eyes tightened. "Regret?"

"Yes, Mr. Pei is a married man after all!" Qiao Rui pointed out sharply.

In an instant, Pei Liyan’s gaze froze for a moment.

Qiao Rui, seeing she had achieved her goal, didn’t say more.

With smart people, brevity is key. It’s enough to hint at it.

Pei Liyan just tugged at his lip, maintaining a calm composure, unwavering by shame.

As if Qiao Rui’s sarcasm was about someone else.

Both stood in the Song Family’s corridor, leaning against the door frame, their movements surprisingly in sync.

After a prolonged silence, Pei Liyan finally said, "Miss Rui’s whereabouts are quite secretive, like a mysterious dragon seen but never caught. Not disclosing your identity, you wouldn’t happen to be a married woman, would you?"

Qiao Rui’s heart skipped a beat, but her face still maintained its calm. Facing the man’s piercing gaze and sharp words, she felt as if she had nowhere to hide.

She had a premonition; he seemed to be doing this on purpose. He appeared to be suspicious of her.

Qiao Rui shrugged, "Why would Mr. Pei say that?"

"Miss Rui, you’re not directly answering my question," Pei Liyan pointed out lightly, "Avoiding the question, not responding directly, or replying with a counter-question usually means acquiescence."

"Heh, that’s the first time I’ve heard such reasoning," Qiao Rui’s heart tightened. This man was indeed very sharp, constantly trying to trap her in his words.

Qiao Rui felt that any slip could lead her straight into his trap.

"A married woman?" Pei Liyan asked again.

"Yes, I’m married," Qiao Rui suddenly admitted. "A married woman, Mr. Pei."

Pei Liyan’s eyes tightened, staring intensely into Qiao Rui’s eyes. For a moment, he couldn’t tell if it were the truth or a lie.

All he could see was the girl’s pale and pretty face looking serene and composed, as if she didn’t take anything to heart.

"Finally, you admit it," Pei Liyan looked deeply into Qiao Rui’s eyes, "What does he do?"

He actually believed her.

Qiao Rui felt this was quite unexpected.

She smiled and said, "Mr. Pei, are you saying I’m a married woman to alleviate your own guilt? You’re a married man, so I must be a married woman. That way, we balance each other out, and we’re the same, one kind of person, right?"