CEO's Ugly Flash-Marriage Wife Hides So Many Identities
Chapter 163 When You’re Not Serious Anymore

Chapter 163: Chapter 163 When You’re Not Serious Anymore

Pei Mansion’s study.

Elder Pei glanced at Pei Liyan and said in a deep voice, "There actually is a girl who looks down on you. Could it be that this has triggered your masculine desire to conquer?"

Pei Liyan knew his grandfather would tease him, his expression remained calm, and he retorted mildly, "Grandpa, do you also want to experience a second spring?"

"You disrespectful brat," Elder Pei cursed after being rebutted, "How old am I? And you still joke about your elder like this?"

Pei Liyan stopped teasing Elder Pei and looked at the photo albums on the table, his cold face and deep black eyes as inscrutable as a deep pool under the bright moon.

"Grandpa, is this all there is to the photo albums?"

"What, didn’t you take them out of the safe yourself?" Elder Pei countered.

Pei Liyan looked steadily at the photo albums on the table, his brows, soaring into his temples, furrowed slightly, "But I remember there seems to be one missing."

A flicker passed through Elder Pei’s eyes as he said, "There’s no more. That’s all there is."

Pei Liyan raised his eyes to look at Elder Pei, whose gaze met his.

Both of them looked at each other, neither saying a word.

Pei Liyan paused for a moment, his eyes flickering. "The person, is she really gone?"

Elder Pei’s brow furrowed. "I don’t know. I’ve told you before, I really don’t know."

Seeing Elder Pei like this, Pei Liyan didn’t press further, but simply said lightly, "Sometimes, it’s worth doing a little favor for someone. It’s a simple task but it might accumulate good karma and help you live longer."

"I’ve lived long enough," Elder Pei huffed, "If you’re so bored, why don’t you go to the hospital and see how your grandma’s doing with her checkup?"

"I won’t go." Pei Liyan’s facial expression remained indifferent.

Elder Pei’s brows knitted together, "Are you still holding a grudge against your grandma?"

Pei Liyan didn’t say anything.

Elder Pei continued, "Even Qiao Rui doesn’t mind anymore, so why should you? Besides, Qiao Rui hasn’t left any face for your grandma. Think about it, hasn’t your grandma lost a lot of face lately?"

Pei Liyan squeezed out three words from his thin lips: "She asked for it."

Elder Pei was stunned and then said with displeasure in a heavy voice, "That’s enough. Don’t go on forever."

"That’s exactly what I wanted to say," Pei Liyan responded seriously, "Enough is enough, don’t keep harping on about it."

Elder Pei’s eyes flashed, coming back to his senses. "You’re not just waiting for me to say that, are you?"

"Grandpa, I hope no one interferes in my marriage," Pei Liyan spoke seriously, as both a declaration and a warning.

Seeing him so earnest, Elder Pei paused for a moment, then said, "Are you serious?"

Pei Liyan looked at Elder Pei steadily, "When have I ever not been serious?"

"When she was too ugly to look at, that’s when you weren’t serious," Elder Pei said disdainfully, revealing his grandson’s true colors, "You are just superficial, judging people by their appearances. Now that you see the girl is looking good, you want to be serious, huh."

Pei Liyan wasn’t angry, just his brows and eyes appearing detached, as if these words weren’t about him at all. "From the beginning, I was serious."

"Liar," Elder Pei still snorted coldly, clearly not believing him.

Pei Liyan didn’t bother to explain and picked up the photo albums, walking towards the inner room. "I’ll put these photo albums back in the safe for you."

"Just leave them there; I’ll sort them out myself," Elder Pei said.

"Afraid that I’ll see the other one?" Pei Liyan looked back at Elder Pei.

The old man had a photo album that he hadn’t brought out.

Pei Liyan felt that album might contain the clues Qiao Rui was looking for.

But since Elder Pei didn’t want to reveal it now, he knew it might be futile to press the matter.

"Some things," Elder Pei said, "you shouldn’t be too curious about, or else you might not be able to handle the outcome."

Pei Liyan looked seriously at Elder Pei and set the photo albums down.

"Grandpa, take your time. I’m going upstairs."

"Go ahead!" Elder Pei didn’t ask him to stay either.

Pei Liyan came out of the small room and headed directly upstairs.

Qiao Rui took a look around his room; it was very clean and lacked any special traces.

It seemed to just be a place for resting.

Pei Liyan probably didn’t stay here often.

After knocking, Pei Liyan didn’t wait for Qiao Rui to grant permission; he just pushed the door and entered.

Qiao Rui, seeing the man at the door, also spoke up, "Can we go now?"

"What’s the hurry?" Pei Liyan walked in and closed the door behind him. "Don’t like the mansion?"

Qiao Rui shrugged. "If you were locked in a secret chamber here for three days, I think you wouldn’t like it here either. Look at this room; it doesn’t bear any trace of you."

The man revealed an inscrutable expression upon hearing this.

Qiao Rui caught it immediately and retorted, "Or perhaps you’ve also been locked in a secret chamber before, and you don’t like it here either?"

"You guessed right," Pei Liyan admitted directly. "I indeed don’t like the mansion, too many things are trapped here."

"Isn’t it just about freedom?" Qiao Rui was straightforward.

Pei Liyan twisted his lips in a faint smile.

Qiao Rui was taken aback.

She pondered and then understood; Pei Liyan was the eldest grandson in the Pei family, bearing the heavy responsibility of promoting the family’s legacy.

He must have endured some tribulations himself.

Perhaps, those were the trials befitting an heir.

Pei Liyan didn’t speak, just stood in front of her, tall and majestic with delicate beauty and an elegant demeanor, a gentle smile on his face.

Yet the eyes that he cast down seemed to hold an unspeakable tiredness.

He seemed very lonely.

Qiao Rui was taken aback.

Those at the top are lonely; so are those destined to take the position.

In that moment, she probably understood the aloofness between his brows and eyes.

Pei Liyan was silent for a while before saying, "Too rigid, and you’ll break."

Qiao Rui, being smart, naturally understood his implication. "Are you saying that in the matter with your grandma, I was too rigid?"

"Sometimes, a little humility can have a better effect."

"No, no, I don’t think so," Qiao Rui shook her head. "Your grandma chose my sister from the start, and to her, I am just an intruder."

Hearing her say that, Pei Liyan understood she had her own mind and had already seen through the situation.

"Even if I bow my head into the dust to humble myself, it won’t change your grandma’s rejection of me. So why should I suffocate myself?"

Pei Liyan’s gaze flickered as he watched her, impressed that a girl could be so perceptive.

Seeing everything so clearly.

"Besides, we’re not suitable for each other from the start, and I can’t hold any illusions about you, so naturally, I have to be sober and save myself."

"Not hold any illusions about me?" Pei Liyan’s tone became a bit dull, and he felt uncomfortable in his chest.

"Yep," Qiao Rui was exceptionally sober, saying to herself, "In short, don’t expect me to please any of you."

Pei Liyan raised an eyebrow, "So what do you want to do?"

"Fight back at the first sign of disagreement. Otherwise, should I put my face forward to let others hit me? Sorry, can’t do that." Qiao Rui spoke with conviction. "Not only will I not tolerate bullying from your grandma, but if you bully me, I will not accept it either."

No sooner had she finished her words than he suddenly leaned in.

Qiao Rui startled and her eyes widened.

His body leaned in, pressing against half of her.