CEO's Ugly Flash-Marriage Wife Hides So Many Identities
Chapter 169: I’m Relieved That She Is With You

Chapter 169: Chapter 169: I’m Relieved That She Is With You

Qiao Xiang was irked when Qiao Rui pointed out her little scheme. "Of course I came to the hospital to see Elder Madam Pei, not Liyan."

"Oh!" Qiao Rui said, her smile taking on a meaningful edge. "Then I must have misunderstood, I thought elder sister came to see Pei Liyan!"

Qiao Xiang felt even more embarrassed and annoyed, "Do you think I’m so boy-crazy?"

"Mmhmm," Qiao Rui nodded.

Qiao Xiang furrowed her brows. "Qiao Rui, what are you implying?"

Qiao Rui paused, then smiled. "Elder sister, I didn’t mean anything, I just spaced out for a moment."

Qiao Xiang’s face darkened, thinking that Qiao Rui was accusing her of being boy-crazy.

She looked at Qiao Rui with displeasure. "Since you’re here, why don’t you go see the old lady?"

"I’m afraid I might inadvertently hasten her journey West," replied Qiao Rui candidly. After all, she wasn’t in Elder Madam Pei’s good graces, and if her visit upset her, the blame would be substantial.

Qiao Xiang scoffed, "I think you’re doing it on purpose. You just don’t respect the old lady, she’s not in your heart."

"Elder sister, as long as she’s in your heart, that’s good." Qiao Rui didn’t take offense and said indifferently, "Elder Madam Pei will be happy to see you, so you’d better hurry. If you don’t, Pei Liyan might come down soon."

Hearing that Pei Liyan would be coming down shortly, Qiao Xiang didn’t bother to argue with Qiao Rui any longer. "Never mind, I can’t be bothered with you; just watch yourself."

With those words, she turned and left, taking a bouquet of flowers from the car and heading straight in.

Qiao Rui watched her walk away, a smirk spilling from her eyes.

Elder sister certainly keeps busy; as soon as the old lady was admitted to the hospital, she knew about it.

Only, the energy she expended was misdirected, it should have been aimed at Pei Liyan, that might have yielded some results.

She got out of the car herself, planning to stroll around the supermarket Pei Liyan had mentioned.

In the hospital room.

Pei Liyan sat in front of Elder Madam Pei’s hospital bed, his expression calm as he peeled an apple for her.

The big, red apple was quickly peeled, and the skin remained unbroken, resembling a work of art.

He handed it to her, "Grandma, have an apple!"

"I don’t want it!" Elder Madam Pei was somewhat irritated to see Pei Liyan.

"You haven’t had dinner either." Pei Liyan had only found out after arriving that Elder Madam Pei hadn’t eaten and was in a mood. Muscle inflammation could also affect one’s mood.

Pei Liyan, patient as ever, advised, "Not eating won’t be good for your recovery."

"I said I don’t want it, take it away," Elder Madam Pei said coldly.

Seeing that she truly didn’t want to eat, Pei Liyan didn’t insist and handed the apple to Sister Li, instructing in a serious tone, "If she really won’t eat, tell the doctor to give her an IV for nutrition. I’ll be heading back."

Sister Li took the apple, surprised to hear Pei Liyan was leaving so soon, "Young Master Yan, you’re leaving just after you arrived?"

Elder Madam Pei lay in bed getting more upset when she heard he had only just arrived and was leaving already.

"Let him go, next time he comes he can arrange my funeral."

Pei Liyan knew Elder Madam Pei was angry and speaking out of spite.

He looked at Elder Madam Pei, unperturbed, and merely said, "Throwing a tantrum is pointless, Grandma. You taught me that being petulant only makes one a laughingstock."

Elder Madam Pei’s complexion changed instantly, she opened her mouth to look at Pei Liyan but after a moment of shock, she turned her head away, refusing to give him another glance.

Naturally, Pei Liyan didn’t leave; he just glanced at Sister Li.

Sister Li hurried forward, her voice gentle as she addressed the elder lady, "Madam, please eat something."

Elder Madam Pei didn’t say a word.

Sister Li’s heart leapt with joy, and she immediately fetched the bird’s nest from the thermos, serving a bowl for her, "Have a little, then we can eat something good later. Your health is your own after all."

This time Elder Madam Pei didn’t speak, but she sat up and quietly began to eat.

Just after a few bites, a knock on the door sounded.

Pei Liyan glanced up and saw Qiao Xiang pushing the door open and entering.

The light in her eyes when she saw him was unmistakable, her joy evident as she said, "Mister is here too? I’ve come to see Grandmother Pei."

Pei Liyan nodded slightly.

"Elder Pei is in good spirits when Xiangxiang arrives!" Elder Madam Pei immediately brightened up when she saw Qiao Xiang, "You work so hard at your job, why still come to see me?"

"Grandmother, I was worried about you. I called you this afternoon, heard you were ill, and I was so concerned, I came right after finishing work," Qiao Xiang said, holding flowers and walking to the window.

Sister Li quickly took them from her and set the flowers aside.

Elder Madam Pei gestured for Qiao Xiang to come over.

Qiao Xiang immediately said, "Grandmother, please wait for me, I’ll go wash my hands and be right back. I’m afraid of bringing germs to you."

Elder Madam Pei’s heart immediately bloomed with joy.

She looked fondly at Qiao Xiang’s retreating figure, the more she looked, the more satisfied she became, and the more satisfied she became, the more regret and sadness filled her heart.

She couldn’t help but glance at Pei Liyan, the disdain evident, "Look at Xiangxiang, so lovely and reliable in her actions, much better than that bumpkin."

Pei Liyan frowned and couldn’t help saying, "Grandmother, that ’bumpkin’ you mentioned is the very person who discovered you were ill, and even if you dislike her, there’s no need for sarcasm. Besides, you do not understand Qiao Rui."

Caught off guard by the retort, Elder Madam Pei was taken aback, thinking about her irritation during this hospital stay, "Still talking about that, if it wasn’t for her, I might not have been agitated to this point."

"Being irritated by someone else is a matter of having too small a mind," Pei Liyan looked at Elder Madam Pei, "That’s also what you taught me."

Elder Madam Pei was momentarily speechless.

After a while, Elder Madam Pei spoke again, "The woman you’ve chosen has no manners at all, knowing I was in the hospital and yet not visiting me."

Before Pei Liyan could respond, Qiao Xiang came out of the washroom and interjected, "Grandmother, Qiao Rui did come, she’s waiting downstairs in the car."

Upon hearing this, Elder Madam Pei immediately frowned, clearly displeased.

Obviously, she was angry.

Elder Madam Pei spoke with great disdain, "She came but didn’t see me, just waiting in the car, such good manners indeed!"

Pei Liyan’s expression darkened, and his deep, calm eyes instantly turned frosty as he glanced at Qiao Xiang.

Feeling the temperature drop several degrees around Pei Liyan, Qiao Xiang’s face changed color, and she quickly added, "Grandmother, perhaps Qiao Rui is afraid of upsetting you, and that’s why she didn’t dare to come up."

"She’s not afraid," Elder Madam Pei snorted, "She would rather I were dead, then there’d be nobody to stop her, nobody to trouble her."

Qiao Xiang quickly stepped forward, taking the bird’s nest from Sister Li’s hands as if it were natural, "Grandmother, let me feed you. It’s important for you to eat."

"Xiangxiang is the sensible one," Elder Madam Pei glanced at her grandson again, her emotions quite clear as if to say, you see, you chose the wrong one over the right one.

Pei Liyan understood the meaning behind Elder Madam Pei’s gaze, and he spoke indifferently, "Grandmother, since Qiao Xiang is here and you are so happy to have her company, I’ll be reassured. I’ll head back now."

"What are you going off to do?" Elder Madam Pei became even more displeased upon his departure.

Pei Liyan said, "I’m going to teach Qiao Rui not to worry so much, and to not be afraid of upsetting you when she comes to see you next time, since you have such a large heart anyway."