CEO's Ugly Flash-Marriage Wife Hides So Many Identities
Chapter 185: Unable to Speak Out

Chapter 185: Chapter 185: Unable to Speak Out

The phrase "on the verge of bankruptcy" sent Qiao Xiang into an immediate jolt.

The last thing she wanted to see was such an outcome.

Bankruptcy was not an option.

Once bankrupt, the prestige of Miss Qiao of the Qiao Family would be ruined overnight.

Having grown up as a young lady of a noble household, how could she become the young lady of a bankrupt family!

She instinctively shook her head, and when she looked up into the incisive gaze of the man across, she tensed up again.

Mustering all her courage, she spoke, "The Qiao Family cannot go bankrupt, I will find a way no matter what."

"What other way can you think of?" Pei Liyan’s voice was sharp and cold, "If you had any viable options, I doubt you’d come to me, right?"

Qiao Xiang didn’t want to admit it, but still pursed her lips and nodded.

Then there was silence for a while, with not a single sound in the CEO’s office.

Awkwardness washed over Qiao Xiang’s face, turning it shades of red and white, making her feel incredibly embarrassed.

Pei Liyan spoke again, "Nevertheless, now that all the banks in Qingcheng refuse to loan to the Qiao Family, even the six billion yuan I allocated has gone to waste. What makes you think I will fund the Qiao Family again?"

"I’m not asking for more funding, I just wanted to tell you that Elder Qiao has approached Qiao Rui."

Pei Liyan interrupted Qiao Xiang coldly, "Secretary Qiao, I’m not interested in your family’s company, you may leave now."

Seeing his indifference, so completely unlike last time.

Last time, he at least had some regard for past affection.

This time, not only did he not consider past affection, but he was also incredibly cold and adamant in his attitude.

She pressed her lips together, was silent for a while, and then said, "Yes, I’ll be going now!"

After leaving the CEO’s office, her emotions were even more complex.

On one hand, she hoped Qiao Rui could secure the funds to save the Qiao Family, but on the other hand, she didn’t want Qiao Rui to get the money from Pei Liyan.

No matter what, she didn’t want to see Qiao Rui given any importance by Pei Liyan.

At dusk.

When Pei Liyan returned home, he saw Qiao Rui in the garden. He got out of the car, glanced over, and without greeting her, went straight upstairs.

Qiao Rui saw that he went upstairs without even a greeting and immediately understood that the probability of Elder Qiao persuading him to continue funding was unlikely.

She also knew that this was a hot potato.

During dinner, the two sat together.

Qiao Rui didn’t bring up the matter of investing, as if it didn’t exist.

Pei Liyan was unusually silent tonight, not saying a word during the meal.

The atmosphere at the dinner table was very strange.

With the man not talking, Qiao Rui certainly didn’t want to speak either.

Both finished their meals in silence.

Pei Liyan looked up at Qiao Rui, stood up, and went upstairs again.

Qiao Rui blinked her eyes, watching his figure disappear up the stairs, retracted her gaze, and let out a long sigh.

The task the Elder had assigned her was indeed a bit too daunting.

She felt unable to broach the subject.

Around the corner of the stairs, Pei Liyan stood there, his tall figure like a statue, silent.

He looked down at the girl below, her sighs reflecting her distress, a flicker in his eyes, but ultimately he returned to his room.

The next morning at breakfast, the atmosphere was just as silent and strange as the previous evening.

Even Mrs. Feng felt it, and as soon as Pei Liyan left for work, she asked Qiao Rui with surprise,

"Ma’am, have you and the master had a fight?"

"Not at all!" Qiao Rui shook her head.

It must be a silent treatment; they hadn’t fought.

After the days when the man had said those words, if she had no self-awareness at all, it would be quite unreasonable.

"Ma’am, men need to be coaxed too. If coaxed properly, a man will cherish you a lot," Mrs. Feng couldn’t bear to see her left out, so she gave her advice in private.

Qiao Rui was stunned for a moment, then laughed, "I don’t know how to coax, I’m afraid I’ll just make things worse."

"Ma’am, with your emotional intelligence, how is that possible? If you put your heart into it, you can definitely win the master over," Mrs. Feng had great confidence in Qiao Rui.

Qiao Rui felt Mrs. Feng was almost blindly trusting in her.

She smiled again and said, "I don’t want to coax him; it’s too time-consuming to coax someone who’s not even a child."

"Once you’ve coaxed the master, he will be happy, and he will be very good to you," Mrs. Feng said, "If a man loves a woman, he will give his all, even pluck the stars from the sky for her."

But Qiao Rui didn’t want to coax Pei Liyan.

Because that might lead to sleeping together.

And she didn’t want to sleep with him in that status.

Having slept with him under three different identities would be too embarrassing.

"Don’t you want to be the one with all his love and affection?" Mrs. Feng asked gently, trying to persuade Qiao Rui.

"I don’t," Qiao Rui shook her head.

"Why not?" Mrs. Feng was perplexed.

Qiao Rui shook her head again. "I just don’t want to, okay? There doesn’t have to be a why."

Mrs. Feng looked at Qiao Rui, ultimately helpless.

The news of the Qiao Family company’s troubles spread quickly in the major media of Qingcheng.

The news stated that there were too many malpractices in the internal operations of the Qiao Family, and bankruptcy was inevitable. The decision-maker, Elder Qiao, was old, and his sons lacked any real talent to reverse the mismanagement.

Even an alliance with the Pei Family couldn’t reverse the situation.

As for these reports, the Qingcheng Business District was already abuzz with discussion.

Qiao Rui was also surprised to see the news.

For these to be reported meant that the Qiao Family’s situation was indeed getting worse.

While she was watching the news, Elder Qiao called again, asking about the money, whether she had talked to Pei Liyan about it or not.

Qiao Rui candidly admitted, "I haven’t."

"Why haven’t you spoken yet?" Elder Qiao was very angry.

"I don’t know how to say it." Qiao Rui was telling the truth, asking for so much money, she couldn’t broach the subject: "Grandfather, I’m worthless, don’t have too much hope in me."

"If you haven’t even asked, how do you know you’re worthless?" Elder Qiao’s tone was extremely agitated, "Hurry up, you must ask him today, or else the Qiao Family is finished."

"You said the same thing last time." After seeing the news, Qiao Rui had guessed as much, "Grandfather, if the operation strategy does not improve, and it goes on like this, no matter how much money is injected, it’s just throwing good money after bad; no fool will keep funding it."

Elder Qiao paused. "What are you trying to say, just say it."

"Alright!" Qiao Rui said solemnly, "Who’s in charge of this project? Such a huge gap in funds can’t just be a decision-making error, right? Shouldn’t the person responsible for this project stand up and take the blame?"

Elder Qiao was taken aback by Qiao Rui’s words, and for a moment didn’t speak.

After a while, he said, "First get the money, tell Pei Liyan this time I will kick all your uncles out."

"If you kick them all out, who will manage the operations?" Qiao Rui asked.

"That’s something I can consider, but today you must speak," Elder Qiao said before hanging up the phone.

Qiao Rui found herself in a difficult position.

In the afternoon, when Pei Liyan returned, Qiao Rui hesitated and finally said, "I have something I want to talk to you about."