CEO's Ugly Flash-Marriage Wife Hides So Many Identities
Chapter 20: Elder Pei Visits

Chapter 20: Chapter 20: Elder Pei Visits

The next morning, Mrs. Feng handed over thirty thick bundles of cash to Qiao Rui. "Madam, Mr. Pei asked me to give this to you. He said it’s your spending money. Mr. Pei was afraid it would be inconvenient for you to use checks, so he had Fang Mo get you the cash overnight."

"How thoughtful of him!" Qiao Rui took the money and felt its weight. She promptly said, "Thank you, Mrs. Feng."

Mrs. Feng shook her head. "Madam, you’re too polite."

After taking the money, Qiao Rui handed two bundles to Mrs. Feng. "This is for you and Uncle Feng. I’m new here and still unfamiliar with many things. Please take care of me, Mrs. Feng."

"Oh my, that really won’t do," Mrs. Feng said. "That’s what Uncle Feng and I are supposed to do. You needn’t treat us domestic workers with such courtesy."

"Mrs. Feng, I’m not treating you with undue courtesy. Consider this a gift from me to you," insisted Qiao Rui, still determined to give the money to Mrs. Feng.

Mrs. Feng couldn’t decline further, only saying, "Madam, Mr. Pei will be angry if he finds out."

"Then we just won’t tell him," Qiao Rui replied. "He said he’d give me three hundred thousand a month. How I spend it is none of his business."

She smiled faintly, turned around, and went upstairs with the remaining money.

Mrs. Feng watched Qiao Rui ascend the stairs in surprise, thinking to herself how strong this girl must be.

Two hundred and eighty thousand in cash would be too heavy for most young ladies to carry, but she handled it as if it were no more than a book, very easily. The Madam is indeed strong.

Mrs. Feng later told Pei Liyan about this incident.

Pei Liyan was surprised when he heard it but said, "Since she gave it to you, you should accept it."

"Is that appropriate, sir?"

"She’s right, once I’ve given it to her, how she spends it is none of my concern."

"Yes, sir!" Mrs. Feng didn’t say anything further.

Qiao Rui took the money back to her room and didn’t come out again.

Mrs. Feng called her down for breakfast.

When Qiao Rui came down and found herself alone, she asked, "Isn’t Mr. Pei here?"

"The sir has gone to the company."

"Got it." Qiao Rui felt much more at ease.

It was so nice to eat alone.

Just as she finished her meal and was about to take a stroll in the villa’s yard to familiarize herself with the surroundings, she saw a car enter the villa.

Then, Mrs. Feng came from a distance to report, "Madam, Elder Pei has arrived and says he wants to see you."

"Elder Pei of the Pei Family?" Qiao Rui asked.

Mrs. Feng nodded. "Yes, but you’ll have to call him Grandpa Pei, just like the sir."

Elder Pei had come early in the morning and chose to visit when Pei Liyan was out, likely wishing to speak with her alone.

Qiao Rui sensed that perhaps Elder Pei’s visit was not borne of good intentions.

Sure enough, when she returned to the living room and saw the dignified old man sitting on the sofa, she couldn’t help but be startled.

She had only caught a brief glimpse of Grandpa Pei at the banquet hall; now, examining him up close, she could tell that he must’ve been a handsome man in his youth.

Even approaching seventy, he still maintained a lean and tall stature, a short and stiff beard, deep-set brown-black eyes, a few strands of white in his hair, and sharp facial features—Pei Liyan’s likeness could faintly be discerned.

Grandpa Pei’s gaze was piercing, carrying an imposing aura that was hard to ignore.

Qiao Rui stood before Grandpa Pei, allowing him to scrutinize her with his probing eyes.

The longer Grandpa Pei looked, the more he frowned; the disdain in his bones was so apparent.

Qiao Rui was smart and could naturally tell that Grandpa Pei’s look was not kind.

Without speaking, she stood calmly while he scrutinized her.

After observing Qiao Rui for a while, Grandpa Pei thought that this girl had some courage, daring to face his piercing gaze and yet remain composed.

But when he thought about how his most exceptional grandson had been snatched away by such a girl, he still felt a bit bitter and uneasy.

Elder Pei composed himself slightly and said in a heavy voice, "So you’re Qiao Rui?"

"Yes, Elder Pei, I’m Qiao Rui," Qiao Rui replied indifferently, "We should have met that day at the banquet hall."

Elder Pei was taken aback. Was this girl implying that he had a bad memory?

He narrowed his eyes and said coldly, "Do I need your reminder?"

Qiao Rui: "I was just afraid you might have forgotten!"

"My memory is still quite good, no need for you to remind me."

"Oh, I see, Elder Pei," Qiao Rui thought to herself, what a troublesome old man.

Elder Pei took a look at her and then said again, "You and Liyan have registered for marriage, why don’t you call me Grandpa?"

"Actually, I know that you really don’t approve of me in your heart," Qiao Rui said with a light smile, "Since we’re going to divorce sooner or later, I didn’t want to upset you."

Hearing the word ’divorce’, Elder Pei’s face darkened as he said sternly, "In the Pei Family, no one dares to mention divorce in front of me."

Qiao Rui was taken by surprise; she did not expect Elder Pei to be so formidable.

She pursed her lips and said, "Then I’m sorry, I was presumptuous."

"Hmph!" Elder Pei snorted coldly, "At least you’re clear-headed. You know that Pei Liyan choosing you wasn’t because he’s fond of you. But couldn’t you have stood your ground and rejected him then?"

Qiao Rui looked up to meet Elder Pei’s displeased gaze. His sharp and weathered eyes were clearly those of a man who had gone through many hardships and baptisms of life.

In front of him, some things should not be taken lightly.

Qiao Rui retorted with a question, "Didn’t Elder Pei also not stop Mr. Pei that night and let him choose another wife? I thought Elder Pei had given his tacit agreement."

"Heh! You do have a sharp tongue," Elder Pei glanced at Qiao Rui’s face once again—a very ordinary face, the shape was passable, but really nothing attractive.

The more Elder Pei looked, the more irritated he became, aware that his grandson was acting out of spite, but that was no reason to gamble away a lifetime of happiness.

Qiao Rui said indifferently, "Elder Pei, you flatter me too much."

Elder Pei took a deep breath, "When did I ever praise you?"

Qiao Rui didn’t take it to heart. "Oh, then what was the meaning of your words just now?"

Elder Pei was momentarily stumped and said with a cold face, "What concern is it of yours?"

Qiao Rui paused, then murmured under her breath, "Are all the old men in the city this unreasonable?"

Elder Pei looked at her, "Are you saying I’m unreasonable?"

That’s exactly what I think!

Out of basic courtesy, Qiao Rui still held back a lot of her sharpness, not wanting to stoop to arguing with an old person. "No, Qiao Rui wouldn’t dare."

"You wouldn’t dare?" Elder Pei scoffed, "I see you’re quite bold."

Qiao Rui responded again, "Thank you for the compliment, Grandpa Pei."

"I wasn’t complimenting you!"

Qiao Rui showed a puzzled expression, as if looking at a petulant old man with senility.

"Put away that look," Elder Pei growled irritably.

The atmosphere became a bit awkward.

Qiao Rui countered, "Do I have an expression?"

Just then, Mrs. Feng happened to bring tea again, naturally overhearing part of the conversation and glanced worriedly at Elder Pei.

As Elder Pei was put on the spot by Qiao Rui’s rebuttal, it was hard for him to save face. He couldn’t help but say sternly, "Enough, enough, you tell me now, what did that lad Pei Liyan arrange with you?"

"I’m sorry, you’ll have to ask Pei Liyan," Qiao Rui said, "I promised him I would keep it a secret."