CEO's Ugly Flash-Marriage Wife Hides So Many Identities
Chapter 21 A Chess Piece

Chapter 21: Chapter 21 A Chess Piece

Elder Pei frowned, "So there really is an agreement between you two?"

Qiao Rui spoke indifferently, "It’s not exactly an agreement."

"Then what would you call it?" Elder Pei asked back displeased.

"I’ve told you to ask your grandson about it, asking me is pointless," Qiao Rui didn’t want to parrot the same lines, "I’m just a chess piece, where the player decides to place me isn’t up to me to say."

Elder Pei was taken aback, his deep gaze swept over Qiao Rui’s face, the young girl was so calm.

Then, he took the tea that Mrs. Feng had brought over and slowly sipped it, "Knowing that you’re a chess piece, you should have the awareness of one."

"Yes!" Qiao Rui acknowledged frankly, "Qiao Rui will heed Elder Pei’s teachings."

Elder Pei was choked up by her response, glanced at Qiao Rui, and huffed coldly again, "It would be strange if you would actually listen to me."

Qiao Rui lowered her gaze, her long eyelashes concealing the light in her eyes.

That was also true; she didn’t much like listening to other people’s arrangements.

Elder Pei couldn’t see the expression on Qiao Rui’s face and only felt that those black-framed glasses were utterly unattractive and her hair was a mess, looking very uncomfortable.

"Bring out your marriage certificate for me to see," the old man said again.

Qiao Rui nodded, went upstairs to get the marriage certificate, and showed it to the old man.

Elder Pei looked at the photo and then at Qiao Rui, "Even though the photo is quite ugly, it’s still better looking than you are now, take off your glasses."

Qiao Rui sighed internally, the old man was just looking for trouble.

Fortunately, she was well prepared, otherwise, everything would have been exposed.

Qiao Rui removed her glasses and faced Elder Pei openly.

Elder Pei took a glance at Qiao Rui and immediately frowned; he had thought that without the glasses, she might look somewhat attractive.

But after taking them off, that face remained plain and unremarkable.

Especially the way she drooped her eyelashes, lacking any spirit, giving off the impression that she had just woken up.

The old man found it quite odd; this girl had seemed so spirited when debating with him earlier, but she looked entirely unenergetic.

This appearance was extremely disappointing to him, and he couldn’t help but sigh deeply.

"Qiao Rui, you’ve really wasted your parents’ good genes, how could you end up looking like this?"

Mentioning her parents, Qiao Rui was startled and looked up at the elder.

In that instant, it seemed a certain brilliance flashed in her eyes, sparking an involuntary intrigue.

Suddenly, the girl seemed to come alive, appearing much more agreeable to the eye.

But, upon closer inspection, still appeared rather ugly.

Qiao Rui didn’t expect the old man would bring up her parents; she seldom heard any news about them and now, hearing a bit from Elder Pei of the Pei Family, she couldn’t help but feel excited.

"You knew my parents?"

"Your father grew up before my eyes," Elder Pei noticed Qiao Rui’s excitement, a flash in his eyes, "He was a remarkable person, such a pity."

"What’s the pity?" Qiao Rui pressed.

"What’s the pity?" the old man said with an amused smile, "Girl, how about you tell me what Pei Liyan promised you, and I’ll share some old stories about your father?"

Elder Pei had long noticed Qiao Rui’s curiosity about her father.

So, he wanted to use it as a leverage point to learn about his grandson’s plans.

Upon hearing this, a faint look of disappointment crossed Qiao Rui’s eyes, "If you want to make a deal, there’s no need, I’ve nothing to say."

"Don’t you want to know about your father’s matters?" Elder Pei retorted, a smile that was not a smile.

"Of course, I do." Qiao Rui looked up, her eyes openly meeting his, and amidst the elder’s penetrating gaze, she put her glasses back on unhurriedly.

"So you refuse to exchange information?"

"Elder Pei, if you insist on wasting time on me, then I can only disappoint you," Qiao Rui candidly said, "I’ve nothing to say."

"Then you don’t want to know about your parents?"

"I did want to know, but now I don’t. Qiao Rui is well aware that pies don’t just fall from the sky."

"Your temperament is quite similar to Pei Liyan’s," he noted.

"I’m nothing like him."

"Oh?" Elder Pei’s eyes twinkled with interest, "You know him?"

"Not at all, but I just know I’m not like him."

"The two of you have some similarities when sticking to a matter," the old man picked up his tea again, took a sip, then set down the cup and said, "Well, regardless, your marriage won’t last long, so I needn’t ask more."

Not that more would come out anyway.

The old man stood up, ready to leave.

Qiao Rui lowered her gaze, "Take care on your way out."

Elder Pei looked at her again, "Girl, how old are you?"

"Twenty-two," Qiao Rui said.

"Twenty-two years, how time flies!" Elder Pei sighed deeply before departing, "Your father, such a pity!"

Saying this made Qiao Rui’s heart particularly heavy.

She really wanted to know about her father, but the old man wouldn’t tell.

Watching Elder Pei leave, Qiao Rui sat on the sofa without moving for a long time.

A chill clouded her plain features as if Elder Pei had struck her with a death point, her eyes darkening ominously.

Worried that the girl might be troubled by the harsh words from the old man, Mrs. Feng immediately approached to comfort her, "Madam, please don’t take it to heart."

Qiao Rui paused, then looked up at Mrs. Feng, her face filled with concern.

She forced a smile, "Thank you, Mrs. Feng, I’m fine."

Mrs. Feng naturally didn’t believe her and continued to console Qiao Rui, "Actually, the old master previously favored the Qiao Family’s eldest miss."

Qiao Rui remained silent; this wasn’t the first time she had heard this news.

Qiao Yufei had mentioned it.

But Qiao Rui remained quiet, Mrs. Feng thought she was angry and hurriedly explained, "But the master might not fancy the Qiao Family’s eldest miss, since he chose you, it must mean he likes you."

Qiao Rui laughed out loud.

She hadn’t expected Mrs. Feng to be so kind as to console her like this.

Because she knew, Pei Liyan would definitely not like an ugly woman like her, the so-called choice of her was just a decision made after weighing the pros and cons, the most beneficial choice for him.

That was all.

She was very clear about it.

She wasn’t delusional or foolish.

Naturally, she wouldn’t indulge in daydreams.

"Madam, why do you laugh?" Mrs. Feng was even more worried, thinking Qiao Rui was heartbroken.

That laugh was startling.

"Don’t be sad."

"Mrs. Feng, I’m not sad. Thank you for comforting me, but I’m fine," Qiao Rui reassured Mrs. Feng instead, "Pei Liyan choosing me, it’s not because he likes me, and I won’t be his wife for long, so naturally I won’t be sad. You don’t have to worry about me, I’m really fine."

Mrs. Feng was stunned, not quite understanding.

Later, Mrs. Feng phoned Pei Liyan to report that Elder Pei had visited.

She also reported Qiao Rui’s reaction truthfully.

Pei Liyan was surprised.