CEO's Ugly Flash-Marriage Wife Hides So Many Identities
Chapter 324 Mutual Admiration

Chapter 324: Chapter 324 Mutual Admiration

"Madam, how could you say that about the President?" Si Ran quickly shook his head, "Our President has always been decisive and strong-willed."

"Oh really?" Qiao Rui snorted lightly, "I didn’t notice."

"The President spoils you," Si Ran said with a smile. "Even when you speak of him like this, he never gets angry."

"Does he even have the nerve to get angry?" Qiao Rui shot back. "What I said isn’t wrong. Look at him gossiping like that—to think Miss Song was injured and hospitalized, yet instead of making a timely visit and leaving, he lingered around dithering. I was already being very polite."

Si Ran stifled a laugh.

Soon, they reached the elevator doors and waited for the lift.

Pei Liyan and Fang Mo also walked over.

With Fang Mo’s bruised and swollen face, he drew a lot of attention. Many people stared at him.

Feeling self-conscious, he could only lower his head, avoiding the gazes.

Seeing Fang Mo’s pitifully submissive demeanor, as if he were a bullied wife, Qiao Rui chuckled to herself.

Pei Liyan, already irked by Qiao Rui’s remarks, glanced at Fang Mo and said coldly, "Lower your head any further, and you might as well buckle it to your belt!"

Fang Mo immediately felt at a loss, unsure whether to lower or raise his head.

Qiao Rui scoffed lightly. "Mr. Pei, care to demonstrate how one might buckle their head to a belt?"

Pei Liyan’s gaze became as sharp as an icy blade as it shot toward Qiao Rui.

Yet Qiao Rui’s cold, clear eyes radiated provocation. Tilting her head slightly, her cherry-red lips curved upward into a faint smirk. "It’s a high-difficulty maneuver. If others can’t do it, why don’t you give it a try?"

"Shut up!" Pei Liyan said gruffly.

Qiao Rui knew she had successfully riled him up.

But so what?

He had angered her first.

Just as Qiao Rui was about to say something, her phone rang.

She glanced at the caller ID; it was Elder Qiao.

She looked at it briefly before answering.

"Hello, Grandpa!"

"Qiao Rui," Elder Qiao’s voice came through the phone, "You’ve done well."

Qiao Rui knew he was referring to the matter with Qiao Xiang.

With a calm tone, Qiao Rui responded, "I wouldn’t dare claim all the credit. Pei Liyan arranged for people to handle it. Of course, it’s possible Pei Liyan still harbors feelings for my elder sister."

Pei Liyan’s brows furrowed slightly as he overheard this.

That heartless woman! When had he ever held lingering feelings for Qiao Xiang?

Both Si Ran and Fang Mo were startled by her words.

Madam always had a knack for shocking people with her comments.

They looked at her, her expression calm and collected as she made the call, indifferent to everything, including the elder from the Qiao Family on the other end of the line.

What’s more, she didn’t seem to hold the President in her esteem either. Madam was beyond impressive.

Fang Mo couldn’t help but admire Qiao Rui inwardly, unable to believe how astonishing she could be.

"Oh?" Elder Qiao sounded surprised. "So Liyan lent a hand as well. Seems he still values the ties between the two families and didn’t let the Qiao Family lose face."

"Perhaps," Qiao Rui said.

"Qiao Rui, you’ll get credit for this from Grandpa," Elder Qiao said with satisfaction.

After all, his old acquaintance hadn’t shown goodwill toward him, leaving him helpless.

"I don’t need credit," Qiao Rui replied indifferently.

"Grandpa isn’t unreasonable," Elder Qiao continued. "For you to spare Qiao Xiang in this, Grandpa feels grateful."

"I am, after all, a member of the Qiao Family," Qiao Rui said. "If you’re truly grateful, then tell me about that matter."

Elder Qiao paused, falling silent.

A few seconds later, the elevator doors opened.

They all stepped into the elevator.

Elder Qiao finally replied, "Come back, then we’ll talk."

"Alright!" Qiao Rui’s heart tightened at his words but still held a glimmer of hope.

She hesitated momentarily, then noticed nobody else was in the elevator. She continued, "Grandpa, this matter may not be over just yet. Your friend’s grandson is not someone to underestimate.

Furthermore, with the Shen Family stepping in to help, if the Shen Family collapses, then my elder sister’s matter could still resurface."

Hearing this, Pei Liyan froze, his sharp eyes fixed on Qiao Rui.

Fang Mo and Si Ran were equally taken aback.

Everyone understood that the kidnapping incident involving Qiao Xiang wasn’t trivial.

If handled carelessly, it wouldn’t sit well.

For now, the intervention of the Shen Family had suppressed the matter, creating a temporary resolution.

But Qiao Rui’s words served as a reminder to everyone.

Incidents like this, if pursued, could leave traces that might lead to new trouble. Truly eliminating all consequences is next to impossible.

"Your reminder is correct," Elder Qiao said, his voice tinged with worry. "Let’s take it one step at a time."

"Alright," Qiao Rui replied flatly.

At this moment, the elevator signal began to falter.

"Grandpa, the signal is bad in the elevator. I’ll leave it at that for now," Qiao Rui said.

She quickly hung up, noticing Pei Liyan, Fang Mo, and Si Ran were all staring at her.

Startled, Qiao Rui looked at them and asked, "Something wrong?"

Pei Liyan was now utterly exasperated, his tone pointed as he asked, "What do you mean by saying I had lingering feelings for Qiao Xiang? Who said I had feelings for her?"

"My elder sister," Qiao Rui answered straightforwardly. "She’s always thought so. As for why she thinks that, I also find it odd. Why do you think that’s the case?"

Clearly, there must’ve been something in the man’s behavior that led to the misunderstanding. Otherwise, why would anyone think such a thing?

Pei Liyan coldly glanced at Qiao Rui’s calm expression. This woman was clearly trying to stir the pot.

"Not pursuing the matter with Qiao Xiang—is that entirely your decision?"

"It is," Qiao Rui nodded. "She’s a member of the Qiao Family, my cousin. I have my reasons for letting her go."

"So slapping me with a label of lingering feelings is what you mean by letting her go?" Pei Liyan remarked, realizing how unreasonable women could be.

Qiao Rui remained unaffected. "What else would’ve been your motive?"

"Ha!" Pei Liyan was seething. "Qiao Rui, are you doing this on purpose?"

Just then, the elevator dinged and reached the ground floor. The doors opened.

Qiao Rui laughed softly, "Hmm, yes, I’m doing it on purpose."

With that, she walked out of the elevator.

"Trying to escape?" Pei Liyan swiftly grabbed her wrist.

Qiao Rui’s hand was firmly grasped by Pei Liyan’s larger hand. "Stirring me up on purpose today—is your goal outright provocation?"

"Yes," Qiao Rui raised her delicate chin, leaned close to his ear, and whispered, "Provoking you, Pei Liyan."

"Damn it, do you think I won’t dare to hit you?" he retorted angrily, giving her a smack on her backside.

Qiao Rui shrugged, "You should count yourself lucky. Compared to all the things you’ve done today, my words and ridicule are actually very mild."

Pei Liyan narrowed his eyes, recalling everything he had done today—probing her, visiting Liu Garden, capturing Qi Yun, injuring Song Muyu, and even helping Song Xun by laying groundwork for Song Xun and Song Muyu’s future relationship.

All of these actions, one after another, had indeed been significant.

Perhaps that’s why she was furious.

As they exited the elevator, Pei Liyan held onto her wrist and said, "At least regarding Song Muyu, I believe I did the right thing."

"You mean keeping an opportunity for that scumbag Song?" Qiao Rui rebutted.

Pei Liyan nodded. "They still have feelings for each other. As long as the feelings linger, there’s always hope."

Qiao Rui almost lost her composure and cursed. "Then you clearly don’t understand women. A woman who has been hurt deeply—when she decides to be ruthless, she won’t leave room for reconciliation."

"Care to bet on it?" he countered with a smirk.

Qiao Rui eyed him and replied, "Sure, if you lose, you can castrate yourself."

Pei Liyan was speechless. "I’m a man; you’re a woman. That wager isn’t fair. If I lose, I’ll castrate myself. What about you if you lose?"

"I’ll get sterilized," Qiao Rui said, completely nonchalant.

Pei Liyan took a sharp breath. "You’re really going all out for Song Muyu, aren’t you?"

Qiao Rui met his gaze and replied each word deliberately, "And aren’t you doing the same for Song Xun?"

Pei Liyan froze momentarily, then looked into Qiao Rui’s defiant eyes and let out a soft laugh. "Song Xun is my brother; you’ve only just met Song Muyu."

"We’re both women. Is it wrong for women to empathize with each other?"

Pei Liyan glanced at her, his voice low. "Sure, as long as it makes you happy."

As the two continued to face off in front of the elevator with palpable tension, Si Ran suddenly spoke up. "President, Madam, Mr. Song’s fiancée, Miss Shen, has arrived."

Both turned their gaze simultaneously and indeed saw Shen Shuyi approaching.

She was walking quickly, her expression grave.