CEO's Ugly Flash-Marriage Wife Hides So Many Identities
Chapter 33: Tit for Tat

Chapter 33: Chapter 33: Tit for Tat

Qiao Rui was taken aback, suddenly feeling very embarrassed.

Well, she had been assuming too much just now.

It was alright as long as the man wasn’t trying to flirt with her; otherwise, she might not have been able to resist smashing his head.

Looking at the man’s handsome face and sharp eyes, Qiao Rui gave a slight smile and felt much more relaxed.

Then, she said, "Mr. Pei, I apologize for my presumptions; sorry, I misunderstood."

Listening to the girl’s voice becoming immediately relaxed, and seeing how her expression had eased, Pei Liyan suddenly felt incredibly depressed.

Was being flirted with by him so unbearable?

When had Pei Liyan ever been rejected?

Usually, it was women who chased after him, but he had never encountered such cold treatment before.

Oh, no!

Once, a rube rejected him because he was too good-looking.

For some reason, looking at the pretty girl in front of him, he thought of Qiao Rui, that rube.

Pei Liyan withdrew his gaze from Qiao Rui’s face, leaned back, and spoke indifferently, "I genuinely think Miss Rui has a good voice and pitch. With some packaging, she has great potential, so I wanted to try again."

Qiao Rui shook her head, "No, I don’t want to enter the entertainment industry."

"Why?"

"The glitz and glamour of that life isn’t for me."

"What kind of life is suitable for you then?"

"Staying at home," Qiao Rui said.

Pei Liyan’s narrow eyes slightly narrowed, his gaze again landing on Qiao Rui’s face as he watched her, "What about the source of income?"

His gaze was too sharp and rather captivating, paradoxically causing a sense of unrest.

Qiao Rui said, "Mr. Pei need not worry about that."

"Is that so?" Pei Liyan smiled lightly, "That sounds quite private."

"Yes," Qiao Rui nodded.

"But I am indeed a bit curious," Pei Liyan spoke again.

Qiao Rui was stunned, then calmly said, "Then I’m also very curious about Mr. Pei’s fleeting encounter with Miss Rui. Perhaps you could share your feelings about that night?"

Qiao Rui spoke earnestly, making Pei Liyan suddenly feel cornered.

His gaze darkened as he stood up, saying, "It seems Miss Rui truly has no interest in entering the entertainment world, my apologies for the intrusion."

After speaking, he left the room.

As he passed her, Qiao Rui caught a faint scent from the man, a uniquely masculine freshness that surged into her nose, cooling her heart.

When Qiao Rui came back to her senses, she was the only one left in the room.

Not long after, Song Muyu and Jin Fei came running.

"Ruirui, Sister Jin wants to sign you; do you want to join Sister Jin in the entertainment industry?"

Qiao Rui saw Sister Jin looking at her with hopeful eyes.

She turned her gaze to the window, where she could conveniently see the billboard across the street, featuring Rui Qing.

She spoke indifferently, "Thanks for Sister Jin’s appreciation, but since Rui Qing’s whereabouts are still unknown, I’m afraid I might not live to earn money in the entertainment industry."

Sister Jin was taken aback and looked at Qiao Rui more intently, saying, "Girl, Rui Qing was an accident; nobody expected that, but how many in the entertainment industry are like Rui Qing?"

"So, one encounter is enough," Qiao Rui glanced at Sister Jin, pun intended, "I even rejected Pei Liyan."

Sister Jin was startled, evidently not expecting this.

She smiled awkwardly, saying, "Smart girl, you’re formidable, having even rejected Mr. Pei, I won’t overestimate myself."

Qiao Rui tugged at her lip, glancing at Song Muyu.

Song Muyu looked bewildered, almost desperate, her eyes seeking Qiao Rui’s understanding, wondering if there was any relationship with Jin Fei.

Qiao Rui knew, Song Muyu had not asked for clarity.

But she was certain that Sister Jin wasn’t the person who drugged her.

The person who drugged her must be someone else.

Yet, why had Pei Liyan also become one of those plotted against?

She shook her head slightly at Song Muyu.

Song Muyu nodded, then said to Jin Fei, "Sister Jin, to be honest, I suspect you plotted against Rui Qing."

"Girl, if I were such a person, I wouldn’t be able to survive in the entertainment industry, it would ruin my future, who would dare to sign a contract with me?"

"I apologize," Song Muyu said, "I was just too anxious."

"I understand, I’m anxious too, so I’ve arranged for someone to continue investigating the matter," Jin Fei spoke sincerely, "I know you’re worried about Rui Qing’s situation, I feel the same. Apart from our personal relationship, she is my cash cow."

That was rather blunt.

Song Muyu glanced at Qiao Rui imperceptibly before replying, "Sister Jin, I understand, please keep me informed if there’s any news."

"Of course," Jin Fei nodded. "What we can hope for now is that Rui Qing turns danger into safety and that fortune favors the virtuous."

"Good people live a safe life," Song Muyu said ambiguously.

Jin Fei nodded, "Oops, Pei Liyan still hasn’t agreed to help, I have to go find him."

"Sister Jin, if Pei Liyan is willing to help, you don’t need to go find him; he’ll assist. If he’s not willing, seeking him a thousand times might still be fruitless," Song Muyu remarked.

"That’s true," Jin Fei no longer entertained the thought of finding Pei Liyan.

The three had dinner together.

Jin Fei paid the bill and left.

Qiao Rui and Song Muyu also went downstairs together and happened to meet Pei Liyan and He Zheng just as they were leaving the restaurant after finishing their meal.

The four of them met in the lobby downstairs. Pei Liyan was expressionless.

He Zheng, however, had a continuous smile and approached the two women, greeted with a grin, "What a coincidence, two beauties."

Song Muyu looked at him with a cold expression.

She hadn’t forgotten their last unpleasant encounter when this man had been rude to her.

Seeing that Song Muyu wasn’t speaking, Qiao Rui took the initiative, "Hello, Mr. He."

"Miss Rui, hello," He Zheng smiled slightly, then looked at Song Muyu, "Miss Song, you’re not happy?"

Song Muyu responded indifferently, "My friend Rui Qing is missing; how can I be happy?"

"Wasn’t it all fine when we were drinking and singing last time?" He Zheng shrugged his shoulders, unavoidably giving Song Muyu several more glances as if questioning her sincerity towards friendship.

Irritated by his gaze, Song Muyu ignored He Zheng and grabbed Qiao Rui, "Ruirui, let’s go."

Qiao Rui nodded slightly to He Zheng, preparing to leave.

But just then, from a corridor on the side of the lobby, a little cherubic bundle came running toward Qiao Rui and Song Muyu.

Upon reaching Qiao Rui, the little guy circled around her a few times, suddenly shouting, "Mommy, Mommy!"

Then, he clung to Qiao Rui’s leg and wouldn’t let go.

Qiao Rui was startled and looked down at the child; wasn’t this Huo Sinan’s son, Little Xingxing?

Why was he calling her "Mommy" again?

Qiao Rui was going crazy; could the little guy have some kind of divine sight? No matter how she changed her appearance, could Little Xingxing always recognize her?