CEO's Ugly Flash-Marriage Wife Hides So Many Identities
Chapter 334: Reduced to a Pawn

Chapter 334: Chapter 334: Reduced to a Pawn

"Sever ties with me?" Mrs. Song was stunned, unable to believe what her elder brother was saying. "Why would you want to sever ties with me?"

"I don’t know." Liu Shangqing glanced at Mrs. Song and said gravely, "Sister, who exactly did you provoke? This time, it’s clear someone intends to humiliate you!"

"I—" Mrs. Song hesitated, her words caught in her throat. "Who could I possibly have provoked? I have no idea what’s going on."

"That’s the problem." Liu Shangqing said, "If you knew, we could still work on it. But now we don’t even know who’s behind this. Shares have been acquired, and we can’t trace the mastermind. All we can find is that it was entrusted to an institution for acquisition. The backing is enormous—our Liu Family is doomed!"

"What!" Mrs. Song’s face turned even paler.

The fall of the Liu Family would make her a laughingstock.

"Brother, is this the only condition? Severing ties with me?" Mrs. Song asked.

"That’s what was suggested, but none of us truly knows the specifics." Liu Shangqing shook his head, sighing. "We’re in the dark about the situation. That’s why I came as soon as I received the message."

"When were the shares acquired?" Mrs. Song asked. "It couldn’t have just started in the past couple of days, could it?"

"A week ago." Liu Shangqing said, "It began a week ago, and we only discovered it today. Our veteran shareholders have sold off their shares."

"Could they have conspired against us?" Mrs. Song asked. "Are they trying to bring us down?"

"Probably not." Liu Shangqing shook his head. "This sudden move seems targeted at you. We suspect it’s related to you somehow."

Mrs. Song froze, unable to comprehend for a moment.

Song Huaisan also frowned, "Big brother, if we can’t trace the mastermind behind this, whoever it is must have an immensely powerful background."

"That’s why I came today—to say that, if necessary, we’ll have to hold a press conference to announce our severance of ties with my sister."

"No! Brother, how can you compromise like this?" Mrs. Song grew frantic.

"It’s not that we’re heartless," Liu Shangqing said, "Sister, the Liu Family is a large household. People need to eat, to survive. You can’t be so selfish as to drag so many of us down just for you to face the consequences alone."

Song Huaisan, too, was stunned, not expecting the Liu Family to abandon their kin so quickly after trouble began brewing.

Mrs. Song looked at her elder brother in disbelief. "Brother, for so many years, I’ve treated you well. How can you do this to me?"

"Sister, we’re left with no choice." Liu Shangqing said helplessly, "We’ll only make an external announcement of severing ties, but we won’t abandon you entirely. Don’t worry, as long as I have a bite to eat, you’ll have food too."

Mrs. Song suddenly remembered what Song Muyu had said. She let out a bitter laugh. "Ha, when disaster strikes, everyone scatters to save themselves after all."

Liu Shangqing frowned slightly, choosing not to argue further.

Song Huaisan, on the other hand, let out a bitter laugh and said, "Brother, I understand. The Liu Family is sacrificing the pawn to save the king. It’s an unavoidable decision."

"At least my brother-in-law understands." Liu Shangqing said, "It really is our only option. We can’t let everyone go down together. Sister, can you bear to watch us all go down with you?"

"It’s not over yet!" Mrs. Song insisted, "With the combined strength of our two families, how could we end up in such a sorry state? We can fight back!"

"Fight back against who?" Liu Shangqing retorted. "How many companies are targeting us? They’re merely tools of the true mastermind."

"You’re all cowards!" Mrs. Song lashed out in frustration.

Liu Shangqing sighed, glancing at Song Huaisan. "This whole ordeal likely stems from Song Xun’s marriage alliance with the Shen Family. But we don’t know the exact reasons. You might want to investigate in that direction."

Song Huaisan nodded. "Big brother, I think so too."

"Alright then, let’s leave it at that for now. I’ll head back. If the time comes, we’ll release a statement, though we’ll delay for as long as possible."

"Understood." Song Huaisan nodded.

Mrs. Song’s eyes reddened, and she began crying. "Brother, you’re so ruthless. I’ve never been unfair to the Liu Family, yet you’re casting me aside like a discarded pawn."

Liu Shangqing responded, "Sister, if you keep saying things like that, you’ll truly end up alienating everyone."

Mrs. Song fell silent, unable to respond.

Only then did Liu Shangqing leave.

Qiao Rui had already woken up and made a phone call.

On the other end, someone reported to her, "The Liu Family—Liu Shangqing, specifically—has received our hint and approached Mrs. Song to propose severing ties."

"Good. Starting today, acquire Song Family shares—beginning with eight percent."

"Understood!"

"Once Liu Family shares reach twenty-five percent, transfer them all under Miss Song’s name."

"Understood!"

Qiao Rui quickly ended the call. Still feeling sleepy, she went back to bed.

When Pei Liyan returned, she was still asleep.

Pei Liyan quietly sat down beside the bed, lowering his gaze to the girl lying there.

Her sleeping posture was far from graceful—the blanket was half underneath her, half clamped between her legs, exposing her long porcelain-white legs.

Looking at her, his Adam’s apple bobbed involuntarily as he took a deep breath and reached out to adjust the blanket for her.

But just as he moved the blanket, her hand suddenly grabbed his, pulling him forward with surprising force, and Pei Liyan found himself flung onto the bed.

The next moment, Qiao Rui pinned him down forcefully, her elbow pressing against his throat.

Her eyes burned with a fierce intensity as if she had captured an enemy, her posture capable of snapping his neck if he dared to move.

"It’s me!" Pei Liyan spoke in a low, calm voice.

Qiao Rui snapped out of it, the ferocity in her gaze fading as she seemed to exhale a sigh of relief.

She released him and collapsed onto his chest, her voice lazy as she said, "You’re back? Why didn’t you make a sound?"

Pei Liyan’s eyes stayed fixed on Qiao Rui’s face. "A nightmare?" he asked quietly.

"Yeah," Qiao Rui nodded. "I just had a bad dream, so I was a bit rough with you. Sorry about that."

Pei Liyan studied her intently, his brows furrowing slightly. The sharp ferocity she exuded earlier was far from ordinary—more like someone who had faced life-and-death situations.

What on earth had this girl been through?

Pei Liyan reached out and gently stroked her back, running his hand through her hair. "It’s okay," he said softly.

His gentle reassurance washed over her like a warm tide, bringing an indescribable sense of comfort.

Qiao Rui wrapped her arms around his waist, burying her face into the crook of his neck, her hand drifting mischievously toward his belt.

Pei Liyan froze, grabbing Qiao Rui’s hand. "Is this my send-off gift?"

Qiao Rui said nothing, but her movements continued.

This time, she took the lead entirely, letting Pei Liyan relax and follow her rhythm.

More than an hour later, Pei Liyan was finally satisfied—but thoroughly exhausted.

He murmured, "Let me nap for a bit. Call me when it’s time to eat, and I’ll see you off."

"Alright," she replied with a smile, getting up to freshen up and change before heading downstairs.

When Pei Liyan woke up, it was already past eight in the evening.

Glancing at his watch, he was startled. He quickly dressed and stepped out, only to be informed:

"President Pei, Madam and Mr. He have already returned to Qingcheng. Madam instructed us not to disturb you while you were resting."

Pei Liyan was taken aback. "They’ve left?"

"Yes, they departed two hours ago."