CEO's Ugly Flash-Marriage Wife Hides So Many Identities
Chapter 368: Pretending to be a Clean Freak, Right?

Chapter 368: Chapter 368: Pretending to be a Clean Freak, Right?

Pei Liyan really couldn’t keep up with this girl’s train of thought—it was always so unpredictable. Sometimes, you had no idea what she was thinking about.

But every time, it left you surprised and delighted.

"Why did you suddenly ask me that? What do you mean?" Pei Liyan finally realized how out-of-the-blue her question was.

"Just asking casually." Qiao Rui raised her head, her face carrying a subtle, teasing smile as she looked at him. "What? I can’t ask?"

Pei Liyan carefully studied Qiao Rui, his gaze slowly tracing over her face, as if trying to analyze her reaction in detail. "It’s not that you can’t ask. It’s just that asking something so randomly feels a bit strange."

"Just gossiping a little." Qiao Rui knew he likely didn’t have much entanglement with the so-called first love. In fact, she suspected it was just Liang Jinqian’s sister having a one-sided crush.

With that thought, Qiao Rui let it go and grinned brightly, saying, "Alright, let’s go back."

"Yeah." Pei Liyan went to settle the bill.

As the two were leaving the restaurant, Sister Hui glanced at Qiao Rui’s back and muttered to her staff, "Looks like, really looks like."

"Boss, what do you mean ’looks like’?" The staff didn’t understand Sister Hui’s words and followed her gaze. They happened to see the backs of Qiao Rui and Pei Liyan, but still didn’t get it.

"Oh, nothing. Just felt that back figure—it looks like someone." Sister Hui murmured softly, "Take a look. Doesn’t it look like Miss Rui?"

The staff turned to look again. After taking a closer look, they nodded in agreement, "It really does look a bit like."

"See? I told you so. It’s uncanny." Sister Hui chuckled. "Alright, let’s get back to work."

Back at home.

Qiao Rui was about to head to her room but was suddenly grabbed by her wrist by Pei Liyan. "Where are you going?"

"To my room!" Qiao Rui said calmly, "Gotta rest early since I have work tomorrow."

Actually, the two of them had always slept in separate rooms.

While they were in Liancheng, they stayed together, but that was at a hotel. Now back at the house, sleeping separately just felt a bit unreasonable.

Pei Liyan naturally wouldn’t let such a good opportunity slip away.

"Did you forget something?"

Of course, Qiao Rui knew exactly what he meant, yet she feigned ignorance with raised brows. "Forgot something? Not that I recall."

"Still playing dumb?" He let out a light chuckle, as if he had already anticipated her reaction. His eyes stayed fixed on hers as he spoke softly, "Isn’t it time to move into the master bedroom?"

"As I recall, Mr. Pei has quite the cleanliness obsession. Last time my second sister stayed here briefly, you went so far as to redecorate the room afterward. I wouldn’t want to be a bother." Qiao Rui smiled. "I’d rather stick to sleeping in the guest room."

Seeing her beam so brightly, Pei Liyan felt a sudden pang in his heart—a mix of bitterness that was somehow self-inflicted.

"You’re insisting on the guest room?" His grip on her wrist didn’t loosen, his touch suggestive.

Qiao Rui returned his gaze with a sly smile. "That’s how you arranged it before, wasn’t it? I remember very clearly, and there’s no breaking your rules."

As soon as she finished, Qiao Rui pulled her wrist free. "Goodnight then!"

She stepped into her room in her high heels, leaving him behind with a bitter smile on his face.

"I recall someone mentioning a welcome gift for me." Just as Qiao Rui entered the room, his voice sounded from behind her.

Qiao Rui almost tripped, leaning against the doorframe and turning her head to look at the man standing in the hallway.

He stood there, looking at her with a deep gaze as if she were his prey tonight.

He seemed so confident, as though he’d claim what he wanted no matter what.

Qiao Rui chuckled and said, "Didn’t we welcome you during dinner just now? If that wasn’t enough, I’ll say it now—welcome home."

Pei Liyan knew she was doing it on purpose and laughed. "How about you provide some tangible benefit?"

Qiao Rui blew a kiss playfully, "Mwah! Goodnight!"

With that, she shut the door, giving him no further chance.

The man outside shook his head and chuckled bitterly.

But he didn’t force the issue. Heading back to his own room, he took a shower, changed his clothes, and saw the snacks.

These were snacks Qiao Rui had bought earlier.

They had been brought up by Si Ran, left untouched by her.

At the time, the snacks were meant to tempt her, deliberately placed in the room.

Now, they could come in handy again.

Preparing the snacks, he sent Qiao Rui a message: "I’ve got lots of snacks in my room. Want some?"

Qiao Rui saw the message and paused momentarily before breaking into laughter.

At that moment, she was doing her skincare routine. She casually replied: "No thanks, dinner was super filling, so I’ll pass on the snacks tonight."

Reading the message, Pei Liyan froze for a moment, then got up and began pacing back and forth in his room.

After sending the reply, Qiao Rui received no further message and sprawled on her bed, pounding the mattress as she laughed uncontrollably.

Before long, a knock suddenly echoed at the door.

She froze for a moment before asking, "What is it?"

"I need to check the wound on your back." The man’s voice came from outside.

Qiao Rui replied, "No need, there’s nothing wrong with the wound."

"The wound on your back does need checking," Pei Liyan said seriously.

Qiao Rui stifled a laugh before saying, "My back has healed. It doesn’t need checking anymore. Mr. Pei, you should rest early."

"Open the door first," Pei Liyan said in a deep voice.

"Oh, I can’t right now. I just showered and was about to change clothes. Let’s say... in half an hour," Qiao Rui replied.

Pei Liyan paused, wanting to say something, but Qiao Rui interjected, "Don’t tell me I don’t even get this bit of freedom?"

"Of course not," Pei Liyan responded. "Alright then, I’ll come back in half an hour."

"Okay," Qiao Rui said cheerfully. "Half an hour it is."

But who would have thought that when Pei Liyan came knocking half an hour later, there was no response?

He knocked a few times in succession at the door but still received no response.

Sighing in resignation, Pei Liyan fetched the spare key and opened the door. Inside, Qiao Rui was sound asleep on the bed.

This girl’s sleeping posture was truly terrible—lying on her side with the blanket wedged between her legs, going all out for comfort.

Pei Liyan couldn’t help but feel exasperated, letting out a sigh. This girl, could she really just fall asleep like that?

He sat down on the edge of the bed and lowered his head to look at her before carefully lifting her clothing to check the wound on her back.

On her fair and smooth back, there were still faint traces of redness and swelling. After the bath, her porcelain-like skin carried a subtle fragrance, making her incredibly alluring.

He took a deep breath, suppressing certain emotions as he brought out the ointment and gently applied it to her back.

His fingertips moved with such tenderness, ensuring he didn’t hurt her.

Qiao Rui lay still with her eyes closed, seemingly asleep but fully awake as the ointment touch drove away her drowsiness.

Still, she didn’t move.

However, her back visibly stiffened.

The man seemed to sense something. Lowering his head, he braced himself against the bed with both hands, staring down at the girl lying beneath him.

Qiao Rui suddenly opened her eyes, meeting his deep, intense gaze.

In the next moment, she hooked her arms around his neck and said, "Mr. Pei, your cleanliness obsession—isn’t it fake?"