CEO's Ugly Flash-Marriage Wife Hides So Many Identities
Chapter 377: Don’t be cowardly, if provoked, hold your ground

Chapter 377: Chapter 377: Don’t be cowardly, if provoked, hold your ground

Pei Liyan glanced at his sister: "If you want to eat, be quiet and stop making trouble."

Pei Qiuhua snorted lightly and said nothing.

Soon, the steak was served.

Pei Qiuhua glanced at Qiao Rui, looking as if she was ready for some drama.

She thought that coming to eat steak today, a country girl like Qiao Rui might not know how to eat Western food and was ready to see her make a fool of herself.

But when Qiao Rui picked up the knife and fork, elegantly cutting the steak without making a sound, she was stunned.

Even though she often ate Western food, managing to cut steak without any noise was still difficult for her to achieve.

She couldn’t help but be surprised, looking at Qiao Rui, her eyes reflecting a hint of amazement.

This look was caught by Qiao Rui, who glanced back nonchalantly and continued eating her steak.

Pei Liyan, seeing her skilled dining etiquette, was slightly taken aback. "Do you eat this often?"

"You probably think a country girl like me has never had Western food, right?" Qiao Rui asked with a smile.

Pei Liyan was taken aback and smiled helplessly. "Do you always have to belittle yourself?"

"Should I wait for others to do it if I don’t?" Qiao Rui retorted.

Pei Liyan said nothing; his silence was as good as an assent.

Even Pei Qiuhua remained silent, perhaps intimidated by Qiao Rui.

She couldn’t help but take another look at Qiao Rui.

"Do you really eat Western food often?" Pei Liyan asked again.

"Not too much." Qiao Rui smiled faintly. "Before, when I was abroad, I ate a bit."

"Abroad?" Pei Qiuhua was also taken aback. "Weren’t you raised in the countryside?"

"Just because I was raised in the countryside doesn’t mean I can’t go abroad?" Qiao Rui asked exasperatedly. "People like you habitually see others as beneath you."

Pei Qiuhua’s face turned red, feeling hot with embarrassment. "As if going abroad is anything special!"

"There’s nothing special about it." Qiao Rui responded calmly. "And there’s nothing special about being the eldest lady of the Pei Family either. If you have the abilities, why don’t you make it on your own instead of relying on the protection of your father and brother!"

"I!" Pei Qiuhua was tongue-tied by Qiao Rui’s words.

Looking at Qiao Rui again, she seemed so calm, as if these words were just casually said and not meant to truly provoke her.

She lowered her head, her face turning red from the shame, making her too embarrassed to say anything.

Indeed, she had nothing without the protection of her ancestors, which brought her this happiness.

Qiao Rui spoke coldly: "Miss Pei, you are the eldest daughter of the Pei Family and the sister of Pei Liyan. I thought you would not be a girl who goes with the flow, but it turns out you are someone who follows others’ opinions."

Pei Qiuhua frowned: "Are you lecturing me?"

"It’s not a lecture." Qiao Rui spoke indifferently. "Just some advice. Listen if you want, ignore it if you don’t."

"Hmph, let’s see what you can say!" Pei Qiuhua’s disdainful attitude softened just a bit compared to before.

"Firstly, there’s no need for us to interact at all. I’m here because of your brother Pei Liyan."

Pei Qiuhua snorted coldly again: "If not for my brother, I wouldn’t be here either."

"Secondly, since we’re here, and our conversation is not pleasant, there’s no need to see each other in the future. So, let’s go our separate ways from now on." Qiao Rui said very frankly.

Pei Qiuhua furrowed her brows. "Do you think I want to associate with you?"

"That’s good. So we won’t have to pretend to be friendly and act for your brother’s sake. It’s tiring." Qiao Rui said seriously. "Miss Pei, be careful with your words in the future, or else I really might slap you!"

Pei Qiuhua exploded, slamming the table.

Qiao Rui frowned, tossing the knife in her hand, making it thud and lodge into the table in front of Pei Qiuhua.

Pei Qiuhua’s face turned white as a sheet.

Qiao Rui enunciated each word: "Put away your spoiled-girl attitude in front of me; I won’t tolerate it!"

Pei Qiuhua was scared.

She realized that the knife wasn’t even very sharp, yet Qiao Rui managed to stick it into the table. Her strength was impressive!

If that knife had hit her face, she might have lost her life.

Pei Liyan remained calm, not saying a word, even glaring at her as if saying, "Serves you right."

He had previously warned her to restrain herself, but she didn’t listen, and now she was intimidated by Qiao Rui.

Qiao Rui stood up, walked over to Pei Qiuhua, took the knife, returned to her seat, and sat back down.

She smiled faintly and continued cutting her steak, eating elegantly.

Pei Qiuhua had never seen such a scene before and was almost scared to tears.

"Don’t be a coward!" Qiao Rui shot her a glance. "If you’re brave enough to provoke, be brave enough to handle it. Don’t provoke if you can’t handle it."

Pei Liyan also cast a cool gaze at his sister. It’s indeed time to properly educate her; otherwise, she’ll be uncontrollable.

Pei Qiuhua initially wanted to run, but Qiao Rui’s words, "Don’t be a coward," stopped her from leaving.

She thought that if she left, she would really be looked down upon by Qiao Rui.

So she stayed until they finished the meal, but afterward, she didn’t utter a single word.

The dining atmosphere turned harmonious later on, with Qiao Rui and Pei Liyan chatting and laughing, while Pei Qiuhua sat silently, feeling aggrieved.

When it was time to leave, Pei Liyan went to pay the bill.

Pei Qiuhua looked at Qiao Rui and said word by word, "I know you’re capable, but don’t get too smug."

"Yes, that’s true." Qiao Rui nodded. "You too, Miss Pei. In the future, keep your distance from me. Otherwise, if I really beat you up, you won’t be able to mix in the socialite circle anymore."

"How can you be so infuriating?" Her eyes reddened at Qiao Rui’s words.

Qiao Rui found her amusing, insisting on provoking her, so she laughed, "Is this infuriating? Then continue to provoke me, and I’ll make you even angrier!"

"Hmph, I won’t fall for it." She stood up, glaring fiercely at Qiao Rui, "I won’t bother with you!"

Pei Qiuhua left.

Pei Liyan returned and saw Qiao Rui alone, not seeing Pei Qiuhua, and asked, "Has Qiuhua left?"

"Yes, she left in a huff," Qiao Rui replied blandly. "Don’t host such gatherings in the future. Everyone knows they’re not welcome; why pretend?"

Pei Liyan: "...."

"I have to make a trip to the Qiao Family. Go comfort your sister," Qiao Rui said.

"She doesn’t need comforting."

"Better, or if she dies of anger, it’ll be troublesome," Qiao Rui said. "Tonight, I’ll stay at the Qiao Family, feel free to do as you like."

She finished speaking, not giving Pei Liyan a chance to respond, went out, hailed a taxi, and left on her own.

Pei Liyan was momentarily stunned, feeling quite helpless; he was stuck in a difficult position.

In the end, he still caught up with Pei Qiuhua.

At that moment, Pei Qiuhua was sniffling, having never been so humiliated in her life.

Pei Liyan drove her to the Pei Mansion.

Upon entering, Elder Madam Pei saw her grandchildren return and noticed Pei Qiuhua’s red eyes. She immediately asked with concern, "What’s wrong, Qiuhua?"

"Grandma, it’s all because of Qiao Rui." Pei Qiuhua complained tearfully. "She even threatened me with a knife."