CEO's Ugly Flash-Marriage Wife Hides So Many Identities
Chapter 40 Returning Home Together

Chapter 40: Chapter 40 Returning Home Together

Mr. Pei heard Elder Pei’s command and immediately furrowed his brows, "Grandfather, aren’t you overstepping your bounds? Visiting the in-laws is meant for the parents of the wife, let me remind you that my in-laws are no longer alive."

"Your in-laws may be gone, but your wife’s grandfather is still with us," Elder Pei said. "The proper respects must still be paid."

A cold frost rose in Mr. Pei’s eyes, slightly irritated.

But it was only a moment before he calmed down, his demeanor growing much laxer. "Fine, then prepare the gifts for the visit, Grandfather."

"You prepare them yourself," Elder Pei directed.

"Then I’ll go empty-handed," Mr. Pei said coolly.

"You wouldn’t dare!" Elder Pei couldn’t afford such a loss of face, "I’ll prepare them, but you must show absolute respect. You’re not allowed to be impolite to your grandfather’s lifesaver."

Mr. Pei frowned slightly. "I’ll do my best."

"It’s not about doing your best; it’s a must," Elder Pei said firmly.

Although not fond of being ordered around, Mr. Pei still asked, "When should we visit?"

"No day like today; let’s make it today," Elder Pei instructed. "You take Qiao Rui back with you and pick up the things."

"There’s no need, I’ll have Fang Mo fetch them," Mr. Pei would not bring Qiao Rui back with him.

Elder Pei was displeased deep inside but still acquiesced, "Fine."

After hanging up the phone.

Mr. Pei went upstairs to notify Qiao Rui. "Elder Pei said we should visit the family today."

"Visit the Qiao Family?" Qiao Rui was somewhat stunned.

The elder of the Pei Family was quite the schemer indeed.

She had just come upstairs to play a game, not even finishing a single round, when she was told to visit the Qiao Family. The notice was so sudden, with no time to prepare.

She couldn’t help but take another look at Mr. Pei.

The man turned his head towards the end of the hallway, as if checking the weather outside.

Qiao Rui saw his profile, sharp and clear-cut. Though he was informing her of the visit, his face clearly showed impatience.

Probably he didn’t want to go to the Qiao Family either.

"Are we leaving now?" Qiao Rui asked.

"We’ll leave after Fang Mo arrives. Go get ready," Mr. Pei finished, then looked back at Qiao Rui, his gaze full of disdain as he eyed her clothing. "You’d better change."

Qiao Rui paused.

Mr. Pei saw her reluctance.

He still said, "If you really don’t know how to dress, go see Jiang Jinfeng. I’ll get Fang Mo to get you a membership; you can often go over and learn about styling."

Qiao Rui cast her eyes down and remained silent.

Her dress was merely a disguise.

Moreover, dressing this way was very low-key, walking in a crowd, ugly enough not to draw undue attention.

But last time at the Qiao Family, she was caught off guard; she hadn’t expected Mr. Pei, a man who breaks the norm, to actually choose her, the "ugly woman."

Qiao Rui was also reflecting, wondering if it was appropriate for her to disguise herself as ugly.

Sometimes acting the opposite can draw extra attention for being too outrageous.

It seemed she needed to make some gradual changes.

Even if she was to change, she couldn’t do it all at once. It had to be subtle and natural.

Sudden changes could draw attention, which was not what Qiao Rui wanted.

However, if Mr. Pei wanted to get her a membership, she had no objections; after all, it would also generate revenue for the studio.

"Last time Mr. Jiang did suggest I get a membership, but I didn’t have the money, so I declined," Qiao Rui said.

Mr. Pei immediately frowned, "If he suggested it, why didn’t you tell me?"

"We’re not close; I can’t tell you everything, can I?" Qiao Rui countered.

Mr. Pei was left speechless.

He found this woman’s thought processes choked him up.

"But from now on, don’t forget that we are husband and wife, one entity. You can’t embarrass me," Mr. Pei said gravely.

Qiao Rui paused, then murmured slowly, "If you care so much about face, why bother marrying me?"

Pei Liyan clearly detected her protest from her tone, as if she had long harbored a grudge about him choosing her as his wife.

He, too, was irritated and said in a cold voice, without any pleasantries, "You’re uniquely ugly, choosing you does wonders for disgusting others."

Qiao Rui looked at him, at a loss for words for a moment.

Not angry?

Pei Liyan didn’t expect that when he mocked her looks, she didn’t care at all, really had no idea what this woman actually cared about.

He was dissatisfied and added another jab, "Truly ugly."

Qiao Rui responded indifferently, "Yes, I’m afraid Mr. Pei hasn’t disgusted others but has instead disgusted himself."

Pei Liyan: "...."

Qiao Rui chuckled, her faint smile spreading across her lips, seeming to take great pleasure in seeing Pei Liyan rendered speechless.

"Mr. Pei, sometimes when you lift a stone, it falls not on someone else’s foot but always on your own."

Pei Liyan said with a heavy voice, "You’re talking about yourself!"

Qiao Rui: "...."

Well, Qiao Rui also had to admit that she seemed to have made some things worse through her own cleverness.

Like pretending to be ugly.

Pei Liyan didn’t speak, and Qiao Rui also fell silent.

Fang Mo arrived soon, bringing with him the generous gifts prepared by the elder.

Qiao Rui did change into another outfit, but it was even drabber than her previous oversized sweatshirt; it was a pink dress with a large cartoon image of Donald Duck on the front.

However, with her darkened skin tone under the mask, she wasn’t able to pull off pink, so it looked particularly mismatched.

Yet, she didn’t seem to mind.

Qiao Rui strutted along with Pei Liyan, boarding the car back to the Qiao family.

On the way, Fang Mo glanced at them through the rearview mirror.

Qiao Rui, sitting beside the immaculately dressed Pei Liyan, seemed completely out of place.

It was like a refined young lady accompanied by a plain and clumsy maid.

Pei Liyan suddenly spoke up, "Just drive properly."

Fang Mo jumped, then did not dare to look at them anymore.

Pei Liyan said, "Later, go to Jiang Jinfeng and get a membership for Qiao Rui."

"Yes!" Fang Mo involuntarily glanced in the rearview mirror again.

He caught Qiao Rui looking at him.

He always felt that Qiao Rui’s gaze was a bit sharp.

Qiao Family.

Upon their arrival, the butler immediately welcomed them into the drawing room.

"Elder Pei called to say that Mr. Pei and the sixth young miss would be visiting today, Elder Qiao is very pleased."

"Is that so?" Pei Liyan smiled faintly, but the curve of his lips carried a trace of sarcasm.

Elder Qiao must be delighted indeed, perhaps even ready to bring up the matter of the five hundred million today.

Qiao Rui’s face was expressionless as she followed Pei Liyan.

"Yes, please, Mr. Pei!"

Pei Liyan entered the drawing room with long strides and immediately, the girls inside let out gasps of admiration.

Qiao Rui followed closely behind and upon entering, she saw several of her female cousins there, including Qiao Xiang.

Qiao Rui caught sight of the lavishly dressed Qiao Xiang.

She looked up, her gaze fixed on Pei Liyan as he walked in, and in the moment she saw him, a soft sorrow flashed across her eyes, thousands of words seeming to pass through them in a glimmer.

And the gaze of all the sisters from the Qiao family was on Pei Liyan.

He was dressed in a dark suit and a white shirt today, the well-tailored outfit highlighting his tall, upright figure even more, and with that handsome, striking face, he was impossible to ignore.

Even Qiao Xiang couldn’t help but call out, losing her composure, "Liyan!"