CEO's Ugly Flash-Marriage Wife Hides So Many Identities
Chapter 42 Watching from the Sidelines

Chapter 42: Chapter 42 Watching from the Sidelines

Pei Liyan shifted his gaze towards Qiao Rui, noticing how indifferent she appeared, as if everything was unrelated to her, merely observing the situation from a distance.

He immediately became displeased, his eyes growing colder and colder, and an air of hostility exuded from him, lowering the atmospheric pressure around them.

Qiao Rui remained unperturbed as if she hadn’t seen it.

The chill in Pei Liyan’s eyes grew even thicker.

Qiao Xiang caught sight of this and, with a turn of her eyes, dismissed Qiao Rui’s words, smiling softly and whispering to Pei Liyan, "Liyan, I heard you’ve been working on several big projects recently, haven’t you?"

Pei Liyan offered a faint smile, "Business as usual."

"Modesty," Qiao Xiang laughed, "By the way, I’ve graduated now. When I come back, I won’t be going abroad anymore."

"Congratulations," Pei Liyan smiled lightly.

"Thanks."

"Are you going to take a position with the Qiao Family?" Pei Liyan asked further.

Qiao Xiang smiled mysteriously, "I’ll keep you in suspense for now. You’ll find out in due time; it might even surprise you."

Pei Liyan merely tugged at his lips, not asking further.

Qiao Xiang laughed enigmatically, as if she had a grand plan in place.

Her gaze towards Pei Liyan was still fervent, her obsession so undisguised.

Qiao Rui watched all along, everyone in the Qiao Family could see it, yet no one stopped her.

Qiao Xiang, beautifully grinning by Pei Liyan’s side, was indeed pretty, except she wasn’t Pei Liyan’s wife after all.

Such eager behavior came across as somewhat unseemly.

Qiao Rui found that quite contemptible.

She glanced over at Pei Liyan and Qiao Xiang with a half-smile.

To her surprise, Pei Liyan’s piercing glare seemed like a sharp sword, shooting straight towards her, crossing her face, and their eyes met.

Qiao Rui was startled and diverted her gaze.

Suddenly, she felt guilty!

Shouldn’t the one feeling guilty be that man who claims a husband and wife are as one?

It really is true that one is better off trusting a ghost than a man’s deceitful mouth.

She moved her gaze back, once again meeting Pei Liyan’s eyes, and had to admit that this man, in his aura and appearance, was the epitome of heavenly grace, a true Adonis.

She might as well admire him since she was idle anyway; today she’d observe the Qiao Family’s attempts to curry favor with Pei Liyan.

This drama was more exciting than any TV show.

Pei Liyan hadn’t expected that as he coldly watched Qiao Rui, she would boldly meet his gaze. What kind of look was that?

As if he was the one who had strayed.

Such audacity!

Seeing her like this, Pei Liyan’s gaze turned even more sinister.

Qiao Rui felt that if she continued to look, Pei Liyan might well harbor the desire to strangle her.

Enough of that.

Better to slip out and get some air.

So, Qiao Rui stood up, preparing to move to the garden for a stroll.

But the moment she moved, she heard Pei Liyan command in a stern voice, "Qiao Rui, come here!"

At his call, not only did Qiao Rui stiffen, but Qiao Xiang did as well.

Qiao Rui licked her lips, looking around to find everyone’s gaze on her, especially the looks from several Qiao sisters, all complex and changing.

Qiao Rui lowered her eyes and spoke softly, "It’s quite crowded over there, I won’t have anywhere to sit."

An excuse!

How could Pei Liyan not realize she simply didn’t want to come over?

He couldn’t help but take another look at her, plain-looking, young yet quick-witted, evidently highly intelligent but always playing the fool.

Pei Liyan felt his disdain for her deepen by the moment. "I asked you to come over, not to sit."

"It was intentional, huh."

Qiao Rui really wanted to turn around and walk away.

But under the watchful eyes of everyone, she couldn’t just walk off.

So, she walked toward Pei Liyan.

Just then, Qiao Xiang’s expression changed; with a cup of tea in hand, her eyes shifted and the cup fell onto the armrest of the sofa, tilting towards Pei Liyan, thus, the tea soaked his trousers.

"Hisss!" The man’s handsome face changed, his sinister gaze sweeping towards Qiao Xiang.

"I’m sorry, Liyan, I really am sorry." Qiao Xiang quickly apologized: "Let me wipe that off for you."

As she spoke, she frantically grabbed a tissue and squatted in front of Pei Liyan, wiping his suit pants.

Naturally, her hand just happened to touch some areas that should not be touched.

And so, the man’s face became even more unpredictable.

Qiao Rui halted, watching the scene from a distance.

Such a coincidence, wasn’t it; the tea happened to spill just as she was walking over, while Qiao Xiang clumsily wiped the man’s clothes with a tissue.

When Pei Liyan was touched in certain places, he immediately furrowed his brow and seized Qiao Xiang’s wrist.

She startled, her large watery eyes meeting the man’s as her lips trembled in panic. "Liyan, I’m sorry, it wasn’t intentional."

The man narrowed his eyes slightly; the sinister look gradually faded from the depths of his eyes, and he said, "I can clean it up myself."

After saying that, he forcefully pulled Qiao Xiang back to her original seat.

Qiao Xiang was very embarrassed.

She pursed her lips, lowered her eyes, looking very apologetic.

Pei Liyan then raised his eyes to look at Qiao Rui.

Qiao Rui stood still, with an indifferent attitude that made the man’s brow furrow tightly all over again.

Pei Liyan’s gaze shifted to Elder Qiao.

Elder Qiao immediately said, "Liyan, hurry and change your clothes; let Qiao Xiang lead you to change."

Pei Liyan spoke indifferently, "I’d prefer Qiao Rui to accompany me. I’ll go to Qiao Rui’s room to get cleaned up, come on, Qiao Rui."

He rejected Grandpa Qiao’s suggestion.

Everyone’s expression changed at once.

Qiao Xiang’s face turned even paler, without a trace of color.

Qiao Rui, being called out, had no choice but to comply.

She had to walk over to Pei Liyan and said, "I’ve only stayed here for two days; there’s nothing in my room. Why don’t you go to my sister’s room to change?"

Elder Qiao’s gaze darkened, and when he looked up with a chuckle, he explained, "That’s what I meant when I said to let Qiao Xiang take you to change clothes."

"Thank you for the thoughtful offer, Grandpa Qiao, but I’ll still go to Qiao Rui’s room; I’d also like to see her temporary accommodations in the Qiao Family." Pei Liyan’s tone was even, yet it carried an undeniable authority.

Elder Qiao was taken aback, embarrassingly tugging at his lips, then glanced at Qiao Rui, signaling her to hurry up and bring the man upstairs.

Qiao Rui didn’t expect to still be unable to escape.

Although she was very reluctant, Pei Liyan had already stood up and, under everyone’s scrutiny, grabbed her wrist and pulled her upstairs.

Qiao Rui could distinctly feel the iciness on her back, and her sisters’ gazes were terrifying.

It was as if those gazes turned into swords, aiming straight at her back.

But Pei Liyan completely disregarded everyone’s stares, pulling her straight to the second floor.

Qiao Xiang squinted, watching them ascend, a sharp light bursting from her eyes.

A country bumpkin thinking she’s so charming.

In the corridor, Pei Liyan did not let go of Qiao Rui’s wrist.

He asked in a deep voice, "Which one is your room?"

Qiao Rui walked to the door of the room she had stayed in before, pointing at it and saying, "This one. You go in; I’ll get some air outside."

But Pei Liyan opened the door and pulled Qiao Rui inside.

The door closed with a bang.