Volume 1, Chapter 131: Tormented Love

The chill in her body, compounded by the power of suggestion, made this flu strike with a vengeance.

Song Qingyu drifted between consciousness and delirium. Whenever she woke to see Pei Jingmo’s handsome face filled with distress, she would stroke his cheek and offer a soft, comforting smile. "I'm fine, don't worry." Before long, she would sink back into a deep sleep.

Pei Jingmo remained by her side, never leaving her for an instant. His expression was grim; he had intended to protect her, yet he never imagined that she would fall ill right under his nose.

Fu Linhan had also been in poor spirits lately. Hearing that Song Qingyu was sick, he came to visit, looking little better than the patient herself.

"If you ask me, Song Qingyu’s resistance is just too low. Once she recovers, you really should make her exercise more."

Song Qingyu’s health was naturally frail, and she was far too lazy to work out. Only because Pei Jingmo had been nourishing her with special meals every day had the frequency of her illnesses dropped; otherwise, she would have been a regular at the hospital.

"Hmm. And what about you?"

"Me?" Fu Linhan sighed. "I’ve been thinking a lot these past two days. You’re right. Just because Xiaobai likes men doesn't mean I should stop being his brother."

A thought struck him, and he leaned in close to Pei Jingmo. "He said he was born that way, but we used to compare sizes when we were kids, and we’d pee together... do you think Xiaobai might—"

Fu Linhan’s expression turned bizarre.

"Might what?"

"Do you think he might like you?"

Pei Jingmo: "...???"

"If he likes you, that would be a truly tragic romance, considering you only love Song Qingyu."

Pei Jingmo kicked Fu Linhan out of the room.

"Hey, I’m serious! I can’t lose two brothers at once!"

"Do you want me to get you a megaphone?"

Fu Linhan immediately covered his mouth.

Pei Jingmo offered a silent prayer for Bai Yinian. Fu Linhan hadn't been wrong about one thing: it was indeed a tragic romance.

On the third day, Song Qingyu finally regained consciousness. Seeing Pei Jingmo’s disheveled, bearded face, her heart ached.

"I'm sorry, I made you worry again."

Pei Jingmo was already consumed by self-reproach; hearing her apologize made him feel even worse.

"Don't apologize. As long as you're okay."

"Did you miss work because of me again?"

"Nothing is more important than you."

Song Qingyu smiled, cradled his face, and kissed his lips. "I love you so much."

Song Qingyu was the type of person who, once her heart was set, never hesitated to express it. Pei Jingmo felt his lingering anxieties instantly healed.

"Knock, knock, knock—"

The sound of knocking echoed, and Xie Changhe stood cautiously at the door. "Mr. Pei, I'm here to visit Qingyu."

Pei Jingmo frowned and glared at Xie, causing the man to stiffen. Ever since learning that President Gu was actually Pei Jingmo, he had lived in constant fear. The thought that he had previously suggested that President Gu try to "poach" his own wife made him want to bang his head against the wall of the Tianqi Building. No wonder the President doted on her so much—she was his own wife, how could he not?

Xie, being a shrewd man, noticed Pei Jingmo’s expression and realized his own past attitude might cause a misunderstanding. He coughed lightly and stepped inside.

"Qingyu, how are you? Are you feeling any better?"

"Much better, thank you for your concern, Manager Xie."

Pei Jingmo stood up to give them space. "You two talk." Before leaving, he looked significantly at Xie. "Manager Xie, Qingyu has just woken up; she is still quite weak."

Xie understood immediately. "Yes, of course. I'll just stay for a few words and then head out."

After Pei Jingmo left the room, Song Qingyu said awkwardly, "I'm sorry, Manager Xie. He doesn't mean anything by it; he's just too worried about me."

"I understand, I understand. Mr. Pei simply loves you very much."

Song Qingyu smiled, then remembered something. "Manager Xie, have you found out who did it?"

"It was Ma Dandan."

"Her? Why?" Song Qingyu remembered having no conflicts with her.

"She likes Lu Yuan and assumed he liked you, so she retaliated."

Song Qingyu: "..."

"But don't worry, President Gu has already ordered her dismissal. No major company will hire her in the future. She has paid a heavy price for her foolish actions."

"President Gu?"

Knowing that Pei Jingmo was Gu Yuandong, Xie Changhe took the initiative to speak well of the boss. "Yes, this incident caused quite a stir and caught the President's attention. He was furious. You should thank him properly when you recover."

Song Qingyu nodded, her expression serious and earnest. "President Gu really is an upright and kind-hearted person!"

Xie Changhe: "..." He felt as though Song Qingyu had just given the President a "nice guy" card.

"Ahem—" Hearing a noise outside, Xie didn't dare linger. "Qingyu, please get well soon. The company needs you."

"Alright, thank you, Manager Xie."

After Xie left, Pei Jingmo walked back into the room.

Song Qingyu smiled. "Manager Xie is a truly good leader."

Pei Jingmo frowned. "He's not a good person."

"Huh?"

Anyone who could instigate someone else to poach a man's wife couldn't be a good thing!

In the elevator, Xie Changhe sneezed several times in a row.

Exiting the hospital, Xie saw Lu Yuan carrying a fruit basket. Thinking about how this whole affair started because of Lu Yuan, he wondered what the young man was thinking, despite knowing Song Qingyu had no feelings for him.

On reflection, it would be perfectly normal for Lu Yuan to like her. After all, if not for Song Qingyu’s insistent request back then, Lu Yuan would never have been able to enter the Tianqi Group. She was beautiful, kind-hearted, and incredibly capable. No one could spend time with her without falling for her.

But Song Qingyu was now their President's wife. Xie felt it was necessary to ask. "Lu Yuan, you know Qingyu is married, right?"

Lu Yuan nodded. "I know."

"And you know that Ma Dandan targeted the archives because of you, right?"

Lu Yuan was an intelligent man and quickly understood Xie's implication. "Don't worry, Manager Xie. There is nothing between Miss Song and me."

"I know that, of course, heh... It's just that you were in the same studio before, and I heard that if it weren't for her, you might have starved to death back then."

"Manager Xie, if an angel appeared in your life, would you want to possess her, or would you prefer to worship her?"

"Huh?"

"I would choose the latter."

Love was too shallow and boring for Lu Yuan. He had once reached a point where he didn't even want to live. That day, if Song Qingyu hadn't given him a job, he would likely have gone down with the debt collectors. To him, Song Qingyu was a light; as long as he could watch her be happy, he had no other desires.

Hearing this, Xie felt relieved. "Work hard; your blessings are yet to come!"

"Thank you, Manager Xie."

As Lu Yuan turned to leave, Xie watched his retreating figure and sighed. "He's a good kid, just a bit gloomy."

When Lu Yuan reached the bottom of the inpatient building, he ran into his former colleagues, Yu Qianqian and Xia Lu.

Seeing him, they immediately approached with enthusiasm. "Lu Yuan, long time no see~"

Lu Yuan responded coldly and didn't linger.

Xia Lu and Yu Qianqian exchanged a look and hurried after him.

"Lu Yuan, are you here to see the boss too? Let's go in together."