Volume 1, Chapter 150: Pouncing Down

"Get your ass back here and hook up to your IV right now!"

Whatever Gu Yuandong said on the other end of the phone, Fu Linhan said exasperatedly, "Fine, fine, I must be out of my mind to bother with you. Do whatever you want, it's your own body anyway."

After angrily hanging up the phone, Fu Linhan cursed under his breath, "Damn it, not a single one of these people is any less troublesome than the last. I'm done caring!"

After Fu Linhan left, Lu Rongrong came out from around the corner. She walked to the hospital room door, confirming that this was indeed Gu Yuandong's room and that it was empty.

She didn't know whether the "wife" of Gu Yuandong that Fu Linhan had mentioned was a wife in the true legal sense, or an affectionate nickname for his first love.

But this time, she was determined to drag that person out into the light with her own hands.

Lu Rongrong walked out of the hospital, but instead of leaving, she waited in her car all night.

In the dead of night, she looked out the window, her face entirely expressionless.

At six in the morning, just as the sky was beginning to brighten, Lu Rongrong caught sight of a familiar figure.

Isn't that Song Qingyu's husband?

Why would he show up here at the crack of dawn?

A bold guess suddenly formed in her mind, and she quietly opened her car door and followed him inside.

The moment she saw Pei Jingmo walk into Gu Yuandong's hospital room, her mind went blank.

She found it hard to believe, but instead of immediately rushing in to confront them, she silently turned and left.

When Song Qingyu woke up naturally, Pei Jingmo was already gone.

She put on her clothes, washed up, and walked out. Seeing the breakfast on the table, she realized that last night had not been a dream—Pei Jingmo had truly returned.

He had even left a note for her.

"Even when I'm not home, make sure you eat a proper breakfast."

Though his handwriting was still as messy as chicken scratches, Song Qingyu could already easily recognize what he had written.

Overjoyed, Song Qingyu hugged Dingding and nuzzled it a few times. As she ate the breakfast Pei Jingmo had prepared, she snapped a photo of herself eating and sent it to him.

"I ate a proper breakfast."

"Good girl~"

"Why are you so busy? You left this morning without even showing your face."

"Things are pretty busy during this period, it'll get better soon."

"Are you coming back tonight?"

"I'll try my best, but don't wait up for me, go to sleep early."

"Got it, make sure you eat properly too."

"Yeah, love you."

A sweet warmth washed over her heart. Feeling deeply happy, Song Qingyu sent a "tackle and kiss" sticker.

In the hospital bed, Pei Jingmo had just been hooked up to an IV. The cold liquid flowed through his veins and spread throughout his body, but he didn't react at all.

Looking at the sticker Song Qingyu had sent, the corners of his lips curved into a soft smile. "I'll let you tackle me when I get home."

Bai Yinian sighed speechlessly at the sight of him. "Don't go making such a doting, infatuated face in front of Hanzi later."

Fu Linhan had been furious that Pei Jingmo had refused proper treatment and rest just to sneak off and sleep beside Song Qingyu.

If Fu Linhan saw him and lost his temper and threw a punch at Pei Jingmo, Bai Yinian wouldn't even know whose side to take.

"Knock, knock, knock—"

A sudden knock interrupted them.

Seeing that the visitor was Lu Rongrong, Bai Yinian glanced at Pei Jingmo. "You two talk."

Noticing that the man in the hospital bed was wearing a mask, Lu Rongrong nevertheless saw that he was wearing the exact same outfit she had seen that morning.

She was now a hundred percent certain that Pei Jingmo was Gu Yuandong.

So, her instincts had been right all along.

The way Gu Yuandong looked at Song Qingyu had always been off, and her own inexplicable hostility toward Song Qingyu hadn't been without reason.

Because he had gotten Xie Liuzheng signed to Fanhai Entertainment and provided her with resources and backing, she had always assumed Xie Liuzheng was his first love.

Only now did she realize that he had treated Xie Liuzheng so well simply because Xie Liuzheng was Song Qingyu's best friend.

Even later on, when he had deliberately gotten so close to Xiang Xinlei, it was probably all to protect Song Qingyu.

Ha—

A surge of rage at being deceived and made a fool of welled up inside her. Lu Rongrong clenched her fists tightly, barely managing to suppress the anger in her heart and control the impulse to rip off Gu Yuandong's mask.

Gu Yuandong had gone to such mysterious lengths, deceiving even his own wife—what did that make her?

She wondered what kind of reaction Song Qingyu would have when she found out that her beloved husband was actually her top boss.

Hmph, if she wasn't going to have a good time, she wouldn't let Gu Yuandong have one either!

At this thought, Lu Rongrong feigned total ignorance, placing the painting she had brought onto the bedside table. "How are you feeling?"

"Not dead yet."

Pei Jingmo's tone was icy. Aside from Song Qingyu, he maintained this attitude toward everyone.

Under normal circumstances, Lu Rongrong would have been furious.

Yet today, she deliberately leaned in close to Pei Jingmo, ignoring his frosty gaze, and curved her lips into a smile. "We're getting engaged next week, and you're still treating me like this? Don't you think that's a bit inappropriate?"

Pei Jingmo gazed coldly at Lu Rongrong. "Do you really want to marry me?"

"I do. And not just me—who in Shangjing wouldn't want to marry you?"

"Even if there is no love between us? Even if I never touch you once? Even if you have to wear a green hat?"

Knowing that Gu Yuandong was only saying these things to make her back down, Lu Rongrong smiled. "Yes. In this lifetime, you can only marry me."

"Is that so? Miss Lu is rather overconfident."

Lu Rongrong straightened up, the smile on her lips growing even wider. "Actually, there's something I've been quite curious about. Since you don't like me, why didn't you make your wishes clear to Elder Gu? Or... did Elder Gu use someone to threaten you?"

Come to think of it, Pei Jingmo was a man who feared nothing and held no one in regard; the only person he would ever defer to was Elder Gu.

And the more she thought about it, the more she realized Elder Gu must have used Song Qingyu to threaten him.

Pei Jingmo looked at her coldly. "Has anyone ever told you not to force things that don't belong to you, lest you end up with nothing in the end?"

Lu Rongrong raised an eyebrow and smiled. "I only know that forced melons are sweet."

With a triumphant expression, Lu Rongrong left the hospital room. She felt as though Gu Yuandong had previously held all the cards, but now—

The tables had turned. She was going to be the one holding the cards against Gu Yuandong.

Yet Lu Rongrong forgot that Song Qingyu was not only Pei Jingmo's vulnerability, but also his armor.

Over the next few days, Pei Jingmo returned home every night to sleep beside Song Qingyu, preparing breakfast for her before she woke up the next morning before heading back to the hospital for treatment.

Song Qingyu ate lunch at the company, and in the evenings, Xie Changhe would invite her over for dinner.

At first, Song Qingyu felt too embarrassed to go, but when Xie Changhe mentioned that his wife had extended the invitation, combined with hearing the baby babbling away on video calls, Song Qingyu's desire to see the child won out, and she went.

Every time she visited, she brought plenty of gifts.

Xie Changhe's wife had a fiery temper, but she was a wonderful person and grew very fond of Song Qingyu.

From her, Song Qingyu learned that Xie Changhe and his wife had been childhood sweethearts who grew up together; though they often bickered and quarreled, their bond was etched deep into their bones, utterly inseparable.

Song Qingyu envied them deeply, her mind filled entirely with thoughts of Pei Jingmo.

When she finally left Xie Changhe's house, it was already past nine o'clock. Xie Changhe insisted on driving her home, but Song Qingyu refused. "You should stay and take good care of your wife and the baby."

Xie Changhe was always swamped with work and rarely had time for his family; now that he finally had a chance to be with them, Song Qingyu didn't want to take up his time.

She hailed a taxi home. Pushing open the door to a pitch-black apartment, she knew instantly that Pei Jingmo hadn't come back again.

"Sigh—"

She let out a soft sigh. Just as she closed the door and reached for the light switch, her wrist was suddenly grabbed, and she was yanked directly into someone's arms. A pair of strong arms wrapped tightly around her slender waist, and a searing, passionate kiss descended upon her.