Volume One, Chapter 42: Disguise

Everyone has their own dreams.

For example, Song Qingyu dreams of creating games that many people love and that provoke deep reflection. Xie Liuzheng aspires to become a queen of the silver screen. As for Pei Jingmo, he has never spoken about what he wants to do in the future or what kind of person he hopes to become.

Pei Jingmo’s burning gaze rested on Song Qingyu. “My dream isn’t all that grand.”

“Oh?”

“A warm home with a wife and children.”

Song Qingyu fell silent.

Well… perhaps it isn’t that it’s not grand, rather that everyone has their own path. To spend a lifetime in peace, with a loving family and a warm bed, that too is a kind of happiness.

But with the way things stood between them now, would she end up delaying Pei Jingmo’s chances of finding a wife and having children?

Suddenly, Song Qingyu didn’t know what to say.

“By the way, I heard Xiaoman has excellent grades and was admitted to his dream university. But because his family is poor and his mother is gravely ill, he wants to start working as soon as possible and isn’t planning to go to school.”

With September and the new school year fast approaching, it seemed Xiaoman had made up his mind not to attend, not even collecting his admission letter.

“Mm.”

“Why don’t we help him? Xiaoman’s a good kid—if he keeps up his studies, he’ll surely have a future.”

Pei Jingmo’s eyes flickered. In truth, he had already made arrangements before she even brought it up.

But helping together—

That did sound nice.

“I’ll follow your lead.”

Song Qingyu smiled; she knew Pei Jingmo wouldn’t refuse. He was a kind soul.

Then, struck by a thought, Song Qingyu said indignantly, “Actually, my mother once set up a charity foundation called ‘Heart Bridge’.”

Back when Xie Qingya was alive, the Heart Bridge Foundation had flourished, helping many people. Later, Song Yanfeng took it over, then handed it to Song Xinrui, who only ever did things for appearance’s sake and never truly helped students in need.

If they wanted to help more people, she’d have to find a way to get Heart Bridge back.

But to wrest Heart Bridge from Song Yanfeng’s grasp—he, the incorrigible miser—was harder than reaching for the stars.

Just then, Song Yanfeng called.

What a coincidence.

“Hello…”

“Xiaoyu, I heard you’ve started working at Tianqi Group?”

Song Yanfeng had always been high-handed with Song Qingyu, so it was rare to hear him speak so cautiously.

“Mm.”

“After the auction that day, did you get a chance to speak with President Gu?”

Song Qingyu narrowed her eyes. “What are you getting at?”

“Hey, I was wrong before. I shouldn’t have forced you to forgive Chu Xingzhi, but I was only thinking of you and the Song family.”

Whenever Song Yanfeng acted repentant, he was plotting something.

Song Qingyu knew her father all too well.

Sure enough—

“Since you’ve got a connection to the young master, could you introduce him to me? You know how tough things are for the company right now. When I’m gone, the company will be yours anyway.”

Song Qingyu hadn’t expected his ambitions to reach so far—even wanting to connect with Gu Yuandong.

She was about to refuse when she saw Pei Jingmo come out of the kitchen with a glass of warm water.

For the first time, she realized that Pei Jingmo’s height and build were quite similar to Gu Yuandong’s.

Her eyes lit up with an idea.

“The young master isn’t someone anyone can just meet.”

“I know, but if you could just arrange a meeting, I’ll give you whatever you want.”

“I want the Heart Bridge Foundation.”

A foundation was beneath Song Yanfeng’s notice. “Deal.”

“Are you sure Song Xinrui will agree?”

“Ruirui treasures the bond between you two sisters. She’ll agree for sure.”

“All right, wait for my call.”

After hanging up, Song Qingyu pulled Pei Jingmo down to sit on the sofa.

She examined him closely. With a wig and a mask, he could easily pass for Gu Yuandong.

All she needed was for Song Yanfeng to see him—so long as no one found out, and President Gu didn’t catch wind, she could reclaim Heart Bridge—

Song Qingyu was sorely tempted.

“Jingmo, can you help me with something?”

“What is it?”

“I want you to pretend to be Gu Yuandong and meet with Song Yanfeng.”

What could he do when his wife wanted to outwit her scheming father?

Naturally, he would indulge her.

“Do you think I can pull it off?”

“You can! Absolutely!”

Song Qingyu explained everything to Xie Liuzheng, asking her to help borrow a tailored suit and mask suitable for Pei Jingmo.

Xie Liuzheng let out a cry of surprise. “Damn, you’re right—their builds are really similar. But one is the high-and-mighty young master, the other a tanned, rough farmhand. Are you sure?”

“Pei Jingmo’s just a little darker, not rough.”

“Oh my, you’re already defending him after just a few days together!”

“Ahem… I’ll train him.”

“All right, I’ll take care of the suit and mask. We’ll fool him for sure!”

Xie Liuzheng worked quickly. By afternoon, the suit, mask, and wig had already arrived.

Song Qingyu had Pei Jingmo wear them. The moment she laid eyes on him—

“Wow—this is uncanny!”

Forget Song Yanfeng, even she almost mistook him for the real thing.

Pei Jingmo put on airs. “Is it really that convincing?”

“Incredibly! Seeing you like this, I almost called you President Gu on instinct.”

Pei Jingmo fell silent.

“But your presence is still worlds apart from his.”

Song Qingyu pulled Pei Jingmo onto the sofa. “Cross your legs, don’t sit so stiff, lean back, be a little more languid—”

Pei Jingmo complied with her every instruction. Truth be told, playing someone else was exhausting.

“Also, our President Gu speaks very little. When he talks to you, just reply simply and act reserved.”

“If he says something you don’t like, just shoot him a sidelong glance… Yes, that’s the look…”

“Our goal is Heart Bridge. Once he signs and transfers it to me, we leave.”

Pei Jingmo looked at her with tender indulgence. “All right, whatever you say.”

Time was tight. That very night, Song Qingyu called Song Yanfeng.

“President Gu said his sister is a fan of my mother. For her sake, he’s willing to meet you, but only for half an hour.”

“All right, I’ll arrange everything right away.”

At eight that evening.

Song Qingyu and Pei Jingmo arrived at a private dining club.

She knew this place was expensive—clearly, Song Yanfeng had spared no expense to impress Gu Yuandong.

Noticing her nerves, Pei Jingmo tucked her stray bangs behind her ear. “Don’t be nervous. I’ll do my best.”

“Aiya—” Song Qingyu slapped his hand away. “From now on, remember: you are Gu Yuandong, the young master of the capital, not Pei Jingmo. I’m just your subordinate. You have to be distant and cold with me, don’t be kind.”

“I don’t like being cold to you.”

Her heart gave a flutter, and a blush crept across her face. “Ahem… It’s just acting. Once we get Heart Bridge, you don’t have to be cold anymore.”

Only then did Pei Jingmo nod. “All right.”

Meanwhile, in the private room.

Song Xinrui, decked out in designer labels, sat anxiously beside Song Yanfeng.

“Dad, do you really believe Song Qingyu will bring the young master here?”

“For the sake of Heart Bridge, Qingyu will do whatever it takes to get Gu Yuandong here.”

“But do you know who the young master is? He doesn’t even give Chu Xingzhi the time of day. Would Song Qingyu really be able to invite him so easily?”

Song Xinrui was skeptical, and more than a little unwilling to believe it.

“Dad, what if Song Qingyu just finds someone to impersonate him?”