Volume One, Chapter 73: Scoundrel

Song Qingyu personally despised deception more than anything else. No matter the reason, a lie was still a lie. Thinking that Gu Chenxi was seeking her advice, Song Qingyu smiled and said, "Well, that depends on what it is." Gu Chenxi was the cherished daughter of the Gu family. Since she didn't know the specifics, Song Qingyu could only offer such comfort.

"What if it's something very, very serious?" Gu Chenxi asked.

"Then I wouldn't forgive it," Song Qingyu replied without hesitation.

Gu Chenxi fell silent, suddenly starting to worry for her brother.

Seeing the furrow deepening between Gu Chenxi's brows, Song Qingyu gently patted her. "In the end, it really depends on how you feel. If you think you can forgive it, then forgive, but if you can't, then you shouldn't. You should always put your own feelings first."

Gu Chenxi nodded, half-understanding.

In the early hours, Pei Jingmo quietly pushed open the door and slipped inside. Although Song Qingyu's sleeping posture was not as wild as Xie Liuzheng's, she did like to kick off her blankets. Sure enough, half of the quilt had been kicked down to the floor.

He picked it up and gently covered both of them. Perhaps the charity event had been too exhausting that day; Song Qingyu was sleeping deeply, even snoring softly. When she slept, she was like a soft, well-behaved little cat.

Gazing at her face, so enchanting it could make one lose themselves, Pei Jingmo couldn't help but lower his head and kiss her forehead. Suddenly realizing something, he looked up—

And found himself staring straight into Gu Chenxi's large, dark eyes.

Pei Jingmo froze.

Gu Chenxi was just about to speak when Pei Jingmo pressed a finger to his lips, signaling her to be quiet.

He circled around to Gu Chenxi's side and whispered, "Why aren't you asleep yet?"

"I can't sleep," Gu Chenxi admitted, troubled by the thought that her sister might never forgive her brother once she knew the truth.

Pei Jingmo, unaware of the real reason, assumed she was having trouble adjusting to a new place. He patted her head, "Pretend you didn't see your brother tonight, all right?"

"Why did you sneak a kiss from Sister Qingyu?" Gu Chenxi asked.

Pei Jingmo, who never blinked even when facing the most hardened criminals, now found himself at a loss, caught red-handed by his own sister as he kissed his wife.

"Because I like her," he said softly.

"If you like someone, you have to kiss them?"

"Of course," Pei Jingmo replied after a moment. "But you're still young. If anyone tries to kiss you in the future, you must give them a beating, understand?"

Seeing Gu Chenxi nod, Pei Jingmo smiled. "Good. Now try to sleep."

The next morning, Pei Jingmo said there was something he needed to attend to at the construction site and left right after breakfast. Not long after he left, Song Qingyu received a call from Gu Yuandong, saying he would come to pick up Gu Chenxi soon.

The two of them spent a while painting at home before a knock sounded at the door. Song Qingyu ran to open it and found Gu Yuandong, dressed in a black trench coat.

Every time she saw the mask on his face, Song Qingyu couldn't help but wonder what he looked like underneath. Since Chenxi was so beautiful, if he hadn't been disfigured, perhaps he would have been quite handsome as well.

Of course, it was just idle curiosity—she had no real desire to find out.

"Mr. Gu..."

"Thank you for your trouble, Miss Song."

"It's no trouble at all—Chenxi has been very sweet."

It wasn't appropriate to invite Gu Yuandong inside, so Song Qingyu glanced at Gu Chenxi. "Chenxi, your brother is here."

Unwillingly, Gu Chenxi came over hugging her little bunny.

Pei Jingmo patted her head. "Growing bold, aren't you? Running away from home now."

Gu Chenxi, unhappy, looked at the mask on Pei Jingmo's face and knocked his hand away.

Song Qingyu's heart tensed at the scene. It was a family matter, after all, not something she could intervene in. Fearing Gu Yuandong might become angry and blame Chenxi, Song Qingyu quietly said, "Mr. Gu, I don't know what happened, but Chenxi seems really upset. Little girls need to be comforted, not scolded."

Pei Jingmo's deep gaze lingered on the girl before him, softening. "Miss Song is right," he replied.

Then he turned to Gu Chenxi. "Chenxi, let's go home."

Reluctantly, Gu Chenxi looked at Song Qingyu. "Sister, can I come visit you again?"

"Well..." Song Qingyu glanced at Gu Yuandong, saw him nod, and smiled. "Of course—you’re welcome anytime."

In the car, Gu Chenxi hugged her bunny and ignored Pei Jingmo. He took out a plush doll and handed it to her. "Are you really going to ignore your brother?"

"You lied to Sister Qingyu. I don't like it," Gu Chenxi pouted.

Pei Jingmo had expected her to be angry about this. He looked her in the eyes and spoke earnestly. "Chenxi, it was a white lie. If I could, I wouldn't want to lie to Qingyu either. When the time is right, I'll tell her everything. Until then, will you help me keep this secret?"

Gu Chenxi felt torn. There were so many things she couldn't understand. The more she thought about it, the more frustrated she became.

"But Sister Qingyu doesn't like being lied to."

"I know. That's why I'm working on it."

Back at the old Gu family residence, even though Pei Jingmo had called the night before, Aunt Tang had worried all night and didn't sleep. Seeing Gu Chenxi return, Aunt Tang, her eyes red, rushed over. "Chenxi, you're finally home! How could you run away by yourself? What if something happened?"

Gu Chenxi wiped away Aunt Tang's tears. "Don't cry, Aunt Tang, I'm fine."

When Gu Chengde came downstairs, Gu Chenxi grew fearful and hid behind Pei Jingmo.

Gu Chengde frowned. "You're getting bolder—running away from home now!"

Aunt Tang, who had looked after Gu Chenxi for years, immediately came to her defense. "What matters is she's home safe."

After exchanging a look with Pei Jingmo, Aunt Tang took Gu Chenxi's hand. "You look thinner after just one day! Come, I'll make you something delicious."

Aunt Tang led Gu Chenxi away, leaving only father and son in the living room.

Gu Chengde eyed the mask in Pei Jingmo's hand, his expression sour. "Why must you wear that mask? Are you hiding something?"

Pei Jingmo lounged carelessly across from him, playing with the mask. "Wrong—what I have in my heart isn't a demon, but a little angel."

"Hmph! I don't care where you took Chenxi last night. Lu Rongrong is very satisfied with you. It's time to move forward with the marriage."

Pei Jingmo's eyes turned cold and he let out a mocking laugh. "Just because Lu Rongrong is satisfied with me, I have to marry her? Why don't you ask whether I'm satisfied with her? In this day and age, are you still arranging marriages?"

"Lu Rongrong is a highly educated, overseas returnee. What's not to like?"

Pei Jingmo crossed one long leg over the other. He'd always been a wild one, and adulthood had made him even more so. "I don't like her hair. If you make her shave her head, maybe I'll consider it."

"Rascal!"

Gu Chengde hurled an ashtray from the table at him. Pei Jingmo dodged, and the ashtray barely missed his forehead, smashing into the wall with a loud crack.

If Pei Jingmo hadn't been so well-trained over the years, he would have been seriously injured.

Startled by the noise in the kitchen, Gu Chenxi was quickly scooped into Aunt Tang's arms, who covered her ears.

The roguish smile disappeared from Pei Jingmo's face.

Gu Chengde composed himself. "Lu Rongrong is your future wife. Whether you want to or not, you will marry her. That's an order."