Volume One, Chapter 92: Awakening

In the car.

Lu Rongrong chattered incessantly while Pei Jingmo sat wearily, pressing his fingers to his brow, an expression of impatience on his face.

Noticing her long monologue had garnered no response, Lu Rongrong grew somewhat displeased. She gave a light snort, always managing to appear aloof and superior.

“If you ask me, instead of giving me the cold shoulder, you might as well try being with me. Who knows? Maybe after spending some time together, I’ll find you aren’t all that special and give up on you.” Her eyes burned as she fixed her gaze on the man beside her, suddenly leaning closer. “But the more you ignore me, the more interested I become. I just want to chase after you, to make you fall at my feet.”

Her hand, restless, reached toward Pei Jingmo’s chest, but before she could touch him, her wrist was seized in a fierce grip.

“Ow—” Pei Jingmo’s hold was so tight that Lu Rongrong’s face instantly turned pale.

He shoved her away mercilessly, his gaze icy and sharp. “If you don’t want your hand, you could’ve just said so.”

Lu Rongrong’s anger flared. “Gu Yuandong, what exactly is it about me that you find so unacceptable?”

Pei Jingmo showed no mercy. “Everything. There isn’t a thing about you I like—not even a single strand of your hair.”

“You—”

Something occurred to Lu Rongrong, and her fury turned into a mocking laugh. “By rights, with your capabilities, if you truly didn’t care for me, you could have refused Uncle Gu’s request to send me to you. My guess is… Uncle Gu must have something on you.”

She stroked her chin thoughtfully. “And what could that secret be?”

Her eyes never left the man beside her. Because he wore a mask, she couldn’t read his expression, relying instead on his breath and body language.

“I bet it’s that hidden love you can’t bear to make public. Uncle Gu wouldn’t be threatening you with your beloved, would he?”

Lu Rongrong was certain, given her years of experience reading people, that she’d be able to detect some subtle shift revealing what Gu Yuandong was thinking.

Yet, in reality, the man was terrifyingly inscrutable. He betrayed nothing, not the slightest hint of emotion. There was simply no way to get a hold on him.

“You’re right, but you’re also wrong.”

Lu Rongrong was taken aback. “What?”

“I do have a secret crush I’ve harbored for many years, but he’s a man. My old man found out I’m gay, and fearing the Gu family would have no heir, he’s been desperate to marry you to me for the sake of continuing the bloodline.”

Lu Rongrong’s expression twisted with outrage. When they reached the Lu family’s door, she got out and, livid, shouted back into the car.

“Don’t think that with such a clumsy excuse you’ll make me give up. When it comes to you, I always get what I want.”

With that, she slammed the door hard.

Pei Jingmo’s gaze was cold and terrifying as he glanced at Guo Rang in the driver’s seat.

“How’s the matter I asked you to handle?”

Guo Rang replied respectfully, “We should have news soon.”

“Hurry up.”

“Yes, sir.”

Yunqi Garden.

Pei Jingmo took off his bespoke suit and returned to his usual, plain appearance, his hair cropped short. Looking up and seeing the house lights on, a sudden softness welled up in his heart.

Unlike with Song Qingyu, even when she was home, Pei Jingmo would never knock but would simply unlock the door with his key. Yet tonight, he knocked.

“Coming.”

Peering through the peephole and seeing Pei Jingmo outside, Song Qingyu was surprised. Why isn’t he using his key today—was he too tired?

Opening the door, Song Qingyu greeted him with a gentle smile. “You’re back.”

Her smile dispelled all of Pei Jingmo’s irritation and gloom. Unable to resist, he pulled her into his arms. A single embrace was enough to restore him completely, ready to face any challenge for her sake.

The sudden hug reminded Song Qingyu of his earlier message: “I miss you.”

“Did something happen?”

Pei Jingmo slowly loosened his embrace and led her inside. “No.”

“We’re a married couple, after all. If something’s wrong, tell me, I’ll help you.”

Knowing that by “married couple,” Song Qingyu meant their contractual arrangement, Pei Jingmo felt as though the very phrase was giving him PTSD.

“No, it’s just… I missed you a little.”

Song Qingyu breathed a sigh of relief—so nothing bad had happened.

“I missed you today too.”

His dark eyes widened bit by bit at her words.

“I’m still not used to socializing, especially with large crowds. I just want to come home. Being with you feels the most comfortable. I’m sure you feel the same, right?”

Pei Jingmo: “…”

He thought his wife had finally caught on, but in reality, she was as dense as ever, not a single clue breaking through.

When he said he missed her, he meant he loved her, wanted to be close to her, wanted to do all the things he’d been longing to do. Not the simple kind of “missing” she described—just enjoying his company.

Given the situation, if he confessed now, he’d probably be served divorce papers at the civil office tomorrow.

Patience brings peace.

“You’re absolutely right.”

At that moment, Pei Jingmo noticed the painting “Smiling Maiden” by Xie Qingya still displayed on the cabinet. He frowned—how were there two “Smiling Maiden” paintings?

Feigning casualness, he asked, “I heard from Fu Shao you went to President Gu’s sister’s birthday party. What did you give her as a gift?”

“My mother’s last painting.”

“And this—?”

“This is one I painted myself, copying my mother’s work.”

Pei Jingmo examined them closely. If Song Qingyu hadn’t told him, he would never have noticed any difference between the two. Her skill was extraordinary—yet she preferred making games to painting.

“When Xiaoxi came to my house the other day, I saw she really liked this painting. The original was meant to be a gift from President Gu to her, but I bought it back from him for a single yuan. I painted this one as a keepsake—my own version. The real one is with Xiaoxi. She’s happy, I’m happy, and I’m sure my mother would be happy too.”

Pei Jingmo gazed deeply at Song Qingyu.

He wanted to use every beautiful word in the world to describe her, yet none seemed sufficient.

“Whatever you do is wonderful.”

Even if it meant going to war with the old man, he would never give her up.

—

Lu Rongrong’s visits to Tianqi Group became more frequent. Every day, she dressed extravagantly and lingered for hours in the CEO’s office. Rumors were flying through the company that their marriage was imminent.

During a break, Xie Changhe saw Song Qingyu munching on spicy snacks and walked over to ask, “Qingyu, what do you think?”

At first, Song Qingyu didn’t understand. “About what?”

“About President Gu and Miss Lu.”

Song Qingyu considered it. At Xiaoxi’s birthday party, President Gu hadn’t seemed particularly close to Lu Rongrong. Then again, he didn’t seem close to anyone.

“It’ll probably happen soon, I guess.”

“…You think so too?”

“I just think, given President Gu’s personality, if he didn’t like Miss Lu, he wouldn’t let her come see him every day.”

“So what do you think about it?”

“Me?”

Song Qingyu was puzzled why Xie Changhe would ask her that.

“As long as President Gu is happy, that’s all that matters.”

Xie Changhe: “…”

Fool. The happiness President Gu wants can only come from you!

It was clear Song Qingyu had no idea how much President Gu liked her. Xie Changhe’s heart ached even more for his boss.

In the CEO’s office.

Pei Jingmo stared at the tickets on his desk, his expression unusually grim.

Tickets to Nine Emperor Mountain, delivered early that morning by Uncle Zhou. The old man wanted him to take Lu Rongrong to the hot springs that weekend. For the sake of the family alliance, he really was going to great lengths.

Suddenly, his phone rang—a message from Fu Linhan in their three-person group chat.

“Weekend getaway to Nine Emperor Mountain! Hot springs and lamb stew!!!”

Fu Linhan only tagged Bai Yinian, making a point to explain why Pei Jingmo wasn’t included.

“Someone’s too busy being a lovesick fool and will be staying home with his wife—let’s not intrude on their happy time.”

Pei Jingmo raised an eyebrow and smiled. “I’m coming!”

Fu Linhan: “??? Well, well, has the sun risen in the west? Ditching the wife for the bros?”

Pei Jingmo sent two lines in reply. After reading them, Fu Linhan bombarded the chat with a slew of angry memes.