Pan Qingqing finally recognized me. Her face flushed and paled alternately, her eyes filled with intense hostility, yet she didn’t dare to provoke me outright.
I pulled my mother to sit down and started complaining, “I didn’t want to come today, but Pei Heng insisted I accompany him. It’s so boring.”
“You silly child, this is serious business. What do you mean, boring?” My mother held my hand, scolding me but with an indulgent tone.
Out of the corner of my eye, I glanced at Pan Qingqing and continued chatting nonchalantly, “It is boring! By the way, Mom, I asked Xiao Li to hire a few housekeepers for me from the domestic service company. I suddenly want to gain some weight. Pei Heng said I’m too thin, so I need to eat more and sleep more.”
Pan Qingqing bit her luscious red lips, seemingly struggling to hold back.
“You should’ve hired them long ago. How could you manage such a big place all by yourself?” My mother fully supported my decision.
“I just wanted to enjoy some alone time with him. Now I’ve had enough.” I spoke ambiguously. After all, Pan Qingqing was merely a passing figure in Pei Heng’s life, insignificant and not an important character like Wei Lan. I didn’t need to weigh my words.
Pan Qingqing abruptly stood up and hurried away.
Chen Xiaolu followed closely behind, probably feeling just as awkward.
When the cocktail party ended, I didn’t want to go back with Pei Heng. I wanted to return to my parents’ home and spend a few days with them.
“Fine, I’ll head off first.” Pei Heng never cared where I was, as long as I didn’t embarrass him.
My father was still laughing and chatting with friends, completely unaware that the party had ended. My mother handed me the car keys and asked me to wait for her in the parking lot while she tried to curb my father’s chattiness.
I took the keys and went to the underground parking lot. After finding my father’s car, I was about to get in when I saw Pei Heng and Pan Qingqing in a heated exchange.
Pan Qingqing clutched Pei Heng’s sleeve pitifully. “You’ve been so good to me. Can you really say there’s no sincerity at all? I don’t believe it!”
“Believe what you want. Just don’t bother me anymore.” Pei Heng shook off her hand abruptly.
That’s just how he was—once he grew tired of someone, he’d turn cold without a second thought.
Did a single apartment make Pan Qingqing think she was his true love?
Pei Heng noticed me out of the corner of his eye. His impatient and disgusted gaze immediately fell on me, as if I were the one pestering him.
I quickly got into the car and locked the doors. If it weren’t for waiting for my parents, I would’ve stepped on the gas and disappeared instantly.
Seeing me retreat so defensively, Pei Heng, for some inexplicable reason, strode directly toward my father’s car. He knocked on the window, and I could read his lips: “Get out!”
I frowned, shook my head, and mouthed back, “No.”
Then my phone rang. It was Pei Heng. “Xu Zhiyi, get out here right now!”
“I don’t want to get involved in your affairs with her,” I replied through the window, meeting his furious gaze.
I’d made up my mind: if I couldn’t divorce Pei Heng before he met Wei Lan, I’d endure a little longer—until he initiated the divorce himself. Then I’d agree immediately and walk away with a portion of Pei Corporation’s shares. I wouldn’t be at a loss.
In my previous life, Pei Heng pursued Wei Lan for a full year before asking me for a divorce and coming clean with his family.
I refused, and after nearly a year of entanglement and struggle with him, I ended up defeated.
After being reborn, I kept thinking about revenge, but that was a delusional obsession. The previous life felt more like a dream, while this life is the reality before the tragedy occurred. I had no intention of turning into a lunatic in reality just because of a nightmare.
“Come out!” Pei Heng was furious, probably having never seen me defy him before.
Pan Qingqing walked over with tear-streaked cheeks and clutched the hem of Pei Heng’s clothes again, refusing to let go.
Even though she’s a minor celebrity, why is she so clingy in front of Pei Heng? It was like looking at another version of myself—I had no right to mock anyone else.
Pei Heng shot me a fierce glare before grabbing Pan Qingqing’s hand and leading her to his car. Watching him drive off in a cloud of dust, I breathed a sigh of relief.
By the time my parents returned to the car, I was almost asleep.
“Why did you have to talk so much? Yiyi is exhausted from waiting!” my mother scolded my father.
“Well, there were some issues with the southern construction project. We had to review and approve it, so of course we needed to discuss it thoroughly,” my father replied while fastening his seatbelt.
Sitting in the back seat, I felt completely drowsy.
In the past, I used to dream about chasing after Pei Heng. Now, I dream about my previous life, as if the heavens are afraid I might forget the tragedy I endured, frequently sending reminders through my dreams.
“Mom, I want to eat glutinous rice chicken.” Seeing me in the back seat, my mother joined me. I quickly linked arms with her and leaned against her.
This is the warmth of a mother—safe and comforting.
In my previous life, as I lay on my deathbed, my parents stayed by my side, weeping until their faces were streaked with tears. They aged overnight, their hair turning white, burdened with sorrow and desolation.
“It’s so late, and you want me to make glutinous rice chicken for you now?” My mother patted my hand in mock exasperation. “What’s going on today? Did you have a fight with Pei Heng? Usually, you don’t come home for weeks at a time.”
“I was just blinded by love!” I said with a laugh. “From now on, I’m going to be your thoughtful little darling.”
My one-sided affection for Pei Heng was no secret to those around me, so my mother was quite surprised by my words. My father was so startled he nearly swerved the steering wheel.
My father asked, “You don’t like Pei Heng anymore?”
I do, but that doesn’t stop me from letting go.
In the end, I couldn’t hold onto this man. He doesn’t belong to me—he belongs to Wei Lan, that youthful and lovely girl.
“Dad, we’ve been married for five years. At this point, it’s not about love anymore. I just feel like I should do something else with my life instead of revolving solely around him,” I replied cheerfully.
“That makes sense. Look at that Pei Heng—always surrounded by scandals. I’ve long been fed up with him!” My father suddenly sounded emboldened, his tone dripping with clear dissatisfaction when mentioning Pei Heng.
Before, out of consideration for my unwavering devotion to Pei Heng, he had held back, afraid that criticizing him would make me resentful.
I chimed in, “Exactly! What a scumbag!”
Once I started, my parents vented all their pent-up grievances about Pei Heng. It was only then that I realized how much they had endured for my sake.
My heart ached with guilt, and I couldn’t even lift my head.
By the time we arrived home, it was already late at night. I took a shower and went straight to bed. I’m not sure how long I slept before my mother knocked on my door. Groggily, I asked, “What is it, Mom?”
“Didn’t you say you wanted glutinous rice chicken? I made some for you. Want to get up and have a bite before going back to sleep?” my mother said to me.
I jolted awake instantly. After sitting on the bed in a daze for a few seconds, I felt a warmth in my eyes and tears unexpectedly came gushing out.
Since being reborn, I hadn’t cried before. Even when dreaming of those painful scenes from my previous life, I would only wake up startled and distressed. I had long become numb to the pain, no longer finding anything too hard to accept.
But when Mom made glutinous rice chicken for me in the middle of the night—something I’d been craving—I couldn’t hold back my tears.