“There’s no such thing as an appropriate compensation range. Xiao Qi’s leg will definitely scar, and this is what he deserves. You two chat, I have matters to attend to and must leave.” After saying this, I turned and walked away.
The carefree, lovey-dovey days for this young couple were numbered—barely half a month left. In half a month, Pei Heng would make his grand entrance, with Wei Lan as his prey. Qi Zhouyang would never again have the chance to chat and laugh so happily with Wei Lan.
Thinking about it this way, Pei Heng was truly a beast.
After leaving the hospital, I instructed Xiao Li to drive back to Feng Zhou Yuan, the villa where Pei Heng and I lived.
I had left the Traditional Chinese medicine packages I bought there and wanted to retrieve them. Returning to my parents’ home and taking the daily decoctions, combined with my mother’s unbeatable cooking skills, would surely help me gain ten pounds in a month.
The Traditional Chinese medicine packages were still sitting in the living room, completely untouched.
I had no idea whether Pei Heng had come home last night or what had transpired between him and Pan Qingqing.
“Why didn’t you get out of the car yesterday?” Just as I picked up the medicine packages to leave, Pei Heng appeared on the staircase. He looked down at me from above, his eyes filled with displeasure.
Why was he home again? Under normal circumstances, he only showed up once every three months.
Pei Heng was wearing pure black loungewear, minimalist to the extreme, but paired with his face and physique, it was incredibly attractive.
“I never interfered with your previous flings before, and I didn’t want to break that precedent,” I replied calmly.
“Is that so? Then was it all just a coincidence that, one after another, their resources were cut off and scandals about them spread everywhere?” Pei Heng looked at me expressionlessly.
So he had known all along what I was doing, but he had never stopped me—because those women were just flings for him, nothing serious.
Unlike Wei Lan later on, whom he guarded like a furious lion, ready to tear me apart even if I merely wanted to meet and talk with her.
I didn’t deny it. “You gave each of them plenty of money and resources, which technically counts as our marital assets. It’s only normal for me to reclaim a portion in my own way.”
“Then why didn’t you confront Pan Qingqing last night to take it back? I gave her an apartment—half of which is yours.” Pei Heng came down the stairs and stood before me. At nearly 190 cm tall, his presence was overwhelming.
Had Pei Heng been possessed? I frowned. Why was he bothering with small talk now?
In at most another year, he would ask me for a divorce and offer me inexhaustible wealth. Why would I care about a mere apartment?
“I’ve come to terms with it. She’s neither the first nor the last. I can’t possibly deal with all of them.” I hurriedly said these words and left. I should have just asked Xiao Li to come in and get the medicine packages.
Only after stepping out of the house did I feel Pei Heng’s icy gaze finally disappear.
I tossed the medicine packages onto the back seat again and instructed Xiao Li to drive off.
Back at the Xu family home, I handed the medicine packages to the housekeeper. My mother was cooking—creating delicious food was one of her hobbies.
My father’s car had also returned. As soon as he entered and saw me at home, he glared and handed me his phone. “Look at this nonsense!”
I glanced at the screen: #Rising Starlet Pan Qingqing Denies Romance Rumors After Being Spotted with Pei Corporation CEO at Hotel#
If there really was something between those two, it shouldn’t be called a romance—it would be an affair.
I handed the phone back to my dad and comforted him, “Dad, this is all fake. You know Pei Heng is a businessman—sometimes he has to play along in social situations.”
“You’re still speaking up for him!” My dad was furious.
How was I speaking up for Pei Heng? I was just worried Dad would make himself sick over this—it wouldn’t be worth it.
“Then go teach him a lesson right now!” I rolled up my sleeves. “I’ll help you! Father and daughter teaming up to beat him to a pulp!”
My dad’s face had been dark, but at my words, his stern expression broke into a bright smile. “You always say such unreliable things. Is this your dark humor?”
I linked arms with my old father and tried to ease his mind. “Father, don’t be angry. Just think about how much Pei Corporation has contributed to City A’s economy—doesn’t that make you feel better?”
“You have a point. Not long ago, Pei Heng donated new synthetic tracks to several schools. He does care about public welfare and gives back to society.” Suddenly, my dad remembered Pei Heng’s good deeds.
“Exactly,” I agreed.
As we chatted, my mom finished setting the table and called us over to eat. Everything was my favorite dishes—truly, only a mother’s love is unconditional.
Lunch was warm and pleasant, but Dad had to rush back to work, so the afternoon was just Mom and me.
Several of Mom’s friends came over to play mahjong. The four women sat around a table, chatting and playing cards, while I lay on the sofa and clicked on the news about Pei Heng and Pan Qingqing.
Pan Qingqing explained that she and Pei Heng were just friends. Since Pei Heng was planning to invest in a drama with her as the female lead recently, they had been meeting more frequently—mainly to discuss the project.
It seemed Pei Heng had spent some money again. He was indeed generous in this regard, and it was the simplest and most effective method.
Before I knew it, I fell asleep on the sofa until Deng Jing’er’s phone call startled me awake.
Checking the time, I didn’t need to guess—she was naturally inviting me for another night of bar-hopping.
“Yiyi, come quick for drinks! There are handsome guys!” Deng Jing’er shouted excitedly through the phone.
“How handsome?” I asked.
“Let’s just say they’re devastatingly, earth-shatteringly, ocean-dryingly handsome! Hurry up! Tiantian is already here. Youyou can’t make it—she’s out of town for a small commercial event these two days.” Deng Jing’er described them with exaggerated flair.
Ever since they found out I was divorcing Pei Heng, these friends had been taking turns inviting me out—whether for meals, karaoke, or shopping sprees—never leaving me idle.
I knew they were worried that beneath my calm surface, I was heartbroken and grieving, so they wanted to distract me.
I truly needed this kind of help; otherwise, I’d keep dwelling on events from my past life.
“I’ll change and be right there.” I hung up, and Deng Jing’er had already sent the address.
Half an hour later, I set off energetically—nightlife was just beginning.
Deng Jing’er had practically been to every bar and club in City A, big or small, and knew exactly which places had the best drinks and the most attractive guys.
I had to admit, the handsome guys Deng Jing’er brought along this time were actually quite impressive—they looked a bit like minor celebrities.
“Ugh!” I’d drunk a bit too much and suddenly couldn’t hold back a gag.
How pathetic. While looking at a group of handsome men, I was secretly comparing them to Pei Heng in my mind, with no other interaction beyond drinking.
Still, Pei Heng was more handsome—whether in looks or demeanor, he was simply superior.
“Excuse me, I need to use the restroom.” I stood up and headed toward the bathroom. The handsome guy sitting nearby immediately followed me, reaching out to support me.
I didn’t refuse, enjoying the rare experience of being gently cared for.
When I reached the restroom, I vomited until I felt completely drained. After rinsing my mouth and washing my face, I came out to find the handsome guy still waiting for me. He asked, “Can I add you on WeChat?”
“What for?” I asked deliberately.
“So we can keep in touch,” he replied directly. “If you ever feel lonely, you can contact me anytime.”