Zheng Wanwan stood in the crowd wearing her wireless earbuds. Since there were so many people, she was responsible for guiding and directing them, and in the process, she learned quite a bit.
For instance, regarding the value of these antiques—it seemed Pei Lan hadn’t really used his family’s money. So where did his money come from?
She suddenly felt that she didn’t really know Pei Lan that well after all. Even though they had grown up together, there were still many secrets about him that she didn’t know.
“Excuse me, could you tell me where the restroom is?”
A pleasant male voice sounded. She snapped back to attention and was about to point the way when she realized the man standing before her was none other than her younger brother from the military.
Zheng Tianming stood with one hand in his pocket, wearing martin boots and cargo pants. His skin was tanned, his hair in a black crew cut, and a smile played at the corners of his mouth—like a warm winter sun.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming back? I would have picked you up.” As she spoke, Zheng Wanwan shed her earlier demure demeanor and directly threw her arms around her brother’s neck.
They were twins. She’d heard that when they were born, their mother had gone through quite an ordeal.
Zheng Tianming bent down slightly—his sister would have a hard time reaching around his height otherwise. “I heard Pei Lan is back.”
He used to call him Lan-ge, then later brother-in-law. Now it was just his name.
“Tianming, I’ll handle things between Lan-ge and me myself. Don’t get involved.” Zheng Wanwan said as she released Zheng Tianming, smiling with gentle warmth.
Zheng Tianming’s eyes darkened slightly.
Pei Lan walked over from a distance with Lu Huai. When Lu Huai spotted Zheng Tianming, he strode straight over, but before his hand could even land on Zheng Tianming’s shoulder, his wrist was caught in a grip.
“Ow, ow, ow—Ming-ge!” Lu Huai slapped Zheng Tianming twice. Why was his grip so strong?
Pei Lan walked up beside Zheng Wanwan and reached out to wrap an arm around her waist. “Honey, Tianming’s back. How about we all get together tonight?”
Zheng Tianming released Lu Huai’s wrist, his voice neither warm nor cold. “No need. My mother’s prepared a welcome-home dinner tonight. It’ll be just the four of us having a family gathering.”
They were all adults—the hostility in the other’s words was clear in a single sentence. “The four of us” obviously meant Pei Lan wasn’t included.
Pei Lan didn’t respond. There was no need to win a war of words and put his wife in the awkward position of being caught in the middle.
“Tianming just got back, so he should focus on resting. We can get together another day—I’ll treat when we do.” Zheng Wanwan was highly emotionally intelligent. With one sentence, she gave Pei Lan a way to save face and also gave Zheng Tianming a perfectly reasonable excuse.
Zheng Tianming shot Pei Lan a look. If this had been a few years ago, he would have thrown a punch already—the things Pei Lan had done weren’t human.
“Ming-ge, do you have a girlfriend yet?” Lu Huai tried to change the subject, seeing how tense the atmosphere had become.
Zheng Wanwan smiled at Zheng Tianming, the corners of her brows and eyes curving slightly. Lu Huai had stepped right on a landmine.
Zheng Tianming rubbed his nose…
His situation was even worse than Pei Lan’s.
Lu Huai had meant to lighten the mood, but instead the atmosphere grew even more awkward. He leaned in close to Pei Lan’s ear and whispered, “Lan-ge, I talked up a big game—you’ve got to back me up on this.”
Pei Lan gave Zheng Wanwan a brief rundown of the situation.
“Go on, do what you need to do.” Zheng Wanwan said, subtly patting Pei Lan’s hand. There were so many people around.
Pei Lan had already promised Lu Huai, and he wasn’t one to go back on his word. With Zheng Tianming back, they could use this as a chance to catch up anyway—though with him, the son-in-law who wasn’t exactly welcome, in attendance, the atmosphere definitely wouldn’t be harmonious.
“Wait for me at home then. I’ll come pick you up as soon as I’m done with this business dinner.” Pei Lan sounded uncertain, worried that Zheng Wanwan might decide to stay at her parents’ house.
It wasn’t that she couldn’t visit her family after marriage—it was that the situation was different now.
Zheng Wanwan raised her hand, and the chain on his glasses brushed against her, tickling her. More importantly, his voice so close to her ear sent a tingling sensation through her.
“Okay.” Zheng Wanwan gave Pei Lan the reassurance he needed.
In front of everyone, Pei Lan took Zheng Wanwan’s hand and kissed it.
Zheng Wanwan’s heart skipped a beat. She quickly pulled her hand behind her back and shot him a glare—he never learned anything good.
Lu Huai raised his hand and thrust it toward Zheng Tianming’s face. “Who’s showing off now? Come on, come on, let’s kiss too.”
“Damn it.” Zheng Tianming stepped away in disgust.
Amid their teasing, Zheng Wanwan turned her head shyly, her fingers pinching Pei Lan’s waist—how dare he do that regardless of the occasion.
Pei Lan was grateful they weren’t sitting in the lounge area.
Just then, a woman in high heels and sunglasses entered the exhibition hall. She took off her sunglasses, glanced at Pei Lan, then walked toward an empty corner.
Pei Lan squinted. He lowered his voice and said, “Honey, I need to use the restroom.” With that, he strode away quickly.
Zheng Tianming turned to watch Pei Lan leave. His expression had just changed—that wasn’t the look of someone needing to pee.
Zheng Wanwan reached up and patted Zheng Tianming’s head. “I feel like you’ve grown taller in the two years I haven’t seen you.”
Zheng Tianming bent over, hands on his knees. “If your little brother gets this tall, he’ll never find a wife.”
His sister was clearly trying to cover for Pei Lan. When would she ever put herself first?
The woman stopped and leaned against the wall. She watched Pei Lan approach, her voice flat. “My father and my husband left with you, but what came back were two bodies. I don’t want to make things difficult for you—I just want to know the truth.”
Pei Lan slid one hand into his pocket and adjusted his glasses with the other. “No comment. The compensation has already been transferred to your account.”
“Pei Lan, we’ll be colleagues from now on. We’ll see each other every day. I’ll keep hounding you until you give me the truth.” The woman walked up to Pei Lan and placed her hand on his shoulder. “The child keeps asking for his father…”
She hoped this would awaken his conscience.
Behind his lenses, a flicker of sorrow crossed Pei Lan’s eyes. He was the only one who had come back.
But neither of them noticed—someone had secretly photographed the scene just now. Though he was quickly escorted out by security.
After the woman left, Pei Lan found a spot and sat for a while.
Zheng Wanwan waited and waited but no one came back. She pulled out her phone and sent Pei Lan a message: “Fell into a ditch?”
Pei Lan glanced at the message and replied: “Honey, save me.”
Seeing the message, Zheng Wanwan sent a “disgusted” sticker: “Forget it, I’ll find someone else.”
Pei Lan crossed his legs, a slight smile curling at the corner of his mouth. “Maybe… I can still be washed and reused?”
When the two of them got childish, their mental ages didn’t exceed ten.
“Lan-ge, what a coincidence.” The girl who had greeted Pei Lan at the entrance earlier said hello politely.
Pei Lan still had a cigarette between his fingers. Seeing her, he stood up. “Hello.” Polite yet distant.
“I heard Lan-ge likes tea. I’ll bring some over to you later,” the girl said, flashing a sweet smile.
In such situations, the usual move was to leave an “address” and have the girl come over—as for what might happen during the tea delivery, well, that was anyone’s guess.
This wasn’t anything out of the ordinary.
Pei Lan flicked the ash off his cigarette and said flatly, “No need, thanks,” before walking out of the smoking area.
The girl felt a pang of disappointment. Truth be told, she envied Zheng Wanwan—at least she had married into the Pei family and was Pei Lan’s wife in name.
The Pei Group could easily be described as wealthier than a nation. Even if you ended up as a discarded wife of a wealthy family, it would still be worth it.
That was just reality. Wasn’t there always news breaking about some rich man having illegitimate children out there, or someone openly bringing his mistress home, lining them up by rank and living together as one big family?
Pei Lan stubbed out his cigarette. Young girls these days were so precious, yet some still tried to play such underhanded tricks…
“Sister-in-law, just say yes, will you? I’ve been bragging about you in front of everyone. If you don’t show up, what am I supposed to do?” Lu Huai gripped Zheng Wanwan’s arm.
Zheng Tianming sipped his bottled water. That kid Lu Huai might not be good at much else, but he was an expert in eating, drinking, and having fun.
Lu Huai was about to say something more when he suddenly felt his neck tighten. He turned around and saw Pei Lan: “Lan-ge… don’t be so stingy, alright?”
“Can’t be generous about this.” Pei Lan said seriously.
Zheng Wanwan looked at Pei Lan: “Fine, I’ll come a bit later.” Since Lu Huai had already put it that way, she couldn’t very well refuse.
“Sister-in-law, I love you so much.” As Lu Huai spoke, he felt his neck tighten even more. He stuck out his tongue, making a face like he was being choked to death.
Pei Lan released his grip and pulled Zheng Wanwan into his arms.
Zheng Wanwan lowered her voice: “It’s the middle of summer—can you not grab me like that at every opportunity?” He might not mind the heat, but she did.
Pei Lan didn’t quite agree with Zheng Wanwan’s reasoning. He held her even tighter than before, pressing her whole body against his.
“I’m going to lie down in the car for a bit.” Zheng Wanwan said, jabbing Pei Lan with her elbow.
Zheng Tianming nodded while holding his phone. The string of curse words on the screen gave him a headache, so he put the phone away.
Lu Huai yawned: “Then I’ll wait for you guys tonight. I’m heading back first.” He had only come to make an appearance anyway.
Pei Lan accompanied Zheng Wanwan back to the van. The driver was outside, and the air conditioning inside kept the car from feeling stuffy.
“Why did you come back too?” Zheng Wanwan said as she adjusted her seat and lay down comfortably.
Pei Lan took off his jacket, loosened his tie, and unbuttoned two buttons on his shirt. His tie pin was casually set aside.
“Hot.” He said matter-of-factly.
Zheng Wanwan: “…” Listening to him talk nonsense.
Pei Lan leaned down and kissed Zheng Wanwan on the lips: “If you’re tired, sleep for a bit. Nothing much this afternoon.”
“Aren’t you hot?” Zheng Wanwan pressed her hand against Pei Lan’s chest.
Pei Lan pulled the curtain over the car window, braced his hand on the seat, and caged Zheng Wanwan beneath him. He leaned down: “Want to get even hotter.” With that, he captured her lips.
Zheng Wanwan reached out her hand, but it was pinned down by Pei Lan’s. His warm, moist lips pressed tightly against hers.
“Mmm—”
Pei Lan’s large hand settled on Zheng Wanwan’s waist, and his lips traced a path down her neck, finally coming to rest on her arm.
“So petty.” Zheng Wanwan shot Pei Lan a glare.
Pei Lan hummed in acknowledgment. He had a strong sense of possessiveness—even if it was just Lu Huai touching her, it would make him unhappy.
Zheng Wanwan deliberately provoked Pei Lan: “Then what should I do? What if I marry someone else in the future, hss…”
Pei Lan bit Zheng Wanwan on her inner arm.
“You jerk.” Zheng Wanwan pushed Pei Lan away with her hands.
Pei Lan adjusted his glasses.
He got this jealous over someone merely touching her—if she were to marry someone else, he’d go insane.
Zheng Wanwan met Pei Lan’s deep, dark eyes, and her heart suddenly skipped half a beat. Was he really this angry?
Pei Lan sat to the side and took a sip of water, his voice hoarse: “Wife, do you have any plans for tomorrow?”
“Mr. Pei, let me remind you—tomorrow is Monday, only suitable for classes.” Zheng Wanwan felt that Pei Lan had completely forgotten his identity as a professor, his mind filled with nothing but thoughts of clinging to each other.
In the middle of summer, they were practically about to get heat rash from being so close.
Pei Lan leaned back in his seat, crossing his legs, and said seriously: “What about lunchtime?”
“We weren’t even this clingy when we were dating, and now we’re practically about to get divorced…” Zheng Wanwan said as she turned around, facing away from Pei Lan.
Pei Lan took off his glasses and wiped them, his gaze falling on Zheng Wanwan’s fair neck: “Wife, I wasn’t clingy when we were dating because I was afraid I wouldn’t make it to marriage.”
Zheng Wanwan: “…”
What kind of talk was that.
“I don’t know what goes through your head all day.” Zheng Wanwan muttered quietly. She was twenty-six, and still untouched.
Back then with Pei Lan, at most he’d kiss her or hold her while napping together—nothing that crossed the line.
She used to wonder whether it was her lack of allure, or something else entirely.
“Do you want this body?” Zheng Wanwan suddenly spoke up.
Pei Lan closed his eyes, not answering Zheng Wanwan. He was afraid that if he opened his mouth, his tone would be very unpleasant.
Seeing this, Zheng Wanwan didn’t continue either. She had a hundred ways to make Pei Lan give up.
Last time she’d fallen in and lost half her life; she didn’t want to repeat the same mistake as before.
She still felt her heart flutter, still felt her heartbeat quicken because of his every move. There was no helping it—she had loved him for far too long.
Zheng Wanwan took out her phone and glanced at it. It was a message from Pei Kaixin’s wife, her good sister.
Bai Miaomiao: “Wuwu, Pei Kaixin is making me so mad. I said I want a baby, and he said he got a vasectomy.”
Zheng Wanwan was stunned for a moment when she saw the message: “Your health isn’t good—why did you suddenly think of having a baby?” Bai Miaomiao had congenital heart disease plus premature birth with underdeveloped lungs. Having a baby could easily cost her her life if anything went wrong.
Bai Miaomiao sent a rubbing-fingers emoji: “I like babies! Now that Pei Lan is back, aren’t you planning to have one?”
Zheng Wanwan remembered that Bai Miaomiao seemed to be only twenty-four this year, while Pei Kaixin was thirty-four. The old one wasn’t in a hurry, but she was.
Zheng Wanwan: “Pei Lan can’t…”
Bai Miaomiao sent a shocked expression: “No wonder he never touched you before. Then you should take him to get it checked out.”
Zheng Wanwan glanced at Pei Lan, who was resting with his eyes closed: “We’ll talk about it later.”
Bai Miaomiao sent a gnashing-teeth emoji: “Mine works, but he’s crazy with his antics. I saw the medical certificate he got from the hospital—he really did get a vasectomy.”
Zheng Wanwan: “…” Pei Kaixin really went all out to keep Bai Miaomiao from risking pregnancy.
Bai Miaomiao: “Tell me, why are we sisters so unlucky? We both chased after our men, and in the end, one can’t, and the other can but won’t.”
Zheng Wanwan let out a snort of laughter.
Pei Lan glanced at Zheng Wanwan—who was she chatting with that had her laughing so happily, and why did she keep stealing glances at him from time to time?
“Sweetheart, want to take a look at my phone?” Pei Lan said, pulling out his phone and handing it to Zheng Wanwan.
Zheng Wanwan deleted the chat history: “Cut it out. Why would I want to look at your phone? And don’t you even think about looking at mine.”
She knew exactly what he was like…