Seeing that Pei Er remained silent, Fang Hui began to show concern for her life over the past three years, asking how she had been in America, then rambling on about how worried she had been, how she couldn’t sleep from missing her.
Pei Er listened in silence.
After some idle chit-chat, they finally got to the main topic.
“Your marriage to Zhou Yi is basically settled.”
Fang Hui sat across from Pei Er, testing her attitude: “Er Er, you’ve met Zhou Yi now. What do you think of him?”
Pei Er paused for a moment, then gave a sharp assessment: “Dissolute, vulgar, and—he races cars, so he’s likely to die young.”
The Lamborghini Zhou Yi drove was a standard race-grade sports car that had just been released not long ago. Pei Er’s boss, Claude, was obsessed with racing and had recently bought the same model, so Pei Er guessed Zhou Yi was into racing too.
The moment she spoke, the air fell silent again.
Pei Pingxuan frowned and shot her a glare, lowering his voice to scold her: “What nonsense are you talking! He went through all the trouble to bring you home, and this is how you talk about him? Have you no manners at all?”
“Why are you angry?” Pei Er looked up at him, genuinely puzzled. “Didn’t you ask me? If you find the truth unpleasant, then you actually wanted to hear lies?”
Seeing that father and daughter were about to explode, looking like they were gearing up for a fight, Fang Hui let out a dry laugh and quickly interjected: “It’s only the first meeting. With more contact in the future, you’ll get to understand each other.”
“It’s normal for young people to like having fun. What matters is that his abilities are right there—he founded a tech company on his own at such a young age and made it thrive.”
Fang Hui patiently guided her: “Besides, the Zhou family’s assets go far beyond that. Zhou Yi is also the eldest grandson of the main branch, Elder Zhou’s most beloved grandson. He’s handsome and dashing, a fine young man—countless people see him as a prized catch.”
Pei Er’s fingers tightened around her spoon before she set it down. The spoon clinked against the bowl with a crisp sound.
They found her such a dissolute fiancé, pushed her into a pit of fire, and had the audacity to call it “for her own good”?
Did they think she was a three-year-old?
She wiped her hands with a napkin and said flatly, “If you think Zhou Yi is so great, then save him for Pei Jia.”
Pei Pingxuan glared at her: “Jia Jia is only seven years old, still a child. How could she get married!”
Pei Er smiled: “Then make her a child bride. Ten years from now, Pei Jia will be seventeen, and Zhou Yi will only be in his thirties—just the right age to be mature and steady. An older husband with a younger wife—isn’t that perfect?”
“You—you’re absolutely despicable!”
Pei Pingxuan was furious, pointing at Pei Er as he cursed: “How can you be so vicious now? She’s your own little sister! How can you say such things!?”
Pei Er looked completely innocent, her clear eyes filled with bewilderment as she frowned and countered: “Wasn’t it Mom who said he was wonderful? I was just trying to give the good things to my sister. How am I being vicious?”
Wasn’t it vicious of them to privately arrange this fiancé for her without her consent?
“Zhou Yi-ge is more than good enough for you. Don’t be ungrateful for the blessings you have.”
Pei Xi, sitting on the sofa, suddenly spoke up.
“If it weren’t for the project cooperation between the Zhou family and our family, do you think it would even be your turn to be engaged to Zhou Yi-ge? Grab the opportunity while you can—otherwise, with your own prospects, you’ll only end up marrying some poor guy and living a hard life.”
The moment he finished speaking, Pei Er cast him a cold sidelong glance.
Pei Xi’s body stiffened, and he awkwardly put down the leg he had crossed.
“Adults are talking—kids shouldn’t interrupt.”
Fang Hui chided Pei Xi, then continued persuading Pei Er: “Choosing Zhou Yi was the result of careful consideration between your father and me. The Zhou family has deep foundations—they’re a prominent family in Jingshi. Zhou Yi himself is independent and driven, not relying on his family. Once you marry into that family, you’ll be a wealthy wife with nothing to worry about.”
Pei Er couldn’t help but want to laugh. “But Zhou Yi has a girlfriend, and he doesn’t like me either.”
Fang Hui conveniently ignored the word “girlfriend” and said something as old as time: “Feelings are something that can be cultivated.”
Pei Er ate a piece of mango and didn’t respond.
Seeing that Pei Er remained unmoved, Pei Pingxuan suddenly spoke: “Aren’t you after the shares Grandma left behind? As long as you marry him obediently, I’ll give you that ten percent as your dowry.”
“What?!” Pei Xi panicked. “Dad! Didn’t we agree that those shares would go to me once I turn eighteen?”
“Shut up.” Pei Pingxuan glared at him. “What are you yelling about? When is it your turn to sit in the chairman’s seat? Keep yelling at me and see what happens!”
Pei Er felt as if a needle had pierced her heart. A sudden wave of bitterness hit her nose, and her eyes slowly reddened.
She clenched her teeth and argued: “That seventeen percent of shares was already mine to begin with—Grandma left them to me.”
The Pei family company was co-founded by Grandpa Pei and Grandma Pei, with Grandma holding thirty percent of the shares.
Back then, Pei Pingxuan and Fang Hui had gotten pregnant before marriage. The moment Pei Er was born, the two started fighting and wanted to break up. Pei Pingxuan dumped Pei Er, who wasn’t even a month old, on Grandma to raise, and never bothered with her again after that.
At that time, they were just in their early twenties, young and hot-blooded, with no concept of what it meant to be parents or have children. Later, they fooled around for a few years, reconciled, and got married, but still never took care of Pei Er.
From the moment Pei Er was born, she was raised personally by the old lady, who naturally doted on Pei Er.
Before the old lady passed away, she made a will, leaving seventeen percent of her shares to Pei Er, with the remainder split evenly between Pei Xi and Pei Jia.
But Pei Pingxuan didn’t want to give Pei Er anything.
In the end, the will the old lady had written mysteriously disappeared, and the lawyer entrusted with it was bribed—they all unanimously denied the will’s existence.
When Pei Er discovered this and tried to claim her share, they called her an ungrateful wolf, devoid of gratitude, selfish and self-serving.
Regarding the old lady leaving shares to Pei Er, Pei Pingxuan naturally refused to acknowledge it, saying in a deep voice, “The old lady left thirty percent, half of which goes to A-Xi. As for how the rest is divided, what I say goes.”
Pei Er clenched her fingers, her knuckles turning white and protruding, her heart seething with anger and bitterness.
Those shares were Grandma’s way of pitying her, deliberately left to give her security! Because Grandma had long known that Pei Pingxuan would never give her a single shred.
His and Fang Hui’s assets were all meant for Pei Xi and Pei Jia—and what was she? Just an outsider.
Pei Er loosened her fingers, raised her head with a smile, making herself look less pitiful.
“Ten percent isn’t enough.”
Pei Pingxuan’s expression immediately soured. “What more do you want? One share each, and the rest has to go to your sister. Don’t be too greedy.”
Pei Er: “I want seventeen percent. Not a single point less.”
Pei Pingxuan slammed his palm on the coffee table. “You wish! The marriage is already settled—whether you like it or not, you’ll agree!”
“I want seventeen percent!” Pei Er’s stance was firm. “Otherwise, I’d rather die than agree to this betrothal.”
Pei Pingxuan was furious: “You’ve grown bold, daring to threaten me?”
Seeing him about to lose his temper, Fang Hui patted his hand.
“Seventeen it is, then. Consider it a dowry for Er’er.”
She finished speaking and turned to look at Pei Er.
“Er’er, you’ve been out having fun for three years. Your father has freed up a cushy position at the company. If you’re bored, you could go work there for a while…”
“No need.” Pei Er cut her off.
It was always like this—a slap, then a sweet date.
A little favor, and they expected her to obediently fall in line.
“Such a prestigious position—keep it for yourselves. I’m not cut out for it.”
“Stop right there! What kind of attitude is that toward your mother!” Pei Pingxuan was livid.
Pei Er took a breath and put on a smile. “Well, thank you for your concern, but no need. I don’t want it.”
She got up and headed back upstairs.
Before she could leave, harsh voices drifted from the living room, the loudest being Pei Xi’s indignant complaints.
“She’s been abroad having a blast for three years, acting like this family doesn’t exist. An ungrateful wolf—why give her so many shares!”
Pei Xi was the heir of the Pei family; everything the Pei family owned would one day be his, so naturally he couldn’t stand Pei Pingxuan giving shares to Pei Er.
“Stupid kid, what do you know.” Pei Pingxuan scolded him.
The benefits of forming a marriage alliance with the Zhou family far exceeded the value of seventeen percent in shares. He was a businessman and never made losing deals.
Fang Hui sighed, shook her head, and spoke with a particularly disappointed tone: “That child Er’er—she was so well-behaved and obedient when she was little. How did she go so wrong as she grew up? I’d hoped she’d come back this time with some sense, but look at her. Who knows what kind of karma this is.”
Pei Er pressed her lips together, a crack forming in her calm expression. She closed the door behind her, shutting out all the noise.