“…a female secretary.”
Su Yi’s information had been investigated by her some time ago, but she couldn’t recall Su Yi’s full name for the moment. After all, in her eyes, a secretary wasn’t even worth remembering.
Old Master Pei had originally flinched when he heard the surname “Su,” but after hearing it was just a secretary, he immediately dismissed the concern.
Su Yi wouldn’t dare appear in front of Pei Ranye, let alone as a secretary.
To enter Empire Group, one needed an outstanding academic background—and she… a girl who hadn’t even finished high school, simply wasn’t qualified.
“Miss Qin,” Old Master Pei said calmly, placing the purple-clay teapot onto the rosewood table. The soft sound of porcelain meeting wood echoed faintly. “At my age, I see people the way I see Pu’er tea. The first brew is always discarded; only the second reveals its true flavor. A man like Ah Chen is like golden nanmu wood—many birds try to nest on it, but in the end, only the one who knows how to build a proper nest can stay.”
Qin Rongyin understood perfectly.
“I understand, Grandpa Pei.”
A man may have other women outside, but as long as he is hers in the end, that is enough.
“So your mother wants to meet Ah Chen?”
“Yes. But… when I mentioned it to him just now, he didn’t seem very willing to meet my family. I had already arranged dinner at the Royal Club tomorrow night, but now I may have to cancel.”
“He will go,” Old Master Pei said.
“Really?”
“Yes. He will.”
After the call ended, Old Master Pei called the butler.
“Has there been any woman around Ah Chen recently?”
“…Old Master, I only heard from my nephew. The eldest young master was drugged some time ago and slept with a woman. All the hotel surveillance footage disappeared. It caused quite a stir, and even my nephew was fired…”
“Why are you only telling me this now?”
“You know his status. Many people are watching him, so I didn’t dare speak carelessly. But people have indeed been investigating this matter recently—it’s likely true.”
Old Master Pei’s expression remained calm.
For someone in power, such matters were not unusual. Given his grandson’s status and appearance, it was normal for people to target him.
But not just anyone could do it.
“If he wants to investigate, then let’s make it convenient for him,” Old Master Pei said slowly. “Let Qin Rongyin take this matter. Her background is clean, her family respectable. Saying it’s her is far better than some unknown woman with unclear motives.”
“But… if the young master finds out it’s Miss Qin, he may not let it go.”
“And if I did it, would he not dare to come after me?” the old man said, looking out the window. “I’ve done this kind of thing before. Keep it clean. No loose ends.”
“Yes.”
The next day, on the return trip, Chen Chi also arrived.
Throughout the ride, Su Yi was in low spirits, as if she were ill.
Pei Ranye was in a video conference when he glanced at her. “The morning meeting materials—”
“They’re ready,” she replied softly. “This one…”
The meeting soon ended. Chen Chi, in the driver’s seat, took a call and turned back. “The woman from that night has been found.”
Su Yi’s heart tightened.
Because Chen Chi was looking directly at her when he said it.
Could he have found out something?
Her fingers trembled slightly. She hadn’t prepared any explanation—everything had happened too suddenly.
Chen Chi looked at her. “Assistant Su, you don’t look well. Are you feeling sick?”
The car instantly fell into suffocating silence.
Su Yi could feel Pei Ranye’s gaze scanning her like X-rays.
She clenched her bag strap tightly to stop herself from panicking.
“No,” she forced out.
In that oppressive atmosphere, Pei Ranye suddenly leaned over.
His faint cedar scent enveloped her instantly. He merely reached out and picked up a lipstick that had fallen in the car.
His eyes swept from her trembling lashes to her tightly pressed lips, then to her fingers gripping the bag.
“What are you trembling for? Guilty conscience?”
“…I’m a little carsick,” she replied.
She took her lipstick and closed her eyes.
His gaze lingered on her pale face for a few seconds before he spoke again. “Who is it?”
“Qin Rongyin.”
Qin Rongyin?
How could it be her?
The car suddenly turned sharply. Su Yi was thrown forward, her elbow brushing against his tightly tensed thigh.
Both froze.
“Sorry…” she quickly tried to sit up—but her hair got caught on his suit button.
Strands of hair wrapped around the black onyx button, shimmering faintly in the light.
Chen Chi glanced in the rearview mirror. “Assistant Su, you two… cough, do as you please.”
Su Yi’s ears turned red as she struggled. Her hair brushed against his throat.
A faint jasmine scent drifted into Pei Ranye’s nose.
“Don’t move,” his voice turned hoarse as he held her waist.
When his fingers brushed the faint crescent scar on her neck, his gaze darkened.
A crescent-shaped mark—exactly the same as before.
Su Yi panicked and yanked her hair free, ignoring the pain, quickly breaking away from him.
Chen Chi cleared his throat again.
“And the person is… the Qin family’s eldest daughter. She’s the one who had the blind date with you before. Tonight, the Qin family also invited you and the Old Master…”
Buzz—
Su Yi’s phone vibrated.
She lowered her head and saw a message:
— I’ll pick you up after work tonight.
From his perspective, the contact name showed a man with an eight-pack abs profile picture.
Probably her husband.
He looked away, his voice turning cold. “I’ll go tonight.”
“Wait—are you really going? The old master is clearly pushing you to marry Qin Rongyin—”
“I decide who I marry.”