At 10 PM, the lights were still on at PRIYA Jewelry Studio.
A familiar voice sounded: “Still not off work?”
Pei Yan looked up from her design drafts, surprised: “Sis, why are you here?”
“I came to pick you up after work.”
“Oh, I forgot to tell you—Yueting is coming to get me later.”
Pei Ying sneered coldly: “It’s been over ten days since you injured your foot, right? Not a single phone call from him. Which nerve finally snapped for Young Master Li to remember he has a fiancée?”
Pei Yan looked up, cooing: “Sis~”
Pei Ying wasn’t having it, letting out a cold laugh: “You’re getting married in one month. He’s out partying every night while you’re working overtime every night.”
“Half of your three-year relationship was long-distance. He never remembers your birthday. On Valentine’s Day he made entertainment news with his newly signed artist. What exactly are you getting out of this?”
The words struck straight at her heart. Pei Yan had no response.
Irritated, Pei Yan threw her pen and sat silently in her chair.
Pei Ying stopped pressing her, simply saying: “You still have one month to reconsider this marriage. There’s still time to back out.”
“…I know.” Pei Yan said, “You go ahead first, sis. I need some time alone.”
Pei Ying ruffled the back of her head before turning to leave.
Pei Yan sat dazed in her chair.
She and Li Yueting had grown up together, with him being two years older.
She developed vague feelings for him at 18, but they only got together when she was 24.
Now at 27, they were one month away from walking down the aisle—the wedding invitations had already been sent out.
The Pei-Li alliance marriage was a major event in Sui River. It wasn’t something you could just back out of casually.
But Pei Ying had never really approved of this match.
Feeling agitated, Pei Yan took out her phone to call Li Yueting. She tried twice with no answer.
In the nightclub, dazzling lights pulsed to the beat of the music.
Li Yueting loosened his tie, stared at the incoming call display, frowned and downed a glass of liquor.
“Not answering?”
The man speaking sat in the central VIP seat. He held a Huanghelou cigarette between his lips, and as the lights swept across his profile when he slightly turned his head, they revealed half of his elegantly sculpted face.
He was the eldest grandson of Sui River’s wealthiest family, the eldest son of Fenghua Group’s current head, and the CEO of Yi Xing Medical Technology—Fu Huaizhou.
Li Yueting parted his lips—he still had to give face to Fu Huaizhou.
So he impatiently answered the ringing phone again: “Yeah.”
The moment the call connected, the intense rock music transmitted through the radio waves into Pei Yan’s phone receiver.
She paused briefly, then asked: “Where are you?”
Li Yueting put it on speaker and tossed the phone onto the low table.
With a wave of Fu Huaizhou’s hand, the entire nightclub instantly became as quiet as a library.
This gentleman was paying for tonight’s expenses—who else would dare complain?
Moreover, Li Yueting and Pei Yan’s situation was no secret in their circle.
Getting to hear some gossip now—why not enjoy it?
Everyone knew Young Master Li frequented entertainment venues despite having a fiancée, and the women outside didn’t take Pei Yan seriously at all.
“When are you coming to pick me up?” Pei Yan asked again.
“Where are you?” Li Yueting’s voice carried the impatience Pei Yan knew all too well.
“I’m still at the company.”
Pei Yan’s voice was sweet and clear. Everyone present held their breath listening, afraid to let any noise escape.
A subtle light shifted in Fu Huaizhou’s eyes. A mysterious smile played on his lips, though he showed a slight pause only when hearing Pei Yan’s voice.
Li Yueting: “Take a taxi back yourself.”
“Li Yueting,” Pei Yan’s voice trembled slightly, “come pick me up.”
Li Yueting impatiently: “I’m busy. Can’t you just take a taxi? What could I even do if I came? If your foot is injured, go to the hospital. I’m not a doctor.”
Pei Yan: “You were the one who promised to pick me up at noon today. Why are you going back on your word?”
“Pei Yan, can you stop making a scene?” Li Yueting felt embarrassed.
Perhaps realizing his harsh tone, he quickly softened: “Baby, something came up last minute. Go back by yourself, be good.”
The cigarette burned Fu Huaizhou’s fingertip, making him reflexively shake his hand.
Pei Yan let out a cold laugh: “What are you busy with?”
Li Yueting frowned deeply. Pei Yan pressed: “Tell me, what are you busy with?”
Silence again.
Pei Yan persisted: “What exactly are you doing? Li Yueting.”
A vein bulged on Li Yueting’s forehead: “I’m at the nightclub, damn it. Happy now?”
Dead silence filled both ends of the call.
Tears rolled down Pei Yan’s eyelids, her throat aching with unshed tears.
“Li Yueting.” Pei Yan struggled to control her trembling voice. “Do you think I’ll always wait around for you? That no matter when you stumble home from the nightclub, I’ll shamelessly go to your place to make you hangover soup?”
Li Yueting’s heart suddenly sank with inexplicable guilt and panic.
As the cigarette burned out, Fu Huaizhou crushed it in the ashtray, the startling brightness in his eyes extinguishing along with the ember.
Pei Yan delivered her ultimatum: “I’m asking you one last time – are you coming to get me or not?”
Li Yueting felt his resolve waver.
Fu Huaizhou’s gaze shifted slightly, meeting eyes with a bartender who gave a subtle nod.
Just as Li Yueting started to rise, his attention was captured by a passing woman.
Receiving no answer after a long wait, Pei Yan hung up.
A faint glimmer passed through Fu Huaizhou’s dark, abyssal eyes, his fingertips digging into his palms, emotions turbulent.
After ending the call, Pei Yan sat bewildered for a moment before heading downstairs to go home.
She couldn’t bear to call Pei Ying and make him turn back to get her.
Suddenly, her phone vibrated. Out of habit, she opened WeChat but found nothing.
Returning to the main screen, she noticed a red notification dot for messages. Opening it revealed a photo.
Li Yueting lounged on a sofa, laughing arm-in-arm with a woman.
“Heh…” Pei Yan laughed mockingly at herself, wearily leaning against a nearby flower bed railing to sit down.
Her self-deception should have ended long ago, when Li Yueting couldn’t be bothered to kiss her.
Who would believe they’d dated for three years yet could count their hand-holding instances on one hand, let alone intimate embraces or kisses.
Pei Yan had long grown tired. Rubbing her temples, she made a decision.
Fu Huaizhou turned and nudged Li Yueting’s leather shoe: “Not going after her? You might still salvage this.”
Li Yueting smiled confidently: “No need. She’ll cool off in a couple days.”
“Really?” Fu Huaizhou smiled ambiguously. “You all keep playing. I’m stepping out for air. Everything tonight is on me.”
Music swelled again amid the crowd’s cheers and laughter.
Fu Huaizhou strode quickly out of the nightclub, where the valet already had his car waiting.
“Mr. Fu.”
Fu Huaizhou slid into his black vehicle. The next moment, the dark beast vanished.
The night breeze was warm, yet Pei Yan felt cold through and through.
She shifted her foot, feeling some pain. The doctor had advised her to rest.
But her studio had just been established, and for the year-end SUN red carpet gala, she needed to design a set of jewelry for the popular newcomer actress Tang Xin.
This was also her first major challenge since returning to China—a prime opportunity to capture public attention.
She had no shortage of factory resources and supply chains, but what she lacked was visibility and clients.
Pei Yan had been sitting for a long time when suddenly, a low, beast-like growl reached her ears.
Squinting and tilting her head, she was blinded by a pair of high beams, forcing her to raise a hand to shield her eyes.
Who could be so ill-mannered?
After adjusting, Pei Yan lowered her arm. Dust particles in the air shimmered like mist under the car’s headlights.
A broad figure stepped into the light. Pei Yan couldn’t make out his features clearly, only sensing that he was quite tall.
Her heart stirred—could it be Li Yueting?
Pei Yan pushed herself up from the steps but stumbled due to her foot injury.
A hand swiftly caught her arm. Pei Yan looked up, and the smile on her lips froze.
The person wasn’t Li Yueting—it was his dubious friend, Fu Huaizhou.