11:30 AM, Xihe Garden.
Pei Yan entered the living room carrying a paper bag. Pei Ying glanced up at her and asked, “What’s in your hand?”
Pei Yan instinctively hid the bag behind her back. “N-nothing.”
Inside were her dirty clothes and shoes from last night.
Pei Ying stood up and walked over, her eyes scanning Pei Yan from head to toe.
“This dress… I don’t recall seeing it in your wardrobe.”
Pei Yan stammered, “Um… I bought it while shopping with Xia Xia.”
Pei Ying reached out and touched the dangling pearl chain at the back collar of her dress. The pearl at the end was engraved with two letters—Z and Y.
“The clothes you’re wearing seem ordinary, without even a brand logo, but they actually come from a top Italian luxury group.”
Pei Yan blinked in confusion. “And… and then?”
Pei Ying continued, “Zealously for you, Second Miss Pei. This brand isn’t something you can buy just because you have money. In fact, many people who don’t know better might mistake it for some random label.”
Pei Yan looked completely baffled. “Then how come I’ve never heard of it?”
Pei Ying chuckled. “This brand initially targeted celebrities and the wealthy—understated luxury, never advertised, but highly favored by elites. It started with menswear and later collaborated with a royal princess from a certain country, targeting high-society women. It’s normal for someone your age not to have heard of it. Besides, when have you ever bought your own clothes?”
Pei Yan was an expert on gemstones but far more casual about everyday clothing.
As a child, her clothes were made by Xuan Hong. Later, when Xuan Hong became busy, the household staff took care of her wardrobe.
During seasonal changes, brands would deliver new collections directly to her.
“So, Second Miss, there’s no way you bought this dress at a mall. Where did it come from?”
Pei Yan braced herself and met her sister’s gaze. “A f-friend gave it to me.”
Pei Ying nodded slowly. “Oh, a friend. This friend of yours is quite generous.”
Pei Yan offered an awkward smile.
But Pei Ying’s expression turned stern. “You said you went back to Haitang Bay last night, but today at noon, you walk in carrying yesterday’s clothes. Second Miss Pei, confess honestly—where were you last night?”
“Sis, spare me,” Pei Yan pleaded, clinging to her sister’s arm. “Do you have fiery golden eyes or something?”
Pei Ying pressed a hand against Pei Yan’s forehead. “You’re such a silly girl. I can’t help but worry. It’s my fault for having a business dinner last night and not checking if you really went back. And you dare to deceive me?”
Pei Yan whined, “I got drunk last night and stayed at a friend’s place.”
Pei Ying eyed her skeptically. “Which friend?”
Pei Yan bristled, going on the offensive. “Am I not allowed to have friends as an adult? What’s with you, sis? Did I commit a crime?”
Pei Ying crossed her arms and watched calmly as Pei Yan made a big fuss with little substance. Defeated, Pei Yan mumbled under her breath, “%￥*#”
Pei Ying demanded, “Speak clearly.”
“Fu Huaizhou.”
Pei Ying’s eyebrows shot up. “What did you say?”
“Sis, sis, don’t be mad. Let me explain,” Pei Yan hurriedly interjected before her sister could explode. “I ran into him and Gu Jingyi while having dinner with Xia Xia, and then we got photographed…”
After explaining everything, Pei Yan was parched.
Pei Ying let out a cold laugh. “Li Yueting? How does he still have the nerve to look for you?”
Pei Yan agreed, “Exactly! Thinking about those miserable, stifling three years of my youth, I got so depressed that I drank too much. Then I forgot to tell him my address.”
Pei Ying scoffed, “He could have just sent you back. I think he did it on purpose.”
Pei Yan: “…”
She wanted to retort but didn’t dare speak.
Forget it, better let Fu Huaizhou take the blame.
After all, he and her sister had no interactions anyway—they’d never cross paths.
Pei Ying suppressed the emotions in her eyes, still convinced this Fu Huaizhou had ulterior motives.
Just as Pei Yan finally escaped her sister’s clutches, movement came from the courtyard.
Delighted, Pei Yan rushed over: “Grandpa, Grandma, Dad, Mom!”
She hugged each of them in turn, giggling foolishly several times.
Pei Jianye tapped her nose: “Why are you laughing so silly?”
Pei Yan linked arms with her father: “I’m just happy! I’ve been waiting like waiting for stars and the moon, and finally you’re back.”
Xuan Hong reminded them: “Alright, let’s go inside first. Your grandparents must be tired after such a long flight.”
The elderly couple couldn’t bear to let go of Pei Yan, examining her from head to toe.
The old man snorted: “Little Jade, don’t be sad. Grandpa will have photos of all the promising young talents along Sui River printed tomorrow. Just pick whichever one you like.”
Pei Yan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry: “Grandpa, what are you doing? Choosing a consort?”
The old man: “For my little princess, of course we’re choosing a consort.”
The old woman patted Pei Yan’s hand: “Your grandfather is right. Our Jade is so wonderful—it’s the Li family who doesn’t recognize quality. I always said Li Yueting wasn’t someone to entrust your life to, but your parents insisted it was fine as long as you liked him. Now look at this mess.”
Pei Yan quickly coaxed them for a while, persuaded the elderly couple to eat dinner, then had them return to their rooms to rest.
Xuan Hong waved Pei Yan over from the living room sofa. Understanding her mother probably had something to discuss, Pei Yan went over.
“Xiao Yan, do you know why I didn’t stop your engagement with Li Yueting?”
Pei Yan: “…Probably because I liked him?”
Xuan Hong chuckled: “That was part of it. You probably know this yourself—you look fair and delicate, appearing obedient, but deep down you’re stubborn and love contradicting others.”
“You’ve been pampered since childhood and can be rather blind when it comes to romance—the type who won’t turn back until you hit the wall.”
Pei Ying drifted by and murmured: “Basically a professional at digging for wild vegetables.”
Pei Yan: “…I’m not that much of a love fool, am I?”
Xuan Hong smiled: “Your sister is exaggerating. Rather than have it backfire, we thought it better to let you be. Even if you married, we’d have the means to support you through a divorce. Only by experiencing it yourself would you understand what true love and respect really are.”
Pei Jianye chimed in from the side: “Otherwise, no matter how much your mother and I tried to persuade you, you wouldn’t have listened and would’ve kept doing things your way.”
Pei Yan felt a pang of guilt—they probably knew all about the grievances she’d suffered with Li Yueting.
Suddenly overwhelmed with emotion, she hugged Xuan Hong’s arm and said pitifully: “Dad, Mom, I’ll never do it again. I won’t get married—I’ll stay with you forever.”
Pei Jianye: “…That might be taking it a bit too far.”
Xuan Hong tapped her forehead: “Is that what I taught you? Whether you marry or not, we’ll respect your decision. But if you don’t marry, don’t say it’s for me and your dad—it has to be for yourself.”
Pei Yan nuzzled her mother’s shoulder: “I know. I still want to fall in love someday.”
Just then, the butler in charge of the mansion entered.
“Sir, Madam, the Li family is here.”
Xuan Hong’s smile vanished completely: “She’s so impatient she’s forgotten all courtesy. Let her in.”
She had just gotten off the plane and hadn’t even rested before being ambushed at her doorstep, without any prior notice.
The Butler added: “Young Master Li has also come.”
Pei Yan curled her lips: “Just tell them I’m not here. I’m going upstairs.”
Xuan Hong gave the Butler a meaningful look: “Let them in.”