Pei Yan was taken aback, seemingly not expecting Fu Huaizhou to be so direct.
Asking meant he cared—could Fu Huaizhou actually care about others’ opinions?
Throughout Sui River, this young master was someone everyone aspired to be with. Why was he here pitifully asking whether he was disliked or not?
Pei Yan’s eyes darted playfully as she made a face at him: “I dislike you.”
With that, her skirt fluttering, she ran up the steps.
Fu Huaizhou chuckled, never having thought the words “I dislike you” could sound so endearing.
After Pei Yan entered the main gate, Fu Huaizhou’s smile faded.
Instead of driving away, he got into his car and made a phone call.
After three rings, a seductive voice came from the other end: “Mr. Fu.”
Fu Huaizhou frowned slightly, feeling physically uncomfortable. He couldn’t be bothered with pleasantries and cut straight to the point:
“Where’s Li Yueting?”
The woman giggled softly a few more times: “He’s asleep.”
Fu Huaizhou’s gaze sharpened: “Where are you?”
“Just at the hotel next to Moonlight.”
Fu Huaizhou raised an eyebrow in surprise—this woman had some skills, actually managing to get Li Yueting to take her to a hotel.
Over the past three years, although Li Yueting had frequented entertainment venues, it had always been just for show.
Hugging and touching were commonplace, but he had never taken a woman to a hotel room.
Fu Huaizhou clenched his fist, his thumb rubbing repeatedly against his index finger’s knuckle.
He wasn’t a good person, and now that this opportunity had arisen, he wouldn’t let it slip away.
Fu Huaizhou narrowed his dark eyes, his voice cold: “How much money you can get from me depends entirely on you.”
The woman laughed coquettishly: “I understand—videos are worth more than photos.”
Fu Huaizhou said mercilessly: “After it’s done, I want you to disappear from Sui River.”
“I understand. Since I have the ability to take your money, I’ll naturally go enjoy myself.”
The woman replied with a light laugh.
After Pei Yan returned home, Pei Ying was startled: “How did you get back? Where’s Li Yueting?”
Pei Yan smiled awkwardly: “Heh, Fu Huaizhou brought me back.”
“Fu Huaizhou?” Pei Ying frowned, “Why would he bring you back?”
Pei Yan: “Probably because Li Yueting asked him to.”
As the general manager of Fuyao Jewelry, Pei Ying’s mind wasn’t as simple as Pei Yan’s.
What kind of person was Fu Huaizhou? How could Li Yueting possibly order him around?
A merchant doesn’t act without benefit—what was he after?
Pei Yan didn’t notice her sister’s thoughtful expression because the housekeeper brought her a late-night snack.
Miss Pei, who normally didn’t eat after six, cheerfully headed to the dining room to accept it.
Pei Ying: “…”
How could she be so carefree?
After eating her fill, Pei Yan returned to her room. She hesitated for half an hour about whether to call Li Yueting before forcing herself to turn off her phone and go to sleep.
The next day, when Li Yueting saw himself in bed with the woman from last night, he flew into a rage.
“What the hell did you do to me?”
The woman winced in pain as he suddenly grabbed her chin—money was truly hard to earn, and some tasks were downright unpleasant.
She waved her hand, and Li Yueting loosened his grip slightly.
“Young Master Li, have you forgotten? I helped you back to your room last night. We didn’t do anything.”
Li Yueting shoved her away, found his phone, and made a call.
Soon, two people entered the hotel room and searched the woman thoroughly.
Li Yueting also had the hotel surveillance footage deleted before leaving.
The woman smiled faintly at his retreating back: “The one who loses the initiative has already lost.”
The next morning, Pei Yan woke up to find that Li Yueting hadn’t sent her a single message, let alone called.
She didn’t go to the company either, instructing her driver to take her to Li Yueting’s residence.
The young mistress headed straight to the kitchen, intending to prepare a liver-protecting hangover soup.
Just as she finished blanching the chicken, her phone chimed several times.
Wiping her hands dry, Pei Yan picked it up to see another unknown number, this time accompanied by a video.
The video initially showed only the floor before abruptly focusing on Li Yueting’s drunken features.
“Young Master Li, do you like me?”
Li Yueting’s eyes were half-closed as he answered without hesitation: “I do.”
“Then do you like me, or your fiancée?”
After a prolonged silence from Li Yueting, the woman coquettishly repeated her question.
Li Yueting suddenly declared: “Xiao Ran, I like you, I really like you.”
The woman giggled coyly: “So you don’t like your fiancée?”
Li Yueting frowned: “It’s just a family alliance.”
The woman chuckled triumphantly: “Shall I help you to bed then?”
“Okay.”
The camera then flipped, leaving only the shaking shadows of the bed.
Pei Yan turned off her phone and expressionlessly tossed lingzhi mushrooms and dendrobium stems into the clay pot.
But her slightly trembling hands betrayed her.
Just a family alliance? Those four words were utterly insulting.
So all these years, Li Yueting had never forgotten his first love—Ning Ran.
No wonder she had found the woman in last night’s photos somewhat familiar—the resemblance to Ning Ran was indeed in the eyes.
An hour later, Li Yueting returned to his residence with a dark expression.
But as he entered, he paused mid-step.
The air carried the warmth of home cooking, the aroma stirring his empty stomach from a night of drinking.
The corners of Li Yueting’s lips lifted slightly in smug satisfaction. She’d claimed yesterday she wouldn’t degrade herself by making him hangover soup, yet here she was this morning.
His previously gloomy mood instantly brightened as if touched by sunlight.
Li Yueting tiptoed into the kitchen, where the apron accentuated Pei Yan’s slender waist.
He moved to embrace her, but Pei Yan evaded his touch.
“You knew I’d be back?”
Li Yueting looked at her with an amused smirk, convinced she was playing hard to get.
Pei Yan carried the soup out, saying: “Come drink this.”
Li Yueting unceremoniously pulled out a chair and sat down.
For a young mistress who’d never done housework, Pei Yan made exceptional soup.
The clear, delicate flavor soothed his stomach immediately.
Pei Yan quietly observed the man she’d known since childhood.
At first glance, Li Yueting’s appearance and demeanor resembled that of a boy-next-door, the typical warm-hearted male archetype.
His neck-length hairstyle even added a hint of domesticated husband appeal.
He appeared completely harmless, yet this very man was an iron-hearted playboy.
Pei Yan suddenly said: “Yueting, we’re getting married in one month.”
Li Yueting paused—was she here to confront him?
“I know,” he responded dismissively.
He didn’t even glance at her, naturally missing Pei Yan’s cold, mocking expression.
“After marriage, do you still plan to attend those events I dislike?”
Li Yueting’s fingers loosened, his spoon clinking sharply against the bowl.
“Aren’t you tired of this? Constantly harping on these matters. Have I actually done anything with other women?”
Pei Yan: “Fine, I understand.”
Li Yueting sneered coldly: “You used to accept this quite well. What’s with you these days? I’m already exhausted from social obligations.”
Some people simply shouldn’t be indulged. Seeing Pei Yan remain silent, Li Yueting self-righteously launched into another monologue.
Pei Yan couldn’t hold back any longer and interrupted him:
“I’m two years younger than you. When you returned to China, I was still studying abroad – we spent half our relationship in different countries.”
“You ask me to trust you. As the young master of Blue Sail, you naturally grew up surrounded by rumors and speculation, but I didn’t.”
“It was only after I returned to China that I discovered you’re exactly like the entertainment news portrays, but since we grew up together, I was still willing to give you a chance.”
“You treat not sleeping with other women as your bottom line, but that’s not my bottom line, Li Yueting.”
“Only at this moment do I realize I’m not just naive, but foolish. Your heart was never with me to begin with, so how could it be reclaimed?”
Li Yueting noticed the coldness in her tone and suddenly felt something was wrong.
Sure enough, the next moment she said:
“Li Yueting, let’s break up. Call off the engagement.”