After lunch with Si Ruohan, Pei Xi refused to return to the company with him. She wanted to go home and rest.
Si Ruohan said, “There’s a lounge in my office. You can rest there.”
Pei Xi pouted. “Wouldn’t I disturb your work?”
In truth, she simply didn’t want to go back. If his subordinates saw them being affectionate in the office, how awkward would that be?
Besides, why sleep in his small lounge when she had a big bed at home? It was only a ten-minute drive. She might as well go back.
“And we’re meeting your friends tonight, right? I need to change into something nice so I can make you look good.”
Since she insisted, Si Ruohan gave in.
Pei Xi said she could take a car home herself, but could he really feel at ease? In the end, he drove her back personally. He even wanted to nap with her but was ruthlessly kicked out to return to work.
Once in bed, Pei Xi quickly fell asleep.
Ever since graduating and staying home most of the time, she had developed the habit of taking afternoon naps. Now that she was pregnant, she felt even more easily fatigued.
In her dream, she returned to her previous life—back to the time she had been hospitalized for a heart condition. The girl in the neighboring bed had given her a novel to pass the time, saying she looked bored.
Pei Xi jolted awake and sat upright.
She remembered.
She finally remembered why the names Si Ruohan mentioned at the company had sounded so familiar.
They were exactly the same names from that novel she had read in her previous life!
Si Ruohan, Guan Xinyue, Bai Minglang, Song Shaojin, Ji Huaiyu—these were characters from that book.
The novel’s main couple was Guan Xinyue and Song Shaojin. Their five families had been close for generations, and they grew up together.
In university, Ji Huaiyu attended a military academy, while the others went to Huaqing University. Bai Minglang studied medicine and was often busy, so most of the time it was Si Ruohan, Guan Xinyue, and Song Shaojin hanging out together.
Over time, both Song Shaojin and Si Ruohan fell for Guan Xinyue. Guan Xinyue, however, wavered between the two men.
Pei Xi hadn’t read the entire story carefully back then—she was afraid the girl would be discharged and take the book away, so she skimmed through parts of it.
The novel mainly focused on their university years. In the ending, it briefly mentioned that after graduation, Guan Xinyue ultimately chose to be with Song Shaojin.
Si Ruohan, on the other hand, kept Guan Xinyue in his heart and remained unmarried for the rest of his life.
Only now did Pei Xi fully realize—the male and female leads were Guan Xinyue and Song Shaojin.
Which meant… Si Ruohan was the second male lead.
Did that mean she had transmigrated into a novel?
Not into some parallel world?
At first, she thought she had simply entered a parallel timeline. But now—
That meant the child she was carrying belonged to the novel’s second male lead?
Her name had never appeared in the novel. Perhaps the storyline had already ended. After all, the book was about campus romance, and now everyone had long since graduated.
Would her being with Si Ruohan affect anything?
In the novel, he liked Guan Xinyue. But earlier at the company, she hadn’t sensed even a trace of lingering feelings.
Was he just hiding it well?
Wasn’t it said that the second male lead would love the female lead for a lifetime and never marry anyone else?
Then what was happening now?
She had married him—and was pregnant with his child. Where exactly had the plot gone wrong?
Would a minor character like her get “cannon foddered”?
And did Si Ruohan still like Guan Xinyue?
Pei Xi felt lucky she realized this early. If she had fallen in love with him during their daily life together, only to have him divorce her because he couldn’t let go of Guan Xinyue—she would be heartbroken.
Thankfully, it was still early. She was still herself.
Si Ruohan had been too good to her. If this continued, she might truly fall for him.
Now that she remembered everything, she had to stay alert.
Tonight, she would observe carefully. She needed to see whether Si Ruohan still liked Guan Xinyue.
That evening, Pei Xi dressed up properly. She was still Si Ruohan’s wife—she couldn’t let anyone look down on her, not even his friends.
Seeing her all dolled up, Si Ruohan sincerely praised, “You’re beautiful.”
Pei Xi gave a polite smile and got into the car under his attentive care.
Looking at him as he drove—this man, handsome enough to rival celebrities, had once been rejected by his first love.
She clicked her tongue softly. She was curious just how handsome the so-called male lead was.
When Si Ruohan led Pei Xi into the private dining room, the other four were already there.
He raised an eyebrow in surprise when he saw Ji Huaiyu.
“Oh? Third Young Master Ji is here too? What an honor.”
Ji Huaiyu laughed. “You getting a girlfriend is huge news. How could I not come? Just lucky I happened to be home—otherwise I’d have to find another excuse to visit.”
He was stationed in the Southern Military District. If he hadn’t come back to visit family, he wouldn’t have had time at all.
After speaking, Ji Huaiyu stood and greeted Pei Xi first.
“Hello, sister-in-law. I’m Ji Huaiyu. Nice to meet you.”
Pei Xi hadn’t expected him to greet her first. She quickly responded, “Hello, I’m Pei Xi. Nice to meet you too.”
With Ji Huaiyu setting the tone, the others followed.
“Sister-in-law, I’m Bai Minglang.”
“Sister-in-law, I’m Song Shaojin.”
Guan Xinyue didn’t introduce herself—they had already met that morning.
Pei Xi glanced at Song Shaojin and concluded that Si Ruohan was more handsome. Song Shaojin gave off a slightly playboy vibe.
Si Ruohan pulled out a chair for Pei Xi and only sat down after she was seated. He handed her the menu first.
Guan Xinyue had originally suggested a nightclub, where they usually sang, drank, and ate. But Si Ruohan refused, saying it wasn’t suitable for a pregnant woman. So she switched to a hotel private room, with a separate game room next door.
Watching Si Ruohan’s attentive care, Guan Xinyue asked, “Miss Pei, how did you and Brother Ruohan meet? How long have you been together?”
Pei Xi glanced at Si Ruohan, and he signaled her to answer freely.
“He helped me once by chance. We got to know each other, and I thought he was a good person. So we got together.”
Guan Xinyue pressed on, “Where are you from, Miss Pei? Shaojin, I don’t think there’s any prominent Pei family in our circle?”
The implication was obvious—she was questioning Pei Xi’s background.
Without looking up, Si Ruohan said calmly, “I pursued her. What? Does marrying me require a specific status?”
Ji Huaiyu added lazily, “Xinyue, this is Ah Han’s girlfriend. You should call her sister-in-law. Why so distant with ‘Miss Pei’?”
He had been genuinely happy for his friend. He knew about the university love triangle. Though Song Shaojin was also their childhood friend, people had their biases. When Guan Xinyue chose Song Shaojin, he had felt it was unfair to Si Ruohan.
Three years of wholehearted devotion, only to be told gently, You’re great, but the one in my heart isn’t you.
And now she seemed sour seeing him move on?
Did she expect everyone to revolve around her forever?
Song Shaojin lazily played with his phone. Bai Minglang smiled faintly while sipping tea—his medical and psychology background made it obvious to him that Guan Xinyue was jealous.
Guan Xinyue looked embarrassed.
“I didn’t mean anything by it. I’m just worried Uncle and Auntie might be unhappy.”
Ji Huaiyu rolled his eyes silently.
Si Ruohan ignored the comment and gently asked Pei Xi, “Just these three dishes? Want to choose more?”
She shook her head. “I’m done. You guys choose the rest.”
“No need. They already did.”
Ji Huaiyu nodded. “Yes, sister-in-law. Just pick what you like.”
It was his family’s hotel anyway. The manager knew their preferences well.
Song Shaojin remarked casually, “Ah Han, sister-in-law looks young. Much younger than you?”
Guan Xinyue’s expression darkened slightly.
Si Ruohan nodded. “She just graduated from university.”
Though he once avoided seeing them, time had passed. His family had told him it was just a relationship—there were plenty of good girls in the world.
Now, he had long since let go.
Ji Huaiyu exclaimed, “You old ox eating young grass!”
Si Ruohan shot him a look. “Like I’m that old. If you don’t hurry, you’ll be the old ox.”
Pei Xi couldn’t help laughing at Ji Huaiyu’s expression.
He spread his hands dramatically. “Even the mosquitoes around me are male. Where am I supposed to find a girlfriend? Looks like I’ll depend on you guys to introduce one.”
Bai Minglang shrugged. “I’m busy. No time.”