Luring Her to Take the Bait - Chapter 2

Fu Su had a secret crush on Pei Wenjin.

Counting from the year they first met, it had been nearly ten years.

Fu Su loathed this world, yet Pei Wenjin was that single ray of brightness—pure and beautiful, like the sun.

In her early twenties, when the future was entirely uncertain, a person as cold, indifferent, and selfish as Fu Su never imagined she would experience love at first sight, falling for someone so effortlessly. Yet, under an unforeseen intersection of their lives, she was completely captivated.

She had ambition and self-interest; she was accustomed to seizing every opportunity to climb upward and carve out a future for herself. But she was also timid; she refused to touch anything she couldn’t grasp firmly from the very start.

Ten years ago, by pure chance, Fu Su had casually offered a few words of comfort to a blogger going through a breakup. Based on that single interaction, Pei Wenjin tracked her down through the comments section, and from then on, they became online friends.

If Fu Su had wanted to, there had been countless opportunities over those ten years to close the distance between them. From being online friends to meeting in person at a bar—it could have happened.

But Fu Su never wanted that. She didn’t want to date Pei Wenjin. Who would want to date someone whose passion lasted only three minutes? It lacked stability, and she was afraid of getting hurt. Furthermore, she feared her own dark side would stain the other woman.

This time, it was a massive gamble.

She was offering up her sincere heart to bet on how long it would take for Pei Wenjin to grow bored of this “playing house” marriage. If she lost, Fu Su could finally give up completely and return to the shadows to watch her from afar.

Thoughts that had been dormant for a long time began to extend their feelers.

[Find the person first before discussing responsibility. It’s been ten years; they might already have a family. Don’t be rash.]

[If the final result meets your expectations, then act according to your own will.]

[Marriage and taking responsibility—that’s what you’re thinking, right?]

Pei Wenjin couldn’t remember how many times she had expressed such sighs to “Changxia,” her online friend and “romance master” of ten years.

She really understood her so well!

However, after leaving the bar and returning home that night, Pei Wenjin suffered from insomnia—a catastrophic event for her.

“Ye Bao, I couldn’t sleep for ten whole minutes last night!”

…

Pei Wenjin’s eyes widened as she crossed her index fingers to form a “ten,” thrusting them in front of Ye Zhen’s face. “Ten minutes! I woke up this morning and saw dark circles under my eyes!”

She pointed to the skin under her eyes, tilting her chin up and lifting her gaze toward her stoic assistant. “Do you see them?”

Ye Zhen looked into those bright, agile, light-colored pupils and scanned the fair, delicate skin where even pores were barely visible. She thought to herself: I see nothing.

Nevertheless, she leaned in to investigate with a seriousness usually reserved for signing hundred-million-dollar contracts. Finally, she spoke honestly: “I don’t. You might have miscounted.”

“Oh, well, I’m still beautiful then!” Pei Wenjin lowered her arms, her fingers twirling a strand of hair. “About that surveillance footage I sent you last night—how long will it take to repair?”

Ye Zhen: “About two days. It’s data from ten years ago, so the restoration is a bit troublesome. If you’re in a hurry, I can push them.”

“No need.” Pei Wenjin looked up, shaking her head vigorously. “I’m not in a hurry. Two days is fine.”

In reality, she was dying of anxiety—why else would she have lost ten minutes of sleep? But this was something that couldn’t be rushed. While she still didn’t know who the person was, she needed to sort out her feelings and consider the matter of marriage.

The thought of marriage was real, and so was the suffocating feeling in her chest.

Pei Wenjin’s mood suddenly plummeted. She propped her face on one hand, her sparkling nails catching the light. She narrowed her eyes, fiddling with a Pelikan fountain pen as if a pool of lake water were flowing through her fingers.

Sigh. Who told her to have such a “moral obsession”? She couldn’t accept the fact that she had taken advantage of another girl.

Ye Zhen watched her silently for a moment. Suddenly, she walked over and, without asking, picked up the internal landline on the desk. She dialed a few numbers with practiced ease.

Pei Wenjin glanced at her. “Who are you calling?”

“Auntie Zhang.”

“Oh. For what?”

Ye Zhen lifted her gaze. When stared at like that, Pei Wenjin instinctively looked away.

Ye Zhen’s voice was plain, her features were plain, and even her eyes were plain. But Pei Wenjin generally avoided eye contact with her, preferring to look at the bridge of her nose because eye contact often gave her the sensation of being seen through. However, with Ye Zhen’s harmless looks, those eyes didn’t invite bullying.

Ye Zhen said softly, “If you aren’t in a hurry, why did you message me in the middle of the night?”

Pei Wenjin’s eyes drifted to the side as she gave a haughty hum.

When the call connected, Pei Wenjin realized what she was doing. Ye Zhen asked the kitchen to prepare a lemon cake, paired with lime zest, basil ice cream, and decorated with Swedish Dansukker pearl sugar.

“During the business banquet with C Group a week ago, I saw that you liked this cake. I asked the hotel’s catering department, invited their pastry chef, and Auntie Zhang has been learning it for a while.”

Auntie Zhang was the manager of the company restaurant, responsible for all matters large and small; her mastery of various cuisines was unparalleled.

As Ye Zhen set out the tea saucer and dessert, she asked quietly, “Is that video really troubling you that much?”

“Huh?” Pei Wenjin blinked innocently. Before Ye Zhen could even finish plating, her eyes lit up as she grabbed a silver fork and shoved a bite of cake into her mouth.

The aroma of lemon exploded in her mouth.

“Mmm~~”

Pei Wenjin squeezed her fists and wiggled her body, squinting her eyes in sheer bliss.

“So delicious!”

The cake was moist and fluffy, the lava jam rich yet refreshing. The textures were layered and the cheese light without being greasy—it perfectly tamed Pei Wenjin’s picky palate.

Who cared about a video now?!

“It’s nothing, it’s nothing~” Pei Wenjin smiled sweetly, her almond eyes curving playfully.

She was an instant-gratification seeker with a short memory. With the comfort of a cake, her mood brightened instantly. The “troublesome” marriage was a minor issue—she’d deal with it later.

Even though Ye Zhen had been by her side for five years, and even though they were close enough that Ye Zhen could manage things without her permission—getting drunk and kissing someone, then deciding to get married to take responsibility, was such an embarrassing blunder! How could she let her assistant know? She had a reputation to maintain!

“Changxia” was just an online friend she didn’t know in real life, so her dignity remained intact there.

Seeing her happy, Ye Zhen’s faint eyebrows curved slightly. She preferred the way Pei Wenjin looked when she smiled.

More eye-catching than her youthful, pouty lips were those starry eyes. A single smile could be enchanting, curving into crescents filled with stars, making her look affectionate toward everyone she saw—sweet, but not cloying.

In the company, young and bold girls would occasionally go to plastic surgeons to “do” their faces based on Pei Wenjin’s eyebrows, eyes, or nose. After recovering, they would come to compare themselves with her. They would then stare at her face with complex expressions, touching her cheeks and muttering: How was this face born? She looks heroic and capable when not smiling, but bright and sweet when she does. How can it be so contradictory yet harmonious?

Pei Wenjin would usually just smile sweetly and wiggle her eyebrows, saying: “Every girl has her own beauty, why copy me?” However, she never minded. The next time, she would still generously show her face and let them take photos as reference samples.

As she reached the last bite of the cake, there was a knock on the CEO’s office door.

“President Pei, Sister Ye, the car has been arranged. Shall we head to Xingyue Plaza now? The Mayor will be conducting an inspection today and will arrive half an hour early. The lunch restaurant is booked—Haicheng cuisine. The Mayor’s daughter will be joining as well; she likes it.”

The last bite of cake got stuck in her throat. Pei Wenjin’s smile vanished instantly. “Wait, why is Sister Fang’s daughter coming again?!”

The thought of that girl made her head spin. They first met three years ago when the girl was five. The Mayor had had her late in life and spoiled her rotten, though she was mostly just headstrong. At first, Pei Wenjin found her adorable and liked her very much—after all, she had a beautiful, soft niece at home and loved children. She had hugged the girl affectionately, only for the five-year-old to bite her arm.

What she didn’t expect was that for the past three years, that girl had started obsessing over hugging her.

Ye Zhen handed her a tissue. “There’s cream on the corner of your mouth.”

Pei Wenjin took it with a wooden face and mechanically pressed it to her lips.

Ye Zhen’s voice was calm, as if announcing something trivial: “If you don’t like it, I’ll call the Mayor now and tell her not to bring her.”

Pei Wenjin was stunned. “…”

Is it really okay to say something so terrifying with such a straight face? That’s the Mayor, for heaven’s sake!

Despite her internal complaining, Pei Wenjin stood up abruptly, reaching out to grab Ye Zhen’s arm while whining, “Ye Bao, why are you so good? Love you, love you~~”

However, before she could hook her arm, she was held back by the shoulder.

Ye Zhen said heartlessly, “Actually, you’re not that different from her.”

Pei Wenjin: “…Mean!”

Ye Zhen really intended to make the call, so Pei Wenjin hurried to stop her. Pei Wenjin originally wanted to leave wearing her green outfit, but she was dragged into the lounge by Ye Zhen to change into a suit.

“I’m not suited for formal wear at all!”

“Today’s outfit is so vibrant! It’s the color of spring! Sister Fang likes it when I dress like this!”

Ye Zhen took out a suit from the wardrobe and handed it to her. “It’s a formal occasion. It’s not appropriate.”

Pei Wenjin argued her case but lost.

Standing before the full-length mirror, she was dressed in a cream-white, high-count wool custom short-sleeved suit. The texture was as light as silk, and the sharp tailoring gave her a natural aura. It made her look even taller; her figure was slender but not fragile, her legs straight and powerful with lean muscle.

Pei Wenjin swept her bangs up, undid her fishtail braid, and tied her hair into a low ponytail, revealing a full forehead and a well-defined brow. She raised an eyebrow, praising herself, “Heh, I really am handsome!”

She wiggled her eyebrows at Ye Zhen, framing her face with her fingers and winking. “Slender waist, long legs, a total beauty! Remember to take a photo for my moments!”

Yet, no matter how handsome she looked, as soon as she spoke, her voice remained clear and sweet—a total “sweetie.”

“Sister Fang~”

“Haven’t seen you in a while! How did you get even more beautiful? Your skin is so tender~”

“Oh, you and your sweet talk. I haven’t even had time for a facial. Are you free this afternoon? Let’s go together; I have a membership card…”

The Mayor was a gentle and maternal woman. Ten years ago, when she first took office, her first task was to investigate the ecological farming conditions of the eastern waters alongside the newly appointed Pei Wenjin. The Mayor was there for the environment; the young CEO was there to develop a new industry in fisheries.

They had watched each other grow and establish themselves; their ten-year friendship was profound.

Pei Wenjin held the Mayor’s arm, smiling sweetly as she introduced the commercial landscape. She made the Mayor laugh from time to time, joining in with her own giggles, her eyes sparkling to reveal her pretty dimples.

Behind them followed a group of bodyguards, assistants, and mall managers. The little girl was being held by Ye Zhen, looking utterly displeased. She glared at Ye Zhen and said willfully, “Let go of me! I want to find Sister Jin!”

Ye Zhen: “They are working. You cannot disturb them.”

“I won’t disturb them!”

“Do you want KFC?”

“…” The little girl clearly couldn’t resist the temptation. She swallowed hard and shot a cautious glance at her mother. “I do.”

Only Ye Zhen knew she liked KFC. Her mother said it was junk food and she should eat less of it. But it was delicious. She had no idea how Ye Zhen found out.

That night, Pei Wenjin received the video link from Ye Zhen.

At that moment, she was applying a face mask, wearing a headband with floppy dog ears. It was near midnight, and the Pei residence was silent, save for the rhythmic chirping of cicadas drifting through a gap in the window—as if vibrating in sync with the faint restlessness in the air.

Smoothing the wrinkles in the mask, Pei Wenjin leaned against the headboard, a cup of warm water in her hand and a laptop on her lap. Her eyes were fixed on the screen, her throat moving nervously. She took a large gulp of water, licked her wet lips, and set the cup aside.

In the video, it was that day ten years ago. She was wearing those clothes, standing next to a friend she had long since cut ties with. A glass of Long Island Iced Tea was handed to her.

Pei Wenjin gripped the corner of her blanket, her eyelids drooping. Nowadays, a single Long Island Iced Tea wouldn’t get her drunk. She wouldn’t cry because of the discomfort of being drunk, nor would she feel like she was dying.

Pei Wenjin pulled a small wolf plushie into her arms.

The footage moved past the moment she let go of some man’s arm and reached the point where she hugged someone. Pei Wenjin’s breath hitched in her throat. She held her breath, her eyes darting away, her lashes trembling.

She felt like that moment was coming. No way…

Her heart felt like it was riding a horse, galloping wildly. Unable to take it, she slammed the laptop shut. She adjusted her slipping mask; her fingers felt unusually warm.

Pei Wenjin got another cup of water—ice cold this time. She sipped it for a while until she felt chilled to the bone. Then she went to the cupboard, pulled out snacks, and began to chew on potato chips. She glanced at the computer and quickly looked away.

When nervous, she usually craved hazelnut cake, but since there was none, she settled for chips. She opened various flavors like an octopus, ruining one bag after another, not caring that she wasn’t finishing them.

Once her heart settled back into her chest, she washed her hands, peeled off the mask, and sat back on the bed, leaving only a wall lamp on. In the dim, amber atmosphere, she watched the two people on the screen hugging.

Her heart felt itchy, then tingly. She saw the other person lean back slightly. Her fingers instinctively gripped the blanket tight, the corners of her clear eyes becoming watery. The sound of ragged breathing filled the air.

Finally, the video stopped at the moment the other person turned her head—and a kiss landed on her cheek.

Pei Wenjin took a deep breath and held it, her head throbbing like a balloon about to pop. Her eyes were glued to that face—features blurred, yet still clearly beautiful and snow-white.

Ah, Sister Su…

The person she had kissed was Fu Su.