Luring Her to Take the Bait - Chapter 6

Pei Wenjin drove out of the hospital’s underground garage and immediately entered the surface parking lot. She circled for a long while but couldn’t find a single empty space.

Finally, she just parked haphazardly on the side of the road; most of these cars were likely staying overnight anyway.

She rolled down the window and rested her elbow casually on the ledge. The stifling summer night air rushed in, displacing the air conditioning. Pei Wenjin didn’t mind much; she brushed back her hair, lowered the temperature setting further, increased the fan speed, and picked up her phone from the center console to open WeChat.

Why had she said she would call Fu Su tonight?

Pei Wenjin tapped her fingers against the screen, reflecting. There wasn’t really a logical reason. It was just that today’s meeting felt so significant that if she didn’t make a call, she feared she would wake up tomorrow feeling like yesterday had been nothing but a dream.

Suddenly, she grabbed her hair in frustration and thumped her forehead against the steering wheel.

There was no time to ponder the “why” anymore!

The agreed-upon time had already passed—she had stood her up!

They hadn’t even officially registered the marriage yet, and she was already imagining Fu Su’s first words on the phone being: “I’ve thought about it carefully, and we aren’t a good match after all.”

Consequently, when Pei Wenjin finally dialed the voice call, her heart was trembling. Her “Hello” carried a soft, pleading tone.

However, she didn’t get the rejection she expected. Instead, she heard Fu Su’s languid, low, and slightly husky voice:

“Pei Wenjin.”

She spoke a bit slowly, the sound lingering in the air like a heavy mist—resembling an ancient, winding alleyway circling Pei Wenjin’s ears. It was enough to make her ears turn red with a lack of resolve.

She immediately rolled the window back up.

They didn’t talk much that night. Fu Su seemed to be looking over documents, while Pei Wenjin, dazed by that beautiful voice, dryly repeated Ye Zhen’s arrangements.

Pack for a week, bring ID, fly to the US tomorrow, private jet.

Fu Su: “Mhm, I understand.”

Pei Wenjin: “Then… goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

After hanging up, Pei Wenjin patted her chest, heart still racing with lingering fear.

Fu Su didn’t seem to mind being disturbed after 11:00 PM; she didn’t sound angry, nor did she seem to have changed her mind about the marriage.

Pei Wenjin patted her chest again, letting out a long sigh of relief.

The marriage registration process abroad went smoothly, though each step took a bit of time. They flew back a week and a half later. When the plane landed at Capital International Airport, Ye Zhen had already arranged for a team to handle the aircraft. After getting their luggage from the claim area, the three of them walked toward the exit together.

The nights in the capital were always stifling—the heat trapped in the body with nowhere to go—and the air was bone-dry, a stark contrast to the damp climate in the States.

Pei Wenjin’s gaze remained fixed on Fu Su’s shoulder. Once they reached the exit, she jogged a few steps to catch up and walked side-by-side with her. “Susu, do you have plans later?”

Under the bright white streetlights, Pei Wenjin looked at Fu Su. Her features were the kind that remained uniquely beautiful even under “deathly” overhead lighting—360 degrees of perfection.

Over the past few days, Pei Wenjin noticed that Fu Su always wore suits, likely a professional habit. They were either ink-blue or pure black, paired with crisp, flat shirts buttoned to the very top. She carried a simple black briefcase everywhere, looking both ascetic and cold.

In her downtime, she didn’t play on her phone or watch TV. She was always in the suite’s study making calls or handling work. Even during meals, she was quiet and spoke little.

So busy, so aloof.

Standing on her home soil, Pei Wenjin finally felt the reality: she had actually married someone.

She had once imagined her future partner would be someone who doted on her, someone who loved being clingy just like her. Someone a bit taller, with striking features, but someone who usually wore bright red lipstick, had waist-length hair, and suited bodycon skirts and red-bottomed black heels—a classic “strong older sister” type.

If Susu wore red…

Pei Wenjin quickly cut off her wandering thoughts, her eyelashes fluttering as she turned her head away, lightly biting her lip.

Fu Su glanced at her phone screen, her brow furrowing slightly. Her voice was somewhat cold. “I need to go to the law firm.”

“You’re working this late?”

Pei Wenjin looked up. In the moonlight, her pupils were bright and watery. She leaned closer to Fu Su, her almond eyes curving into crescents. “Then let me drive you.”

“No need.” Fu Su brushed her palm against the seam of her trousers and took a small step back, refusing. “I…”

Just as she started to speak, she was interrupted by two honks from nearby. A flamboyant, charming voice drifted over: “Fu Su, over here!”

Pei Wenjin looked over to see a Lotus pulling up. Through the open window, she saw a woman with sunglasses perched on her forehead and a sophisticated, sultry face.

“Fu Su, I’m here to pick you up… what’s with that look?!”

Si Wenyu’s face darkened slightly. She smoothed her hair and, seeing the “Little Princess” staring at her, she blew a wink with a playful clicking sound.

Pei Wenjin blinked in confusion. Before she could react, Fu Su stepped forward, casting a shadow over her. “No need to send me. Let Ye Zhen take you home.”

“Oh.” Her voice instinctively softened. “Then you’ll be home very late. Message me when you get back.”

Pei Wenjin shook her phone, its case glittering under the lights.

“Okay.”

At that moment, Ye Zhen called out from a distance, “President Pei, the car is over here.”

“Coming! Be right there.”

Ye Zhen noticed someone had come for Fu Su and didn’t call out to her, merely waving when Fu Su looked over. “Fu Su, see you next time.”

Fu Su pursed her lips coldly. “See you.”

She stole one last glance at the Little Princess’s watery eyes before pulling her luggage toward the Lotus.

The woman in the driver’s seat had stepped out at some point and was leaning against the car door with her hips tilted. As Fu Su approached, the woman reached out a fair, soft arm to drape over her shoulder, but Fu Su dodged it.

Pei Wenjin heard her say in a very disgusted tone: “Don’t touch me.”

The woman clicked her tongue and shoved her shoulder instead. “Tsk, no fun.”

Pei Wenjin recalled that small step backward Fu Su had taken earlier.

It seems Susu doesn’t like physical contact, and she doesn’t like people getting too close.

She suddenly ran over and grabbed Fu Su’s silver suitcase with one hand. “Susu, I’ll put this in for you.”

Fu Su was startled and had no time to stop her before Pei Wenjin had expertly stowed it and the trunk hissed shut.

“Go on then! Get home early after you’re done. Remember to message me!”

Pei Wenjin ran over like a whirlwind and ran off just as fast, her goodbye wave wide and energetic. A gust of wind blew back her thick hair, revealing a smiling face that shone like a bright star.

Si Wenyu suddenly shouted, “Little Princess, my name is Si Wenyu! Remember me the next time we meet!”

Pei Wenjin froze. …Little Princess? Is she talking to me?

Fu Su’s face darkened.

Sitting in the passenger seat, she said coldly, “What are you doing?”

Si Wenyu winked. “Just teasing. The Little Princess has such a cute reaction.”

Fu Su shot her a glare and buckled her seatbelt. “I told you I’d take a taxi. Let’s go.”

“Tsk, you’re really no fun.”

After Fu Su left, Pei Wenjin and Ye Zhen got into their car and left the airport.

“Uncle Lu, drop Ye Bao at the hospital first.”

“No problem, Little President Pei.” Uncle Lu smiled. “Xiao Ye, how is the little one doing lately?”

Ye Zhen looked straight ahead and said softly, “Better.”

“Good. When she’s out of the hospital, come over for dinner. My wife is always nagging me about it; she loves Miao Miao and wants to cook something delicious for her.”

“What about me, Uncle Lu? You invited Ye Bao and Miao Miao, but not me? I’m not a picky eater at all—I’m much easier to take care of than Miao Miao!”

Pei Wenjin leaned forward from the back, her tone playfully indignant. Uncle Lu laughed heartily. “Come, everyone come! The more the merrier.”

They dropped Ye Zhen at the hospital. She didn’t let Pei Wenjin go up, so Uncle Lu drove her home.

The road was a stream of red taillights. While Pei Wenjin was aimlessly scrolling through her phone, a call suddenly came in.

It was her mother.

Pei Wenjin put it to her ear, but before she could even say “Hello,” a voice as cold as a blizzard lashed out at her.

“Pei Wenjin, get your butt back here right now!”

She pulled the phone away in shock, eyes wide.

What—what’s going on? How did I upset Mom??

Then, a flash of realization hit her—

She had forgotten to tell her mother about the marriage.

QAQ (Crying face)

Around 10:00 PM.

Pei Wenjin quietly pushed the door open and peeked inside. Seeing the row of people sitting on the sofa, her footsteps faltered. She wanted to run.

It wasn’t that she was afraid; she just didn’t know how to handle them.

“You’re back.”

Pei Yanhui’s voice was low and slightly husky. Her cool eyes swept over her daughter, the fine lines at the corners of her eyes crinkling as she blinked. She raised a hand and pointed to the sofa. “Come sit. It’s late; dinner is long over. Have you eaten?”

Her mother always spoke in that cold, authoritative tone, like she was lecturing someone.

Pei Wenjin shuffled into the house, changed her shoes, and slowly moved toward the sofa. “I ate a bit on the plane. I’m not very hungry.”

Pei Yanhui gave a lazy “Mhm” and grabbed Pei Xu’s hand to give it a squeeze. “If you’re hungry, find something in the kitchen yourself.”

Facing the intense pressure of five pairs of eyes, Pei Wenjin felt like the sofa was biting her; she couldn’t sit still. She picked up an apple from the coffee table and took a bite.

Pei Yanhui sighed, sounding helpless. “You didn’t wash your hands before eating again.”

Immediately, a milky little voice followed up.

“Little Auntie, your hands are covered in bacteria. You’ll get sick if you don’t wash them. The first thing to do when you get home is wash your hands and change your clothes.”

Then came a cool, amused voice: “Xiao Jin, it’s only been a few days, but I think your face looks rounder. Did something happy happen?”

“Perhaps… the nourishment of love?”

This came from a gentle, teasing voice. Someone coughed, someone snorted a laugh, a small bell jingled, and someone asked: “Little Auntie, why did you come back alone? Where is Auntie Su?”

“…”

The subject of this discussion was currently burying her head in the sofa cushions, covering her ears in sheer embarrassment.

“You guys are too much! I just got back and you’re already making fun of me! Fu Chi, Sister—you’re being mean! Even Shi’an is bullying me… why aren’t you asleep yet? Waaaah…”

At this moment, Pei Wenjin looked nothing like a CEO. She was face-down on the sofa, whining.

But no one minded. Little Shi’an blinked her large blue eyes, walked over to her, and tugged at her clothes. Just as Pei Wenjin thought Shi’an was coming to comfort her and turned her face for a kiss, she was met with empty air.

Shi’an backed away several steps and said seriously, “Little Auntie, Great-Auntie just changed the sofa covers today. Go change your clothes, or you’ll get them dirty.”

“…”

Pei Wenjin looked at her piteously, bottom lip trembling. “Shi’an, you’re mean.”

The aloof little toddler said, “I’ll comfort you after you change your clothes.”

Fu Chi laughed mischievously. “You probably won’t get a hug today. She has to leave soon anyway. Now that she’s a woman with a wife, why would she stay at home?”

“Oh, so that’s how it is.” Little Shi’an nodded solemnly. “Little Auntie always said she wanted a wife. Now that she has one, she’ll definitely want to be stuck together, just like Mommy and Mama.”

“…”

Fu Chi rubbed her nose. There’s no need to bring us into this.

Pei Lingchu poured a glass of water and handed it to Pei Wenjin, finally stopping the teasing. “Xiao Jin, have some water.”

Pei Wenjin wiped away non-existent tears. “Only Sister is good to me~” She took small sips of water.

A cane tapped against the carpet with a dull thud. Pei Yanhui said indisputably, “Talk to us when you’re done drinking.”

“…” Pei Wenjin tried to bury her face in the glass, wishing the water was an endless ocean.

The “interrogation” began.

Pei Yanhui: “You weren’t going to tell us?”

“I forgot.”

Fu Chi raised an eyebrow: “When are you bringing her back?”

“Tomorrow, probably.”

Pei Lingchu’s expression was soft. “How is she? Is she easy to get along with?”

Pei Wenjin nodded vigorously. “Really, really good. She’s beautiful and brilliant. Although she’s a bit aloof, she’s very easy to be around.”

Little Shi’an peeled half an orange and handed it to Pei Xu. “Is Little Auntie happy?”

“I am… I think…” Pei Wenjin’s eyelids drooped.

The five of them exchanged silent glances. Finally, Pei Xu used sign language to ask:

Is it her?

Instantly, everyone knew what that meant. Pei Xu was asking: Is she the girl you kissed ten years ago?

Pei Wenjin’s shoulders slumped. She became quiet, like a withered flower. She fidgeted with her fingers, straightening and bending them. Finally, she gave a tiny, almost imperceptible nod. “Mhm. It’s her.”

“So that’s why you married her,” Pei Yanhui said lightly, leaving the rest unsaid.

“It’s because of responsibility,” Pei Wenjin confessed. “I kissed her. I couldn’t get over that hurdle in my heart. She happened to be blind dating, so I just…”

“Married her?” Fu Chi finished the sentence for her. “Does she know?”

Pei Wenjin didn’t speak. Silence fell over the living room, scented with the sweet citrus of orange peels.

Little Shi’an continued peeling oranges and handing slices to everyone. She even stuffed two into Pei Wenjin’s hand.

Pei Yanhui chewed her orange, slowly massaging Pei Xu’s pinky. Pei Xu leaned against her shoulder, smelling the cool fragrance of her neck. Fu Chi opened an app to process photos, while Pei Lingchu used her phone to organize tomorrow’s work and reschedule a class for a student.

After a long while, Pei Wenjin looked up, clutching the now-warm orange slices. Her voice was firm.

“Since I decided to marry her, I will never divorce her.”

Pei Yanhui pointed out a very realistic problem: “What if she wants a divorce? Would you refuse her?”

Pei Wenjin’s breath hitched. Her straightened back slumped again. The “Little Sun” was covered by dark clouds. Pei Xu tugged on Pei Yanhui’s hand and shook her head, telling her not to press so hard.

“Sigh.”

Several people sighed, and Little Shi’an followed suit. “Little Auntie is more of a handful than I am.”

Indeed, Pei Wenjin was born honest and kind. Even after ten years in the workforce and seeing the darker sides of society, she hadn’t changed.

As for Fu Su, Pei Yanhui had looked into her—a law-abiding citizen. She wouldn’t interfere further.

Pei Yanhui rubbed her temples and compromised. “What do you want to do?”

“Marry her, be with her, take responsibility,” Pei Wenjin said dejectedly.

Pei Yanhui asked again, “What do you want us to do?”

“?” Pei Wenjin looked up at her family. They were all looking back at her—no impatience, no hesitation. Their eyes were warm, helpless yet doting, offering her support. It was as if they were saying: Just do it. What are you afraid of?

“I…” Pei Wenjin’s eyes turned red, and her nose began to sting. Her voice was shaky.

“Family.”

“Just treat her like family.”

“She’s all alone…”

Pei Wenjin remembered Fu Su’s personal file—the “Family” section where it simply said, “Estranged.” It made her heart ache.

“Ah, you’re already pained for her,” Fu Chi laughed softly, covering her mouth.

Pei Yanhui gave a cold huff and pulled Pei Xu closer. Pei Lingchu poured her another glass of water, and Little Shi’an pressed a tissue to her face. “Little Auntie, even I don’t cry anymore. Since you haven’t changed your clothes, let’s just shake hands—consider that me comforting you.”

After that, Pei Wenjin burst into tears, wailing about how much she loved them and trying to pull them into a group hug.

It was sickeningly sweet.