After Trying To Pursue The Cold, Elegant Beauty. I Ended Up Being Flirted With Instead - Chapter 39

You truly covet Qingqing!

Pei Xiubai stared at her confused expression for a few seconds. The last trace of patience in her eyes vanished, leaving only deep disappointment and exhaustion.

“Wen Zhu, how long are you going to keep up this act?”

She admitted her attitude wasn’t good that day at the cocktail party. But wasn’t Wen Zhu the one who was first tangled up with that Li Zhiyun?

She had specially rushed over today, originally intending to have a good talk with Wen Zhu.

As long as Qingqing had a better attitude and went to the police station to resolve the matter, she could let Qingqing come back and continue being her secretary.

But what was Wen Zhu doing? She was still telling this pathetic lie!

Wen Zhu frowned, “I truly don’t know what you are talking about. Pei Xiubai, how many years have we known each other? Don’t you know what kind of person I am?”

“I know you too well,” Pei Xiubai’s voice was as cold as ice shards. “I know what tactics you use against people you dislike! You’ve always disliked Xinxin, and now that you’ve finally caught an opportunity, of course you’d pour all the dirty water on her online, claiming she ordered someone to attack you!”

So, that’s what it was.

Pei Xiubai thought she was setting up and slandering Jiang Xinxin?

Wen Zhu’s gaze finally moved past Pei Xiubai and landed on the pathetic, vulnerable face behind her.

The corner of her mouth slowly curled up, revealing a hint of mockery.

Jiang Xinxin had been secretly observing her expression. When Wen Zhu looked over, she instinctively lowered her head and tightly gripped the corner of her clothes, as if she had been slapped in public.

Wen Zhu suddenly realized that when that heavy affection completely disappeared, she could finally jump out of this mire, like an irrelevant outsider, and clearly see through this ridiculous farce.

She even found it a bit funny.

So she genuinely laughed out loud.

“Then, what does President Pei want me to do with this grand visit today?” she asked, her tone light and airy. “Do you need me to apologize to your little darling?”

Her tone suggested, I’d like to see what more outrageous things you can say.

Seeing her laugh, Pei Xiubai thought she was finally submitting. Her expression softened, and she regained the upper hand.

“You go online right now and post a statement saying that it was all a misunderstanding before, that Xinxin didn’t instruct Ju Zi, and that you and Ju Zi were just messing around as friends and made a mistake”

Clap, clap, clap.

The light, crisp clapping sound abruptly interrupted Pei Xiubai’s words.

Both Pei Xiubai and Jiang Xinxin were stunned.

Wen Zhu withdrew her hands. The smile on her face deepened, but there was no warmth in her eyes. “I knew President Pei couldn’t say anything nice, but I didn’t expect it to be this absurd.”

She was clearly smiling, but Pei Xiubai inexplicably felt a shiver in her heart.

She frowned. “What do you mean by that?”

“Nothing much,” the smile faded from Wen Zhu’s face, her expression frighteningly calm. “I won’t admit to something I didn’t do. Ju Zi intentionally harmed me, and I will pursue the matter to the end.”

She looked at Pei Xiubai’s instantly darkened face and repeated, word for word, “The same goes: if you want me not to pursue it, immediately approve my resignation application. I have things to do, so I’ll be going now!”

There was still half a month left, but she didn’t want to stay at Yu Pei for even a day longer.

After speaking, she didn’t spare either of them another glance and turned to leave.

Wen Zhu did not expose Jiang Xinxin.

She was even expecting it in a somewhat mean way.

Pei Xiubai liked Jiang Xinxin’s innocent, harmless, and unstained appearance the most, didn’t she?

If one day, she personally unveiled this little white flower’s disguise and discovered a man-eating viper underneath.

Her expression then should be quite spectacular.

Watching Wen Zhu’s figure disappear out the door, resolute and without a hint of reluctance, Pei Xiubai stood frozen, feeling both angry and suffocated in her chest.

How did it turn out like this?

She hadn’t come to apologize, had she? Why was she again driven to such a state of anger after just a few sentences?

She should have spoken properly to her Qingqing, she should have…

Pei Xiubai murmured the name “Qingqing” and instinctively wanted to chase after her.

But just as she took a step, her arm was pulled by a force.

Jiang Xinxin clung tightly to her arm, her voice hoarse and tearful: “Sister Wen Zhu still doesn’t like me… President Pei, what should I do?”

Pei Xiubai’s mind was filled with Wen Zhu’s cold, utterly devoid of warmth face. She irritably pulled her arm away and perfunctorily reassured her, “Don’t overthink it.”

Then, looking towards the doorway, her tone was determined: “I’ll go find her; I’ll make sure she agrees.”

Before her words faded, Pei Xiubai had already strode out to chase.

But the moment she rushed out of the B&B’s main entrance, her steps suddenly halted.

Under the night sky, a tall, slender figure stood quietly not far away. The dim, yellow light outlined her cool, sharp profile.

The person seemed to have just arrived. Noticing the movement, she slowly turned her head.

It was Li Zhiyun.

She appeared to have just arrived.

The moment she saw Pei Xiubai, Li Zhiyun’s originally composed face also became cold.

Two equally prominent, strong willed women faced each other a few steps apart. Neither yielded to the other; even the air around them felt compressed and distorted.

“You’re here for Wen Zhu?” Pei Xiubai spoke coldly, with a hint of accusation.

Li Zhiyun’s gaze swept past her, replying indifferently, “That’s none of President Pei’s business.”

Pei Xiubai clenched her fist.

She thought of Wen Zhu’s cool and confident manner just now, and seeing this woman before her, she suddenly understood.

Could it be that Wen Zhu thought Li Zhiyun would protect her, which gave her the courage to oppose herself like this?

Foolish!

Pei Xiubai suddenly smiled, as if she had realized something, but the warmth didn’t reach her eyes.

“Qingqing isn’t here she just left,” she deliberately slowed her tone. “I apologize, Miss Li, Qingqing has been having a tantrum with me recently, which has caused you quite a bit of trouble. Has she caused you any inconvenience? I’ll apologize to Miss Li on her behalf.”

It was the posture of an owner of Wen Zhu.

Li Zhiyun looked at her insincere smile, and the temperature in her eyes dropped a few more degrees.

She asked sincerely, “Who are you to Wen Zhu?”

The unspoken meaning was, What right do you have to apologize on her behalf?

Pei Xiubai’s face instantly froze.

But only for a second, she smiled again, more poised and confident: “Miss Li doesn’t know, does she? Qingqing and I have had an engagement since childhood, set by our families’ elders.”

She watched Li Zhiyun’s slightly changing expression and continued, her voice tinged with a boastful intimacy.

“You must have heard how much she loved me before. It’s my fault for upsetting her. I came to Tongcheng this time to bring her back to marry me.”

“Qingqing is just stubborn, and I haven’t quite soothed her yet. However, this is just a matter of time, isn’t it?”

Upon hearing this, Li Zhiyun’s jawline instantly tightened.

Even Jiang Xinxin, who had just chased out and was standing at the door, was stunned, the color draining completely from her face.

Li Zhiyun was about to speak, but Pei Xiubai didn’t give her a chance and interrupted her again.

“Qingqing was spoiled by my family since childhood and likes to throw little tantrums. I see that she and Miss Li seem to have become good friends. I wonder if Miss Li, when you have time, could help me persuade Qingqing more, to stop being mad at me and return with me for the wedding soon?”

As she said this, Pei Xiubai felt a surge of superiority herself.

Yes, she and Qingqing had an engagement.

Qingqing was destined to marry her. Even if they had a falling out, they would reconcile eventually.

What was this Li Zhiyun woman, anyway?

She threw in a final sentence, her tone certain and full of possessiveness: “After all, I promised Qingqing’s parents that I would take care of her for the rest of her life.”

Sure enough, upon hearing the word “marriage,” a slight crack appeared on Li Zhiyun’s usually expressionless face.

Pei Xiubai took in the change in her expression and grew even more pleased.

She had thought this Second Miss Li was so composed; turns out she was nothing special.

But before she could appreciate the other party’s even uglier expression, she heard Li Zhiyun let out a light laugh.

“A tantrum?” Li Zhiyun raised an eyebrow, the mockery in her beautiful eyes unconcealed.

“President Pei still thinks Qingqing is just having a tantrum with you? It seems President Pei doesn’t understand Qingqing all that well.”

Qingqing.

Those two words struck Pei Xiubai like a massive stone, making her head spin!

For a moment, she couldn’t tell if she was more angered by Li Zhiyun saying she didn’t understand Qingqing, or by the fact that she was also calling Wen Zhu “Qingqing”!

How dare she!

Did Wen Zhu allow her to call her that?!

A surge of betrayed rage instantly swept over Pei Xiubai. Her face changed dramatically: “What do you mean by that?”

Li Zhiyun thought to herself, I mean you’re an idiot.

The person’s heart is dead, yet you still think she’s just having a spat with you.

The usually modest and polite Second Miss Li cursed someone in her heart for the first time in her life.

She couldn’t deny that she had indeed been provoked by Pei Xiubai just now.

But the angrier she was, the calmer her expression became.

Li Zhiyun curled her lips, her gaze passing over Pei Xiubai and landing on the visibly stunned Jiang Xinxin behind her.

“If I’m not mistaken, President Pei came here regarding the online matter concerning this young lady, correct?” she asked airily. “I would like to ask President Pei, have you truly investigated the facts of the matter?”

“Or did this young lady just say a few words, and President Pei immediately rushed over?”

Pei Xiubai’s face stiffened.

Jiang Xinxin behind her was even more flustered, biting her lower lip hard.

She was still as weak as ever, looking like she might burst into tears at any moment: “Miss Li is Sister Wen Zhu’s friend, naturally, she would speak up for Sister Wen Zhu…”

Before she could finish her provocative words, Li Zhiyun lightly interrupted her.

“What else?” Li Zhiyun asked matter-of-factly, as if genuinely confused.

“When you love someone, don’t you have to trust them wholeheartedly?”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xinxin’s face turned ashen.

Pei Xiubai was also choked by the statement, her chest tight.

“You finally admit it! You truly covet Qingqing!” She stared at Li Zhiyun’s candid face, unable to suppress her rage any longer. She stepped forward and fiercely grabbed Li Zhiyun’s collar!

Li Zhiyun was two centimeters taller than Pei Xiubai. She slightly lowered her eyes, looking at Pei Xiubai’s red, furious eyes, and suddenly smiled.

“What if I do covet her?”

She had originally intended to boil the frog slowly, secretly poaching the relationship.

But she suddenly felt her sister was right; she couldn’t be too gentle, lest someone like Pei Xiubai keep harboring wishful fantasies.

Fantasies that Wen Zhu would still turn back.

“As long as Qingqing isn’t married, I still have a chance.”

“You are not allowed to call her that!” Pei Xiubai completely exploded, like a cat whose tail was stepped on. “Qingqing is mine! You wish!”

Li Zhiyun also gripped Pei Xiubai’s wrist, her voice chilling: “She isn’t yours, nor is she mine. She is only herself.”

She forcefully pried Pei Xiubai’s fingers open, her strength surprisingly great.

“Miss Pei, I am not asking for your opinion.”

Li Zhiyun’s gaze was like a knife dipped in ice, stabbing directly at the other woman: “Six years ago, I gave you a chance, but how did you treat Qingqing?”

You made her cry until her tears were almost dried up.

Hearing her bring up six years ago, Pei Xiubai stared fiercely at Li Zhiyun’s face.

Suddenly remembering something, her pupils instantly contracted.