The Amnesiac Drama Queen Is Crashing the Live Stream - Chapter 11

Pei Luoqing paused and asked, “Is it because you’re too shy to recite the text, but you don’t want to admit defeat either?”

Though phrased as a question, her tone was definitive.

Xia Xingtang gritted her teeth, feeling an urge to throw Pei Luoqing out of the hospital room.

Sure enough, beautiful women have black hearts.

Does bullying a minor really make her so proud?

For some reason, it reminded her of her sister Xia Qingyue.

Xia Xingtang grabbed a brand-new set of pajamas from the bedside table and walked toward the bathroom without looking back.

She coldly tossed out a remark: “Three thousand.”

The bathroom door slammed shut with a loud bang. Pei Luoqing watched Xia Xingtang’s swiftly retreating figure, a faint, almost imperceptible smile curling at the corners of her lips.

Over ten minutes later, the bathroom door opened again.

A cloud of steam rushed out alongside Xia Xingtang, carrying the fresh, clean scent of soap. Her face was flushed like peach blossoms, her lips richly colored, and even without makeup, there was a hint of enchantment in her gaze.

Her eyes, still misty from the steam, held a touch of delicate vulnerability, like a fox spirit a scholar might encounter while lodging in the mountains during imperial exams.

But the more enchanting the spirit, the more deceptive it was.

Take Xia Xingtang, for instance. The next moment, she moved to the sofa and looked down at Pei Luoqing, demanding, “Do you realize your mistake now?”

Pei Luoqing was instructing her assistant about a document and hadn’t caught Xia Xingtang’s words. She looked up after a couple of seconds. “What?”

Xia Xingtang pressed her lips together.

Fine.

Not a shred of remorse for innocent little me.

Even the live-in sons-in-law in novels aren’t as insufferable as Pei Luoqing, putting on such airs day after day.

Xia Xingtang was starting to wonder if she was the one who had married into the family.

Irritated, she ran a hand through her hair, sweeping the strands that had fallen over her chest to her back.

Unexpectedly, Pei Luoqing suddenly stood up.

The distance between them was already close, and as Pei Luoqing rose, Xia Xingtang instinctively took half a step back. “Wh-what are you doing?”

A playful glint flashed in Pei Luoqing’s eyes as her gaze drifted downward along Xia Xingtang’s neck.

Feeling uneasy under the scrutiny, Xia Xingtang was about to speak when Pei Luoqing reached out.

Her hand landed on Xia Xingtang’s shoulder, gently adjusting the slipping strap back into place.

Then, leisurely, she withdrew her hand. “Just helping you dress properly.”

The lingering warmth from Pei Luoqing’s fingertips spread all the way to Xia Xingtang’s face.

Flustered, Xia Xingtang snapped, “What are you staring at?”

“If I recall correctly, you were the one who rushed over here just now,” Pei Luoqing remarked lazily as she settled back into her seat, one arm resting casually on the sofa’s armrest.

Xia Xingtang struggled to rein in her temper and suddenly had an idea. “Did you order tonight’s midnight snack yet?”

“No. What do you feel like eating?”

“Is Yuming Pavilion on Donghe Road still open?”

Pei Luoqing set aside the document in her hand and checked. “It’s open.”

“Then let’s get takeout from there tonight. I’m craving their desserts, order a lot.”

Pei Luoqing nodded, texting the instructions to her personal assistant and emphasizing extra desserts.

Yuming Pavilion was a Michelin three-star restaurant. Considering Xia Xingtang’s usual preferences, Pei Luoqing quickly estimated the cost.

For the first time, it dawned on her: reducing the allowance from five thousand to three thousand really did make a significant difference.

For instance, tonight’s midnight snack would be beyond her means.

As she looked up, she caught a fleeting trace of slyness at the corner of the other person’s lips.

She had ruffled someone’s feathers again, and now she was being made to pay the price.

Well, if she had to buy it, so be it.

Using her own money, she transferred the payment to her assistant.

Staring at the transaction record, she couldn’t help but feel a wave of resignation at how Xia Xingtang had once again led her astray.

Nearly an hour later, the assistant knocked on the hospital room door.

She laid out the purchased dishes and desserts, covering the entire coffee table.

Then, with a dazed expression, the assistant watched as the CEO’s wife lay on the sofa while their usually aloof CEO meticulously unpacked each container, her movements surprisingly practiced.

Previously, as Pei Luoqing’s personal assistant, she had been the most idle among all the assistants. But starting a week ago, she suddenly found herself busy, constantly shuttling between the hospital and the outside world.

Although she knew the CEO’s wife was hospitalized, she had always handed over the food at the outermost area without stepping inside.

Even with some mental preparation, witnessing her CEO embodying the image of a devoted wife and mother was still a bit hard to accept.

Had she really not been body-snatched?

The assistant’s gaze lingered on Xia Xingtang’s face, then drifted downward, and suddenly, she understood something.

At that moment, Pei Luoqing abruptly looked up and asked coldly, “Is there anything else?”

The assistant shook her head and scurried away.

Once again, only the two of them remained in the room.

Xia Xingtang tilted her head, her eyes first scanning the array of dishes on the coffee table before turning a burning, expectant gaze toward Pei Luoqing, blinking meaningfully.

It didn’t matter if she hadn’t realized her mistake earlier, now was the time to make up for it, right?

The implication couldn’t be clearer.

Stiffly, Pei Luoqing picked up a spoon, scooped a small piece of pudding along with its caramelized topping, and brought it to Xia Xingtang’s lips.

Fortunately, this time Xia Xingtang didn’t make things difficult and obediently took the bite.

After a few more spoonfuls, Xia Xingtang began to resent Pei Luoqing’s habit of feeding her the same dessert over and over.

Did she look like someone who could finish an entire plate?

If she kept feeding her the same dessert, she’d probably get full before even tasting half of it.

So, she picked up the spoon herself and started eating, sampling a bite from each plate one by one, her eyes narrowing in satisfaction.

Feeling particularly pleased, she glanced at Pei Luoqing sitting beside her. “Do you want some too?”

“No, I’m not hungry.” Pei Luoqing’s attention returned to her computer screen.

Oh, so she was rejecting this rare act of kindness.

How utterly devoid of romance.

All she ever cared about was work. Wasn’t taking care of her more profitable than going to the office?

Even though the assistant had looked so respectful toward Pei Luoqing earlier, she was probably juggling multiple jobs on the side.

If subordinates were like that, their boss probably wasn’t much better.

But she had only asked for desserts from Yuming Pavilion, and Pei Luoqing had bought her an entire tableful.

For once, Xia Xingtang’s conscience stirred, and she decided, “Considering tonight’s midnight snack, I’ll double your allowance.”

Three thousand became six thousand, any more, and she feared Pei Luoqing might get too full of herself.

At the same time, she needed to give Pei Luoqing some motivation to work her way back up to ten thousand in allowance.

Quite satisfied with her decision, Xia Xingtang, now full and content, very naturally climbed into bed.

She fell asleep not long after.

Pei Luoqing set down her laptop, walked quietly to the bedside, and thought of her fluctuating allowance, which rose and fell with Xia Xingtang’s moods. A faint, resigned smile appeared on her face.

She thoughtfully turned off all the main lights in the room, leaving only two dim floor lamps by the sofa.

As midnight approached, Pei Luoqing, seeing that Xia Xingtang wouldn’t wake up again, was about to leave.

But just as she picked up her laptop, Xia Xingtang jolted awake from a nightmare.

Their eyes met, and thanks to the dim lighting in the room, Xia Xingtang initially thought she was still in a dream, startling her so much that she instinctively shifted backward.

It wasn’t until she took in her surroundings and her thoughts fully returned that she finally snapped back to reality.

The afternoon’s reading of Rebirth of the Son-in-Law had left a deep impression on her, causing her to have a terrifying nightmare.

In the dream, Pei Luoqing was exactly like the character in the novel, the head of the Pei family, who endured humiliation in the early years only to rise to the pinnacle of power later.

Since it was a nightmare, it naturally didn’t depict the female lead’s experiences after transmigrating, but rather the first life of the son-in-law.

That is, the original life where the female lead insulted and mistreated the son-in-law relentlessly.

With the protagonist’s halo, the son-in-law, after returning to his own family, naturally subjected the female lead to severe torment. Abandoned by everyone wasn’t enough, in the end, she was brutally fed to sharks.

In the dream, Xia Xingtang’s limbs were bound as she dangled from the deck. The sound of arrogant high heels echoed behind her, followed by a chilling, sinister voice: “Xia Xingtang, you were so proud back then, watching me kneel at your feet, weren’t you?”

In the dream, Xia Xingtang was utterly shocked, frantically shaking her head in an attempt to explain, but her mouth was sealed with tape.

All she could do was helplessly listen as Pei Luoqing recounted their past “sweet moments.”

Finally, the laughter behind her grew louder and louder: “Enjoy it while you can.”

As the words faded, she felt like a kite with its string cut, swept by the sea breeze straight into a school of sharks.

The terror jolted her awake instantly.

…

Waking up to see the very culprit from her dream was naturally frightening.

Xia Xingtang’s reaction made Pei Luoqing frown. “What’s wrong? Did you have a nightmare?”

The damp chill on her back gradually faded as Xia Xingtang tried to calm herself, her eyes fixed intently on Pei Luoqing, searching for any sign of truth or falsehood.

After a moment, she finally confirmed that this was the real world.

Xia Xingtang took a deep breath, the words about cutting her allowance already on the tip of her tongue. But when she noticed the laptop beside Pei Luoqing, she swallowed them back.

This was the first time in many days that she had witnessed Pei Luoqing preparing to leave.

Despite being so busy, she still made time to come and stay with her, far better than the “Pei Luoqing” from her dream.

If she still wasn’t satisfied with this, Xia Xingtang could almost feel the chilly sea breeze again.

It sent a shiver down her spine.

Noticing this, Pei Luoqing reached out to close the window. “If there’s nothing else, you should rest early. I’ll come see you tomorrow?”

“Hey, you! Wait.” Xia Xingtang stammered, calling out to stop her. Several seconds passed, and she still didn’t know what to say. “What time is it now?”

“You’ve been asleep for over an hour. It’s almost midnight.”

Her voice was gentle, a stark contrast to the one in the dream, inexplicably bringing Xia Xingtang a sense of comfort.

It made Xia Xingtang feel a little more dependent on her.

Warm light fell on Xia Xingtang’s shoulders, her white silk camisole pajamas creating a striking contrast with her dark, flowing hair.

Curled up in the blankets, she looked even more languid than when she had just stepped out of the bath.

Pei Luoqing’s coat was draped over her arm, her fitted innerwear elegantly outlining her graceful figure.

Taking in the sight, Xia Xingtang felt a sudden stir in her heart and softly called out, “Pei Luoqing.”

“Hmm?”

Xia Xingtang glanced at her own attire, then shifted slightly to lie more on her side on the bed.

Considering how many nights Pei Luoqing had stayed with her, she decided not to hold a grudge against this person’s lack of romantic sensibility.

Lowering her voice to a whisper, she said, “How about you sleep here tonight too?”

Pei Luoqing: “…”

“I have something to tell you,” Xia Xingtang added.

After a few seconds of silence, Pei Luoqing replied, “You can tell me now just the same.”

“I just had a nightmare about the novel from this afternoon. I dreamed you were going to feed me to the sharks, and now I don’t dare to be alone.” Once the words were out, they flowed more smoothly.

Then she concluded, “So you have to take responsibility.”

“But wasn’t it you who started reading it first?”

“I don’t care. I was frightened because of it, so you have to take responsibility.” Xia Xingtang threw off the covers, walked over, leaned against the doorframe, and raised an eyebrow at Pei Luoqing.

Her stance made it clear that if Pei Luoqing didn’t agree, no one would have an easy time tonight.

She was blatantly imposing herself.

Pei Luoqing set down what she was holding and, with a hint of leisure, sat down to look at Xia Xingtang. “How do you want me to take responsibility?”

“You have to stay here with me,” Xia Xingtang hummed lightly, a trace of a smile appearing at the corners of her eyes.

She took a few more steps, snatched Pei Luoqing’s laptop, and coaxed persuasively, “How could you bear to let a delicate woman like me be so scared that I can’t sleep?”

Finally, Pei Luoqing understood Xia Xingtang’s intention.

She fell silent for a moment, then, with a subtle expression, asked:

“So… are you sure you want me to stay here with you tonight?”