The Amnesiac Drama Queen Is Crashing the Live Stream - Chapter 14

Pei Luoqing stood in the dark stairwell, looking as though she had just woken up. When the rotating lights swept across her face, her pale complexion and the dark circles under her eyes became visible.

She wore a black mid-sleeved nightgown that blended perfectly into the darkness. The loosely draped collar and the strands of hair scattered across it spoke volumes of her irritation.

The dance music continued to blare like a chaotic frenzy, its pulsating rhythm hammering against Xia Xingtang’s heart like a death knell.

It made her wish she could dig a hole and disappear on the spot.

So, why was Pei Luoqing at home?

Wasn’t she supposed to be on a business trip?

Wasn’t she so busy that she couldn’t even make a phone call or reply to a message?

And now she had returned home without a word, appearing out of nowhere?

The spinning momentum persisted, but Xia Xingtang forced herself to stop abruptly, nearly tumbling off the sofa in a mix of embarrassment and frustration.

By the time she steadied herself and looked up again, Pei Luoqing had vanished. The lively dance music came to an abrupt halt.

Xia Xingtang turned around just in time to see Pei Luoqing setting down the remote control.

What followed was an eerie silence that filled the vast villa.

She tightened her grip on the glittering microphone, her eyes clouded with confusion.

After a long pause, Pei Luoqing finally let out a sigh, her initial irritation from being disturbed fading slightly.

She broke the stalemate: “This distinguished Miss Xia Xingtang, the lucky winner of the grand prize, the one who splurged to book the entire venue tonight, the center of everyone’s attention.”

Her tone was calm, but her words were sharp and biting.

“Would you mind turning down the volume? I just got off a long-haul flight and haven’t slept for a full day and night.”

Although the speakers were turned off, the rotating lights overhead still occasionally swept across their faces.

When a red beam of light happened to land on her, Xia Xingtang felt the heat rising in her cheeks.

Her anger flared up instantly, only to be stifled when a blue-tinted light accentuated the exhaustion on Pei Luoqing’s pale face.

Especially the unmistakable dark circles under her eyes, which made Xia Xingtang’s conscience stir.

Alright, maybe she had been a bit too loud?

Blasting music and singing at the top of her lungs.

Feeling guilty, she couldn’t help but defend herself: “It’s not like I… knew you were home.”

As she spoke, she regained some confidence: “Don’t make it sound like I’m mistreating you. You came home without making a sound, like a ghost. How was I supposed to know you were here?”

Seeing that Pei Luoqing didn’t refute her, she grew even bolder.

Emboldened, she mimicked Pei Luoqing’s sarcastic tone and retorted: “Next time, do me a favor and let me know in advance when you’re coming home, so I don’t disturb your esteemed executive’s precious sleep.”

Pei Luoqing had been worried that Xia Xingtang would feel uncomfortable staying home alone. To return early, she had compressed her schedule, working nonstop and cutting the original trip short by a third.

But barely half an hour after she finally made it home and lay down, she was woken up by the noise. And now, Xia Xingtang’s incessant chattering was making her head spin.

Even with her usual composure, she found the situation utterly absurd.

Holding onto her last shred of rationality, she merely cast a cold glance at Xia Xingtang before turning and heading upstairs.

Her footsteps didn’t falter in the slightest, exuding nothing but indifference.

Xia Xingtang keenly sensed a hint of tension in the air. Before her mind could fully process it, she impulsively strode forward and grabbed Pei Luoqing, who was about to head upstairs, feeling ignored.

“What do you mean by that, Pei Luoqing?” Xia Xingtang clutched Pei Luoqing’s sleeve tightly, though her tone gradually softened. “Don’t think I don’t know you were mocking me.”

“I wasn’t.”

“Yes, you were!”

Pei Luoqing fell silent again.

This unresponsive attitude only further provoked Xia Xingtang.

It felt like a silent accusation.

All the grievances Xia Xingtang had buried in her heart over the past few days surged to the surface at once.

Seeing that Pei Luoqing still refused to acknowledge her, she deliberately brought up the professional managers from earlier that afternoon: “By the way, I’m replacing the managers at Mingrong, Yaobo, and the other companies.”

“Reason?”

Xia Xingtang sneered inwardly, thinking, Finally, you’ve decided to speak.

Clearly, in Pei Luoqing’s mind, she was less important than the interests of those small companies.

But she couldn’t say that outright, so she casually replied, “I just don’t like them.”

Pei Luoqing’s expression finally shifted, a hint of exasperation showing at Xia Xingtang’s entitled attitude.

Lack of rest and the lingering effects of the earlier music had already heightened her heartbeat, and now her mood darkened further. “Xia Xingtang, if there’s something you don’t want to do, you can hire others to do it. But you can’t fire people without cause.”

Pei Luoqing’s tone wasn’t as confrontational as Xia Xingtang’s, calm and measured, yet somehow infuriating to hear.

“I hope you understand that not everyone can live as carefree as you, with someone always there to clean up the mess, no matter what happens.”

Silence hung in the air for a few seconds. After hearing this, Xia Xingtang couldn’t help but roll her eyes inwardly.

Right, I’m carefree, and Pei Luoqing is just so busy.

Busy sidelining me in those companies, busy building her own career.

Nobel should give her an award for time management.

Their marriage had been a sham from the start, and they had agreed to live their separate lives. She wouldn’t have minded so much if that were all.

But who was it that promised her that night in the hospital just a few days ago? A ghost?

If Pei Luoqing disliked her so much, why make promises in the first place?

Liar!

Xia Xingtang released Pei Luoqing’s sleeve and headed in the opposite direction upstairs. “Who needs you to clean up my mess? Don’t flatter yourself.”

Though she wasn’t wearing slippers, her footsteps echoed loudly, thump, thump, thump, against the staircase.

After Xia Xingtang left, Pei Luoqing didn’t immediately return to the second floor. Instead, she searched for the main switch to turn off the swirling light effects.

She had always made an effort to keep her temper in check around Xia Xingtang, never expecting to provoke such a reaction today.

Now, in the calm aftermath, she found it somewhat unbelievable.

After switching off the flashy lights, her gaze fell on the coffee table, cluttered with company documents and financial reports.

Her eyes paused, and she picked up one at random. On the shareholder information for Mingrong Media, Xia Xingtang’s original 50% stake had been altered to 90%.

Meanwhile, Pei Luoqing’s own 40% share had been reduced to zero, with an arrow drawn beside it and a note: Pei Luoqing voluntarily surrenders all assets to Xia Xingtang!

The documents for several other companies they co-owned had also been tampered with in a similar fashion.

Pei Luoqing: …

Looking at these papers, she couldn’t help but chuckle softly, the last remnants of her irritation melting away.

Pei Luoqing’s drowsiness had mostly faded. Her posture lacked the usual office formality of sitting up straight; she was completely relaxed, draped in a bathrobe, exuding an air of leisurely comfort.

Her mind replayed Xia Xingtang’s recent erratic behavior, finding it somewhat amusing.

One moment she was sulking pitifully, the next she was flaring up aggressively.

Even while accusing others, her own eyes would redden first.

Where was the slightest hint of intimidation?

It seemed that even with amnesia, this little ancestor hadn’t forgotten her talent for making trouble.

By the time Pei Luoqing woke up the next day, Xia Xingtang, who usually loved sleeping in, was nowhere to be seen. The entire house felt empty, leaving her alone.

Not just the next day, but even on the third and fourth days, Pei Luoqing still hadn’t caught a glimpse of Xia Xingtang.

Unable to resist, she opened WeChat, unsure of what to say. Staring at the neat rows of transaction records, she hesitantly typed: [You haven’t given me my allowance for three days.]

Unexpectedly, the other side typed for a long time, only to transfer 30,000 yuan in the end.

Extremely generous, 12,000 more than the previously agreed 6,000 per day.

And then, there was no further response.

It felt like a playboy dismissing a lover, as if telling her to take the breakup money and not bother him again.

It seemed only Pei Luoqing still cared about their unpleasant argument from a few days ago.

The atmosphere in the CEO’s office on the top floor of Cloud Trace was extremely tense. Assistant Lu Qi nervously tried to gauge his boss’s mood.

To his surprise, after he finished his report, his boss suddenly had a moment of realization, her expression shifting abruptly.

Lu Qi was startled, wondering if it was an illusion from working too much overtime.

Sure enough, when he looked again, Pei Luoqing’s face had returned to its usual indifference.

The next second, Pei Luoqing threw the folder in her hand in front of him, her tone as sharp as ever during work: “Are you responsible for the managers of these companies? Is anyone allowed to deceive and mislead now?”

A chill ran down Lu Qi’s spine. He picked up the file, looking at the impressive profits, unsure why his boss was so angry. He could only lower his head and say, “President Pei, I will immediately look for other managers.”

Pei Luoqing’s expression softened slightly. “Transfer them to Cloud Trace. Then select a few capable ones to replace them.”

“Understood, President Pei.”

“And one more thing…”

Lu Qi’s heart, which had just settled, was once again on edge as he heard Pei Luoqing slowly ask, “Lu Qi, have you ever argued with your wife?”

Lu Qi was taken aback, unable to decipher his boss’s intention.

Pei Luoqing glanced at him indifferently and said coolly, “Why are you looking at me? Don’t tell me you don’t have a partner?”

For the sake of his job, even if his pride as a single man was shattered, Lu Qi didn’t dare refute: “No, I don’t.”

“Hmm.” Pei Luoqing studied him for a few seconds. “I can tell.”

Lu Qi: “…”

Those in relationships really can’t handle working nonstop for half a month without a single day off, both domestically and internationally.

Lu Qi cautiously suggested, “President Pei, if a couple has an argument, usually taking the initiative to apologize and giving a small gift can help reconcile.”

“Is that so?”

Lu Qi nodded.

But Pei Luoqing grew even more puzzled: “But she only transferred me some money and hasn’t tried to make up with me at all so far.”

Lu Qi: “…”

Now I kind of understand why you two argued.

You totally deserve it.