The Amnesiac Drama Queen Is Crashing the Live Stream - Chapter 21.1

A blush slowly crept across Xia Xingtang’s face.

Half from anger, half from embarrassment.

She remained silent for a moment, tilting her head back slightly in an attempt to create some distance.

Even though just an hour ago, she had been the one actively snuggling into Pei Luoqing’s embrace, clinging tightly to her.

Seeing this, Pei Luoqing raised an eyebrow and watched Xia Xingtang, only to hear her suddenly speak: “Actually, I didn’t mean to say it like that. You… you shouldn’t take my words too harshly.”

After a pause, and to cover her awkwardness, she declared firmly, “After all, the truth is often hard to hear.”

Pei Luoqing: …

Pei Luoqing’s lack of response gave Xia Xingtang a bit more confidence. “Besides, you only heard what I said, but you didn’t hear what Xiao Feifei said. The same words can mean different things in different contexts, do you understand?”

“Oh? Then what did she say?” Pei Luoqing didn’t dismiss it outright, giving the little ancestor a chance to explain.

Now it was Xia Xingtang’s turn to fall silent.

How should she explain?

Tell Pei Luoqing the truth, that she went to see the young star to distract herself?

And the reason she needed distraction was because of that bewildering kiss they shared underwater?

But there was no way she could reveal that.

Especially since she hadn’t yet figured out whether Pei Luoqing even remembered the kiss or how she felt about it.

In the end, she swallowed the words on the tip of her tongue.

Xia Xingtang blinked her eyes, looking somewhat innocent. “What else could it be? Those young stars are new to the entertainment industry and unfamiliar with everything. They were so considerate, letting me win on the racetrack earlier. What’s wrong with me going to see if there’s anything I can do to help them?”

Her words completely contradicted her expression, dripping with undisguised sarcasm and self-righteousness:

“After all, President Pei holds a high position and seems to have no shortage of money. Who would’ve thought you’re someone who asks me for pocket money every day?”

With just a few sentences, she deftly shifted the blame in another direction.

Pei Luoqing: …

Where had she gotten the illusion that this little ancestor was planning to apologize?

This was no apology, it was clearly a roundabout way of bringing up old grievances.

But since the topic had been raised, Pei Luoqing simply walked over and sat down on the sofa by the bed. “Then why don’t we… talk?”

“T-talk about what?” Remembering the consequences of the last time they “talked”, when she let her guard down and Pei Luoqing took those embarrassing photos, Xia Xingtang eyed her warily. “About how you deceived me after I lost my memory?”

“You never asked me,” Pei Luoqing retorted, mimicking Xia Xingtang’s tactics and putting on an innocent expression to defend herself. “Besides, we’re married. There’s nothing wrong with me taking your pocket money, is there?”

This time, it was Xia Xingtang’s turn to fall silent.

After waking up, it seemed she had been the one to jump to conclusions about everything.

Why had she formed such misconceptions in the first place?

It was probably because the moment she laid eyes on Pei Luoqing, she had been captivated by her beauty. Then came Pei Luoqing’s compliance and the brainwashing effect of all those “son-in-law” novels during her long hospital stay.

It had led her to assume, without question, that Pei Luoqing had married into her family.

Even though Xia Qingyue had mentioned from the start that it was a business alliance, and even though Pei Luoqing had never hidden the fact that she took care of her meals and gave generous gifts.

Xia Xingtang felt a wave of confusion.

This is truly, a case of beauty leading one astray.

By the time Xia Xingtang’s thoughts returned to the present, Pei Luoqing had already stepped out and returned, holding a tablet in her hand. “I’ve arranged for someone to buy you a new phone. If you want to find out more about me, you can use this tablet for now.”

“Also, I’ve sent someone to salvage your car. I’m not sure how badly it’s damaged, but if you really like it, you can order another one.”

Xia Xingtang casually asked, “And if I don’t particularly like it?”

Pei Luoqing replied without hesitation, “You can buy another brand.”

Xia Xingtang tilted her head, studying Pei Luoqing, and said slowly, “Are you paying for it?”

“Mm-hmm.”

Mm-hmm?

Xia Xingtang’s eyes instantly lit up.

Even though the entire first basement level of Blue Bay No. 1 had been converted into a parking garage, practically fit for a car exhibition, Pei Luoqing’s words still managed to sway Xia Xingtang, the little money lover.

That Bugatti, now resting at the bottom of the lake, had a market price of 50 million.

Who in their right mind would turn down money?

She reluctantly gave Pei Luoqing a chance to redeem herself.

Pei Luoqing pushed the tablet forward. “So, Second Miss, could you give me a chance to let you get to know me, and my profession, again?”

Her voice was low, tingling in the ears, making it hard to refuse.

Xia Xingtang hesitated for only a moment before silently accepting the tablet.

The other woman didn’t rush her, merely sitting quietly on the sofa, leisurely pouring a glass of water for each of them.

After about ten minutes had passed, Xia Xingtang finally sorted through her thoughts.

Information about Pei Luoqing herself was almost entirely confidential online; her name only appeared under the “CEO” column for Yunji Group.

Fortunately, the internal turmoil Yunji had experienced over the past three years had been documented by quite a few financial news outlets.

In truth, when Pei Luoqing had tried to bribe her with money earlier, Xia Xingtang had already felt a shameful urge to let bygones be bygones.

After all, it wasn’t a bad thing for Pei Luoqing to be wealthy herself.

If she had money, she could buy Xia Xingtang a 50-million-yuan sports car.

If she had money, there’d be no need to worry that Pei Luoqing might one day seek revenge against the Xia family, like some live-in sons-in-law were known to do.

But if she had money, did that mean their marriage was now purely a financial arrangement?

What a touching model of partnership, truly moving the nation.

“I’ve finished reading.”

“Mm, any other questions?”

Xia Xingtang recalled the earlier incident. “So, back when the managers of the companies we co-owned were biased toward you, was that really not something you orchestrated?”

It seemed she had misunderstood Pei Luoqing back then. With such a fortune to her name, why would she even care about those small joint ventures?

“Mm, at the time, I noticed you weren’t particularly interested in managing them, so I took care of them for you. Perhaps that gave them the wrong impression.” Pei Luoqing paused, then assured her, “That won’t happen again in the future.”

It won’t happen again?

Xia Xingtang suddenly grew wary. Did Pei Luoqing intend for her to manage all her assets herself?

Sometimes, having an overly indulgent older sister wasn’t such a good thing.

She couldn’t help but suspect that when she got married, Xia Qingyue had transferred all of the Xia family’s assets, except for Huanyu Group, into her name, not to mention the considerable Huanyu shares she already held.

Xia Xingtang suddenly felt a headache coming on. She didn’t know if her 23-year-old self was up to the task, but after those two weeks of exposure, she realized she truly wasn’t cut out for it.

“Who even hires child labor these days?”

She immediately retorted, “No way, don’t even think about slacking off.”

“We can discuss this later.” Pei Luoqing saw through Xia Xingtang’s intention but didn’t expose her. “You still haven’t explained the young star at the racetrack today. Was she the one you contacted those past few nights?”

Past few nights?

Xia Xingtang scoffed inwardly, thinking that Pei Luoqing had indeed come here today specifically for her.

Seeing that Xia Xingtang remained silent, Pei Luoqing pressed further, “What’s wrong? Feeling too guilty to explain after going out with another woman?”

She deliberately emphasized the words “another woman.”

Xia Xingtang: …

Riding on the lingering warmth from her earlier monetary gratitude, Xia Xingtang quietly spoke up, “Actually, I think I can still explain.”

“Go ahead.” Pei Luoqing lazily glanced over, though the smile in her eyes had faded. “Let’s hear how you try to talk your way out of this.”

Talk her way out of it? What did she mean by that?

She shouldn’t have expected anything good to come out of Pei Luoqing’s mouth.

Xia Xingtang organized a series of excuses in her mind, only to dismiss them one by one. What finally came out was:

“What young star? What other woman? I haven’t even asked you about those delicate young girls around you, oh, and those handsome young boys too. What’s going on with them?”

Then the room fell into silence.

“Ah, you’re feeling guilty.” Pei Luoqing casually glanced at her watch. “So, after all that hesitation, this is the only excuse you could come up with?”

Provoked by Pei Luoqing’s indifferent rebuttal, Xia Xingtang’s temper flared. “Who’s making excuses? Am I not telling the truth?”

It was just a simple exchange of favors, she had only intended to help those young stars a little. Why was Pei Luoqing making such a big deal out of it?

Did she really want to act like her mother?

“And you can’t be this narrow-minded.” Xia Xingtang shifted forward on the bed, lecturing her. “Aren’t we in a business marriage? Are you allowed to have your flings while I can’t even look at some young beauties?”

Pei Luoqing shot her a knowing glance. “You admitted it.”

“I…”

Xia Xingtang felt like she had dug her own grave and couldn’t find a way to refute it.

Besides, given their superficial relationship, when had it become necessary to report whom she hung out with?

She chose to stay silent, and the atmosphere in the room grew tense.

At least she had kept her distance from the young star she went out with. Hadn’t Pei Luoqing noticed the girl standing beside her practically clinging to her?

Why was she so angry?

Xia Xingtang stole a glance at the other woman. Pei Luoqing was looking at something on her phone, showing no intention of paying her any attention.

For some reason, that feeling of grievance surged even stronger.

At the same time, she sensed something was off.

Even if… even if Pei Luoqing had angered her or given her the cold shoulder before, she had never felt this irritable.

Unable to pinpoint the reason, Xia Xingtang could only attribute this inexplicable emotion to the aftermath of that kiss.

It gave her the impression that Pei Luoqing didn’t seem to care about the kiss at all.

She buried herself in her tablet again, though she wasn’t actually reading anything. She didn’t even know what webpage she had switched to.

Her mind was a mess, thoughts swirling chaotically.