The Amnesiac Drama Queen Is Crashing the Live Stream - Chapter 26.1

Xia Xingtang’s mind instantly blared a ten-alarm warning. Frantically grabbing the car door handle, she demanded, “I want to get out.”

The Rolls-Royce came to a stop just after turning a corner. She yanked the door open and strode several paces forward.

The temperature outside had dropped noticeably since she’d entered the car, a chilly breeze carrying hints of winter’s bite washing over her face.

It dissipated the intimate atmosphere that had filled the vehicle.

The rising warmth in Xia Xingtang’s cheeks abruptly halted, and her accelerated heartbeat gradually steadied.

Breathing in the fresh air, her previously bewitched mind finally began functioning normally again.

She let out a soft sigh, feeling considerably more at ease.

Just as she thought, it must have been those few sips of alcohol tonight combined with the stuffy car interior.

Everything returned to normal the moment she stepped outside.

The crisp sound of high heels approached from behind. Without turning around, Xia Xingtang knew exactly who it was. Wasn’t this the very person who had caused her inner turmoil?

Feeling more composed now, she searched for the right words to regain the upper hand in their exchange.

But before she could speak, a weight settled on her shoulders as a long trench coat was draped over her.

The garment carried its owner’s signature cool fragrance, reminiscent of that moment in the car when she’d been sketching stick figures and found herself half-embraced.

Xia Xingtang twisted her shoulders, attempting to shrug off the coat.

Yet in the next instant, fingertips pressed down on her shoulders, preventing the garment from slipping off. “Don’t move.”

The tone was almost parental, carrying an unyielding sternness that brooked no argument, so different from the person in the car that Xia Xingtang forgot she was supposed to resist.

She stood there obediently, allowing Pei Luoqing to help her into the coat properly.

“Why did you get out of the car?”

Xia Xingtang bit her lower lip, stubbornly fixing her gaze on the asphalt road nearby.

This was precisely when nightlife began to stir. Unintentionally, the driver had chosen a return route passing through Yuncheng’s university district. Students bustled along the streets, creating a lively atmosphere.

“Speak.”

After a moment’s silence, realizing she couldn’t avoid answering, Xia Xingtang deliberately adopted a profound tone: “The world is so vast, I wanted to come out and see it.”

Pei Luoqing paused, clearly not having anticipated this response.

She couldn’t help but find it amusing.

Xia Xingtang countered, “So why did you get out then?”

Pei Luoqing thought for a few seconds, then mimicked her tone: “The world is so vast, I wanted to come out and see it with you?”

Xia Xingtang was momentarily stunned. The warmth that had subsided when she left the car seemed poised to return.

And here she thought Pei Luoqing had reverted to that steady CEO persona, apparently she’d overestimated her.

Still, she had to admit, Pei Luoqing knew how to sweet-talk. Those words sounded quite pleasing to her ears.

“This seems to be Yuncheng’s university district, right?” Observing the flow of people, Xia Xingtang suggested, “How about… we take a stroll?”

Pei Luoqing followed Xia Xingtang’s gaze to the pairs of young couples meandering along the streets. “There are shoes in the car. Would you like to change?”

Xia Xingtang glanced at their current outfits. Their clothes could be concealed with coats, but walking around this area in high heels would be far too conspicuous.

She smiled. “That would be perfect.”

Pei Luoqing acknowledged and headed toward the car first.

After changing into flats, Xia Xingtang couldn’t resist muttering, “Did you plan all along to secretly bring me out here?”

Pei Luoqing looked puzzled. “What?”

“How did you know my size? Stop pretending.” Xia Xingtang’s voice lifted at the end, much like a smug little fox who had seen right through someone.

Pei Luoqing paused for two seconds: “We wear the same shoe size.”

Xia Xingtang was frustrated by the other’s lack of romantic understanding and could only grit her teeth to reply, “Oh… what a coincidence.”

In doing so, she missed the fleeting smile that appeared at the corner of Pei Luoqing’s lips as she turned away.

The two bodyguards parked the car in a paid roadside spot and followed at a safe distance, some farther, some closer.

Pei Luoqing and Xia Xingtang walked side by side like the college students around them. Snack stalls were scattered along the roadside, and by the time they passed the third one, Xia Xingtang’s stomach finally let out a low growl.

She stared pitifully at Pei Luoqing.

After all, in order to keep her dress in perfect condition, the Second Miss Xia hadn’t dared to eat much even at the banquet.

Going hungry until now was truly a grievance.

“I’m hungry,” Xia Xingtang said, pointing at a nearby barbecue stall where the chicken legs were grilled to a golden crisp, juices dripping. “I want to eat.”

Xia Xingtang had been meticulously cared for every day, with meals costing thousands or even tens of thousands being as common as home-cooked food. But since waking up after the accident, she hadn’t visited such street food stalls. At first glance, she was utterly captivated.

Especially with the aroma of food wafting into her nostrils, steaming oden, fragrant grilled skewers, and sweet, rich roasted sweet potatoes. Her taste buds automatically evoked memories of flavors she couldn’t even place.

Pei Luoqing found a shop that looked relatively clean, and Xia Xingtang excitedly followed her inside.

As they entered, Xia Xingtang thought with a hint of schadenfreude that someone like Pei Luoqing had probably never eaten at such a small shop in her life.

While Pei Luoqing was ordering the skewers, Xia Xingtang encouraged with shining eyes, “I want that grilled chicken leg, the biggest one! I want the biggest! And some other meat skewers too, all of them, all of them!”

But Pei Luoqing simply ignored her, calmly selecting a mix of meat and vegetables and leisurely marking the menu with a ballpoint pen, giving off the vibe of signing a billion-dollar contract.

In the end, when Xia Xingtang saw the final order, which differed slightly from her enthusiastic requests, she silently stewed for a moment.

But it only lasted a few seconds. When Pei Luoqing asked if she wanted some oden, she immediately cast aside her minor grievances.

The oden shop was right next door.

This time, the order was placed face-to-face, leaving Pei Luoqing no room to intervene. Xia Xingtang gleefully “directed” the order, managing to fill two containers the size of instant noodle cups to the brim.

She even justified it by saying she wanted to share with Pei Luoqing.

However, after stuffing the containers with food, Xia Xingtang’s original intention of drinking the oden broth was thwarted.

Fortunately, the shop owner was quite accommodating and very enthusiastic about such a generous customer, so they ladled an extra box of broth for Xia Xingtang.

As the two carried the oden back next door, Xia Xingtang’s nose twitched, her eyes glued to the sweet potato stall, and she once again couldn’t move.

Pei Luoqing watched her actions with some amusement. If Xia Qingyue saw this, she might even think she was mistreating her sister by not feeding her.

“Want more?”

Xia Xingtang nodded and instructed, “A big one.”

“Okay.”

By the time Pei Luoqing returned with the sweet potato, Xia Xingtang was sipping broth from a spoon, her eyes squinting in satisfaction.

Even after seeing the two medium-sized sweet potatoes in Pei Luoqing’s hands, she didn’t press the matter further.

Some of the skewers had already been served. Pei Luoqing glanced at the untouched skewers and asked curiously, “Why aren’t you eating?”

The second young lady of the Xia family was holding her chopsticks with restraint, staring eagerly at the food before looking at her.

Pei Luoqing sat down and tentatively asked, “Is it not tasty?”

“Take them off the skewers.”

“Oh.” Under Xia Xingtang’s expectant gaze, Pei Luoqing coldly uttered two words, “No.”

Xia Xingtang’s previously delighted expression instantly fell, and she had no choice but to silently put on plastic gloves and do it herself.

Her aggrieved, pitiful expression amused Pei Luoqing.

This scene felt quite familiar. Back when she was a senior in college, Xia Qingyue occasionally brought Xia Xingtang along to explore the food street with her, and Xia Xingtang would make the same demand of Xia Qingyue.

When Xia Qingyue refused to help, this little princess seemed to throw a few tantrums.

It seemed that Xia Xingtang was somewhat more restrained in front of her.

Pei Luoqing leisurely put on plastic gloves, picked up the oden in front of Xia Xingtang, and began removing the skewers for her.

Xia Xingtang’s expression visibly brightened, and she waited gleefully for Pei Luoqing to feed her.

However, after only a few skewers, Xia Xingtang put down her chopsticks with restraint and pushed the tray forward.

Pei Luoqing paused mid-action, surprised. “Only two skewers when it’s so tasty?”

Xia Xingtang declared righteously, “I’m on a diet.”

Pei Luoqing scrutinized Xia Xingtang from head to toe but couldn’t see any sign of weight gain. She couldn’t understand what mischief the little princess was up to now.

“You’re not fat.”

“You wouldn’t understand,” Xia Xingtang said mysteriously. “The fat grows in places you can’t see.”

For instance, when she first woke up, there had been a faint hint of abdominal muscles on her stomach. But after half a month in the hospital and lounging around at home for so long, all traces of them had completely vanished.

“Oh?” Pei Luoqing’s tone was meaningful as she glanced over Xia Xingtang’s upper body again. “Aren’t you afraid that after losing weight, the places that should be plump will shrink?”

Xia Xingtang frowned thoughtfully, genuinely considering the possibility. “It should be fine, right?”

Some areas could be enhanced with bras, but places like the waist and stomach, once they gain fat, it’s hard to get rid of it.

Pei Luoqing frowned. “I don’t think you’ve gained weight. Go ahead and eat, it’s fine.”

Xia Xingtang replied matter-of-factly, “Of course you wouldn’t notice! You’ve never touched me.”

Pei Luoqing removed the last piece of oden from the skewer and said leisurely, “So, can I interpret that as… an invitation for me to verify it firsthand?”

Xia Xingtang put down her chopsticks and spread her arms, smiling brightly. “Sure.”

This time, it was Pei Luoqing’s turn to freeze. Her earlier composure vanished entirely, clearly not expecting Xia Xingtang to seize the opportunity so smoothly.

Seeing through everything, Xia Xingtang was in high spirits. She picked up a fish roe pouch from the bowl of prepared oden and brought it to Pei Luoqing’s lips. “You need to eat your fill to have the energy for hands-on work, right, President Pei?”

Pei Luoqing shot her a helpless glance. Under Xia Xingtang’s increasingly gleeful expression, she slowly removed her gloves, took a tissue, and wiped her hands clean, making sure there was no trace of broth.

Noticing this, Xia Xingtang reminded her, “There are still a few skewers left to remove.”

Pei Luoqing nodded. “Isn’t there something more important to do now?”

Something more important?

Xia Xingtang’s smile froze on her face, thinking to herself, Is Pei Luoqing really going to touch me?

The next second, as that hand moved toward her, she quickly dodged to the side.

But she failed to escape.

The belt of her trench coat ended up in Pei Luoqing’s grasp.

Xia Xingtang opened her mouth, about to remind Pei Luoqing that they were in public, when Pei Luoqing simply deftly retied the loose belt of her trench coat.

Then, with a nonchalant glance and a flicker of amusement in her eyes, she remarked, “We’re still outside, no need to be so eager.”

Xia Xingtang: “…”

She refused to believe Pei Luoqing wasn’t doing this on purpose.

Xia Xingtang picked up a piece of beef skewer and bit into it fiercely, imagining it was Pei Luoqing.

Just then, a slightly surprised voice came from nearby: “Are you Pei Luoqing?”

Xia Xingtang swallowed the meat and turned to look.

It was a slender man wearing gold-rimmed glasses, who appeared quite refined.

Pei Luoqing nodded, her tone tinged with uncertainty. “And you are?”

“I’m Cheng Xiuming, your university classmate. I even confessed to you back then,” the man said with a cheerful smile. “When I saw you earlier, I wondered if it could really be you, but I didn’t dare come over to confirm. I never thought it’d actually be you?”

A faint snap, the bamboo skewer in Xia Xingtang’s hand broke in two. She slowly raised her eyes and fixed her gaze on Pei Luoqing.

Cheng Xiuming didn’t notice, but Pei Luoqing, who had been watching her closely, caught the look.

Cheng Xiuming, as if they were old friends, continued without waiting for Pei Luoqing to respond: “After graduating, I returned to Yuncheng and became a university lecturer. Seeing all those students, it really hits me how fast time flies.

Right after graduation, I went into investment banking, but the constant overtime was exhausting. Luckily, an opportunity came up here, so I took it. Oh, is this your sister? She’s just as beautiful as you are.”

Xia Xingtang remained silent, her gaze toward Pei Luoqing growing even colder.

Pei Luoqing shook her head without hesitation. “Not my sister, she’s my wife. We’ve been married for over three years.”

Cheng Xiuming’s eyes darted between the two in disbelief. After a few polite words of congratulations, he left.