The Amnesiac Drama Queen Is Crashing the Live Stream - Chapter 4

The dream came to an abrupt end. When she woke, she was still in the Bentley, the glaring red light outside the windshield somewhat piercing.

Pei Luoqing’s words still echoed in her ears. A cool breeze slipped through the car window, brushing past her right ear, cooling the warmth on Xia Xingtang’s face considerably.

“Awake?”

The voice was strikingly similar to the one in her dream, though tempered by the passage of time, less teasing, more gentle and steady.

Xia Xingtang turned her head. “Mm.”

“We’re almost there.”

Xia Xingtang restrained herself from looking further and instead gazed out the window, breathing in the fresh air to dispel the lingering remnants of the dream.

Or perhaps it was just the enclosed space of the car that had made it hard to breathe.

The black Bentley slowly entered Blue Bay Mansion, a luxury residential complex under the Xia family’s Universal Real Estate. Even in Yuncheng, where land was as precious as gold, it ranked among the top-tier properties.

True to its name, the mansion was encircled by a shallow bay, resembling a small resort. Yet, there were only ten households within the complex, making it a rare and exclusive commodity.

The car stopped at the central unit. The entire house seemed like a work of art, picturesque no matter where you paused to look.

The property featured front and back gardens. From the main gate to the two-story villa, one had to pass through a courtyard flanked by marble flowerbeds and transparent glass greenhouses. The backyard boasted cobblestone paths, a swimming pool, and a swing.

Xia Xingtang was a step slow getting out. Surprisingly, Pei Luoqing had already come around to open the car door for her.

Xia Xingtang froze for a moment, glancing at the sky outside. Had the moon risen from the west tonight?

First, picking her up on her own initiative, now opening the car door for her.

But she wasn’t one to be overly modest either. She grabbed her bag and got out.

Just as she was about to ask something, Pei Luoqing’s phone rang. “Something came up at the company. I’ll head in first.”

“It’s fine. Go ahead with your work.”

So rushed, like a wife hurrying off to an affair.

But as she smiled, the curve of her lips gradually faded.

After entering, she went straight to her room.

On either side of the entrance were massive walk-in closets filled with haute couture from major brands of the season. Every quarter, representatives from these brands would personally deliver items tailored to Xia Xingtang’s measurements.

Most of the clothes still bore brand-new tags, with prices ranging from five to seven figures. Under the dazzling lights, the colors of the garments seemed even more vibrant, almost glowing.

Extravagant and luxurious.

It took her a while to reach the bathroom, where she could finally take off the tightly wrapped trench coat. The haute couture piece, worth hundreds of thousands, was once again casually tossed onto the bathroom floor, likely never to be worn again.

Her fingers rested on the buckle of her high heels as she rubbed her sore calves. Piece by piece, her clothes fell away, and her long legs stepped into the bathtub. The comfortable water temperature, paired with the fragrance of the bath salts, gradually eased the tension in her brow.

Perhaps it was the effect of bathing after drinking, but Xia Xingtang felt a bit lightheaded. She licked her dry lips, reached for the freshly squeezed juice nearby, and opened her tablet, intending to idly browse through some gossip.

But as soon as she opened it, the headline that greeted her was: “Three-Year Power Struggle at Yunji Group Concludes, Pei Luoqing Officially Appointed Chairman.”

Splash, Xia Xingtang abruptly sat up in the bathtub, carefully rereading the headline to confirm it wasn’t an illusion.

Pei Luoqing was officially the chairman of Yunji Group? Then what about Pei Ziyu?

The article quickly provided the answer: Pei Ziyu, involved in commercial fraud and financing scandals, had fled overseas.

After carefully verifying the details, Xia Xingtang finally realized that Pei Ziyu had completely lost.

Three years ago, after Pei’s father suddenly passed away from a heart attack, Pei Ziyu, who had been serving as an assistant to the president, suddenly produced a paternity test and openly contested the family assets with Pei Luoqing within the Pei Corporation.

With no will left by Pei’s father, the law was, at times, frustratingly impartial, even illegitimate children had inheritance rights. Pei Luoqing had been exceptionally busy these past three years, embroiled in internal strife with Pei Ziyu and striving to salvage the Pei Corporation, which was struggling under the impact of emerging industries.

The only thing that gave Pei Luoqing any respite was probably this plastic marriage.

The original purpose of her marriage to Pei Luoqing was to help Pei Luoqing secure power, thereby facilitating cooperation between their two families.

With Pei Luoqing’s capabilities, accomplishing this was only a matter of time.

Xia Xingtang’s fingers, resting on the edge of the bathtub, gradually tightened, letting the water droplets drip and slide onto the floor.

She just hadn’t expected it to happen so soon.

The report had been published in the afternoon, meaning many people at the club earlier already knew the news.

She laughed self-deprecatingly. No wonder those people were gossiping behind her back, joking about their divorce.

Once the pawn had served its purpose, shouldn’t they part amicably and grant Pei Luoqing her freedom?

Xia Xingtang stood up from the bathtub and looked at her reflection in the mirror. The peach-blossom eyes that usually sparkled now seemed dimmer, as if their light had been drained.

But her marriage to Pei Luoqing wasn’t just about the two of them, it was an alliance between two corporations. After some thought, she opened WeChat.

[Xia Xingtang: Hey, get out here.]

[Xia Qingyue: Calling for my soul in the middle of the night? Not even calling me “sister”? Did all the manners I taught you go to the dogs?]

Xia Xingtang: “…”

Xia Qingyue quickly replied: [Miss Xia Xingtang, please take a look at the eight-figure allowance in your bank account, originally meant for your sister, now yours, and say that again. (Smiling emoji.jpg) xN]

Xia Xingtang, who had just put on her underwear, nearly dropped the dress in her hand when she saw the message.

She quickly deleted her initial message and, after a moment’s thought, deliberately steered the conversation: [Sis, tell me the truth. You and Pei Luoqing lived together in college, were you two involved?]

Xia Xingtang had already put on her outer clothes, but there was still no reply from the other side.

Xia Qingyue’s hesitation made the situation suddenly surreal.

Could it be that her sister really had something with Pei Luoqing?

Childhood friends, growing closer over time?

Had she actually guessed right?

Just as Xia Xingtang’s thoughts ran wild, Xia Qingyue replied: [I thought I was hallucinating just now, so I splashed cold water on my face to calm down. I didn’t expect it to be real. Don’t worry, aside from you, the blind one, no one would ever be interested in that scheming villain, Pei Luoqing. All smiles in front of others, but behind the scenes, she snatched the title of campus belle from me. Not to mention, she’s now Yuncheng’s most outstanding young entrepreneur. If she weren’t my sister-in-law, I’d have hired a hitman long ago.]

Xia Xingtang breathed a sigh of relief: [So, in your eyes, she’s that terrible?]

Xia Qingyue quickly sent another message: [Though marrying a troublemaker like you to her is the thing I’ve done that’s most unfair to her, thinking about it still feels pretty satisfying.]

Xia Xingtang felt all the blood in her body rush to her head, wishing she could rush over and fight Xia Qingyue right then and there.

But for the sake of her goal, she patiently typed, feigning a joking tone: [Since you think she’s so awful, maybe I should stop causing her trouble? (Dog holding flower.jpg)]

[Xia Qingyue: Sure, but I’m afraid you’d be the one clinging to the doorframe, refusing to leave.]

[Xia Xingtang: Get lost. You’re dismissed.]

Xia Xingtang put away her phone. For a moment, she had wanted to tell Xia Qingyue directly, but for some reason, she held back.

Perhaps it was because she still clung to a sliver of hope, unwilling to pass final judgment on Pei Luoqing just yet.

After getting dressed, she opened the bedroom door.

The staircase in the house was placed right in the center, like a clear dividing line, starkly separating her territory from Pei Luoqing’s.

It was already 11 p.m., and Pei Luoqing, who usually went to bed early, still had the study light on.

The short corridor felt endless as Xia Xingtang walked through it.

If not for the troubles within the Pei family, Pei Luoqing probably wouldn’t have agreed to marry her back then.

Someone like Pei Luoqing ought to have a gentle, understanding partner, someone who could handle everything on their own without bothering her, waiting tenderly for her return home every day.

Unfortunately, she was a counterfeit. She had thought she could pretend for love forever, but these three years had drained all her energy. Did she really care about Pei Luoqing’s money?

The Xia family’s wealth was more than enough for her to squander.

Xia Xingtang had been pampered since childhood. Whether at school or in society, she had always been the center of attention. Who would dare offend the Xia family?

When had she ever suffered such grievances?

It was utterly absurd.

A bitter feeling slowly spread through her heart until she stood outside the study door, only to retract her hand just before knocking.

Through the crack in the door, she saw Pei Luoqing sitting at the desk in a white shirt, the top button undone, her tie nowhere to be seen, smiling at the computer.

The study was lit with warm light, enveloping Pei Luoqing in a serene, almost timeless aura.

Pei Luoqing laughed into the computer: “Not bad, and you?”

“One of these days, I’ll weed out all those stubborn old-timers in the company. I should’ve learned from your methods back then.”

Hearing this, Xia Xingtang’s eyes widened in shock.

The person Pei Luoqing was chatting with was her sister, Xia Qingyue.

Then, she heard her sister ask: “How’s Tangtang been lately? Has she caused you any trouble?”

Xia Xingtang’s hands clenched. Her earlier words must have raised Xia Qingyue’s suspicions, prompting her to immediately contact Pei Luoqing.

Pei Luoqing: “She’s been quite well-behaved. I just picked her up from a friend’s birthday party.”

Xia Qingyue: “As long as you two are good. By the way, I’ve reviewed the Fengcheng project you mentioned last time. Let’s sign the contract when you’re free?”

Pei Luoqing: “Sure, I’ve been waiting for you.”

Xia Xingtang slowly turned around, her fingertips icy cold.

The tangled thoughts in her mind seemed to unravel at that moment, and the last shred of hope in her heart shattered completely.

Pei Luoqing had been nice to her tonight, picking her up and opening the car door, all to secure a new collaboration with Xia Qingyue. Even the phone call was deliberately emphasized to send a friendly signal to the Xia family.

Once Pei Luoqing no longer needed the Xia family, it would likely be time for their divorce.

She was like a clown awaiting her sentencing day.

A wet sensation touched the corner of her eye. Xia Xingtang reached up, but her fingers found only emptiness.

She had once thought that Pei Luoqing simply didn’t understand love. Even during these three years of a marriage that felt like widowhood, she had comforted herself, believing that one day she could warm the other’s heart.

But now she realized that some people, no matter how much warmth they receive, will always have cold hearts.

From beginning to end, the other had treated this marriage as nothing more than a transaction.

The only one guilty of wishful thinking was her.

And the price for her naivety wasn’t just her three-year marriage but also the constant concern of her family.

Her stomach, unaccustomed to such heavy drinking, began to ache. For a moment, she couldn’t tell whether the pain in her stomach or the chill in her heart was worse.

Under the heavy cover of night, a pink Maserati sped out of Blue Bay Mansion.