Yan Qiao hadn't been in contact with Xi Luo for a while, and Xi Luo was doing well abroad.

Pei Jingzhan almost forgot that the relationship between the two was quite unusual.

He leaned back in his chair and asked casually and indifferently, "You two seem to have a pretty good relationship."

Yan Qiao didn't notice anything wrong with his tone and asked in return, "Would Mr. Pei have a bad relationship with his friends?"

"Just friends?" He raised an eyebrow.

Yan Qiao leaned over to look at him, her cunning eyes blinking.

"Mr. Pei, I feel a little sour."

Pei Jingzhan scoffed, "I'm just reminding you not to let dating interfere with your studies."

"Dating? Me and Xi Luo?" Yan Qiao felt like she had heard a huge joke.

She suddenly looked at Pei Jingzhan with curiosity: "Mr. Pei, why do you seem to be paying so much attention to me and Xi Luo?"

Even the composed Pei Jingzhan felt a moment of guilt because of her words.

"He's young and playful; he's not a good match for you." The reason comes easily.

Yan Qiao gave an "oh," and said, "He's playful because he's young. Young people aren't usually playful. Mr. Pei Bingjun, were you like this when you were in your twenties?"

The more she spoke up for Xi Luo, the more inexplicably irritated Pei Jingzhan became.

"What's wrong with it looking like this?"

Pei Jingzhan was precocious and never had a youthful arrogance.

Yan Qiao stuck out her tongue. "Mr. Pei Bingjun, do you know what you look like right now?"

Pei Jingzhan shrugged, indicating that she should continue.

Yan Qiao said, "Like a feudal patriarch who separates a loving couple."

Especially his rigid demeanor, which is exactly like that of a heartless person who breaks up a loving couple.

Pei Jingzhan: "..." This is exactly the role he's playing now.

"Mr. Pei Bingjun reminds me of someone."

"who?"

"It's quite a coincidence that he also has the surname Pei."

Pei Jingzhan had a bad feeling.

It wasn't until Yan Qiao said, "Mr. Pei used to be a wealthy man, so he must know Third Master Pei, the Third Uncle that Xi Luo mentioned earlier."

Pei Jingzhan twitched the corner of his lips. "I've heard of it."

Yan Qiao rested her chin on her hand, "He's even more like someone from the old society than you are. But I guess that's how older people are; their thinking is more feudal..."

"Wait, who are you saying is older?" Pei Jingzhan interrupted her.

Yan Qiao was taken aback. "I wasn't talking about you. I was talking about Third Master Pei."

Pei Jingzhan coughed twice, then didn't refute her words anymore; he was exhausted.

What did he do to you?

Yan Qiao shook her head. "No, Third Master is too proud to lay a hand on me. I would look down on him if he did anything to a little girl like me."

Pei Jingzhan: "..." There's no need to beat around the bush and curse.

"Then why do you say that about him? Master Pei has a good reputation in the industry."

Yan Qiao rubbed her ears, somewhat displeased: "You're one of my people, why are you always taking other people's side? I didn't say he's a bad person, but it's true that he's feudal in his thinking."

"Oh? Tell me about it."

“He was always wary of me being with Xi Luo, mainly because we were not a good match. To put it bluntly, my family had no status or money and was not good enough for Xi Luo.”

Pei Jingzhan corrected her, "It's not a matter of being a good match. Only a marriage between equals can last."

Yan Qiao frowned. "This sentence sounds so familiar. I feel like I've heard it somewhere before."

Pei Jingzhan lowered his gaze, tapping his knuckles lightly on the table. "Many people have said that, and it makes sense, doesn't it?"

Yan Qiao nodded thoughtfully, "That's true."

Then, as if he had thought of something, he looked at Pei Jingzhan and shook his head with a tsk tsk.

Pei Jingzhan narrowed his eyes. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

“After much thought, I think there’s definitely some truth to that. Mr. Pei Bingjun, looking at you from head to toe, you’re not good enough for me,” Yan Qiao said with a serious expression.

Pei Jingzhan laughed in exasperation, "What's wrong with you?"

Yan Qiao held up her finger, "There are many reasons, such as your age, bad temper, lack of gentlemanly manners, and family bankruptcy..."

Pei Jingzhan looked numb. "That's enough."

"We haven't finished counting yet."

"..." He lifted a stone only to drop it on his own foot.

Since it was a wedding, Yan Qiao naturally needed a dress.

Asking her to spend money on haute couture would be giving Shen Yuejin too much face.

After thinking it over, she decided to go to the mall to buy one.

"I'm going to a banquet on the Lantern Festival. Will Mr. Pei be there?" Yan Qiao asked.

Pei Jingzhan glanced at her; she made such a joyous occasion as marriage sound like a funeral.

"go."

Yan Qiao was a little surprised; she had only asked the question casually.

"Then you'll prepare your own clothes?"

Pei Jingzhan looked at her, his pupils deep and unfathomable.

His face clearly said: Do you think I'm rich?

Yan Qiao pouted, "I'm actually going to the mall to buy clothes, wanna come along?"

Pei Jingzhan raised an eyebrow, "A shopping mall?"

He has never bought clothes from a shopping mall since birth; all his clothes have been custom-made.

"What kind of look is that? There are expensive things in shopping malls too, you know?"

Pei Jingzhan remained noncommittal; the one who paid was the boss.

Yan Qiao chose a simple and understated evening gown for herself, which didn't look out of place when paired with a coat.

What I bought for Pei Jingzhan was a suit, although it wasn't a custom-made one, it still cost tens of thousands of yuan.

But this person still looked disgusted.

Yan Qiao was so angry that she snatched the clothes back, saying, "Maybe you shouldn't go."

Pei Jingzhan lazily closed his eyes. "I'm going to the banquet."

Yan Qiao: "..."

On the Lantern Festival, the sun shone brightly and the weather was excellent.

As dusk approached, Yan Qiao changed into her formal attire and prepared to go out. She stood outside waiting for Pei Jingzhan to dawdle while she changed, her whole body bathed in the sunset.

Pei Jingzhan stepped out of the house and saw Yan Qiao under the soft light, which was similar to admiring a beauty under the lamp.

Yan Qiao is indeed very beautiful.

It's a pity that it has a mouth.

"Why are you wearing a mask? It's not like you're hiding anything from people."

Pei Jingzhan said calmly, "My family went bankrupt. I'm afraid people will laugh at me."

Yan Qiao thought it made sense and comforted her, saying, "Don't worry, with me here, no one will dare to laugh at you."

Pei Jingzhan looked on in disbelief.

Shen Yue called her over, not really to let her attend the banquet. Does Yan Qiao have that much influence with her?

Yan Qiao felt underestimated, so she pretended to be fierce and pointed her finger.

"If you look at me like that again, I'll gouge your eyes out."

"Oh."

Yan Qiao muttered, "I can't help you get revenge, but I can help you escape."

Pei Jingzhan gave a forced smile, "Then you really are capable."

Yan Qiao and Pei Jingzhan's appearance at the wedding quickly attracted the attention of many people.

She has always been the focus of attention, and she attracts a lot of attention wherever she goes.

Shen Yuejin looked at Pei Jingzhan, who was wearing a mask, and gave a cold smile.

"You don't even dare to show your true face. Yan Qiao, what kind of male companion did you find? How ugly must he be to attend wearing a mask?"