Chapter 19 Luo Yunqing: Make way, I need to open the door...
After finishing shopping, we returned to the villa.
A barbecue grill had already been set up in the courtyard. Luo Yunqing rolled up her sleeves and went to help grill the skewers. She grilled the large chunks of lamb until they were half-cooked, then flipped them over and brushed them with her secret sauce.
A few people nearby, who were serving drinks on plates, came over after smelling the aroma.
"Mmm! It smells good!"
"Did you make this sauce yourself, junior?"
When the grilling was almost done, Luo Yunqing sprinkled some white sesame seeds on top as a garnish. While plating, she said, "I used to work at a barbecue restaurant, and the boss told me this... Here you go."
Snap!
Just as the plate was being handed out, the rim accidentally knocked over a beverage cup next to the barbecue grill.
It fell and shattered into pieces.
Luo Yunqing was taken aback.
"It's alright, it's alright, broken pieces bring peace, broken pieces bring peace," Yang Ying said twice, and quickly found a dustpan to clean it up, so that no one would accidentally step on it later.
No one took this trivial matter to heart.
The others helped carry the skewers to a long table next to them and started calling on the others to get ready to eat.
Amidst the smoke and flames, Luo Yunqing glanced several times at the spot where the cup had fallen.
Was that something Pei Yanli was planning to say during that phone call?
The voice sounded pretty much the same as usual.
Could it be... that she misses him?
"Xiao Luo, what are you thinking about? You seem so happy."
You Jianan went to the kitchen and mixed a few bowls of spicy rice noodles with rat meat. When he came back and sat down, he saw that the man hadn't touched his grilled skewers. He was just smiling, and it was a different kind of smile than usual. He was secretly smiling as if he had won a million-dollar lottery.
"What else could make him happy?" Cheng Xu brought over a few plates of fruit slices, then grabbed a bowl of rice noodles, frowned, and picked off the cilantro leaves. "It must be because he's getting married soon."
"Oh!" Now that you mention it, You Jianan suddenly remembered, "Xiao Luo, you really moved out after you got married?"
Luo Yunqing had already put away her smile of winning the million-dollar lottery, took a couple of bites of her skewer and nodded, "I'm married now, I can't keep living with my nephew in the same room."
“That’s true.” You Jianan then asked, “So which dorm are you planning to move to next? I’ll come find you to hang out sometime.”
Luo Yunqing scratched her cheek, "I..."
"Are you stupid?" Cheng Xu turned around and stuffed a sprig of cilantro into You Jianan's mouth. "She's married, of course she lives with her husband."
You Jianan spat out the leaves several times, saying, "Brother Xu, I don't like cilantro leaves either."
"If you're not going to eat it, why did you add it in?"
"Doesn't it look nice?"
Cheng Xu rolled his eyes dramatically.
After the barbecue, everyone dispersed. Some went to play pool or cards, others went to the underground cinema or karaoke room, while a few others stayed in the living room drawing cards around the coffee table…
Luo Yunqing visited every place, and with permission, took some photos and sent them to Pei Yanli.
It was probably too late, because no new messages came through on my phone.
Before we knew it, it was the 28th.
In the past two days, Luo Yunqing could clearly feel that Pei Yanli had become much more distant from him. There were only two or three messages a day, and when they called, they could only exchange a few words before Pei Yanli would say "I have something to do" or "I'm busy" and hang up quickly.
What's going on?
They're already tired of each other before they're even married?
"Could she have also suffered from premarital anxiety?" Yang Ying pushed up her black-rimmed glasses and gave an example: "My sister was like this before she got married. She had insomnia, nightmares, and anxiety. She often lost control of her emotions over the smallest things. But she got better after the wedding. My brother-in-law dotes on her even more than before the wedding, and she's become more and more like a child."
A boy in the same grade as her twirled a folding fan in the activity room and shook his head, "Your sister is your sister, but can she compare to that big shot?"
Yang Ying didn't like hearing those words.
“Even big shots are human.” He glared at the other person, then patted Luo Yunqing’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, I’m right. Besides, we’re getting married tomorrow.”
Yes, they're getting married.
Luo Yunqing could only guess based on her statement... Even if it wasn't true, she could ask her after the wedding tomorrow.
*
After finishing his classes in the afternoon, Song Jingguo sent a driver to pick him up at five o'clock.
Song Xuechen arrived home before him. From the balcony, she saw the car approaching in the distance and dialed the phone: "How is Uncle Pei? Will he show up tomorrow?"
Upon learning that the person was discharged from the hospital the next day, she bit her lip in resentment, saying, "That Xu Qi is really useless."
“We can’t blame him.” Pei Hengzhi leaned against a tree that had been hung with red lanterns and the character “囍” (double happiness) and pinched the bridge of his nose. “My old man values my second uncle more than his own life. If something happens, he’ll dig up all the legendary doctors like Hua Tuo and Bian Que.”
Song Xuechen smacked her lips and scoffed, "So you're speaking up for Xu Qi?"
"How could that be?"
Song Xuechen asked again, "Now that he's been taken to the police station, he won't implicate you, will he?"
"No, that won't happen." Pei Hengzhi was confident of this. "After all, as long as I go in for a few years, I can come out as the eldest young mistress of the Pei family."
Song Xuechen said sourly, "Really?"
“Of course.” Pei Hengzhi laughed. “Of course I was lying to him. Whether he can come out again after going in is another matter.”
"That's good!" Song Xuechen smiled again. "What would you do if this got out?"
"Are you so worried about me?"
"Isn't that obvious?" Song Xuechen said softly, tilting her head and holding her face. "If I'm not worried about you, who am I worried about? It's just a pity that the wedding will proceed as scheduled tomorrow."
"Don't worry, my second uncle's body won't last long either. Let's see how long Luo Yunqing can keep up this act."
Pei Hengzhi smiled and hung up the phone. He straightened up and walked out from under the tree, when suddenly he heard footsteps behind him.
He slowly stopped, turned his head little by little, and his pupils suddenly contracted.
Chen Zhao rubbed his forehead, expressionless, and lifted his eyelids. "Young Master, what a brilliant plan."
"You..." Pei Hengzhi's face instantly turned ugly, "What are you doing here?"
This is behind the greenhouse.
“Of course it is…” Chen Zhao put his hands down and put them in his pockets, and laughed, “following you. Just because his father got into a car accident while picking up the boss, and he holds a grudge against the boss, that reason doesn’t hold water at all, especially since the boss had previously subsidized his family with millions. There are only a few reasons for harming someone, and money is unlikely, so it can only be… love.”
He stepped closer to the man, bent down to examine him carefully, and said, "Young Master's face is quite nice."
Pei Hengzhi immediately brushed it off, saying, "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Playing dumb, huh? You have the guts to do it..." Chen Zhao suddenly grabbed his collar and pulled him closer, gritting her teeth as she said each word clearly, "You don't have the guts to admit it!"
His icy eyes widened in an instant.
Pei Hengzhi suddenly had a feeling that he would be stabbed to death. Why? He was just an orphan who had been supported by his second uncle and raised in the Pei family since childhood. Why?
He gripped his thigh, forcing himself to fight off the fear, and stubbornly demanded, "What evidence do you have to prove I did it?"
The pressure on his neck suddenly loosened.
Indeed, even if he heard it and was taken to the police station, it wouldn't be possible to convict him completely.
The key is still that guy named Xu Qi.
Chen Zhao quickly withdrew his oppressive tone, shoved him aside, and casually straightened his sleeves. "There isn't any now, but remember, you must hide well so I don't find you, otherwise no one can save you."
Pei Hengzhi coughed twice, clutching his neck, glared at him resentfully, and then left, naturally not hearing the last words that drifted away with the wind.
"If I had known, I shouldn't have saved you in the first place."
…………
After dinner, Luo Yunqing sat on a lounge chair by the pool, holding his phone. The latest message he received was from after he arrived at the Song family's house.
[AAA LuoLuo]: I'm home!
Husband: Okay.
They responded as quickly as before.
Luo Yunqing posted again.
【AAA LuoLuo】: I'm getting married tomorrow! (Excited) (Looking forward to it) (Happy)
This time, I waited a very long time.
Did they go to eat, or to take a shower?
"You're getting married tomorrow, Xiaoqing must be very happy."
Luo Yunqing was idly tapping her phone screen, waiting for a reply, when that annoying guy showed up again.
Song Xuechen, dressed in a snow-white silk shirt, approached with his hands behind his back. The more he tried to ignore her, the closer he got. "But it's good to be happy, after all, tomorrow is the only time we'll be truly happy."
Luo Yunqing narrowed her eyes and slammed her fingertips down on the phone. "What did you say!"
"I'm telling the truth." Song Xuechen blinked innocently, "Second Master's health is so poor, who knows when he might not be here... um!"
Before he could finish speaking, Luo Yunqing had already taken two large strides over, grabbed his neck, dragged him to the edge of the pool, and forced water down his throat.
"Luo Yunqing!"
"Your mouth stinks, so give it a good wash!"
During her time at school, Luo Yunqing not only ate three meals a day on time, but also went to the gym to lift weights in her spare time. She was much stronger than when she first returned to the Song family, and could easily overpower Song Xuechen.
Hold it down for ten seconds, then pull it up, and then press it down again.
"You have to be perceptive. If you're going to complain about living too long when I'm unhappy, just say so! I'll help you right now!"
"Luo Yunqing, what are you doing!"
Unfortunately, Song Moyan returned, grabbed his hand, pulled the man who was barely breathing in the water back to safety, and said angrily, "You're causing trouble as soon as you get back, aren't you!"
"I'm causing trouble?" Luo Yunqing shook the water off her hands, brushed her hair back, and scoffed, "Just consider me causing trouble. What can you do to me?"
"you!"
"If you know what's good for you, then let him show up less often. Seeing him is just annoying!"
Song Moyan was so angry he was about to burst into a tirade, but remembering his father's instructions, he forcibly suppressed his accusations: "Why do you have to target Xiaoxue? Yes, he was switched at birth and stole your life, but you..."
"You said it yourself." Luo Yunqing lowered her eyes to the trembling person in his arms. "He stole my life, and is enjoying everything that originally belonged to me! And now, you actually expect me to remain calm?"
He approached with a smile, put his hands behind his back, slowly bent down, and said to Song Xuechen, "You and I are destined to have no solution."
Luo Yunqing acted extremely quickly, before Song Moyan could even react. She swiftly grabbed Song Xuechen's soaked shirt and threw him into the pool.
Thump!
It splashed up a huge spray of water.
Song Xuechen's face turned pale instantly. She thrashed about in the water, but the more she thrashed, the faster she sank. "Big, big brother, save me..."
After a moment of stunned silence, Song Moyan finally came to his senses and jumped into the water.
Luo Yunqing witnessed the whole thing. When Song Moyan lifted his chin and brought him to the surface, it didn't seem like an act. She tilted her head in confusion, then slowly raised the corners of her mouth.
So it turns out he can't swim.
Then who was the one Pei Hengzhi mentioned who saved his life?
*
Despite the huge incident, Song Jingguo still made no move. He simply summoned him to his study, gave him a deep look, and said meaningfully, "Leave room for maneuver in everything you do."
Right now, his value is higher than Song Xuechen's, but if one day Song Xuechen's value surpasses his, the backlash will be hundreds of times greater.
Luo Yunqing wouldn't give him that chance, but for now she obediently replied, "I know, I'll be more careful next time."
When he returned to his room and checked his phone, Pei Yanli had only sent him one message.
[Husband]: Go to bed early tonight.
"All you do is tell me to go to bed early. What's wrong with saying a few more words?" Luo Yunqing puffed out her cheeks in dissatisfaction and kept tapping her phone.
Then I opened the forum: [Question: I'm getting married soon, but my partner has suddenly become distant. What could be the reason?]
The topic quickly sparked a discussion.
The first response was: "Isn't it obvious? He doesn't want to get married anymore. Either the feelings have faded, or he's cheating. I have experience with this."
Cheating!
Will Pei Yanli cheat on her?
He couldn't imagine it.
Besides, they were in quite a lot of contact just a few days ago; it's impossible for him to have cheated on her in just two days.
Luo Yunqing shook her head and ruled out that option. Among the bizarre answers that followed, she accurately identified "pre-wedding anxiety".
Okay, I'm not looking anymore.
Pei Yanli was probably just nervous and anxious.
He then asked: "What should I do if my partner has pre-wedding anxiety?"
[1L: It's you again? You've already reached a conclusion?]
[9L: This is normal. It's like taking an exam. You'll be nervous, but once you pass and get married, it'll be fine.]
[27L: Don't think your partner is being dramatic at this time. As a husband, you need to provide them with a strong sense of security.]
[OP's reply to post #27: How do I do it?]
[27L replied to the original poster: Hehe, of course you should pester her, pester her with all your might, stick to her and tell her you love her every day, in the morning, at noon, at night... basically, just be shameless.]
[33L: What kind of crazy idea is this?]
[27L replied to 33L: Who cares, as long as it works. Anyway, I'm shameless. I clung to my wife like this for over a month during our honeymoon, and then... she got pregnant (crying)]
[27 Reply to the original poster: Just a reminder, if you want to enjoy some alone time with your partner, it's best to take precautions.]
...
Luo Yunqing stared at the replies on the first floor, especially pondering the experience of the older brother in post 27L until late at night. After putting down her phone, she came to a conclusion: on the wedding night, she had to be a little flirtatious.
But here's the question: just how provocative does it have to be?
Luo Yunqing didn't ask any more questions. With her eyelids drooping, she fell asleep. By the next morning, the villa had been completely renovated, with red silk decorations laid out.
He washed his face to clear his head, took out the gray suit that Pei Yanli had sent him earlier from the closet, fastened the cuffs, combed all the stray hairs from his forehead back, and then fixed them with hair gel.
After lunch, I went to the wedding venue with Mr. and Mrs. Song Jingguo.
Just before setting off, Song Moyan said, "Xiaoxue isn't feeling well; she seems to have a fever."
Lin Wenting, who had already stepped into the car, got off again and was about to go back when Song Jingguo grabbed her. "Today is Xiaoqing's wedding. Ayan, you stay here and call the doctor to take a look. Come over later."
We'll stay, but eventually we'll have to move on.
This is, after all, an excellent opportunity to make an appearance, aside from Song's new product launch.
Who knows when the next one will be?
Song Moyan, as the successor, cannot be absent.
He glanced at the person who was already sitting in the car and silently agreed.
*
Upon arriving at the wedding venue, Pei Yanli was already there, in the newlyweds' dressing room. Luo Yunqing pushed open the door and went in. He wondered if it was just his imagination, but Pei Yanli seemed to have lost a lot of weight.
Remembering the pre-wedding anxiety mentioned on the forum, he strode over, squatted down in front of the wheelchair, and took his hand, asking, "How have you been lately?"
Pei Yanli was about to pull her hand away when she looked up and met his worried gaze. She suddenly stopped and let him hold her hand, a clear smile curving her lips as she replied, "Not bad."
Luo Yunqing: "But, you can't force yourself. You must tell me if you feel unwell."
He nodded, hesitated for a moment, then turned his head away. "Have the dean and teachers arrived?"
"I just received the message, it will take another twenty minutes." Luo Yunqing sat down on the sofa next to him and squeezed his hand.
After thinking it over, I couldn't help but ask, "Have you been especially busy these past few days?"
Pei Yanli did not answer. She slowly moved the hand that was holding her upwards, glanced at it, and quickly looked away.
Luo Yunqing then asked, "What do you think of me today? Do I look good?"
His hair was meticulously styled, and his suit, including his shirt, had been air-dried overnight. He wore solid gold cufflinks and the brooch Pei Yanli had given him. He had gone to bed late last night, and this morning he had specially applied some face cream recommended by Xia Lin, along with some lime-scented lip balm.
...Isn't that too flashy?
"You look good." Pei Yanli withdrew her hand and stroked his cheek. "Xiao Luo looks good all the time, but he looks even better today."
"Is that so?"
Luo Yunqing covered her face with her hands and smiled with her eyes crinkling.
"Xiao Luo," Pei Yanli called him again, "we..."
Thump thump thump—
Before he could finish speaking, there was a knock on the lounge door.
Teng Zaiye greeted them as he entered, "Hi~ I hope I didn't disturb you. You guys..."
Seeing the two gazing at each other affectionately, with Pei Yanli's hand still on the other's face, Teng Zaiye blinked twice and quickly took a half step back, saying, "Sorry, I'm disturbing you."
Just as she was about to close the door, Pei Yanli immediately stopped, "Come back."
The door opened again.
After Teng Zaiye came in, Luo Yunqing saw Jiang Ziyu, Dean Qu, and... Qingqing following behind him!
"Brother Luo!" The little girl rushed to his side, looked him up and down, and exclaimed, "Wow! Brother Luo looks so handsome today!"
Luo Yunqing pinched her cheeks twice, pressed her head down and gestured: "It's been almost two months since I last saw you, Qingqing seems to have grown quite a bit taller."
"Yes!" Qu Yunqing nodded emphatically and pointed to the dean. "Grandma makes us drink milk every day now, and there are also many teachers and older brothers and sisters who come to help out at the hospital every week."
"Is that so? That's good." Luo Yunqing then looked at the approaching dean and softly called out, "Grandma."
"Hey!" Dean Qu responded loudly, looking him over with amusement in his eyes, "You've gained weight."
Luo Yunqing bent down and let her touch her face. "How is the courtyard? Are Xiaofeng and the others alright?"
"It's all good, it's all good." Dean Qu nodded and said, "A month ago, a kind person anonymously donated a lot of supplies. The funds have been transferred from above recently, and it's much more than before. You can see from Qingqing that it's not bad."
She looked at the child in front of her, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes never smoothing out.
"Oh, right." He looked down and took out a thick red envelope from his crossbody bag. "This is a small token of our appreciation from me and the other teachers. They couldn't come because they had to take care of the children, so they asked me to tell you that they wish you a happy marriage."
"Thank you, Grandma and teachers, but," Luo Yunqing pushed the red envelope back, looked at Jiang Ziyu, and shook her head at them, "we don't accept gifts."
"How can I refuse to accept this..."
"Let's not talk about that now." He changed the subject, pulling the person around to introduce, "This is Pei Yanli, my girlfriend."
Pei Yanli bowed and nodded, "Hello, Mother-in-law."
Dean Qu nodded as well.
After hearing that Xiao Luo was getting married, I asked around about him and found out his identity without even having to ask many questions.
The second master of the Pei family.
They're even better off than Xiao Luo's biological parents, what a pity... But the fact that they agreed to let people like them attend the wedding shows they're not a bad person.
As long as he treats Xiao Luo well, that's fine.
Soon someone knocked on the door again; it was Charlene and her classmates from the club.
The space that was originally just the two of them suddenly became lively, with most people surrounding Luo Yunqing.
"Oh dear." Teng Zaiye sat down on the sofa next to Pei Yanli, stretched his arms behind his head and hugged it, teasingly saying, "Your guy seems to have quite a wide circle of friends."
Luo Yunqing, standing in the crowd, always wore a smile, as if enveloped in a layer of light, making her even more dazzling.
The hand that was resting on the side of the wheelchair pulled back and hugged it.
Not long after he was taken back, Luo Yunqing pushed through the crowd, grabbed him, and proudly announced to everyone, "He's my boyfriend~"
All members of the drama club: "Okay, okay."
Not content with constantly calling someone "my husband," they're now even bringing in the real person to show off. Are they really leaving no way for single people to survive?
Ignoring the disdain in their eyes, Luo Yunqing turned around with a smile.
…………
The wedding ceremony is about to begin.
As everyone left the lounge, they stopped laughing and joking as soon as they stepped out the door.
After all, this wedding wasn't just for them; many well-known entrepreneurs and high-society figures were also present, and they couldn't afford to embarrass Luo Yunqing.
Back at the venue, the officiant had been speaking for a while, including the upcoming procedures. Considering Pei Yanli's health condition, she would not be giving any interviews after the ceremony.
"...Next, let's welcome the newlyweds."
At the end of the auditorium, the doors slowly opened to both sides, and Luo Yunqing pushed the person in the wheelchair in.
In an instant, all the cameras were pointed at that direction.
Luo Yunqing glanced around and actually spotted a familiar face in the crowd: Yang Kang, a reporter from Tianxiang Entertainment Weekly.
He looked over and captured the smile in his camera lens.
After signing the marriage certificate, exchanging rings, and reciting vows, the ceremony was officially completed. Following this, the wedding car will drive to the Pei family's old residence, where the eldest son of the Pei family and Song Jingguo will conclude the ceremony by signing a cooperation agreement and issuing a marriage declaration.
Once Luo Yunqing left, things lost their charm. Teng Zaiye led Jiang Ziyu, Dean Qu, and Luo Yunqing's college classmates downstairs to the wedding banquet restaurant.
"Xiao Luo was amazing today, to put it bluntly, she was like a peacock spreading its tail feathers."
"But what's wrong with Second Master Pei? He doesn't seem very happy."
"You're all wrong about that," Teng Zaiye leaned in, looking quite composed. "Old Pei, he's the kind of person who won't openly say what he likes, and that's related to his past experiences. But I can guarantee that he absolutely adores Luo Yunqing, otherwise..."
He looked at the table full of people.
Otherwise, why would they have agreed to let Luo Yunqing call these people over?
"But..." Xia Lin still felt something was wrong, especially when the oath was being recited. She wondered if she was seeing things, but she noticed that the big shot's face suddenly looked worried.
…………
Back at the Pei family home.
Chen Zhao stared at the divorce papers on the desk, his brows furrowed. "Is the boss really going to do this? At least today..."
“Precisely because it’s today.” Pei Yanli tightly gripped her left hand, which was adorned with a ring. “Our marriage is an arranged one, so there’s no need for him to have any more expectations of me. The sooner we sign the papers, the sooner he can get away.”
Chen Zhao sighed deeply, "I know the boss is thinking of him, but has the boss considered his feelings? You saw it today, he was very happy."
"Stop talking..."
"That kind of happiness can't be faked." Chen Zhao clenched his fist and said defiantly, "The landlady likes you too."
"I told you to stop talking!"
The study fell silent immediately.
Knowing he couldn't persuade him now, Chen Zhao stopped trying and turned to leave, saying, "Think it over again."
If this approach doesn't work, we have to try another one.
"Secretary Chen."
Just as he stepped out of the study, a maid ran over, blushing and stammering, "Young master... um... the young master asked if we had prepared these."
Open the sticky note and you'll see: Lubricant.
Chen Zhao was dumbfounded.
No, his boss is already like this, and his wife actually wants to... well, it's not entirely impossible. In the current situation, maybe the boss will be seduced.
Although the chances are slim, we'll still give it a try!
He covered his mouth and cleared his throat: "Since it's the young master's request, why don't you hurry up and do it? Buy a few more bottles."
*
The sky gradually darkened.
Only when the lights on both sides of the road outside the study came on did Pei Yanli break out of her long silence and take two deep breaths. Finally, she picked up the divorce agreement on the table and went back to the bedroom next door, where a large red "囍" character was pasted on the door.
After hesitating several times, he raised his hand and knocked on the door.
Come in~
Pressing down the doorknob and pushing it open, Pei Yanli maneuvered her wheelchair inside. "Xiao Luo, let's..."
!!
Luo Yun washed off the hairspray, letting her thick, black hair hang down. She knelt on the bed with her two fair and slender legs bare, wearing a semi-transparent shirt that was half-undone on her shoulders.
Her fair face looked over shyly, her two crimson lips touched briefly, and she called out in a long, drawn-out voice, "Husband~~~"
A thin divorce agreement slowly floated to the ground.
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