Chapter 12

Pei Xixia’s heart was occupied by anxiety and unease, and she could not fall asleep no matter what.

She put down her phone, then picked it up again. She lit the screen, then pressed it dark. She repeated this back and forth who knew how many times, until her phone battery was nearly dead.

Yet when she closed her eyes, those chaotic comments still filled her mind. She kept feeling as if she had overlooked something.

Until one sentence clearly surfaced in her mind, striking a spark in her thoughts.

“Lu Yimo’s future resources will definitely rise in quality. The Pei family’s rotten mess is already unworthy of the current Lu Yimo…”

Some hidden details seemed to become clearer.

She jolted upright in bed and began sorting through her thoughts.

Judging from the direction of the paid articles Yan Songlan had bought, everyone was talking down Pei Xixia and Lu Yimo’s relationship and hyping up that damned Yan-Lu pairing. It was obvious that Yan Songlan’s intention was to create a false impression that she and Lu Yimo had a good relationship.

And now that the Pei family was at the end of the road, she, Pei Xining, as a shameless, heartless scumbag with a prior record of sending her wife to someone else’s bed, would definitely not miss this opportunity. She would think of every possible way to use Lu Yimo as bait and fish a sum of money out of Yan Songlan.

That was right. This was the original Pei Xining’s behavioral logic.

So…

Pei Xixia sucked in a cold breath. Yan Songlan was very likely baiting her into incriminating herself. This entire series of actions was clearly designed around Pei Xining’s weaknesses!

Thankfully, she had discovered it in time. Otherwise, Yan Songlan might have noticed something wrong.

In that case, was Yan Songlan’s ultimate goal to destroy Pei Xining and obtain Lu Yimo?

That still was not right.

Pei Xixia once again put herself in Yan Songlan’s perspective. This was a habit she had developed while writing scripts in the past, and it helped her clarify a character’s thought process.

Following that same line of reasoning, if she were a successful public figure and one day suddenly awakened, learning that she would marry a small celebrity with a bad reputation in the future, would she immediately charge forward for love?

In any case, Pei Xixia would not.

Pei Xixia currently possessed Pei Xining’s memories, but to her, those memories were like someone else’s story. She could not empathize with them.

To Yan Songlan, Lu Yimo should also only be a symbol called “future wife.” Yan Songlan should not have any real feelings for her, much less gamble her reputation to pave the way for her.

Then why exactly was Yan Songlan doing this?

Her train of thought reached a dead end again.

Pei Xixia felt as if the amount of information in her head had overloaded. If she thought about it for even another moment, her brain would explode.

Why not… simply turn the tables and use the plan against her?

Since Yan Songlan wanted to scheme against her, then Pei Xixia would deliver herself right to the door. Who did not know how to pretend to be a scummy woman? Was this not just acting? She would act with her.

That was better than waiting passively for death.

With her heaven-and-earth-can-bear-witness, absolutely outstanding sense of mission to protect Lu Yimo, who would outact whom was still uncertain!

After making up her mind, Pei Xixia’s restless heart gradually settled. The exhaustion from a full day of running around finally arrived, late but unstoppable, and quickly swallowed her like a tide, carrying her into a deep dream.

The next morning.

Pei Xixia dug a luxurious, flirtatious old-money-style skirt suit out of the wardrobe. Not only did she comb her bangs up, she even sprayed them with hair gel. She arranged the big gold chain and little watch too, dressing herself up in a flashy, roguish style.

Even she felt a bit embarrassed by how hard she was trying. Afraid that she might look too deliberate, she specially went to parade in front of Pei Xiyao and casually stole her nutritional breakfast milk along the way.

Sure enough, Pei Xiyao cursed angrily, “Pei Xining, has your brain been short-circuiting lately? Why do you keep coming over to provoke me? Dressing up like some fake respectable person so early in the morning. Do you still think you’re beautiful? Wake up. You’re just a useless piece of trash who can’t even keep your own wife under control!”

Pei Xixia was very satisfied with this evaluation.

It proved that she had not gone out of character.

From now on, she had to enter the decadent scummy-woman role early, so she would not expose any flaws when facing Yan Songlan.

The only pity was that although she was dressed like some fake respectable person, she still had to take a taxi to the company. It was a little embarrassing.

The original Pei Xining held the nominal position of deputy general manager at Jiaqi Entertainment. Although she had no real authority, she did have an impressive large office. Rather than calling this office a workplace, it was more like her personal pleasure den.

Pushing open the heavy solid-wood door and stepping onto the soft wool carpet, one would see directly ahead a floor-to-ceiling window that took up an entire wall, overlooking the view of the cross-river bridge opposite.

On the left wall, exaggerated transparent wine cabinets and irregularly shaped fish tanks were embedded in alternating sections. All kinds of colorful fish shuttled among expensive foreign liquors. When the lights shone, the water plants swayed, bubbles drifted upward, and everything glittered brilliantly.

The right wall looked a little more proper. A row of grand-looking solid-wood bookshelves stood there, and certificates and awards covered the wall. But if one walked closer and looked carefully, one would discover that there were not many meaningful books inside. They were basically gag comics and fashion magazines. Even a dictionary had been placed there just to fill space.

As for the certificates and awards, they either belonged to other people or were fake.

It interpreted the words “no substance” to the absolute extreme.

But at this moment, Pei Xixia was very satisfied. This place was simply the perfect location to meet Yan Songlan! It backed up her brainless persona!

Well, even a starving camel was still bigger than a horse. No matter how useless she was, she was still the deputy general manager of an entertainment [bailiantales.com]company, while Yan Songlan currently had not established her own personal studio yet and was still just an ordinary artist. A deputy general manager inviting an artist over for a meeting should be fine, right?

She specially summoned her three old acquaintances and had them help draft a letter of intent for cooperation to send to Yan Songlan’s manager. The specific content was that they wanted to think of every possible way to stuff Lu Yimo into the crew of Yan Songlan’s next movie and ask them to arrange a suitable role.

The requirements were: the letter of intent had to be written from the company’s standpoint, but it had to remember to smuggle in Pei Xixia’s personal agenda; the attitude had to be arrogant and conceited, yet not lack fawning flattery; the tone had to be unhurried and open to discussion, but it also had to make the other side feel that the situation was urgent and could not wait another second.

Pei Xixia felt this request was definitely reasonable. This movie was personally directed by Yan Songlan. She could draw six extra roles as prizes just like that, so what was wrong with adding one more Lu Yimo? Surely she had that much authority, right?

At worst, after filming began, Pei Xixia would accompany Lu Yimo to the set every day. Could Yan Songlan poach her wife right in front of her face?

The three interns looked at one another and read the words “I want to resign” in each other’s eyes.

Since your requirements are already this specific, can you write it yourself? Is torturing us an indispensable part of the process?

But the three of them did not dare defy her and could only grit their teeth and start making it up.

Pei Xixia stood behind them with her hands clasped behind her back like an exam proctor, supervising the entire process and occasionally offering a few comments.

The three interns did not dare make a sound. They could only lower their heads and work hard.

Fortunately, this time, they were not criticized as completely useless.

Of course, in the end, Pei Xixia still personally revised it before the final version was settled.

After sending the message, Pei Xixia did not expect the other side to reply quickly at all. She casually opened one of Yan Songlan’s movies, planning to know herself and know her enemy a little.

At the current stage, the most important thing was for her to be the first to express an urgent desire to establish a connection and set her character firmly in place. She had even considered that if Yan Songlan’s agency put on airs and disdained replying, she would not mind sending another email or even visiting in person.

She had not expected that after only a little over an hour, before the movie was even finished, she would receive a reply. And it was a message personally sent by Yan Songlan!

“Miss Pei, hello. I’ve long heard of you. I’m Yan Songlan. I feel deeply honored to have received your company’s cooperation invitation. However, my schedule has been very tight recently. If I ask the company to coordinate my timetable, I fear I may trouble you to wait a long time. Why don’t we meet privately first and talk about the specific cooperation intentions?”

Pei Xixia was truly stunned for an instant. Was Pei Xining’s reputation not foul enough? Yan Songlan actually dared to meet her privately?

But very quickly, she reacted. With this arrangement, perhaps there were some moves that would be inconvenient to carry out in front of the agency. Yan Songlan was making things easier for herself.

Pei Xixia saw through it but did not expose it.

“Miss Yan, receiving your reply is what truly surprises and honors me. I was not considerate enough and failed to take into account how busy you are with work before rashly sending an invitation. How about this? You decide the time and place, and I’ll cover the bill. What do you think?”

That should have a bit of the right flavor, right?

Very soon, Yan Songlan replied, “All right. No time like the present. I happen to be free tonight. Let’s meet at the Langse Hotel at nine o’clock. I’ll send you the room number then.”

She had to admit that Yan Songlan was a straightforward player. Every ​bailiantales.com​move was clean and decisive, pursuing a quick resolution.

Pei Xixia replied readily.

“All right. I’ll wait for you.”

She was glad she had put on her battle outfit in advance.

It was just that nine o’clock was a little late. She wondered whether Lu Yimo would worry.

Sigh. Lu Yimo probably would not even notice that she was not home today.

That evening, nine o’clock, Langse Hotel.

The moment Pei Xixia stepped through the revolving doors and entered the lobby, she regretted it. She felt that she was unworthy of saying big words like “I’ll cover the bill.”

The ceiling used a delicate, realistic cloud-mist mesh that did not reflect light and looked very much like a real starry sky. Paired with the soft lighting, it was peaceful and dreamlike, without the slightest trace of cheapness.

Lazy, carefree city pop flowed by her ears, and the air was filled with the faint, elegant fragrance of expensive perfume. Well-dressed guests conversed in low voices, their every movement graceful and cultured. It was clearly a high-quality social venue.

By comparison, she looked like a nouveau riche upstart.

Pei Xixia very much wanted to ask the front desk how much a two-hour business room cost.

If she did not bring it up voluntarily, Yan Songlan probably would not make her pay for the room, right?

Following the message Yan Songlan had sent, she arrived at the door of Room S917. She steadied herself and knocked on the door.

Action!

“Miss Yan, hello.”

Very soon, light footsteps sounded from inside the room, and the door opened.

The person standing before her was none other than Yan Songlan herself.

She seemed to have just finished some event. She still wore exquisite makeup, but she had already changed into a casual and comfortable light gray skirt suit. She no longer looked as sharp as an industry elite, and instead appeared a little more approachable.

“Very punctual, Miss Pei. Please come in.” Yan Songlan smiled faintly and stepped aside to make way.

Pei Xixia’s heart tightened. This deliberately created atmosphere was clearly meant to numb her mind and make her lower her guard!

Now to see how she would counterattack.

“I’ve long heard that Miss Yan has excellent taste. This place you chose really is quite nice. It has ambience, and the privacy is good too.” Pei Xixia carelessly pulled open her champagne-colored jacket, deliberately revealing the leopard-print camisole underneath and a large expanse of bare skin. She strode into the living room, plopped herself down in the middle of the sofa, and even crossed her legs. She was one step away from having the words “no manners” written on her face.

If she could, she would not mind taking the jacket off directly, but her arm was still wrapped in bandages right now. It was a little embarrassing.

Yan Songlan’s personal cultivation was extremely high. Her expression remained as usual, as if she had not seen Pei Xixia’s rude behavior. She only gently closed the door, walked to the sofa on the other side of the living room, slowly sat down, brewed Pei Xixia a cup of tea, and pushed it in front of her.

“Try it. I brought the tea leaves myself.”

Pei Xixia accepted the teacup readily and took a small sip. She could not tell whether it was good or bad, but she still exaggeratedly slapped the table and smacked her lips hard. “Good! Truly good tea!”

Yan Songlan’s originally flawless expression finally failed to hold steady, revealing a trace of speechlessness.

First blood! Pei Xixia awarded herself points in her heart.

Yan Songlan’s smile quickly returned to its proper elegance. “Miss Pei, if you like it, I’ll have my assistant send you some another day. Why don’t we talk about cooperation first?”