Chapter 12: The Soon-to-be Sister-in-law Transforms into the Eldest Sister

Xu Yunzhu: “?”

She peeked her head out from the doorway and saw Pei Qiaonian standing at the top of the stairs.

The sight of his attire startled her so much that her cheeks flushed.

What on earth was he wearing!

Not even an undershirt.

She hurried forward, taking off her own jacket and holding it in front of him. “Why did you come out dressed like this?”

Pei Qiaonian looked down at himself and seemed to realize the issue as well, a blush rising on his fair cheeks, leaving him momentarily at a loss.

Assistant Gao was stunned as he watched from the side.

What sort of plot twist was this?

He’d been by Pei Qiaonian’s side for so long, yet never knew his boss was hiding a sweetheart away.

Judging by the scene, their boss’s possessiveness was especially intense.

He was doomed; he’d seen the boss’s little lover.

Knowing his place, he bent over and bowed his head. “President Pei, I’ll wait for you outside.”

Assistant Gao walked out, the more he thought about it, the stranger it seemed—this “little lover” looked oddly familiar.

And it was only six in the morning, a time not even dogs would be up; their boss had sneaked over to Lan Hai Villa at dawn.

He opened his phone and saw a fresh trending topic.

[#Xu Yunzhu suspected to have been rejected by the Pei family, expelled from the wealthy household late at night, left wandering the streets.]

Attached was a blurry photo of “Xu Yunzhu” dragging a suitcase and hailing a cab in the middle of the night, plus a clear shot of her face.

Knowing her was no surprise; she’d been in the entertainment industry for years.

But she’d always been lukewarm, neither hot nor cold.

Assistant Gao’s breath caught, his eyes darting between his phone and the tightly shut door.

No way.

Wasn’t the woman inside this very “Xu Yunzhu”?

Wasn’t she, in name, their boss’s sister-in-law?

This, this…

Assistant Gao could only imagine that if word got out about Pei Qiaonian’s secret rendezvous with Xu Yunzhu,

the entire capital’s elite circle would explode.

This was blatant poaching.

Although Young Master Pei Jin didn’t care for Xu Yunzhu,

their relationship still existed.

Sweat had beaded on his brow; now, cold sweat drenched him entirely.

Inside.

Pei Qiaonian saw Xu Yunzhu still staring at him and, irritated, crossed his arms over himself. “What are you looking at!”

Xu Yunzhu, leveraging her height, glanced down at him. “Is there a problem with me looking at my own body? And could you stop being so fierce? Every servant in your villa trembles when they see you, you’re like some tyrant.”

Pei Qiaonian sneered, “Got an opinion?”

Xu Yunzhu was momentarily tongue-tied, coughed lightly, and shrank back. “I wouldn’t dare.”

Her gaze swept over Pei Qiaonian again, teeth aching. “Don’t you feel suffocated wearing that?”

Pei Qiaonian was surprised. “How did you know? I do feel a bit breathless and short of air.”

Xu Yunzhu: “……”

She dragged Pei Qiaonian upstairs. “Honestly, you’re unbelievable. Wearing clothes that are too small, refusing to wear an undershirt? Luckily we’re at home—if you went out like this, you’d have embarrassed me completely.”

She muttered under her breath as Pei Qiaonian shot her a glance.

Being scolded made him unhappy, so he couldn’t help but sneer. “Are you lecturing me? You really have guts—aren’t you afraid of dying?”

Xu Yunzhu: “……”

How did he always manage to bring up “death” in every conversation?

But if she kept bowing and scraping, what if Pei Qiaonian used her body for mischief?

Right now, even Pei Qiaonian didn’t dare to harm her. With that in mind, Xu Yunzhu grew bolder, declaring, “I am afraid, but whenever I think of myself as your loyal admirer, I stop being scared. You’ll treat me well, won’t you?”

Pei Qiaonian: “……”

He looked at her, expressionless. “Ha, wishful thinking. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be like this.”

Xu Yunzhu felt innocent, rubbing her nose in frustration. “You can’t blame me—I'm a victim too…”

She led him into the room, rummaged through his suitcase for an undershirt. “Do you know how to wear it?”

Pei Qiaonian’s lips moved, he turned his head aside, his voice oddly low. “I’m just not used to it.”

“Even if you’re not used to it, you have to adapt. You can’t just wander around with nothing on, can you?” She looked at Pei Qiaonian sincerely, and seeing him unmoved, suddenly understood. “Come, let me help you.”

She started pulling his T-shirt up from the hem, and he had just enough time to fold his arms over his chest, gritting his teeth. “Xu Yunzhu!”

Seeing his angry face, Xu Yunzhu steadied herself. “Don’t be mad. Right now, this body is mine—what’s there to be shy about?”

Pei Qiaonian couldn’t help but blush, gradually lowering his arms and glaring coldly at Xu Yunzhu. “I don’t like people touching me. I’ll do it myself.”

He snatched the undershirt and headed for the bathroom.

Xu Yunzhu called after him, “Remember to fasten it properly!”

Then she sat on Pei Qiaonian’s bed, inwardly complaining.

He claimed to hate being touched, but when he met the heroine, he never had such principles!

According to the book, after Xu Yunzhu was rejected, the heroine didn’t end up with the main male lead, but went to the second male lead’s side. At first, the second male lead had no real feelings for her, but gradually became captivated, and finally fell hopelessly in love.

If this sudden body-swap bug hadn’t appeared, he’d probably have gone looking for the heroine long ago, rather than standing here debating undershirts with her.

She felt a bit melancholy. The original owner had fawned over the male lead for five years without success—could she, a newcomer, really achieve what the original never could?

She began to suspect the system had never intended for her to return; it was just dangling a carrot in front of her.

“What are you thinking about?”

“Pei Jin.”

Startled by the question, Xu Yunzhu answered reflexively.

Her heart skipped a beat as she turned to see Pei Qiaonian, wearing her face, emerge from the bathroom, gazing at her coldly—if one looked closely, there was even murderous intent in his eyes.

Xu Yunzhu swallowed cautiously, feigning nonchalance. “Didn’t he break off our engagement? A two-timing jerk like that—it’s lucky I didn’t marry him. Looking back, five years of youth wasted, I should have met you sooner! I’d rather dote on you.”

She rambled, and as Pei Qiaonian’s icy expression softened, she felt tears welling up inside.

Speaking against her conscience was numbing—but as long as Pei Jin didn’t know she was badmouthing him behind his back, it shouldn’t affect her quest for favorability points.

Pei Qiaonian glanced at Xu Yunzhu with an ambiguous smile. “So you mean you like me?”

Xu Yunzhu: “……”

She nodded stiffly, forcing a smile. “Yes. From the first moment I saw you, I fell for you at first sight. I’m a person of principle—I don’t fawn over just anyone.”

Pei Qiaonian regarded her lazily. “You change your mind pretty fast.”

Xu Yunzhu gazed at him with adoration fit for a dog. “You’re worth it!”

Pei Qiaonian swept his gaze over his own borrowed face. He swore, never in his life would he make such an affectionate expression—utterly disgusting.

“Then pack up and let’s head straight to the Civil Affairs Bureau. Turn the soon-to-be sister-in-law into a wife—do you think Pei Jin will be angry?” Pei Qiaonian mused, finding the idea increasingly amusing.