Chapter 14: Am I even worthy? I’m not even qualified to make a copy of the key.

They didn’t snap out of their daze until the two of them walked out of the Civil Affairs Bureau.

Xu Yunzhu gazed at the little red booklet in his hand, sighing with a mixture of wonder and dissatisfaction. “At least try using my face to smile, will you? Is this what getting married looks like? You look more like you’re out for revenge.”

“You actually took it seriously?” Pei Qiaonian raised an eyebrow in reply, his eyes probing.

Huh?

A trick question!

If she said she took it seriously, he’d definitely mock her mercilessly. If she said she didn’t, this wretched man would know that her claim of love at first sight was utter nonsense.

After a long pause, Xu Yunzhu covered his face and pretended to weep. “How could I be worthy? I’m not even worthy of making a copy of the key, so don’t ask me such questions again—it only breaks my heart.”

Pei Qiaonian’s temple throbbed as he gritted his teeth. “Don’t use my face to cry!”

Xu Yunzhu lifted his head, his almond-shaped eyes round in surprise as he stared at him. In that moment, Pei Qiaonian found something unexpected on his own face: a hint of cuteness.

Utterly, absurdly cute.

He must have lost his mind.

Pei Qiaonian averted his eyes uneasily and changed the subject. “Find an opportunity to tell my grandfather and my mother. There’s no need for the usual engagement formalities, understand?”

Xu Yunzhu nodded obediently. “Understood. But what if they don’t accept it?”

She blinked innocently. “Your mother scolded me half to death in the hospital after I hit you.”

If she hadn’t become Pei Qiaonian, she would have definitely talked back!

A wicked smile tugged at Pei Qiaonian’s lips. “Just tell them. Leave the rest to me.”

He reached into her purse and pulled out a black credit card. “If you need money, use my card. Consider it your payment in advance. Once you’re back at the company, just sign documents for show. Any major projects need my approval. If anything comes up, let me know immediately—message me anytime.”

He checked the time. “Your agent Cheng has been looking for you all morning. I need to go to your company. Tsk, finally some work—I was getting bored.”

Xu Yunzhu was speechless.

Who actually likes going to work?

“Do you want me to drive you?” Xu Yunzhu asked politely.

After all, the luxury car in front of them belonged to Pei Qiaonian anyway.

He replied lazily, “No need. Just remember to come to Lan Hai Villa tonight.”

Again?!

With that, he turned and left.

Xu Yunzhu watched his retreating figure—flat shoes, baggy T-shirt, and loose, oversized pants. She hadn’t dared say it before, but this outfit was truly hideous!

If it weren’t for that face, who would ever guess this was a celebrity?

What a waste of such a great figure not to wear skirts.

Assistant Gao emerged from the car and saw Xu Yunzhu staring after Pei Qiaonian’s back.

It was over. Not only had they married in a flash, but they were already so attached.

After so many years by Pei Qiaonian’s side, Assistant Gao had never known he had any connection with Xu Yunzhu.

Just a short while ago, Miss Xu had been summoned to the old mansion to discuss her engagement with Pei Jin. When he’d driven Pei Qiaonian back, his boss had been as aloof as ever, coldly telling Miss Xu to get out of the way. She’d stood there with her head down, not daring to block his path, only entering when he’d gone inside. Assistant Gao remembered it vividly.

And now, they’d suddenly gotten married…

He stepped forward and said quietly, “President Pei, we need to go—it’s time for the company.”

Xu Yunzhu finally withdrew his gaze.

Assistant Gao hesitated. “President Pei, do your grandfather and Madam know about your marriage?”

Xu Yunzhu shook his head honestly. “No.” Then added, “But they’ll probably find out tomorrow.”

“What if they don’t agree—what if they force you to get divorced?” Assistant Gao went straight to the point.

After all, the Pei family was a household of great stature, and as the head of the family, Pei Qiaonian’s marriage couldn’t possibly be settled so casually.

Xu Yunzhu stroked his chin. “If they disagree, so be it. Don’t worry, he’ll handle his family himself.”

Assistant Gao was dumbfounded.

Letting a woman deal with the man’s family?

He wanted to scold his boss for being so irresponsible. How could a man leave a woman to face such things while he stayed out of sight?

“President Pei, Miss Xu seems a little too gentle,” Assistant Gao hinted, implying that Xu Yunzhu was a pushover, someone anyone could take advantage of.

Gentle?

Xu Yunzhu recalled the description of Pei Qiaonian in the book and shook his head with a tsk. “Appearances can be deceiving. Right now, he’s terrifyingly strong—mess with him, and you’re dead. Even the King of Hell would have to give way.”

Assistant Gao was flabbergasted. “Huh?”

Were they even talking about the same person?

“He asked for it—let him handle it. Let’s go to the company,” Xu Yunzhu muttered, and climbed into the car.

The car soon arrived at the Pei Corporation headquarters.

Xu Yunzhu looked up at the towering office building, and tears of awe nearly spilled from his lips.

The entire building belonged to the Pei family, standing tall in the city center—its value was beyond measure.

The moment Xu Yunzhu entered, the staff moving about inside immediately lowered their heads in greeting, standing still until he passed.

“Good morning, President Pei.”

Greetings echoed one after another.

Xu Yunzhu couldn’t help but smile at them. “Good morning.”

That was the moment all the employees were stunned.

For the first time ever, they saw Pei Qiaonian smile so gently.

Usually, his smiles were either cold or ruthless, or the sly grin after snatching a project—never had he been so warm and approachable.

They stared at one another in disbelief, exchanging silent questions with their eyes.

It wasn’t until Xu Yunzhu entered the exclusive president’s elevator that the whispers began.

“Unbelievable. He actually said good morning to us. It’s like a comet hitting the earth,” the receptionist exclaimed in disbelief.

She had worked at Pei Corporation for three years, and every time Pei Qiaonian entered, he was stone-faced.

Or he’d be on the phone, sneering coldly, saying things like “let that group go bankrupt.”

They barely dared speak to him.

Another woman beside her was equally puzzled. “Yeah, it’s so weird… Oh no, do you think he’s planning layoffs? I heard when bosses are in a good mood, it means they’re about to fire people—clear out the freeloaders and bring in new blood.”

At that, everyone’s faces blanched.

Layoffs = saving money.

What boss doesn’t want to cut costs? No wonder the boss was in such a good mood this morning.

“Hurry to HR and see what’s up. Tell the project department to be extra careful. I have a bad feeling about this.”

A flurry of anxious discussion, and everyone hurried off.

Xu Yunzhu had no idea.

Because of her “approachability” that morning, the whole company raised its alert to maximum—people who usually took three or four bathroom breaks before noon now held it in, glued to their desks, working like their lives depended on it.

The work that morning was light—just reviewing documents, though Xu Yunzhu couldn’t make sense of them and would have to give them all to Pei Qiaonian to handle that evening.

Having woken up early, Xu Yunzhu even managed to take a nap.

When lunch hour arrived, she woke up and went out to find food.

Stepping out of the office, she was taken aback—the employees were all sitting ramrod straight, focused intently on their keyboards, as if they’d die at their desks.

She wiped imaginary sweat from her brow.

Why was everyone so tense?

It made her, as the boss, feel like a complete slacker.