Chapter 56: Do I Need a Reason to Hit You?

Out of instinct.

Pei Qiaonian tried to block, but the slap still landed on his face, leaving a burning sensation. He wiped at it with the back of his hand; a few flecks of blood marred his fair skin.

He immediately retaliated, slapping back twice in quick succession while Mrs. Xu was still covering her face, making it symmetrical. Yet, in his heart, he wanted nothing more than to crush the person before him.

He sneered, “What’s wrong? Came looking for a fight the moment you arrived? Looking for death?”

Mrs. Xu had never expected the person before her to hit back. When her gaze met that stunningly beautiful face, her voice shrilled, “Xu Yunzhuo, I’m your mother! How dare you hit me!”

Pei Qiaonian took a step back from this madwoman. “Then why did you hit me?”

“Do I need a reason to hit you?” Mrs. Xu retorted.

Pei Qiaonian laughed coldly. “Then I don’t need a reason to hit you either. I’ll hit you if I want to. Don’t provoke me again—next time, it won’t just be two slaps.”

The commotion attracted the attention of Yun Mingsheng downstairs. He hurried up, seeing the confrontation between the two, and quickly stepped between them. “What are you two doing? There are still guests downstairs. Even President Pei has glanced up a few times.”

Mrs. Xu couldn’t restrain herself at the sight of Xu Yunzhuo. She straightened her hair and spoke in an icy tone, “If the old lady hadn’t wanted to see her, would I have called her here? The moment she arrived she had to ruin her sister’s prospects. How shameless can she be, just like those streetwalkers soliciting customers—what’s the difference?”

Yun Mingsheng’s eyes widened. “Sister, that’s too much! Zhuozhuo hasn’t done anything. Don’t be so cold to her. Compared to Xu Muning, she’s your real daughter. Even if you have feelings for the one you raised, by blood you and Zhuozhuo are family.”

Mrs. Xu finally regained some composure. She lowered her head and sighed. “Sorry, I was too impulsive. I watched Ningning grow up. She used to like Pei Jin, but because Yunzhuo came back, the marriage that should have belonged to Ningning went to Yunzhuo. She cries and throws a fit every day. Both are my daughters—I can’t help it. But to make it up to Yunzhuo, I gave her the marriage, and yet she just let it slip away.”

“To make it up to Ningning, I brought her to Haicheng, but she went straight to sit beside President Pei. Isn’t that a slap in Ningning’s face? How could I not know what she’s thinking?”

Yun Mingsheng was speechless.

Pei Qiaonian wore an expression of utter distaste. “And what makes you think she could possibly attract my attention? That utterly mediocre face? Or that head filled with nothing but water? Don’t embarrass yourself.”

Yun Mingsheng nudged his shoulder, hinting he was being too blunt. Though it was the truth… it was a bit too direct.

Moreover, now that Xu Muning had been sent away, it was no wonder Mrs. Xu was so angry.

She probably thought it was all Xu Yunzhuo’s doing.

Hearing Pei Qiaonian disparage Xu Muning’s appearance, Mrs. Xu grew even more incensed. “How is Ningning mediocre? She’s far more dignified than you. Seducing people with looks isn’t a lasting tactic—true worth lies in profound knowledge!”

Pei Qiaonian raised an eyebrow slightly. “So that’s why you wanted so badly to ruin my face—for Xu Muning’s sake? I’ve never seen a mother so biased.”

Even his own mother, controlling as she could be, would never let him come to harm.

Her way of loving was simply flawed.

Pei Qiaonian paused at the thought. He’d never considered things so deeply before; his mother’s actions always just annoyed him, so much so that he eventually didn’t want to speak to her at all. Even if what she did didn’t harm him, even if she meant well from her perspective, he couldn’t accept it.

He was his own person, not a puppet to be manipulated.

Yet compared to Mrs. Xu, his mother was only marginally better.

There was a lack of communication between him and his mother, and he himself lacked patience. He had little patience for most things. Xu Yunzhuo always told him to smile more, but he never found anything around him to be joyful.

During this time he’d switched places with Xu Yunzhuo, though he was still impatient, he felt the most at ease he’d ever been. Seeing the world from another angle, he realized that he wasn’t the only one with a difficult life—hers was a mess, too.

Mrs. Xu, hearing Pei Qiaonian’s words, finally realized how extreme she was being.

She softened her expression and turned away. “I’m only doing this for your own good. Right now, you shouldn’t have any involvement with the Pei family. I’m leaving—I won’t return to Haicheng again.”

“Sister…” Yun Mingsheng took two steps after her.

But Mrs. Xu walked quickly. As he chased her, he heard Old Madam Yun cheer, “The wicked woman is finally gone! Good riddance!”

Mrs. Xu gave a cold snort and didn’t look back.

Yun Mingsheng stood below, head bowed in frustration.

He took a deep breath, looking helplessly at Old Madam Yun. “Mom, if you keep talking like that, my sister really won’t come back next time.”

Old Madam Yun glared at him. “I don’t want the wicked woman to come back. I only want Zhuozhuo here. Good girl, have some pastries. Eh? Where did the pastries I just brought out go?”

She looked down, searching everywhere.

Xu Yunzhuo gazed at the elderly lady with gentle affection and reached for a napkin to wipe the crumbs from her lips.

“No need to look, I’ll have some next time I visit.”

Old Madam Yun clung to her hand reluctantly. “Zhuozhuo, then come home for summer break, all right? Your mother loves these pastries too; I made plenty.”

Xu Yunzhuo nodded.

To Yun Mingsheng, it was a bit awkward.

His own mother was calling President Pei “Zhuozhuo” nonstop.

And President Pei showed not the slightest impatience, instead humoring her. Yun Mingsheng was touched.

As he saw them out, Yun Mingsheng said to Xu Yunzhuo, “President Pei, I’m sorry for the poor hospitality today. I hope I can treat you to a meal next time.”

Xu Yunzhuo nodded. “Until next time, then.”

Yun Mingsheng then turned to Pei Qiaonian, sighing, “Come visit your grandmother more often if you can. Her memory has been stuck since the summer you disappeared. The day before your mother brought you to Haicheng, she forgot many things, but the one thing she remembers clearly is you and your mother. Only… now it seems she remembers only you.”

Otherwise, why would Mrs. Xu be called the wicked woman the moment she arrived?

It was enough to give anyone a headache.

Pei Qiaonian nodded in his direction. “When I have time, I’ll come see you and Grandma. Goodbye.”

He left first; Xu Yunzhuo waited a while before departing.

The two of them entered the same car, one after the other.

As the car drove off, Pei Qiaonian spoke up, “Assistant Gao, get out for a moment. I have something to discuss with her.”

Assistant Gao saw his boss had no objection, so he nimbly exited, closed the door, and left them to their privacy.