Chapter 34: Pretending to be poor, rich second generation (3)

Nobility? Inheritance rights? Did she not want him to value her identity?

Is that what she meant? His girlfriend, like himself, was also concealing her true status?

Compared to nobility, his position as the young master of the Pei Group suddenly seemed less remarkable!

But…how could this be possible?! Pei Jing found it utterly unbelievable. Qu Ling had always presented herself as an ordinary person, working as a regular employee at a company, dressing plainly, and even renting this inexpensive apartment to save money…

Pei Jing felt that Qu Ling’s revelation was incredibly far-fetched. However, when he thought about his own situation, he too had pretended to appear financially modest, leaving no hints of anything amiss…

A flood of chaotic thoughts overwhelmed Pei Jing, leaving him stunned for a prolonged moment.

Tong Ling tapped on the table, drawing Pei Jing’s attention back. “Do you think I’m joking?”

Her expression turned serious. “I understand that my actions may not make sense to you. Indeed, I concealed crucial information about my identity from you. If you cannot accept my deception, I will allow you to leave.”

Leave? How could Pei Jing depart for such a reason?!

“I’m afraid you might stray down the wrong path, worried that others could entice you with money and corrupt your pure nature,” Pei Jing hastily explained. “I prefer you just as you were. As long as our feelings remain unchanged, I wouldn’t leave you over something like this.”

Tong Ling looked puzzled. “You’re not angry?”

Pei Jing hesitated… Considering he had done something similar himself, if he got angry with Tong Ling, wouldn’t she also hold it against him in the future?

“I don’t care about changes to your status,” Pei Jing finally responded. “Whether you’re wealthy or poor, it makes no difference to me.”

Tong Ling took Pei Jing’s hand and gently patted it. “It’s wonderful that you feel this way.”

In her mind, she addressed the system, “His words truly capture the essence of what the original female protagonist would say.”

m577 cast a somber gaze: [Indeed, since you’ve already usurped the male lead’s storyline, what else can he do?]

That night, Tong Ling didn’t engage Pei Jing in their usual games. Feeling flushed from drinking the deer broth, Pei Jing tossed and turned on his bed, unable to sleep. Every time he thought about his girlfriend’s sudden change in identity, insomnia gripped him tighter.

Could there truly be such coincidences in the world? While he was pretending to be poor, was his girlfriend also faking her circumstances?

Initially, Pei Jing didn’t think there was anything wrong with his approach. However, encountering someone using the same tactic made him feel… strangely uneasy.

No, he couldn’t let it pass… Tomorrow, he must follow his girlfriend and see if she is indeed a wealthy businesswoman as she claims.

Early the next morning, Pei Jing watched as his girlfriend dressed in another set of luxury attire, paired with a new high-end handbag. Perhaps feeling no need to conceal her identity around him anymore, she looked exceptionally radiant today.

Gone was the modest appearance from when they first met; now she resembled a true heiress, with impeccable manners and poise. Even Pei Jing had to admit that he might have misjudged her before.

“Can I accompany you to your company?” Pei Jing cautiously asked while placing the prepared breakfast in front of Tong Ling.

“Do you want to switch jobs?” Tong Ling replied.

“No, I just… just want to see if your work is demanding,” Pei Jing responded hesitantly.

Tong Ling smiled, “If you’re willing to come along, I’d be more than happy.”

With Tong Ling’s agreement, Pei Jing quickly tidied himself up and followed closely behind her.

As they stepped outside, a red Porsche smoothly parked in front of them. A refined middle-aged man, dressed formally, emerged from the driver’s seat and affectionately opened the car door for Tong Ling with a warm smile. “Miss, please step inside.”

Tong Ling nodded slightly, gracefully taking her place in the backseat while gesturing for the stunned Pei Jing to join her.

“You always go to work like this?” It wasn’t that Pei Jing lacked experience; he owned several luxury cars himself. However, the chauffeur provided by his family paled in comparison to his girlfriend’s driver, both in appearance and service quality.

At least, neither matched the polished demeanor and attentive service of Tong Ling’s driver.

“What’s wrong with it?” Tong Ling countered.

Pei Jing silently straightened his posture, feeling far from being a proper affluent young master compared to his girlfriend.

Seeing Pei Jing’s reaction, Tong Ling knew her expenditure today was well worth it. The driver was actually a background actor she had hired from a film set, chosen for his suitable appearance and decent acting skills—a five-star review was certainly deserved! As for the luxury car, it was naturally rented. Rental platforms offered a wide variety of vehicles, catering perfectly to every client’s needs.

Upon arriving at the commercial building, the driver attentively gave some final instructions and only left after confirming Tong Ling’s return time.

By now, Pei Jing was nearly convinced of his girlfriend’s true status as a young mistress. As he followed Tong Ling into the business center’s office tower, seeing the massive company logo on the building and its interior environment, he had to admit… what his girlfriend said was indeed true.

She genuinely owned a thriving company, and it wasn’t small either. The interior was spacious and sleek, with each employee having their own well-sized workspace…

(m577 chimed in: The number of employees is insufficient; her host aimed to fill the empty office space by assigning large desks and chairs to each worker. This was all to hire fewer employees, pay less salary, and reduce overall expenses.)

It wasn’t just him who would conceal their identity for the sake of finding true love. Had he not noticed something amiss about his girlfriend, he might have remained deceived for much longer…

Pei Jing observed that as soon as his girlfriend entered the company, the staff enthusiastically greeted her with warmth.

“Good morning, Ms. Qu!”

“Hello, Ms. Qu! You look even more beautiful today!”

“Ms. Qu, do you have any plans for today? We’re ready at your command!”

The employees’ demeanor was consistently friendly and approachable, their work attitude remarkably enthusiastic and positive. Even Pei Jing, as the young master of the Pei Group, had never experienced such an atmosphere within his own company…

The staff of the Pei Group always seemed rigid and strict, executing tasks with meticulous precision. While this led to high efficiency, the environment felt genuinely oppressive.

Even Pei Jing himself disliked going to the office; after starting his internship, he often found himself absent for most of the time.

If only the Pei family’s company could have the vibrant and energetic culture like his girlfriend’s workplace, he would willingly embrace working there!

Now, only one thought remained in Pei Jing’s mind: considering his girlfriend, a well-off heiress, lacked nothing in terms of appearance, talent, or wealth, his own background likely paled in comparison from her perspective.

Was it necessary for him to continue hiding his identity? Perhaps adopting his girlfriend’s approach, being open and honest about who he is, would be better. That way, they wouldn’t need to squeeze into a cramped rental apartment anymore.

As he pondered this, Tong Ling suddenly spoke up, “A-Jing, you’re really not upset?”

“Considering my fortunate circumstances, I haven’t provided you with a better living environment. Instead, I let you reside in that cramped rental unit, enduring a modest lifestyle…” Tong Ling fixed her gaze on Pei Jing, “Don’t you blame me for it?”

Pei Jing had never considered this question before and momentarily struggled to respond.

If he said yes, they were both pretending to be less affluent, choosing cheaper accommodations to avoid revealing their true identities; if he said no, his girlfriend could have treated him better but chose not to, which felt somewhat disheartening…

Wait! Pei Jing suddenly realized—he was doing the same thing, so how could he hold any resentment against his girlfriend? Wouldn’t blaming her be akin to blaming himself?

“I don’t blame you!” Pei Jing affirmed confidently. “I understand you have your own reasons.”

Indeed, he wouldn’t blame her—after all, who knew her better than he did?

“Hearing that puts my mind at ease,” Tong Ling nodded in satisfaction. “Men don’t need excessive material possessions. A simple life is just fine. I’ve given you a place to live and provided for your needs, showing my sincerity.”

Tong Ling sighed deeply, “Who else would be willing to support you like I do?”

“People should learn to be content,” she added.

Pei Jing fell silent, feeling a sudden pang of discomfort. Why did his heart ache again?

“Of course, you must understand that my deception towards you was well-intentioned. Given our differing social statuses, I didn’t want external factors to affect our relationship.” Tong Ling couldn’t resist twisting the knife further, “I’ve accepted both your poverty and perceived incompetence; you should know the depth of my feelings for you.”

As Pei Jing listened, he felt increasingly aggrieved. What did she mean by differing social statuses, poverty, and incompetence? As the young master of the prestigious Pei Group, how could he possibly be unworthy of her?

Just as Pei Jing opened his mouth to reveal his true identity, Tong Ling interjected, “My expectations from you are simple: no lies. If I discover any deceit on your part, we’ll break up immediately.”

Hearing Tong Ling’s ultimatum about breaking up due to deception, Pei Jing hastily swallowed the words about to spill out.

Feeling dry-mouthed, Pei Jing asked, “Why is it acceptable for you to deceive me but not vice versa?”

“If you lie, we break up. But if I lie, it also gives you a chance to leave.” Tong Ling gave him an exasperated look, “It’s your own choice to stay.”

“That’s not fair,” Pei Jing protested. He couldn’t bear to leave his girlfriend, yet she showed no reluctance whatsoever about parting with him. It was indeed unfair!

“Fair?” Tong Ling scoffed, “I’ve been supporting you all along. Let’s discuss fairness once you start taking care of me.”

Pei Jing immediately retorted, “Supporting you isn’t that difficult!”

“Hahaha.” Tong Ling raised her hand and patted Pei Jing’s head, her eyes filled with a sense of superiority. “Do you know how high my expenses are? Are you aware of the value of just one of my bags?”

“Supporting you?” Tong Ling mocked, “Save your energy and stop dreaming about impractical things. All you need to do is take care of your own health for now.”

If Pei Jing still couldn’t grasp how his girlfriend truly felt about him, he would be truly foolish. From the beginning, his girlfriend had never viewed their relationship as equal.

In front of her…he was merely akin to a toy kept by someone wealthy!

“Ms. Qu.” As Tong Ling and Pei Jing were conversing, an employee rushed over.

“What’s the matter?” Tong Ling asked.

The employee handed over a project proposal, frowning as they said, “For the project we’re currently developing, the investor suddenly withdrew their funding. If we can’t find a new investor, the project will likely have to be forcibly halted.”

Tong Ling accepted the proposal document, her expression grim. “I’ve already assigned personnel for this project’s development. At this stage, losing the investment leaves us with no financial flexibility! What was the reason for withdrawal?” Tong Ling suppressed her anger and asked.

“The contract clearly states that withdrawing funds incurs a penalty fee,” she continued. “Did he prefer paying the penalty rather than reconsidering his decision?”

The junior staff member glanced surreptitiously at Tong Ling and whispered, “Ms. Qu, the investor mentioned… if you want the funding, tonight—tonight you could visit him at room 104 of the Caesar Hotel. He’ll make time to discuss the business with you.”

“What?!” Before Tong Ling could react, Pei Jing exploded upon hearing this. “A hotel? How dare he suggest a hotel?” Pei Jing jumped in fury, deeply abhorring such underhanded tactics involving monetary threats. Moreover, targeting his girlfriend made it utterly repulsive!

Tong Ling scoffed, “He thinks I’d meet him at a hotel? As if he’s worthy!”

Pei Jing felt slightly relieved; fortunately, his girlfriend hadn’t fallen into that trap.

“Let’s find ways to secure new investors,” Tong Ling said with a hint of weariness on her face. “We cannot abandon this project.”

“But…” the junior employee continued, “with our new company, many people doubt our capabilities. Even if our project is exceptionally well-designed, finding new investors won’t be resolved quickly, certainly not within just a few days.”

“It seems developing domestically won’t be as easy as anticipated,” Tong Ling lamented. “If it comes down to it, I’ll have no choice but to give up on the domestic market and return to my family’s main business.”

Pei Jing hastily asked, “Return to your family?”

“My grandfather has always wanted me back,” Tong Ling explained. “If I don’t achieve anything significant here, I must comply with his arrangements—returning to inherit the family business and entering into an arranged marriage with a noble chosen by him.”

Upon hearing this, m577 couldn’t resist commenting, [“Inheriting the family business plus an arranged marriage with nobility? Sounds like something straight out of a clichéd romance novel.”]

Tong Ling lightly scoffed at the system, “Do you really think the stories in these small worlds aren’t filled with such tropes? The character background I created fits perfectly within this narrative.”

[…] m577 found itself at a loss for any counterargument.

“But that can’t be!” As soon as Tong Ling shared her story, Pei Jing believed it and promptly objected, “In this day and age, how could such outdated arranged marriage ideas still exist?”

“You don’t understand.” Tong Ling appeared exasperated with Pei Jing’s reaction, “Inter-family marriages are quite normal; they serve the interests of our businesses.”

“What about me?” Pei Jing felt deeply hurt, “Would you abandon me just for an arranged marriage?”

“I’ll take care of you,” Tong Ling replied without hesitation. “Arranged marriages typically don’t prioritize deep emotional bonds; everyone is free to have their own lovers. Don’t worry, I haven’t even considered abandoning you.”

”…So in your eyes, I’m only meant to be a lover?” Pei Jing asked, feeling slighted.

Tong Ling rubbed her temples, seemingly growing weary of Pei Jing’s persistent complaints. “Be good, I still have work to do here. If you’re not busy, feel free to find a seat anywhere. I’ll get someone to bring you a cup of coffee.”

“I can help with your work!” Pei Jing felt deeply aggrieved by Tong Ling’s dismissive attitude, “Isn’t it just about securing investments? I can assist!”

Tong Ling, still unconvinced, waved him away. “Alright, alright, I know you want to help. Just go sit somewhere nearby.”

Pei Jing swiftly grabbed the project proposal from Tong Ling’s hand and skimmed through it at top speed. “The Pei Group can invest in this project.”

“The Pei Group?” Tong Ling furrowed her brow. “Is that the reputedly wealthy conglomerate, dominating the business world?”

Pei Jing nodded proudly. “Yes, that’s the very same!”

“And what does that have to do with you?” Tong Ling asked. “Don’t tell me you have some connection with the Pei Group.”

If not for Tong Ling’s intolerance of deception, Pei Jing would have revealed his identity right then. Instead, he had to find another excuse. “I have a relative who works at the Pei Group. They could assist by forwarding your proposal directly. I’m confident the Pei Group will definitely invest!”

“A relative employee?” Tong Ling showed little interest upon hearing this, as if dismissing Pei Jing’s offer entirely. She waved her hand and said, “No thanks, I don’t need your help with this. I’ll figure something out myself.”

Plan? What plan? Did he mean attending lavish banquets and returning home intoxicated? As Pei Jing thought about Tong Ling’s recent state, his heart felt uneasy. Simultaneously, he silently decided to ensure that the Pei Group would indeed invest.

He wanted his girlfriend to realize just how valuable he could be, beyond her expectations!

Apart from his personal motives, Tong Ling’s company project coincidentally aligned with what the Pei Group was interested in pursuing. Both professionally and personally, it seemed like a promising collaboration.

Seeing Pei Jing take interest in the proposal, Tong Ling exchanged glances with the junior employee. The staffer smiled, winked, and discreetly excused themselves.

Witnessing this deception unfold, m577 shook its head at the unsuspecting Pei Jing: [Tragic. This investment is going down the drain—it’s all fake! Who would’ve thought even the notoriously stingy male lead would willingly jump into such a trap…]

The host’s skills in deceit were truly hard for most people to detect.

Soon after falling into the trap, Pei Jing brought Tong Ling a substantial sum of money.

The Pei Group immediately invested one hundred million yuan. With this move, the Pei Group officially became a shareholder of Tong Ling’s shell company, infusing it with a semblance of legitimacy.

However, Tong Ling remained unsatisfied. Fortunately, this investment resolved her immediate financial crisis. She first cleared her debts and then gathered her previous partners to feign progress on the project development.

The funds came from the Pei Group, while the actual development was handled by her partners. Tong Ling busied herself between both sides, yet paradoxically seemed idle at each. Her real goal was securing the next round of financing; one hundred million was not enough—she aimed for at least two billion!

Tong Ling’s career flourished, but she didn’t neglect matters of the heart either.

Since Pei Jing had finally been helpful, Tong Ling treated him relatively warmly over the past few days.

Nevertheless, she hadn’t forgotten the plot she needed to follow. In the original story, the most significant argument between the male lead and Qu Ling occurred when Qu Ling stepped out of another man’s car.

What Tong Ling currently lacked was precisely this other man. Without him, she couldn’t advance the storyline.

“That’s not a valid reason to target Pei Jing’s young uncle,” m577 said with visible distress. “It’s unacceptable— at least inappropriate—to prey on someone with disabilities.”

“Moreover, Pei Jing and Pei Qing have too close a relationship; you risk getting caught easily!”

M577 advised, “Just find any convenient pawn to get through that plot point. Why fixate specifically on Pei Qing?”

In the original story, Pei Qing was merely a background character, without even a single line of detailed description. If Tong Ling hadn’t gone to negotiate with the Pei Group and accidentally spotted him, she wouldn’t have known about this hidden gem within their ranks.

The male lead could indulge in his whims freely, unaffected by pretense of poverty, precisely because he had Pei Qing as his powerful supporter behind the scenes.

As the actual head of the Pei family, Pei Qing is the protagonist’s biological uncle. With the early death of the protagonist’s mother, Pei Qing naturally took it upon himself to look after Pei Jing closely.

Tong Ling’s interest in him was straightforward - attractive face, and…

“Little M, don’t you think Pei Qing fits the archetype of a legendary disabled overlord?” Tong Ling asked. “Honestly, I find him more suited for the role of the male lead than Pei Jing!”