Chapter 41: Pretending to be poor, rich second generation (10)

As soon as Pei Jing appeared, m577 promptly signaled: [Pei Jing is here.]

“Indeed quick. Let’s conveniently advance the plot while we’re at it.”

Tong Ling briefly recalled the scene’s storyline. The engagement banquet sequence was straightforward: Pei Jing sees Qu Ling with an older man and assumes she has fallen into self-degradation, lacking self-respect. Consequently, he confronts her with ridicule and disdain for her choice.

Considering Pei Qing’s status as this “older man,” Pei Jing would likely be even more outraged than in the original plot. Tong Ling didn’t need to actively do anything; the scenario would unfold on its own.

Sure enough, as Pei Jing approached them, his gaze radiated chilling resentment, visibly frightening.

Aware of the inappropriate setting, Pei Jing managed to maintain some composure, but the tone of his lowered voice lacked any friendliness.

“Young Uncle,” Pei Jing sneered, his expression unusually grim, “I had no idea you were so intimately involved with my ‘ex-girlfriend’?”

“We are business partners; isn’t being close a natural expectation?” Tong Ling responded in Pei Qing’s stead, casually playing with Pei Qing’s slender fingers that she held tightly. “Rather, aren’t you overstepping your boundaries?”

As Pei Jing watched Tong Ling’s actions, his eyes turned so red they seemed ready to bleed. Whether it was her touch or intimacy, all of it should have belonged to him! It had been ages since Tong Ling last touched him, yet during those sleepless nights he spent pining for her, this woman had entangled herself with another man—his own uncle, no less!

“When did you two meet? Is that damned third wheel actually him? Don’t you realize this man is my young uncle?” Pei Jing rapidly fired off questions.

“Jing, words like ‘third wheel’ shouldn’t be thrown around lightly,” Pei Qing responded calmly.

“As if I’d care after what you’ve done!” Pei Jing barely managed to control his emotions, feeling an intense urge to beat up the hypocritical bastard standing before him. “No wonder you reprimanded me so harshly last time. How could a blood-related uncle defend a male homewrecker? Well, congratulations—that’s your idea of looking out for me. Are you proud of betraying our late mother and grandparents?”

At the mention of family, Pei Qing’s expression instantly chilled. “Hold your tongue. Why involve them in our matters!”

“Ha… aren’t you feeling guilty, young uncle?” Pei Jing raised his hand, pointing towards the heavens. “Grandpa and Grandma are watching from above, seeing how you stole your nephew’s girlfriend and manipulated him mercilessly. Truly befitting of the CEO of Pei Group, isn’t it? Who could’ve imagined such tactics?”

It seemed Pei Jing was genuinely furious, disregarding even Pei Qing’s presence. Tong Ling gently patted Pei Qing’s arm, signaling for him to step aside. She would handle the conversation with Pei Jing herself, not wanting her precious one to get too upset.

Pei Qing had no desire to engage in such a demeaning argument either. After casting a cold glance at Pei Jing, he turned and wheeled himself away to the side.

With Pei Qing gone, Pei Jing became even more unrestrained in his words. “Why did you choose him? He’s older than me, and his legs are disabled—how could you possibly be interested in that kind of man!”

“What do you mean by ‘that kind of man’? He is your uncle,” Tong Ling emphasized firmly. “Show respect to your uncle.”

Tong Ling’s dismissive attitude made Pei Jing’s heart ache with anger, throbbing painfully. “Even choosing a normal person would have been better than him. Qu Ling, are you doing this on purpose just to infuriate me?”

As if finding solace in a justification, Pei Jing changed his tone and said, “Yes, you must be doing this just to anger me. Seeing the invitation I sent upset you, didn’t it?”

“I wouldn’t have done this if not for you abandoning me! You love money, yet do you even realize that the hundred million yuan investment in your company was secured by me? Admittedly, I didn’t reveal my identity to you, but it was precisely because I didn’t want us to break up! Haven’t I shown you how much I care? Can’t you understand at least a little…”

Pei Jing couldn’t fathom when exactly Pei Qing had met his ex-girlfriend. In front of Pei Qing, what did his supposed status as the young master of the Pei Group amount to? The idea of making his ex regret their breakup now seemed utterly foolish…

Forget about seeking revenge; merely considering his behavior before Pei Qing, Pei Jing felt like a complete joke - an absolute farce!

Unwilling to accept reality, he desperately tried to salvage the situation, saying, “You’re only using him to make me jealous. There’s no way you could genuinely be interested in him…”

“Your uncle has more wealth than you, is better-looking, and is more considerate,” Tong Ling ruthlessly shattered Pei Jing’s delusions. “What’s wrong with me liking him?”

“His legs are crippled; how could he possibly satisfy you!” Pei Jing couldn’t believe what Tong Ling was saying. He refused to accept that his disabled uncle could perform better than him!

“He’s cleaner than you.” Tong Ling’s gaze grew colder. “Surely you haven’t forgotten where we are and what you’re about to do later?”

“Master Pei Jing, I must also congratulate you on your engagement to Miss Mu Rongrong,” Tong Ling insincerely praised. “Isn’t this precisely why you wanted me here—to witness this moment? You two seem very well-matched, and I hope for a joyous union leading to blessed offspring soon.”

Pei Jing’s face paled as he hastily responded, “This engagement is a scheme; I was deceived—it was all Pei Qing who made me do it!”

“I’m perfectly clean; no one else has ever touched me. Lingling, from start to finish, there has only been you!”

Seeing the plot about to unravel, m577 urgently reminded her: [No, no, not like this! According to the original storyline, the cannon fodder female character tries to win back Pei Jing, gets rejected by him, and then faces humiliation from both protagonists! With Pei Jing acting so clingy now, he’ll eagerly come running at your slightest beckoning—how can the story progress as intended?!]

Tong Ling reassured the system, “It’s okay, don’t worry. Isn’t it just about him rejecting me? That’s quite simple.”

“What if I say, I want you to be with Mu Rongrong instead?” Tong Ling extended her finger, gently caressing Pei Jing’s neck, her eyes now filled with amusement. “Compared to our previous relationship, isn’t it intriguing to interact like this, openly in such a setting, right in front of your fiancée and my boyfriend?”

Pei Jing shivered slightly, as if a current had coursed through his body. The touch from Tong Ling left a familiar tingling sensation, causing an inappropriate reaction despite the circumstances.

His legs trembled, throat tightening. The thought that even Pei Qing, who stole his girlfriend, could fall under this woman’s manipulations, coupled with the possibility of reversing this dire situation, intensified his excitement and satisfaction.

“You mean…it’s true?” Pei Jing asked hoarsely, “If I’m with Mu Rongrong, you would still keep…this kind of relationship with me?”

“Absolutely,” Tong Ling smiled. “However, in front of them, you must not show even the slightest interest in me. To others, we should appear uninvolved; even if I pursue you, you have to coldly reject me and maintain distance without hesitation. Can you do that?”

This relationship needed to remain hidden, shielded from any light.

“I…” Pei Jing closed his eyes, agreeing without any internal struggle to this utterly absurd proposition, “I can.”

“As long as you don’t abandon me…” Pei Jing’s gaze burned intensely, “As long as you still need me…”

“Weren’t you seeking revenge on me earlier? Wanting shares in my company?” Tong Ling raised her eyebrows slightly.

“No, no more of that.” Pei Jing vigorously shook his head, “Everything I did was just to bring you back. How could… how could I truly seek revenge on you?” He wished he could open his heart for Tong Ling to see how deeply he desired her. “I wanted you to regret letting me go… Everything I’ve done was to win you over!”

“You can have the company shares; I’ll arrange for Pei Qing to transfer them all to you,” Tong Ling said gently. “This is my sincere gesture.”

With this reassurance, Pei Jing’s lingering concerns evaporated. The months of heartache and distress dissolved into a sticky sentimentality. “Why did you torment me for so long… Do you know how unbearable it was for me?”

“Who told you to be disobedient?” Tong Ling withdrew her hand, her expression turning cold once more. “Alright, stop that pitiful act. Don’t forget, my boyfriend is still here.”

The word “boyfriend” pierced Pei Jing’s heart with pain. He still couldn’t accept his young uncle becoming Tong Ling’s partner. “Must you choose him?”

“Don’t you want to try winning me from him instead?”

Tong Ling’s remark rendered Pei Jing speechless. The thrill of secretly betraying his young uncle just by thinking about it…

“Control your gaze,” Tong Ling warned. “Remember, we’ve been broken up for a while now. If you make inappropriate moves at the wrong time, I won’t give you another chance.”

Feeling uneasy, Pei Jing hastily composed his expression to appear less vulnerable before Tong Ling.

m577: [This… is cheating.]

In previous scenarios, the host had exploited various loopholes, but blatantly manipulating the male lead to cheat like this seemed excessive, didn’t it?

Is there even a need for the original plot anymore? When faced with the host, both the original storyline and the devices detecting plot points might as well not exist!

As a legitimate system serving the Main God, m577 felt unsettled witnessing the host bypassing plots so effortlessly.

“Then do you want the mission to fail?” Tong Ling asked. “If you do, I can make him leave immediately.”

m577 hesitated, then surrendered: […No, I don’t.]

“Well, that’s settled. As long as we complete the scenario, it doesn’t matter what means we use,” Tong Ling stated confidently. “Why waste effort when there’s a perfectly useful tool at hand? Isn’t it foolish?”

[So, are you genuinely going to rekindle your relationship with Pei Jing?] m577 curiously queried.

“How could I?” Tong Ling once again displayed her heartless nature, “I’ve grown tired of playing around with him. Now, he’s just a means to get through this scenario; once it’s over, he’ll be useless again.”

m577 felt even more pity for Pei Jing. Who could endure such repeated cycles of gaining and losing affection—being brought back only to be discarded again?

After concluding her conversation with Pei Jing, Tong Ling urged him to attend the engagement banquet. Once he left, she returned to Pei Qing’s side and gently consoled him, “Sorry for keeping you waiting. Are you still upset about what Pei Jing said? Don’t take his words seriously; in my eyes, he doesn’t compare to you at all.”

“You talked with him for quite a while…” Pei Qing remarked.

Just as Tong Ling thought it was jealousy speaking, Pei Qing abruptly changed direction, “I’ve met many youths far superior to him. If you’re interested, I can introduce them to you.”

Tong Ling was taken aback. What is Pei Qing talking about?

“I have carefully considered that young people easily grow weary of the same person. Rather than having you unhappy with me in the future, I prefer to provide some variety in your life daily.” This decision had been pondered over extensively by Pei Qing. “I can accept the existence of lovers, treating them as mere diversions, as long as their emotional attachment remains secondary to mine.”

“Pei Jing isn’t suitable; he gets too entangled. I’ll find more obedient individuals for you. Whenever you feel bored with me, you can seek their company,” Pei Qing said earnestly. “Just remember to return after enjoying yourself.”

Tong Ling was utterly speechless!

She knew Pei Qing harbored insecurities, but offering other men to her due to such self-doubt seemed excessively extreme…

Once again, m577 muttered, “[It’s too twisted, just too twisted… How can such disharmonious things occur…]”

“You find this decision strange?” Pei Qing noticed Tong Ling’s silence and smiled, saying, “From the beginning, I’ve never cared about you having lovers. If it makes you happy, our relationship will only become stronger.”

“No! Don’t let me hear these words!” m577 shrieked, “[Host, promise me, can we stick to healthier plotlines instead? Waaahhh…”]

Tong Ling held Pei Qing’s hand, deeply moved, and said, “Given your understanding, I’ll always treat you well.”

Their tender display of affection made everyone else at the engagement banquet envious.

Only m577, knowing the true situation, looked on with a blank stare, questioning the meaning of its existence.

Backstage, Pei Jing retreated to the dressing room to address his physiological needs. After several days, this was the first time he could release tension normally, bringing him immense relief.

The unexpected effect from their brief encounter reaffirmed Pei Jing’s dependence on Qu Ling. Even recalling their secret relationship now filled him with a peculiar sense of satisfaction.

Muru Rongrong had anticipated that today Pei Jing might cause trouble, jeopardizing her long-awaited engagement party. To her surprise, throughout the event, Pei Jing remained remarkably cooperative.

Standing on the stage, they recited their engagement vows, exchanged rings, popped open champagne together, and cut the cake—all unfolding perfectly… Yet for some reason, Mu Rongrong couldn’t shake off a feeling of unease.

Pei Jing’s gaze frequently drifted towards the crowd below. Despite deliberately maintaining distance from her, he would attentively care for his fiancée whenever others watched. He had learned to put up a facade, treating their engagement like a performance meant to earn applause from the guests.

“The young master of Pei Group is truly exceptional. Judging by this grand engagement party, CEO Pei seems to place great importance on him.”

“Who is his fiancée? I’ve never seen her within our social circle before.”

“She appears quite ordinary, but marrying into the Pei family must be like turning from a sparrow into a phoenix!”

While discussing the engaged couple, many guests also focused on another pair.

“I can’t believe CEO Pei and Miss Qu ended up together—they make a perfect match, both talented and beautiful!”

“If Miss Qu marries CEO Pei, wouldn’t that likely change who inherits the Pei Group?”

“Yes, after all, Young Master Pei is just a nephew. With Miss Qu being so young, it makes sense to groom a successor within the family rather than leaving everything to an outsider.”

Muru Rongrong stood nearby, her limbs stiff as she eavesdropped on the guests’ conversations.

She had thought that after binding with Pei Jing, she would become part of the elite circle, envied by many for her luxurious life. Yet now… could it be that even this newfound security was slipping away?

Miss Qu… Who exactly is Miss Qu? If Pei Jing’s young uncle truly gets involved with her, will he still have any connection to the Pei Group and Pei Jing himself?

Muru Rongrong had never seen Pei Jing working at the Pei Group before; if things changed, wouldn’t they lose everything?

Unable to remain composed, Muru Rongrong hastily rushed to find Pei Jing. Unexpectedly, upon turning around, she spotted a stunning woman engaged in conversation with him.

In an instant, Muru Rongrong recognized this woman as the one Pei Jing had been discreetly glancing at earlier, sparking a wave of anger within her. She knew there would always be women interested in Pei Jing, but approaching him alone, ignoring her presence as his fiancée, seemed like a blatant disregard for her status.

“Who might this be?” Muru Rongrong quickly approached Pei Jing, not waiting for his consent as she firmly linked arms with her fiancé. With a charming smile, she asked, “Pei Jing, shouldn’t you introduce us?”

Just as Pei Jing was about to shake off Muru Rongrong’s hand, Tong Ling’s gaze stopped him. He realized what was expected of him in this situation.

In a matter-of-fact tone, Pei Jing introduced Tong Ling to Mu Rongrong, “This is Miss Qu Ling.”

Tong Ling’s penchant for drama kicked in instantly, always ready to set up situations for the protagonists’ humiliation. She exclaimed, “A-Jing, that introduction is far too cold. Have you forgotten our past relationship?”

Tong Ling’s eyes were filled with longing for Pei Jing, conveying a deep desire to win back her former lover. This expression nearly made Pei Jing forget what a manipulative woman she was.

Recalling Tong Ling’s earlier words, he suspected her behavior aimed to test whether their secret relationship could remain hidden without exposing any cracks.

“What relationship?” Pei Jing’s acting skills had significantly improved, “Our connection ended long ago.”

Mu Rongrong, unaccustomed to such blatant attempts at stealing her fiancé right before her eyes, angrily retorted, “Don’t you know that Pei Jing is my fiancé?”

“Fiancé…” Tong Ling feigned heartbreak, “A-Jing, do you truly leave no room for me anymore?”

Pei Jing shuddered, barely managing to control his reaction.

The sight of this shameless woman pushed Mu Rongrong beyond her limits, causing her carefully crafted image to slip as she directly scolded, “You’re utterly disgraceful! Pei Jing has clearly stated there’s nothing between you two. Stop clinging to him!”

Pei Jing hesitated before responding dryly, “Yes, please stop bothering me.”

Tong Ling continued her scripted lines, receiving enthusiastic cooperation from both the male and female leads. In return, she earned a series of disapproving eye rolls from Mu Rongrong, who felt her composure slipping further. Only after completing the task prompt, indicating her objective was achieved, did Tong Ling finally leave them alone.

“Alright, on such a delightful day, I shouldn’t have brought up these matters,” Tong Ling nodded satisfactorily at the pair. “Young Master Pei and Miss Mu, you two were quite impressive.”

m577 couldn’t help but snark, “Indeed, impressive! They nearly completed all future tasks within just one day. These tools are more efficient than a collective farm’s workhorse.”

Mu Rongrong watched as Tong Ling sauntered away with graceful poise, seemingly not giving her a second thought. This indifference only intensified Mu Rongrong’s discomfort.

“What was she doing here?” Mu Rongrong asked, stomping her foot in frustration. “How can any woman openly say such things like that in this place?!”

Pei Jing withdrew his arm gently. He knew Mu Rongrong was a good woman, but emotionally, he could not offer her more. “Please don’t speak to her like that again, especially today.”

Taken aback, Mu Rongrong stammered, ”…What do you mean by that?”

“Although you’re my fiancée, I am not solely yours,” Pei Jing replied, his eyes devoid of any guilt or other emotions when looking at Mu Rongrong. “If you love me, please grant me some personal space.”

From Pei Jing’s demeanor alone, Mu Rongrong realized what was implied. “Qu Ling… Lingling… she’s your ex-girlfriend!”

The very ex-girlfriend who had caused Pei Jing to emotionally spiral out of control, leading him to spend nights in that rented apartment.

Pei Jing did not deny it.

“She wants to reconcile with you; have you been wavering?” Mu Rongrong pressed further.

Pei Jing avoided answering directly and simply stated, “There is no other relationship between us. Don’t overthink it.”

“Miss Qu…” Women’s intuition can be exceptionally sharp, and Mu Rongrong felt as if she had stumbled upon a major scandalous revelation. Her face filled with shock, she asked, “Is she your uncle’s girlfriend? Does your uncle know she’s secretly trying to seduce you?!”

”…Enough, let’s not talk about this anymore.” Pei Jing had finally found an opportunity to reconnect with Tong Ling, and he didn’t want Mu Rongrong to jeopardize it. “Let’s pretend nothing happened just now. There’s no need to dwell on it.”

How could Mu Rongrong not be concerned? Not only was that woman trying to seduce her fiancé, but she was also Pei Qing’s nominal girlfriend. If Pei Qing continued his relationship with her, control of the entire Pei Group would slip away from Pei Jing! Moreover, Pei Jing himself still harbored feelings for that woman; he wouldn’t even think about contesting the inheritance then!

Mu Rongrong knew it was crucial to reveal Qu Ling’s true intentions to Pei Qing.

Determined, Mu Rongrong chose a day after the engagement banquet to evade Pei Jing and find Pei Qing alone. Suppressing her nervousness, she approached the head of the Pei Group and said, “U-Uncle, there’s something I need to tell you.”

Pei Qing frowned slightly, puzzled as to why Pei Jing’s fiancée would seek him out individually. “What is it?”

Mu Rongrong glanced around, ensuring Miss Qu wasn’t nearby before speaking. “Miss Qu and my fiancé used to date, Uncle…”

“They have already broken up,” Pei Qing dismissed casually.

“But Miss Qu wants to reconcile with my fiancé. I saw her approaching Pei Jing with my own eyes…” Mu Rongrong quickly added, “Uncle, this woman intends to betray you. I felt compelled to inform you about this!”