Volume One, Chapter 44: Exposed

The moment Song Qingyu saw Fu Linhan, only two words echoed in her mind.

It’s over.

She could get Pei Jingmo to impersonate Gu Yuandong and fool Song Yanfeng and Song Xinrui, but there was no way she could fool Fu Linhan.

Fu Linhan and Gu Yuandong had grown up together. He would instantly recognize that this was not Gu Yuandong.

Without time to think, she dragged Pei Jingmo into a nearby empty private room and shut the door in a hurry.

Pei Jingmo feigned ignorance. “What’s—”

“Shh!” Song Qingyu quickly covered his mouth. “Fu Linhan, you must know him since you once saved him. He’s Gu Yuandong’s good friend. If he finds out we’re impersonating Gu Yuandong and putting on this charade, we’re finished.”

Because of her motion, Song Qingyu was practically draped over Pei Jingmo.

Pressed so close together, Pei Jingmo caught her unique scent—a blend of her own fragrance and the sweet freshness of gardenia laundry detergent—intoxicating and alluring.

His large hand instinctively settled on her slender waist, pulling her even closer, making their bodies fit seamlessly together.

Song Qingyu, on edge, didn’t notice Pei Jingmo’s gesture.

Nor did she see him take out his phone and send a message to Fu Linhan.

“Playing the ‘fake prince’ game with my wife. Don’t give us away.”

Fu Linhan was still puzzled when Pei Jingmo’s message arrived, leaving him thoroughly exasperated.

Fine, fine, fine—

So this was all to indulge his wife?

Forsaking friends for love was one thing, but now he was being force-fed dog food too.

Outrageous!

“The land at the innovation park is mine.”

“Deal.”

Landing such a bargain just by coming out for dinner, Fu Linhan was in excellent spirits.

He pocketed his phone, walked to the door of the room they’d entered, and deliberately said in a loud voice, “Tonight…the moon is even brighter than last night.”

Someone beside him chimed in, “The sixteenth night’s moon is always rounder than the fifteenth!”

“Well said! Tonight, we won’t go home until we’re drunk!”

Song Qingyu strained her ears, listening closely to the commotion outside.

Phew…

So he was just talking about the moon…

It seemed Fu Linhan hadn’t spotted them.

After the group passed by, Song Qingyu finally let out a heavy sigh.

What a fright!

Only then did she realize she was practically sprawled on top of Pei Jingmo, his body warmth seeping continuously into her own.

Their posture was uncomfortably intimate.

She cleared her throat awkwardly and quickly stepped away. “We…can’t let Fu Linhan find out.”

Pei Jingmo’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “Mm.”

This was no place to linger. Song Qingyu grabbed Pei Jingmo and hurried out of the restaurant.

At the entrance, as Song Qingyu was about to hail a cab, Pei Jingmo tugged her sleeve. “Wait.”

“Hm? What’s wrong?”

Before she could finish, a waiter jogged over with two bags, stopping in front of them. “Enjoy your meal.”

Pei Jingmo took the bags and said, “Thank you.”

Song Qingyu was surprised. “You bought these? When did you do that?”

“Just now…”

“Are you crazy? The food here is so expensive, and you bought so much—where did you get the money?”

“I put it on Song Yanfeng’s tab.”

Song Qingyu paused, then slapped Pei Jingmo excitedly. “Well done! I never thought you’d pull something like this.”

“As long as it makes you happy, I’ll do anything.”

Meeting Pei Jingmo’s gentle, affectionate gaze, Song Qingyu’s heart skipped a beat.

There it was again.

This straightforward man always managed to make her heart flutter without even trying.

It was maddening!

“Well… The dishes here are only good when they’re hot. If they get cold, they lose their flavor. There’s a pavilion over there—let’s sit and eat before we go home.”

“Whatever you say.”

Song Qingyu: …

When they reached the pavilion, Pei Jingmo asked, “Can you help me take off the mask and wig?”

Remembering how uncomfortable it must be, Song Qingyu immediately helped him remove the mask.

Maybe she’d gotten too into her role tonight, but for a moment, as she peeled the mask away, she felt as if she were unveiling the one on Gu Yuandong’s face.

The mask was lifted slowly.

Pei Jingmo’s sharply defined, handsome face was revealed, and Song Qingyu inexplicably felt a sense of relief. “All done. You worked hard today.”

“It wasn’t hard at all.”

They opened the boxes and took out the food. All their favorite dishes were there, which made Song Qingyu genuinely happy.

“Why did you suddenly buy so much food? Didn’t you eat enough just now?”

“It’s you who didn’t eat.”

Song Qingyu was taken aback, then remembered how preoccupied she’d been with Xin Qiao earlier to care about eating.

So, he’d bought it for her.

Curious, she asked, “Jingmo, how many girlfriends have you had before?”

A flicker crossed Pei Jingmo’s eyes—was his Qingyu finally curious about him?

“None.”

“Not even one?”

“Not one.”

“Then how are you so considerate?”

Didn’t they say a man’s thoughtfulness was taught by many women?

Pei Jingmo always put her first—gentle and attentive, nothing like a man who’d been single for thirty years.

He smiled faintly. “I don’t know what it means to be considerate. I just know you’re my wife, and I want to be good to you.”

Song Qingyu nodded. “I see.”

Pei Jingmo was a man with a strong sense of responsibility. Since they were married now, he believed he ought to treat her well.

Pei Jingmo studied her expression, frowning slightly. Had she really understood? She didn’t look like she had!

Because her stomach hadn’t fully recovered, Pei Jingmo had bought her porridge and crystal shrimp dumplings.

The porridge was soft and flavorful, truly delicious.

The dumplings, with their tender yet springy skins and sweet shrimp filling, were a perfect combination—one bite left a lingering taste.

Pei Jingmo enjoyed watching Song Qingyu eat. She was too thin; he wanted to fatten her up a bit.

“You have some too.”

“Mm.”

It was her first time picnicking outdoors, and she’d just won back Xin Qiao—Song Qingyu couldn’t have been happier.

After the meal, she glanced up at the sky. “Tonight’s moon really is brighter than yest—”

Suddenly—

“Can I kiss you?”

“Why?”

“Because I want to.”

“You think you can just because you want to?”

“You can do anything you want to me, too!”

Song Qingyu: !!!

All the things she’d forgotten in her drunken, feverish haze came rushing back at once.

She thought of Pei Jingmo kissing her, two of them beneath the moonlight, and her face turned as red as the evening clouds.

This really was going to be the end of her!

On the way home, Song Qingyu wished she could bury her head inside her coat. As soon as she got in, she locked herself in her room.

They’d agreed it was just a fake marriage, so why had she let him kiss her?

She looked at her hand—

With her other hand, she gave it a light smack. It was all your fault for patting his head! After patting it, how could you refuse a kiss? That just wouldn’t be right!

Thankfully, Pei Jingmo hadn’t brought up what had happened the night before, or she’d have died of embarrassment!

Her phone suddenly rang. It was Xie Liuzheng calling to check on her.

“Everything went smoothly. I’ve got Xin Qiao in my hands.”

“Song Yanfeng didn’t suspect a thing?”

“Not at all. You should’ve seen how much Pei Jingmo looked like Gu Yuandong—Song Yanfeng turned into a sycophant the moment he saw him.”

Xie Liuzheng was silent for a few seconds. “Xiaoyu…don’t you think Pei Jingmo and Gu Yuandong are just too much alike? Even if someone’s pretending, there’s no way they could fool everyone so completely, right?”

“Hm? What do you mean?”

“I suspect Pei Jingmo and Gu Yuandong might actually be the same person.”