Volume One, Chapter 66: A Perfect Match

Sheng Yuru had long since heard that Song Qingyu would be coming to Ocean World. That was precisely why she arranged her date with Chu Xingzhi here—she wanted Song Qingyu to know that Chu Xingzhi was already hers.

Yet Chu Xingzhi left her extremely disappointed and angry. Song Qingyu was already a married woman, and still, he couldn't stop thinking about her. When she saw Chu Xingzhi leave in a jealous huff over Song Qingyu and her husband, Sheng Yuru hurried after him.

“Are you still not willing to let go? Song Qingyu doesn’t love you anymore. Her whole heart belongs to her new husband now.”

Every word from Sheng Yuru stabbed at Chu Xingzhi’s fragile heart. He turned on her and shouted, “Shut up!”

“I won’t! I haven’t said anything wrong. You’re the one deceiving yourself, refusing to admit the truth!”

Chu Xingzhi’s face twisted with fury and jealousy, his fists clenched tight. “Even so, it has nothing to do with you!”

Sheng Yuru exploded at that, grabbing his arm in anger. “How can it have nothing to do with me? I like you—I don’t want to see you destroy yourself over Song Qingyu.”

Chu Xingzhi frowned and pulled his hand free. “I only like Xiaoyu. Don’t waste your time on me.”

A sneer escaped Sheng Yuru’s lips, cold and mocking. “If you like Song Qingyu so much, then why did you cheat with that woman?”

Her eyes softened abruptly, her voice turning gentle and caring. “Xingzhi, Song Qingyu can’t tolerate the slightest stain in her heart. You slept with another woman—she’ll never forgive you. But I’m not like her. Any man can make mistakes. As long as you stay by my side, I can forgive everything you’ve done.”

Chu Xingzhi stared at Sheng Yuru for a long moment. How he wished Xiaoyu would say such words to him. But, unfortunately—

“Unfortunately, you’re not Xiaoyu.”

The way he spoke her name, again and again, finally drove Sheng Yuru past the point of anger. She was just about to retort when, by chance, she saw Song Qingyu on the phone.

Noticing Song Qingyu walking their way, Sheng Yuru’s eyes flashed, and she turned to Chu Xingzhi. “Kiss me!”

Chu Xingzhi froze, his brow furrowing. “Are you out of your mind?”

He turned to leave, but Sheng Yuru whipped out her phone. “I’ll give you one more chance. Kiss me, or I’ll call my cousin and tell him we lied to him last time—that you were never my boyfriend.”

Chu Xingzhi stopped dead in his tracks.

“My cousin might blame me, but at most he’ll just scold me. You, on the other hand, will face far worse.”

Chu Xingzhi glared at Sheng Yuru, his fury barely contained. Only he knew how hard things had been lately. He had finally secured the infrastructure project to save the Chu Group—he could not let it all go to waste.

Sheng Yuru arched her brow, waving her phone with a threat clear in her eyes.

A kiss—was that all?

He steeled himself, gritted his teeth, and pulled Sheng Yuru into his arms, kissing her.

Chu Xingzhi was merely completing a task, but in Sheng Yuru’s mind, fireworks exploded in excitement. Heaven knew how long she had waited for this moment.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, eager to deepen the kiss, but Chu Xingzhi suddenly pushed her away.

He seemed to catch sight of Song Qingyu—his face, besides shock, clouded with anxiety and panic.

“Xiaoyu—”

He called out unconsciously, instinctively wanting to rush over and explain.

But Song Qingyu turned to Pei Jingmo with a smile he hadn’t seen in so long. “Let’s go.”

Seeing Chu Xingzhi and Sheng Yuru kiss no longer stirred anything within Song Qingyu. She had weathered her darkest, most desperate days. Now, she and Chu Xingzhi were simply people whose paths had diverged—his affairs were no longer her concern.

What drew her attention was Pei Jingmo’s worried gaze. She handed him a peppermint candy. “I’m fine. But you look like you’re craving a cigarette—have a mint instead.”

“Alright,” Pei Jingmo replied softly, taking the candy from her hand and placing it in his mouth.

The warmth of his lips brushed her cool, delicate fingertips, sending a shiver through them both.

Song Qingyu, as if shocked by electricity, quickly withdrew her hand, her ears burning.

At the entrance of Ocean World, Chu Xingzhi finally caught up with Song Qingyu. “Xiaoyu, I need to talk to you.”

Before Song Qingyu could reply, he glanced at Pei Jingmo. “It’s just a few words. He wouldn’t be so petty, would he?”

Pei Jingmo’s expression darkened, and Song Qingyu didn’t want him to misunderstand.

To her surprise, Pei Jingmo said, “Qingqing, go ahead. I’ll wait here for you.”

Song Qingyu was momentarily stunned. Chu Xingzhi had already pulled her aside.

“Xiaoyu, it’s not what you think with Sheng Yuru and me. I’m not with her—it’s just that I need to—”

“There’s no need to explain any of this to me,” Song Qingyu interrupted coldly.

“Whether you and Sheng Yuru are truly in love or just using each other, it’s none of my business.”

Chu Xingzhi looked as though a bucket of cold water had been dumped over his head, his whole body frozen in place.

Sheng Yuru watched the two talking in the distance, her eyes filled with jealousy and resentment. She turned to the man beside her, her tone biting. “You really are generous, letting your wife chat privately with her ex.”

Pei Jingmo’s gentle gaze rested on Song Qingyu. “I trust her.”

“Hmph—though I hate to admit Song Qingyu’s excellence, for a poor migrant worker like you to marry someone like her, your ancestors must be blessing you.”

“You’d better hold on to Song Qingyu tightly. Don’t let another man steal her away.”

Whatever little schemes Sheng Yuru harbored, Pei Jingmo saw straight through them.

“Miss Sheng, perhaps you should worry more about yourself.”

Sheng Yuru snorted, staring daggers at Chu Xingzhi. “He’ll be mine sooner or later.”

“Only when you marry him will he truly be yours,” Pei Jingmo said casually.

That remark suddenly lit up Sheng Yuru’s eyes.

Of course—how could she have forgotten about marriage?

On the way back, Song Qingyu sat in the car in silence for a long time before finally turning to Pei Jingmo. “When you let me go talk privately with Chu Xingzhi, what were you really thinking?”

She paused, then added, “I want to hear your honest answer.”

Pei Jingmo pressed his lips together, saying nothing.

Song Qingyu’s expression grew serious. “Did you think I still liked Chu Xingzhi and wanted to give us a chance?”

Only then did Pei Jingmo reply, “I just didn’t want you to have any regrets.”

Song Qingyu suddenly realized that in this area, she might have communicated too little with Pei Jingmo.

She turned to face him, speaking solemnly. “Then listen carefully.”

“First, I never do anything I’ll regret.”

“Second, we are husband and wife. I expect you to be loyal to me, just as I will be loyal to you.”

“Third, in the future, don’t do things you don’t want to do. I don’t need you to be so magnanimous.”

Pei Jingmo nodded obediently. “Understood.”

His face was as calm as ever, but inside, he was brimming with joy.

He understood Song Qingyu’s character, and he knew that nothing Chu Xingzhi said would ever make her forgive him. That was why he had acted so tolerant. What he wanted was not only for Chu Xingzhi to give up completely, but more importantly, for Qingqing to feel concern for him.

No one knew better than him what strategy to use at what time.

After a long day, Song Qingyu was exhausted. She showered and went straight to bed.

Pei Jingmo, after his shower, was just considering whether to “sleepwalk” over and hold his wife when his phone suddenly rang.

It was Old Master Gu calling.

“How are things going with Rongrong lately?”

“Not well. I don’t like her.”

“Feelings can be cultivated over time. Rongrong is a good girl and a good match for you.”

“A good match?” Pei Jingmo looked out at the pitch-black sky, a mocking curve on his lips. “A good match in what? Family background? Status? Wealth?”

“Whatever it is, she’s the only suitable choice for your wife!”

“I won’t—”

Before he could finish, the old man cut him off. “You’ve spent so long in the military—finding a woman to have fun with is one thing, but when it comes to marriage, you’ll do as I say!”

His eyes turned icy in an instant. “And if I refuse?”

“You can try.”