Volume One, Chapter 83: Look at Me

Because theirs was a marriage of convenience, the two had never addressed each other as "husband" or "wife" the way ordinary couples did. When Pei Jingmo suddenly uttered the word "wife," Song Qingyu was struck dumb on the spot.

His gaze was clear and unclouded, as if he was truly just hungry and wanted to eat.

Hearing this, Song Yanfeng immediately turned to Song Qingyu and said, "Xiaoyu, Jingmo has come all the way here. If we let him leave hungry, what will people think of our family? What will they think of your mother?"

Song Qingyu glanced at Pei Jingmo, seeking his opinion. He nodded reassuringly, giving her a look that said she need not worry.

But to Chu Xingzhi, watching from the side, this was nothing less than an exchange of secret glances between lovers.

He clenched his fists tightly, his expression darkening.

Meanwhile, Song Xinrui had already opened the gift Chu Xingzhi had brought.

"Wow! Sis—"

Noticing the chill on Song Qingyu’s face, she snorted softly, reluctantly changing her address, "Brother Xingzhi, I’ve wanted this bag for ages but never brought myself to buy it."

Chu Xingzhi smiled faintly. "I guessed you’d like it."

"Dad, Brother Xingzhi also got you your favorite tea set. This set costs even more than my bag. And Mom’s gift is the bird’s nest she’s been wanting to buy for some time."

At these words, Liu Yuer's gaze finally shifted from Pei Jingmo to the gifts.

She smiled at Chu Xingzhi. "Xingzhi, thank you so much."

Song Yanfeng, too, was pleased. "You’re very thoughtful, Xingzhi."

Song Xinrui snorted again. "Compared to this, that bottle of Brain Platinum on the table looks awfully shabby, doesn’t it, Brother Xingzhi?"

Chu Xingzhi knew the Brain Platinum was Song Qingyu’s idea. He replied with a mild smile, "Brain Platinum is good. It’s nourishing for elders."

Song Xinrui: "..."

Is he out of his mind?

She was trying to help Chu Xingzhi, but he was actually speaking up for Pei Jingmo.

Song Qingyu’s face remained emotionless. "If you think it’s too shabby, just take it with you when you leave."

Song Yanfeng immediately interjected, "How could we? It’s the thought that counts."

Chu Xingzhi, worried Song Qingyu might think he was here to cause trouble, hastened to add, "Uncle is right, it’s the gesture that matters."

"Yes, yes, let’s eat," someone called.

Everyone took their seats. Whether intentionally or not, Song Yanfeng arranged for Chu Xingzhi to sit next to Song Qingyu.

Now that Song Yanfeng knew how to curry favor with Song Qingyu, all the dishes Aunt Wang had prepared were her favorites.

Song Qingyu had just picked up her chopsticks to serve herself when both Pei Jingmo and Chu Xingzhi reached for a piece of beef brisket at the same time, each intending to put it in her bowl.

Chu Xingzhi paused for a moment when he noticed Pei Jingmo’s chopsticks.

In that brief moment, Pei Jingmo had already placed the meat into Song Qingyu’s bowl and smiled at her gently. "Eat more."

Song Qingyu noticed Chu Xingzhi’s gesture as well. She turned towards Pei Jingmo, favoring him with a smile. "You too."

Realizing he no longer had the right to serve her food, Chu Xingzhi put the beef into his own bowl instead.

When Pei Jingmo said he wanted dinner, he really meant it. He ate plenty himself and made sure Song Qingyu did too. He seemed to know exactly what she wanted without her having to say a word, always ready to serve her.

Such attentiveness and tacit understanding could only exist between two people deeply in love.

Chu Xingzhi’s face was ashen. Ever since he had tried to drug Pei Jingmo, he and Xiaoyu had not seen each other for a long time.

It had taken him a long time to come to terms with the fact that Xiaoyu and Pei Jingmo had already been together. He tried to console himself: it didn’t matter if he wasn’t her first, as long as she was his in the future.

So when Song Yanfeng called to tell him that Song Qingyu would be visiting today, he dropped everything and hurried over, just to see her, to talk to her more.

But there was no trace of him in her eyes anymore.

Song Yanfeng took it all in and deliberately said to Song Qingyu, "Xiaoyu, now that you’ve established yourself in Tianqi Group, but Xinrui has graduated and hasn’t found a job yet, could you help her get a position at Tianqi Group?"

Song Qingyu refused without even thinking. "I can’t. Tianqi Group isn’t mine; I have no say."

"At least recommend her."

"I can’t. Tianqi Group is very strict. They only want real talent, not dead weight."

Song Xinrui’s face darkened. "Who are you calling dead weight?"

"If you have to ask, you know the answer."

Song Qingyu didn’t look like someone who would trade barbs, but when it came to words, Song Xinrui could never best her. Of course, that was because Song Qingyu had real talent, and Song Xinrui was, in fact, just dead weight.

"Ah—" Song Yanfeng sighed plaintively.

Seeing this, Chu Xingzhi quickly said, "Xinrui is looking for a job?"

Song Xinrui nodded aggrievedly. "It’s not that I can’t find a job, but those companies don’t want fresh graduates with no experience. But if they won’t let me work, how am I supposed to get experience?"

Chu Xingzhi smiled. "That’s easy. I’ll arrange a position for you at Chu Group."

Song Xinrui was overjoyed. "Really?"

"Mmm."

"Wow, Brother Xingzhi, you’re the best. Not like some people who can’t help at all."

Some people were too busy serving their wife to even look up.

"Thank you so much, Xingzhi. Xinrui, there’s a bottle of Moutai in the cabinet. Go get it. With the whole family here, we should have a little celebration."

Pei Jingmo could still be counted as family, but what was Chu Xingzhi?

Song Qingyu frowned, her face darkening. She knew Song Yanfeng had said that on purpose, just to make Pei Jingmo uncomfortable.

Yet Pei Jingmo showed not even a trace of displeasure. When Song Qingyu glanced at him, he even gave her a cheerful smile.

Song Qingyu: "..."

Though they had been together for quite some time, there were still many moments when Song Qingyu couldn’t fathom what Pei Jingmo was really thinking.

When Song Xinrui poured the drinks, Song Yanfeng said, "Pour one for Jingmo too. Jingmo, you can drink, can’t you?"

Song Qingyu was just about to say he didn’t, but Pei Jingmo was already smiling and nodding. "I can."

Deliberately, Song Xinrui poured half a glass for Song Yanfeng and Chu Xingzhi, but filled Pei Jingmo’s to the brim.

Song Qingyu shot her a cold look, but Pei Jingmo smiled and said, "A full glass is a sign of respect. I didn’t expect my dear sister-in-law to think so highly of me. Thank you."

Song Xinrui: "..."

She wanted to retort, Who thinks highly of a penniless laborer like you? But at Song Yanfeng’s warning glance, she swallowed her words.

"On such a wonderful day, let’s all have a drink together," Song Yanfeng said, raising his glass. Song Qingyu picked up her juice and whispered to Pei Jingmo, "Don’t drink too much."

"Alright."

Chu Xingzhi saw how much Song Qingyu cared for Pei Jingmo, and the sourness in his chest threatened to overwhelm him.

After the toast, Song Xinrui declared, "True feelings require a full glass. Dad’s older, so he can take it easy, but you two must finish your drinks in one go."

Pei Jingmo said nothing, downing the entire glass of baijiu without changing expression.

Not to be outdone, Chu Xingzhi also drained his glass.

One bottle of Moutai was quickly emptied.

Pei Jingmo turned to Song Yanfeng and asked with a smile, "Father-in-law, is there more wine?"

Chu Xingzhi, feeling provoked, said coldly, "Uncle Song, let’s bring out two more bottles of Moutai."

Song Yanfeng’s heart bled. One bottle would have been enough for courtesy’s sake, but now they wanted two more.

If it were just Pei Jingmo, he would have refused, but with Chu Xingzhi there, he had no choice but to give him face.

With great reluctance, he fetched two bottles from his oldest stock.

Each man took a bottle.

"Mr. Pei, let me propose a toast to you."

"Let me toast you instead, Mr. Chu. After all, I must thank you for not cherishing her, letting Qingqing become mine."

Chu Xingzhi: "..."

Song Qingyu never expected that Pei Jingmo, who had only said he was hungry and wanted to stay for dinner, would suddenly engage in a drinking contest.

The two of them drank as if their lives depended on it—it was almost frightening.

Worried, she tugged at Pei Jingmo’s sleeve. He’d already had quite a bit, his ears and face flushed red.

Noticing her concern, he bent down and pressed a kiss to her forehead in front of everyone. "Don’t worry, I’m fine."

Chu Xingzhi’s eyes burned with jealousy as he pulled Pei Jingmo into another round.

"Another bottle!"

Song Yanfeng could not bear it any longer. "A little wine is fine, but too much is bad for your health."

Chu Xingzhi was already drunk. Consumed by rage, he wanted nothing more than to teach Pei Jingmo a lesson, heedless of decorum.

"Go get it."

Seeing he was about to lose his temper, Song Yanfeng had no choice but to fetch the last two bottles of Moutai.

The two men finished five bottles between them.

When they left, Song Yanfeng’s face was drained of all color.

He had called Song Qingyu home to make a little profit, but instead ended up losing over ten thousand.

Pei Jingmo was drunk. As Song Qingyu struggled to support him out of the living room, Chu Xingzhi was leaning against the wall, retching uncontrollably.

Song Xinrui patted his back, pinching her nose in disgust and concern. "Brother Xingzhi, are you alright?"

Song Qingyu frowned deeply. If he felt this awful, why drink so much?

A pair of long, elegant fingers turned Song Qingyu’s face toward him. Pei Jingmo, hunched over, enveloped her in his arms, his drunken gaze dark and intense.

"Don’t look at him. Look at me."