Chapter 20: A Certain Man and His Brother’s Wife

“I’ve taken the car in for maintenance,” Ke Xianbo said matter-of-factly. “I’ll take a quick nap; wake me when we arrive.”

Then Pei Baoyuan watched him close his eyes without a word.

Pei Baoyuan: “...”

She parted her lips, but found herself at a loss for words.

Silently, Pei Baoyuan started the car.

There weren’t many vehicles on the road at this hour, so she should reach the address Ke Xianbo provided fairly quickly. Yet, as expected, every traffic light turned red along the way.

The car’s interior was quiet, save for Ke Xianbo’s soft breathing.

Pei Baoyuan glanced sideways. Ke Xianbo was leaning against the seatback, his hair a bit long, with stray strands naturally falling over his forehead, casting shadows over half of it. The mole obediently rested on the tip of his nose.

Ke Xianbo looked quite peaceful when asleep.

At least, when sleeping, that mouth wouldn’t utter anything infuriating.

Such a handsome man, if only he didn’t have that mouth.

Perhaps sleeping in the car was uncomfortable, for Ke Xianbo suddenly shifted his position, his head tilting slightly toward the window.

Pei Baoyuan startled and quickly turned her head away. Just then, the light turned green, and she refocused on driving, unaware that at the moment she turned, the corner of the passenger’s mouth curved upward slightly.

After half an hour, Pei Baoyuan finally arrived at Ke Xianbo’s home in the capital.

It was a delicately crafted small Western-style house, with low fences adorned by strings of lights. The enclosed yard boasted a large lawn—the place from which the earlier video was likely filmed.

Ke Xianbo’s timing was impeccable; as soon as the engine shut off, he slowly woke up.

“We’re here,” Pei Baoyuan signaled for him to get out.

Before Ke Xianbo could step out, Coco suddenly darted out from the yard. Agilely, the dog jumped into the passenger seat, claiming the spot.

Pei Baoyuan: “...”

Coco stuck out her tongue, blinking cutely at Pei Baoyuan, who couldn’t resist reaching out to stroke the dog’s head.

Ke Xianbo rested his elbow on the door, smiling as he watched the interaction between the two inside the car.

After a while, Pei Baoyuan said, “Why don’t you take her inside?”

Coco wasn’t wearing a leash, so Ke Xianbo patted her and said, “Coco, come home with me.”

Pretending not to hear, Coco ignored him completely.

“Coco, if you don’t get down, no canned food for you tonight,” Ke Xianbo threatened.

The clever Samoyed wasn’t fooled at all. To resist, she threw her entire body onto Pei Baoyuan, who was behind the wheel.

Pei Baoyuan was caught in a furry embrace, nearly swallowing some of Coco’s fur.

Ke Xianbo: “...”

Pei Baoyuan: “...”

After a moment, Ke Xianbo resigned, “Why don’t you get out and play with her for a bit?”

After all, Coco was an adult dog, and being pinned down for too long made it hard for Pei Baoyuan to breathe.

After thinking for a moment, she nodded and opened the driver’s door.

Apparently understanding their conversation, Coco obediently got down and sat by Pei Baoyuan’s feet, waiting patiently.

From the moment Pei Baoyuan stepped out to entering the house, Coco stayed close, only bounding happily over to Ke Xianbo’s side once fully inside the yard.

Pei Baoyuan took in the yard’s layout.

A pebble pathway led from the gate to the main door, with the rest of the ground covered in grass and a man-made water feature. There were no flowers planted, only an old osmanthus tree that seemed to have been there for years. Beneath it was a luxurious doghouse made from natural wood, belonging to Coco.

The dog and its owner huddled on the doorstep, whispering to each other.

Pei Baoyuan paid little attention, simply appreciating how comfortable the yard was. She hadn’t expected Ke Xianbo to decorate the house so tastefully.

She followed him inside and sat down.

While Ke Xianbo went to the kitchen, the live chat exploded.

“Ahhh, Ke Xianbo just told Coco in the yard he’s going to reward her with three cans!!!”

“Because Coco tricked you into coming, he wants to reward her with three cans. The male lead’s motives aren’t pure!!!”

“Ke Xianbo just wants you to stay! This guy is so scheming!”

“Looking at his cousin’s girlfriend and now trying to sneakily steal his sister-in-law—male lead, tell me, is this right?”

Pei Baoyuan was utterly stunned.

When Ke Xianbo returned with a can of lemon soda, he noticed her dazed expression and mischievously pressed the cold, condensation-covered can against her face.

“What are you spacing out for?”

The chilly can brought Pei Baoyuan back to her senses. Calmly, she took the soda from him and opened it.

She needed to cool down.

Ke Xianbo was surprised by her calm reaction—no flare-ups, no fuss.

Pei Baoyuan drank half the can in one go, noticing that Ke Xianbo averted his gaze nervously whenever he looked at her.

Thankfully, Coco was still around. Pei Baoyuan played with the dog’s toys for a while but her mind kept wandering back to the comments.

Was any of it true?

Should she find a chance to test Ke Xianbo?

But how?

What method could she use?

Coco sensed Pei Baoyuan’s distraction and whined softly, nudging into her lap.

“Good girl, Coco. It’s getting late; I have to go now. I’ll play with you again next time, okay?” Pei Baoyuan decided to head home first. Ke Xianbo was too distracting when she tried to think.

This time, Ke Xianbo heartlessly took Coco from her arms.

“Woof...” Don’t separate me from the pretty lady!

To prevent any stubbornness, Ke Xianbo coldly locked Coco in her crate.

“Woof...”

Coco looked up at Pei Baoyuan with tearful eyes, making her feel a pang of sympathy.

But it was indeed late. Pei Baoyuan said goodbye reluctantly, “Be good. I’ll bring you treats next time I visit.”

Ke Xianbo stood nearby with his hands in his pockets.

“Our Coco is nearing retirement age. I want her to be happy always, so don’t deceive her. She’s very intuitive; she knows when you’re lying and it will hurt her.”

Pei Baoyuan twitched her mouth and shot him a glance. “I’ll keep my word, heart and mouth aligned. I hope some people do the same.”

After seeing her to the gate, Ke Xianbo glanced at the time and said, “It’s not good for a girl to go home alone so late. I’ll see you off.”

Pei Baoyuan couldn’t believe what she’d just heard. “Then what was the point of me giving you a ride?!”

Ke Xianbo insisted, “I’ll drop you off, then take a cab back.”

Pei Baoyuan: “.......”

Why didn’t you just take a cab back yourself earlier?

[Spoiler confirmed! Spoiler confirmed!]

[Shocking! This man and his 'sister-in-law' doing all sorts of things late at night!]

[Male lead, you’re about to be cuckolded by your brother! Female lead, let’s get ready to become Mrs. Huo!]

In the same car, with the same two people—only this time, Ke Xianbo was behind the wheel.

Stepping out, Pei Baoyuan’s expression was complicated. “You... good night.”

On the way back, Ke Xianbo stared out the window, deep in thought.

What should she test him about...