Chapter 32: Seen in a New Light

The two sat on the sofa in silence. Having finished its canned food, Coconut seemed to sense the awkward atmosphere and trotted over obediently to lie on the floor between them.

Pei Baoyuan leaned over and stroked the dog. "Ke Xianbai, if I drop the lawsuit against Song Yiren, will you be angry with me?"

Ke Xianbai let out a laugh and countered, "Why would I be angry?"

"Oh," Pei Baoyuan replied. "As long as you're not angry, that's fine."

Whether it was shyness from being caught in a disheveled, half-awake state that morning, or the lingering awkwardness since the incident at the hospital, Ke Xianbai had been exceptionally quiet lately. He stopped responding to her, yet he continued to gaze at her, lost in thought.

Pei Baoyuan’s mind shifted as she began to analyze the situation. "Huo Yanzhi will probably find Song Yiren a top-tier lawyer. Since I didn't suffer any actual physical harm, the chances of Song Yiren facing serious consequences are slim."

"People from Huo Yanzhi's side have been coming to plead with me every other day. I might as well let Song Yiren go; that way, Huo Yanzhi will surely continue to think I'm as easy to manipulate as I used to be."

Ke Xianbai remained silent, staring at his phone, seemingly oblivious to anything else.

Pei Baoyuan paused and blinked. Ke Xianbai gave no reaction.

She continued, "Huo Yanzhi staged quite the grand drama for me. Once Song Yiren is released, I am going to make her kneel and apologize to me. Not only that, but I'll make sure to put on a show of being a loving couple with Huo Yanzhi right in front of her. It would be perfect if it drove her mad. Honestly, I’m quite curious to see how they’ll eventually wrap this all up."

[Yuanbao, stop talking! Ke Xianbai’s face is turning black.]
[I always thought it was a love triangle, but it turns out there are four people involved. Ke Xianbai, you are one deep individual.]
[The world’s most patient man: Ke Xianbai.]

The screen on Ke Xianbai’s phone had remained stagnant for a long time. Seeing the comments, the corners of Pei Baoyuan’s mouth curled upward involuntarily. Her voice turned soft, each syllable seemingly hooked, designed to entangle every inch of Ke Xianbai’s composure.

"Brother Xianbai, what do you think I should do to drive Song Yiren completely crazy?"

"Should I hold Huo Yanzhi’s arm in front of her, or would it be better to kiss him right in her face?"

"Actually, I think getting engaged to Huo Yanzhi would be the most effective way to kill her with rage."

With every word Pei Baoyuan uttered, Ke Xianbai’s expression darkened further.

"Which one do you think is better, Brother Xianbai~?"

Pei Baoyuan rested her chin on her hand, looking at him with an expression of feigned innocence.

[Woman, are you playing with fire?]
[Wait! Hold on! This isn't right! Pei Baoyuan is using Huo Yanzhi to get back at Song Yiren—when did she find out they were together?!]
[I think she just suspects Song Yiren likes Huo Yanzhi. If she knew the two of them were actually together, she definitely wouldn't be talking about getting engaged to him.]
[Huh? Do you all still think the second female lead likes the male lead? I feel like she likes Ke Xianbai more now.]

Pei Baoyuan was entirely focused on Ke Xianbai and completely missed the heated debate in the comments regarding whether she knew about the infidelity and who she truly favored. She watched as Ke Xianbai’s face turned cold, a vein pulsing visibly on his temple.

*Let’s see if you dare to keep acting,* she thought to herself. *Let's see how long you can keep that stiff upper lip.*

Suddenly, she saw his expression soften. He turned his head and said, "Sister Baoyuan, I think all of your ideas are... abso-lutely wonderful."

Ke Xianbai raised his hands and applauded. "If you do all of those things, not only will you drive the mistress mad, but you’ll also make me look at you in a whole new light."

Pei Baoyuan: "..."

Far from hearing admiration, she heard only sharp mockery of her foolish ideas. That wretched Ke Xianbai! She had no intention of touching that toad Huo Yanzhi; she was afraid of catching something gross!

Ke Xianbai’s lips curled into an amused arc. The little girl was still too green if she thought she could provoke him.

Seeing him still able to laugh, a nameless fire ignited in Pei Baoyuan’s chest. She hugged Coconut and grumbled, "Coconut, I think your owner is just too mean—constantly threatening you and refusing to open your cans! Would you like to come live with me instead? I’ll open plenty of delicious cans for you."

Ke Xianbai let out a short laugh, stood up, and patted the dog's head. "Then Coconut can go live with you."

"?" Pei Baoyuan was surprised by how quickly he agreed. Feeling suspicious, she looked up alertly.

"Something has come up in Hong Kong that requires my attention. Since Coconut likes you so much, it’s perfect—you can take him back and help me look after him for a few days." Ke Xianbai began packing the dog's belongings.

Pei Baoyuan nuzzled Coconut. "What do you do with Coconut whenever you go back to Hong Kong?"

"If it's only for a few days, I leave him enough food and water. If it’s for a long time, I have to board him at a friend's place."

Within half an hour, Ke Xianbai had loaded Coconut’s things into Pei Baoyuan’s car. As soon as the door opened, the dog scrambled inside with unbridled excitement.

Ke Xianbai: "..."
"Unfaithful dog."

Coconut, however, was clearly thrilled to be living with the pretty lady, so much so that it couldn't control its excitement, leaning heavily against Pei Baoyuan in the driver's seat.

...

When Pei Baoyuan’s car pulled into her courtyard, she saw a figure standing there from a distance. As she stepped out of the car, Huang Zhenyu hurried forward, eager to curry favor. For days, regardless of the weather, he had shown up like clockwork. The Pei family, being people of status, had not bothered to chase him away.

"Sister-in-law," Huang Zhenyu pleaded, "Yiren has been inside for days now. She realizes her mistakes and promises never to joke around like that again."

Pei Baoyuan opened the back door, let Coconut out, and signaled for the household help to move the dog's things inside, then began leading the dog toward the house.

Huang Zhenyu followed, still pleading. "There are rumors everywhere online, and as a public figure, you know how much this hurts Yiren. I know she was in the wrong this time, but I promise it will never happen again. I beg you, please let her go."

They had sent lawyers and tried mediation, but because of the pressure from the Pei family, the authorities refused to release her. The only way out was for Pei Baoyuan, the victim, to drop the charges; otherwise, not even the gods could help her.

Huang Zhenyu trailed her. Just as Pei Baoyuan was about to enter the house, he dropped to his knees with a thud.

Pei Baoyuan looked down, her expression devoid of emotion. "I already spoke to them an hour ago."

Huang Zhenyu didn't grasp the meaning of her words, but by then, Pei Baoyuan had already led the dog into the house, and further pleas were useless. He had to stop there—any further, and the Pei family would no longer be so polite.

Just then, his phone rang in his pocket.