Chapter 44: Disaster Strikes
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The Imperial Capital.
News of Pei Zongnian’s impending marriage quickly spread throughout their social circle.
From meeting to marriage, less than half a year had passed. Pei Zongnian and Meng Qing were moving at a speed that was practically rocket-like.
Pei Baoyuan flipped through the bridal shop’s catalog, dazzled by the countless styles.
The curtain was drawn aside, and Meng Qing stepped out in a V-neck wedding gown.
Pei Baoyuan’s eyes lit up. She walked around her, admiring the dress from every angle, then exclaimed, “Sister Meng Qing, this gown is gorgeous. It suits you perfectly!”
With one hand covering her chest, Meng Qing blushed at the praise.
More than ten thousand diamonds were set into the gown, sparkling brilliantly beneath the lights.
She glanced at the hem and said, “I still think the satin gown from earlier is better. This one doesn’t really suit me.”
“What doesn’t suit you?” Pei Baoyuan protested. “You look stunning in it!”
“...It looks too extravagant. It isn’t appropriate. I’d better go change.”
Pei Baoyuan immediately understood what Meng Qing meant and hurried to stop her. “Change? Why change? There’s no need. Sister Meng Qing, you don’t have to be so cautious. Marriage is one of the most important events in a woman’s life, so of course you should choose the gown you like best. You don’t need to worry about my brother.”
“What kind of man makes his own wife sacrifice for his reputation?”
“I’ll send the pictures to my brother and let him choose too.”
Pei Baoyuan sent Pei Zongnian pictures of every wedding gown Meng Qing had tried on. She thought that if her brother’s eyes were working properly, he would definitely choose the last one.
If he did not choose that gown, she would give him a thorough scolding.
He might be a little dull in conversation, but surely his taste could not be that bad too, right?
Pei Zongnian was probably very busy. Only after Meng Qing had been persuaded to try on several more gowns did his reply finally arrive.
Pei Baoyuan showed Meng Qing the chat history on her phone.
When Meng Qing finished reading it, her face was filled with irrepressible happiness and laughter.
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Pei Zongnian did not directly say which gown he had chosen. He had simply selected the final picture and said that it looked beautiful. His meaning was obvious enough.
After trying on the wedding gowns, the two women continued shopping for quite some time. They ate out before carrying their many purchases to the car and heading home.
Meng Qing handed over a jewelry set they had bought that day. “Thank you for accompanying me to try on wedding gowns today.”
“Sister-in-law, you’re being too formal. Besides, if anyone should thank me, it should be Big Brother. What kind of groom doesn’t accompany his bride while she tries on wedding gowns?”
Pei Zongnian’s work made it difficult for him to get away. Someone from above had happened to come down for an inspection recently, leaving him completely unable to spare the time.
Meng Qing had thought of this long before choosing Pei Zongnian. Aside from being too busy with work, he was excellent in every other respect.
In any case, families like theirs could never escape arranged marriages for business reasons. So why not choose someone who was pleasing to look at? And Pei Zongnian’s busyness was still preferable to his spending his days out seeking pleasure.
Meng Qing nevertheless pressed the gift into Pei Baoyuan’s arms. “Then consider it a first-meeting gift from your sister-in-law.”
After Meng Qing insisted several times, Pei Baoyuan accepted it without hesitation and joked, “I’ll still be asking Big Brother for a present later, you know~”
The moment Pei Baoyuan finished speaking, the driver suddenly wrenched the steering wheel. Caught by the force of inertia, Pei Baoyuan tipped toward Meng Qing.
The driver in front could not help cursing, “Damn it, does he even know how to drive?”
Then he called back anxiously, “I’m sorry, Miss. Are you all right? The driver in the next lane suddenly cut in front of us.”
Pei Baoyuan had collided with Meng Qing, but fortunately neither of them was injured.
The off-road vehicle that had just cut them off was half a car length behind. In any case, it looked remarkably relaxed.
Pei Baoyuan frowned. She could not shake the feeling that the vehicle harbored ill intentions.
“Let’s fasten our seat belts in the back too. Uncle Wang, drive faster. We’ll shake that car off.”
About five minutes later, Pei Baoyuan’s frown deepened.
The off-road vehicle behind them was tailing them. When they sped up, it sped up too; when they slowed down, it slowed down as well. No matter what they did, it remained exactly half a car length behind.
“Uncle Wang, turn right at the next intersection.”
Turning right would take them away from the road leading back to the Pei residence.
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Uncle Wang had worked for the Pei family for many years and had seen all kinds of situations. He quickly followed Pei Baoyuan’s instruction and turned right.
The off-road vehicle turned as well during the final two seconds before the light changed.
Even Meng Qing sensed that something was wrong.
She was unfamiliar with the roads of the Imperial Capital. She did not know where they were headed, nor what the off-road vehicle that had followed them all this way intended to do.
“I’ll call your brother.”
But just as she took out her phone, the off-road vehicle behind them accelerated and slammed into their rear.
The phone flew away and fell into the gap between the seats. Fortunately, the two women in the back were wearing seat belts and were not thrown forward.
The driver had hit the brakes the moment they were struck, but the vehicle behind them continued accelerating, forcing their car forward.
Through the rear window, Pei Baoyuan caught sight of half the off-road driver’s face.
He was a buzz-cut man, his eyes filled with unmistakable savagery.
Pei Baoyuan had never seen him before, let alone formed some sort of mortal grudge that would make him try to kill her in such a manner.
At that very moment, a black Hummer roared toward them from the intersection.
Its target was clear. It rammed the off-road vehicle into a flower bed at the roadside, allowing the three of them to finally get out of the car.
The barrage of comments before their eyes erupted once again.
“Pei Baoyuan was attacked by an off-road vehicle in the Imperial Capital, while Ke Xianbai was attacked by a gang in Harbor City. This is truly getting exciting.”
“I just started shipping this couple. Please don’t die on us first. I’m begging you both.”
“Waaah, these two poor little unlucky souls. If Ke Yicheng didn’t do this, I’ll wash my hair standing on my head, all right?!”
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