Chapter 7: She Has Forgotten You Completely, Yet You Still Dwell on Her—Can't You Be Stronger?

On the day of Ms. Song Xuanling’s fifty-fifth birthday, due to the special circumstances of the Pei family, only close friends and relatives were invited for a modest gathering.

There was no grand celebration, but early in the morning, Pei Baoyuan dragged her mother to get ready, determined to make Ms. Song Xuanling the most dazzling presence at the event.

As evening fell, guests arrived one after another. Huo Yanci was among the earliest, arriving a full half hour before even the Huo family members.

Upon arrival, he presented a costly necklace, his words honeyed and flattering, bringing a radiant smile to Mrs. Pei’s face.

When new guests appeared, Mrs. Pei waved them off, saying, "Enough, go find Baoyuan. It’s better for you young people to chat and catch up."

Huo Yanci was just waiting to hear that.

He found Pei Baoyuan in the courtyard, speaking with her aunt, Song Xuanli.

Song Xuanli was the younger sister of Pei Baoyuan’s mother, Song Xuanling, and currently the head of the Song Group, a veritable legend in the imperial capital.

In earlier days, everyone in the capital said that the Song sisters were the key to inheriting the family fortune—whoever married either sister would gain control of the vast Song empire.

By the generation of Song Xuanling and Song Xuanli, the family was in its fifth generation of business, with assets spanning both domestic and overseas markets, a testament to their immense wealth.

After the elder sister married, the younger gradually took over the family business upon coming of age. At first, many in the capital showed interest in Song Xuanli, but she grew weary of the attention and publicly declared herself a lifelong bachelor, never marrying.

“Come by the company when you have time, Auntie has something to give you,” Song Xuanli said quickly, changing the subject upon seeing Huo Yanci approach. “Hello, Little Huo. Long time no see.”

Huo Yanci immediately dropped the slick charm he had displayed with Mrs. Pei, presenting himself as a proper heir and greeting her respectfully. “Hello, Auntie. I came to see Yuanyuan.”

Song Xuanli offered a formal smile. “I heard you’ve started taking over the group recently and even secured a partnership with JT Group from Port City. Not bad, making progress.”

“You flatter me, Auntie. Taking over early is also so that…” Huo Yanci glanced at Pei Baoyuan with affection, “…I can marry Yuanyuan sooner.”

Pei Baoyuan smiled in return.

Song Xuanli smiled but made no comment.

“Alright, you two chat. I’ll go check on my sister.”

Once alone, Huo Yanci began to get handsy with Pei Baoyuan.

Holding her hand, he said, “Yuanyuan, we haven’t seen each other for days. You haven’t come looking for me.”

A chill ran down Pei Baoyuan’s spine.

She thought, I’m not coming to you so you can have your affairs on the side, and yet you blame me?

“Yueyue said you’ve been busy with work. I didn’t want to bother you.”

Huo Yanci was pleased by this and moved closer, his breath brushing her cheek. “As long as it’s you, it’s never a bother.”

[Is there any dish soap? Sorry, this is getting greasy—I need to urgently remove the oiliness.]

[Wait a minute, didn’t the male lead break his leg and have it in a cast? How come it’s only been two weeks and he’s walking normally? The male lead aura is strong.]

[I don’t want what the author thinks, I want what I think. The male lead is really hard to judge.]

[When he kissed the heroine, I didn’t feel uncomfortable, but when he gets close to the secondary female lead, I feel like rushing up to slap him.]

At this moment, Pei Baoyuan just wanted to shout, “I agree.”

“Yuanyuan, we…”

In her eyes, Huo Yanci’s face seemed to grow larger and larger.

Just as his lips came within an inch of her cheek, a white Samoyed suddenly leapt out from behind him and bit his pant leg with a howl.

Pei Baoyuan turned her face away.

Looking down, she saw the Samoyed holding Huo Yanci’s trouser leg and sitting obediently on the ground.

“Coconut,”

The dog’s owner, sporting flamboyant hair, strolled over casually with hands in pockets, squatted down, and patted the dog’s head. “No running off next time.”

Ke Xianbo picked up the dog’s leash. “Oh, sorry to interrupt your romantic talk. Coconut, say sorry to brother and sister.”

“Woof, woof.”

Pei Baoyuan was speechless.

Though disappointed, Huo Yanci didn’t dare blame Ke Xianbo. “Coconut? Bro, your dog’s grown so much. Last time I saw him, he was just a little pup. Does he remember me since he bit my pants?”

Ke Xianbo said, “Of course. Our Coconut’s memory is way better than some people’s.”

Pei Baoyuan was left wondering who exactly Ke Xianbo was sarcastically referring to.

[I declare the best way to remove grease is to pet a puppy!]

[That puppy looks familiar, kind of like the dog in the portrait in the secondary female lead’s room yesterday, though a plus version.]

[You know, I really feel like there’s some connection between Pei Baoyuan and Ke Xianbo. Did I miss something? I need to go back and reread.]

Pei Baoyuan lowered her gaze to the Samoyed named Coconut, who sat obediently by Ke Xianbo’s feet. The dog’s ears twitched as if sensing her gaze and looked up to meet her eyes.

At dusk, for a full half minute, the girl and the dog stared at each other in the courtyard.

Suddenly, Coconut stood and moved toward Pei Baoyuan. Unlike before when it had bitten Huo Yanci’s pants, it now nuzzled affectionately against her feet.

Pei Baoyuan’s heart melted instantly.

She knelt down to stroke the dog’s head. Coconut’s fur was impeccably groomed and glossy, clearly well cared for by its owner.

Encouraged by her touch, Coconut eagerly licked Pei Baoyuan’s face, only to be pulled back by its owner holding the leash.

Ke Xianbo scolded, “Coconut, this lady has makeup on her face. Don’t you know makeup is poisonous? Lick it and you’ll be sick.”

The dog whimpered, “Woof...” but thought, “She smells nice!”

Pei Baoyuan was puzzled.

“Coconut, Coconut, I’m not wearing makeup. You can lick me,” Huo Yanci eagerly leaned in.

“Woof, woof!” Coconut turned away in disdain and returned to Ke Xianbo’s side, looking longingly at Pei Baoyuan.

As the sunset glow faded, night fell as expected. Guests continued to arrive, some entering the courtyard. Pei Baoyuan, uninterested in Ke Xianbo’s childish antics, walked straight into the house.

Huo Yanci intended to stick close to her and hurried to catch up.

Coconut took a few steps forward but was pulled back by its sharp-tongued owner, looking pitifully at the direction Pei Baoyuan had gone, whining softly.

Ke Xianbo was frustrated. “She’s already forgotten you, and you’re still hung up? Can’t you be tougher?”

“Xianbo.”

Ke Xianbo turned around to see Song Xuanli approaching in the courtyard’s lamplight.

“Auntie.”

Song Xuanli glanced in the direction Pei Baoyuan had left, a mysterious smile playing in her eyes.

“When did you return from Port City? Is everything alright over there?”

“Half a month ago. Don’t worry, I can handle it.”

“That’s good. I have some matters I want to discuss with you. When are you free?”

“Whenever you need, I’m available.”

Song Xuanli teased, “Looks like I’m quite popular—people outside can’t get an appointment with Little General Ke.”

Ke Xianbo softened his demeanor, merely smiling at her teasing without reply.

After a long pause, Song Xuanli sighed.

“…Let’s go, it’s almost time. Let’s head inside together.”