WBSGVS Chapter 32 V2

“Ah!” Another scream joined the chorus, Pei Qi’s even more shrill than her daughter’s.

Qingli kicked her, sending both mother and daughter tumbling together.

Suddenly, a furious shout rang out, “What are you doing?!”

Qingli looked up to see Pei Rong storming into the room, his face dark with anger. He glanced around at the mess—his sister and niece lying on the floor, disheveled and pitiful. His eye twitched, and he glared at the girl before him. “Don’t think that just because my father spoils you, you can act lawlessly!”

Qingli smiled. “Uncle, I’m only getting revenge. Wen Shi picked up a few PUA tactics from her dad and decided to try them out on me, so I’m just paying her back.”

Pei Rong: “???”

He was baffled for a moment, then turned and asked, “What’s this about PUA?”

Pei Qi looked equally confused and shrieked, “Nonsense! What are you talking about? My Shi Shi is still a child!”

Wen Shi, still sniffling, hurriedly nodded in agreement. “Yeah, I just came here to hang out!”

Pei Rong glanced at his sister and niece, then turned back to Qingli. “What do you have to say?”

In a sweet voice, Qingli replied, “No problem. I recorded everything. Even if they deny it, the recording should speak for itself.”

She pulled out her phone and pressed play. At first, there was only the sound of writing, but soon Wen Shi’s voice could be heard. It started innocently enough, but quickly shifted into manipulative talk. Then, after Qingli resisted, Wen Shi’s frustration and implied confessions became apparent…

Pei Rong’s face darkened as he listened, casting a deep glance at Qingli. “I understand now. Wen Shi was in the wrong, but Qingli, you’ve already gotten your revenge. How about deleting the recording and letting this matter go?”

His casual attitude towards the situation stood in stark contrast to the intense interrogation they’d given Qingli earlier that afternoon. Qingli wasn’t surprised, though. In the end, the recording wasn’t strong enough evidence to bring any real consequences. Wen Shi was too young to face punishment, so it wouldn’t change much.

Qingli smiled and nodded. “Sure.” She deleted the recording right in front of him.

Pei Rong watched closely, and when he saw the file vanish, he let out a sigh of relief. But then she said, “Not to worry, I’ve already uploaded it to the cloud. I can download it anytime if I need it as evidence.”

Qingli’s smile remained as sweet as ever, but her words were infuriating.

Pei Rong fell silent.

This girl used to seem so obedient, but now she was impossible to deal with.

He pressed his lips together, knowing he couldn’t push her any further. Sighing heavily, he turned to his still-stunned sister and snapped, “Get up already!”

“Brother!” Pei Qi protested, unwilling to let it go. “Are we going to let her off just like that?”

Wen Shi, still shaken by the recording, remained silent, her earlier arrogance gone. Her father had warned her many times never to reveal the hypnosis, and now that she had, she was too scared to say anything.

Pei Rong, now thoroughly annoyed, retorted, “What more do you want? Should I beat Shi Shi with fifty lashes first?”

Pei Qi was at a loss for words. She wanted to protest that it wasn’t the same thing, but the memory of how their father had treated them that afternoon silenced her. She held her still-sore arm, tears of frustration welling up.

Pei Rong pulled his sister up and led her out of the room before heading to Pei Mingjiang’s study. “Dad…”

He recounted everything that had just happened. Since Pei Mingjiang’s study was on the third floor and everyone else was on the second, even if they had heard the commotion, no one would come unless informed.

After explaining, Pei Rong frowned and asked, “Dad, who’s backing Fu Qingli?”

Pei Mingjiang, still reviewing reports, furrowed his brow. “Do you think she’s acting like this because someone’s behind her?”

Pei Mingjiang was reviewing reports when he heard the question and furrowed his brow. “Why do you think she dares to act like this?”

Seeing his father avoid the question, Pei Rong’s expression darkened slightly, and he answered honestly, “It seems her wings have grown stronger, or perhaps someone is guiding her.”

The fact that she wasn’t afraid when they threatened to send her away was unusual, especially for an orphan who had always tried to please them.

At the same time, it was equally strange that, while his father feared whoever was backing Fu Qingli, he still allowed her to suffer cold treatment.

Pei Mingjiang’s eyes remained on the report as he thought hard. Could it be that Lin Hengzhi had come into contact with Fu Qingli? But that didn’t seem right. Given Lin Hengzhi’s character, if he knew, he wouldn’t have stayed quiet; he was never one to hold back like this!

Researchers tend to be straightforward, focusing all their energy on their work. Otherwise, Pei Mingjiang wouldn’t have stopped caring about Fu Qingli after ensuring that Lin Hengzhi wasn’t watching her every move, allowing her to gradually grow more withdrawn.

For over ten years, from the time they first adopted Fu Qingli, he had been constantly updating Lin Hengzhi about her. As time passed, he grew to trust him, and as work got busier, the updates became less frequent.

At least the Pei family valued appearances, so they did a good job on the surface. Who wouldn’t envy Fu Qingli for becoming a foster daughter of the Pei family?

It didn’t make sense for anything to suddenly go wrong, especially with Lin Hengzhi remaining so quiet.

Everything seemed to change after that phone call.

Pei Mingjiang suddenly had an epiphany. “Have you noticed she hasn’t even looked at Ayue in the past two days?”

Pei Rong’s face darkened further. “I think that’s a good thing. Don’t tell me you want her to marry Ayue?”

Pei Mingjiang chuckled, “There’s still plenty of time; who knows what might happen?”

He shook his head, knowing his son’s disdain for Fu Qingli. He couldn’t discuss his thoughts with him, so he shifted the topic. “You said Shi Shi has been bullying her for several years?”

“I didn’t want to believe it, but judging from the situation earlier, it seems true. The only one who could’ve taught her was her father. Pei Qi…”

As her older brother, Pei Rong naturally had some concern for his sister.

A flash of coldness crossed Pei Mingjiang’s eyes, and he said quietly, “Look into it, see what’s going on. As long as things stay calm, let her do what makes her happy. If it’s just a matter of profit, we can give it to him, but if he dares to harm Qi’er, we won’t show any mercy!”

“Understood.”

The next day, Qingli woke up early.

Her body had been weak for so long that to regain her health, she needed to eat well, drink plenty, and exercise regularly.

Qingli was already experienced in these things, so she rested early. When she woke up, it was before seven, and she went for a run on an empty stomach.

She couldn’t push herself too hard at first, so after about forty minutes of slow jogging, she returned, drenched in sweat. After taking a shower, the kitchen auntie brought out a delicious bowl of seafood noodles, with an extra-large portion. “I saw you went out running and must be starving, so I made extra noodles. Be sure to eat it all.”

“No problem,” Qingli replied cheerfully.

She was indeed famished, and picked up her chopsticks, eating large mouthfuls, eager to fill her empty stomach.

“You’ve been in the Pei family for almost ten years and still act so uncultured, eating like a starving ghost,” came a muttered complaint, though no name was mentioned. Wen Shi pouted as she walked into the dining area.

Qingli swallowed her food and smiled. “Wen Shi, do you want to get hit again?”

Wen Shi’s face changed, glaring at her viciously. “You wouldn’t dare!”

Qingli’s smile widened. “After what happened yesterday, do you think I dare?”

Wen Shi, recalling the pain of her head being slammed against the door, flinched. Her forehead still throbbed, and she had applied medicine earlier that morning, the pungent smell lingering. She trembled like a dog with its fur standing on end, baring her teeth but saying nothing more. Frustrated, she snapped at the servants instead, “Hurry up! I’m starving! Why are you all so slow?”

The servants quickly sped up, delivering her breakfast.

Seeing that Wen Shi had stopped provoking her, Qingli ignored her and continued eating.

Wen Shi was despicable, but Qingli couldn’t break the law. Wen Shi’s arrogance came from the backing of the Pei family. Once that was gone, she would have no more power to be so insolent.

The bowl of noodles was truly large, and Qingli struggled to finish. As her pace slowed, Pei Mingjiang suddenly appeared and sat beside her.

Qingli was surprised. Normally, Pei Mingjiang would be out on his morning walk, followed by tea at a local teahouse. He would return around ten before heading to his study or occasionally to the company. At eight in the morning, he wasn’t supposed to be home.

Pei Mingjiang smiled warmly. “What’s wrong? If you can’t finish, don’t force yourself. It’s better not to overeat and upset your stomach.”

Qingli smiled back. “I’ll eat slowly, it’s better not to waste food.”

Pei Mingjiang praised her, “Good girl.”

Qingli said nothing, lowering her head to take another bite of noodles. Though her body was weak, noodles were easy to digest, so even if she was full, it wasn’t too bad.

Pei Mingjiang subtly observed her, unfazed by Qingli’s indifferent attitude. If what Wen Shi had done was true, it would have ruined her. Her displeasure was understandable.

But he was actually in a good mood. Finally, he had something over that person.

Feeling a pang of guilt, he said, “I haven’t taken good care of you before. I didn’t know Shi Shi had been doing such things behind our backs. Grandpa owes you an apology.”

Qingli waved her hand casually, showing no sign of holding a grudge. She smiled brightly and said, “It’s okay, Grandpa Pei. I already took care of it yesterday. I slammed Wen Shi’s head against the door a bunch of times. Oh, I regret not choosing the wall—it would’ve hurt more. Maybe then she wouldn’t have been so snarky this morning.”

Pei Mingjiang: “???”

This girl must be crazy! She just told him to his face that she hadn’t beaten his granddaughter hard enough?!