Volume One, Chapter 15: Darling, Is There Something You Truly Enjoy Doing?

No one expected Pei Xi to refuse outright. Or rather, they never imagined that beneath his usually gentle exterior, there was a hidden sharpness.

The old schemers could plot all they wanted—he didn’t care. For now, his only wish was to quickly go pick up his Qingqing and take her home, then fulfill his promise by cooking a delicious sweet and sour pork.

But Xu Qingning clearly thought differently. She looked at Pei Xi, clenched her tiny fists, and pounded them hard on his shoulder.

“Pei Xixi, are you crazy?”

“By doing this, aren’t you just tearing us apart with them? Doesn’t this make all our plans completely exposed?”

“What if we get restrained by them everywhere? What happens if something goes wrong? Do you even understand what it means to feign compliance?”

Watching her anxiously pacing, Pei Xi smiled warmly and pulled her down to sit beside him.

“Don’t worry. I still have you, Qingqing, backing me up, don’t I?”

Xu Qingning snorted in amusement. “Me? You expect this unemployed wanderer to help you fight over the family fortune? Pei Xixi, I’m playing the sweet romantic lead, not the chosen heroine of destiny.”

“I don’t want to be a beast of burden, constantly frustrated every day. Besides, how could I possibly expect to earn the Pei family’s assets just by working a regular job?”

“Then how about Qingqing becomes the boss?”

“Huh?” Xu Qingning was surprised. “Pei Xixi, this may be a virtual world, but things don’t just appear by thinking about them, you know?”

“I become the boss—what about the company? The businesses? The funds?”

Pei Xi’s smile deepened as he took Xu Qingning’s hand and toyed with it.

“Qingqing, haven’t you looked at the USB drive I gave you? Inside, the whole Pei family is yours.”

“...!!”

Xu Qingning jumped up and rushed to the room to retrieve the USB.

“Wait, the entire Pei family? All in here?”

Pei Xi nodded. “If not, should I bring the computer over and open it for you?”

“No need, no need. I need to digest this first. Suddenly becoming rich—I need a moment to get used to it.”

Xu Qingning stared at the USB for a long while before handing it back to Pei Xi.

“Maybe we should buy a safe, the highest security kind. What if I lose this someday?”

“No worries. I have backups here, and the files on this USB are password protected—no one can open them.”

“How can you be so sure? Not even top hackers can crack it?”

Pei Xi shook his head. “They can’t. With the current technological level in this world, these files are unbreakable.”

“So it’s only valuable in your hands, Qingqing. Otherwise, it’s just an unopened USB.”

Hearing this, Xu Qingning finally relaxed.

She patted her chest. “That’s a relief. So, your second uncle is basically working for me now? And you, Mr. Pei, are my employee too?”

“Exactly.” Pei Xi ruffled her hair. “So, Qingqing, all you need to do is learn how to be a boss. We’ll handle the money and the headaches.”

Xu Qingning thought for a moment. “No, employee benefits are still necessary. But for old geezers like your second uncle, they should be free beasts of burden.”

“Sure, whatever you say. Madam, why not look at this contract first and improve employee benefits? Consider it your first act as boss.”

Xu Qingning took the contract from Pei Xi. “CORDIAL—what kind of company is this?”

“I haven’t decided yet. Right now, it’s just a studio. Do you want to start something?”

“I don’t even know what kind of studio. What do the people inside do?”

“All sorts of things. But once you decide, everyone will follow you.”

“Give up everything they’ve worked hard for, just for me?”

Pei Xi nodded. “They all know there’s no coercion involved, so don’t worry.”

“I’ll think about it. I’m hungry—can we eat now?”

“Sure, just wait a moment.”

After Pei Xi went into the kitchen, Xu Qingning resumed reading the documents in her hand.

Each person’s background was detailed. Taken together, Pei Xi seemed to lean toward investments.

A few had extensive investment experience—likely his favored candidates.

There were also people in technology, medicine...

“Hidden talents everywhere. If I say I want to design clothes, are they all going to study painting and aesthetics with me?”

“That’s unfair...”

Though she hadn’t experienced those fields, anyone who reached this level of achievement must have had passion besides talent and hard work. If, as Pei Xi said, these people gave up their dreams for her sake, that was a huge sacrifice.

With that thought, she set the documents down and walked to the kitchen.

Resting her head on Pei Xi’s back, he paused for a moment.

“Qingqing, what’s wrong?”

“Pei Xi, don’t you think it’s unfair to ask them to give up what they’ve worked so hard for?”

“...So what do you suggest?”

“You must have put a lot of effort into convincing them to settle in this small studio. Is there a way to have the best of both worlds? So they can keep their passions and still cooperate with us to win together?”

Pei Xi didn’t answer.

In his mind, as long as the goal was achieved, other sacrifices didn’t matter. Even if he knew that unquestioningly following Xu Qingning would upset these people, it was their own choice, so fairness was irrelevant.

What he wanted was to maximize profit.

Yet Xu Qingning’s words made him realize this approach wasn’t what she wanted—it would weigh on her mind.

Turning his back to her, he smiled wryly.

No matter how much he pretended to be a loving partner, he couldn’t escape the fact that he was an absolute egoist...

He patted Xu Qingning’s hand. “Okay, we’ll think about it some more, see if there’s another way.”

Her energy revived at his reply. “I knew you’d have a solution, Pei Xixi!”

“I’ll clean up the dishes and get dinner ready!”

“Thanks, Qingqing.”

After she left the kitchen, Pei Xi exhaled heavily.

Wiping the tiredness from his face and returning to his usual smile, he took a plate and served the sweet and sour pork.

“Qingqing, dinner’s ready.”

“Yay! My favorite sweet and sour pork, I’m coming!”

It didn’t matter—as long as Qingqing stayed by his side, he could learn slowly until he became a normal person.

Pei Xi had never lacked the talent to learn or the patience to wait.

Before that, though, he didn’t want Qingqing to see the dark side of himself.