Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
There was a quaint and interesting atmosphere at a Chinese restaurant in the capital.
Two women were dressed in famous clothing brands; one of them had an elegant air and oozed with alluring gentleness, while another had a cutesy appearance and, although not as beautiful as her companion, could be considered as a beauty as well.
These two ladies, of course, attracted the attention of the many diners in the restaurant.
“Don’t tell me that that Liu Yue really knows how to dress up these days? I heard that the clothes she wears are at least worth four digits. Hmph! Who knows how much debt she has now?” Once Pan Xinlei recognized the petite woman to be Liu Yue, she removed her gaze from her and did not look anymore.
However, when she saw Pei Ge staring intently at Liu Yue, she said perplexedly, “Ge Ge, you won’t gain anything from looking at that woman, so please come back to your senses.”
“I know. I just find it weird that she’s with my cousin.” Pei Ge frowningly returned her focus on their table once she saw both women head toward a private room on the second floor of this restaurant.
That was right. The woman beside Liu Yue turned out to be her cousin, Pei Shishi. This was what had attracted her attention.
“Your cousin?!” Pan Xinlei looked at Pei Ge in shock and asked with confusion, “How did Liu Yue know your cousin?”
“I don’t know.” Pei Ge shook her head. It was reasonable to say that Pei Shishi, who had just returned to the country, got engaged, and went on a honeymoon, would not have the time to get to know Liu Yue, someone who was merely in the same school but different class and even year.
The sight of the two together made her feel uncomfortable.
“Liu Yue, who clearly has bad blood with you, is currently having a meal with your cousin in a private room on the second floor… I think that there is something fishy about this.” Pan Xinlei’s forehead creased at the sight of the two as well. She had been working for a long time, so her experience was richer than Pei Ge’s. If Pei Ge felt uneasy at the sight of the two together, it was even more so for her, who was already thinking of the evil schemes that the two might cook up.
“Are you on bad terms with your cousin?” Pan Xinlei asked bluntly.
Pei Ge thought about it for a moment but still did not know what to tell the other.
The relationship between them, two sisters, was very good in the past, but now… it seemed to have deteriorated.
“Our relationship was fine in the past, but due to my ex-boyfriend’s involvement, it has changed quite a bit.” Pei Ge sighed and helplessly gave this answer.
Although she did not want to admit it, she could feel her cousin’s animosity toward her.
“Ex-boyfriend?!” Pan Xinlei looked at Pei Ge strangely before asking, “Can you tell me more about this? I’m getting a weird vibe from your cousin.”
“Weird?” Pei Ge looked at the other in confusion.
“Think about it; she is your older sister, yet she gets into a relationship with your ex-boyfriend, and now she’s mixing with someone who has bad blood with you. If she’s got a good relationship with you, why would she do all these things?” Pan Xinlei seriously told her this.
Pei Ge pursed her lips at those words. Tang Xiaoyu shared a similar sentiment and had even repeatedly told her about this, but she was unaware of Zhou Zhuoyang’s involvement with Pei Shishi at the time. Since Pei Shishi gave her a good impression before leaving the country, she never really doubted her sister.
However, when Pei Shishi forced her into a corner at that lunch date before and at Pan Xinlei’s words now, Pei Ge’s trust toward her cousin started wavering.
As though she were in a court, she told Pan Xinlei about the entire situation, including that incident of Zhou Zhuoyang suddenly disappearing on her.
“Oh, Ge Ge! I think your cousin has always been against you! Your ex-boyfriend disappearing on you might be her doing as well – making him leave your side and follow her overseas.” Pan Xinlei could not help but slam her palm on the table upon hearing Pei Ge’s recount.
“… Shouldn’t be…” Pei Ge was still reluctant to believe that her cousin had always been harboring ill intentions toward her and would rather think that Pei Shishi’s change was only after she had returned from overseas.
Her refusal to believe Pan Xinlei’s words was because Pan Shishi was a relative that she had always respected and cherished.
Although Pan Xinlei was straightforward, she was very aware of what Pei Ge was like and knew that the latter would not want to think badly of her cousin and would not like to believe her words, so she did not say more about her guess and just talked about the facts at hand.
“Anyway, putting aside about your ex-boyfriend matter, why do you think your cousin and Liu Yue are meeting up privately for?” Pan Xinlei asked her this in a serious manner. Learning pieces of Pei Ge’s bitter past, her heart could not help but ache for her.
“Perhaps, it’s just a reunion…” Pei Ge lowered her eyes, her initial cheerful mood disappearing as her heart felt as though it would explode anytime.
“Oh, you!” Pan Xinlei had to say that Pei Ge’s biggest weakness was her magnanimity. She was never willing to think badly of others.
“Two ladies, your orders are here.”
Just as the two of them sank into their thoughts, the waiter carrying a tray served them the four-course meal that they had ordered.
“Guests, all your orders have been served. If there’s anything else, just ring the bell.” After saying this, the waiter left with the serving tray.
Once the waiter left, Pan Xinlei sighed at the sight of the soulless Pei Ge and softly said, “Ge Ge, how about this; if Liu Yue does nothing to you come next week, you can say that I have guessed wrongly, misjudged your cousin, and that she’s a good person.”
Pei Ge raised her eyes at Pan Xinlei, who was thinking for her, and her heart warmed.
“However, if Liu Yue does something to you come next week, I can guarantee that it is your cousin’s doing.” Pan Xinlei retracted her smiling and friendly face and looked at the other sternly.
Pan Xinlei’s proposal stunned Pei Ge.
“I really think of you as my younger sister. Although your cousin is related to you by blood, I think she has ill intentions regarding you. I know you don’t want to think badly of others, but, Ge Ge, some things are not as beautiful as you think. You shouldn’t look at facts superficially and just blindly believe in everything you see.”
Her words gave Pei Ge a good wake-up call.
“Sister Xinlei, I understand now!” Her mouth curled into a bright smile.
“Silly girl, let’s eat!” Pan Xinlei smiled upon seeing Pei Ge get enlightened and picked up the chopsticks to start eating. “I’m starving.”
Pei Ge looked at Pan Xinlei’s starving figure and picked up her chopsticks as well.
Cousin, I hope you are as I have imagined you to be… because we are sisters.
