Chapter 587: Chapter 587: Hide Your Fox Tail
"Okay," Pei Yansi agreed without hesitation.
"Really? This is simply wonderful! Brother Yansi is going to stay at my house, and now I can see Brother Yansi every day." Chen Lingmeng cheered happily.
"You girl are about to marry Pei Yansi, and later on you’ll have plenty of opportunities to see him every day. What your brother said makes sense, there’s no rush for these next couple of days."
"But in the recent past I hardly had the chance to see Brother Yansi at all. Now that I can see Brother Yansi every day, I don’t want to wait anymore; even waiting a single day is agony for me." Chen Lingmeng pouted, throwing a bit of a princess tantrum.
"Alright, alright, have it your way. Chen Wenzhou, arrange a guest room for Pei Yansi," Grandpa Chen went along with Chen Lingmeng’s wishes.
"Why not let Brother Yansi stay in the room across from mine? That way, as soon as I open my door, I can see Brother Yansi, and I’ll have sweet dreams every night." Chen Lingmeng clenched her fists in excitement.
As this was a condition raised by Chen Lingmeng, and with Grandpa Chen stirring things up, Chen Wenzhou found it hard to make an excuse to refuse. So, he simply nodded, "Mengmeng, rest assured and leave this matter to your brother. You and Grandpa go pick an auspicious day. I’ll handle the other arrangements."
"Great, brother, then I’ll leave it to you. Grandpa, let’s go pick an auspicious day."
Chen Lingmeng and Grandpa Chen left together, leaving only Chen Wenzhou and Pei Yansi alone in the spacious living room.
Ever since Pei Yansi walked through the door, many questions had been accumulating in Chen Wenzhou’s heart, questions he wanted to ask Pei Yansi directly.
Now, he finally had the chance to ask, but Chen Wenzhou, unhurried, picked up a cup of coffee, took a sip, and with eyes sharp like a snake homing in on its prey, he kept staring at Pei Yansi.
"If you have something to say, just say it. I’ve noticed since a while ago that you seem to have a lot you want to tell me."
Pei Yansi noticed Chen Wenzhou’s gaze. Even if he didn’t speak up, he would have looked for an opportunity to broach the subject anyway. Pei Yansi might as well seize the initiative.
Chen Wenzhou chuckled, put down his coffee, leaned back, and looked up at Pei Yansi.
"What’s this all about? I don’t believe for a second that you decided to marry Chen Lingmeng because Shen Heyu broke your heart. I just feel there’s something fishy going on."
Chen Lingmeng is lovesick; she believes whatever Pei Yansi says and immerses herself in it. But Chen Wenzhou is different from her.
As an adopted son, Chen Wenzhou had to learn from a young age how to curry favor and read subtleties in behavior; hence, his observation skills are formidable. He sensed something off about Pei Yansi from the start.
Pei Yansi, hearing what Chen Wenzhou had said, wasn’t surprised. He smiled faintly and looked straight into Chen Wenzhou’s eyes.
"If that’s what you think, then I have nothing to say. After all, I’ve made myself very clear just now."
"So, will the wedding between you and Mengmeng actually go smoothly? I feel like it won’t be that simple, that something will go wrong. What do you think?" Chen Wenzhou continued to watch Pei Yansi quietly, not missing any slight change in his facial expressions.
"This is a matter for later, and it can’t be said for certain now. If something unpredictable happens in the future, who am I supposed to ask?" Pei Yansi couldn’t possibly tell Chen Wenzhou the truth, so he played it coy with him.
Chen Wenzhou chuckled softly, a sly look on his face that made it seem as though he harbored ulterior motives.
"It’s tough to say. People say that humans can’t compete with fate, but I believe some things are better controlled by humans than left to fate. If you hadn’t been dragging your feet, your wedding with Mengmeng would have taken place a long time ago."
Pei Yansi offered a polite smile, "As I said before, I was too busy with company affairs to attend a wedding, but now I’ve finally managed to make some time."
"But I don’t believe what you’re saying. President Pei, there are no outsiders here; there’s no need to beat around the bush. Tell me the truth, did you agree to have the wedding with Mengmeng as part of an investigation into something?"
Chen Wenzhou had already guessed Pei Yansi’s intent, but Chen Lingmeng, with her love-struck brain, was likely to dismiss anything he said.
Grandpa Chen had always treated Chen Lingmeng like the apple of his eye; if she asked him to go east, he’d likely not go west. If Chen Lingmeng insisted on marrying Pei Yansi, Grandpa Chen would only help bring about the marriage.
So it made more sense to confront Pei Yansi directly and figure out what he’s up to, rather than talking to Chen Lingmeng.
Pei Yansi’s acting was flawless, leaving no indication of what he was thinking or feeling upon hearing Chen Wenzhou’s words.
"That’s quite an interesting point of view. Does your sister know you think this way? She must be very happy right now, and I suppose she would be quite upset if she knew what you’re thinking?"
Just before, Chen Wenzhou had seemed entirely at ease, but now his brow furrowed slightly, as Pei Yansi had touched a sore spot.
If he were a true blood member of the Chen family, he wouldn’t have to live so constrained, always watching for the moods of Chen Lingmeng and Grandpa Chen.
Because he was not, he had to be considerate and mindful of Chen Lingmeng and Grandpa Chen’s feelings in everything he did.
"Your attempts to threaten me with Mengmeng are futile. If you came to the Chen family with ill intentions, I’ll make sure you don’t succeed. I will find out your true purpose and show Mengmeng and Grandpa your real face."
Chen Wenzhou no longer wanted to beat around the bush with Pei Yansi; there was no point in chasing shadows, especially since he couldn’t openly confront Pei Yansi, even if he had guessed his real motives.
As long as Chen Lingmeng still loved Pei Yansi, he and Pei Yansi could not afford to break ties openly; he had to maintain this mockingly superficial relationship.
Pei Yansi slowly smiled, "If you’re so capable, then you should be able to find out soon enough if I’m here with a purpose. In that case, I wish you smooth progress in your endeavors."
As Pei Yansi stood to leave, Chen Wenzhou, frustrated, slapped the arm of the sofa and stood up as well.
"Pei Yansi, I advise you not to be too arrogant. Don’t forget that you’re on the Chen family’s turf right now, so even if you’ve come with ulterior motives, you’d better hide your cunning tail well."
Pei Yansi looked at Chen Wenzhou, his smile leisurely, "Rest assured, if I did come with a particular purpose, I would never let you catch any evidence against me. I have that confidence and capability."
This statement was tantamount to his acknowledgment of Chen Wenzhou’s speculation, and it was as if he had thrown down a gauntlet.