Chapter 187: Zhu Yuan's Acuteness

After entering the theater's back door, Zhu Yuan saw Pei Ling and smiled at him, "Second Master."

Pei Ling took off his earphones and stared at her face for a few moments; the face that had been swollen into a "pig's head" was completely healed, and she had returned to her usual beauty, even looking more rosy-cheeked than before—one look and it was clear she had been well cared for.

"Sheng Yu is willing to let you out?"

What a way to put it.

Zhu Yuan explained patiently: "Sheng Yu and I are dating normally; he isn't holding me under house arrest."

Hearing the words "dating," Pei Ling's gaze darkened, his eyes cold, and he scoffed as he walked past her, "So you're already protecting him?"

A faint scent of body wash drifted past Zhu Yuan, and Pei Ling was gone.

Zhu Yuan was stunned for a moment.

She didn't know when it started, but it seemed that every time she ran into Pei Ling, she could smell that scent of body wash on him.

Director Hao was shocked when he saw Pei Ling in his office and stood up, "Second Master, why are you here today?"

"What, I can't come?" Pei Ling sat down and crossed his legs.

"Of course not. Not to mention that the theater is yours now, even if it weren't, you could come whenever you want." Director Hao smiled.

He immediately ordered someone to pour a cup of tea and respectfully placed the teacup in front of Pei Ling, "Second Master, this is new tea; please have a taste."

Pei Ling picked up the teacup and took a sip, "It's alright. Does Zhu Yuan drink this?"

"This is too expensive." Director Hao expressed tactfully that even if Xiao Fengzheng were popular, they couldn't supply her with such scarce items.

Pei Ling sneered, "It's not like I can't afford it. Give her this from now on."

It took a while for Director Hao to recover from this display of wealth, "Very well, I will have someone arrange it right away."

"Don't say it was me."

Director Hao took a secret breath.

Wasn't there a rumor that Zhu Yuan was dating that person from the Sheng Family?

What is the Second Master doing?

Does he want to poach her and be the 'other man,' or is he silently guarding her like a knight?

Yet, when he faces Zhu Yuan, he puts on a cold attitude, as if deliberately preventing her from seeing that he has feelings for her.

It is truly unfathomable.

Pei Ling left the office and went to the rehearsal hall on the second floor.

He stood by the door, lifted the gauze curtain with his slender fingers, and looked toward the stage.

Zhu Yuan hadn't performed for several days; although she knew the plot and lines by heart, she still needed to rehearse once more before the performance to get familiar with them again.

Pei Ling took a look, withdrew his gaze, let go of the curtain, and turned to leave.

"Second Master, Pei Shaoshen's people went to the Airport to pick someone up; it was a flight from Country T." In the shadows, the Bodyguard reported in a low voice.

Pei Ling gave a blank "hm," "Tell the men to be sure to keep a close watch. Pei Shaoshen won't let me touch this line, so it must be the key to the Pei Family's business."

"Yes."

Pei Li followed at Pei Ling's side, hesitated for a moment, and said, "Second Master, if this lead is uncovered, the Pei Family will be completely finished, and you won't be able to stay out of it either."

Pei Ling tilted his head slightly; the sound of Zhu Yuan reciting her lines drifted faintly from the rehearsal hall, gentle yet possessing a sense of resilient strength.

His expression was cold and detached, as if he had made up his mind, "What difference does it make."

He is just a filthy person, raised by the Pei Family to be a watchdog; when the Pei Family prospers, he does the dirty work in the shadows to keep the Pei Family clean; when the Pei Family suffers, he is destined to be the stepping stone.

Zhu Yuan stepped off the stage to take a short break; she looked up at the entrance of the rehearsal hall, feeling as though someone had been watching her there just now.

She frowned, walked to the entrance, and looked out, but there was no one there.

Was she being paranoid?

After the rehearsal ended, Zhu Yuan began her hair and makeup, but she didn't expect a guest to come to the dressing room.

"Miss Zhu."

Looking at that gentle face in the mirror, Zhu Yuan was stunned for a moment, then turned around, "Miss Ning."

Ning Huaiqing walked over with a smile and sat down beside her, "I didn't disturb you, did I?"

"Is there something you need?"

"I'm going abroad tomorrow, and I want to invite a few friends to dinner tonight. I wanted to invite you too, but I didn't have your phone number; I only found out you came to work after calling the Hot Spring Villa, so I came to find you."

So that was it.

Zhu Yuan asked, "Is Sheng Yu going?"

She was Sheng Yu's girlfriend, and since Ning Huaiqing had come to find her personally, Sheng Yu probably hadn't received an invitation yet.

Sure enough, Ning Huaiqing smiled bitterly and said, "If you go, he will definitely go."

This remark, which bordered on moral coercion, left Zhu Yuan unsure of how to respond for a moment; after all, Ning Huaiqing held no hostility toward her, and if she were to lash out directly, it would be a bit unfair to the chicken soup Ning Huaiqing had once brewed for her.

Zhu Yuan pondered for a few seconds, "Alright, I'll give him a call later."

Ning Huaiqing smiled gently, "I'll wait for your news."

She left her number with Zhu Yuan.

Once Zhu Yuan finished her hair and makeup, she went to the dressing room.

There was no one there, so she called Sheng Yu.

The call was answered after only one ring.

"I'm working, don't tease me," the man's slightly deep voice came through.

Listening to his low, magnetic, and pleasant voice, Zhu Yuan couldn't help but curl her lips, "What if I do tease you?"

On the other end of the line, Sheng Yu leaned back in his chair, completely ignoring the two executives standing in front of his desk, and said calmly, "If you tease me, you'll have to bear the consequences."

There was silence for a few seconds.

Imagining Zhu Yuan's expression—both cowardly and defiant—Sheng Yu chuckled, "What's wrong?"

"Ning Huaiqing wants to invite us to dinner. I wasn't sure if you wanted to go, so I haven't agreed yet," Zhu Yuan said softly, "Do you want to go?"

Sheng Yu's hand holding the phone tightened slightly, and he asked with a calm expression, "Why would you think that?"

"Because Ning Huaiqing reached out to me first; she might think you don't want to go."

Sheng Yu lowered his eyes.

Zhu Yuan's powers of observation were truly sharp.

If he said he didn't want to go, given how meticulous she was, she would notice something.

Although that matter had passed three years ago, and Zhu Yuan hadn't appeared in his life at that time, that night with Ning Huaiqing was purely an accident, yet he still didn't want Zhu Yuan to know.

"There's no such thing as wanting or not wanting to go. Since she invited us, we'll go. I'll come to pick you up then."

Zhu Yuan said with a smile, "Okay, I'll wait for you, Brother Yu."

After saying this, Zhu Yuan hung up the phone directly.

Sheng Yu's breathing sank; she hung up right after teasing him, she really needs to be taught a lesson!

Zhu Yuan returned a call to Ning Huaiqing, informing her that both she and Sheng Yu would attend dinner.

Hanging up the phone, Ning Huaiqing gripped her phone, lowered her head, and smiled.

She would be able to see him again.