Chapter 79: I Helped You, No Thanks?

Zhu Yuan's ear was pulled until it hurt, and she gasped.

Pei Ling watched her little face crinkle up, his own brows furrowing in response, and he involuntarily let her go.

But who would have thought that Zhu Yuan would seize the chance to run outside.

Just as she reached the doorway, her path was blocked by Pei Ling's Bodyguard.

The man walked over slowly with his long legs, grabbed Zhu Yuan by the collar, and hauled her back, "What are you running for?"

With so many people watching in the dressing room, Zhu Yuan truly felt she had lost all face, "Second Master, could we speak in private?"

Catching a glimpse out of the corner of her eye of Ning Chu, who was clenching her fists and wishing she could poke countless holes in her, Zhu Yuan felt a headache coming on.

Pei Ling looked down at her from his height, caught a glimpse of the various expressions on the crowd, sneered, and strode away with his long legs.

It would be fun if they misunderstood; it would infuriate that mad dog.

"Second Master Pei!" Ning Chu called out to stop him.

Pei Ling stopped and slowly turned his head; she bit her lower lip, looking at him with shy, bashful eyes, hoping to be remembered by him.

Pei Ling rarely appeared in high-society circles; she had caught a fleeting glimpse of him years ago and had been unable to forget him since, dreaming of marrying him.

If she had known he would come today, she wouldn't have lost her temper for anything; she had to leave a good impression in front of him.

It was all Zhu Yuan's fault!

She had caused her to make a fool of herself in front of Second Master Pei!

Pei Ling looked at her maidenly, lovesick appearance, his eyes filled only with coldness, "Don't. You were much more pleasing to the eye when you were being arrogant and domineering just now; just keep that up."

"Second Master Pei..."

Watching the man walk away, Ning Chu lost her composure and chased after him, blocking his path.

Zhu Yuan hadn't noticed her chasing after them; before she could follow Pei Ling out, Pei Ling grabbed her by the collar and used her as a shield between himself and Ning Chu.

You dog of a man!

Zhu Yuan cursed in her heart, and seeing Ning Chu about to collide with her, she instinctively raised her hand to block Ning Chu.

"Hey..."

"You dare to stop me!" Ning Chu glared at her in anger.

Zhu Yuan was on the verge of tears; wasn't Pei Ling using her as a shield?

What did it have to do with her!

Pei Ling held Zhu Yuan with one hand, looked down at Ning Chu with a condescending gaze, and a hint of mockery flashed in his eyes, "What is your name?"

Ning Chu was overjoyed and hurriedly said, "Ning Chu."

"What?" Pei Ling frowned slightly, as if he hadn't heard clearly.

Zhu Yuan vaguely felt this scene was familiar.

He was having intermittent hearing loss again.

Ning Chu took a deep breath, adjusted her state, and said clearly and articulately, "Second Master, I am Ning Chu of the Ning Family."

"A beast of the Ning Family?" Pei Ling sneered, "What kind of thing is that."

Leaving behind a Ning Chu whose face turned from red to white, and the others in the dressing room who were awkwardly unsure of what to do, Pei Ling dragged Zhu Yuan away.

He actually called her a beast?

With so many people around to hear it!

Ning Chu was extremely humiliated and her eyes turned red on the spot, but she could only watch helplessly as Pei Ling took Zhu Yuan away.

She glared at Team Leader Hao in a fit of rage.

Poor Team Leader Hao, having been called a bald head by her, now had to bear her displaced anger, so he could only slink away.

In the hallway, Zhu Yuan was being hauled around like a little chick in front of a tall man like Pei Ling, and was pressed against the base of the wall by his one-handed grip.

Pei Ling asked lazily, "What did you want to say to me?"

Gone was the fawning, bootlicking demeanor from the dressing room; Zhu Yuan's attitude toward Pei Ling was nothing but detachment and wariness, "Wasn't it Second Master Pei who came looking for me?"

So she had called him out because she didn't want to talk to him in front of so many people, fearing a misunderstanding.

"Who came looking for you?" Pei Ling chuckled.

He was just passing by.

If he wasn't looking for her, that was for the best.

"Then since Second Master isn't here for me, please go about your business; I won't disturb you any further." Zhu Yuan took a step back, offering the other party a way out.

Pei Ling, however, grabbed her back again, "I helped you, no thanks?"

I really thank your whole family!

Wouldn't Ning Chu hate her to the bone now?

After cursing in her heart, Zhu Yuan feigned a very obedient appearance on the surface, fearing that if Pei Ling got unhappy, he would take her to the Pei Family Bank and throw her in a cage.

"Thank you, Second Master."

Pei Ling let her go, his gaze sweeping over her face, and he sneered, "Hypocrite."

Zhu Yuan kept her head down, and until the man turned away, she looked at his broad shoulders and back, let out a sigh of relief, cursed under her breath, and hurried away.

On the other side, Team Leader Hao was waiting at the corner; seeing Pei Ling walk over, he subconsciously looked behind him—Xiao Fengzheng was not there.

"What are you looking at?" Pei Ling's voice was cold.

Team Leader Hao shrank his head, changed the subject, and led the man into the office, "Second Master, I could have just had someone send the report to the bank; you are so busy, it was a bother for you to come in person."

"My brother is the one who is busy; how busy can a loan shark be?" Pei Ling walked into his office.

Team Leader Hao hurriedly greeted people to serve tea, smiling obsequiously.

Pei Ling sat on the sofa, his long legs spread out casually; the man was extremely languid, "Why was that one from the Ning Family giving her trouble?"

He didn't even say her name, using "her" directly.

"It should be about the online voting recently." Troupe Leader Hao carefully placed the teacup in front of him.

"Voting?"

Troupe Leader Hao nodded, then took out his phone and opened the voting portal; one look gave him a start—hadn't the gap between Xiao Fengzheng and Ning Chu been very close just two hours ago?

How had Ning Chu's vote count pulled far ahead again in this short time?

Internet trolls!

Internet trolls again!

Pei Ling watched the expressions on his face change in an instant and clicked his tongue with some impatience.

Troupe Leader Hao came back to his senses and hurriedly played the dance videos of several actors for him to see, "It's for the play our troupe is promoting; we're holding an open online vote for the casting."

Pei Ling took the phone.

First glance, didn't recognize, swiped past.

Second glance, didn't recognize, swiped past.

Third glance was that one from the Ning Family, swiped past with disdain.

Fourth glance was Zhu Yuan, almost swiped past.

"She can dance too?" The man's gaze rested on the screen, on the woman's graceful dance moves; he didn't look away and asked offhandedly.

Troupe Leader Hao said earnestly, "She dances exceptionally well, and her figure is beautiful."

It was clear that she danced quite well, looking the part; it was different from her usual self, and actually quite good-looking.

"Then why not just choose her?"

Facing Pei Ling's soul-searching question, Troupe Leader Hao bit the bullet, "Rumors outside say that the Second Miss of the Ning Family is under the protection of Young Master Yu of the Sheng Family, and since we don't dare to easily offend the Ning Family either, we can't really..."

Who knew that before he could finish his sentence, he was suddenly met with Pei Ling looking at him as if he were an idiot.

Pei Ling's gaze returned to the screen, he dragged the progress bar to start over, and then said slowly, "This hair loss problem of yours has already affected your brain; don't go around saying you're from the Pei Family."

No one knew better than him who that mad dog Sheng Yu was protecting.

After watching the video again, Pei Ling tossed the phone back to him, "I'm leaving."

Outside, the sun was high.

A black off-road vehicle was parked in the open space of the Pei Family Bank.

Before Pei Ling turned off his phone, the words 【Vote Successful】 flashed across the screen.