Chapter 3

From Pei Yu’s perspective, Yun Yin’s head was bowed, her ears hidden beneath her hair already flushed a vibrant crimson that spread down her pale neck, threatening to creep further.

In the brief silence, Yun Yin could clearly feel Pei Yu’s gaze fixed upon her.

The spine she had just relaxed instantly stiffened, as if she were being stalked by a large predator. Her breathing instinctively grew shallow.

Just when she thought they would endure the entire journey in this awkward atmosphere, a nonchalant voice drifted down from above: “Didn’t you say it looked good?”

“Why are you afraid to look now?”

Yun Yin: “……”

Those few words sent a chill through her scalp.

After who knew how much mental preparation, Yun Yin took a deep breath and finally lifted her head, adopting a haughty expression. “I’m not afraid to look.”

She stared unblinkingly at him, her eyes brimming with sincerity.

Though her voice sounded defiant, a hint of nervousness betrayed her bravado.

Pei Yu remained silent for a moment, his gaze growing more meaningful.

Yun Yin noticed the change but pretended not to.

Although the original owner of this body was deeply scheming, she was far from patient or restrained. Instead, she possessed an extreme arrogance and pride, a stark contrast to Yun Yin’s own personality.

At this point in the timeline, the original owner had only reluctantly agreed to stay with Pei Yu under his “forced affection.” Their first real clash—the theft of the bidding documents—had just occurred, and the subsequent commercial battles hadn’t yet unfolded when Yun Yin transmigrated.

Unable to convincingly play the role of a cunning schemer, Yun Yin could only barely maintain the original owner’s haughty persona, unsure if she would be suspected.

As she pondered this, Pei Yu spoke calmly beside her: “I heard you’ve been insisting on seeing me for the past few days?”

Was that true?

Before she could dwell on it, she looked up and met Pei Yu’s intensely oppressive gaze.

Yun Yin gripped the hem of her skirt tightly, forcing a stiff smile. “I just missed you.”

“……”

Now it was Pei Yu’s turn to fall silent.

Damn it!

Where was the “I’d rather die than yield” persona I was supposed to have?

Pei Yu’s gaze was simply too overwhelming.

Lu Lin, driving in the front, also sensed the strange tension. He silently raised the partition between the front and back seats, inwardly marveling, I never expected Miss Yun to become so… fiery after just a short separation.

The space suddenly felt cramped and suffocating, as if Yun Yin couldn’t breathe.

Abruptly, Pei Yu let out a derisive snort. A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, but his dark eyes held no amusement. “So, you’re now willingly staying by my side?”

Under the man’s piercing gaze, Yun Yin nodded immediately. “Yes.”

The moment the word left her lips, she realized her response had been too quick, sounding insincere and perfunctory.

After a few seconds, she cleared her throat, trying to elaborate and sound more genuine. “I’ve been thinking these past few days, and I don’t mind giving us a try.”

“A try at what?” Pei Yu’s voice cut through the air.

“Didn’t we say we’d try being together?” Yun Yin looked up in confusion, only to have Pei Yu’s fingers clamp onto her chin, pulling her closer.

Forced to tilt her head back, Yun Yin found the man’s features magnified before her. His clear eyes reflected her own image with startling clarity.

Stared down by Pei Yu, Yun Yin didn’t dare take a breath.

The villain’s gone mad again.

After an eternity, Pei Yu finally released her, a faint smile playing on his thin lips. “As you wish.”

Though his voice carried a hint of amusement, his face remained utterly expressionless, save for a slight twitch at the corner of his lips—a smile that sent shivers down her spine.

Truly worthy of being the book’s ultimate villain.

Yun Yin felt her heart might stop at any moment, like the onset of a sudden illness.

After a nerve-wracking journey, they finally arrived at the hotel hosting the banquet.

Pei Yu alighted first and considerately opened the car door for her.

Hesitating for a moment as she gazed at his slender, well-defined fingers, Yun Yin eventually placed her hand in his palm.

Compared to Pei Yu’s hand, hers was disproportionately small, so delicate it could be completely enveloped in his grasp, making it seem almost boneless.

Hand in hand, they stepped out of the car, Pei Yu’s lips curving into a faint smile.

But Yun Yin, her hand clasped in his, remained tense, her mind racing, unable to relax for even a moment.

This version of Pei Yu was inexplicably terrifying.

The banquet began at seven o’clock in the evening.

They arrived neither too early nor too late, and luxury cars lined the hotel entrance in a steady stream.

The moment they entered the grand ballroom, they became the center of attention.

Yun Yin wore a shimmering white satin gown that revealed large expanses of her jade-like skin. Her raven hair cascaded freely down her back, unadorned save for a silver diamond necklace at her collarbone, which only accentuated her already ethereal and fragile aura.

Pei Yu, clad in a black suit, held her hand as they slowly walked into the grand hall.

The assembled guests paused momentarily before someone stepped forward to greet Pei Yu with restrained warmth.

“President Pei, it’s been a while.”

“Good evening, President Pei.”

Pei Yu stopped to exchange greetings, accepting the waves of enthusiasm from all sides. A faint smile played on his lips as he maintained an air of composed ease.

The dazzling crystal chandeliers overhead cast their light upon him, further enhancing his cool, aristocratic bearing.

Beside him, Yun Yin endured the deliberate and casual glances directed her way. To maintain her carefully crafted persona, she adopted a haughty demeanor, refusing to meet anyone’s eyes or acknowledge their presence.

Yun Yin looked every bit the spoiled little darling.

Someone, observing her demeanor, cast an ambiguous glance at the pair and remarked meaningfully, “President Pei is truly fortunate. He just secured the new port project in the eastern district, and now he has such a beauty by his side.”

Yun Yin found the man’s gaze unsettling. She shifted her hand in Pei Yu’s grip, deliberately displaying a hint of impatience, perfectly embodying the persona of a pampered darling.

As the guests who had greeted Pei Yu gradually dispersed, Yun Yin seized the opportunity to slip her hand from his. Feigning weariness, she said in a coquettish tone, “I’m tired. I’m going to rest for a while.”

Pei Yu turned to respond, but a commotion at the entrance caught his attention.

It was Zhou Wenze.

By then, Yun Yin had vanished.

Only the lingering warmth in Pei Yu’s palm remained.

Pei Yu closed his eyes briefly. When he opened them again, his dark eyes were devoid of emotion, a brooding darkness that seemed capable of devouring everything in its path.

The banquet hall was a dazzling spectacle of elegant attire, shimmering hairpins, and clinking glasses.

Yun Yin felt a slight discomfort in her chest and casually found a lounge area to sit down and rest.

Before she could relax, a waiter approached her directly.

“Miss, a gentleman asked me to deliver a message. He’s waiting for you on the second-floor terrace.”

Before Yun Yin could ask who it was, the waiter finished his message and left with his tray.

Assuming it was a message from Pei Yu, she straightened her dress and headed upstairs.

Unbeknownst to Yun Yin, a pair of eyes had been watching her intently. Only when her figure disappeared around the corner of the staircase did the gaze finally withdraw.

When Yun Yin reached the terrace, she saw only a man’s back.

It wasn’t Pei Yu.

In an instant, Yun Yin wanted to turn and leave.

Before she could move, the man turned around.

The terrace lighting was dim, but Yun Yin could still make out his features.

He was handsome, with gentle eyebrows and eyes that crinkled with warmth when he looked at you, making it easy to feel drawn to him.

The next moment, he spoke softly, “A-Yin.”

A name flashed through Yun Yin’s mind:

Zhou Wenze.

The male lead of The Rise and Fall of the Business World, and the protagonist of this world.

Yun Yin’s eyelid twitched. She steadied herself. “Mm.”

If the enemy doesn’t move, neither will I.

Zhou Wenze didn’t mind Yun Yin’s cold demeanor. He simply took a step forward, instantly closing the distance between them.

“Ah Yin, are you blaming me for making you stay by Pei Yu’s side?”

Yun Yin’s delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, clearly uncomfortable with his proximity. She subtly retreated, saying, “No.”

Taking her words as mere pique, Zhou Wenze brushed them aside. “I know you’re resentful, but my heart aches even more than yours.”

Yun Yin remained silent. When Zhou Wenze reached for her hand, she deftly evaded his grasp.

Undeterred, Zhou Wenze continued to speak softly and patiently. “If we win this bid against Pei Yu, the Zhou Corporation will reach new heights. Our efforts won’t be in vain, and we can finally be together openly.”

At this, Yun Yin finally met his gaze. “I’ve already given you the reserve price for the bid. The rest is up to you.”

When Zhou Wenze first learned the reserve price, he had been skeptical. He couldn’t believe Pei Yu would allocate such a vast sum to acquire the land.

But the immense potential value of the land lingered in his mind, making the possibility seem less far-fetched. Even if the board of directors opposed it, he was determined to secure it.

Doing so would solidify his position within the corporation once and for all.

A flicker of excitement crossed Zhou Wenze’s face. “Ah Yin, trust me. You won’t have to stay by Pei Yu’s side for much longer.”

Yun Yin didn’t respond, only saying, “I’m going back.”

With that, she turned and left.

It wasn’t until she reached the lounge downstairs that Yun Yin’s expression finally relaxed.

This male lead is a master of manipulation, she thought. He coaxed the proud original owner into willingly helping him, even staying by Pei Yu’s side just to steal business secrets.

Even after the original owner had fallen so deeply for him, when the villain finally retaliated, the male lead didn’t hesitate to push her forward to take the blame.

Yun Yin shook her head, a wave of pity washing over her.

Even when reading the novel, she had never liked this two-faced hypocrite who hid daggers behind his smile.

As long as she behaved herself and didn’t try to steal any company secrets, Pei Yu’s retaliation wouldn’t fall on her, and she could continue to live a peaceful life.

Returning to the banquet hall, Yun Yin scanned the room but couldn’t find Pei Yu.

Just as she was looking around, a familiar deep voice sounded in her ear:

“Looking for something?”

The casual tone carried an inexplicable chill that sent shivers down her spine.

Yun Yin’s eyelashes fluttered involuntarily. She turned to find Pei Yu standing behind her, having appeared without her noticing.

His dark eyes stared unblinkingly, his expressionless gaze sending a shiver down her spine.

Seeing him like this, alarm bells immediately rang in Yun Yin’s mind—

He saw it.

He saw her with Zhou Wenze.