After the Scheming Sickly Beauty’s Persona Collapses
After the Scheming Sickly Beauty’s Persona Collapses Chapter 24.1

Chapter 24.1

Conference Room

Pei Yu sat at the head of the table, listening impassively to the departmental reports, his fingers tapping lightly on the surface.

The project manager presenting couldn’t help but feel a chill as Pei Yu remained silent, offering no feedback. His presentation rhythm grew increasingly flustered.

This plan was our department’s proposal. Is President Pei’s silence a sign of dissatisfaction?

Even after the report concluded, Pei Yu continued to stare at his computer screen, lost in thought.

His silence only deepened the room’s tension. The attendees instinctively lowered their heads, trying to minimize their presence.

Just as the stifling atmosphere reached its peak, a sudden phone vibration shattered the silence…

The first reaction was universal: everyone checked their own phones. Finding them muted, they instinctively glanced toward the source of the sound, eager to identify the unfortunate soul who had forgotten to silence their device.

It turned out to be their own president’s phone.

Oh, that’s fine then.

The next moment, the aloof CEO picked up his phone from the desk. His deep, resonant voice filled the quiet conference room. “What is it?”

At this hour, only one person would call him.

Ever since he missed Yun Yin’s call last time, he had designated her as a VIP contact to ensure he’d never miss her calls again.

“I’m back, but I don’t see you in the office,” Yun Yin said, her voice tinged with concern. She scanned the empty room, her gaze finally settling on the wall clock.

It was already six o’clock.

“You didn’t leave early, did you?” she asked, her tone laced with suspicion.

“No,” Pei Yu replied, a faint smile playing on his lips as the icy aura around him softened considerably. “I’m in a meeting. Be good.”

Yun Yin glanced at the time and blurted out, “A meeting after work hours?”

She immediately added, “Then you must be busy. I won’t bother you.” Without waiting for Pei Yu’s response, she hung up without hesitation.

She couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. Even CEOs had to work overtime and endure the grind.

The call ended in just two minutes.

The meeting resumed.

But everyone noticed that President Pei seemed to be in a much better mood afterward.

The project manager, emboldened by this, ventured to ask, “President Pei, this is the preliminary plan for the project. Do you see any areas that need refinement or additional details?”

“The plan is executable,” Pei Yu replied. “Just revise the risk assessment for the later stages and send it to me.”

The project manager nodded repeatedly. “Understood, President Pei.”

The outcome was far better than he had anticipated.

“We’ll adjourn for today. We’ll continue discussing the City East New Port project tomorrow.” With that, Pei Yu picked up his phone, stood up, and left the conference room.

As the big boss departed, the room collectively exhaled in relief, the atmosphere lightening with post-crisis ease.

“I thought we’d be working late tonight. I can’t believe we’re actually leaving on time.”

“Me too.”

“We should really thank whoever called. Judging by his mood, President Pei would have torn my proposal to shreds otherwise.”

One person nodded in agreement. “Couldn’t have said it better myself.”

Yun Yin sat on the sofa, picking up the poetry collection she hadn’t had time to read that afternoon. She had barely turned a few pages when the office door swung open, and Pei Yu walked in.

“You’re done with the meeting?” Yun Yin asked, surprised he was back so soon.

“Mm.”

“Can we go home now?” Yun Yin put down her book and stood up.

“Wait a moment,” Pei Yu said, turning to his desk and switching on his computer.

True to his word, he didn’t keep Yun Yin waiting long.

Twenty minutes later, he rose, grabbed his coat, and walked over to her, taking her hand naturally.

“You were very well-behaved today,” he remarked.

Yun Yin let him hold her hand, tilting her chin slightly. “I’m always well-behaved,” she said, sounding less than pleased.

Pei Yu chuckled softly. “Want me to take you shopping again?”

“No need,” Yun Yin replied. “I’ve already bought everything I wanted.”

They continued talking as they walked to the underground parking garage.

With one worry resolved, Yun Yin was back to her old self the next day.

She didn’t get out of bed until Pei Yu left for work, completely forgetting her own words: Early to bed, early to rise, keeps you healthy and wise.

By evening, Yun Yin was sprawled on the sofa, gazing out the floor-to-ceiling window. A heavy rain had begun, its droplets drumming against the glass.

She was waiting for Pei Yu to return.

The night was hazy, the rain thick and relentless.

Outside, the torrential downpour threatened to drown the world.

After a long while, lulled by the steady rhythm of the rain, Yun Yin closed her eyes on the sofa.

In stark contrast to the cold, damp world outside, the living room was warm and spring-like, heated to a comfortable temperature. Yun Yin wore only a white dress, her long raven hair cascading loosely down her back. She lay sprawled on the sofa with lazy abandon, like a docile ragdoll cat.

When Pei Yu returned from work, he found this scene: the vast living room and the girl sleeping peacefully on the sofa.

The storm raged outside, and Pei Yu couldn’t help but bring a chill with him.

He calmly removed his coat, took a blanket, and gently draped it over Yun Yin. As if sensing his presence, she slowly opened her eyes.

“How can you sleep so much?” Pei Yu met her gaze, pausing mid-motion. “Even on the sofa?”

Yun Yin blinked, now more awake.

She didn’t argue. She really could sleep a lot.

Before transmigrating into this book, she’d spent two-thirds of her day asleep. Later, as her heart condition worsened, she found herself unable to sleep at all.

She cherished the days when she could drift off peacefully without being startled awake.

Yun Yin sat up, about to speak, when a large hand pressed against the back of her neck, forcing her forward until her face was buried in Pei Yu’s chest.

The suddenness of his action startled her. Unable to break free, she asked dazedly, “What’s wrong?”

Pei Yu lowered his head. The person in his arms trembled slightly, her peach blossom eyes looking up at him with innocent confusion. Suppressing a surge of inexplicable irritation, he whispered, “I just wanted to hold you.”

From the moment he entered the room, he’d wanted to hold her.

Yun Yin didn’t understand, but she remained still, letting him embrace her.

She seemed to be gradually growing accustomed to Pei Yu’s presence…

And his hugs.

After an unknown amount of time, Pei Yu slowly released her. The day’s accumulated frustration had finally dissipated.

“Pei Yu,” Yun Yin said, her eyes sparkling, “today is the Beginning of Winter!”

“Happy birthday!”

Pei Yu froze, a clear look of surprise in his eyes. He stared into her bright eyes, his gaze sharpening. “How did you know it’s my birthday?”

Yun Yin fell silent, blinking rapidly as she tried to bluff her way out. “I looked at your profile. Your birthdate is right there.” As she spoke, her confidence grew. She even countered, “Isn’t today your birthday?”

After a moment, Pei Yu’s gaze shifted slightly, and he murmured a soft “Hmm.”

Yun Yin looked up at him, meeting his downward gaze. His expression remained calm and natural, accepting her flimsy explanation without further questioning.

“I just don’t celebrate my birthday,” he said.

“Why not?” Yun Yin paused, then quickly added, “If you don’t want to talk about it, that’s okay too.”

The book made no mention of Pei Yu’s background, glossing over his upbringing. Yun Yin had no way to understand him through his past.

But she knew that by the time Pei Yu became the feared President Pei of Kyoto City, he must have endured many terrible things.

If knowing those things would make him unhappy, she would rather remain ignorant.

Pei Yu’s gaze shifted, noticing several exquisitely wrapped gift boxes on the coffee table.

He thought of yesterday, and everything suddenly became clear.

After a long silence, he asked Yun Yin, “Do you want to know?”

“Is it okay?”

Pei Yu looked at her and suddenly smiled. “There’s nothing you can’t know.”

They were just old stories, after all. Recalling them now stirred no ripples in his heart.

“My mother killed herself on this day. She wanted to take me with her…”

Perhaps at the last moment, she had a change of heart. She let him go and jumped alone from the high-rise.

He had thought the years had dulled his memory, that he would barely remember it anymore.

But he was wrong. The images from that day remained vivid. All he could see was crimson.

Pei Yu’s expression gradually turned cold, the veins on the back of his hand faintly bulging as if he were struggling to maintain control.

“I’m sorry…” A soft, husky voice whispered in his ear, pulling Pei Yu back from his spiraling thoughts.

He lowered his gaze to the person before him.

Yun Yin pressed her lips tightly together, her eyes slightly reddened, looking deeply distressed.

She was grieving for him.

Realizing this, Pei Yu’s breath hitched.

Seeing her like this, Pei Yu stopped speaking, suddenly unwilling to tell her the story’s ending.

He didn’t want to imagine her reaction—fear or pity. He only knew he didn’t want her to be afraid of him.

“Perhaps death was a release for her,” Pei Yu murmured, his voice low—neither relieved nor detached.

Yun Yin stared at him for a long moment before abruptly throwing her arms around him.

Pei Yu’s pupils constricted slightly, his throat bobbing.

After a moment, he lowered his head and returned her embrace. “What’s wrong?”

Yun Yin shook her head, silent for a while before asking in a muffled voice, “Were you… were you very scared back then?”

How could he not have been terrified, watching his own mother take her life before his eyes?

Pei Yu’s eyes darkened slightly. “I don’t remember.”

“Liar.”

How could he possibly forget?

Pei Yu remained silent, his gaze heavy as he looked down at her.

Perhaps he had been afraid then, but now he had forgotten.

The intensity of his gaze softened as he focused on the woman in his arms, and the lingering shadows in his heart dissipated like smoke.

“It’s all in the past,” Pei Yu said, his voice calm and matter-of-fact.

It seemed, as he said, that it truly was over.

Ayuuu[Translator]

Hi, I’m Ayuuu. Thank you so much for reading—whether you're a reader supporting the story through coins or a free reader following along with each update, your presence means the world to me. Every view, comment, and kind word helps keep the story going.

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