The Marriage Partner Is The Villain Boss Chapter 4

Chapter 4

In her dreams, besides Pei Qingyan, there was another face—one where indifference was mixed with contempt: Jiang Huaian.

I could never marry you in this lifetime.

In front of countless guests, he humiliated her publicly. It was as if they were not childhood friends who had grown up together, but rather mortal enemies locked in a lifelong feud.

Xu Zhiyi did not sleep soundly.

The past events she was unwilling to recall unfolded before her once again. Perhaps, in her subconscious, she also knew that returning this time meant she would inevitably have to face those people.

—Even if she was unwilling in a thousand, ten thousand ways.

Beep beep!

This time it was not a phone ringtone, but an alarm clock waking her up.

Tonight, there was a welcome banquet hosted by her parents. Although Xu Zhiyi had little affection for her parents, they were still related by blood, and she had no reason not to attend.

Yawning as she sat before the mirror, the first thing she did was cover the dark circles that had become prominent due to lack of sleep.

The person in the mirror had slender brows reaching her temples, and her bright almond eyes shimmered with a hint of moisture. Even when she was not smiling, the corners of her lips tilted up slightly, naturally making people feel as if they were bathed in a spring breeze.

When she was a child, Xu Zhiyi had always been somewhat dissatisfied with her appearance, thinking she looked too soft and easy to bully. In contrast, she envied Pei Qingyan; as long as Pei Qingyan kept a straight face, no child dared to come looking for trouble.

However, as she grew up, her perspective gradually changed.

Taking a deep breath, Xu Zhiyi picked up her handbag and inadvertently noticed her fingertips were trembling slightly.

Honk—

The driver downstairs honked the horn to urge her.

She clenched her palms and then gently released them. A trace of chill emanated from her body, which was constrained beneath her long dress.

…

The home was just as extravagant as she remembered, perhaps even more so.

Xu Zhiyi had no interest in the row of luxury cars in the garage, nor did she care to investigate the guests with their intimidating backgrounds. For her, she only needed to cooperate with her parents’ performance, preferably pretending to be a happy family of three.

This is my second daughter, Xu Zhiyi. She just returned after finishing her PhD at a top university abroad. She is currently at—

Her father, Xu Dehui, actually got stuck.

Working at the Research Institute, Xu Zhiyi softly finished the sentence for him.

Right, a top student serving the country! Xu Dehui slapped his forehead, his voice growing a bit louder as he raised his glass cheerfully. Her research direction is Artificial Intelligence, the leading industry of the future…

Not just him, but everyone in the family wore expressions of shared glory, looking indescribably ridiculous under the dazzling lights.

Xu Zhiyi tilted her head back slightly and drained the red wine in her glass.

She knew that her utility value tonight would officially begin to be calculated after this glass of wine.

The welcome banquet was merely a front. The real tug-of-war would happen in the upcoming negotiations—discussing who should be chosen as her partner in a political marriage to maximize the family’s interests.

So, who would it be?

She lowered her eyes and scanned the well-dressed guests. There was Young Master Li from the construction industry, Miss Wang whose family ran a hotel chain, and…

A slender woman suddenly entered her field of vision.

Pei Qingyan was draped in a black trench coat, her tall and graceful figure fully on display. She walked straight toward her target with absolute certainty, like a wolf locking onto its prey.

The ring I gave you—why aren’t you wearing it tonight?

For a moment, Xu Zhiyi forgot how to react. She blankly allowed the other woman to take her hand with possessiveness, her mind still reeling from the word ring.

Uncle, Auntie, I’ve carefully reconsidered the matter we discussed last time. We can cooperate; I’m willing to transfer a portion of the shares.

Pei Qingyan clearly had no intention of giving her time to process. Pulling her along, she walked up to Xu Dehui and his wife and skillfully began her business opening.

Wedding, agreement, child… as the series of words drifted over, Xu Zhiyi could no longer control herself. She used all her strength to pull her trembling hand from the other’s grip.

President Pei, you—

Like a magician, the woman pulled an exquisite little box from her pocket and slipped a crystal-clear diamond ring onto her ring finger.

When I picked you up at the airport, I forgot to tell you about the political marriage.

Her apology sounded natural, yet her brow was filled with the joy of regaining something lost.