The Marriage Partner Is The Villain Boss Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Years later, when Xu Zhiyi recalled the proposal at the welcome banquet, her eyes would involuntarily curve and a smile would grace her lips.

She thought that perhaps, at that moment, she had felt a tiny bit of joy.

Because this person was no one else but Pei Qingyan.

The woman who had been entangled with her for years, who wanted to offer her heart on a silver platter, yet had also wounded her so deeply.

…

“President Pei, you’ve taken this joke a bit too far.”

Xu Zhiyi’s first instinct was to take off the ring and take a half-step back to draw a clear line between them.

However, before she could hand the heavy ring back, Xu Dehui cleared his throat and spoke first. “Xiao Yi, why don’t you spend some time with President Pei first? If it doesn’t work out, we can talk then. We completely respect your opinion.”

Her father’s words were like a final verdict. Seemingly democratic but actually dictatorial, they gave her no room to struggle, pushing her toward the woman at her side.

“But—”

The sudden increase in the volume of the music drowned out her unspoken words.

As usual, her thoughts were heard by no one, and no one cared.

Her heart felt empty. She didn’t feel much sadness; all that remained was numbness.

At some point, her fingers were once again grasped in Pei Qingyan’s palm. The ring, crafted perfectly to her size, also returned to where it was meant to be.

Forget it.

Xu Zhiyi forced a weak smile and turned to face the guests, who wore various expressions, looking every bit the daughter who obeyed her parents’ arrangements.

Her parents still had a business to manage, and she wouldn’t embarrass potential partners just because she was in a bad mood—wouldn’t that be ruining her own family’s reputation?

Born into such a family, the first thing she had learned was to suppress her emotions.

Furthermore, she realized she wasn’t “important,” but merely a dispensable pawn in a political marriage. If she were unwilling, there were countless illegitimate children outside waiting to take her place as the “Second Young Lady.” In short, there was only ever one option placed before her.

“Would you like some ice cream?”

A low female voice sounded in her ear.

Xu Zhiyi blinked, her gaze moving from the chocolate-colored scoop of ice cream to the woman’s slightly nervous face.

She pursed her lips and said nothing. Her fingertips brushed against the other woman’s before pulling away cleanly, coming to rest gently on the side of the cup.

“There’s low-alcohol fruit wine on that table…”

After saying just a few words, Xu Zhiyi paused, turned her face away in annoyance, and added in a low voice, “And grape-flavored drinks.”

Just as Pei Qingyan knew she had a sweet tooth, she knew that the other woman had developed stomach issues from years of excessive socializing and often needed to substitute alcohol with fruit wine or even plain water.

During the time they were still friends, she had always performed these assistant-like duties. She knew better than anyone which drinks could best pass for the real thing without harming the body.

She wondered if the other woman had found a satisfactory assistant over the years.

Her thoughts drifted a bit far.

“Okay.”

The woman’s eyes lit up. She immediately set down her empty wine glass, hurried over to grab a glass of fruit wine, and returned to stand by her side once more, refusing to leave for even a second.

It was as if she would disappear if the woman were a step too late.

Not ready to meet her gaze, Xu Zhiyi lowered her eyes as a cover, staring at the half-eaten ice cream in her cup. Her tongue was filled with a faint bitterness.

“About the political marriage…” She hesitated on how to bring it up. Given the other woman’s temperament, this might be a difficult tug-of-war.

“If you are unwilling, I won’t force you.”

As if seeing through her concerns, the woman revealed her hand first. “Just one month. If it doesn’t work out, I won’t pester you anymore.”

Her tone was resolute and convincing, as if this had been her plan from the very beginning.

If it failed, she would let go.

Xu Zhiyi stared at her blankly for a long time. Her thoughts were like beads from a broken string, falling scatteredly. She didn’t even know when she had nodded.

Anyway, it was only for one month.

Giving it a try… there was nothing to lose. At worst, she could treat it as a moment of closeness after a long separation.

Catching a glimpse of their intertwined fingertips out of the corner of her eye, Xu Zhiyi smiled bitterly in her heart. Six years, and she still didn’t know how to refuse her.

At least, they could be friends.