Chapter 2 I'm Not Worthy of You

Suddenly, gasps filled the entire banquet hall, and even Elder Qiao was startled, asking uncertainly, "Liyan, do you mean that girl with the braided pigtails?"

Pei Liyan looked calmly at Elder Qiao and nodded slightly. "Yes, Grandpa Qiao, she must be your granddaughter as well?"

Elder Qiao nodded. "She is Qiao Rui, who has been living in the countryside and was just brought back to the Qiao Family the day before yesterday."

Pei Liyan's handsome face showed no emotion, but his eyes revealed a hint of understanding—it turned out she was the sixth Miss of the Qiao Family, raised in the countryside.

"Hmm, that's her," Liyan confirmed seriously.

Elder Qiao set his gaze on Qiao Rui, somewhat puzzled, but he still called out loudly, "Qiao Rui, come here."

When Qiao Rui heard her grandfather call her and felt the atmosphere was off, she realized that she had suddenly become the center of attention.

Instantly, she choked on a piece of chicken, her face turning red in a flash.

Qiao Rui inwardly scoffed: even looking as unattractive as she did, how could she become the center of attention? Could it be that the force was so strong it resulted in an equal and opposite reaction?

Pei Liyan glanced at the girl who was choking and took a glass of water from a waiter's tray, heading towards Qiao Rui.

The people in the banquet hall immediately cleared a way spontaneously, the man's tall figure exuding nobility with each composed step, his whole body radiating an aura that made people voluntarily submit.

Watching the man, who seemed like a deity, approaching her.

Qiao Rui's first instinct was to flee.

Did he recognize her?

Feeling guilty, Qiao Rui immediately lowered her head, not looking at Pei Liyan's face.

In a blink, Liyan was already in front of her.

He looked down at Qiao Rui, whose large black-framed glasses were thick-rimmed and covered nearly half of her palm-sized face.

Her face was very ordinary, with some freckles, not at all clean, making it look even dirtier.

The only thing worth noting was her hair, dark and shiny, with natural highlights at her bangs.

At this moment, Qiao Rui's heart pounded like a drum, particularly uncomfortable with a piece of meat stuck in her throat.

She wanted to run away, but then a glass of water was handed to her.

The hand holding the glass, with long fingers and distinct knuckles, had a flowing and proportionate shape, astonishingly attractive.

Qiao Rui stared at the hand, dumbfounded for a moment. That evening, those hands had certainly sparked a fire.

Thinking of this, Qiao Rui felt a bit guilty, trying to control herself to not be affected by the events of that night.

She was now Qiao Rui, not Rui Qing.

Pei Liyan's deep voice rang out, "Have some water."

"Thank you." Keeping her head down, Qiao Rui never lifted it, taking the glass with her slender, pale hands and gulping down two big sips of water, finally easing the chunk of meat down her throat.

Then, she shifted her downcast gaze slightly, a fleeting cunning spark in her eyes as she shoved the chicken-greased glass back to Pei Liyan.

The entire action was so quick that it left the man no time to refuse, and of course, the grease smeared onto his hand as well.

Pei Liyan glanced at the girl's greasy hand and the oily glass in his, his brows knitting together.

Why did he get the feeling that this rustic girl had deliberately greased his hand on purpose?

Pei Liyan's sharp gaze narrowed, just as he opened his mouth to speak.

Qiao Rui had already walked toward Elder Qiao, not giving him a chance to speak.

Liyan's hawk-like eyes followed the girl's retreating figure.

Qiao Rui felt as if there were blades on her back.

Without turning around, she could still feel the man's piercing gaze, fixed on her back at that moment.

Qiao Rui straightened her spine and approached Elder Qiao, speaking obediently, "Grandpa, you called for me?"

Elder Qiao looked at his granddaughter, who was not outstanding in any way, feeling repulsion in his heart, his eyes also displaying impatience.

But he did not show it too much, just silently sighing to himself, wondering what Pei Liyan was thinking to have chosen Qiao Rui.

Elder Qiao spoke, "Qiao Rui, Liyan has chosen you to be his future wife."

Qiao Rui never expected she would be chosen today when she was at her ugliest.

Does Pei Liyan have a sickness?

She couldn't deny that the man before her was striking both in appearance and presence; wherever he went, he was an entity that couldn't be ignored.

He was looking at her, one hand in his pocket, with an attitude that seemed he owned the world, his expression carrying an intense coerciveness.

Under the sharp gaze of Pei Liyan, Qiao Rui averted her eyes and asked Elder Qiao, "Grandpa, can I refuse?"

Elder Qiao looked at Qiao Rui in shock, thinking he had misheard.

The whole room was stunned as well, looking at Qiao Rui in disbelief.

This country girl must be crazy to actually say she wants to refuse Pei Liyan.

Pei Liyan narrowed his eyes at Qiao Rui, the sharpness and pressure in his gaze making it hard to look him in the eye.

She actually refused him! What audacity.

Qiao Rui kept looking at Elder Qiao, her expression very serious, not joking.

Pei Liyan gave a cold laugh and said, "Miss Qiao, may I know why you want to refuse?"

Qiao Rui pursed her lips, hesitated for a long while, but finally said, "I'm not worthy of you."

"Tell the truth." Pei Liyan's tone brooked no refusal, nor lying.

Qiao Rui paused, and with a stiff upper lip said, "I think you're too good-looking, which tends to attract romantic troubles."

Pei Liyan's eyes grew more oppressive, "Are you complimenting me, Miss Qiao?"

"Not really." Qiao Rui shook her head, looking quite naive, "Actually, I'm more afraid that your private life is messy and you might infect me with a disease."

Pei Liyan's expression darkened.

"Qiao Rui." Elder Qiao scolded angrily. "Stop talking nonsense."

Qiao Rui pursed her lips; she had evidence.

That night at the top-floor suite of this hotel, she had a one-night encounter with Pei Liyan, and today he casually chose a wife, proof enough of his disordered private life.

Therefore, she'd better refuse.

Seeing Qiao Rui like this, Pei Liyan's lips curled, a dangerous and sharp interest flickering in his dark eyes, "Miss Qiao has quite the vivid imagination, but neither of us has the right to refuse."

Qiao Rui pressed her lips together in silence; it seemed Pei Liyan was not as respected in the Pei Family as it appeared, restrained at every turn, much like herself right now.

Considering the situation, the two of them were in a way, kindred spirits.

Pei Liyan turned to the elder and said, "Grandpa Qiao, Qiao Rui will be my future wife. I apologize, but I have other matters and must leave first."

Although Elder Qiao was displeased, he still nodded.

Pei Liyan had been there for no more than five minutes, chosen Qiao Rui, and left.

With his departure, the hall erupted into chaos.

Qiao Rui glanced at Elder Qiao's displeased face, remaining silent.

Elder Qiao's expression was cold, "Since he's chosen you, you better prepare yourself. Marrying into the Pei Family is a stroke of fortune for you."

Qiao Rui held back, but ultimately asked, "Grandpa, does that mean I can't refuse after all?"

Elder Qiao nodded. "Right, Liyan is correct, you have no right to refuse."

Qiao Rui frowned slightly and said, "Understood, I'll be leaving now. Goodbye, Grandpa."

Elder Qiao spoke displeased, "Where are you going?"

"Back to rest," said Qiao Rui.

"Let the driver take you."

"No need, I'll walk myself," Qiao Rui refused Elder Qiao.

As soon as she left the hotel, Qiao Rui felt a chill.

"Country bumpkin! Stop right there!"