I Refused to Be a Substitute, and Shot to Fame on a Variety Show With My Mother-In-Law

Sky-Price Gem

In the steamy bathroom. Li Xiwu sat with weak legs, thinking about how to hide tonight. She didn’t want to have sex with Pei Jingzhou, but it was obvious that she couldn’t avoid it. Thinking about the past ten minutes, he had been very restrained.

“Li Xiwu.”

Pei Jingzhou’s voice came from outside the door, pulling Li Xiwu back from her thoughts. She replied, “Yes?”

“Come out,” he said. It wasn’t the tone of command, but it trumped it.

Li Xiwu didn’t dare disobey. She knew that staying any longer wouldn’t change anything. She couldn’t hide from him tonight. She simply composed herself and pushed the door open calmly. Their eyes met. The man was nearly 1.9 meters tall. His tall and mighty body stood in front of Li Xiwu, making Li Xiwu, who was 1.68 meters tall, look very petite.

“You done?” he asked.

Li Xiwu nodded, then began to remove her dressing gown. Her movements were methodical, without nervousness or shyness. It was the composure of a long-time companion.

Halfway through undoing her robe, Pei Jingzhou reached over. Li Xiwu thought he was anxious, so he let him peel it. But the reality was not what she had expected at all.

Pei Jingzhou tied the strap on her wrist and pulled her to the bed. He lay down and tucked her in before hugging her to sleep. His legs were long and slightly bent over her, but they didn’t press too hard against her.

He liked to envelop her in his arms when they were doing it, and he liked to envelop her in another way when they weren’t doing it. He was domineering, but Li Xiwu didn’t resist such dominance. It made her feel safe, like a dumpling being held in the palm of his hand.

“Mr. Pei,” Li Xiwu called to him with a sigh.

“You don’t want to sleep?” he asked.

The lights hadn’t been turned off. Visually, it was clear.

Li Xiwu said no and cut to the chase. “Two more months.”

“What two months?”

She wasn’t sure if he really hadn’t thought about it for a moment or if he’d deliberately not thought about it, but Li Xiwu preferred to believe it was the latter. She had made up her mind to divorce as soon as possible and live her own life.

As she was thinking, Li Xiwu suddenly frowned and shouted in pain, “Mr. Pei, don’t bite…”

“Does it hurt?”

“It hurts,” she answered honestly.

“It’s good to know it hurts.”

“…” Li Xiwu wanted to be angry with him, but she felt that she was not qualified, so she could only keep quiet.

“Are you free tomorrow?” he asked.

The voice came from above, making her seem even smaller in his arms. She pretended not to hear and ignored him.

He gripped her waist. “Li Xiwu, speak.”

She was scared now. “No time,” she said in a muffled voice.

“And the day after tomorrow?”

“No.”

“When will you have time?” he asked patiently.

Li Xiwu murmured, “Thursday.”

“Then clear your schedule for Thursday and go back to Pei Residence for dinner.”

“Okay,” she said obediently.

As a substitute, she had to be self-aware. She had been very self-conscious for the past three years. Other than occasionally throwing a tantrum, Pei Jingzhou would tolerate her. It was only when she mentioned that she wanted to go to Thailand with him that his expression immediately changed.

...

The next day.

Li Xiwu was woken up by her frequently vibrating phone. She saw the name on the display, hesitated, then answered. “Auntie.”

The person who called was Han Qianye, Pei Jingzhou’s mother and Li Xiwu’s current mother-in-law. Han Qianye was the most famous noblewoman in the capital’s noble circle. Her family was a high-ranking official, and her husband was from the Pei family, one of the richest families. Everyone was envious.

Han Qianye gave a few instructions.

Li Xiwu replied, “I have time.”

Finally she answered, “Okay, I’ll be there on time.”

When the call ended, she put down her phone and got out of bed. She shuffled to the bathroom to wash up. When she entered, she almost bumped into Pei Jingzhou.

Li Xiwu stepped back, sideways, letting him out first. She only went in after Pei Jingzhou walked out. They were husband and wife, but they were more like living roommates.

As Pei Jingzhou finished his cigarette, Li Xiwu came out of the bathroom. He stubbed out the cigarette in the stone rice. “Where are you going?”

Li Xiwu looked at Pei Jingzhou in surprise. “To the company.”

“I’ll drive you,” he said.

Li Xiwu was even more surprised.

“You don’t want me to?” He walked over.

When they met last night, he’d been wearing a bathrobe. Sexy and attractive. This morning, he had already changed into a formal suit. His white shirt was paired with a blue and black striped business vest, and his neatly ironed trousers were the same color as the vest. Every move he made exuded endless charm.

“I’m going to the office in the afternoon. I have something else to do in the morning.” She had no intention of telling Pei Jingzhou about Han Qianye’s appointment with her.

They had never gotten along. She had always dealt with it herself.

Pei Jingzhou looked at her quietly for a while, then walked forward and grabbed Li Xiwu’s slender waist. He asked her in a low voice, “Are you unhappy?”

“Where did Mr. Pei get the impression that I was upset?” she asked.

“It’s written on your face.”

“…”

Pei Jingzhou smiled beautifully.

...

Li Xiwu was one of the few people who could see a smile on his face. He released her and turned. He went to the bar and brought her the gift he hadn’t had time to bring back for her yesterday.

Instead of giving it to Li Xiwu directly, he pulled out the package, opened the velvet box, and took out the pigeon-blood ruby ring inside. He held Li Xiwu’s hand and placed the ring firmly on her index finger.

“Sunrise.” She recognized the priceless ruby on the ring holder.

Pei Jingzhou admired it with satisfaction. “It’s only suitable for you.”

Li Xiwu didn’t refuse. “Thank you, Mr. Pei,” she said politely.

“Just thanks?” His voice was low and his eyes darkened a little as he watched her.

Li Xiwu threw her head back, stood on tiptoe and kissed him. Although this kiss was initiated by her, the dominant position was still with Pei Jingzhou. He was not satisfied, so he pressed her into his arms and kissed her as much as he wanted. It could be considered barely making up for last night.

–

They left the hotel. Li Xiwu took off the pigeon-blood ruby ring and put it away. Then she drove to Herti.

Herti was a well-known beauty chain. With its unique beauty care techniques and advanced beauty equipment, it was a frequent destination for the wealthy wives of the Capital circle.

Han Qianye is meeting her there today.

...

After parking the car, Li Xiwu entered the Herti.

At this moment, Han Qianye had just finished her hot-madge medical treatment. She walked towards Li Xiwu with a slightly red and swollen face. Without looking at the face, her noble lady’s demeanor did not decrease.

“You sure know how to time things.” Han Qianye sat down opposite Li Xiwu.

Herti’s staff served Han Qianye with fruit platters and flower tea.

Li Xiwu pursed her lips. “Why did you call?” She didn’t want to waste too much time here, so she cut straight to the chase.

Han Qianye did not make things difficult for her and said directly, “I gave you 80 million last time, but you didn’t agree to divorce Jingzhou. This time, I’ll be more generous and give you 200 million. After taking this 200 million, you can divorce Jingzhou.”