To put an end to this, all Pei Ke Xin could do was accept her fate for peace of mind.
She kicked him again, shaking his hand off coldly.
"Let go. I'll give you money."
He had been acting like he would die if she didn't agree just moments ago, and now he changed his mind in an instant?
Zhan Jing Chen smiled and confirmed with her, "Really?"
"Really."
"Didn't you say you had no money late at night?"
"I'll write you an IOU. You'll get your money, so let go."
Zhan Jing Chen could only let go of her, getting what he wanted and then acting like he was the victim.
"My taste is truly excellent. I can pick up such a wealthy wife just by walking down the street. I'm truly discerning."
Pei Ke Xin cast him a scornful glance and sat back down, clutching her bathrobe.
As soon as money was mentioned, she regained her assertive demeanor, sitting regally.
"Find me paper and a pen, I'll write you an IOU. I didn't bring my checkbook or seal, so I can't write a check."
Zhan Jing Chen gave her a look that said, "I'm just going to watch you perform."
"You're not thinking of writing a fake IOU, are you? Pretend to write it, then find another excuse to bamboozle me with a fake note?"
Pei Ke Xin said coldly, "What excuse would I need? If I don't have ink, I can use lipstick. At worst, I can cut your hand and squeeze out a couple of drops of blood for a fingerprint. I wouldn't play tricks on you for a mere fifty thousand. Besides, as long as I can draw a line between myself and someone like you, I wouldn't hesitate to spend five million, or even five hundred million."
"..." Zhan Jing Chen was effectively silenced.
"Vice President Pei is mighty. Since you're so generous, I can rest assured."
The hotel had paper and a pen, and she had lipstick in her bag. Zhan Jing Chen went to fetch everything, and Pei Ke Xin began to write.
IOU
On [Year] [Month] [Day], at precisely 5:20 AM in a hotel in Ha City, Ms. Pei Ke Xin owes Mr. Jiang Jing Chen the sum of five hundred thousand Renminbi for the copyright of my drunken video.
After friendly negotiation, Ms. Pei Ke Xin promises to pay Mr. Jiang Jing Chen the full amount within one week, that is, before 5:20 AM on [Year] [Month] [Day].
This is to certify. As proof.
Debtor: Pei Ke Xin
[Year] [Month] [Day], 5:20 AM
After writing, she opened her lipstick and applied it to her thumb, pressing it down to make a thumbprint. She pushed the IOU towards Jiang Jing Chen.
"Can the video be deleted now?"
Zhan Jing Chen hadn't expected her to be so straightforward.
Fifty thousand wasn't a small amount, and she'd really written an IOU so easily.
His original intention was just to tease her, but now...
He opened his phone and flipped through his album, finding two videos.
"We did sleep together just now, but it was purely sleeping, nothing else happened. I was joking. So I did record a video, but not the kind you're thinking of. See, consider it a lesson learned. Don't drink so much alcohol next time. Delete it after watching."
It made a difference now that he had the IOU.
Look at this attitude, a complete 180-degree turn.
Pei Ke Xin gritted her teeth and took his phone, tapping on the video.
"I'm so thirsty, sob, I want ice cream... Gu Wei, my life is so bitter. You won't even buy me ice cream, are you still my good sister..."
Pei Ke Xin stared at the disheveled woman in the video, who was tearfully talking to empty air for two seconds, her pupils suddenly dilating.
"This... this crazy person in the video..."
"Jiang Jing Chen, you... Since I've agreed to pay you, you must keep today's events a secret to your death!"
Zhan Jing Chen had long anticipated her reaction at this moment.
"I can promise not to say anything, but you'd better not get drunk again. Otherwise, with your drinking habits, I'm afraid you'll be exposed sooner or later."
"..." Pei Ke Xin scrolled through his album.
"You didn't back it up, did you? Are you sure it's all gone after deleting here? No funny business!"
Zhan Jing Chen wasn't that shameless. What good would keeping such a thing do him?
"It's gone. Don't worry, I find videos of people acting drunk embarrassing too."
His album was simple, just a few pictures he looked at repeatedly. Pei Ke Xin handed the phone back.
"I'll trust you for now. If anything I don't want to see ever gets out, I'll throw all dignity aside and won't forgive you."
Zhan Jing Chen raised his hands in surrender, "I wouldn't dare. Rest assured, you're a person of importance. I'm an ant, and once the money is in hand, I won't dare to provoke you."
Pei Ke Xin finally heard something satisfactory. She couldn't be bothered with him anymore and got up to leave.
"Given that you came here and at least did me a favor, I'll let you stay until morning."
"After sunrise, take your things and leave immediately. Other accounts will be settled by Gu Wei when we return to Nan Cheng. Let's go our separate ways, I never want to see you again."
Zhan Jing Chen slept again on the sofa, and at dawn, he was kicked out by Pei Ke Xin.
Thinking that his work here was almost finished and they would meet again in Nan Cheng anyway, he left first.
For the next two days, Pei Ke Xin managed the wrap-up work alone, and further consolidated her relationship with clients until her reputation was restored. Then, she returned.
After transferring and changing planes, she finally landed in Nan Cheng after a day of travel.
Upon landing, she turned on her phone. Less than a minute after walking out with her luggage, her phone buzzed, receiving dozens of messages.
Glancing at them, most were from her assistant. Pei Ke Xin sensed something was wrong.
She didn't read the messages first but directly called back. The assistant answered immediately.
"President Pei, your phone is finally on!"
Pei Ke Xin: "Knowing I was returning today and you're still calling frantically? What's wrong?"
Assistant: "Have you arrived? I'm waiting at the exit! We can talk when we meet."
Pei Ke Xin hung up the phone and quickened her pace towards the exit.
A familiar figure soon appeared. The assistant took her luggage while observing her expression.
"Let's go straight to the hospital. Chairman Pei... President Pei, please don't panic."
Pei Ke Xin stopped abruptly.
The surrounding crowds made her sudden halt appear jarringly out of place.
Her sunglasses covered part of her face, making her expression unreadable. Her red lips parted slightly.
"What do you mean?"
Assistant: "..."
"What happened to Chairman Pei?"
"..."
The assistant's panic, unable to speak it directly, explained everything.
Even though Pei Ke Xin found it hard to believe, she had to accept reality now.
"But he was still caring about me two days ago, sending people to Nan City to look after me... he had already gotten better..."
"It was a sudden cerebral hemorrhage."
Pei Ke Xin took off her sunglasses and finally took a step forward.
Her gaze was firm, her expression cold, showing no sign of vulnerability. The assistant breathed a sigh of relief.
"The Finance Department's President Pei also called you, but couldn't get through. He seemed a bit angry..."
"My elder brother?"
"Yes."
"Doesn't he know I was on a business trip? Why is he taking it out on you?"
"...President Pei, in short, this is a sensitive time. Let's not confront him. Let's talk things through."
Pei Ke Xin understood. Her elder brother must have been very angry behind her back.
Perhaps Pei Zong Rui had returned early and embellished whatever he had said about her in front of him.
Alas, the storm that was bound to come seemed unavoidable.