Chapter 898 - Patek Philippe and Rolex
The investigation into Wang Jingwan’s death had been concluded with Xia Ling’s conviction.
Pei Ziheng had erased all records on this matter using his influence and hence, was harder to investigate than Xia Ling’s murder.
Li Lei ran into a roadblock and decided to simply call Pei Ziheng. “I have an important matter to speak to you about.”
Pei Ziheng was working in his study when he received the call, and his typically emotionless face had a flash of surprise. He looked out of the window at the shadows of the trees, saying in a low voice, “What is there for us to talk about?”
“It has to do with Xiao Ling.” Li Lei responded directly.
Pei Ziheng’s voice became even lower. “You’re getting married... you can’t be inviting me to your wedding, right?”
“I don’t mind inviting you.” Li Lei smiled through gritted teeth. “However, do you even deserve an invitation? A good girl like Xiao Ling was killed after a mere ten years... and you have the cheek to ask me to invite you to her wedding?”
“What are you saying?” Pei Ziheng’s eyes narrowed.
Li Lei said, “I suspect that Xia Yu is behind Wang Jingwan’s death.”
With a loud crack, the pen in Pei Ziheng’s hand was snapped into two. This information was too shocking to him, and he responded instinctively, “No! Xiao Ling admitted to killing Wang Jingwan!”
“Don’t you know her temper? How could you believe the words that she said in anger?” Li Lei huffed coldly. “She was blind to have fallen for you. Pei Ziheng... let me ask you... Do you want to find out who was the real culprit behind the events of the past? Your fiancé was murdered, and your beloved woman was framed for that murder, eventually being killed at her concert as well. If you are a man, you should be doing something to find justice for her! What kind of a man are you to not be able to protect the woman that you love?”
Pei Ziheng threw the phone against the wall with a loud bang.
He leaned against the study table with both hands for support, heaving deep breaths. How was that possible? Xiao Ling... she wasn’t the one behind Wang Jingwan’s death?! Oh my god... what big mistake had he made in the past? What did he do to Xiao Ling?!
He opened his palms and looked down at his shaking hands. It was this right hand that had slapped Xiao Ling hard, such that she fell onto the ground and cut her forehead. Her expression of terror and disbelief came to the forefront of his mind, and he felt a sharp pain in his heart.
“Xiao Ling...” His voice was trembling as well. He didn’t know how he could face the prospect that Xia Ling wasn’t responsible for Wang Jingwan’s death. So... they could’ve had a happy life together?
Pei Ziheng shut his eyes slowly.
When he reopened them, there was a menacing glint in his eyes.
He walked with long strides to the basement and retrieved all the information and evidence from the past, putting them into a portable safe. He was going to meet Li Lei and find out the truth. While the truth might be cruel, if there truly was another mastermind behind the events in the past... he would make that person’s life a living hell!
In a secret location at Skyart Entertainment.
The windows of the room were tightly shut, and Li Lei was sitting alone behind a thick, large wooden desk, holding a stalk of Biluochun tea leaf. The sprig was being twisted in his hands, and he looked at his Rolex from time to time, anxiously tapping on the table with the tea set.
The phone rang. “Young Master, Mr. Pei Ziheng is here. He’s brought with him a portable safe and refuses to allow us to check it.”
Li Lei said, “Let him come through.”
“But you’re alone in the room, Young Master...” Ah Nuo said worriedly as he looked up at Pei Ziheng. This man carrying the portable safe exuded a coldness that was menacing, like he was about to blow up a building.
“Let him come through.” Li Lei commanded in a louder tone.
Erm... okay.... His boss appeared to be getting irritated. He rarely spoke in such an impolite tone.
Ah Nuo beckoned for Pei Ziheng to go ahead.
He was finally here.
Li Lei put down the tea set with renewed spirits, staring at the door as he awaited Pei Ziheng’s arrival. When Pei Ziheng came through the door, Li Lei’s gaze moved immediately to the safe in his hand, before quickly shifting away. “You’re half an hour early.” His anxiety had disappeared as he greeted Pei Ziheng with his usual lazy tone. “Sit.”
Pei Ziheng sat across from him. “You’re here waiting for me early as well.”
The undertone of his statement was that it was clear that they both were anxious, so Li Lei should stop trying to ridicule him.
Li Lei asked, “Tea, or coffee? This tea is brewed by Xiao Ling, so the fire control isn’t great. However, it’s full of her love. I specially brought the thermos over with me... do you want to have a taste?”
This was a clear challenge.
Pei Ziheng’s gaze darkened. “You don’t want what I have any more?”
Li Lei laughed arrogantly. “I want it! Why wouldn’t I want it? However, I think someone here is more anxious than I am. The items won’t run away, will they?” He had invited Pei Ziheng over to get information about Wang Jingwan’s murder. It seemed that Pei Ziheng had indeed kept the records.
Since he had brought the information over, then there was no hurry to see them.
Li Lei couldn’t resist jeering at Pei Ziheng a little more. After all, if Pei Ziheng hadn’t been so horrible to Xiao Ling in the past, she wouldn’t have suffered so much. His anger threatened to boil over just thinking about this, and it was a miracle that he didn’t hit Pei Ziheng already.
Pei Ziheng’s expression was ashen, his gaze falling on Li Lei’s wrist.
Li Lei was wearing a tacky Rolex, which had been reported on by a small tabloid reporter. This was a present that Li Lei had received from Xia Ling when she had just debuted.
Pei Ziheng said coldly, “She gave you a Rolex? I received a Patek Philippe couple watch from her.” As he spoke, he revealed the watch on his right wrist. It was a custom-made Patek Philippe, exquisite and stylish in every way. No normal watch could match up.
Li Lei seemed unfazed on the surface but was crying out inside.
Patek Philippe! Couple watch! Custom made!
It would take a hundred Rolexes to match up to that Patek Philippe!
Li Lei thought to himself, Xiao Ling, how did your taste deteriorate so much from before? In the past, you gave him a custom-made watch, and in this life, you merely grabbed a random watch from the shelves?! Your husband-to-be is losing out to your ex! What should I do?
Thankfully, he saw a way out.
Li Lei smiled lazily again. “Patek Philippe? It seems that the repair costs are over the top... Chairman Pei doesn’t seem willing to fork out the money to buy a new one despite the face of this one being shattered already. If my Rolex is broken, Xiao Ling can just buy a new one immediately. Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin... whatever I wish.”
Li Lei could tell that there was some imperfection in the Patek Philippe that Pei Ziheng was wearing. It had been repaired before.
Actually, if Pei Ziheng had allowed the Patek Philippe official workshop to do as they pleased, the repairs wouldn’t have been visible. However, this watch was given to him by Xia Ling, and Pei Ziheng viewed it as important as his life. He had thrown aside “Ye Xingling’s” hand when she was begging for him to save her to save this watch instead. Hence, when he sent the watch for repairs, he had asked for them to retain as much of the original material as possible, resulting in some visible repair lines.
Now, it was Pei Ziheng’s turn to be irritated.
He suddenly thought... what’s the use of competing with Li Lei over this?
Xiao Ling was Li Lei’s now... how could he ever win?