Zhang Old Lady held Xia Xuechun’s arm and gestured for her to sit down, patting her hand affectionately. “Don’t mind this person. You’re the perfect daughter-in-law in my eyes. I think a girl should be like you—someone who can cook and take care of others. That’s what makes a woman independent and dignified.”
The old lady smiled gently, her gaze subtly shifting toward Qiao Chuchu. “Not like some people who’ve never cooked a meal in their life, spoiled and pampered. How can they grow and mature in society like that?”
Qiao Chuchu sneered. “I don’t think a woman’s independence should be defined by one thing. Cooking is one form of independence, but it’s certainly not the only one. For example, earning money to hire a maid is independence, and throwing slippers at a sassy old lady is also independence.”
Zhang Old Lady choked on her anger, glaring at Pei Yuan and Pei Che. “Oh, so you’re independent? Then which one of these two is the husband you’re going to have a vasectomy for?”
Pei Yuan: “?”
Pei Che: “?”
Qiao Chuchu: “?”
She only then noticed that Pei Che was sitting to her left and Pei Yuan to her right.
【When did they get here?】
Xia Xuechun was also stunned and quickly tried to explain. “Zhang Old Lady, they’re not—”
Pei Yuan: “I am.”
Pei Che: “I am.”
Qiao Chuchu: “?”
Xia Xuechun: “?”
Zhang Old Lady: “?”
Pei Yuan and Pei Che glanced at each other and pointed at one another—
“He’s not. Only I am.”
“He’s not. Only I am.”
Qiao Chuchu: “?”
Xia Xuechun: “?”
Zhang Old Lady: “Which one of you is it?”
Pei Yuan and Pei Che’s expressions darkened, both visibly annoyed as they averted their gazes and spoke in unison again: “We both are.”
Qiao Chuchu froze.
Xia Xuechun also froze.
Zhang Old Lady’s face turned pale, her bewildered eyes darting between the three of them. “What—what kind of nonsense is this? Do your parents even approve of this?”
Pei Che replied stiffly, “They’re deceased.”
Zhang Old Lady turned to Pei Yuan. “And you?”
Pei Yuan replied impassively, “We’re brothers.”
Zhang Old Lady: “Brothers from the same family?!”
She stared at Qiao Chuchu in shock. “How did you manage this?!”
“Don’t ask my wife,” Pei Che said, crossing his legs lazily. “Since you’re clearly from a wealthy background, you should understand that in our social circle, as long as both parties are willing, a man can have many women, and likewise, a woman can have many men.”
Qiao Chuchu felt like she’d been struck by lightning. “A woman can, but I didn’t know I could.”
“I said you can, so you can,” Pei Che said, his gloomy gaze fixed on her. “Have some backbone, okay, darling?”
Pei Yuan didn’t say a word, simply draping his arm over the back of Qiao Chuchu’s chair, calmly watching the old lady.
Qiao Chuchu: “!!!!”
【Even though this is just boasting in front of outsiders, I feel like I’m suffocating.】
She couldn’t take it anymore and whispered, “What are you two doing?”
Pei Yuan’s expression remained unreadable as he whispered back, “Playing the role of your vasectomized husband.”
Pei Che stayed silent, implicitly agreeing.
Qiao Chuchu: “?????”
【This is not something to joke about! Xia Xuechun is right here!】
Xia Xuechun’s face turned green!
So this was the relationship between Pei Yuan, Pei Che, and Qiao Chuchu?!
To avoid bringing sinful children into the world, they were willing to get vasectomies?
No wonder none of the seven Pei brothers had partners and treated Qiao Chuchu so strangely!
Xia Xuechun’s brain short-circuited, her eyes wide with shock as she covered her mouth, unable to speak.
Qiao Chuchu, sweating profusely, grabbed both men’s heads and pulled them together. “With what you two just said, Xia Xuechun is going to think there’s something wrong with the three of us. Look, she’s completely frozen!”
Pei Yuan glanced indifferently at Xia Xuechun. “Why don’t you get along with this old lady?”
Qiao Chuchu cleared her throat and naturally leaned closer to his ear. “She used to be my upstairs neighbor.”
Pei Yuan’s breath hitched as he felt her body close to his, her warm breath brushing against his ear.
His body tensed involuntarily, his pale hand gripping his hospital gown, his Adam’s apple bobbing unnaturally.
Pei Che, noticing this, narrowed his eyes and pulled Qiao Chuchu back.
“Then why don’t you two get along?”
Qiao Chuchu leaned into his ear. “Her grandson would run around upstairs all day, and it was so noisy it affected my work. I politely approached them several times, but they didn’t listen. Then this old lady scolded me, calling me picky and accusing me of making false accusations.”
Thinking about it, Qiao Chuchu’s mood soured. “So I hired five shirtless, tattooed guys to pretend to be my brothers. They stood at the old lady’s door, eating hot pot and sleeping on the floor. After that, she behaved.”
Pei Che: “…”
Shirtless, tattooed guys pretending to be her brothers?
He found it increasingly bizarre. “Why didn’t you ask us? Aren’t we your brothers?”
Qiao Chuchu shrugged. “Our relationship wasn’t at the point where you’d help me with my problems. Besides, you’re all just good-looking. How could you compare to the intimidation factor of tattooed guys?”
【Plus, after how I’ve treated you, I couldn’t just come running to you when I needed help. I solve my own problems and clean up my own messes.】
Pei Che’s brows furrowed almost into a knot, murmuring very softly, “In your heart, am I still your brother?”
Qiao Chuchu didn’t hear him and leaned closer to his ear. “So I’ll win this argument myself. You and Pei Yuan don’t need to get involved, okay?”
Her voice was soft, like rippling water drifting into Pei Che’s ear, swaying gently until it reached his heart, making it tremble.
Pei Che blinked in confusion, his body stiffening under his white coat, his breathing growing uneven.
By the time Qiao Chuchu moved away, his expression had returned to normal, but his ears were still as red as tomatoes.
Xia Xuechun, sharp-eyed, asked, “Qiao Chuchu, did you bring chicken soup too? Did you make it yourself?”
Zhang Old Lady sneered. “Didn’t you hear? She’s too delicate to do anything herself. This chicken soup definitely has nothing to do with her.”
Qiao Chuchu crossed her legs, her posture now relaxed. “I killed the chicken.”
Zhang Old Lady: “?”
Xia Xuechun: “?”
Qiao Chuchu glanced at her pink manicured nails and calmly explained, “First, I drained its blood, then plucked its feathers, gutted it, and turned it from a fully intact bird into an empty shell.”
Zhang Old Lady: “…”
Xia Xuechun: “…”
Pei Yuan, holding the chicken soup, said, “So you’re the one who killed the chicken.”
Qiao Chuchu: “?”
Pei Yuan took a careful sip. “Mmm, it’s very fresh.”
Pei Che reached out. “Let me taste it.”
Pei Yuan handed him a bottle cap.
Pei Che took a sip and nodded. “It is fresh. Qiao Chuchu’s chicken-killing skills are as good as ever.”
Qiao Chuchu: “…”
They actually believed her!
A familiar male voice interrupted. “What are you three doing here?”
The trio turned to look.
Pei Buxian, with his platinum blonde hair, walked over holding a laptop, glaring at Qiao Chuchu. “Why didn’t you tell me you were back? I was just at home writing.”
Zhang Old Lady’s jaw dropped, struggling to process it all. She stared at Qiao Chuchu in disbelief. “You have even more?!”
Qiao Chuchu’s lips twitched.
Pei Buxian frowned. “What do you mean, more?”
Zhang Old Lady pointed a trembling finger at Pei Yuan. “He’s the eldest.”
Then at Pei Che. “He’s the second.”
Finally, at Pei Buxian. “Which one are you?”
Pei Buxian frowned. “I’m the seventh.”
“?!” Zhang Old Lady’s blood pressure skyrocketed. “Qiao Chuchu, no wonder you’re so impressive—you have seven of them!”
Pei Buxian: “?”
Pei Che: “…”
Pei Yuan: “…”
Qiao Chuchu: “…”
