Hidden identities of the AI Heiress-Chapter 1023: It Could Be Anyone, But Not You
Seeing Pei Ya looking a little upset, Qiao Yun comforted him, "She didn’t resist. She must have a plan."
Hearing this, Pei Ya’s mood improved considerably.
His thoughts were the same as Qiao Yun’s—someone like Han Wang, with her personality, would never obediently serve as a tool for a family-arranged marriage.
Still, knowing was one thing, but feeling annoyed was another.
Regardless of whether this marriage would go through or not, he just couldn’t accept the idea of Han Wang suddenly gaining a fiancé out of nowhere.
If she must have a fiancé, it should be him...
Pei Ya froze at this thought, his mind buzzing as though he’d just realized something important.
His expression grew more serious as he sincerely said to Qiao Yun, "Boss, I think I’ve just realized something."
Curious, Qiao Yun asked, "Realized what?"
Pei Ya smiled faintly, his voice gentle, "Previously, when I told you I wanted to marry Han Wang, it was out of a sense of responsibility. But when I learned that she might marry someone else, I realized that it wasn’t about responsibility. I don’t want her to marry someone else. I want her to marry me."
He had known Han Wang since their youth. Since she was practically someone he had picked up along the way, he had always felt an inexplicable sense of responsibility for her.
This was why, no matter the situation, he was willing to indulge her and listen to her.
In the past, he thought it was sibling affection. Now he realized he had been wrong.
He had assumed they would never part ways in this lifetime, which was why he hadn’t noticed the change in his feelings.
Finally understanding, Pei Ya lightened up and smiled, "Boss, could you help arrange for me to meet Han Wang?"
"Leave it to me."
Qiao Yun agreed without hesitation and immediately reached out to Han Wang to arrange the meeting.
...
When Han Wang received Qiao Yun’s call asking for a meeting, she didn’t overthink it. She directly informed Herbert that she needed to go out to meet someone and asked him to let her leave.
Lately, Han Wang had been very compliant. Herbert had long since let down his guard around her, believing she had come to terms with the arranged marriage for the sake of her family’s future.
Being told she wanted to meet someone, he initially frowned in reluctance but soon remembered the message he had just received.
Professor Qiao and Li Hanzhou were in Region O.
He tested the waters, "Xiya, the person you’re meeting—is it Professor Qiao?"
Han Wang knew there was no point in hiding it and admitted, "Yes."
Herbert’s face immediately lit up. "That’s wonderful! She’s taught you for so many years, and I’ve never had the chance to properly express my gratitude. How about inviting her to our home for a visit while we’re at it?"
Han Wang shot him a cold glance and refused outright, "No."
Herbert froze for a moment. Seeing her unyielding expression, he realized it wasn’t going to happen and decided not to push further.
With an awkward smile, he said, "Fine. In that case, I’ll arrange for a driver to take you."
Having gotten the answer she wanted, Han Wang didn’t waste time talking and turned to shut the door.
Halfway through closing it, her hand paused. Her gaze turned icy as she said, "One more thing—don’t even think about making a move on Professor Qiao."
Herbert furrowed his brow slightly, then smiled disarmingly. "Relax. As long as you behave, I won’t interfere with anyone."
Only then was Han Wang satisfied.
Herbert watched the door close tightly, his expression darkening.
Forget it.
Now wasn’t the time to lose his temper.
...
Herbert didn’t make things difficult for Han Wang and quickly arranged a car for her to meet Professor Qiao.
When Han Wang arrived at the agreed-upon restaurant and pushed open the door to the private dining room, she was stunned.
"Hey."
Pei Ya propped one hand under his chin, lazily raising the other in greeting. A sly smile curved his lips as he drawled, "Surprised? Unexpected?"
Scanning the well-dressed Pei Ya, Han Wang inexplicably felt that he seemed... even more showy than usual.
Like a flamboyant butterfly fluttering desperately, showing off its beautiful wings.
Han Wang lightly shook her head, brushing the thought away.
She closed the door, stepped inside, pulled out a chair, and sat down, staring directly at Pei Ya. "What are you doing here?"
Pei Ya’s tone turned mockingly sarcastic. "An invitation to your engagement to some idiot was sent to me. Do you think I wouldn’t show up? After all, you’re the little sister I’ve watched grow up—and also my one-night stand. No matter what, I have to be here, don’t you think?"
Han Wang: "..."
She had no idea what Pei Ya was so ticked off about.
Raising an eyebrow, Han Wang uttered a single word, "Right."
Pei Ya: "..."
His face immediately fell. "You’re deliberately trying to piss me off, aren’t you?"
Han Wang nodded slightly. "Is this why you had the professor arrange for me to meet you—just to spout nonsense?"
"Of course not. I’ve got something serious to talk about."
Before Han Wang could ask what it was, Pei Ya suddenly grabbed her hand. The man across from her practically shouted, "Let’s elope!!"
Han Wang: ???
She looked utterly stunned, wondering if she had misheard.
Pei Ya declared with righteous indignation, "You’re my woman. How can you get engaged to someone else? I’m taking you away."
Han Wang gave him a look of utter disbelief. "Since when have I been your woman?"
"That’s not important."
Han Wang’s expression turned blank. "..."
"Okay, okay, fine, it is important." Pei Ya came up with something on the spot. "That night—you didn’t refuse me. That night—I hurt you. That night—you cried. That night—don’t you remember?"
"..."
Han Wang smiled faintly.
A few seconds later.
Pei Ya sat there, sporting dark circles under his eyes, looking pitifully helpless and wronged.
Rubbing her wrist, Han Wang felt a sudden, inexplicable irritation rising inside her.
The source of her frustration was none other than the man sitting across from her.
When she realized that Pei Ya had the ability to stir up her emotions, Han Wang pressed her lips together.
In his eyes, she saw an unrelenting determination.
Han Wang hesitated for a moment. Some thought crossed her mind, and her expression instantly turned cold. "Pei Ya, I won’t ever love you. I won’t marry you. I’m not joking."
Pei Ya froze, then stammered dryly, "So... you actually love this so-called fiancé of yours?"
"No." Han Wang could have lied to make him give up, but she didn’t. Instead, she replied truthfully, "I don’t love him. I don’t care who I marry, so I don’t mind marrying him."
Pei Ya’s eyes lit up. "Then you can marry me instead."
Han Wang responded instantly, "No."
"Why not?" Pei Ya asked, baffled.
Han Wang pressed her lips together tightly and didn’t answer.
Because of her parents, she didn’t trust marriage, nor did she trust love.
She still remembered the words her mother had once said to her.
You are the blood of both him and me.
You will become as filthy and wretched as he is.
You will end up like me—obsessive, deranged. No one in this world will truly love you.
One day, you will hurt the person you love, just as I did.
He will hate you, despise you, loathe you, and eventually abandon you.
Her mother might have loved her father at some point.
That’s why she couldn’t endure the betrayal in their marriage, destroying both herself and him in the end.
Now, she simply didn’t want to hurt those she cared about.
She never believed she could have a complete, happy family.
Han Wang looked at Pei Ya, her gaze complex, but her words were unwavering. "This person can be anyone—but it can’t be you."
