This Director Is Not To Be Trifled With - Chapter 39

In a quiet environment, a person’s senses become unusually sharp, emotions grow rich, and sadness quietly brews.

The next morning, when one remembers the overly emotional version of themselves from the night before, they always feel embarrassed to admit that person was really them.

Xiao Yutong was in the kitchen preparing breakfast. Song Xian, hiding in the bathroom, looked at her reflection now with two newly awarded dark circles and shook her head helplessly. She had an important matter to attend to today, a meeting with Pei Zixuan that she had kept in mind only because that woman texted her every day to remind her.

Sure enough, just after Song Xian finished washing her face, Pei Zixuan sent her an address  a shopping mall and arrogantly demanded she arrive within an hour.

Who did that woman think she was? Song Xian deliberately didn’t hurry. She slowly ate breakfast with Xiao Yutong, washed the dishes, tidied up the kitchen, and only then went out.

At the mall entrance, she even waited another ten minutes before going in successfully making herself thirty minutes late.

When she finally saw Pei Zixuan, the woman was standing by the elevator in sunglasses, arms crossed, checking her phone from time to time clearly impatient.

Seeing her displeased made Song Xian secretly delighted. She walked over, proud and smug.

Song Xian: “Let’s go.”

Pei Zixuan shot back coldly, “Punctuality is a basic rule for decent people. I really can’t understand how my mother would ever cooperate with a company that hires someone like you.”

Song Xian wasn’t about to take that lying down. “Punctuality only matters when both sides actually agree on a schedule. For someone like Miss Pei, who orders people around on a whim, I don’t see the need for punctuality at all.”

Pei Zixuan clenched her fists. If she didn’t need Song Xian’s help right now, she’d have already “massaged” that smug face of hers.

Song Xian folded her arms. “So, what did you call me here for? If there’s nothing important, I’m leaving.” She put her sunglasses back on dramatically as if ready to walk away.

“No need to ask so many questions. Just follow me.” Pei Zixuan gave her a sidelong glance and strode into the elevator.

It was the first time Song Xian had met someone even more arrogant and more punchable than herself. She lowered her head, slid her sunglasses down a little, eyed Pei Zixuan’s back, and reluctantly followed.

Inside the elevator, they stood in opposite corners, far apart.

Song Xian: “Fine, I’ll listen. But once we’re done, you have to tell President Shen you’re not interested in me so she’ll stop bothering me.”

That was her only goal for the day.

Pei Zixuan: “Deal. As long as you behave, big sister here will grant your wish.”

Wow. Kids these days no manners, and ridiculously full of themselves.

Song Xian thought: Fine, I’ll tolerate it. Let’s see how long you can keep this up.

Over the next two hours, Pei Zixuan dragged her through several stores, dressing her from head to toe in new clothes, then took her to a salon for a haircut. When Song Xian finally looked at herself in the mirror, only one word came to mind: cool.

Her usual style leaned toward the chic and bold anyway, though she’d toned it down for work. Pei Zixuan might have a terrible personality, but her taste was impeccable and she was generous, too. Even Song Xian herself wouldn’t have spent this much on a whim.

Pei Zixuan also seemed satisfied. Just as Song Xian was expecting a compliment, she got instead: “Much easier on the eyes.”

Easier on the eyes? That was all her face got even with this outfit?

“Come on, we don’t have much time,” Pei Zixuan tossed over her shoulder and walked off.

Song Xian stood there, dumbfounded.

When they got to the car, Song Xian, exhausted from lack of sleep, decided not to talk to her anymore and just closed her eyes. She had no idea where Pei Zixuan was taking her as long as it wasn’t human trafficking, it was fine. After all, she had once saved Pei Zixuan’s life; even if the woman had no conscience, she wouldn’t go that far.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yutong hadn’t seen Jiang Lan in ages. After Song Xian left, Jiang Lan invited her for a bike ride along the river something they’d often done back in college and still managed two or three times a year despite their busy schedules.

Xiao Yutong’s workload had eased in recent years, but Jiang Lan’s had only grown. Since Jiang Lan finally had time, Yutong happily agreed. With Song Xian away visiting her parents and new work not yet starting, it was perfect timing.

They packed everything up, drove to the riverside parking lot, and began their ride.

Song Xian was starting to think weddings were stalking her. When she stood at the entrance of yet another one, a wild thought crossed her mind had Pei Zixuan kidnapped her to get married herself? Maybe her parents and Shen Qingjia would be waiting inside.

The thought made her want to bolt but the wedding poster by the door stopped her. The couple pictured there were good-looking, and suddenly another theory popped into her head.

Who spends every night drinking themselves senseless in a bar, only to attend a wedding the next day? Someone heartbroken, of course like Xiao Yutong once was. Maybe Pei Zixuan was here to crash her ex’s wedding. Song Xian glanced down at her shoes and thought, Good thing I dressed right for it.

Wait why was that good? She wasn’t anyone’s stand-in girlfriend. Xiao Yutong was one thing she’d done that willingly but this woman? Why should she?

Song Xian: “Pei Zixuan, what exactly are you doing?”

Pei Zixuan: “You’ll see soon enough. Just stand there and don’t talk.”

Song Xian was fuming. She was supposed to be helping, yet was being treated like an accessory. Was this what people meant by a harsh dose of reality?

Fine. If she wasn’t allowed to speak, she’d just enjoy the show.

Pei Zixuan led her to the second floor straight to the bridal dressing room. Not even the ceremony first? Going right for the bride? Song Xian thought. That’s bold but less dramatic.

Inside were the bride and two makeup artists. No groom. The bride looked surprised at Pei Zixuan’s arrival, then quickly smiled and dismissed the others.

Now there were only three people left. Song Xian leaned against the doorframe, arms folded, ready to enjoy the drama. If they fight, she thought, should I take a photo first or start recording?

She decided to record fights move too fast for photos anyway. But things didn’t go as she expected.

“You came,” said the bride, inching forward in her gown, smiling with teary eyes that barely held back the tears.

“Mhm,” Pei Zixuan replied, her own voice trembling ever so slightly. “You look beautiful, sister.”

The bride nodded, forcing a small, pained smile. “Thank you.”

Her gaze traveled up and down Pei Zixuan, softening into concern. “Have you been doing okay lately?”

To prepare for this wedding, Pei Zixuan had spent a whole week living clean early to bed, early to rise, regular meals thinking she’d hidden her pain well.

“I’m fine,” Pei said, then turned around and pulled Song Xian forward, looping her arm around hers affectionately. “This is my girlfriend. We met at a bar she saved me when I was being harassed.”

Pei Zixuan smiled faintly. “She loves me very much, and I love her too.”

The bride smiled back. “Congratulations you’ve found your own happiness.”

Pei Zixuan bit back her tears. “And you, sister you must be happy too.”

Holding that last smile, she turned and left with Song Xian. Once they were out of sight, her lips trembled, and tears finally poured down.

Song Xian hadn’t expected the drama to turn into a tragedy. She hadn’t even spoken a line, yet she felt the emotion deeply especially when Pei Zixuan tried to smile through her pain. For the first time, she didn’t find her so insufferable.

Back in the car, Pei Zixuan completely broke down, sobbing uncontrollably. There was nothing comforting words could do so Song Xian simply kept handing her tissues.

After half an hour, Pei Zixuan finally calmed down. Her makeup was ruined, eyes red just like that night at the bar. Song Xian tried to speak, but Pei Zixuan ignored her, started the car, and drove off.

“Hey, are you sure you’re okay to drive like this?” Song Xian asked nervously.

Pei Zixuan didn’t answer. Song Xian hastily buckled her seatbelt the whole way, it felt like the woman’s brakes didn’t work, because she never took her foot off the gas.

She thought grimly, Got into a bandit’s car  no way off now.

When the car finally stopped by the river, Song Xian nearly jumped out in panic. She’s not going to jump, is she?

She followed close, ready to grab her if needed. When Pei Zixuan rested a hand on the railing, Song Xian immediately seized her arm.

“Haha, what are you doing?” Pei Zixuan laughed at her anxious face. “Relax. I’m not suicidal. If I wanted to die, I wouldn’t have waited until today.”

Still unconvinced, Song Xian kept hold of her. “Better safe than sorry.”

Pei Zixuan tugged her arm free. “Wow, even my mom doesn’t care if I live or die why are you so concerned?”

“I don’t care whether you live or die,” Song Xian shot back, “but you’re with me right now. If you die, I’ll be held responsible.”

“So it’s for your own sake, huh? And here I thought you were noble.” Pei Zixuan sneered.

Song Xian hopped up onto the railing. “I’m not noble but I do know this much: being alive is better than being dead. When you’re alive, anything’s possible. When you’re dead, it’s all over.”

Pei Zixuan scoffed. “You talk like you’ve died before.”

“I have,” Song Xian said quietly. “That’s why I treasure every day I’m still alive.”