Afterlife Department

Chapter 424 – Pei Tinghe

Pei mansion. 

Pei Ru stared at Huo Ling for a long time. "Do you plan to help the priestess in solving Pei Tinghe's case?" she asked. After all, Ji Qiuxin voiced her intention last night. 

"Maybe." Huo Ling vaguely answered. 

Pei Ru thinks Huo Ling was incensed last night. "Then, I'll tell you." She said. As long as it could help Ji Qiuxin and not Pei Tinghe nor the Pei family. 

Huo Ling nodded and uttered 'thanks'. "Why do you hate Pei Tinghe?" he asked. He didn't mention that Pei Tinghe is her cousin since he remembered Pei Ru said yesterday in the funeral that she doesn't acknowledge Pei Tinghe as her cousin, and neither Pei Tingsong nor Pei Tingting. 

Pei Ru pursed her lips. "It started from a petty fight." She answered. "Before, there's only me, Tingyi, Tinghe, and Tingsong and Tingting." She started. "Being the only girls in the family, naturally the girly stuffs that were bought would be competed over by the two of us. Dolls, shoes, dresses, hair ornaments, jewelries, to say some." She said. "But, Tingting was obviously loved by everyone. Although she's a daughter of a concubine, but her father is still the patriarch. Tinghe also favors her with Tingsong. Only Tingyi is my ally, so naturally, I am at a disadvantage even though I am older than her." She bitterly smiled. "From this petty fights, it was brought until we reached a marriageable age." She sighed. 

"You fought over men?" Huo Ling guessed. This is the standard problem for women. 

"You could say that." Pei Ru hollowly laughed and she smiled because of anger, as if she recalled something unpleasant. "It was her who has a problem." She said. 

Huo Ling's brows raised, waiting for her to continue. 

"Because she was raised being spoiled, naturally, she brought that rotten attitude of hers when she grew up." Pei Ru said. "Because she was spoiled, she became vain, thinking everyone loves her and the whole world revolves around her." She clicked her tongue. 

No. The world revolves around the sun. Huo Ling thought when he remembered his junior high school which is his highest educational attainment. Pei Tingting is a human and not a celestial object, even her beauty can't be called celestial. He thought when he remembered Pei Tingting's death face. She clearly looks ordinary. Even if she was raised spoiled rotten, but her parents' love can't save her face. Not even cosmetics or pretty dresses. 

Pei Ru must be thinking the same thing since she evilly grinned. "She must feel inferior to me that's why she always snatches all the beautiful objects." She laughed. "Of course, that applies to men, too. Many young men proposed to me before for marriage. Meanwhile, no one even dared want her. But, when I chose a someone, she started having a fit saying she wanted that man, too. That time was really, really awkward. The family lost face but they don't have a heart to reprimand her, so I could only be wronged and the marriage topic was banned that time." She frowned in displeasure. "They even told me that I am older than her so I should be more reasonable and understand her situation. That because she doesn't have anyone to propose to her and her seeing my situation would hurt her because she was too sensitive – " she stopped and took a deep breath to calm herself after her face reddened because of anger. 

Huo Ling saw her clenched her fists and knew she must want to curse. 

"Damn it! Who made her become this way?! Wasn't it because they spoiled her rotten, carefully holding her in their hands, afraid that she would get hurt even the slightest, so she definitely would become sensitive?!" Pei Ru asked as her chest heaved up and down in anger. Then, she froze and glanced at Huo Ling before she coughed and fixed her scary expression. 

Obviously, she has many things she despises Pei Tingting. 

"Anyway, after that, I left the Pei family. I followed my teacher to Anlin Tribe to study more about medicine and met the priestess." Pei Ru continued. "After that, we went to Anhe where my teacher lives and there, I met Deguang." She said, referring to her husband Wu Deguang. 

Huo Ling saw her smile and knows she is reminiscing the time she and her husband met. "How about Pei Tinghe?" he asked. 

"Oh. Him." Pei Ru muttered as she sneered. She then told him how Pei Tinghe likes Li Hua more than his own mother Sun Ri because he thinks Sun Ri is biased. She also told him how Li Hua is using him to hurt Sun Ri. She also told him that he hates his own biological brother Pei Tingyi. 

Huo Ling leaned on the wall and listened silently to her speaking. After she finished, he spoke. "I heard he is a despicable person." he quietly said. 

The ones Pei Ru is telling him is Pei Tinghe's problem with his family. Although these might be useful in the future, but he wanted to ask about that girl whom 'Pei Ru' mentioned last night. 

"You heard it from other people?" Pei Ru guessed. 

Huo Ling nodded. "Has he offended anyone?" he asked. 

Pei Ru shook her head. "None that I think of. After all, I left the family." She answered. "Although, what I guess of him being despicable in the eyes of the people must be him drinking and whoring." She sneered. 

Huo Ling was surprised, but immediately hid it before Pei Ru could see it. Pei Ru doesn't know that he knows about her mentioning Pei Tinghe's first crush when she was possessed last night. "Why are these activities despicable to their eyes?" he asked. 

Based from the webnovels he has read when he was still alive (Stable World), the young masters of wealthy families are prone to vices. This can be seen to the present rich second generations who are smoking, drinking, whoring and even using drugs. 

Pei Ru shook her head. "What I meant is that when he is drinking, he goes wild and either he would molest someone or hit someone. He has low alcohol tolerance." She answered. Before Huo Ling could speak, she continued. "Although he hit someone, no one would dare hit him back because of our family. They are afraid to retaliate against him. And, even if they secretly feel resentful, but if one would harm him, everyone would know." She looked at Huo Ling. "Everyone in Anchuan knows each other. They would definitely find out if someone harmed him. The reason why the investigation about his death still has no result is because no one from Anchuan harmed him." she explained. 

"… I see." Huo Ling muttered and fell into a deep contemplation. Suddenly, he froze. "You mean, everyone in Anchuan is innocent, so the perpetrator must be from the other towns?" he asked. 

Pei Ru nodded, her expression suddenly turned heavy. "This is also one of the reasons why Pei Tingming invited the mayors and chiefs form the other towns and villages." She confessed. 

Huo Ling was shocked. So, there is actually a sinister plan! He thought, his eyes widening in disbelief. 

Pei Ru saw his expression and she hollowly laughed. "He's that despicable." She said. 

Huo Ling nodded in agreement. He could see that from last night. He was about to speak when suddenly, someone called Pei Ru. 

"Eldest miss. So, you're here!" it was Han ma. 

Pei Ru turned. "Is something the matter?" she asked. 

"No, no. Xiao Li is already asleep." Han ma answered as she waved her hand. 

"Oh." Pei Ru muttered. "Why are you looking for me?" she asked. 

"Ah. It's just a small thing." Han ma smiled, seemingly embarrassed. Then, she glanced at Huo Ling. 

Pei Ru turned to Huo Ling. 

Huo Ling faintly smiled. "No worries. We're finished talking." He said and excused himself. 

"What is it?" Pei Ru asked Han ma when he left. But, Huo Ling still could hear them. 

"It's about last night." Han ma answered. "I remember now. Eldest miss asked me about the late second young master's crush." She said. 

Huo Ling's ears perked up and he slowed his pace. 

Pei Ru was puzzled. "I did?" she muttered. 

Han ma nodded. "You did." She said. 

Yes. You did, Pei Ru, even though it's not really you. Huo Ling added in his mind.

"Oh." Pei Ru muttered, doesn't care about it. "I must be talking in my sleep…" she said. "So, what's the matter?" she asked. 

"I went out earlier to buy xiao Li some snacks for her to eat when she woke up and later during the prayer." Han ma answered. "Then… then…" she stammered. "Then, I heard someone spoke a lady's name, and then I remembered the name of the late second young master's crush." She said. 

"… that's all?" Pei Ru said. 

Han ma shook her head. "Not all." She answered. "I heard that the lady has died." She told her.