Chapter 157 - Dress Fitting For The Wedding (2)

In Pei Yueran's opinion, the gown was indeed a breathtaking masterpiece. This silk gown was by far the most intricate design she picked out, and she also sent her own preferences for the adjustments, resulting in the final look.

The exquisite gown was tailored to fit her alluring curves, while maintaining a graceful charm. The neckline was a tad too low for her taste, so sheer lace was added as an additional layer, turning the originally strapless gown into a sleeved one.

The sight of her delicate collarbones peeking through the sheer fabric added a touch of softness to her already regal look and caused Li Chuanmo to swallow reflexively.

The sleeve ended at her wrists and were embellished from elbow to wrist with pearl buttons. The bodice was an artistic creation with little beads and pearls sewn by hand adorning the front and back.

The silhouette was changed into a fit and flare pattern, with a full circular skirt. The grand train flowed down gracefully to the floor, giving the gown a sense of grandeur.

Even as she marched in agitation, it shimmered and sparkled in the natural lighting of the room, putting her elegance and softness on full display.

In one word, it was truly perfect.

Looking at Li Chuanmo's expression of enthrallment and near reverence, Pei Yueran felt the tension leak out. She then gave a contented smile and returned his words to him in her usual gentle tone tinged with a hint of smugness.

"Wipe your drool."

*****

Finding the right dress was the hassle, but everything else afterwards moved quickly. After checking different accessories at Li Chuanmo's insistence and not finding any pleasing one, she again brought up the idea of using her birthday gift, the Phoenix's Soul.

She showed a picture of the diamonds to the stylist, who agreed that they would go beautifully well with the gown. Li Chuanmo finally relented and agreed. He also chose diamond cufflinks and lapel pins that had a matching style.

Her hairstyle was discussed and she decided on a simple coiffure.

Next was the outfit for the banquet, but Pei Yueran decided that she had had enough for the day. If she had to try on yet another dress and hear Li Chuanmo's evaluation of "not bad, but-", she didn't know how she would react.

Li Chuanmo took one look at her and told the manager that they would come back to fit the banquet outfits.

In the next moment, he changed his mind and directly ordered for the different outfits to be brought to his house. They would be fitted at home, sparing them the inconvenience of coming back.

The manager excitedly agreed. Home services cost an astronomical sum, so she felt it would be well worth the time.

By the time they were leaving *Mandarin*, Pei Yueran was too tired to even talk. She loved shopping usually, but she decided that today's clothes shopping was way out of her league and wasn't something she was going to repeat anytime soon.

Li Chuanmo wanted to drive her straight home, but she remembered that she left an important document in the office that she wanted to work on, so she had to return to the office first.

When the grey Maserati pulled up in front of the company, it was already late in the evening. The sun, which was shining brightly a while ago had begun to set.

Autumn in City M always gave off the illusion of golden sparklers lit during festivals. One moment, it was bright and shining, the next it was gone.

The employees who worked at the Li Conglomerate were also on their way home, two of them stopping to admire the sleek vehicle. They bowed when Li Chuanmo and Pei Yueran stepped out.

Most people were used to seeing them together, so it wasn't strange. Nevertheless, the two still whispered about them after they left.

They couldn't help it. Only a totally oblivious person would fail to notice them.

On getting to the thirtieth floor, they parted ways to their respective offices. Li Chuanmo had planned to work overtime earlier, to make up for the half day he took for the dress fitting.

Immediately she entered her office, Pei Yueran froze. Her office seemed different.

Something was wrong, and she could sense it keenly.

She moved forward cautiously, trying to ascertain the changes. Her table had been rearranged. It wasn't very obvious, but for someone who liked to keep things in their exact places so that she could reach for them even with her eyes closed, she could easily tell that the items on her table had changed places.

Moving to her seat, she let out a startled sound and put a hand to her chest.

Her swivel chair had been marked with a large "X" in a bright red substance that Pei Yueran hoped was just paint. She didn't want to think of what else it could be, especially with the rust-like smell emanating from it.

She wrinkled her nose and tried to calm her beating heart. As she backed away, the bright light of her computer screen caught her attention. She was sure she shut it down before leaving though.

Turning towards it, she saw a new mail notification. She froze for a few moments, then reached a slender hand out, unaware that her hands were shaking as she clicked on it.

This was not the first time she had received a lone mail after her office had been messed with, but she still trembled as she opened and read it, first in shock, and then in pure outrage.

The message was written in a bold font: "*You husband snatcher, you had better go back to where you came from and mourn your husband properly, instead of gallivanting around here and giving him a green hat. You think you're going to be a Young Madam soon? Quit dreaming! You're just a toad lusting after swan meat*!"

By the time her eyes took in the last sentence, she saw red. She was so angry that she was practically shaking due to the tsunami tide of rage.

Husband snatcher? Whose husband did she even snatch? Green hat? How?

The more she thought about it, the more her teeth itched. She had never done anything to make herself feel guilty towards Han Lei, and she found it very insulting that someone would insinuate that she had to feel ashamed of her actions.

In her agitation, she didn't look at the pictures that were strewn haphazardly on her table. She knew what would be in them anyway.

"I knew you would get carried away with work, that's why I came to usher you— Ran, what's wrong?"

Li Chuanmo had just come into her office to urge her since it was already getting late, but he stopped short at the sight of her look that was alternating between distress and anger.

He closed the distance between them in a few strides and held her to his chest.

"Ran, calm down please. What happened?"

He didn't have to wait for her answer. The sight of red on her chair and an opened mail on her computer screen solved the puzzle.

Li Chuanmo was livid. He first guided her to sit on the second vacant leather chair before putting a call through to security.

"Come upstairs now with today's security footage."

Li Chuanmo furrowed his brows at the reply, then said, "Just come upstairs."

Dropping the receiver, he went to make her a cup of coffee so that she could calm down.

Pei Yueran was really shaken this time.

It was the third time in four short weeks.

The first time, someone sent a parcel to her door. Due to her previous experience with a delivery man, she didn't want to open any strange parcel, but when she saw her name, address and the logo of a company she was working with on a project on it, she decided to open it after taking it inside.

It was with a scream that she flung the parcel away when she saw two dead birds in it. A note fell out in the process, which had only two words formed from newspaper cutoffs: "Be Warned!"

The way she shook at that time was reminiscent of the way she was currently shaking.

The second time was at the office just like this. The difference was that there was no red substance and the email was shorter. It simply said "Break up with Li Chuanmo and leave, else!"

That time, there was a whole stack of pictures, some of she and Li Chuanmo, but most were of Han Yichen.

It obviously meant that someone was tailing them and threatening her with her son.

She was startled out of her thoughts by Li Chuanmo's soft touch. Before she could speak, the head of security—Lan Zheng—knocked on the door and let himself in.

"You called for me Sir," he started to say, but paused at the sight of the red chair. Li Chuanmo did not waste words.

"Any suspects?"

The young man shook his head slowly.

"I told you I would query your entire department if this happened again, and this time is even worse. What are you guys doing?" Li Chuanmo's measured words carried a dangerous edge to them.

Without waiting for Lan Zheng's response, he continued, "And why isn't there a footage for today?"

"The cameras were turned off for maintenance yesterday evening and the security in charge today forgot to turn it on."