“Pei Yan, I hate you,” the boy said, his tone calm and indifferent.
But it exploded clearly in his mind, buzzing loudly amidst a blank void.
Pei Yan’s hands were empty, and it took him several seconds to realize that he had dropped his phone.
The lit phone screen was in the narrow gap between the car seat and door. He anxiously reached for it, jamming his fingers forcefully into the tight space without regard for the confined gap or obstructions.
He didn’t know how he got the phone out of such a small gap, holding the phone to his ear and shouting: “Qi Feng!”
There was a ‘beep beep beep’ sound of hanging up the phone on the other side of the phone.
Pressing at the dull ache in his chest, Pei Yan dialed Qi Feng’s number again without thinking.
Qi Feng didn’t deliberately avoid it and quickly answered the call, still speaking in that calm manner, “I’ve already sent you my address. Come if you want to.”
That’s right, he hadn’t noticed Qi Feng sending a message.
He didn’t care anymore.
What he cared about more was…
“You hate me? Because of the audition?” Pei Yan’s chest slightly curved downward due to the pain in his heart. He leaned on the steering wheel, his voice low and hoarse as he anxiously explained, “That was something the advertising department decided on at the last minute. I had no idea! If you’re angry because of this, you, you…”
His words faltered, not knowing what to say. After a long pause, he finally said, “…wait for me at home, I’ll come find you.”
“Alright.”
Qi Feng heard his explanation and sensed his impatience. Knowing his impulsive nature, he sighed and said, “Drive slowly on your way.”
His voice was slow and low.
Like a pure and cool spring water, flowing through the burning and throbbing heart, soothing the pain and impatience in his chest.
Pei Yan finally realized something.
Ever since Qi Feng appeared, his chest pains had acted up. Every time it got severe was because of Qi Feng. And every time the pain eased, it was also because of him.
—
Pei Yan arrived later than Qi Feng had anticipated.
Fang Cheng opened the door for Pei Yan and invited him in.
Qi Feng was plucking the strings of a qin under the orchid trellis on the balcony, wearing loose and soft plain-colored clothes, which made him appear tranquil and casual. His beautiful eyes looked at him with clarity and calmness, without any hint of emotional fluctuation.
Pei Yan suppressed his heartbeat and slowly approached him.
All along the way, he only wanted to see the boy sooner.
But when he actually saw him, he couldn’t find the right words to say, only a sense of anxious calmness.
“Please have a seat.”
The boy lowered his gaze and continued plucking the qin strings, speaking calmly and casually, as if he were an old friend they had known for a long time.
Pei Yan pursed his lips and sat down on the wicker chair next to the boy, leaning slightly towards him and asking softly, “Are you still angry about the audition?”
Qi Feng’s fingers paused on the qin strings.
“The audition wasn’t my arrangement, but I can guarantee that you will be accepted. If you’re angry because of this…”
Pei Yan furrowed his brow, unsure of what else to say.
He was actually troubled, wondering how to coax him.
The knot in the man’s throat bobbed up and down, and finally, he coughed lightly and continued, “I’ve said before, if you follow me, I won’t let you suffer. That statement won’t change.”
“I will urge them to sign the contract with you as soon as possible. It won’t take long before Tang Jun notifies you…”
“I understand, there’s no need to keep explaining.”
Qi Feng interrupted him gently, still not looking at him.
But Pei Yan’s heart skipped a beat, the boy finally responded to him.
Pei Yan moved closer to him, his body leaning against the boy’s slender shoulder, and asked in a low, coaxing tone, “Are you still… angry?”
It was a low, seductive tone and eyes filled with dark anticipation.
Qi Feng glanced at him, his cold gaze shimmering, but it didn’t seem like anger.
Pei Yan took the opportunity to hold the boy’s hand that was resting on the qin strings. “I brought you a gift, come and take a look.”
He took out another black paper bag from his hand, inside of which was a premium quality box. On top of the box was the logo of a car model.
“I noticed you don’t have a car.”
Pei Yan took out the key from the box and handed it to Qi Feng. “I checked what car models artists often use, and I bought one for you as a gift.”
Qi Feng stared at the black square key in his hand, surprised.
Pei Yan suddenly felt a bit uneasy and touched his nose, saying, “I bought it earlier, just brought it back now. It’s not because of the audition…”
After saying that, he felt that this sentence was unnecessary.
He had always remembered the look on Qi Feng’s face when he saw the car in the parking lot for the first time. So, after they started their relationship, he bought this car for the boy.
Taking it out now was not to appease him because of the audition, but because he had wanted to give this gift for a long time. However, there was still a faint hope that the boy would feel less nervous about the audition because of the gift.
“A gift like this…”
Qi Feng hesitated, “It’s too precious.”
Fang Cheng happened to bring over a cup of freshly brewed tea and almost spilled it when he saw the gift Qi Feng received.
He saw the logo and the car model, it was a luxury car that was very suitable for artists to use as a ‘nanny car’. Moreover, this model was several grades higher than Ning Yufei’s car!
“Xiao Feng has only been in the industry for a little over a year, and all the money he earned went towards the down payment for this house. He never bought himself a car. Every time he goes out, he has to fully disguise himself and take a taxi, which is very inconvenient.”
“With a car, he won’t have to worry about being recognized when he travels anymore. President Pei, thank you very much.”
Fang Cheng was afraid that the introverted Qi Feng might feel awkward accepting the gift, so he urged and hinted, “Xiao Feng, you should also thank President Pei. This is his goodwill.”
Qi Feng lowered his gaze and said, “Thank you.”
It was something that Qi Feng needed.
He never expected that giving someone a gift could make him feel so relieved.
Pei Yan tentatively held the hand of the boy holding the keys and said, “The car is parked in my garage, you can drive it back anytime.”
Fang Cheng happily exclaimed, “Ah, I’ll bring it back for Xiao Feng tomorrow.”
Just as they were speaking, the doorbell rang.
Fang Cheng hurried to answer it, and when he saw on the monitor screen that it was a delivery person, he was puzzled, “Xiao Feng, did you order takeout?”
“It’s me who ordered.”
Pei Yan gently squeezed the boy’s slender hand and said in a low voice, “I ordered dinner for you.”
He didn’t even realize how soft his attitude was when he said these words. His tone was low and coaxing, and his dark eyes carried the anticipation of seeing if the boy would be happy.
Fang Cheng was already excited in his heart.
Getting the endorsement from Donghai Investment for Qi Feng was already like winning a billion-dollar prize, and then he received the luxury car from Pei Yan.
And now, Pei Yan even ordered takeout for Qi Feng!
It is in the small details of life that one’s patience is reflected.
Fang Cheng never expected that Pei Yan would be so good to him. This was something he completely didn’t anticipate, and the more he thought about it, the more he felt that Qi Feng’s future was bright. The corners of his eyes wrinkled with happiness.
He couldn’t help but say, “Thank you, President Pei. I’ll go down and get it right away.”
When he brought up the two large bags of fragrant takeout and placed them on the dining table, his expression gradually became awkward.
Pei Yan ordered a luxurious feast for takeout, with steaming hot spicy hot pot, spicy grilled fish, various skewers, and water-boiled beef, all of which were incredibly mouthwatering dishes.
But…
At this moment, Pei Yan was feeling particularly sensitive, carefully observing others’ expressions. When he noticed that Fang Cheng’s expression was off, he quickly asked, “What’s wrong?”
Fang Cheng cautiously replied, “Xiao Feng, he actually can’t handle spicy food. Last time during the livestream, his throat got inflamed afterwards…”
“His throat got inflamed?”
Pei Yan was taken aback, immediately furrowing his brows and sternly scolding Fang Cheng, “If he can’t handle spicy food, why did you let him eat this and livestream it? And he ate so much!”
Fang Cheng stuttered, “I… I…”
Qi Feng interjected, “It’s my job, it’s none of his business.”
Pei Yan’s tone instantly softened, “I thought you…”
His previously elated mood quickly deflated due to Qi Feng’s inflamed throat. He felt frustrated, angry, and couldn’t help but feel a pang of heartache.
During that livestream, Qi Feng was enjoying the spicy food, his handsome face tinged with a light blush and tiny beads of sweat. Pei Yan thought Qi Feng enjoyed the dishes from that restaurant, so he ordered a lot on their way here.
Fang Cheng, afraid of angering this wealthy gold master, quickly explained, “President Pei, Xiao Feng is currently in a difficult situation. It’s fortunate enough that he has an investor who wants him to livestream, and on top of that… he even secured an endorsement deal with Gourmet Boutique.”
“A small restaurant’s endorsement is only worth some pennies. From now on, don’t livestream for them anymore.”
“It’s too late. We just signed a two-year contract with Gourmet Boutique.”
Qi Feng walked over to the dining table and sat down calmly, saying, “Besides, I don’t dislike their food.”
Pei Yan blocked Qi Feng’s hand as he was about to open the takeout box and said, “Don’t eat these anymore. I’ll order something else. What type of cuisine do you like?”
Qi Feng looked up at him and chuckled softly, “I can actually eat these.”
Finally, the boy smiled.
Pei Yan was left speechless, and his grip involuntarily loosened.
However, he still made an effort to stop them and handed the spiciest hotpot to Fang Cheng. Fang Cheng, who enjoyed spicy food, sat in the living room and indulged himself.
Qi Feng truly enjoyed these dishes.
The food here was abundant, with many delicacies he had never tasted before, each dish comparable to the exquisite cuisine of his time.
Especially those skewers. He held a skewer of grilled lamb with a bamboo stick and tasted it. The combination of various spices with chili powder and sesame opened up one’s appetite, and it was savory and delicious.
In the takeout that Pei Yan brought, there was also a box of soft spring onion pancakes. When Qi Feng felt the spiciness, he took a bite. The fragrant and soft wheat helped to ease the burning sensation in his mouth, leaving a mouthful of fragrance.
Seeing that he genuinely enjoyed the food, Pei Yan didn’t stop him. He used clean chopsticks to push aside the chili on top of the spicy grilled fish, peeled off the fish skin infused with the spicy flavor, and only took the tender white meat from the middle. He added it to Qi Feng’s plate and said, “This piece shouldn’t be as spicy. Give it a try.”
Qi Feng held the spring onion pancake in one hand and the skewer in the other, reluctant to put either of them down.
He suddenly remembered something, a faint smile appearing on his face. He lowered his head and ate the piece of fish with Pei Yan’s chopsticks.
Indeed, it wasn’t spicy, and the meat was tender, melting in his mouth.
Pei Yan watched as the boy slowly approached his chopsticks, his warm face brushing against his back as if they were close yet not quite close. He asked in a trembling voice, “Is it… not spicy?”
Qi Feng replied, “It’s fine.”
Suddenly, Pei Yan felt a sense of familiarity with this scene. It seemed that he had fed the boy like this before, without any reservation, just as if this was their natural relationship.
When was it?
Pei Yan’s memory was blank, and the only thing he could recall was the last time he fed the boy ice cream. He thought to himself, “Perhaps it was that time.”
He continued to pick out pieces of fish for the boy, picking up another tender piece and offering it to the boy’s lips.
His movements were hesitant because he didn’t know if the boy would let him feed him like before.
But Qi Feng took it for granted, slightly lowering his gaze and looking at the chopsticks, before lightly biting the piece of meat with his moist lips, leaving a trace of oil stain on the mole below his lip.
Pei Yan swallowed and looked at that mole, his voice trembling as he asked, “Aside from the incident with the audition, you… don’t dislike me, right?”
Qi Feng paused his eating, met Pei Yan’s gaze, and then turned his head away.
Pei Yan’s heart raced, but he suppressed his excitement and continued to ask, “When did you first meet me?”
Qi Feng lowered his head and said, “…A long time ago.”
“I have looked through your profile. You came to City A after starting college, while I began to make public appearances gradually since a year ago when I entered Donghai Investment,” Pei Yan’s gaze sharpened. “You said it’s been a long time, a year ago? Where did you see me?”
Qi Feng took a sip of ice water. “Is it important?”
Pei Yan’s heart felt uneasy with his response. “That night, you approached me on your own accord because you knew me and wanted me to save you. You clearly knew what would happen, yet you still sought me out. You are…”
Pei Yan’s dark eyes had a hint of expectation, “You also want to be with me, right?”
Qi Feng laughed softly, his voice tinged with irony. “Wasn’t it you who said you would ‘support’ me? You even said that if I listen to you, you would make sure I will not get taken advantage of.”
Indeed, the boy’s words indicated his agreement to their relationship. However, it only made Pei Yan feel more stifled. He thought irritably, fine, since we’re already together, it doesn’t matter anymore.
He quickly remembered the other reason why he had hurriedly sought out Qi Feng and huffed, “Li Junzhuo is not a good person. Don’t provoke him. I’ve already warned him that he won’t touch you unless he wants to die. Don’t renew the endorsement contract with Yipin Men’s Wear. I’ll provide you with better resources.”
Qi Feng didn’t understand why Pei Yan suddenly brought up Li Junzhuo. He responded with a noncommittal “Hmm” and continued eating.
As long as it didn’t go against his principles, he had always been obedient.
Especially to those who treated him well.
Pei Yan liked this side of Qi Feng, subconsciously making him believe that Qi Feng should be a very well-behaved boy. His jealousy towards Li Junzhuo gradually dissipated.
He moved closer to the boy and said, “My dad has never liked people from the entertainment industry. The fact that he values you is a testament to your abilities. What did you say to him?”
“Not much, just a casual greeting. I didn’t even say Unc…Chairman Pei…” He stammered, not expecting that even if Uncle Pei didn’t recognize him, he would still say those protective words upon their first meeting.
“Don’t be nervous, I’m praising you,” Pei Yan thought Qi Feng was frightened by him and chuckled. “My dad is good at judging people. If he values you, it means you truly have something unique about you. It’s not like what they say online.”
Qi Feng still responded with a soft “Hmm.”
Among the takeout that Pei Yan bought was a box of lemon mousse cupcakes. They were a pale-yellow color with a layer of lemon jelly on top, looking refreshing and enticing.
Qi Feng took a small spoonful and tasted it. The refreshing lemon flavor instantly awakened a new sensation on his taste buds, washing away the greasiness of the food.
It was delicious, dozens of times more delicious than the pastries Pei Yan had secretly brought Qi Feng from Shunxing Street back then.
He couldn’t help but eat spoonful after spoonful, looking composed but unable to hide his greedy expression. Soon, more than half of the mousse cake was gone from the box.
Pei Yan had never known that watching someone eat could be such a pleasant thing. There was a hint of laughter in his voice as he said, “This is meant for two people.”
“Huh?”
The boy looked up in confusion, holding a spoonful of cake in his hand, unsure whether to eat it or not. “Then, do you still want to eat the rest?”
As he spoke, the cake on the spoon fell, but Pei Yan quickly caught it with his agile hand.
He held the cake with his clean fingertips and brought it to the boy’s lips, saying, “If you like it, then it’s all yours.”
The boy took a bite, his tongue gliding over Pei Yan’s fingertips. And almost intentionally, when he bit into the cake, he bit down hard on Pei Yan’s fingertip.
Pei Yan’s breath paused, his fingertip trembling slightly, and he continued to stare at the boy’s lips in a daze even after the boy released his teeth. The bitten fingertip stung and tingled, leaving him completely flustered.
He turned to the side, lowering his head to whisper in the boy’s ear, “Do you still… hate me?”
I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. If you want to show your support, you can buy me a coffee. It would make my day! For every five coffees I get, I will release a bonus chapter.
