Qi Feng spoke as he walked towards the parking lot, his pace quick and his mood sour. His car was parked in the underground parking garage of the Yifan Entertainment building where the contract signing ceremony had taken place. Several other people had attended the ceremony and were also preparing to leave in their cars.
“Xiao Feng, but… President Pei, he…he…” Fang Cheng followed him and wanted to say something, but he stopped when he saw the people who kept congratulating Qi Feng.
Not until Qi Feng reached his car and opened the door, did he suddenly see that his spacious and comfortable seat was filled with a huge bouquet of blue roses. The blue flowers were vibrant and lush as they bloomed. It seemed to immerse the entire car in a deep blue, tranquil, and beguiling atmosphere—romantic and serene.
Qi Feng was stunned.
Fang Cheng quickly used his body to block the view and whispered to him, “Xiao Feng, these were sent by President Pei. He arrived half an hour ago and has been waiting for you in the car.”
Qi Feng’s heart skipped a beat.
“Qi Feng,” the man hidden in the back seat leaned over halfway, entering Qi Feng’s line of sight, “Congratulations on signing the contract. I look forward to our pleasant cooperation.”
Pei Yan was wearing a formal suit, apparently having just returned from the company. But his relaxed brows and smiling lips seemed to contain a hint of mischief and anticipation after some prank. His eyes twinkled like stars.
“Why are you here…” Qi Feng opened his mouth to speak but hesitated slightly.
At that moment, all his pent-up emotions were washed away by memories, and replaced by another feeling he had never experienced before. It wasn’t joy, nor was it being moved. There was a sour tugging pain. He suddenly pictured his childhood brother from when he was little, who had barged into his small study and shoved a package of steaming hot pastries into his hands, saying, “They just came out of the oven, try them quickly!”
Pei Yan leaned over the backseat filled with roses. He tilted his head, his low voice was full of joy, “I wanted to surprise you. Do you like it?”
Fang Cheng looked around cautiously and urged in a low voice, “Xiao Feng, there are reporters here, don’t let anyone see.”
Qi Feng got into the car and closed the door. The blue roses occupying the entire seat became even more striking. Their light rose fragrance drifting in the space condensed with various emotions—it was indescribably romantic.
Qi Feng sat on the other seat in the middle row, with an aisle in between. Pei Yan had to come over from the back row and squat on the aisle. He grabbed the boy’s hand resting to the side, and asked with a chuckle, “What’s wrong? So happy you don’t know what to say?”
Qi Feng pressed his lips together. After spending some time together, Pei Yan discovered this quirk of Qi Feng’s. When happy he would take the initiative, when unhappy he would ignore Pei Yan, cold and indifferent. But Pei Yan was increasingly fond of Qi Feng’s little quirks, enjoying coaxing him until his mood improved.
Leaning on his chin, Pei Yan gazed up at the alluring mole beneath the boy’s lips, intentionally asking, “Or are you angry that I didn’t make it to your contract signing ceremony?”
His tall body half-squatting in the cramped space was like a big dog rubbing against its owner’s hand, hoping for a reward.
Sitting in the driver’s seat, Fang Cheng hesitated, not daring to start the car. Qi Feng had told him to go home, but Pei Yan was there. Over the past few days, Qi Feng had been staying with Pei Yan. He didn’t know whether to go to Pei Yan’s home or Qi Feng’s home. And Pei Yan was being so intimate in the backseat that he didn’t dare look back either. With great difficulty he ventured, “Xiao Feng, shall we go?”
Pei Yan was interrupted while coaxing and clicked his tongue impatiently, urging Fang Cheng, “Of course go, what are you dawdling for.”
Fang Cheng stealthily glanced at Qi Feng’s expression through the rearview mirror.
Qi Feng understood the implication behind his question. He calmly said, “Let’s go, to President Pei’s house.”
Fang Cheng: “Yes.”
President Pei? Pei Yan keenly caught these words. The last time Qi Feng had addressed him this way was when he pretended to use him as a spokesperson during their argument.
Pei Yan’s heart chilled. He instinctively put away his casual demeanor and asked solemnly, “Qi Feng, what’s wrong? Did something happen at the ceremony? Are you angry?”
When he mentioned the banquet, Qi Feng recalled the phone call Cheng Yu had picked up and the person he mentioned.
He pulled his hand, which was being gripped tighter and tighter by Pei Yan, away and averted his gaze. “It’s nothing… You didn’t have something to take care of? Someone you needed to see?”
“Who else could I see after getting off work?” Pei Yan answered without thinking.
He was extremely sensitive to Qi Feng’s shifts in mood. He pressed on, “Did something happen at the banquet? Why are you angry? Is it really because I didn’t go?”
“…No.”
“Then what’s wrong?”
Qi Feng was silent.
He was introverted by nature. Sometimes it was good, but sometimes it could drive others crazy. Especially when he looked out the window, not saying a word. He gave off a cold and aloof vibe that exerted invisible pressure on others.
Even Fang Cheng, who was driving, was anxious about Qi Feng’s silence. Seeing President Pei growing more impatient, he could only speak on Qi Feng’s behalf, “President Pei, at today’s banquet, someone almost scalded Xiao Feng with hot coffee. Fortunately, Mr. Cheng shielded him, so he’s unharmed now. The one who splashed the coffee was Xu Wei from our company. I heard she tripped accidentally. But last month, before Xiao Feng’s accident, that bottle of water was probably also her doing…”
Fang Cheng thought Qi Feng was angry because he kept getting sabotaged. Before he could finish, Pei Yan immediately grabbed Qi Feng’s arm, looking him up and down. “Are you okay? Did you get burned? Are you hurt?”
Qi Feng couldn’t escape Pei Yan’s anxious gaze. He pushed Pei Yan and said, “I’m fine…”
“It’s my fault.” Pei Yan sneered coldly, his dark eyes gazing out the window. “I was too lenient, giving him two extra days. He took the opportunity to harm you again.”
He needed to gather all the evidence of Ning Yufei’s schemes to harm Qi Feng, only then could he completely reverse Qi Feng’s situation. So, after returning from the hotel that day, he suppressed the news and used two more days. But he didn’t expect Ning Yufei to dare make another move against Qi Feng so quickly.
Hearing Pei Yan’s words, Fang Cheng stared wide-eyed toward the backseat in shock. “You already know who it is? Who’s harming Xiao Feng? How did I not know about this?!”
Pei Yan: “Stop talking so much, just drive properly!”
Fang Cheng: “But I—”
At this moment, frustration didn’t even begin to describe his feelings. So, someone wanted to sabotage Qi Feng, and Qi Feng was aware of it, while Pei Yan was investigating it too. But as Qi Feng’s personal assistant, he knew nothing about it?! He desperately wanted to know who it was but didn’t dare ask another word in shame.
Pei Yan also assumed this was why Qi Feng was unhappy.
He held Qi Feng’s hand again and said softly, “I’m glad you’re fine. This is my fault. I’ll deal with him tonight. I’ll protect you well, so…don’t be angry, okay?”
He spoke the last sentence very softly as if coaxing and reassuring him.
Pei Yan’s feelings for him were clear from his anxious eyes.
Qi Feng suddenly felt ridiculous. He had actually let someone mentioned in passing affect his mood for so long. After going through life and death trials, how could he still fret over such trivial matters?
What if Pei Yan had liked someone before? What if they met again? These things had nothing to do with him now. Besides, he shouldn’t have expected so much to begin with.
Pei Yan was his childhood brother, his benefactor’s son, and his current lover. A relationship like theirs wouldn’t last long anyway. He shouldn’t burden himself with unnecessary feelings.
With this realization, Qi Feng felt much more at ease. He laughed wryly to himself. “It’s not your fault at all. Why are you apologizing? I’m not angry with you.”
Yes, it wasn’t his fault. Yet it was his fault.
Pei Yan no longer had the anticipation of the boy happily saying “I like it” about the roses. Even the blue roses he thought Qi Feng would surely love now seemed obtrusive and annoying in the car, and shouldn’t have been gifted at all.
The more he thought about it, the more vexed he felt. He had promised to resolve Ning Yufei for Qi Feng, but he almost let Ning Yufei harm him again. This emotion piled up in his heart for no reason. In a daze, he felt like he had experienced this before. He wanted to protect someone with his life, but in the end, they suffered in helpless frustration.
But who was that person? What was their relationship? Pei Yan’s heart suddenly twisted sharply, hurting intensely. His brows furrowed and his complexion turned pale.
“Pei Yan, what’s wrong?” Qi Feng saw his sudden change and his squatting on the ground clutching his chest. He quickly went to support him. “Is your heart hurting again?”
“It’s nothing.” Pei Yan held his chest for a while, then suddenly looked at the boy and asked, “Qi Feng, did we know each other before?”
—–
Su Qiao did come looking for Pei Yan. He was temporarily staying in one of Cheng Yu’s vacant homes, in the same complex as Pei Yan. Cheng Yu had told him Pei Yan’s floor number and apartment number, but the high-end complex was very private. Even residents of the same complex couldn’t easily enter other buildings.
He could only go to the building entrance and try pressing Pei Yan’s doorbell.
When the doorbell rang, the elegant and noble man was somewhat nervous, his hands hanging at his sides awkwardly.
He wondered, what would he say to Pei Yan when they met again? Pei Yan should recognize him at a glance, right?
He knew he was even more handsome and elegant than in high school. His years as a designer had also cultivated his superior temperament.
In high school, Pei Yan liked him. It was a very flattering thing to be liked by an excellent person. He thoroughly enjoyed that feeling of being liked and envied by those around him.
But he was reserved at that time, deliberately keeping Pei Yan hanging, deliberately appearing before Pei Yan from time to time. The handsome and proud Pei Yan would always lose control and look at him, his eyes filled with obsession. That kind of gaze told him that Pei Yan really liked him a lot.
But Pei Yan was very bold. He hadn’t confessed to him yet, but he directly told Pei Junhai that he liked men. That was why they had no chance to develop their relationship, and Pei Junhai forcefully intervened.
He heard that Pei Junhai had been very angry, immediately transferring Pei Yan to another school and cutting off all his outside communication.
Later, he also went abroad because of his father’s job change. After that, he could only get bits of news about Pei Yan from his friend Cheng Yu.
In the past two years, Pei Yan had frequently appeared in business magazines. The boy had grown up to be even more handsome and outstanding. He was even more accomplished, and admirable. And all these years, there hadn’t been a single person by his side.
However, now there was a little star named Qi Feng with him.
Su Qiao pressed the doorbell again and sneered. Qi Feng? He was just a substitute. As long as he appeared, Pei Yan would definitely dump Qi Feng and like him again.
The doorbell rang twice more. Su Qiao anxiously watched the intercom speaker. He anticipated Pei Yan’s rich, pleasant voice responding from inside.
In fact…he liked Pei Yan too. Or rather, who wouldn’t like someone of Pei Yan’s status and standing. He had heard from Cheng Yu that Pei Yan now had power on par with his father Pei Junhai at Donghai Investment.
That meant he could confront his father Pei Junhai and date men.
“May I ask who is this?” A polite voice came through the intercom speaker.
Su Qiao instantly tensed up. “I, I’m Su Qiao. Excuse me, is this Pei Yan’s residence?” Only after asking did he realize he had forgotten to breathe due to nervousness.
A man’s voice came from the intercom, calling out, “President Pei, someone named Su Qiao is here looking for you.”
Su Qiao breathed a sigh of relief: it was Pei Yan’s home. He immediately stood up straight, a refined and noble smile on his face as he looked into the surveillance camera on the intercom.
He knew Pei Yan would see him when he came over. He wanted to show his best side to the person he hadn’t seen for a long time.
Just then, he heard a low, curt voice command, “Don’t know him, hang up!” It was Pei Yan’s voice, hastily avoiding him.
‘Pa,’ the communication cut off abruptly, leaving only the quiet of the night around him.
Su Qiao: ???!!!
Author’s Note:
Pei Yan: Retreat! Retreat! Retreat! Retreat! Retreat!
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.
