Qi Feng saw Pei Junhai’s shocked expression and the reporters and cameras that were broadcasting live at the scene. His mind went blank instantly. He instinctively wanted to back away and escape. But he knew that from the moment he stood here, this matter could no longer be undone. What worried him was not suddenly appearing at the press conference but rather showing up hand-in-hand with Pei Yan in front of Uncle Pei.
Pei Junhai could not conceal his shock. Keeping his voice low and suppressing his anger, he asked, “Pei Yan, what are you doing? How did you get here with…with Qi Feng through this passageway?”
The reporters’ cameras all swiveled toward Qi Feng and Pei Yan’s direction as curious eyes eager for news looked at the two of them.
Pei Yan stood boldly in front of everyone, smiling casually, “I was just introducing the architectural features of Donghai Group to our spokesperson. I didn’t expect there to be a press conference going on here. I’m very sorry to disturb everyone’s work.”
“Please continue. I’ll take my leave now.” As he spoke, he gracefully led Qi Feng away by the hand. Some reporters tried to stop them and ask questions, but Pei Junhai nonchalantly called out, “Let’s move on. The next question is…”
Once out of the conference room, Qi Feng suddenly realized he had been holding Pei Yan’s hand the entire time as they walked out of the live broadcast of the press conference right in front of Uncle Pei.
Qi Feng quickly let go of Pei Yan’s hand. “Pei Yan! Are you crazy? Do you know what you just did? You knew Uncle Pei was in a meeting, yet you deliberately did that!”
Pei Yan replied, “If I didn’t show up, you would have walked into the live broadcast with Cheng Yu. It wouldn’t even take a day for rumors about you two being together to spread.”
“What? You wanted to create hype with Cheng Yu?” Pei Yan asked back rhetorically, a coldness in his eyes.
“I don’t know what Cheng Yu’s motives are…” Qi Feng hesitated for a moment, then angrily said, “Since you knew, why did you still bring me in? We could have gone back out or waited inside until the meeting was over.”
“That wouldn’t work,” Pei Yan sneered. “You were just outside getting your photo taken by onlookers with Cheng Yu. Those who don’t know any better would have thought you two were together. I had to stir up an even bigger incident to suppress him.”
Pei Yan had done it on purpose, after all.
Qi Feng was both angry and anxious. “But do you know what will happen after today? Did you ever think about how Uncle Pei would feel? Are you trying to anger him to death?”
Just then, Cheng Yu walked over to greet them from the other end of the hallway. “Pei Yan, Qi Feng, you’re back. Oh, in my haste earlier, I forgot that the passageway connects to the press conference room while it’s in session.”
“Qi Feng, I’m sorry for startling you. This matter was brought about by me. I’ll explain it to the public later to minimize the fallout.”
With how things had developed, Qi Feng understood clearly in his heart. And Cheng Yu’s attitude was – I’m lying, and I know you know I’m lying. But I’m still going to keep lying to you. What Qi Feng didn’t understand was whether Cheng Yu was targeting him or Pei Yan.
He faced Pei Yan’s recklessness with anger and anxiety, yet he was extremely calm in front of Cheng Yu, coolly saying, “No need, Mr. Cheng. It’s about time, so let’s continue our earlier meeting.”
Cheng Yu gentlemanly extended his hand for Qi Feng to go first. “Alright, after you, Qi Feng.”
“I’ll take you over.” Pei Yan stepped forward, putting his arm around Qi Feng’s waist intimately in a possessive manner. His cold eyes glanced at Cheng Yu as he said, “Cheng Yu, don’t take my people out so casually from now on. Understand?”
With his tall stature, indifferent demeanor, and low, languid tone, he naturally exuded an oppressive aura of looking down on others.
Cheng Yu’s arms relaxed as he smiled and said, “Understood, President Pei.”
Qi Feng frowned slightly at Pei Yan’s sudden intimate gesture, but considering the unseen undercurrent between Pei Yan and Cheng Yu, he surprisingly did not resist Pei Yan’s intimacy.
And so, with Pei Yan’s arm around his waist, he walked all the way to the small conference room entrance.
At this time, Pei Yan lowered his head near Qi Feng’s ear and softly said, “You’re so good to still take my side like this.”
Qi Feng immediately grasped the meaning behind Pei Yan’s words, his ear tips turning red as he looked at Pei Yan with cold eyes.
Pei Yan chuckled, “Let’s go home after the meeting. Stay away from Cheng Yu from now on.” Seeing Qi Feng’s dissatisfied expression, he coaxed gently, “Be good.”
The afternoon meeting continued. Qi Feng no longer doubted Cheng Yu’s motives because Pei Yan seemed to know everything. He calmly discussed with Cheng Yu and the designers, professionally selecting endorsement outfits for the next season.
When the meeting was nearly over, an employee rushed in looking flustered and said, “President Cheng, Chairman Pei has just directly ordered the immediate removal of President Pei’s executive powers. Starting today, you will take over all of President Pei’s duties.”
“The board of directors is convening an emergency meeting right now. Please go over immediately to take over President Pei’s meeting affairs.”
Qi Feng: !
Pei Yan’s position was revoked? Was it because of his and Pei Yan’s sudden appearance earlier that thoroughly angered Uncle Pei? Would Uncle Pei come find him and warn him to stay away from Pei Yan?
Thinking of this, Qi Feng became as nervous as a child who had done something wrong.
Upon hearing the news, the surrounding employees looked at each other in surprise for a few seconds before congratulating Cheng Yu one after another.
“Congratulations, President Cheng.”
“Congratulations, President Cheng.”
…
Cheng Yu smiled, “What’s there to congratulate? I’ll be very busy from now on. Qi Feng, I’ll have someone send you back.”
“No need,” Qi Feng politely declined, “You’ve just been promoted. Don’t trouble yourself over such minor matters, President Cheng.”
Cheng Yu tilted his head, giving the boy a meaningful look as he said, “Very well, then…see you later.”
—
The uproar caused by Pei Yan bringing Qi Feng to suddenly appear at Donghai Group’s press conference live broadcast was indeed huge. It also led to the incident of Qi Feng and Cheng Yu being surrounded by fans on the street not making a single ripple.
No one even mentioned it. Everyone was discussing and questioning the relationship between Qi Feng and Pei Yan.
— Why was Qi Feng brought to the live broadcast by Pei Yan?
— What happened between them?
— Was Pei Yan courting a person or chasing a star?
Amidst the public opinion storm, Donghai Group released two statements.
First, Cheng Yu came out to explain the situation that day: He said he had taken Qi Feng out to eat that day, leading to them being surrounded by fans, and Pei Yan had merely come to defuse the situation. He asked everyone not to misunderstand.
Next: Donghai Group’s board of directors removed Pei Yan from all his positions in the company and appointed Cheng Yu as acting president to take over all of Pei Yan’s duties.
With the release of the two statements, online public opinion suddenly shifted.
— President Pei was fired! It must be because he openly brought a celebrity and barged into the press conference!
— President Pei aggressively and arrogantly chased a celebrity, angering the board of directors, right?
— After all he’s the president of a corporate group, he shouldn’t be causing such a ruckus over romance, moreover Qi Feng doesn’t even like him!
— Every time there was a hot search on Qi Feng, he never once responded to Pei Yan. Being chased by someone like that must be so annoying.
— All the hot searches about their CP must have been bought by Pei Yan. Relying on his money and power, he thought the whole world would like him. But he doesn’t know he only brings trouble.
…….
Qi Feng quickly realized the negative comments about Pei Yan online were increasing. Netizens began to question and speculate that Pei Yan was using his position and influence to harass him and force him, even to the point of committing crimes.
And it seemed someone was manipulating these public opinions behind the scenes.
The more Qi Feng read, the angrier he got. Once again unable to endure it, he knocked on Pei Yan’s door across from him.
Seeing Pei Yan open the door and smile happily at him, his anger reached its peak. “Pei Yan, what exactly are you trying to do? Why are you letting the internet say those things about you? Are you trying to force me to come out and defend you?”
Leaning against the door, Pei Yan softened him as usual, “What’s wrong? Worried about me?”
Qi Feng: “You!”
Pei Yan: “Don’t worry, this won’t affect you. Just keep doing what you like, playing the guqin and making music. Leave the rest to me, I’ll protect you.”
Qi Feng: “You did it on purpose, after all. What are you hiding from me? What happened between you and Cheng Yu? Why are you letting him take over your position?”
Light flashed in Pei Yan’s eyes as he patiently waited for Qi Feng to finish scolding before replying, “See? You said we broke up, yet you’re still so good to me.”
???
Qi Feng was angered to the point he could barely breathe, “When have I been good to you?!”
Pei Yan just looked at him and smiled faintly without a word. If he really felt nothing for him, he wouldn’t have gotten angry seeing so many people scolding him online. Even more so, he wouldn’t have come to see him because of this matter.
Qi Feng calmed down and prepared to turn back, feeling vexed and angry, no longer asking about Pei Yan’s affairs.
“Qi Feng.” Pei Yan grabbed his wrist and asked, “Qi Feng, what exactly made you suddenly decide to leave me? Because of my dad?”
Qi Feng whipped his head around to look at him.
After that time when he and Pei Yan openly appeared at the press conference, Uncle Pei did not come to make things difficult for him. This, instead, made him feel even more unsettled.
Uncle Pei would not agree to Pei Yan being with another man. Yet, with the rumors between him and Pei Yan becoming so sensational, why didn’t Uncle Pei come to scold him? What was Uncle Pei’s attitude towards him exactly?
“Qi Feng,” Pei Yan said softly, “If you left me because of my dad, then I’ll get him to agree to us being together.”
He looked deeply into the boy’s eyes, his voice pleading, “I’ll make my dad tell you personally, acknowledge you, accept you. So don’t keep leaving me hanging like this, okay?”
“…..No,” Qi Feng’s heart skipped a beat, “…..It’s not that. I just don’t like you.”
After saying that, he shook Pei Yan’s hand off and rushed back home in a panic.
Just now, he actually hesitated.
He truly felt a glimmer of expectation for a moment.
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! You can also follow me on Ko-fi to get the latest updates on my translation progress and new projects. I appreciate your love and feedback.
