The sudden fire caused chaos and panic at the scene.
The staff frantically shouted for order, opening all emergency exits to guide the thousands of gathered audience members out. In their fear and panic, people rushed out of their seats, surging towards any available escape route. The entire theater was jammed with the stampeding crowd.
Fang Cheng forced his way through the crowd onto the stage, grabbing Qi Feng’s arm. “Xiao Feng, Xiao Feng, come with me this way. The emergency exit is over there.”
Qi Feng stood still, not moving. He looked up towards the source of the thick smoke rising high in the theater. “Pei Yan is up there. That’s where the explosion and fire started.”
“What?!” Fang Cheng cried in shock. Only then did he look up to see the burning location. “It really is that area! How could this happen?”
Qi Feng pushed against the fleeing crowd, shouting, “There’s no time. Someone has to save Pei Yan!”
“Xiao Feng, don’t go! It’s too dangerous!” Fang Cheng was sweating anxiously. He grabbed a passing staff member and yelled, “The explosion and fire started in the lighting booth. Pei Yan is trapped inside. You have to send people to save him!”
The staff member, busy directing the chaotic crowd, shook his head in frustration. “That can’t be. The stage doesn’t need any lighting today. The booth has been locked and sealed. No one could have gotten in.”
Fang Cheng anxiously tried to explain, stammering, “No, that was arranged specially for Pei Yan by your production team. Since there was no more room in the theater, they gave him that spot.”
The staff member replied, “Then go find whoever arranged that for him!”
“How would I know who set that up for him!” Fang Cheng shouted, but the staff member had already been swept away by the surging crowd.
Pushing through the crush of people, they grabbed a few more workers, only to get the same response: the lighting booth was locked, no one could be inside, and they’d have to find the lighting director. In this chaos, how could they find the person in charge?
Qi Feng’s hands and feet turned icy cold. So, this was Cheng Yu’s plan all along, using him to lure Pei Yan here and cause an “accident” to kill him. Cheng Yu’s goal was Pei Yan’s death.
Pei Yan was going to die.
Qi Feng located a staff passageway and recklessly charged toward the burning area, heedless of the dangers.
Fang Cheng’s voice was hoarse from shouting after him, “Xiao Feng, where are you going? Come back! The fire is too big. It’s dangerous!”
Qi Feng ignored him completely. His mind held only one thought: If Pei Yan died, what would Uncle Pei do? What about Pei Wenwen?
What would he do?
Did he wake up from his previous life just to see tragedy happen again?
Suddenly, someone in the crowd grabbed his arm. “Qi Feng, it’s dangerous, come with me!”
Cheng Yu.
Qi Feng looked at him coldly.
Cheng Yu pulled at the boy’s arm urgently. “Qi Feng, hurry, let’s go!”
Qi Feng asked in a low voice, “Mr. Cheng, did you arrange this?”
The youth stood amidst the chaos in his flowing white robes, his pale face bloodless like cold jade. His sharp black eyes glinted with icy light. The usually elegant and noble young master now radiated waves of cold ruthless aura.
Cheng Yu started, a chill of fear rising from his feet. Uncertain, he asked, “Qi Feng, what, what are you saying?”
Qi Feng: “I’m asking if everything that happened today was arranged by you, wasn’t it?”
His question was vague, but Cheng Yu understood the boy was interrogating him about Pei Yan.
How did he know? Didn’t he dislike Pei Yan’s clinginess?
Cheng Yu was slightly flustered as he asked, “Don’t you…like me?”
As soon as he asked, he felt a stab of dread. The boy’s face showed not a hint of affection for him, only resentment. It seemed that if anything happened to Pei Yan, his next target would be Qi Feng.
“Qi Feng, I’m here.” A steady, rich voice sounded in the noisy, crushing crowd.
Fang Cheng turned at the voice, crying out joyfully, “Mr. Pei, you’re alright! Xiao Feng was worried sick about you. Just now, he almost charged into the fire to save you!”
Pei Yan! Cheng Yu’s eyes widened in shock, pupils constricting. How could Pei Yan be unharmed? Shouldn’t he be trapped and dying in the flames?
Why? How?
Pei Yan strode over and smilingly took Qi Feng’s hand from Cheng Yu’s grip. “My person should be with me.”
His leisurely words held chilled malice. His dark eyes were ominous, his stern face wore a mocking, contemptuous grin.
Cheng Yu took a step back. Impossible! How could this be? Did his plan fail? Or had Pei Yan been plotting against him all along…
As the thought formed, he realized – he had lost. While plotting against Pei Yan, Pei Yan had also been plotting against him. Pei Yan had been baiting him into today’s scheme, gathering evidence.
A wave of numbing fear instantly surged through his body, seeping into every nerve. Because he knew how mercilessly Pei Yan dealt with enemies.
Pei Yan held Qi Feng’s hand gently. “Don’t worry, it’s over now. Let me get you out of here first.”
When Qi Feng saw Pei Yan alive, he knew Pei Yan had won. His panic vanished, but he felt no joy. Instead, he was so angry that he shook off Pei Yan’s hand.
Fang Cheng had no clue about the schemes and counter-schemes. Overjoyed, he was nearly in tears. “Mr. Pei, thank goodness you’re alright! You can’t imagine how worried Xiao Feng was about you…”
“Fang Cheng, let’s go!” Qi Feng said coldly, turning to leave.
“Huh? Hey, wait for me!” Fang Cheng called.
Pei Yan reacted swiftly, sticking close to the boy’s side. He used his strong body to clear a path through the jostling crowd, shielding his boy as they headed out the emergency exit.
Cheng Yu’s face was deathly pale. His unsteady body was buffeted by the crush of people, nearly knocked to the ground several times.
—-
The classical music symphony concert was abruptly halted due to an unexpected fire. Staff and firefighters who arrived promptly guided the audience to safety and worked to extinguish the flames. Fortunately, no one was injured. The performing guests and musicians also smoothly exited the venue under the arrangement of the directors.
In the underground parking garage passageway.
Qi Feng walked ahead with a gloomy expression, completely ignoring Pei Yan following closely behind.
Pei Yan shamelessly said, “Thank goodness I don’t have to pretend anymore. Qi Feng, you’re so smart. How did you see through my plan and even help me in secret?”
“Qi Feng, you’re still angry with me, right? When we get home, can I let you hit me to your heart’s content? I missed you so much I could die.”
Qi Feng ignored him completely. He got into his car, about to slam the door shut.
Pei Yan stuck his hand out to stop it. “Can we go back together? I took a taxi here. If I just walk out, a crowd will definitely gather to gawk at me. Also, what if Cheng Yu still has backup plans?”
At his last sentence, Qi Feng’s expression softened slightly.
Pei Yan immediately smiled. His deep, dark eyes were full of the boy’s image. “I knew it, you’re still worried about me.”
Qi Feng was even more annoyed, nearly raising his hand to hit him.
Fang Cheng listened in bewilderment. He asked, “What are you two talking about? What about Mr. Cheng? Xiao Feng, were you just pretending to ignore Mr. Pei recently? Why?”
Pei Yan pointed at Fang Cheng, unable to resist praising Qi Feng again. “See, his reaction is normal for an average, ordinary person. But you’re so smart.”
Fang Cheng, criticized as average and ordinary: “…”
“Mr. Pei, are you getting in or not? I’m driving now! With so many people around, can’t you just talk when we get home? Stop pretending to be pitiful, I can see your assistant waiting up ahead. You should just go on your own!”
Pei Yan glanced forward. “Oh, it’s my dad. They’re here to deal with Cheng Yu.”
Qi Feng’s breathing suddenly tensed up. “Uncle Pei came too?”
Pei Yan’s gaze was gentle as he said slowly, “Yes, your Uncle Pei…is here too.”
Without any further explanation from Pei Yan, Qi Feng understood what he meant by “your Uncle Pei.”
The boy asked, “Has he…regained his memories too?”
“No.” Pei Yan shook his head. “He hasn’t. But he’s always liked you a lot, even before. The things he said at the banquet that hurt you, I’m sorry about that.”
Qi Feng pressed his lips together, recalling Pei Junhai’s harsh scolding. He remembered every word deeply, each one still made him feel terrible when he thought of it.
Over there, Pei Junhai also noticed them. Under his assistant’s lead, he got out of the car and started walking towards them.
Seeing the elder approach, Qi Feng nervously pushed Pei Yan’s hand away. “You should go. The past is the past, now is now. I can treat you as a friend, but I also hope you won’t interfere in my life anymore. I don’t like you!”
“I know.” Pei Yan gripped the boy’s wrist. “I won’t do anything you dislike ever again. Whatever you tell me to do, I’ll do it, I’ll listen to everything you say. Don’t worry for now, just come out and listen to what my dad has to say. There are some things that he needs to tell you, or you’ll keep being hurt.”
“No.” As Pei Junhai drew nearer, Qi Feng grew more anxious to flee. He struggled harder against Pei Yan’s grip. “No, don’t make Uncle Pei angry again. You know I don’t dare face him.”
But his strength was no match for Pei Yan’s stubborn hold. Pei Yan kept a firm grip on him, pleading in a low voice, “Qi Feng, just this once more, I’ll go against your wishes. After this, I promise I’ll do whatever you say. Just see him for a minute, please.”
Pei Junhai walked over. “Pei Yan, what are you clutching his hand so tightly for!”
Qi Feng’s heart thumped heavily. He quickly pulled his hand back. “Chairman Pei…hello.”
Pei Yan smiled. “It’s still better to call him Uncle Pei, it’s more natural.”
Pei Junhai glared at him. “Go aside!”
Qi Feng got out of the car. The slender boy stood before the elder, not daring to lift his head.
He mentally prepared what to say – things like, don’t worry, Pei Yan and I are just friends, not in that kind of relationship. Or I’ll be sure to keep my distance from Pei Yan in the future, I won’t stir up scandals and make you angry again. Or maybe…
“Qi Feng.” Pei Junhai looked the boy over. His voice was kindly and deeply paternal. “From the first moment I saw you, I felt you were very familiar. Very dear, perhaps it’s as Pei Yan said, we must have had a father-son bond in our past lives.”
“The things I said at the banquet were an act for Cheng Yu. Those weren’t my true feelings. My true feelings are that if you dislike Pei Yan, I’ll make him stay away from you. If you just want to be friends with him, I’ll make him respect that. If you…”
Pei Junhai gave an embarrassed cough. “If you like him, I’ll be very happy to have another son.”
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