A few days later, shocking news rocked the financial circles of City A. The current president of Donghai Group, Cheng Yu, was arrested on suspicion of murdering former president Pei Yan. Pei Yan returned to Donghai Group and resumed his position as CEO.
After the news fermented for several days, Qi Feng was unexpectedly pushed to the forefront of public opinion. Rumors swirled about the two business tycoons battling for the affections of the talented Qi Feng through their musical theater duel. Speculation ran rampant about whether the winner would claim Qi Feng or if Pei Yan would drag him back and keep him locked up. Some even wondered if Pei Junhai would blacklist Qi Feng in anger… All kinds of gossip filled the air, propelling Qi Feng’s popularity to new heights.
Even the executives at Yifan Entertainment fretted privately, “Oh no, Qi Feng chose the wrong side by siding with Cheng Yu instead of Pei Yan. What if Pei Yan decides to get back at Qi Feng and our studio?”
“Qi Feng signed that huge endorsement deal with Donghai last year, which is up for renewal now. That deal must be gone!”
After hanging up with Tang Jun, Fang Cheng couldn’t help but laugh. “Xiao Feng, they’re all saying your Donghai endorsement is going to fall through, and Pei Yan will drag you back to lock you up in the Pei estate! If only they knew how hard Mr. Pei has been working to get through your door these past few days, their jaws would hit the floor!”
“You tricked me, too, with your little act there!”
Qi Feng said quietly, “I didn’t cooperate with him.”
You expect me to believe you two weren’t in on this together with how seamlessly you played your parts? Fang Cheng didn’t believe Qi Feng at all, thinking he was just being coy.
“Mr. Pei said he’ll come to get you to sign the renewed endorsement contract at Donghai. He said this year’s fee will be double last year’s amount, personally approved by Chairman Pei. Xiao Feng, even the chairman recognizes you now!” Fang Cheng was elated.
Qi Feng paid no mind to Fang Cheng’s excitement as he scrolled through the long explanatory message Pei Yan had sent him.
–Xiao Feng, I’m so sorry I didn’t realize sooner. I’m sorry, sorry, sorry for what I did to you that night when you came to me for help. Forcing you to stay with me for so long was inexcusable. You have every right not to forgive me, I deserve it.
–Father doesn’t remember all that, but he likes you just the same as before. He’s very fond of you.
–I knew Cheng Yu would try to kill me again, just like in our past life. That’s why I pretended, to lure him into acting faster. I didn’t expect you to see through me and even help me in secret. That gave me a glimmer of hope that maybe you’re not angry at me anymore, that you don’t hate me. But perhaps you only stepped in because of our families’ relationship.
–My sincere feelings for you remain unchanged. To protect you, see you safe, and hope to watch you grow up. If I’m tiresome to you, I will keep my distance and quietly guard you from afar.
Qi Feng read it slowly several times before deleting it all. Just then, the doorbell rang. The only person who could ring their doorbell directly was someone living on this floor across the hall.
“That must be Mr. Pei here to pick us up,” Fang Cheng said excitedly, glancing at Qi Feng tentatively. “Shall I open the door for Mr. Pei?”
Before Qi Feng could object, Fang Cheng quickly ran to the front door and flung it open. “Mr. Pei! Welcome!”
Qi Feng: …As expected, he’s Pei Yan’s lapdog.
Without Qi Feng’s consent, Pei Yan didn’t dare actually step inside. The tall man lingered expectantly at the door, peeking into the apartment. When his gaze fell upon the slender youth’s back in the living room, he cautiously asked, “Xiao Feng, I’ve come to take you to the company to renew the contract. Will you come with me?”
He quickly added, “Or we can sign at your place if you don’t want to go out. I brought all the paperwork with me.”
Fang Cheng was over the moon hearing this. What kind of special treatment was this?! The investor daddy hauling his capital over personally to beg them to take his money. This level of prestige was the crowning moment of his career as an assistant!
Qi Feng’s brows knitted together, his voice cold. “Signing something unofficial here means nothing. Without a third-party witness or mutual verification by both parties’ staff, how could anyone trust its legitimacy?”
Pei Yan immediately closed the folder. “You’re right, we’ll sign at the office then. Shall I…drive you there?”
“No need.” Qi Feng got up and headed for the bedroom. “Fang Cheng, get ready to head out.”
His attitude was still frosty, tone detached.
“Oh…okay.” Fang Cheng acknowledged him nervously, worried Qi Feng’s aloofness might upset this big benefactor.
Pei Yan’s gaze followed the boy’s figure attentively. He answered gently, “Alright, I’ll wait for you at the company.”
—
Qi Feng’s visits to Donghai Investment never failed to cause quite a stir, and this time was no different.
Pei Yan, who had once suffered the humiliation of outright rejection from Qi Feng, had bested his rival Cheng Yu to regain his status and power. Yet instead of suppressing or taking revenge on Qi Feng, he was waiting to receive him in person at the building entrance?! His attitude was respectful, patient, and sincere.
Donghai’s employees were so shocked their eyes nearly popped out. Was their President Pei lovestruck and infatuated, or did he have masochistic tendencies?
When Pei Yan greeted Qi Feng, the sight of the slender youth dressed casually chic and tall walking towards him made his heart melt like snow in spring.
Though the boy wore a cap and medical mask concealing his features, in Pei Yan’s eyes, he was still as elegant as jade, noble as an immortal.
He couldn’t help the gentle smile spreading across his face as he stuck close by the boy’s side, escorting him into the building. It was the first time they’d been so close since Qi Feng left months ago. Breathing in, he could almost catch the boy’s fresh scent.
He brought Qi Feng to the elevator. The others tactfully didn’t get in, including Fang Cheng. Once the doors closed, it was just the two of them in the enclosed space.
Seeing the elevator shut and start ascending, Qi Feng’s brows instantly furrowed.
Pei Yan quickly said, “Don’t be angry. I just wanted to ask you some things…you never give us a chance to be alone. And you don’t reply to my messages either.”
Qi Feng: “What do you want to ask?”
He didn’t look at Pei Yan. It had been a long time since he was this close to Pei Yan, and it made him uncomfortable.
Pei Yan: “I remember everything from the past now.”
Qi Feng: “I saw, no need to explain. Delete all that. Don’t let anyone else find out.”
Pei Yan nodded. “Alright, I’ll do as you say. You…”
Suddenly, the steadily elevating elevator let out a tremendous metallic crash and abruptly halted its ascent.
Qi Feng’s slender body swayed with the violent vibration. Seeing him about to fall, Pei Yan grabbed his arm and pulled him into a firm embrace.
Steadying himself against the man’s sturdy frame, Qi Feng was shocked to find the elevator had broken down and stopped! They were trapped inside.
Qi Feng angrily pushed Pei Yan away. “What’s the point of pulling this?!”
“No, I didn’t plan this! I just wanted some time alone with you, I’d never put you in danger like this.” Pei Yan hurriedly explained as he rapidly punched the emergency button. “Just hang on. Help will be here soon.”
Pei Yan wasn’t the type to do something like this.
Leaning in the elevator corner, Qi Feng watched the man make calls for assistance and realized he had wrongly accused Pei Yan in anger.
He pressed his lips together without a word, acknowledging his mistake. Quiet filled the enclosed space. After Pei Yan hung up, only the sound of breathing and their slightly quickened heartbeats could be heard.
Pei Yan broke the tense silence first, pleading softly, “Xiao Feng, stop ignoring me, please? I’m begging you…”
Qi Feng looked away. “…I’m not ignoring you on purpose.”
Pei Yan: “I know you’re still mad at me. Because I didn’t remember who you were at first and treated you that way, you must be disgusted with me doing those things. If so, get back at me! Hit me! Or do the same to me, make me suffer, get hurt too…anything’s fine…”
“Shut up!” Qi Feng’s face reddened at his words. “Do you hear what you’re saying?!”
Pei Yan didn’t think he was being perverted at all, sincerely remorseful as he confessed, “I know. All the times between us, however many times you give back, do anything you want to me.”
Qi Feng: “Stop talking!”
Hurried footsteps and voices sounded from outside the elevator. “Chairman Pei, there’s a problem with the elevator circuitry. President Pei and Qi Feng are trapped inside.”
“Get it open now.” Pei Junhai’s voice was deep and powerful, commanding authority.
Although he and Pei Yan hadn’t done anything, hearing Pei Junhai’s voice made Qi Feng inexplicably nervous, like a thief with a guilty conscience. Helplessly he looked to Pei Yan and said, “Your dad’s here!”
Pei Yan had no idea why Qi Feng seemed anxious. He smiled and said, “You see, as soon as something happens with you, my dad comes running. If it were me, he wouldn’t care at all.”
Qi Feng lowered his voice. “No, he’s going to see us…see us together.”
Pei Yan looked puzzled. “Yes, we’re together…”
Outside, the sounds of the elevator doors being pried open grew louder. Uncle Pei would see them any second now. Qi Feng anxiously wished he could find a crevice to duck into, but the enclosed space left him nowhere to hide.
The instant the doors opened, he swiftly stepped a meter away into the corner, distancing himself from Pei Yan. But this action only made Qi Feng look more deliberately guilty in the eyes of Pei Junhai and the staffers who had come to assist outside.
They gawked at the two men standing in the elevator – one gazing affectionately, the other flushing crimson in the corner, flustered and fidgeting.
The scene instantly led everyone to imagine all sorts of things happening between the two in the confined space. Just moments ago, they had been very worried for the president and famous star trapped inside.
Now they exchanged telling glances, schooling their expressions while poorly concealing their gossiping curiosity.
Pei Junhai’s concerned look morphed into resigned exasperation as he glared at Pei Yan. “Forget it, as long as you’re both fine. Let’s go.”
Qi Feng felt awful and softly apologized to Pei Junhai, “I’m sorry, Uncle Pei.”
Pei Junhai asked in return, “What are you apologizing for? What did you do wrong?”
Qi Feng: “I…”
“It is Donghai Investment who should apologize for subjecting our endorser to such a shock,” Pei Yan interjected seriously, his tone severe as he ordered his subordinates, “Inspect all the elevators in this building immediately. Something like this can never happen again.”
Pei Junhai rolled his eyes at him. “You two, my office. Now.”
Qi Feng: !
Qi Feng had been avoiding facing Pei Junhai. He and Pei Yan used to have an indecent relationship, and Qi Feng relied on Pei Yan to get to where he was today. Uncle Pei must know everything now. What would he think of Qi Feng? Would he scold him? Be disappointed in him? Pei Junhai had shown him endless benevolence, yet before Qi Feng could repay him, he had let Pei Junhai down already.
In the office, Pei Junhai sat back on the office chair and looked sternly at the two of them. “You’re both grown men who can distinguish right from wrong for yourselves. If there are issues to resolve, resolve them openly and honestly. Hiding things and sneaking around will only brew storms and ruin reputations.”
“Qi Feng, you’re a celebrity, a public figure. It’s unseemly to have people constantly saying you like this man or that man online. And you, Pei Yan! You lead a corporation, it’s improper to have others gossiping behind your back.”
Pei Junhai’s voice was low, not angry but powerful. To Qi Feng, his words sounded just like an elder admonishing foolish youths.
Ashamed, Qi Feng lowered his head. “Uncle Pei, I’ll release a statement clarifying my relationship with Pei Yan and keep my distance from now on, no more contact…I’m sorry.”
Pei Junhai hesitated. “Keep your distance? You don’t like Pei Yan?”
Thinking he was being accused, Qi Feng instinctively answered, “Yes, that’s right.”
Hearing this, Pei Yan’s fingertips trembled, and his eyes dimmed. In a hoarse voice, he said, “Dad, don’t get involved in this matter anymore.”
“I shouldn’t get involved? So, I should just let you keep harassing him?” Pei Junhai’s tone shifted as he berated Pei Yan coldly, “I know your temperament well – willful, violent, out of control! I won’t allow you to bully others like this.”
“Our company just made new investments in Country R’s finance sector. I’m putting you in full charge starting immediately. You’ll depart the day after tomorrow and get yourself far, far away from here and from him.”
Go abroad? Qi Feng looked at Pei Junhai in surprise.
Pei Yan opened and closed his mouth soundlessly, his voice hoarse and powerless. “…Alright, I’ll leave.”
He said, “Qi Feng, while I’m gone…take care of yourself. If you need anything, any help, just tell me. Anything I can do for you…”
“That’s enough,” Pei Junhai cut him off sharply. “Does he need you to take care of him? Worry about yourself.”
“Qi Feng, I won’t let him bother you anymore. Focus on living your own life well – you’re still young with a long future ahead. Each step must be steady and grounded to take you higher and farther.”
“Yes…Uncle Pei, I…” Qi Feng could tell Pei Junhai had his best interests in mind. He wanted to explain but didn’t know what to say.
But if he didn’t say something now, Pei Yan would be leaving.
The contract renewal process was simple. Pei Yan’s eyes remained dim, and his expression was bleak the entire time. When the terms were presented, he approved all of Yifan Studio’s additional asks without even looking, allowing them to take full advantage.
Qi Feng watched this silently, pressing his lips tightly together.
After signing, Pei Yan escorted Qi Feng to the basement parking garage, still walking protectively at the boy’s side but now with a dispirited air and heavy footsteps.
Qi Feng keenly noticed the change in Pei Yan’s mood and gently asked, “What’s wrong? You don’t want to go abroad?”
Pei Yan gave a bitter laugh. “It’s nothing. Just hearing you say you don’t like me feels a bit… never mind. It was always just me wishfully thinking otherwise, before and now. Sorry for doing so many things in the past that disgusted you. I’m sorry.”
Qi Feng’s heart gave a painful twinge. “Actually, I don’t hate you either.”
“But you don’t like me either, right?” The bitterness in Pei Yan’s eyes as he started to lift his hand, wanting to stroke the boy’s hair but stopping himself, fingers curling back.
He opened the car door for Qi Feng. “Take care of yourself while I’m gone.”
As Fang Cheng drove off, Qi Feng watched through the rear window as the man’s figure, lonely and forlorn, grew smaller and smaller in the vast empty parking lot.
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