Life returned to normal.
Qi Feng seemed as busy as ever with his career, while Pei Yan still lived across the hall. Every day when he stepped out of his apartment and walked down the corridor to the elevator, it would only take a few seconds before the man from the opposite apartment would hurriedly open his door and feign calmness as he asked with a smile, “Qi Feng, where are you going? Do you need a ride?”
Sometimes he would be neatly dressed, other times still in his home clothes, and occasionally with his face half-washed and water droplets still hanging on. It was obvious that he had heard the sound of him going out and ran out in a hurry.
Qi Feng once suspected for a while that Pei Yan had installed sensors outside his door so that an alarm would go off in Pei Yan’s home whenever he walked out. There was no other way Pei Yan could time it so precisely every time he went out.
Yet Qi Feng did not dislike it. Every time he pretended to be cold and walked into the elevator, he could not help the smile in his eyes that bent downward, reflected in the elevator mirror.
Pei Yan kept his promise faithfully.
He maintained an appropriate distance and gave ample respect, like a true gentleman. He would message Qi Feng daily, asking what he was doing, if he had eaten, and what he would like to eat. He would ask if Qi Feng wanted to have dinner together, saying he could cook for him…and so on.
Qi Feng had agreed to go to Pei Yan’s apartment once. But Pei Yan had only cooked him a meal and invited him to eat, being extremely careful and courteous. Even when the atmosphere was romantic, Pei Yan did not make any indecent moves.
It was as if there was an invisible line between them that Pei Yan dared not cross, and Qi Feng was not the type to take the initiative. So, their subtle, ticklish relationship continued this way.
On this day, Qi Feng attended an entertainment event and did not get home until very late. Fang Cheng walked with him out of the elevator. Just as they reached Qi Feng’s door, there was a crisp ‘click’ from the lock on Pei Yan’s door across the hall. The door opened right after.
Qi Feng stood with his back facing Pei Yan’s home. The corners of his lips bent irresistibly.
Fang Cheng chuckled, “Hey, Mr. Pei, what a coincidence. Xiao Feng, if there’s nothing else, I’ll head home first. I’ll come get you tomorrow morning.”
With that said, the assistant quickly ran into the elevator and disappeared in a flash.
Pei Yan walked over. “Your assistant is getting more and more tactful.”
He came out in a hurry, wearing only a floor-length white robe, loosely tied at the waist with a sash that accentuated his straight torso and slender yet strong legs. The front of the robe was loose, faintly revealing the sturdy muscles on his chest. Having just showered, he exuded a warm, clean scent as he approached Qi Feng.
Qi Feng had just met many male celebrities at the banquet. They were all fashionable, handsome, and brilliant. Yet none possessed Pei Yan’s antiquated charm and captivating aura.
Qi Feng drank some at the banquet. Smelling the man’s warm scent, Qi Feng felt his body temperature rise, and his heartbeat quickened. He averted his gaze and asked softly, “It’s so late. What did you need from me?”
Pei Yan said, “I was watching your event tonight on a livestream. There were quite a lot of people who attended.”
Qi Feng: “They were all entertainers from the music circle.”
“Then…”
Pei Yan coughed and asked, “That man who handed you a drink and said he wanted to collaborate with you – he looked quite enthusiastic about you. Who was he?”
It took Qi Feng a good while to remember that a band’s lead vocalist had talked about wanting to collaborate at the banquet.
“It was just polite chatter. Whether we actually collaborate will depend on discussions between our agencies.”
“But you drank the drink he handed you. You didn’t drink when others came up to toast, only his. And you smiled at him too.”
Qi Feng: “…Don’t overthink it.”
With so many people at the lively banquet, Pei Yan must have watched very closely to notice who he talked and drank with.
“I’m not overthinking, not at all. Just casually asking.”
Pei Yan’s attempt to cover up was obvious as he handed over a food container, “I was worried you wouldn’t eat well at the banquet, so I prepared some late-night snacks. Eat some when you get home if you’d like.”
The container felt warm, emitting the soft, glutinous aroma of seafood congee.
Qi Feng accepted it politely with a “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Pei Yan rubbed his nose. “Are you…going home then?”
His reluctance and implication were audible between the lines.
If Pei Yan had directly asked, “Come to my place to eat?” or “Can I come over?” Qi Feng would have naturally let him in to eat together and chat about the banquet, like that band vocalist who made Pei Yan jealous.
But Pei Yan was too courteous and reserved, while Qi Feng’s own aloofness prevented him from inviting Pei Yan in. So, he could only hug the food container awkwardly as he bid Pei Yan good night.
When he pulled his door open to go home, he actually felt some hesitation. His door-closing motions were much slower than usual too. But just as the heavy door was about to shut, a man’s voice suddenly rang out from Pei Yan’s apartment:
“Pei Yan, hurry up…”
The loud bang of the shutting door made Qi Feng’s heart jump violently.
Who was that speaking? Who was at Pei Yan’s home so late? Were they spending the night together?
Qi Feng’s heart raced, and he could not calm down, his mind uncontrollably conjuring all sorts of thoughts: Pei Yan was gentle and polite with him but cold and stern towards others. Who would dare speak to him like that?
Pei Yan was wealthy, capable, and good-looking too. He had always attracted many admirers. Moreover, Pei Yan used to frequent nightclubs before. What if he had brought back some messy people home again?
The more Qi Feng thought, the more agitated he became. A strange anger welled up irresistibly within him.
What “destined connection”, “life and death companions”? If Pei Yan dared to fool around, he would sever all ties immediately.
But did Pei Yan really fool around?
Qi Feng stood by the door, unable to even remember to change his shoes. He took out his phone, wanting to ask: Who’s at your place so late?
But…he was not the sort of person who could blurt out such questions.
Still, if he did not get to the bottom of this, he would not sleep all night!
The handsome youth agonized and struggled by the door for almost five minutes before finally losing his composure. He set the food container down and stepped back out to ring Pei Yan’s doorbell.
Pei Yan opened the door extremely quickly. As the door swung open, his voice was full of pleasant surprise, “Xiao Feng, what’s the matter? Anything you need from me?”
His deep black eyes shone with anticipation as they gazed deeply at the youth. He did not look like someone hiding a man and fooling around at home at all.
Qi Feng: …
“I, I have a headache. Do you have milk?”
“It must be from drinking too much alcohol.”
Pei Yan’s eyes radiated sincere distress as he tentatively asked, “Why don’t you come in and sit for a while? I’ll heat some milk for you. Drink it, feel better, then go home.”
The frank invitation into his home proved no shady people were inside.
Qi Feng should have felt reassured but still hesitated a few seconds before stepping into Pei Yan’s home, saying, “Sorry to trouble you.”
“No trouble at all.”
Just having private time with Qi Feng was an enormous delight. Pei Yan joyfully welcomed him in and dutifully ran to the kitchen for milk.
Qi Feng walked into Pei Yan’s empty and simple home step by step, seemingly calmly, observing the surroundings and quietly listening to the movements in the room. Sure enough, as soon as he entered, the man hiding in Pei Yan’s home ran out from a room.
“Hey, Qi Feng! The big star’s here!”
The man bounded up to him gleefully like an overexcited big dog, looking him up and down. “Wow, you’re even more handsome than a few months ago. A true ancient-style beauty! Can you give me an autograph?” I’ll take it out to show off to my buddies.”
Qi Feng: …
It was Song Zhe, Pei Yan’s friend.
Now that he thought about it carefully, the earlier voice was clearly Song Zhe’s. He had only been caught up in wild speculations, even losing his rationality. To think he would lose his mind and do something as vulgar and outrageous as “catching Pei Yan cheating”!
Qi Feng stood there remorsefully and gave Song Zhe a faint smile.
His face was tinged with light red, and his clear eyes bent slightly. His thin smile was like winter spring water melting open, refreshing and pleasant.
Song Zhe was so enthralled he shamelessly sold out his friend: “You didn’t know, right? Pei-ge spent a fortune just to see you every day, even installing infrared sensors outside the elevator…”
“Song Zhe, shut up!”
Pei Yan rushed over with the milk and swiftly kicked him to make him shut up, dragging him away and scolding harshly, “You can get lost now! Stop causing trouble in my home.”
“Pei Yan, have you lost your mind? This is my home!”
Song Zhe was nearly kicked over. He scoffed coldly, “When Uncle Pei kicked you out of the family and Donghai Investments, you didn’t even have money to eat. I was the one who bought this multi-million apartment for you to chase stars. And now you want to burn the bridge1“过河拆桥” “guòhé chāiqiáo” literally translates to “crossing the river and demolishing the bridge.” It refers to someone who has benefited from someone else’s help, but once they have gotten what they wanted, they forget or turn against the person who helped them. ?”
Qi Feng: ???
“Pei Yan, this isn’t your home?”
Pei Yan: …
He secretly gripped Song Zhe’s shirt front tightly and smiled back at Qi Feng, explaining, “It’ll be done tomorrow. I’m buying this place tomorrow. I can easily buy dozens of places like this.”
Song Zhe was nearly choked to death by him. Taking the chance while Pei Yan was talking to Qi Feng, he forcefully struggled free and pushed Pei Yan back out, cursing, “I’m not selling this place to you! Buy your own if you can!”
Saying so, Song Zhe used all his strength to push Pei Yan out and slammed the door shut with a ‘bang’.
Pei Yan’s true colors were revealed outside as he fiercely kicked the door: “Song Zhe, you’re asking for death! Open the door for me!”
Song Zhe was so frightened he tried to bluff from behind the door, “Hah, what can you do? Come in if you dare.”
Qi Feng was dumbfounded: “Um, what about me?”
With just him and Song Zhe left inside, what would happen with the two of them locked in together?
Song Zhe suddenly became serious again as he turned back, “Don’t mind me. I actually wanted to talk to you alone, too. That’s why I kicked Pei Yan out. Although my brother has a bad temper, it’s obvious he really likes you.”
“Other than work, all he does every day is read your news and look at your pictures online, watching replays of your shows over and over. The alarm in my home goes off at least twice a day – once when you leave, once when you come home. He’s obsessed, sitting by the door like an idiot waiting for sounds from the elevator outside.
“Last week, when you didn’t come home one night, he squatted by the door, waiting for you the whole night. First thing next morning, he made calls pulling connections everywhere to find out you were safe before going to work.”
Qi Feng’s brows knitted tightly.
He remembered that time. He had gone to the mountains to shoot ancient-style promo photos for a clothing brand, and it got late, so he spent the night at a local homestay. There was no network connection in the mountains and no signal either, so he only received Pei Yan’s messages after coming down the next day.
He didn’t know Pei Yan had waited for him the whole night.
Song Zhe went on, “If you like him, give him a clear answer so he doesn’t keep torturing himself like this. If you don’t like him, let him die faster. Don’t leave him hanging. That’s just cruel.”
Qi Feng: “I know.”
Song Zhe pointed outside and tilted his head smiling, “That lunatic out there would probably strangle me to death if he came in now. Want to do me a favor and take him away tonight for all I’ve done to help you against Cheng Yu?”
“Or you could walk me safely downstairs. He probably won’t get violent with you here.”
Song Zhe had posed the question cleverly, indirectly probing Qi Feng’s attitude toward Pei Yan.
Qi Feng pressed his lips and said, “I’ll take him away. You’ve helped him a lot recently, he’s fortunate to have a friend like you.”
Song Zhe understood and grinned, “Don’t agree to him too quickly, though; I want to see him suffer a bit more.”
Having said that, he fled into his room swiftly to avoid a beating from Pei Yan after the door opened.
Pei Yan was still outside, kicking the door and yelling, “Song Zhe, are you looking to die? Open the damn door! If you dare say nonsense to Qi Feng, I’ll…”
Qi Feng calmly opened the door, “Pei Yan, let’s go home.”
Pei Yan was so shocked he quickly retracted his foot that was about to kick: ?!
“What, what did you say?”
Qi Feng walked past the man to the end of the corridor. He pulled his own door open and turned sideways to the man, his fair face slightly flushed as he softly asked, “Aren’t you coming in?”
Pei Yan: !!!
“Coming!”
The pleasant surprise was so sudden Pei Yan felt like he was flying. He followed the youth excitedly and nervously into Qi Feng’s long-awaited home.
He hadn’t been to Qi Feng’s place for months. The layout of the living and dining rooms was unchanged – clean and elegant, like the calm youth. Only the few pots of orchids on the balcony had grown lusher.
Pei Yan was afraid that the hard-won surprise and happiness would disappear in a whoosh, so he restrained his emotions and just tried to be attentive.
Holding the bottle of milk he had brought back, he said, “You have a rest first and have some midnight snack. I’ll go to the kitchen to warm up the milk for you, and then I’ll see if you have anything else at home that’s light and soothing.”
Seeing Pei Yan head to his kitchen, Qi Feng seemed to recall something. He opened his mouth as if to stop Pei Yan, then closed it again. Head lowered, he sat at the dining table, taking small sips of the seafood congee Pei Yan had brought over, the tips of his ears slightly red.
Searching Qi Feng’s kitchen for utensils to heat the milk, Pei Yan thought to cut some fruit and cheese in case Qi Feng hadn’t eaten well at the banquet. He opened the fridge, looking for food, and suddenly, his hands stilled.
He saw a row of neatly arranged milk cartons on a shelf in the fridge.
With Qi Feng’s sensitive nature and eye for details, it was impossible he had forgotten about the milk at home. So, asking for milk just now was merely an excuse?
He actually just wanted to see Pei Yan.
Pei Yan’s heart started “thump thump thumping”. He secretly glanced at the youth in the dining area. His deep eyes shone with pleasant surprise.
He took the cut fruit plate and milk, sat down next to the boy, and softly asked, “Xiao Feng, may I stay tonight to take care of you?”
Qi Feng sipped the tasty seafood congee, the heat flushing his cheeks. When he set the spoon down, the youth gave a soft “Mm”, his voice gentle and melting to the listener’s heart.
Pei Yan’s flickering gaze grew increasingly focused and ardent on his boy, watching his moist flushed neck elegantly drinking congee, finding every action and swallow endearing.
“…Don’t stare.”
Qi Feng quietly reminded him.
“Sorry, couldn’t help it.”
Pei Yan quickly averted his eyes and coughed lightly with clenched fists, “I remember you like bathing before bed. May I go run you a bath?”
Qi Feng glanced at him and nodded silently.
Pei Yan could have leaped for joy on his way to Qi Feng’s bedroom. His elated, delighted manner was like an unruly child, unabashedly displaying his true feelings.
Watching Pei Yan’s imaginary wagging tail as he dashed to the bedroom, Qi Feng lowered his eyes and smiled.
Often, their hearts could convey meaning to each other without words. It was just that now he had crossed that invisible line first. The atmosphere was suddenly so expectant and inexplicably blissful.
After a late-night snack to warm his stomach and relieve his hangover, Qi Feng walked uneasily to his bathroom, which was filled with warm water vapor.
Pei Yan said he would care for him. He stood by Qi Feng’s side, squeezing toothpaste, passing water, and handing towels…attentive to every detail, and extremely patient. Qi Feng’s acquiescence led to Pei Yan’s gradual overstepping.
“Does your head still hurt? Should I help you wash?”
“I won’t do anything else, just help rinse you, wash your hair…”
“There…need shower gel?”
“Let me do that.”
…
There were some things that made him embarrassed, but he didn’t refuse either. His face was burning as he permitted Pei Yan’s meticulous care. In the end, he resigned himself and let Pei Yan gently dry his body, blow dry his hair, and dress him in fluffy pajamas.
His bed was not big but could barely fit two men squeezing together. Pei Yan stood by the bedside and tentatively asked, “May I stay by your side as you sleep?”
Qi Feng deliberately ignored him, turning his back as he got into bed. Smelling the fragrant clean sheets, he quietly listened for the man’s movements.
Soon, Pei Yan walked around to the other side of the bed. He crouched by the bedside, leaning over the edge looking into Qi Feng’s clear eyes, and asked softly, “Xiao Feng, may I kiss you?”
His rich, low voice was very soothing to hear.
Qi Feng clutched the bedding tightly and gave a small nod. Although they had done much more before, it was just a kiss now, yet it made his heart race wildly. He closed his eyes nervously as if he was about to perform a grand ceremony.
In the darkness, Pei Yan’s warm, familiar breath blew at his cheek. Then the man’s supple lips pressed lightly on the mole at the corner of his lips. It was a feather-like touch yet concealed the man’s immense restraint and longing.
“Xiao Feng, then I’ll, I’ll go sleep in the living room tonight?”
Although speaking this, Pei Yan’s tone still held a tentative question, waiting anxiously for the youth’s permission after asking. Hoping the boy would tacitly permit his overstepping like earlier.
But the youth only curled deeper into his blanket, seeming to reject silently.
Pei Yan suppressed his scalding breath, fearful that his heavy breathing would startle the nervous boy. His hot fingertips exerted restraint, only lightly brushing aside the stray strands on the pillow, and he stood up with difficulty as if he was dragging a heavy body: “You sleep. Call me if you need anything.”
He could not describe the reluctance in his heart. Yet if he didn’t restrain himself, Qi Feng would eventually be disgusted by him again, suddenly leaving like last time – that kind of terror and unease was more agonizing than being stabbed to death.
He forced his gaze away from the youth, having just taken two steps when his waist sash was lightly pulled. The force was small but instantly halted his footsteps.
Looking down in surprise, he saw the youth’s slender fair hand hooked on his sash. Beneath the soft light by the bed, the elegant boy’s face was flushed. He stared at Pei Yan timidly and said in a gentle voice, “The blanket is too cold. Can you help warm it?”
Pei Yan’s breath caught. He almost knelt down in gratitude. His tall, strong body crouched by the bed again. This time he asked nothing, only lowered his head to kiss the boy’s moist, tender lips.
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