The situation at the bar had been chaotic. When Wu Hui discovered his CET-6 exercises had been completed by a stranger, his imperial wrath was ignited. He ordered everyone in the vicinity to stand in a line and questioned them one by one about who had done it.
Jiang Liexing shook his head. “It was not me. I have failed CET-4; at most, I watch grade-three movies.”
The bar owner, flanked by two people, argued, “I am just a college student who started a business. I only manage handsome men, not level-six exams.”
The male models looked at each other, confused. “We only know how to serve guests; we do not know how to do exercises.”
The scene was as grand and solemn as a large-scale anti-vice raid. Whether the test paper had been sabotaged or if there was a mole in the bar, no one ever found out. Because the commotion was so loud, it was captured by Alistair University students who were there, and the incident was posted on the campus message board.
It became exactly what Pei Huaiye had seen: The Prince’s Consort visits a bar, hires male models, and suffers a scam resulting in his CET-6 exercises being completed by others.
In the living room, Wu Hui was speechless at the bold, black-lettered title. Facing Pei Huaiye, who appeared ready to settle the score, he pondered before saying, “Slander. This is pure slander.”
Pei Huaiye was not oblivious to the internet; he had staff specifically tasked with forwarding any news regarding Wu Hui. He sat on the sofa, assuming an attentive posture. “Go on. Let us hear it.”
Wu Hui pulled out the CET-6 test papers he had brought and placed them before Pei Huaiye, looking utterly aggrieved. “I was only passing by, but the exercises really were completed.”
Pei Huaiye took them and flipped to a page. A few gaudy little cards fell out. He picked one up and read the words aloud: “Lonely late at night? Online companion chat. Available for all preferences. For local meetups, please dial 18.”
Wu Hui snatched the card away immediately. “I do not know who stuffed those in!”
He gathered the remaining cards from the floor and tossed them into the trash. “You should know that in a place like a bar, it is not strange at all to have cards stuffed into your pockets.”
Pei Huaiye replied, “I would not know. I have never been to one.”
Wu Hui paused. Well, that makes you a very unqualified Prince, he thought.
“It was my first time at a bar as well. It really is not what they say. Jiang Liexing was the one who called me while he was drunk. I did not even drink. The atmosphere of debauchery there just made me feel uncomfortable.”
He adopted the persona of a victim and crawled onto Pei Huaiye’s lap, hugging him face-to-face. “You have to believe me, Brother.”
Just then, Jiang Liexing called. Wu Hui accidentally hit the answer button.
“Chu Yu! There is a male model here you graced who wants your contact information! He says he is willing to turn over a new leaf for you, cook for you, and become a devoted husband. He even said he does not mind you cheating behind the Prince’s back.”
Wu Hui hung up. Pei Huaiye let out an “Oh?” and repeated, “Cheating?”
Wu Hui said, “Nobody is cheating. I only went there to do my exercises.”
“Cards stuffed one after another, male models approaching you one by one, and the whole school seeing you cheat behind my back—yet you claim you only went to the bar to study?”
Beneath his calm tone, a storm was brewing. Wu Hui straightened up. “You do not believe me?”
He pushed against the man’s chest, preparing to climb off his lap. “Fine, do not believe me then. We just confirmed our relationship and you are already pinning labels on me. Tell me, did you see the content on those cards and feel tempted? Do you want to break up and find someone else?”
Pei Huaiye grabbed Wu Hui and pulled him back. “Where are you running to? I did not say I do not believe you.”
Wu Hui stopped moving and snuggled obediently against him.
“Next time you want to go to a bar or similar place, tell me in advance. I will send someone to protect you. That is not a good place for studying; if you really want to go, we can go together.”
Wu Hui replied, “I did send you a message.”
Pei Huaiye felt a mix of anger and amusement at the mention of that. “What did you send? ‘Goodbye, Senior, you are setting sail tonight?'”
Wu Hui covered his mouth. “That was just a meme!”
Pei Huaiye licked the palm of his hand in that position. “I will buy you two more sets of practice papers, different from the ones you had.”
“Okay.”
Ultimately, the Prince decided not to pursue the matter of the Consort visiting a bar to find male models. Internally, however, the gossip grew even wilder.
Guessing that the Consort will not be able to get out of bed tonight received unanimous upvotes. The owner of the campus bar even contributed a comment: My bar sells all kinds of adult novelties; show your student ID for a 20% discount.
Everyone except the Prince messaged him privately. They all believed that the student ID would definitely come in handy one day.
After sobering up, Jiang Liexing flooded Wu Hui’s inbox with kneeling emojis and a sixty-second voice message.
“Woooo, Chu Yu, I am sorry. The Prince did not do anything to you, did he? Is your waist okay? Can you still get out of bed? If not, I can come over and be your nurse.”
Wu Hui listened to a few seconds and turned it off, replying, “If I were really paralyzed in bed, it would not be affection; it would be murder.”
Jiang Liexing continued to send messages: “It is all my fault that you cannot get out of bed, but there are some things I cannot quite recall. I vaguely remember something about being acquired. What does that mean? Are you planning to invest in something?”
A straight man’s vocabulary was truly too limited. Wu Hui did not bother to shatter his worldview. “It is nothing.”
Jiang Liexing: “Anyway, I must thank you properly this time.”
Wu Hui: “No need. Just do not call me next time.”
Pei Huaiye had someone check the bar’s surveillance footage regarding Wu Hui’s appearance. Strangely, no footage showed how Wu Hui got in; only the later clips showed a waiter discovering a man who had fallen in the restroom with two broken ribs and being sent to the hospital. Going further back, there was only the clip of a drunk Jiang Liexing being dragged into the restroom by the man who later fell. After that, there was only the large-scale anti-vice sweep organized by Wu Hui.
After finishing the footage, Pei Huaiye had a rough idea of what had happened.
“I hope I do not find the person who stole my practice papers,” Wu Hui muttered before bed. “Otherwise, I will make them do every single exercise paper on the market.”
Pei Huaiye pulled him into his arms. “Shall I help you look for them?”
“No, I do not like taking shortcuts.”
“Hmm,” Pei Huaiye asked, “Between me and those male models, who is better?”
Wu Hui lifted his head. “Are you still jealous?”
“Who is as delicious as you are, Brother? Those male models only cost a thousand a night. If I were to order you, I would have to add a zero.”
Pei Huaiye kissed the top of his head. “Which zero? I only need one zero.”
“Any zero will do.”
Wu Hui poked him with his chin. He failed to leave a mark, but he ended up hurting his own chin. He covered his chin and complained while lying on top of the man.
“Your pectoral muscles are reinforced, aren’t they? They are so hard.”
Pei Huaiye helped him rub his chin, then pulled him by the waist and gently nibbled on his lips.