A cool breeze blew across his body, carrying a slight itch. The event venue was roaring with life, a literal sea of people. Endless fans were packed behind the red lines on both sides as security personnel struggled to clear the way. The constant flashing of cameras almost illuminated the night sky.
A black MPV was parked not far away. Wu Yan sat in the back, and beside him was a visibly nervous Luo Xia.
Luo Xia turned to look at the person who had suddenly “teleported” from Yuyang City to here. He was surprised, but mostly at a loss. He spoke in shock, “Young Master Wu, why are you here too?”
“Didn’t Xu Yike tell you?”
Wu Yan fluttered his lashes and turned to look at Luo Xia. “When are we going to pick up Brother?”
“In about half an hour,” Luo Xia replied. Seeing Wu Yan’s slight frown, he nervously gripped the hem of his shirt. After all, this was a wealthy young master; there was a huge gap between them and a working man like himself. He didn’t dare neglect him, fearing Pei Jin might scold him especially since the two had been acting so ambiguously lately, even if Pei Jin refused to clarify their current relationship.
“I see.” Wu Yan nodded flatly and said no more.
The “Surprise” Meeting
Time ticked by. True to Luo Xia’s word, the car pulled into the garage of the event venue thirty minutes later. Pei Jin, dressed in haute couture and looking exceptionally tall and sharp, walked out through the VIP channel.
As the car door opened, Pei Jin boarded with his usual steady demeanor, only to find himself face-to-face with a pair of eyes full of laughter. It was Wu Yan, who had come all this way just for him.
“Surprise! Brother, are you surprised?” Wu Yan said with a beam, his face full of delight. He reached out to straighten Pei Jin’s slightly mussed collar.
In that split second of daze, Wu Yan successfully “made his move.”
“Wu Yan, why did you suddenly run all the way here?” Pei Jin’s thin lips parted, his expression unchanged.
“To find you, of course! You haven’t eaten anything after such a long event, right?” Wu Yan explained airily. He picked up the paper bag and insulated bag beside him and handed them both to Pei Jin.
Inside the paper bag were the fish cookies he had baked himself and a sugar-free milk tea. The other cup contained hot water. The insulated bag was filled with food he had specifically bought all of Pei Jin’s favorites. It was a complete spread.
Pei Jin looked at the items, surprised and at a loss for words. “How did you…”
“Am I not very virtuous, Brother? Eat something. I baked these cookies personally again.” Wu Yan spoke calmly, though he couldn’t hide the pride in his voice.
“You traveled all this way just to give me cookies.” Pei Jin followed Wu Yan’s lead and opened the packaging. The fish-shaped cookies were crisp and sweet, with the same familiar taste as last time.
“Of course. Who told me to like Brother so much?” Wu Yan nodded. He leaned close to Pei Jin and blinked. “Is it good?”
“Mhm.” Pei Jin met his gaze, his ear tips turning a faint red. He looked away, avoiding the youth’s eyes.
“Brother, can I go back with you?” Wu Yan asked softly, seemingly oblivious to the man’s reaction.
“What?” Perhaps because Wu Yan’s voice was too soft, or perhaps because Pei Jin was lost in thought, he didn’t hear him clearly.
“I said, I want to sleep with Brother.”
Wu Yan leaned in close, his warm breath tickling the sensitive skin of Pei Jin’s ear. A faint citrus scent drifted from his body. For some reason, despite the cold weather outside, Pei Jin felt stiflingly hot inside the climate-controlled car. He tugged at his tightening collar and looked down at Wu Yan.
He pressed the youth back into his seat and fastened his seatbelt for him.
Wu Yan pouted helplessly when Pei Jin didn’t respond. He crossed his arms, leaned back against the seat, and closed his eyes in silence. Sensing the silence, Pei Jin hesitated for a long time before asking, “Have you eaten?”
“Of course n—cough, yes, I have.” Wu Yan paused and changed his wording. He looked at Pei Jin and nodded.
“I’ve been very good, Brother,” he said softly, sounding as if he were acting spoiled.
Pei Jin felt unsettled under Wu Yan’s gaze. He turned his eyes away to watch the scenery flying past the window. The sky was a hazy gray, and a fierce wind whipped up fallen leaves into the air.
“It’s raining outside, Brother Pei…” Luo Xia, sitting in the front, felt the atmosphere was strange and chose his words carefully.
Pei Jin looked out the window. He already knew it was raining. He shifted his gaze back to Wu Yan, only to find the youth had already fallen asleep.
“He’s asleep…”
Luo Xia looked through the rearview mirror and saw the sleeping Wu Yan. The youth’s butterfly-like lashes were like small, captivating fans casting shadows under his eyes. Pei Jin pursed his lips; in the dim light of the car, his expression was unreadable.
The Hotel Arrival
The car pulled up at the hotel entrance. “Brother Pei, should I wake Young Master Wu?” Luo Xia asked.
Pei Jin looked at Wu Yan’s exhausted and pale face. After a moment’s thought, he shook his head.
Luo Xia got out first and held an umbrella. “The event was tiring today, Brother Pei. How about I help carry him in?”
Logically, that was the best way. Pei Jin couldn’t let the driver do it, and he’d have to wait for Xu Yike to pick him up. But the thought of Luo Xia carrying Wu Yan made him feel strangely irritable.
“Hold the umbrella for me,” Pei Jin said.
He walked to the other side. Looking at the heavy rain, he bent down and scooped Wu Yan up in a princess carry.
Luo Xia had something to say but decided against it, instead focused on holding the umbrella over them. Fortunately, it was a rainy day and there weren’t many people around the hotel entrance.
Even so, the sight of a tall man carrying a youth was eye-catching. The black umbrella hid the upper half of Pei Jin’s face, leaving only his firm jaw and thin, pressed lips visible. The youth in his arms had his head tucked away, showing only his silver-gray hair.
They took the elevator up to the room. Pei Jin gently placed Wu Yan on the sofa. As he moved to stand up, his sleeve was suddenly grabbed.
He looked down into a pair of clear, glass-like eyes.
“Brother?” Wu Yan was a bit dazed from his deep sleep. He looked at Pei Jin and then surveyed the surroundings. It wasn’t the hotel he was staying at. So he brought me to his place? Wu Yan thought, his eyes looking a bit lost.
“Mhm. I called Xu Yike; he’ll be here soon to pick you up,” Pei Jin said concisely, his voice devoid of emotion.
Before Wu Yan could speak, Pei Jin turned and headed toward the bedroom. Wu Yan could only close his mouth and stare blankly from the sofa. After about five minutes, he heard the faint sound of running water.
Wu Yan suddenly perked up. He tiptoed toward the bedroom and looked at the closed bathroom door.
“Hmph, still guarding against me.”
He huffed softly and turned to leave, but the sound of the door opening stopped him. He turned back and saw Pei Jin.
The man was only wearing a towel around his waist. He had just finished his shower; his dark hair was wet and dripping, with a few stray strands falling over his forehead. Water droplets slid down his chiseled face, down his firm, broad chest and thin abdominal muscles, disappearing into the edge of the towel.
Wu Yan’s gaze was involuntarily drawn to the sight.
Pei Jin frowned, seemingly helpless. “Wu Yan.”
Hearing his name, Wu Yan snapped out of it. He rubbed his nose sheepishly, his ears and neck flushing crimson. “Um, I just wanted to ask to borrow a charger…” he mumbled, making up a random excuse.
Pei Jin walked to the bed, pulled a charger from the nightstand drawer, and handed it to him. As the man approached, a cold, fresh scent of shower gel hit him. Wu Yan felt “drunk” on the scent. He instinctively took a step back as he took the charger.
“I’ll go charge it out there then,” Wu Yan said and fled the room.
The moment he was out, he regretted it. What if Pei Jin did that on purpose? I should have just stuck to him!
He slowly plugged in his phone and stared at the messages from Xu Yike.
Xu Yike: Young Master, are you with Brother Pei? Xu Yike: He told me to pick you up, but I told him something happened at home and I had to rush back. Xu Yike: I’ll report in if there are further updates.
Wu Yan nodded with satisfaction. Xu Yike was a top-tier wingman.
Apparently, Pei Jin had just received the same news. He walked out of the bedroom with his phone and looked at Wu Yan.
“Brother, I’ll have to trouble you to take in this homeless little puppy,” Wu Yan said, looking up with a pitiful expression.
Hearing this, Pei Jin’s intended questioning died in his throat. He sighed. “You sleep in the bed; I’ll take the sofa.”
“That won’t do! Brother works so hard, of course you should sleep in the bed… if you really don’t want to sleep together, I can sleep on the sofa.”
Wu Yan stood up and walked to Pei Jin’s side. He stood on his tiptoes and whispered into the man’s ear: “But Brother is so kind, you wouldn’t have the heart to make Xiao Yan sleep on the sofa, right?”
Silence followed. It was so quiet a pin drop could be heard. Pei Jin felt as if his blood had frozen. He subtly took a few steps back to create distance.
After a moment, he spoke as if compromising: “Not allowed to be like last time.”
“Ah…” Wu Yan sounded disappointed, but meeting those light brown eyes, he nodded with feigned obedience. “I’ll try.”