Perhaps Wu Yan’s appearance was truly too pitiful, because Pei Jin actually pushed back his evening work schedule, saying he would accompany him to dinner.
Naturally, Wu Yan was elated. He even felt a spark of gratitude toward Song Yiran for causing that scene; otherwise, he might not have successfully made an appointment with the ever-busy Pei Jin.
The restaurant he chose was located in the South District of Yuyang City. It was in a remote area, but because of the nearby amusement facilities, it was a popular spot for tourists. The restaurant had an excellent reputation, was often crowded, and usually required a long wait for a reservation.
However, that was no obstacle for Wu Yan. He loved the food there, and his parents had even invested in the shop to make it convenient for him to visit or order.
In a private room on the second floor, a waiter stood by the long table, taking notes on a black digital tablet.
“That’ll be all…” Wu Yan closed the menu, speaking concisely. Once the waiter left, he looked at Pei Jin sitting across from him, his tone a bit aggrieved. “Brother, why aren’t you sitting next to me?”
“It’s inconvenient,” Pei Jin replied flatly, uttering only three words.
He kept his gaze down, not looking at Wu Yan, but his mind was wandering. He and Wu Yan had never eaten together before, yet every dish the youth ordered was something he liked.
Was this a coincidence?
Wu Yan, unaware of Pei Jin’s thoughts, idly toyed with a small wooden fish ornament on the table. He noticed the sky outside the window had turned a gloomy gray; it looked like it was going to snow again.
The atmosphere in the room was somewhat stagnant. Every time Wu Yan spoke, Pei Jin responded with formal, cold answers, he was truly a man of few words.
Fortunately, a moment later, the door was pushed open. The waiter arrived with a food cart, and the table was soon filled with a variety of fragrant dishes.
Soy sauce chicken, braised dried tofu, scrambled eggs with shrimp, steamed meatballs with loofah, and a pumpkin and tofu soup.
“How is it? I spent a long time learning about your tastes from your fans,” Wu Yan said with a hint of pride, his eyes fixed on Pei Jin, clearly seeking praise.
Pei Jin coughed lightly. Faced with the youth’s intense gaze, he said softly, “You went to a lot of trouble.”
This wooden block!
The smile on Wu Yan’s lips stiffened for a moment. After reining in his emotions, he watched Pei Jin eat. Pei Jin’s eating manner was methodical and pleasing to the eye. Wu Yan had a small appetite, so he only ate a little, spending the rest of the time watching the man.
Perhaps feeling unsettled by the scrutiny, Pei Jin looked up, about to speak, when a phone rang.
“I’ll take this call.” Wu Yan caught a glimpse of the caller ID, picked up his phone, and walked to a distance before answering.
The moment the call connected, the person on the other end began nagging: “Young Master Wu, it’s been several days since I did that thing for you. When are you coming to see me?”
“The three million we agreed on not a penny can be missing,” the voice continued.
Wu Yan lowered his eyes and was silent for two seconds before replying, “I know. Meet me at the old place tomorrow.”
After hanging up, he returned to his seat. He looked at Pei Jin—the man was so much taller and broader than him, yet he had barely eaten anything.
So, he spoke up: “Does the food not suit your taste? If you eat this little, you’ll be hungry tonight.”
Pei Jin heard the concern in his voice and explained, “I’ve accepted a new role. I have to manage my physique.”
“Alright then.”
Wu Yan didn’t press the matter. He pulled a gift from a nearby bag and pushed it toward Pei Jin. “I had a great time eating with you today. I prepared a gift; you can open it when you get back.”
Pei Jin had sent him gifts many times, yet he had never returned the favor. Not counting that scarf from yesterday.
The bag contained a small, pale yellow box wrapped in gold ribbon, it was clearly packaged with care. Pei Jin was silent for a moment before taking the gift and setting it aside. “It’s about to snow. I’ll take you home.”
Wu Yan followed his gaze out the window. The gray sky was indeed starting to drop fine flakes. He nodded and followed the man out.
They walked through a long corridor to the first floor. The restaurant was bustling with people laughing and talking over their meals, a scene full of the warmth of the world.
Just as Pei Jin was about to head out, Wu Yan grabbed his wrist. Meeting his surprised gaze, Wu Yan said, “Let’s go through the back door. There are fewer people.”
Pei Jin might not be an idol, but he was a famous Movie Star; there was no guarantee paparazzi weren’t already tailing him.
The back door was indeed deserted and felt exceptionally cold. As Wu Yan walked beside Pei Jin, he felt his hands in his pockets were like ice.
“Pei Jin,” he suddenly called out.
Pei Jin paused and turned. “What is it?”
“It’s so cold, can you give me a hug?” Wu Yan’s nose was flushed red from the chill, and his voice trembled slightly. Even though his down jacket was thick, his poor constitution couldn’t withstand the cold. A bit of cold wind was enough to make his head spin.
What kind of reason is ‘being cold’ for a hug?
A flash of surprise crossed Pei Jin’s eyes. His tall frame blocked the wind coming from the side. He took off his own coat, draped it over Wu Yan, and pulled him under a slightly warmer eave. He said softly, “Wait here. I’ll go bring the car around.”
“Okay.” Seeing Pei Jin’s serious tone, Wu Yan nodded obediently.
He lowered his head, his butterfly-like lashes trembling. He watched the snowflakes drift before him and melt. About two minutes later, a car stopped in front of him, and he got in.
On the way back, Wu Yan was lethargic and looked unwell. Pei Jin suddenly felt that today had been too much of a transgression; he had only agreed to dinner because he felt sorry for the youth. He hadn’t expected that after being exposed to the cold at the studio during the day and sleeping in the dressing room, the youth would now catch a chill. With such a weak body, Wu Yan surely wouldn’t be able to handle it.
The car stopped at the familiar house. Pei Jin got out and opened the passenger door. Wu Yan didn’t speak; he looked exhausted, his pale face becoming almost translucent.
“The coat…” Wu Yan moved to take it off and return it, but Pei Jin pressed his hand down.
Meeting Wu Yan’s confused gaze, Pei Jin said concisely, “The car is warm; taking off the coat will make you catch a chill. Go inside quickly.”
“Then can Brother and I have a hug? Please?” Wu Yan was still fixated on the hug.
The servant nearby reminded him, “Young Master, please come in quickly. The wind is strong.”
Pei Jin saw Wu Yan staring at him expectantly. Fearing the youth would truly get sick if he stayed out any longer, he let out an imperceptible sigh and compromised. He stepped forward and gave him a gentle, light embrace.
Being hugged, Wu Yan smiled. “Brother’s embrace is quite warm. I hope we can hug longer next time.”
Having been brought home by Pei Jin two days in a row, Wu Yan was intercepted by his mother before he could even go upstairs. “Xiao Yan, tell me the truth. What is your relationship with Pei Jin now?”
“Just friends,” Wu Yan replied.
They were engaged, yes, but they hadn’t had a ceremony yet, and Pei Jin’s attitude was still lukewarm. Giving him a coat and sending him home was just gentlemanly politeness. Even that kiss today was something the man had initially tried to pull away from.
“But you go out to find him every day. Xiao Yan, have you fallen for him? I told you he was a good catch, and you were throwing tantrums before. Now you see he’s a good choice, don’t you…”
His mother was about to continue when she noticed Wu Yan’s exhausted look. A flash of worry and heartache crossed her face. She paused and added, “Take your medicine and go rest. Don’t overexert yourself.”
Wu Yan nodded slightly and trudged back to his room with heavy steps. He closed the door, leaned against it, and let out a long sigh.
Meanwhile, Pei Jin returned to the Bauhinia Hotel.
He swiped his card and turned on the lights. The bright room was instantly illuminated—tidy, clean, and full of life. He walked to the water dispenser and poured a cup of warm water.
After drinking half the cup, his gaze drifted to the gift bag on the table. He instinctively touched the corner of his mouth as the image of the kiss surfaced in his mind. Wu Yan’s lips were very soft, like cotton candy.
A strange ripple stirred in his heart. He knit his brow, suppressed the emotion, and opened the box. Inside was a hand warmer shaped like a penguin. Beneath it was a small card. He picked it up and saw a few lines of handwritten text:
This winter is particularly cold. I hope this brings you warmth.
The signature wasn’t Wu Yan’s name, but a little drawing of a penguin.
“Wu Yan…” he murmured the name, his thoughts drifting.
In the middle of the night, Wu Yan developed a fever without warning. Or rather, it was only a matter of time. The entire Wu household was brightly lit, with people rushing about everywhere.
Wu Yan felt lightheaded, and his eyelids felt like they weighed a thousand pounds. He couldn’t open them no matter how hard he tried. He heard many chaotic noises, but they registered only as a dull ringing in his ears.
Being helped up to take fever medicine, he blinked and saw Xu Yike’s face close by. He knit his brow slightly. Every time he had a fever, he took medicine because he refused to get an injection.
“Young Master, take your medicine.” Xu Yike held the pills to Wu Yan’s lips and offered a cup of warm water.
“I have no strength.” Wu Yan’s voice was hoarse. He had an IV in his hand, only half-finished. He looked up at Xu Yike, and a thought suddenly popped into his head.
Xu Yike hesitated for a moment. Just as he was about to hand the medicine to a nearby maid, he heard Wu Yan speak again.
“Brother Yike, you feed me.” His voice was very soft.
But Xu Yike, sitting close on the edge of the bed, heard him perfectly. A flash of shock crossed his eyes, as if he hadn’t processed the words. But in the end, he held the medicine to the youth’s lips, not daring to look at his face. After swallowing the medicine with the water, exhaustion washed over Wu Yan again like a tide.
He leaned back against the pillow and fell asleep the moment his eyes closed.
In his muddled state, he felt as if he were being swallowed by a boundless darkness. In his dream, he saw the cliff again, and his foot slipped.
He slept until the afternoon of the next day. Upon waking, he had no appetite. His mother had the chef prepare various appetizers and warming foods to bring to him. In the end, unable to refuse her, he picked a few things and ate a little. He drank some kumquat and pear soup, feeling somewhat lifeless.
Why does a fever feel like it’s taking half my life?
He swallowed the warm soup and looked at the phone on the nightstand. “Xu Yike, help me get that.”
Hearing this, Xu Yike picked up the phone and handed it to him. Wu Yan unlocked it and saw several missed calls. They were all from the person from yesterday. He edited a text message in reply, then opened the chat app to look at his pinned contact.
The last message in the chat was still Pei Jin’s “Good medicine tastes bitter but is good for the illness.”
He was silent for a moment and sent a message. This time, a reply came back within two seconds.
Pei Jin: Your mother mentioned you have a fever. I’ll come to see you tonight.