In the darkness of the night, Pei Sichen lay in bed holding Jiang Ruobai, who was too exhausted to move. His fingers occasionally curled around a few strands of the other man’s hair, playing with them between his knuckles. Jiang Ruobai’s hair was naturally curly, and touching it felt like petting a large dog.
Jiang Ruobai was so sleepy he could barely keep his eyes open, but since Pei Sichen was not asleep, he did not dare to drift off either, forcing himself to stay awake to keep him company.
“Mr. Pei, are you not tired?” Jiang Ruobai asked drowsily, struggling to keep his eyelids up.
His face was clean and fresh, but compared to Pei Sichen’s previous bed partners, it was far too mediocre. If anyone familiar with Pei Sichen saw Jiang Ruobai, they would likely find it unbelievable. After all, it was a known fact in their circle that Pei Sichen had high standards. Everyone who stayed by his side was typically attractive enough to debut in the entertainment industry. Jiang Ruobai’s plain appearance did not seem like Pei Sichen’s type at all.
“Hm, I cannot sleep.” Pei Sichen lit a cigarette, took a few puffs, and draped his arm casually over the edge of the bed.
Insomnia was a frequent occurrence for him, and he did not think much of it. Since the night his mother committed suicide, every night had been a long, sleepless ordeal for him.
He turned his head and noticed Jiang Ruobai still watching him with those innocent, wide eyes. He reached out to gently tuck a few rebellious strands of hair behind Jiang Ruobai’s ear.
“Sleep. You do not need to wait for me.” Pei Sichen said softly. With his hostility dispersed, he resembled a gentle and elegant noble.
Jiang Ruobai lifted his head, silently watching the silhouette engulfed by the night.
The faint glow of the cigarette illuminated Pei Sichen’s long, narrow eyes. The arrogant and rebellious emotions were tinged with loneliness, gradually eroded by the surrounding darkness, leaving only that tiny flicker of light that could be extinguished at any moment.
“Mr. Pei, is there something bothering you?” Jiang Ruobai pulled the quilt closer to his chest, his bright eyes filled with concern.
He felt that Pei Sichen was currently like a piece of exquisite porcelain, yet a crack had appeared on it. The crack had no beginning and no end, yet it ran through the entire vessel.
Could someone like Pei Sichen have the same worries as ordinary people?
He was curious, yet he knew that no matter what the trouble was, he could not solve it for Pei Sichen. However, given Pei Sichen’s volatile temperament, he did not want to be the target of any unprovoked anger.
If Pei Sichen was not sleeping, he certainly did not dare to sleep either, but they could not both stare at the ceiling until dawn, could they?
Seeing that Pei Sichen could not sleep, he remembered the method his mother used to lull him to sleep when he was a child. Mimicking her, he began to pat Pei Sichen’s back gently.
“Sleep, Mr. Pei. I am here with you.”
Pei Sichen was somewhat surprised and looked at Jiang Ruobai in his arms with a complex expression.
“When I was a child and could not sleep, my mother would soothe me like this. Mr. Pei, do you feel uncomfortable?” He stopped his movements and asked, feeling anxious.
“No.” Pei Sichen exhaled the final puff of smoke and pinched the ember out with his fingers.
In the next second, a kiss landed on Jiang Ruobai’s lips. It was not domineering or forceful; it was as gentle as a pool of spring water.
“You did well. Sleep.”
“Hm.” Jiang Ruobai closed his eyes in a daze, feeling that although Mr. Pei was fierce, his temper in bed was unexpectedly good.
A few days later, Pei Sichen took Jiang Ruobai to the charity banquet hosted by Su Jiachen. In truth, rather than a charity event, it felt more like a private family banquet.
The purpose of the Su family’s gala was quite simple: Su Jiachen’s father was senile and muddled, foolishly attempting to bring his illegitimate son home. This banquet was, in fact, a homecoming feast.
Pei Sichen found it laughable, and more than that, he felt disdain.
Given Su Jiachen’s personality, it was likely this banquet would not achieve the effect Su’s father desired. At their core, these people were products of established interests; marriage and betrayal were inescapable fates.
His own grandparents had been a resentful couple for a lifetime, ending their days as strangers. His father had betrayed his mother, leading her to use suicide as a form of revenge.
Fragile family ties were no match for massive interests; they were the very thing he trusted the least. Therefore, upon learning that Su’s father intended to bring the illegitimate son home, Pei Sichen thought he was incredibly stupid. He did not realize that such an act would not exchange for so-called family affection but would only make the Su family a laughingstock for gossip.
Pride, selfishness, and deep-rooted flaws had already occupied most of their bloodlines. Su Jiachen would not allow an illegitimate child who could not see the light of day to encroach upon a single share of his inheritance, nor would he allow a bastard to appear in the Su family.
Today, the Su family would host a great drama, and since Pei Sichen had some free time, he did not mind being a leisurely spectator.
Everyone was giving their all to perform in this drama of ulterior motives. Su’s father had even spent a fortune. The charity banquet was so decadent it bordered on a royal event. The dark gold, pure gold wine cups looked out of place against the white lilies on the tables. Under the brilliant lights, people were intoxicated by the liquor and expensive perfume. Beneath the crystal chandelier, a massive champagne tower stood terrifyingly high, like the Eiffel Tower on the verge of tilting.
It was Jiang Ruobai’s first time attending such a banquet. Whether it was the crowd in their magnificent attire or the luxurious feast, everything made him feel out of place. Even though he was wearing a ridiculously expensive suit hand-picked by Pei Sichen, he still appeared flustered, clinging tightly to Pei Sichen the entire way like a small ornament that could not be shaken off.
Pei Sichen remained the center of the crowd; wherever he was, all the lights converged upon him. This was true no matter where he went. Only because of his icy aura did most people who wanted to curry favor with him remain at bay.
Su’s father respectfully invited Pei Sichen to rest on the top floor. Upon seeing Jiang Ruobai beside him, the smile on his face remained amiable, like an elder who truly cared for Pei Sichen.
Pei Sichen, by contrast, was noticeably cold. His attitude toward Su’s father’s superficial concern was perfunctory.
This eerie atmosphere persisted until Su’s father left.
Jiang Ruobai was puzzled. In the public eye, the relationship between the Su and Pei families had always been good, and Su Jiachen was a friend Jiang Ruobai had grown up with. Why was Pei Sichen’s attitude toward Su’s father so indifferent?
“Why, are you curious about my attitude toward Su Zhonghai?” Jiang Ruobai had expressive eyes; even if he did not ask anything, one could easily see what he was thinking.
“Hm.” Jiang Ruobai nodded sincerely.
Pei Sichen looked at Jiang Ruobai. His slender figure loomed over him, and his fingers brushed over those clear eyes. There was a rebellious smile and absolute confidence in the depths of his gaze. “Jiang Ruobai, you must remember one thing: with me here, you can be arrogant in front of anyone. No matter who it is, if you do not like them, just say it directly, and I will help you solve it.”
Power trumped money, and this kind of overwhelming power belonged to the Pei family but not the Su family.
In Hai City, the Pei family could have equals, but they would never have enemies that could stand on equal footing. Besides the Pei family, there was no other clan capable of spanning both the military and commercial sectors and interacting with both the underworld and the establishment. This was the absolute confidence that came with being the sole heir to such a gargantuan family.
Jiang Ruobai did not yet grasp the meaning behind this promise, only nodding blankly at Pei Sichen.
Pei Sichen satisfiedly left a kiss on Jiang Ruobai’s earlobe.
“It is truly rare to see such a gentle side of Young Master Pei,” Su Jiachen’s teasing voice came from behind, scaring Jiang Ruobai into standing up abruptly.
Pei Sichen lowered his eyes, then slowly lifted his lids, his tone becoming visibly colder. “Has no one taught you to knock before entering a room?”
“But no one told me to knock at my own home, either. Besides, do you enjoy leaving the door open when you do things?” His gaze wandered playfully between the two of them, and his fingers tapped on the half-open solid wood door.
Jiang Ruobai’s face flushed a deep red, burning as if he had a fever.
Pei Sichen pinched the bridge of his nose and said coldly, “Is the matter handled?”
Su Jiachen walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking through the glass at the people laughing in the gorgeously decorated courtyard. Finally, he fixed his gaze on a young man wearing a white suit.
Beside the young man, Su Zhonghai was wearing a gray suit, pulling him around to exchange toasts with the guests, pretending to be a loving father.
Watching the scene of kind father and filial son, Su Jiachen’s expression turned cold, and a dismissive smile appeared on his lips. “Of course. The great show is about to begin. I have come to invite the two of you to watch it.”
Pei Sichen asked, “What have you prepared?”
Su Jiachen turned to meet Pei Sichen’s gaze, curled his lips, and spoke with an evil charm, “Why don’t we go down and see?”
Pei Sichen, however, appeared to have lost interest. He turned to Jiang Ruobai and said, “You go down in my place to take a look. Something has come up at the company that requires my attention.”
Jiang Ruobai waved his hands in panic, instinctively resisting, “I cannot do it.”
Pei Sichen laughed, “You just need to enjoy the show. Su Jiachen will keep you company.”
Su Jiachen was stunned for a moment, looking at him with deep meaning. When he saw the determined, possessive gaze Pei Sichen fixed upon Jiang Ruobai, he seemed to understand something.
He turned and draped an arm over Jiang Ruobai’s shoulder, saying enthusiastically, “Do not worry, Little Mr. Jiang. The play in a moment will be very interesting; it would be a shame to miss it. I will take you down to watch.”
“But,” Jiang Ruobai’s expression was hesitant; he clearly did not want to go down.
“No buts. Pei Sichen cannot take you with him to the company. I will take good care of you, rest assured.”
Jiang Ruobai was dragged away by Su Jiachen, and Pei Sichen was soon picked up by his driver and driven away from the Su residence to the company.
Jiang Ruobai was pulled downstairs by Su Jiachen. The moment a crowd of beautiful men and women saw Su Jiachen, they swarmed him.
In Jiang Ruobai’s eyes, Su Jiachen looked incredibly happy right now, surrounded by people, appearing as carefree as an immortal. If this were ancient times, Jiang Ruobai felt Su Jiachen would surely be a licentious emperor.
Perhaps seeing that Jiang Ruobai was dressed impeccably, those people mistook him for Su Jiachen’s friend. A few bold ones reached out and began poking at his clothes.
Jiang Ruobai was startled, covering his clothes and retreating repeatedly like a bristling rabbit.
Su Jiachen, however, was immersed in his own hedonistic world, having completely forgotten his promise the moment Pei Sichen left. Seeing that Su Jiachen was completely absorbed, Jiang Ruobai did not want to disturb him. He did not like such occasions, so he simply found a relatively remote corner to stay in.
However, the attire Pei Sichen had dressed him in was too luxurious, inevitably attracting some flies with impure motives.
In a corner where few people gathered, a man who had been silently observing Jiang Ruobai for a long time approached, holding a glass of red wine with a formulaic smile on his face.
“Hello, sir. May I have the honor of inviting you to a drink?”