To be fair, if Qi Ji looked purely at the clothes in front of him, he actually liked them quite a bit.
The wall of sleepwear offered a variety of styles, bright colors, and soft textures—the kind he liked most. If money weren’t an issue, he’d probably be drawn to these pieces if he were buying for himself.
But the situation now was different. These were in front of his boss. No matter how easygoing he was, there was no way he could walk in wearing a rabbit-ear outfit and meet the CEO.
Qi Ji said dryly, “No need… Mr. Pei, I’ll just wear my own pajamas.”
Even after seeing so many private sides of Pei over this time, Qi Ji still remembered the CEO’s identity and image.
It seemed, unfortunately, that the CEO himself didn’t seem to care much about that.
No sooner had Qi Ji spoken than he heard a sigh beside him.
“All these clothes… isn’t there a single one you like?” Pei Yusheng’s voice was low, tinged with disappointment. “Looks like I didn’t put enough thought into it.”
“No, it’s not that…”
Qi Ji wanted to explain, but couldn’t organize his words. A sudden thought made him both startled and suspicious—were all these pajamas prepared just for him?
Pajamas were meant to be loose. The last time he came to open the safe, Qi Ji had been too distracted by Pei’s childlike enthusiasm to notice the sizes. Looking more closely now, he realized that most of the clothes seemed to match his own measurements.
“It’s not that I don’t like them…”
Seeing Pei so downcast, Qi Ji didn’t want to ruin his mood by revealing the truth. He forced himself to come up with an excuse.
“I’m just used to plain-colored pajamas. Seeing all these little-animal designs at once is a bit surprising.”
The CEO accepted the explanation. “I have a cousin around your age, with a similar personality. He loves this style, so I figured someone your age would probably like it too, and bought these.”
Cousin? Qi Ji thought. Maybe that was the original occupant of the guest room on the first floor.
The wardrobe also contained cat plushies, which seemed to confirm the person really liked cute things.
“But all these clothes are new,” Pei added. “No one’s worn them before. Don’t worry about that.”
“No, Mr. Pei, I’m not worried,” Qi Ji said. “It’s just… there seem to be so many.”
“Many?” Pei glanced at the half-wall of clothes and said calmly, “I don’t think so. After all, they’re work clothes. You’ll be wearing one all night, and you’ll want to pick some you like. That’s not too many.”
Apparently, the CEO’s idea of “not many” differed from a normal person’s.
Qi Ji pinched the bridge of his nose. Pei was right—they were work clothes, and the task was important. If he insisted on refusing, he really wouldn’t know how to phrase it.
As Qi Ji hesitated, Pei added, “Tomorrow I’ll be attending a ceremony, and I won’t be back at night. The day after, there’s another meeting. I thought you might get more rest tonight, so I wanted to make sure you wouldn’t be bothered if we accidentally touched.”
“But if you really don’t like it, forget it. Go wash up first,” he said, reaching to close the wardrobe with a precise, deliberate motion.
Qi Ji quickly blocked him. “Don’t close it, Mr. Pei. I’ll… I’ll pick one.”
Pei frowned. “No need to force yourself.”
“No, it’s fine. I’m not forcing myself,” Qi Ji hurriedly reassured him.
The CEO’s tone wasn’t forceful, but it still made Qi Ji feel guilty.
This was work, after all. He’d just been overthinking and worrying too much, acting unduly cautious.
Stepping into the wardrobe, Qi Ji quickly began selecting a set. The CEO had to work through the night, and tonight was the only chance to rest—he didn’t want to waste any of it.
Finally, he picked the simplest option among the fluffy pajamas.
It was a two-piece set, notably without a tail or paw gloves. Only two pointy cat ears stood on the shoulders, and a big round-faced cat printed on the chest made it both cute and comfortable.
Even so, before getting into bed, Qi Ji found himself absentmindedly touching the ears several times, trying to make them feel less conspicuous.
Mostly, it was because of the CEO leaning against the headboard, working on reports… the cute cat pajamas felt slightly out of place, making Qi Ji uneasy.
Thankfully, sleep that night went smoothly. Pei didn’t reach out to hold him before bed, and the master bed was large enough that there was no real contact—they just shared the bed.
After a long day, Qi Ji quickly drifted off.
Including tonight, Qi Ji had now shared a bed with the CEO four times. To his surprise, he had no trouble falling asleep; in fact, he fell asleep faster and faster, as if growing accustomed to it.
Even though not long ago he had strongly resisted any physical contact.
Qi Ji couldn’t explain it himself, except to chalk it up to the fading effects of the medication.
He slept soundly through the night. The next morning, he woke early.
Having gone to bed early and never one to linger in bed, he woke before the sky had fully brightened. Heavy curtains blocked most of the light, making the morning bedroom all the more cozy for sleep.
He yawned, about to turn over, when he suddenly stiffened.
Slowly opening his eyes, his gaze moved downward.
It was real—not a hallucination.
Qi Ji groaned.
…Why had he ended up in Pei’s arms again?!
And he immediately recognized the posture. This wasn’t Pei holding him—it was Qi Ji himself who had forced himself into the CEO’s embrace. The position was far too familiar—just like how he would curl up with small animals, often trapped in a kitten’s embrace. Now he had done the same to Pei.
When had he developed this habit?
It wasn’t an isolated incident. The previous times he shared a bed with Pei were the same—upon opening his eyes, he found himself clinging to the other man.
His body seemed to respond unconsciously, which was one reason he had hesitated to suggest co-sleeping to help Pei sleep.
A few more nights like this and his heart might not survive.
Qi Ji had always hugged a blanket to sleep, never a person. Sleeping in the same bed with someone had been difficult before, causing shallow sleep. That was why he rarely co-slept.
He didn’t understand why Pei was so different—as if his body had no defenses against the CEO.
Flustered and embarrassed, Qi Ji tried to discreetly release his grip and pull away.
Pei hadn’t reacted, and Qi Ji assumed he was still asleep as before. Thinking of Pei waking up and immediately working in the past, he felt guilty for keeping him pinned like this.
But unexpectedly, no sooner had he let go than he felt pressure on his back.
An arm gently pressed him back into a warm embrace, patting his back soothingly.
“Good boy.”
The voice, usually low and composed, sounded muddled, as if still half-asleep.
Qi Ji’s cheek pressed against the man’s warm chest. His whole body stiffened, and he didn’t dare blink.
What… what was happening?
Sensing his stiffness, Pei reached a hand to Qi Ji’s nape, lightly kneading as if soothing a small animal, patiently running along the line of his hair.
“…!”
Qi Ji bit his lip, almost letting out a startled squeak. A tingling shiver ran from the nape of his neck down his spine to his fingertips.
The sudden sensation was overwhelming, and his body reflexively went limp, collapsing into Pei’s arms like a soft little bundle.
He couldn’t help thinking of the persistent little kittens Star had made him watch in those documentaries—how they froze in place when picked up by the scruff.
The man holding Qi Ji seemed still half-asleep, reacting naturally in his slumber rather than fully awake. He muttered softly, “Don’t be afraid, Qi Qi.”
The voice was low and slurred; at first, Qi Ji didn’t even realize he was being addressed.
But the words were simple, impossible to mishear.
“I’m here. Go to sleep.”
Qi Ji stared blankly at the dark fabric in front of him.
Cradled in the man’s arms, he could only see his pajamas—but the sensation was overwhelming. The toned lines of the man’s body, so close, left him no attention to admire them.
Qi Qi… don’t be afraid?
Why would Mr. Pei say that? And so effortlessly, too, soothing him like that?
After comforting him, the man fell back asleep, his breathing and heartbeat even. Qi Ji didn’t want to disturb him, so he stayed in his embrace, pondering quietly.
Perhaps it wasn’t “Qi Qi”… but “Qi Qi” in a different sense?
Thinking of the cousin Pei had mentioned, Qi Ji found it made sense. The CEO’s cousin had lived with him, the wardrobe was filled with clothes, and even the cat plushies were the same style—clearly they were close.
Perhaps Pei had gotten used to soothing his cousin, who didn’t sleep well, and this had become an unconscious reaction.
For now, Qi Ji used this as his explanation. Nearly an hour passed before the man finally fully woke around six o’clock.
This was unusual. Even after sleeping four hours, Pei usually woke before five. Rarely had he slept this late.
Qi Ji initially thought Pei’s sleep schedule had simply extended, but checking the record, he realized the man hadn’t fallen asleep until after three.
Was it because he was unsettled in a new place?
Qi Ji wondered, but didn’t have time to ask. Pei left very early, skipping breakfast entirely.
Before leaving, he hurriedly instructed, “I won’t be back tonight. Make sure to tell the driver in advance when you leave work so he can pick you up.”
“If you’re not coming back, I’ll probably stay late at the studio too,” Qi Ji said. “Zheng and I want to finish revising the draft tonight. Might be one or two in the morning.”
Pei didn’t object. “Then take your pillow and blanket. Rest properly in the studio.”
“Okay.”
These past days, liaising with the Forest Architecture firm had been both challenging and inspiring. This time, it was easier for the two of them to settle on the style and direction for the dessert packaging. By day’s end, Qi Ji and Zheng had been busy modeling the initial draft so that once Lina resumed contact, it could be promptly shown.
Without Lina, the studio atmosphere was more relaxed, with designers from other teams chatting in small groups.
“This morning, Mingshan Street was closed. I had to take a huge detour to get here. Lucky the boss wasn’t around, or I’d have been running through traffic all day.”
A well-informed designer corrected him, “You’ve got it backward. The street was closed, which is why the boss wasn’t here.”
Others looked confused. “What does a road closure have to do with the boss?”
“It’s the tenth anniversary of the passing of the Xu family’s patriarch,” the designer explained. “Yesterday it was even on the local headlines. The ceremony is at Baoling Hall on Mingshan Street. Many people came to pay respects, hence the road closure. That’s why the boss went.”
“Xu Hongye?” someone exclaimed. “Isn’t he from the Xiangjiang Xu family? Why hold the memorial in S City?”
“His ancestral home is in S City. The funeral was here. The higher-ups even personally sent congratulations,” the designer added, surprised. “Back then, many notable figures attended the burial. The number of people who received the same treatment could be counted.”
One designer nodded. “Oh, I think I remember. The Xu family chose S City over Xiangjiang, and people were talking about it.”
“Yeah. The Xu family is one of the Xiangjiang families most closely tied here. The old master did a lot for this area. So this ceremony is by no means small. With Xinghai’s development now, closing the street is nothing…”
Qi Ji, busy with work, didn’t listen closely. He and Zheng worked until evening. Only after everyone else had left did they finally settle the initial draft.
In fact, they finished slightly earlier than expected—just past midnight. Zheng, concerned about his girlfriend, went home, leaving Qi Ji to rest in the studio for the night.
The studio’s rest area was a single room. Not huge, but comfortable. No tall buildings nearby meant Qi Ji could see the moon through the half-drawn curtains from the bed.
The moonlight was cold, the wind desolate. Alone in the early morning, Qi Ji couldn’t help thinking of the other person he’d been with these past days.
He wondered how Mr. Pei was doing.
After just returning from the hospital, Pei hadn’t slept well. Staying out all night tonight, he surely couldn’t rest again.
Qi Ji felt a pang of regret.
He’d forgotten to have Pei bring the cat plushies this morning.
With them, maybe Pei could’ve managed some rest…
Lost in thought, Qi Ji’s phone suddenly rang.
It was past one in the morning—who could be calling now?
Curious, he saw the screen light up with a name:
“Mr. Pei.”
Qi Ji scratched his head.
Had Pei sneezed because of his thoughts just now?
But when he answered, he immediately discarded that idea.
Pei’s state was bad.
His breathing was erratic, his voice hoarse—not like he was attending a ceremony, more like he had just escaped from danger.
“Where are you?” Pei asked.
“Mr. Pei?” Qi Ji replied, confused. “I’m at the studio. Is something wrong?”
Pei didn’t explain, only said shortly, “Address.”
A sharp “bang” sounded—probably a car door. The background quieted. Pei took a deep breath, then added, “Have you rested?”
“Not yet,” Qi Ji replied, giving the address.
Pei’s voice remained hoarse. “Wait for me. I’m coming to get you now.”
After Qi Ji confirmed, the call ended.
Though puzzled, he quickly packed a bag and went downstairs to wait.
The dark studio was silent. Located in the suburbs but secure, the place had no night staff; aside from staying late for work, no one was around.
Pei arrived faster than Qi Ji expected, the engine roaring like a storm. Stepping out, his face was grim, aura imposing—any ordinary person glancing at him would be intimidated.
Qi Ji was surprised.
In just over ten hours apart, Pei’s state was worse than when he’d been most sleep-deprived.
“Mr. Pei, you…” Qi Ji began.
Before he could finish, Pei grabbed his wrist, pulling him along.
The grip was stronger than usual, heavy with lingering depression and anger. Qi Ji couldn’t evade it, his arm trembling from the force.
He had intended to endure it quietly—Pei’s expression looked terrible, no need to quarrel now. But Qi Ji hadn’t expected that even a slight tremble, without a sound, would make Pei pause, halting the pull.
Before Qi Ji could react, his wrist was released. Pei reached for his upper arm, withdrew, then finally rested his hand on Qi Ji’s firm shoulder, drawing him in with one arm.
“Let’s go.”
Up close, Pei’s voice was even huskier than on the phone.
Qi Ji didn’t object, but barely a few steps later, Pei stopped again.
Looking up, Qi Ji saw Pei frown, his gaze sharp, fixed on the street entrance.
Seconds later, Qi Ji heard it too.
Another car was approaching.
Pei stared a moment, then pulled Qi Ji closer and gestured to the studio.
“Go back inside and hide. Don’t come out.”
Qi Ji didn’t understand, but obeyed, retreating a few steps.
Pei didn’t want whoever was coming to see him. The studio door was locked, and opening it would make noise, so Qi Ji ducked into a dark corner, hiding.
No sooner had he hidden than the approaching car stopped at the studio.
Surprisingly, it was a taxi.
Pei didn’t hide; instead, he called, giving the address.
“Pick up someone. Now.”
While he was calling, a drunken figure stumbled out of the car. Her white dress was disheveled, reeking of alcohol, her face even paler under the streetlights.
It was Lina.
The taxi drove off, leaving Lina alone by the roadside. She staggered forward, hair in disarray, makeup smudged, and the dark tattoo line on her face partially exposed, mottled like streaks of tears.
At this moment, Lina was a far cry from the polished, arrogant, and dazzling genius designer everyone knew.
Perhaps blurred by alcohol, she only noticed Pei Yusheng standing in front of the studio as she drew near.
Her eyes widened, glassy and struggling to recognize him. Pei Yusheng remained silent, his gaze fixed on her.
Qi Ji didn’t know if the two knew each other, but in the next instant, he saw Lina suddenly shake and her expression change.
“Pei… Xiao… Lin!”
Through gritted teeth, she spat out the name word by word.
The name itself made Pei Yusheng’s already cold, frozen expression darken further.
“I’m not him,” he said coolly.
Lina furrowed her brow, finally recognizing him. “Oh… Pei Yusheng.”
She laughed bitterly. “Ha! You two… what’s the difference?”
Heavily drunk, Lina couldn’t see Pei Yusheng’s expression or sense the sharp aura surrounding him. She kept laughing, words sharp as ice: “What are you here for?”
The name had stirred him, and Pei Yusheng seemed reluctant to answer—but being clearer-headed than Lina, he said, “To make sure you got here safely.”
A clearly improvised excuse, which Lina dismissed outright: “Make sure I got here safely? Hah! You two want to see… if I’m dead, right?”
Hearing “you two,” Pei Yusheng’s brow furrowed even tighter.
From the shadows, Qi Ji noticed that the CEO clearly didn’t like being mentioned alongside that name.
Glancing at his phone, Pei seemed to force down his anger, voice low: “She told me to.”
Qi Ji didn’t know the context, nor whether “she” referred to a man or woman.
But the moment Pei said this, Lina froze as if her electricity had been cut off.
After a long pause, she murmured, “She…? She cares about my… safety…?”
Pei spoke without blinking: “You’re her cousin.”
Lina reacted as though that simple statement had struck a nerve.
“Cousin?! What kind of cousin am I?!” Her voice sharpened, slicing the air like nails across a balloon. “A distant relative eight thousand miles away! How dare I hope to reach the Xu family!”
Pointing at Pei Yusheng, she was almost in a rage. “She’s my lover! My lover—taken by you!!”
Her shrill cry pierced the dark night, lingering long after she finished.
Pei Yusheng said nothing. Only the sound of Lina’s labored breathing filled the cold autumn air. The once proud, cold, and imposing woman trembled uncontrollably, her tall, lean figure bending like a fragile stalk of wheat.
“She’s my lover… mine…” Lina murmured to herself.
“But all these years, I could only steal a glance at her during funerals, and she never looked at me…”
She lifted her head. Her pale face showed the long tattoo line under her right eye fully exposed now, like black tears flowing down her cheek.
“Tell me…”
She softened her voice, yet in the wind of the night, it was more terrifying than her previous rage.
“Would she only look at me once more at my funeral… if I were dead?”