Growing up with a mother he rarely saw, Qi Ji had little experience interacting with gentle, composed female elders. Coupled with the sudden, unprepared encounter with Xu Yunchi at close quarters in front of a crowd, Qi Ji felt as if all the blood had rushed to his head—his face burning hot.
He clenched his palms to steady his voice and managed a soft reply, “Hello, Vice Chairwoman Xu.”
His nervousness was evident, and the two people beside him naturally noticed. Xu Yunchi, seeing this, spoke up to start a conversation: “I’ve seen Qi Qi’s proposal. The creativity was impressive.”
Those nearby, hearing this, quietly lost their curiosity. It was clear that Qi Ji was gaining the attention of the executives because of his success with the snack project, and nothing else was assumed.
Qi Ji recalled what Chen Zixuan had said earlier and blushed slightly. “You’re too kind. I only proposed an idea; the final plan was a collaborative effort. At first, no one expected it to turn out so well…”
Xu Yunchi smiled softly. “I know. But the reason this plan succeeded was precisely because of its originality. When no one thought to connect a mobile phone with snacks or cosmetics, the first person who did succeeded. Now is not the time to cling to traditional methods; independent thinking is what matters most.”
Her serious analysis exceeded Qi Ji’s expectations. While the project’s results were good, the mobile business wasn’t even the core of SeaStar Group. Qi Ji hadn’t anticipated that the Vice Chairwoman had actually reviewed his proposal.
Like her appearance, Xu Yunchi’s tone was gentle and comforting.
“This is the way of the world. If you have ability, support naturally follows—you needn’t worry that your talent will go unnoticed.”
She lightly placed a hand on Qi Ji’s shoulder. “Just do your best.”
Her words were soft, her gesture gentle, never imposing. Qi Ji, flustered, blushed again. “I understand. Thank you, Vice Chairwoman Xu.”
“No need to thank me. This is what you deserve.”
Her smile, like a spring breeze rippling a still pond, left Qi Ji feeling slightly unsteady.
Seeing his unease, Pei Yusheng, who had been quiet, moved his hand from Qi Ji’s back, pressing lightly on his shoulder to ease the boy’s tension. “Let’s go inside. Others will be arriving soon.”
Qi Ji, still tense, simply nodded. Xu Yunchi glanced at the hand resting on the boy’s shoulder, then at its owner, but Pei’s expression remained calm.
She chuckled softly. “Let’s go.”
The three of them walked toward the lobby, Qi Ji still flushed from speaking with Xu Yunchi, unaware that Pei had already moved to his other side, leaving Qi Ji sandwiched in between them. Pei subtly shielded him from prying eyes, standing silently at his side.
Qi Ji recalled the company assembly, how all eyes on him had unnerved him, and earlier, how he had drawn those unsettling eyes under the influence of medicine. This time, thanks to Pei’s natural shielding, nothing untoward occurred, and Qi Ji didn’t even notice Pei’s movements.
They reached the lobby’s lounge area to wait for the other executives. After a brief chat, it was time for Qi Ji to leave. Though their interaction with Xu Yunchi had been brief, Qi Ji’s face had flushed repeatedly. His farewells were no longer the polite, measured gestures he usually displayed; he was visibly flustered, though he tried to maintain composure, his crimson ears betraying him.
Clearly, Qi Ji was smitten with Xu Yunchi.
Seeing his red ears, Pei fell silent for a moment before turning to his mother. “I feel like he likes you more.”
Xu Yunchi smiled. “I like Qi Qi, too.”
Pei Yusheng sighed. “I only intended for you to meet him, yet it seems you’ve left me out.”
Catching the note of complaint, Xu chuckled deeper. “Yusheng, this is the first time I’ve seen you care so much about someone.”
It wasn’t just care—Pei Yusheng felt an urgent, protective attachment to Qi Ji. Even small gestures, like his son offering dessert, could delight Xu for hours.
Pei’s gaze lingered on Qi Ji’s retreating figure. It wasn’t just care—he wanted this boy to remain in his heart, nowhere else allowed.
Qi Ji, unaware of the intensity of Pei’s attention, only relaxed once he returned to Chen Zixuan’s side, letting out a deep breath—partly from nerves, partly from embarrassment.
Gentle, considerate, with long hair and flowing dresses, Miss Xu perfectly matched Qi Ji’s ideal of a kind, nurturing female elder. In her presence, he worried about his own behavior but simultaneously cherished and even craved the feeling of being in such warm, spring-like company—reminiscent of a mother’s care.
Chen Zixuan, noticing his flushed ears, asked, amused, “Qi Ji, why are your ears so red?”
“Really?” Qi Ji touched them instinctively—burning hot.
He swallowed dryly. “…Probably just nerves.”
“From meeting Vice Chairwoman Xu?” Chen chuckled, understanding completely. “Look over there.”
Following her gaze, Qi Ji saw the executives entering the lounge, gradually gathering in clusters that naturally surrounded Xu Yunchi like planets orbiting a star.
He was most surprised by Deputy Manager Zhang. Normally serious and stern, he was now engaging Xu with an openness that made him seem younger than usual. Clearly, many were captivated by her presence.
After everyone arrived, they toured Yuntu together and later held a full meeting. Chen Zixuan, as the assistant to the vice president, also attended. Afterward, during the dinner with Jianghai Company, Chen shared gossip in their small group chat.
Chen Zixuan Zora: Vice Chairwoman Xu is amazing.
Jin Anbei: What happened?
Chen: I only knew she was legendary, but today proved the legend true.
Chen: She was the main speaker—unscripted, full two hours, every detail accurate, technical terms that nearly fried my brain.
Jin: …Sounds just like Pei Yusheng.
Chen: Exactly! Now I understand where Pei got his strength. Xu controls the tech direction; her brother handles business and finance—technical insight clearly comes from her.
Jin: So low-key…none of us internal staff even knew.
Chen: And that photo on Zhang’s desk? Turns out it’s Xu herself.
Chen: Honestly, if I were a man, she’d be the only one I’d marry.
Jin: Maybe try your luck?
Chen: Forget it, her son’s already grown.
Jin: Wait, she has a son? How old?
Chen: Around twenty-something.
Qi Ji sent: Twenty-five.
Chen: Hey, rare to see Qi Ji speak.
Chen: Pei Yusheng is so young?
Jin: Huh? Qi Qi knows Vice Chairwoman Xu’s son? What does that have to do with Pei?
Chen: Xu’s son is Pei Yusheng.
Jin: WHAT???
The chat exploded with shocked reactions. Qi Ji silently rubbed his nose, realizing he wasn’t the only one astonished by Xu Yunchi’s background.
Having seen her in person and reading Chen’s messages, Qi Ji finally understood Lina’s intoxicated reaction the other night. Even the usually composed Lina couldn’t resist Xu Yunchi’s magnetic allure—a force so captivating one would surrender willingly.
Qi Ji didn’t know if Xu’s low profile was intentional. Public appearances would make her the center of attention, yet she remained discreet. Even the next day, during the SeaStar–Jianghai contract signing, she stayed out of the media spotlight entirely.
SeaStar’s Qingpu Lake campus was a major project critical to the city’s development, which was why the Vice Chairwoman personally appeared. Though media coverage was thorough, her identity was always listed simply as “Vice Chairwoman,” keeping her completely out of public view.
Qi Ji could only rationalize her discretion as part of her reserved nature.
That evening, the company booked a large buffet for dinner. While the design department tallied participants, Qi Ji received a call from Pei Yusheng, who instructed him not to attend the banquet but to dine with him instead.
Qi Ji was surprised. Since walking the red carpet yesterday, he hadn’t seen Pei; the night before, Pei had returned with Xu Yunchi to her home instead of Rose Villa. Qi Ji had wondered if Pei would attend the dinner, but didn’t expect he’d be invited separately.
As colleagues went to the banquet, Qi Ji joined Pei at a nearby street corner.
“Mr. Pei isn’t going to the banquet?” he asked.
“No,” Pei replied. “My mother has a morning meeting tomorrow, so tonight I want to have dinner with you.”
Qi Ji blinked. “Vice Chairwoman Xu?”
“No need for that,” Pei corrected. “Call her Aunt.”
“If you call her ‘Sister,’ she’ll be happier,” Pei smiled. “But then you’d be taking advantage of me.”
“I don’t mean that!” Qi Ji hurriedly replied.
“Can you call her Aunt?” Pei added gently. “It’s a private setting—you don’t need to use her title. I prefer you call me ‘Mr. Pei,’ and she does too.”
Qi Ji reluctantly accepted the change.
He hesitated. “And I’m going as…? I thought she didn’t like you inviting caretakers?”
Pei paused, a small tsk escaping him—caretaker. He had mentioned it once during contract talks, and Qi Ji hadn’t let it go since.
“Friend.”
Though he thought three words, Pei only said the latter two, adding: “Besides the snack project, she’s also grateful for helping me with insomnia.”
Qi Ji shook his head. “I should have done it.”
Pei didn’t argue, only said: “Traffic might be heavy. Rest a bit if you’re tired.”
“Where are we going?” Qi Ji asked.
Pei gave a restaurant name.
Qi Ji, surprised: “Northern cuisine?”
“Yes.”
“I thought she liked southern dishes? Colleagues said yesterday she went to Hanlin…”
Hanlin served traditional local cuisine, and lunch before the contract was also southern-style.
Pei didn’t hide it: “She likes Hanlin’s crab pastries.”
Qi Ji frowned. “Then tonight…”
Two consecutive meals had been southern dishes. He assumed it reflected her preference, yet Pei had chosen northern cuisine tonight.
Pei simply said, “It’s fine—change of taste.”
Short, casual, revealing nothing. Despite being a private dinner, it was carefully selected to make Qi Ji feel familiar and at ease.
Being from the north and having lived in L Province for over ten years, northern cuisine would avoid awkwardness and give him conversation topics—dishes he knew from home.
Pei had considered everything in depth but revealed nothing, only saying: “Change of taste,” just like he had done for all Qi Ji before.
Half an hour later, the two arrived at the restaurant. As they entered the private room, Xu Yunchi was already there.
The moment he saw her, Qi Ji felt a familiar wave of nervousness wash over him.
“Xu… Aunt Xu, hello,” he said, fumbling slightly under Pei Yusheng’s subtle reminder to avoid using her formal title.
The address still felt awkward coming from him. On one hand, calling the Starsea Group’s vice-chair “Aunt” made her sound older; on the other, it carried an intimacy that seemed almost too familiar. For Qi Ji, a subordinate in a subsidiary company, addressing the vice-chair in this way was truly a rare honor.
His unease melted a little when he noticed her smiling warmly, seeming not to mind at all. “Ah,” she replied gently, her brows curving, “Qi Qi is here, have a seat.”
Qi Ji couldn’t help the flush that crept up his ears again.
Pei Yusheng, trailing behind him, silently observed as the boy’s ears turned from pale to pink, the tender skin at the tips now tinted with delicate red.
Just as Qi Ji’s shy gaze sought Xu Yunchi, it was suddenly blocked by a menu being handed to him from behind. He froze for a moment, then realized Pei Yusheng had passed it over.
The menu conveniently created a small barrier between him and Xu Yunchi. As Pei Yusheng stood there, his left hand rested lightly on Qi Ji’s shoulder. The two were so close that Qi Ji could feel the warmth of the man’s chest through his back.
The familiar, low voice whispered near his ear, sending sparks along the already warm tips of his ears. “Let’s order first.”
Once Xu Yunchi took the menu, Pei Yusheng leaned slightly, lowering his voice, and asked quietly, “What do you want to eat?”
Qi Ji stiffened like a cat whose tail had been pinched, the blush spreading from his ears down to his neck, far deeper than before.
“Anything… is fine…” he stammered. If Xu Yunchi hadn’t been there, he might have bolted right then.
Seeing the boy overwhelmed, Pei Yusheng released him. By the time his hand withdrew, Qi Ji’s face was so red he didn’t dare lift his head.
Xu Yunchi, without glancing up from the menu, asked, “What’s ‘Ba San Bai’?”
“It’s a kind of medicinal cuisine…” Qi Ji finally found something concrete to talk about, his nerves easing as he explained. “It’s usually made with cabbage, tofu, and white meat, though each restaurant has its own take.”
“And here?” Xu Yunchi tilted the menu.
“I’ll check.” Qi Ji took the menu from her.
While he focused on the menu, Xu Yunchi shot Pei Yusheng a playful glance. This child, she thought, really lets you push him around, doesn’t he?
The waiter arrived to take their orders, and the three of them chose six dishes in total. Though slightly adapted, they were all Qi Ji’s familiar northern flavors, dishes he was comfortable with.
With food as conversation, and Xu Yunchi’s gentle, approachable demeanor, Qi Ji gradually relaxed, no longer as tense as at the beginning.
The meal went smoothly, everyone enjoying themselves. Toward the end, Qi Ji stepped away to the restroom. Upon returning, Xu Yunchi brought up Pei Yusheng again.
“Yusheng told me,” she said with a soft sigh, her lips pressed lightly, voice tinged with relief and gratitude. “About the insomnia… thank you, Qi Qi.”
Qi Ji’s chest tightened. Did Aunt Xu know he had been keeping Pei Yusheng company at night?
Seeing Pei Yusheng’s expression remain calm and recalling his assurance that he hadn’t mentioned the caretaker, Qi Ji forced down his panic and waved his hand. “You don’t need to thank me, I’m grateful to Pei Yusheng too… as long as he rests well.”
Xu Yunchi shook her head. “I’m not thanking you out of formality. I really am grateful.”
Qi Ji felt flustered, instinctively clutching his right wrist. Only then did he notice the absence of the bracelet he had worn since childhood.
He paused, realizing he had removed it earlier in the restroom to prevent it from getting wet.
The rush of nervousness over Xu Yunchi’s words had caused him to forget all about it. Seeing the bracelet safely looped on his forearm brought him relief.
He turned back toward the private room. In his haste, he noticed the door hadn’t been properly closed. Just as he was about to knock, a voice slipped through the crack.
It was Xu Yunchi. “Yusheng, it’s been so long… your heart’s knot still hasn’t loosened?”
Pei Yusheng’s reply was calm, almost detached. “Not much, anyway. I can sleep now.”
A sigh followed. Beneath her gentle tone, Xu Yunchi’s voice carried deep worry. “But Yusheng… what you’re doing is still only sleeping with the help of medication. To truly heal…”
“Mom.” Pei Yusheng’s sudden interruption carried an icy finality. “Don’t talk about him anymore.”
Him?
Qi Ji froze. Pei Yusheng’s “him”… did he mean—?
Not wanting to intrude, Qi Ji waited quietly until the room fell silent. Only then did he lightly knock and enter.
Both turned their gaze to him.
Xu Yunchi asked with concern, “Found your bracelet?”
Everything was calm again. Qi Ji nodded. “Yes, found it.”
Xu Yunchi relaxed. “That’s good.”
The meal concluded normally. Stepping out, Qi Ji adjusted his scarf as Xu Yunchi said, “I see the car. You two head back first.”
Qi Ji looked up. Aunt Xu wasn’t coming with them?
Pei Yusheng explained, “She’s going to my uncle’s place.”
The car was already at the curb. Pei Yusheng’s brow furrowed slightly as he glanced inside.
“Why you?”
Qi Ji followed his gaze. The driver was an unfamiliar young man.
Xu Yunchi replied, “I’m not going to my second brother. Your father might come tonight, so we’ll go to Jiujian Hall instead.”
Pei Yusheng’s frown deepened. Xu Yunchi hesitated, then added, “Yusheng, you should…”
Pei Yusheng interrupted, voice flat. “I’m not going. You go.”
He then composed himself, speaking evenly: “Take care on the road, get some rest early.”
Xu Yunchi seemed about to say more, but only sighed. “You too.”
Qi Ji listened quietly, recalling Lina’s drunken conversation with Pei Yusheng about his father.
Pei Yusheng’s tone then had been equally cold. It seemed his relationship with his father was not… very good. At least, not like with his mother.
As Xu Yunchi turned and called, “Qi Qi,” Qi Ji approached. She lightly embraced him.
Her subtle fragrance was soothing.
“Take care. Next time you come to S City, I’ll come see you,” she said.
Qi Ji nodded. “Safe travels, Aunt Xu.”
She withdrew, hesitated, then gently held his arm again. Qi Ji froze.
Her eyes, full of concern, whispered almost breathlessly, “Please… take care of Yusheng for me, too.”
Pei Yusheng frowned. “Mom.”
Qi Ji’s heart skipped. Take care of Pei Yusheng… what did that mean?
Seeing her sincere expression, he nodded earnestly. “Okay, Aunt Xu. I’ll make sure Pei Yusheng rests well.”
Xu Yunchi finally let go, blinking, her lashes catching the moonlight. She smiled at them. “I’ll go now. You both take care of yourselves.”
Qi Ji nodded. Pei Yusheng opened the car door, seeing her off.
Watching the car disappear, Qi Ji turned to Pei Yusheng, meeting his gaze. The man’s expression was unreadable; he tilted his head slightly, silently indicating, “Let’s go.”
Qi Ji hesitated briefly but followed.
Pei Yusheng didn’t want to speak—but Qi Ji couldn’t shake the odd behavior of Pei Yusheng and the unresolved heartache lingering in his mind.
Two days later, during a follow-up medical check, Qi Ji sought a moment to ask Dr. Zhao.
He didn’t want to pry, only to see what he could do to help—even in a small way.
Dr. Zhao and the previous Dr. Li were present. Qi Ji arrived as Li Xin-jie went upstairs to examine Pei Yusheng, leaving only Dr. Zhao below.
Before Qi Ji could speak, Dr. Zhao addressed him first. “Xiao Qi? I was just looking for you.”
“What’s the matter?”
“Have you been staying with the Second Young Master while he sleeps?” Dr. Zhao asked, aligning a stack of documents.
Qi Ji nodded. “Whenever he’s home, I’m there.”
Dr. Zhao hesitated. “Have you seen him suddenly wake up at night? Agitated, breathing fast… like that?”
Qi Ji recalled that Pei Yusheng’s average sleep was only about four hours, but he had never witnessed him waking in distress. He was about to shake his head when the memory of the first night of insomnia hit him.
That night, Pei Yusheng had suddenly burst into the guest room, restraining his hands, breathing heavily, holding him for a long while before calming.
Qi Ji started to speak, then changed to: “Why do you ask?”
“Have you ever seen it?” Dr. Zhao persisted.
Finally, Qi Ji nodded. “Yes.”
“Specifically, what was his reaction?”
“It was the night before LQ arrived,” Qi Ji recounted. “He suddenly woke up, breathing heavily. After seeing me, he gradually calmed down. When fully awake, he said he needed to hear a heartbeat to feel calm.”
Dr. Zhao frowned.
Piecing together more data now, a clearer picture emerged.
Qi Ji asked, “What exactly happened?”
Understanding that he was a crucial part of Pei Yusheng’s care, Dr. Zhao finally said, “We’ve reviewed some materials. We suspect the Second Young Master’s insomnia might be a form of PTSD.”
“PTSD?” Qi Ji had only heard of it in fiction. “Post-traumatic stress disorder?”
“Yes,” Dr. Zhao sighed. “Before leaving the special forces, the Second Young Master witnessed a comrade, who had been with him for three years, die right in front of him.”
Qi Ji froze.
“Comrade…”
Dr. Zhao opened a file, and Qi Ji’s eyes fell on a photo: two men in military uniforms, Pei Yusheng on the left.
The man on the right was a fair-faced, smiling youth.
Dr. Zhao’s voice was tinged with regret. “This photo is from two years ago. The other person was only twenty-one when he died.”
Qi Ji’s gaze fixed on the photo.
Despite its graininess, the young man’s posture and gentle smile were clear—warm and approachable, a presence that seemed to radiate calm.
Qi Ji realized why this person’s demeanor seemed so familiar: it mirrored the gentle composure Qi Ji often feigned in his own daily interactions.