After the little one had been kissed, Qi Ji was dressed in a fluffy pajama set—a white rabbit design with long floppy ears.
The pajamas were warm, perfect for Qi Ji’s perpetually chilly hands and feet. Apart from the fluffy little tail being pinched a few times, he slept well through the night.
The next morning, Qi Ji woke up, as usual, in Pei Yusheng’s arms. Aside from being kissed on the forehead as he stammered a sleepy “good morning,” the start of his day wasn’t much different from any other.
Soon, Qi Ji realized something.
He had originally thought he’d need to mentally prepare thoroughly for the “trial period” of their relationship, but once it started, he noticed that Mr. Pei’s attitude hadn’t really changed at all.
Pei Yusheng had quietly been taking care of him for a long time.
The real changes were expected of Qi Ji himself. Beyond adjusting his mindset, he had a lot to learn—after all, a trial period involves both people.
But Qi Ji honestly didn’t know where to start.
Lacking practical experience, he relied on theory. He scoured the internet for guides like “Thirty Things to Do in a Relationship” or “Ten Tips to Win Over Your Dream Guy.” He didn’t even know if they would help, but he figured it was worth a try—though it still left him worried.
One day, while Qi Ji was distracted even during meals, his phone—full of “must-have relationship tips”—was inadvertently glimpsed by Li Anbei.
“Whoa,” Li Anbei raised an eyebrow. “Qi Qi, are you… really in a relationship?”
The words jolted Qi Ji out of his daze. “…Huh?”
Across from them, Chen Zixuan didn’t seem surprised at all, only smiled. “Congratulations.”
Qi Ji felt flustered. “Senior… how did you know?”
Li Anbei pointed to his still-lit phone screen. “We actually noticed over a month ago.”
Qi Ji’s eyes widened. “A month ago?”
Chen Zixuan tapped his clothes. “You suddenly started changing your outfits frequently a while back, and it was clearly different from your usual style. Anbei and I guessed—it’s probably your partner’s influence.”
Qi Ji was speechless.
He had completely lost track of how many things Mr. Pei had quietly done for him.
Li Anbei, excited, asked, “So, how’s it going? Is it someone we know?”
Qi Ji didn’t dare reveal Pei Yusheng’s identity, so he gritted his teeth and said, “There’s some progress… but it’s not official yet. You could say it’s a trial period.”
“A trial period isn’t bad! The next step is official,” Li Anbei said, sensing Qi Ji’s reluctance to share the name, and wisely didn’t press. “Then just do your best, Qi Qi. Work toward winning your beautiful partner’s heart.”
“Mm,” Qi Ji replied timidly. “I’m mostly worried about how to… perform well.”
“Not sure how to handle the trial period? There’s plenty you can do,” Chen Zixuan began listing: “Buy breakfast in the morning, deliver an umbrella when it rains, cook some porridge when there’s a social event, go on trips during holidays, or give a thoughtful gift…”
Qi Ji listened attentively, nodding, and even typed each tip into his phone’s notes.
Li Anbei chuckled seeing how serious he was. When Chen Zixuan finished, he added, “It’s really not as complicated as you think, Qi Qi. When you genuinely like someone, you naturally want to do nice things for them. Just follow your heart.”
Qi Ji considered this. “Okay.”
Chen Zixuan shot Li Anbei a look. “You’re quite experienced, huh?”
Li Anbei grinned. “Somewhat. Can’t compare to Zixuan, though. Judging by her words, she’s probably been given umbrellas and breakfast plenty of times.”
“Even if given often, few can maintain it. Those are just pursuers—not actual boyfriends,” Chen Zixuan stirred her vegetable soup. “Being in a relationship is really just about turning words into actions.”
Qi Ji blinked and quickly jotted that down as well, next to Li Anbei’s advice.
With these tips, plus their experiences and the “must-do” tricks, Qi Ji finally felt a bit prepared. Once their work at Qingpu Lake ended and he returned to the Rose Villa, he could put them into practice.
Not long after, Pei Yusheng called.
“Qi Qi? I have a banquet tonight; I might be home late. You can rest once you finish your work,” he said.
Qi Ji obediently acknowledged, but didn’t intend to rest just yet. Yun Tu was working overtime, and when he returned it would already be past nine, and Aunt Lin had gone home. Remembering the notes from his seniors, he decided to make Pei Yusheng some rice porridge.
After drinking tonight, his stomach would likely be uncomfortable.
Qi Ji had little talent or experience in cooking; usually he either ate in the cafeteria or waited for his younger brother to cook. This time, it took him nearly three hours of trial and error, countless failed attempts, before finally producing a bowl of porridge.
Had Pei Yusheng returned earlier, Qi Ji might not have managed it at all.
He placed the finished bowl in the thermal cabinet and waited in the living room. Soon, he heard the sound of the door opening.
Qi Ji stood to greet him, but as the door opened, a wave of intoxicating alcohol hit him.
Pei Yusheng wore a black trench coat over a dark suit, as if he’d emerged from the endless night itself, exuding a cold aura. Even the warm light above couldn’t lend him any warmth.
Even the alcohol smell was cold, sharp enough to chill.
Qi Ji froze—he had never seen Pei Yusheng drink so much.
Mr. Pei’s mood… seemed off.
Seeing Qi Ji, Pei Yusheng paused slightly.
“Why aren’t you asleep?”
His voice was low and alluring, not much different from usual. Qi Ji relaxed slightly. He wanted to come up with a proper answer, but then remembered Li Anbei’s advice: follow your heart.
After hesitating, he said, “I wanted to wait for you… so we could rest together.”
Even saying it felt a little strange. Just as he turned to get the porridge, he felt a hand with prominent knuckles rest gently on the back of his neck.
It wasn’t forceful, just a light touch, but the warmth of the palm seemed to sear his slightly cool skin. Qi Ji suddenly remembered the persistent cat videos Star had shown him before.
It was as if he himself were a tiny kitten, picked up by the scruff.
“Qi Qi,” the man’s low, hoarse voice called. “Saying that makes me really want to kiss you.”
Qi Ji shivered slightly.
But the man didn’t actually act on it. His hand stroked down Qi Ji’s back gently, like comforting a startled kitten.
“I’ve had some drinks, I might be a little improper, and I probably smell bad,” Pei Yusheng said. “Don’t mind it.”
Qi Ji shook his head. “It’s okay.”
Though the alcohol was noticeable, Pei Yusheng didn’t smell unpleasant; in fact, the scent was strangely intoxicating.
Still, Qi Ji hesitated, finally asking, “Mr. Pei… are you unhappy?”
Though nothing outwardly seemed wrong, he sensed Pei Yusheng was troubled.
Pei Yusheng hung his trench coat, unbuttoned his suit, and loosened his tie. His movements were graceful, radiating mature charm. Yet Qi Ji noticed a trace of frustration beneath the surface.
Pei Yusheng removed his jacket, pinched the bridge of his nose, and said quietly, “Some things happened.”
Qi Ji helped him hang the coat. “If you don’t mind, I can be your sounding board.”
At last, Pei Yusheng smiled faintly and ruffled Qi Ji’s soft hair. “Okay.”
Once changed into home clothes, Pei Yusheng returned to the sofa and asked, “Do you remember Lian Qing? The one who borrowed my car the last time at the villa?”
Qi Ji nodded. “I remember.”
He remembered Lian Qing mostly for his good looks and flexible body—easy to trip.
Pei Yusheng continued, “He has someone he really dislikes.”
Qi Ji asked, “Fang… uh, Third Young Master Fang?”
He almost said it the way Lian Qing did.
Pei Yusheng raised an eyebrow. “You know him?”
Qi Ji shook his head. “Mr. Lian mentioned him in Huating’s restroom before.”
The boy’s memory was truly impressive.
Pei Yusheng praised him, then continued: “That person is Fang Yangzhou. The three of us grew up in the same courtyard. When we were young, Lian Qing liked quarreling with Fang Yangzhou. Later, the Pei and Fang families’ relations worsened. Since I was close with Lian Qing, he naturally disliked Fang Yangzhou even more.”
The Pei-Fang feud originated from a fight between Pei Yusheng and Fang Yangzhou.
“But the truth is different. The families’ estrangement was really due to their comparable size—too close, too conspicuous. To avoid complications, they used my conflict with Fang Yangzhou as a pretext to make the split look legitimate.”
Qi Ji recalled Lian Qing’s attitude. “So Mr. Lian didn’t know?”
Pei Yusheng nodded. “It was too sensitive. Even within the Pei and Fang families, only a few knew. Plus, the Lian family had its own interests. Because I was close with Lian Qing, I couldn’t tell him. Otherwise, if someone tried to dig for information, Lian Qing would be the first target.”
Qi Ji had never dealt with power struggles and only understood the situation after Pei Yusheng explained.
He realized now that Pei Yusheng trusted him enough to tell the whole story.
Pei Yusheng continued: “Lian Qing still dislikes Fang Yangzhou and is always at odds with him. Later, Lian Qing had a minor car accident. The dashcam was broken, and to resolve the situation, a witness was needed. A young woman, the type Lian Qing liked, came forward to testify. That’s how they met, and eventually started dating.”
Qi Ji recalled: “The sweet-looking, soft-voiced girl?”
Pei Yusheng smiled. “Yes. Did Lian Qing tell you?”
Qi Ji shook his head. “I saw her at his café before.”
He had been there with Dr. Zhao to discuss Pei Yusheng’s condition. At the door, he noticed the girl, who had displayed obvious hostility toward him.
Qi Ji still didn’t understand why she disliked him.
Pei Yusheng frowned. “Did you interact with her?”
Qi Ji thought: “Not really. I left after she arrived.”
Pei Yusheng said, “Next time, avoid her—or call me.”
Qi Ji asked hesitantly, “Did something happen?”
“She’s a branch-family illegitimate child, Fang Lin. She’s been trying to gain recognition from the Fang family for inheritance. Her approach to Lian Qing wasn’t sincere,” Pei Yusheng explained. “Lian Qing has a half-brother. They’ve long been at odds over inheritance. Fang Lin’s ally is his brother. They set a trap to deceive Lian Qing.”
His expression turned cold. “The car accident, the dashcam failure—it was all their doing.”
Qi Ji was stunned. He hadn’t expected such a convoluted situation.
“So… Mr. Lian…”
“He was kept in the dark,” Pei Yusheng said. “Fang Yangzhou knew and tried to warn him, but Lian Qing refused to listen. Later, discovering Fang Lin was an illegitimate child, he only assumed Fang Yangzhou was targeting her.”
Pei Yusheng pinched his brow. “At that time, I wasn’t in a good state and was busy with the Pei family’s matters. I couldn’t intervene and missed the chance to help.”
The Pei family…
Qi Ji pressed his lips together. That was when Pei Yusheng cut ties with his father. No wonder he couldn’t help Lian Qing then.
Unsure how to comfort him, Qi Ji awkwardly patted Pei Yusheng’s shoulder. “So… does Mr. Lian know the truth now?”
“Mm,” Pei Yusheng replied, squeezing his hand. “Some days ago, Fang Lin stole an instant password from Lian Qing, causing major company losses. Lian Qing’s brother intended to take over Lian Qing’s shares, but Fang Yangzhou and I stopped him. Though the business losses weren’t fatal, Lian Qing was shocked to learn the truth.”
Pei Yusheng exhaled softly. “He… really cared about Fang Lin.”
Qi Ji didn’t pull his hand back, silently offering comfort.
From Pei Yusheng’s words, though, he caught one key point: “So Third Young Master Fang helped Mr. Lian as well?”
Pei Yusheng nodded. “Lian Qing’s brother suffered major losses this time and can’t confront him in the short term. Also, the Pei and Fang families’ public relations have started to ease recently, so we told him about the previous staged incident.”
Qi Ji paused. “And Mr. Lian…”
Would he blame you?
Afraid of hurting anyone, Qi Ji didn’t finish the question, but Pei Yusheng understood anyway. “Lian Qing doesn’t blame me. I told him long ago that I had withheld information; he knows I did it to protect him, so he doesn’t mind.
“But he can’t forgive Fang Yangzhou.”
Qi Ji hesitated. “That’s because Mr. Lian has never liked Third Young Master Fang… but actually, Third Young Master Fang was trying to help him…”
Pei Yusheng shook his head. “Because Fang Yangzhou confessed.”
Qi Ji froze. “…Confessed?”
Still stunned, he managed to blurt out: “Third Young Master Fang… likes Mr. Lian?”
“Mm,” Pei Yusheng murmured. “He always has.”
“After Fang Lin stole the password and realized the secret couldn’t be kept, she tried a ‘martyr’ ruse—pretending to die by setting a fire in her own house to trick Lian Qing. Lian Qing didn’t know and was ready to run into the blaze to save her, but Fang Yangzhou, who had arrived at the scene, stopped him.”
“Lian Qing refused to listen, shouting, ‘My mom is dead, my father has three wives, my brother hates me every day, only Linlin loves me—so if I die, I’ll die with her!’”
Qi Ji pressed his lips together.
He didn’t dare imagine how Lian Qing must have felt then—or after discovering the truth.
…And he especially didn’t dare think about how Fang Yangzhou must have felt hearing that.
“The fire was massive, the noise overwhelming. Fang Yangzhou didn’t shout back—he just said, ‘I love you too.’”
Pei Yusheng pinched his brow again. “Lian Qing didn’t believe him at first. Later, after learning the full truth and calming down, he realized it was real.”
Qi Ji asked, “And… their relationship?”
Pei Yusheng shook his head.
“Lian Qing was severely deceived by Fang Lin. Afterwards, he was despondent—he wouldn’t even speak unless work required it. When he finally started recovering a bit, Fang Yangzhou wanted to talk to him, but Lian Qing asked, ‘You deceived me just like Fang Lin—what makes you different?’”
Qi Ji frowned. “That… isn’t the same, right? Third Young Master Fang never intended to hurt Mr. Lian…”
Pei Yusheng was silent for a moment. “Lian Qing was scared of being deceived.
“He could forgive me, maybe even remain friends with Fang Yangzhou—but not love him.
“Once an emotional connection is broken at a critical point, it can be irreparable.”
That night’s banquet was hosted by Fang Yangzhou to bring Lian Qing over—but it ended in disappointment.
After sending Lian Qing home, Pei Yusheng stayed to talk with Fang Yangzhou for a long time. They drank a lot, and Pei Yusheng couldn’t help thinking about his own feelings while watching his melancholy friend.
No matter how capable or determined he was, he couldn’t control everything.
Lost in thought, he didn’t notice Qi Ji calling him twice before he answered.
“Hmm?”
He looked up to see the boy gazing at him anxiously. “Mr. Pei… are you okay?”
Pei Yusheng shook his head. “I’m fine. I didn’t catch what you said just now.”
Qi Ji hesitated, then asked, “I wanted to know… what’s Third Young Master Fang planning to do next?”
“Take it slow,” Pei Yusheng said, rubbing his hair and drawing comfort from its softness. “If he doesn’t want to give up, he should go slowly. Sincere feelings can always move people.”
Even Pei Yusheng himself wasn’t confident about the situation. He could protect Qi Ji, but his status meant that once Qi Ji was with him, he’d inevitably encounter things he’d never seen before. He didn’t know if Qi Ji would dislike them.
Fortunately, Qi Ji didn’t show any resentment. After hearing Pei Yusheng’s words, he seemed thoughtful.
When Pei Yusheng finished, Qi Ji asked, “Do you feel better now?”
“Mm, much better. Thank you.”
“No need. I didn’t do much,” Qi Ji said, embarrassed, waving his hands. “It’s just… since you said on the phone you’d be drinking, I made some rice porridge… to help your stomach. Do you even have an appetite?”
Pei Yusheng froze. “Por… porridge? You made it for me?”
“Mm,” Qi Ji nodded, ears tinged with red. “Though my cooking… might not be very good…”
“It’s definitely the best,” Pei Yusheng said without hesitation. “In the kitchen? I’ll get it.”
“I’ll bring it!” Qi Ji hurriedly replied.
The thermal cabinet had kept the porridge perfectly warm. Qi Ji placed it on the table. Pei Yusheng sat down eagerly, taking up the spoon.
The pale yellow porridge was topped with a few mint leaves. It looked surprisingly presentable. Pei Yusheng smiled. “Thank you.”
He had tasted countless dishes from top chefs; even the finest cuisine rarely caught his attention. But this simple bowl, made by Qi Ji’s own hands, earned his full praise.
Qi Ji, however, was still nervous. “It’s fine… Mr. Pei, you try it first.”
Pei Yusheng happily scooped a spoonful… and couldn’t swallow.
His joyful expression froze mid-face.
Qi Ji’s anxiety spiked. “Mr. Pei…?”
Pei Yusheng waved stiffly, signaling he was fine, but didn’t speak.
The porridge hadn’t been conquered yet.
His rational mind told him to swallow, but his survival instinct insisted on spitting it out. In an instant, his mind raced through life’s moments, washing away all previous frustration.
Nothing a single bowl of porridge couldn’t fix.
Life and death—those were the real matters.
Seeing Pei Yusheng’s expression, Qi Ji realized it really wasn’t good. Nervously, he asked, “Is it really that bad? You can spit it out…? I can’t really tell how it tastes, but my brother always says my cooking is terrible. I think it’s okay… though sometimes eating my own cooking gives me a stomachache…”
Pei Yusheng was shocked. “Did you… taste it while cooking?”
Qi Ji nodded. “A little. Most of it got burned.”
Pei Yusheng: “….”
The once-commanding CEO, master negotiator, found himself at a loss for words. He cleared his throat. “Next time, don’t drink. Ask Aunt Lin to make it. She lives nearby; just call her.”
Qi Ji obediently nodded. “Okay.”
“I’ll clean this up…”
“No need. You worked hard to make it,” Pei Yusheng said. “I’ll drink it right away.”
“No, no…!” Qi Ji hurriedly blocked him. “Better not!”
Judging by his reaction, Qi Ji knew the porridge was awful. From his understanding of Pei Yusheng, he could tell that if it had been even slightly palatable, Pei Yusheng wouldn’t have hesitated like that.
To stop him from finishing it, Qi Ji quickly said, “There’s something else I want to tell you!”
Pei Yusheng’s attention shifted. “What is it?”
Qi Ji seized the moment. “Let’s go upstairs. You can shower first.”
Finally, the man agreed to go bathe, leaving the porridge behind. Qi Ji breathed a sigh of relief and quickly dealt with the bowl.
Some skills couldn’t be forced. Qi Ji put the bowl in the dishwasher and decided to revise his note: “Have Aunt Lin make porridge for social events.”
Back in the master bedroom, waiting for Pei Yusheng to finish, Qi Ji kept thinking about that phrase: Sincere feelings can always move people.
Though Pei Yusheng had said it about someone else, it comforted Qi Ji’s worries.
He cuddled the cat on the lazy sofa, thinking about what he wanted to say next. He hadn’t planned to tell Pei Yusheng immediately, but after tonight’s conversation, he sensed the other’s worry.
…He wanted to make Pei Yusheng happy too.
After all, the trial period required both of them.
Soon, the water stopped running, and the man, wrapped in a bathrobe, stepped out. Qi Ji looked up, instinctively blinking at the overwhelming sight before him, but couldn’t bring himself to look away.
It might sound exaggerated, but Qi Ji thought Pei Yusheng looked like a deity descended to earth.
He had always known Pei Yusheng was handsome, but he never expected to still feel dazzled after all this time—each glance seemed brighter than the last.
The man approached, touched the tip of Qi Ji’s chin, and smiled. “What’s wrong?”
Qi Ji shook his head, suppressing the heat on his face. “Do you feel better now?”
“Mm? I’m fine.”
Pei Yusheng lifted him from the carpet and had him sit on the bed. Qi Ji brought over a cup of warm water.
Pei Yusheng chuckled, half-amused, half-exasperated. “Thanks, but really, I’m fine. It’s just some porridge—nothing that dramatic.”
“That’s good,” Qi Ji said, touching his nose. “I thought a little warm water might make you more comfortable.”
Pei Yusheng smiled and drank half the cup, sitting beside him.
Setting the cup down, he asked, “You said you wanted to talk about something?”
Qi Ji clenched his fingers, inhaled, and said, “It might sound strange, but I still want to tell you…”
“It’s okay,” Pei Yusheng’s voice was gentle. “I’m listening.”
Qi Ji finally summoned courage.
“I always worried the flowers would wither, so I didn’t plant them. If I couldn’t see them, I wouldn’t feel sad.
“But this time…” His voice trembled slightly, ears tinged pink. “This time, I want to try planting the seeds.”
Silence fell.
After a moment, Qi Ji couldn’t help but look at the man beside him. Just as he worried Pei Yusheng hadn’t heard, a hand reached over and pinched his cheek.
Qi Ji blinked. “Huh?”
The man pulled back. “So soft.”
He murmured to himself, “I thought I was dizzy from the post-drink bath… turns out I’m not dreaming.”
Qi Ji chuckled.
Was Mr. Pei really this childish after drinking?
Pei Yusheng thought for a moment, then said, “Maybe I should drink some porridge to sober up.”
Qi Ji hurriedly stopped him. “No!”
In his haste, he tripped and fell right into Pei Yusheng’s arms.
They collapsed onto the bed together. Pei Yusheng held him, chin resting atop his soft hair. “I truly am the happiest flowerpot in the world.”
Qi Ji pressed his face against the man’s chest, breathing in his scent. Softly, he said, “No—you’re not a flowerpot.
“You’re the sun that makes the flowers bloom.”