“Alright, then it’s settled. Tomorrow I’ll go home with you to get your stuff.”
Huh?
Pei Qingjian blinked, startled for a second, and then noticed a rather handsome man had appeared, seemingly out of nowhere.
He was in a white bathrobe, sitting on the edge of the bed, tilting his head lazily as he brushed his hair.
Get my stuff?
What stuff?
Wait—who is this guy?
Pei Qingjian couldn’t help but stare. The man seemed to notice, lifting his eyelids slightly. His eyes, like spring waters, were clear and full of subtle charm, a faint hint of flirtation.
Pei Qingjian was momentarily stunned—his eyes were stunning. Even among all the handsome men and beautiful women he’d seen, none had eyes this captivating.
He almost felt the urge to ask: “Handsome, want to model for photos? I’ll pay you.”
But clearly, now wasn’t the time. He didn’t even understand the situation yet.
“You have an objection?” the man asked slowly.
Pei Qingjian shook his head. Better to wait until he understood what was going on.
“That’s good,” the man said, putting down the towel and turning to a drawer, pulling out a stack of A4 papers neatly bound together.
“You forgot to take your copy of the contract after signing last time. Here.”
Pei Qingjian: ??? Contract? What contract?
He took it, puzzled, and opened the cover. It clearly read:
Party A: Lan Xingchen
Party B: Pei Qingjian
And yes, it was really his name.
Wait—Lan Xingchen… why does that name sound familiar?
He thought for a while but couldn’t remember.
Whatever. He opened the contract to see what it was about.
And almost fell out of his chair.
This… this… was a sponsorship contract.
Sponsorship nowadays even requires a signed contract? So formal?!
But… why did he sign a sponsorship contract?!
Pei Qingjian stared at the terms and figures on the contract in disbelief. No matter how he looked at it, it seemed impossible.
He quietly glanced at Lan Xingchen, then back at the contract in his hands, and finally at the high-end room he was currently in.
If he wasn’t mistaken, he wasn’t even the same person who had signed this contract.
There was no other explanation!
“What’s with that expression?” Lan Xingchen caught his cautious glance and asked lazily, “This contract is something you confirmed yourself—black and white. Anything you’re unhappy with?”
Pei Qingjian: …
He shook his head sadly. No, what could he possibly be unhappy about? His biggest grievance right now was that he wasn’t the one who signed this contract in the first place!
“Good. After all, I’ve already transferred the first payment to you. Even if you had complaints now, it wouldn’t matter.”
Pei Qingjian: ??? First payment? There was a first payment?!
He quickly pulled out his phone, unlocked it with his fingerprint, and opened his messages.
Sure enough, three days ago, his bank sent a notification showing a large transfer had come in.
But…
Scrolling through a string of spending notifications, Pei Qingjian realized that in just three days, that money had almost entirely disappeared—only 3,000 yuan remained.
Well, great. With only 3,000 yuan, how could he even consider breaching a contract?!
“Tsk.”
Pei Qingjian was grieving when he heard a cheerful voice nearby.
Unfortunately, the speaker’s tone was far less upbeat than his own. “3,000 yuan. No backing out now.”
Pei Qingjian quickly hid his phone and forced a smile, “How could I possibly back out?”
No decent person would play at being a kept man. Moreover, this “support” included the house they were in—who wouldn’t recognize a hidden big shot here?
He only had 3,000 yuan. How could he compete with a big shot?
Better just follow the contract. QAQ
“Really, I’m so happy. It’s rare to meet such a generous client. I’m thrilled!” Pei Qingjian continued to smile.
“Good to hear,” Lan Xingchen said calmly. “As long as you do well, I’ll pay the remaining balance on time. There’ll be plenty of time for you to be happy.”
Pei Qingjian: … What does “do well” mean?
Do what?
The thing he was thinking of doing?!
Wasn’t it way too soon to be facing that kind of test?!
Maybe the verb should be changed…
“…Yes,” Pei Qingjian replied painfully.
Lan Xingchen was satisfied. “Then go take a shower.”
Pei Qingjian: !!!!
Damn it! That means it’s the thing he was thinking of doing!!!
Couldn’t it wait a bit, dear?!
Wasn’t this too fast, dear?!
I just got here, dear!
Pei Qingjian felt like crying.
How could he explain that he had known this big shot for literally a minute, hadn’t signed any “support” contract, hadn’t even seen the first payment, and from start to finish, he was just a random person who somehow ended up here?!
This pace was too much—he couldn’t handle it, dear!
“A… a shower?” Pei Qingjian cautiously asked.
Lan Xingchen nodded. “Otherwise, why would you come over tonight?”
Pei Qingjian: …
Pei Qingjian: QAQ
So… he came over tonight just to “drive” with a handsome guy?
Too thrilling!
He forced an awkward smile. “Y-Yes.”
It’s fine, he reassured himself. Such a handsome guy… not a total loss.
Let’s just do it. Both of us are guys—who’s afraid of who?
Right! It’s just driving—what’s so scary? Today, we drive! Take it to the ring road! If you don’t, are you even Chinese?!
Pei Qingjian nodded firmly. Tonight, even if the King of Heaven himself came, he would drive this road to the end!
Only…
Pei Qingjian glanced at the big shot next to him. Clearly taller, clearly paying. Who would be the active one?
He’d probably be the one getting “driven” QAQ
Driving is one thing; being driven is another. Did this contract cover accidents? What if something went wrong—car wrecked, person survives—would that count as work injury?
File a report?
Lan Xingchen noticed his changing expressions. “What’s wrong now? Nervous?”
“No,” Pei Qingjian denied.
“Scared? Don’t want to? Can’t?”
“No way!”
Men couldn’t fail.
Stick your head out and you’re doomed, hide and you’re doomed.
Better to face it! There was no way his little car would actually be totaled tonight!
“I’m going!” Pei Qingjian declared with determination.
Lan Xingchen chuckled at his bravado. “Please.”
Pei Qingjian stood and headed for the bathroom.
Just as he turned, Lan Xingchen reached for the wine glass on the nightstand.
Wine glass! On the nightstand!
In a flash, memories surged back.
Damn it!
Now he knew why he suddenly ended up here!
Now he knew why, even though he’d never seen Lan Xingchen’s face before, the name felt familiar!
Because he’d only ever heard it—from a client!
But none of that mattered. The key point was—
Pei Qingjian reached out and grabbed the glass.
Lan Xingchen: ???
Lan Xingchen slowly lifted his eyelids.
Pei Qingjian: …
Pei Qingjian gave a faint, tentative smile. “Well… I just… wanted to build up my courage.”
Oh. Lan Xingchen nodded. He glanced at the red wine in the wine glass and released his hand.
“Aren’t you supposed to be calm?” Lan Xingchen teased.
Pei Qingjian: … How could he even respond to that?
“Well… when I stood up just now, I realized I was still a little nervous.”
“First time?”
Of course it’s the first time! If he said it wasn’t, would anyone believe him?!
Pei Qingjian could only obediently nod.
Lan Xingchen, observing the entire range of expressions crossing his face, had already guessed—any seasoned player in these matters wouldn’t show such a shifting, transparent nervousness.
But now that his guess was confirmed, he felt a subtle satisfaction.
After all, it was the first time for both of them. That made it fair.
“Drink,” Lan Xingchen said gently. “If one glass isn’t enough, I can pour you a few more.”
Pei Qingjian: …
Pei Qingjian: QAQ
He gripped the wine glass in his hands, unable to take a sip.
There was medicine in it!
Medicine meant to make someone impotent!
In the book, one of the original protagonist’s most reckless moves was to drug Lan Xingchen, rendering him impotent that night, and then use it to blackmail him afterward.
Pei Qingjian obviously had no intention of blackmailing Lan Xingchen, but in the story, Lan Xingchen had figured out the drug by the third day after it was administered. That’s why he had remained calm, cleverly using the original protagonist as a tool to deal with people behind the scenes.
So this wine absolutely could not be drunk by Lan Xingchen.
Then, if Lan Xingchen wouldn’t drink it, who would?
He couldn’t just pour it out now—that would be far too suspicious.
So the only choice was for him to drink it.
Pei Qingjian thought about it, lifted his chin, and downed the wine as if it were beer, determined not to leave a single drop for Lan Xingchen, terrified that he might suffer the same limp fate as in the original story.
He deliberately coughed a few times, pretending he was choking, and said, “I’m going to get some hot water.”
Then, Pei Qingjian quickly left the bedroom, washed the wine glass several times with detergent in the dining room, and finally filled it with hot water.
What a relief! Scared the hell out of him.
As he poured the hot water, he tried to calm his racing heart.
But…
Looking down below his waist, he realized that now that he had drunk the wine, would…
Ahhhh! No!
Pei Qingjian’s heart sank completely. Not even 73°C hot water could warm his 37°C heart!
Now he really wanted to head to the bathroom—not for a shower, but to check his body functions!
He hurried back to the bedroom and placed the hot-water-filled wine glass back in its original spot.
“I’m going to shower.”
Without hesitation, he headed for the bathroom.
Lan Xingchen watched him stride off, thinking silently: so eager? The wine really works that well? One glass and it’s enough to fill someone with courage?
Apparently, wine can be surprisingly effective sometimes.
Pei Qingjian didn’t even notice Lan Xingchen’s thoughts. He dashed to the bathroom, shut the door, and began undressing, desperate to inspect his “golden eagle.”
“Rise, Pengpeng! Fly, Pengpeng! Now’s not the time to lie down!”
But no matter how he tried, coaxed, or scolded his loyal friend, his friend remained completely motionless.
Ahhhh! Pei Qingjian nearly lost it. Must it be this immediate?! Must it be this effective?!
He had just drunk it! Even if he spit it out now, it would be useless!
Pei Qingjian: QAQ
How could he save you, my Pengpeng?!