Lv Jing looked at the quickly closed door, then glanced at her boss. “Shall I just disappear for a while?”
Lin Xingchen, half-amused, half-exasperated, nodded. “Go grab a coffee first. Come back later.”
Lv Jing hurriedly nodded and left without pausing.
She walked back to her workstation, thinking over the scene she had just witnessed while gossiping with her best friend: 【Goodness!! Who would’ve thought! He actually has a hidden beauty in his golden house!!】
Her friend tugged on her ear: 【Who? Who? Who has a hidden beauty?!】
Lv Jing: 【Of course it’s your idol, my boss—Lin Xingchen.】
Friend: 【!!! He has a hidden beauty?!!! Oh my god, is the beauty cute?!】
Lv Jing recalled the moment again: 【Honestly, yes, pretty cute.】
Friend: 【Are you sure it’s a ‘beauty’?】
Lv Jing snorted: 【Of course! He was even wearing Lin Xingchen’s pajamas!】
Friend: 【!!! Goodness!! In broad daylight, in plain sight—they’re publicly indulging!!】
Lv Jing almost spit out her coffee laughing: 【What are you talking about! Our Lin isn’t that kind of person!】
Friend: 【Then why pajamas?】
Lv Jing: 【Probably just a short nap.】
Friend: 【Tsk tsk, our Lin Xingchen… hiding a beauty and only taking a short nap?!】
Lv Jing: …
Friend: 【Any photos? I want to see the ‘beauty’~】
Lv Jing: 【What are you thinking? He dashed back into the bedroom the moment he saw me. No photos! I almost died of embarrassment.】
Friend: 【He… he… male?!】
Lv Jing: 【Yes, looks like a young, pure boy. Not sure if he’s graduated college yet.】
Friend: 【So… my idol is…】
Lv Jing: 【Yes, just as you think.】
Her friend wailed loudly: 【My heart… my teenage heart is shattered!】
Lv Jing laughed heartily: 【Let me cry a minute for you.】
Meanwhile, Lin Xingchen watched Lv Jing leave, then walked to the bedroom door.
He knocked lightly, whispering, “She’s gone.”
Pei Qingjian: “I’m dead.”
Lin Xingchen smiled, “It’s okay. You weren’t running around without clothes.”
Pei Qingjian: “That’s almost the same thing!”
Lin Xingchen: “Almost is still far from enough.”
Pei Qingjian: …
He puffed out his cheeks, silent.
“Open the door.” Lin Xingchen said. “You can’t hide in there forever.”
Pei Qingjian reluctantly opened the door, showing only half his face. “How do I go out now?”
“Just walk out boldly,” Lin Xingchen replied.
“But she’ll see me, right?”
“Don’t worry, she won’t.”
Pei Qingjian finally relaxed a little.
He sighed, helpless: “So embarrassing.”
“Not really,” Lin Xingchen said. “We didn’t do anything. Even if she saw, it’s no big deal.”
Pei Qingjian: ???
“What are you planning now?!”
Lin Xingchen shook his head. “I didn’t say anything.”
Pei Qingjian snorted and turned to the bed.
He went to the bed, took off his pajamas, and started changing into his own clothes.
Lin Xingchen, who had been busy changing his own pajamas earlier, hadn’t noticed him. Now, standing behind Pei Qingjian, he saw faint traces of himself left on the boy’s body.
Specks and spots, like tiny blossoms blooming across a quiet snowfield.
He couldn’t help but feel a stir of curiosity, quickly shifting his gaze to suppress the restless feeling.
Pei Qingjian finished changing, neatly folded Lin Xingchen’s pajamas, and placed them on the bedside. “Alright, I’m leaving now.”
Lin Xingchen nodded. “Take care on the way.”
“Mm.” Pei Qingjian’s lips curled into a smile as he remembered something. “I stuck the practice schedule you printed yesterday on your car. With such a fancy car and my handiwork on it, any driver on the road will probably just steer clear of you!”
Lin Xingchen watched him light up so quickly and fade just as fast. He really did have a cheerful temperament.
“That’s good. Before you get fully familiar with the car, let this one be your practice ride first.”
Pei Qingjian: …True to being his “golden sponsor”—so generous!
After chatting, Pei Qingjian took his lunchbox and left, moving carefully, heart pounding at the thought the secretary might appear again. Luckily, she seemed busy with other matters, and he didn’t see her until he reached the elevator.
He exhaled a long sigh as he stepped out.
Lin Xingchen’s office building had both street-level and underground parking. For convenience, Pei Qingjian had parked in front. He headed toward his car but hadn’t reached it when a familiar voice called, “Pei Qingjian.”
He turned—and saw Xu Ya.
He hadn’t left?
Of course Xu Ya hadn’t. He’d been waiting for three hours, just for Pei Qingjian to come out.
Xu Ya approached politely. “Afternoon tea? My treat.”
Pei Qingjian shook his head. “No, thanks.”
“What do you want, then?”
“I don’t want anything.”
Since Xu Ya had broken off relations with Lin Xingchen, Pei Qingjian couldn’t continue practicing with him. Sigh—what a loss. Every session had given him the most genuine feedback. Losing it felt like misplacing a precious practice book; Pei Qingjian felt a twinge of sadness.
“I’m leaving,” he said, tearfully bidding farewell to his “practice book.”
Yet his “practice book” clearly didn’t want him to go.
“I want to talk to you,” Xu Ya stepped forward, blocking his path. “Don’t worry, I mean no harm. I just want to ask about Xingchen.”
“Then ask him. Why ask me?”
Xu Ya smiled bitterly. “I don’t believe you don’t know. He’s already broken off relations with me.”
Pei Qingjian: I do know! Otherwise, I’d be practicing my crying scene right now!
He sighed. “Then I definitely can’t tell you.”
Xu Ya, anxious, said, “Little Pei, I admit I wasn’t kind to you before, but now I just care about Xingchen. I want to know why he went to the hospital yesterday and how he’s been while I was away.”
Pei Qingjian: …Well, just now I was Pei Qingjian, now I’m “Little Pei”? Things change fast.
He was about to refuse again when another voice called from nearby: “Pei Qingjian.”
He turned—and it was Tang Wenzhen. What was he doing here?
Xu Ya had the same thought: Why is he here?!
Pei Qingjian frowned at him.
Tang Wenzhen pretended not to see Xu Ya, his gaze fixed on Pei Qingjian. “What a coincidence, running into you here.”
Xu Ya’s annoyance grew as he saw the smile on Tang Wenzhen’s face.
He had never liked Tang Wenzhen, and the reason was simple: when Tang Wenzhen was abroad, he had gotten very close to Xu Jiannian.
He could tell Tang Wenzhen had inappropriate intentions toward Xu Jiannian. Every time he warned Xu Jiannian, Xu Jiannian naïvely thought he was overthinking.
Xu Ya couldn’t blame Xu Jiannian’s innocence, so he channeled all his anger at Tang Wenzhen.
And now, Tang Wenzhen was actively starting a conversation with Pei Qingjian—why?
Xu Ya sensed this was not a good sign.
He didn’t want to waste words with Tang Wenzhen and said only to Pei Qingjian, “Let’s go. Pick somewhere you like.”
Pei Qingjian: ??? Go where? He never said he wanted to go anywhere.
“Forget it,” Pei Qingjian refused. “You go by yourself.”
Tang Wenzhen laughed at his refusal, agreeing: “Right. Xu, if you have matters, you should go first.”
Xu Ya looked at him. “What’s your relation to him?”
“Of course I have a relation. I still have to invite Qingjian for coffee,” Tang Wenzhen said, gently glancing at Pei Qingjian.
Pei Qingjian: ??? Wait, what? I know about this?
He could brush up on practice problems and rehearse crying with Xu Ya—but with Tang Wenzhen, what could he do? Cry bitterly and regret his past?
He thought about it—and figured it could work. After all, it was still practicing crying, still solving problems. “Practice book” or “exam prep”—all good.
Only… he had already told Lin Xingchen he didn’t like Tang Wenzhen. Being here with him would feel like slapping himself in the face.
Better to cherish his golden sponsor’s well-being and stay far from these main characters.
“No, thanks,” Pei Qingjian said flatly. “I don’t like coffee.”
“Tea, beer, or dessert? Which do you prefer?”
“I don’t like any of them,” Pei Qingjian replied helplessly.
Xu Ya chuckled. “Did you hear that? Little Pei doesn’t like any of them.”
Tang Wenzhen smiled at him.
“Exactly. ‘None’ of them,” he deliberately emphasized.
Xu Ya’s face instantly darkened.
Tang Wenzhen’s lips curled into a proud smirk.
Beside them, Pei Qingjian: ???
Pei Qingjian had absolutely no idea how the two of them had gotten into a stare-down that could kill.
He quietly stepped back, planning to make a break for it.
But Tang Wenzhen and Xu Ya, sharp-eyed as they were, noticed his movement and immediately grabbed him.
Pei Qingjian: ???
No, wait! Big brothers, what are you doing?!
Why are you fighting over me?!
You should be after Xu Jiannian, okay?!
Why target me?!
He Haochu had just parked his car and was about to go have dinner with his friend Sun Hui when he spotted Pei Qingjian and the other two standing together. Instantly, he ducked down, hoping Pei Qingjian wouldn’t notice him.
He had heard there was a good Western restaurant nearby, so he came for steak. But all the parking spaces were taken, so he parked farther away.
“What’s he doing?” Sun Hui asked, puzzled.
He Haochu gestured for him to crouch down and whispered, “Do you see the person in white? My brother. Listen carefully—see what the three of them are saying.”
Just looking at the two in front of Pei Qingjian, they clearly weren’t friendly.
The fact that these two were holding onto Pei Qingjian like that could only mean he had managed to provoke both of them at the same time.
Could it be he was caught “two-timing”? He Haochu thought. Wait—there was that handsome guy at Pei Qingjian’s place the other day. That makes three “boats.”
Impressive, Pei Qingjian!
Three at once? Does he even know how many legs he has?!
He Haochu carefully shifted his position to get closer, hoping for a better view of the “caught in the act” scene.
If they ended up fighting, that would be even better. He secretly hoped.
He pulled out his phone, ready to record.
Sun Hui followed cautiously, trying not to draw attention.
Pei Qingjian looked at the arms holding him and said helplessly, “Let go.”
Tang Wenzhen looked at Xu Ya. “Hear that? Qingjian wants you to let go.”
“Little Pei means you, right?” Xu Ya said.
Pei Qingjian: ???
“I mean both of you!”
“What?” He Haochu, still a little far, couldn’t hear clearly. He had Sun Hui move forward to act as a shield and listen.
Sun Hui perked up. “What… BOSS?”
He Haochu: ??? Boss? Are either of these two Pei Qingjian’s bosses?
Shouldn’t be. Didn’t Pei Qingjian already say he was aiming to become a big star in the entertainment industry? Why would he have a boss here? It couldn’t be an entertainment company—there aren’t any nearby.
Looking closely, both of them were good-looking and young, definitely the kind of wealthy second-generation bosses who frequent office buildings like this.
He Haochu clenched his teeth: This guy really does get around!
Xu Ya, wanting to get along rather than create conflict, loosened his grip on Pei Qingjian.
Pei Qingjian looked at Tang Wenzhen, who also had no choice but to release him.
“Xiao Pei, I—”
“We’re not that close. I prefer you call me by my full name,” Pei Qingjian cut him off.
“Did you hear that? Qingjian wants you to call him by his full name,” Tang Wenzhen mocked.
“You too!” Pei Qingjian snapped. “I’m even less close to you! Call me by my full name!”
Xu Ya sneered. “Did you hear that? Even less close! Little Pei wants you to use his full name too.”
Pei Qingjian: …So neither of you actually heard, huh? Yet here you are, calling me Little Pei and Qingjian!
He was exasperated. Xu Ya asking him to afternoon tea to check on Lin Xingchen was one thing, but Tang Wenzhen—what was he doing, making trouble?
Doesn’t he have a beloved wife to accompany?
“You want to invite me for afternoon tea, right?” Pei Qingjian asked Xu Ya.
Xu Ya quickly nodded. “Yes.”
“You want to invite me for coffee, right?” Pei Qingjian asked Tang Wenzhen.
Tang Wenzhen didn’t hesitate. “Exactly.”
“Then here’s the plan,” Pei Qingjian stepped back so he could keep both in sight. “Let’s do a simple math problem. First, factor out the common term ‘me’.” He pointed to himself. “Then cancel me out.”
He spread his hands, cheerful and bright. “Then you two can go together! One wants afternoon tea, the other wants coffee—perfect match.”
Xu Ya: …
Tang Wenzhen: …
Taking advantage of their stunned faces, Pei Qingjian turned and walked off, eventually breaking into a run.
He Haochu, hiding in the car gap, jumped back and slipped deeper into the shadows.
“What did they just say?” he asked Sun Hui.
Sun Hui hadn’t caught everything either, only fragments: “me,” “common,” “you two”… what on earth?
Wait! Sun Hui slapped his thigh. “I got it!” His eyes lit up. “He said: ‘Let’s have a public date, the two of you together!’”
He Haochu: ???
He peeked and saw the two actually chasing after Pei Qingjian, heading toward a car he hadn’t seen before—but immediately recognized as very expensive!
Damn! Where did he get such a car?!
Could one of these bosses have gifted it?
No—the point isn’t that. The point is: are the three really going on a public date?!
Ridiculous!
Yet Sun Hui whispered confidently: “See, they’re at the car together now, probably about to get in and go on a date.”
“Wow, that car must be worth millions. Going on a date with these two handsome guys in a car like that—your brother is way too lucky!”
Sun Hui gushed, “How did he even do it? How did he manage to captivate both of them like this?”
He Haochu: That’s exactly what I want to know too!
He bagged one for himself and somehow attracted two more!
Red banners at home, colorful flags outside!
How the heck did he manage this?!
He Haochu was practically writhing in the shadows of the car gaps with envy.