On Saturday, after finishing their meal, Pei Qingjian and Lin Xingchen drove to the He family’s house.
He Liangyu had an appointment with a client and had already gone out before lunch, leaving Zhao Xinfan alone at home.
Lin Xingchen parked the car. Pei Qingjian walked up to the villa, pressed his fingerprint scanner, and opened the door.
Hearing the door open, Zhao Xinfan thought He Liangyu had returned and went over with a smile. When she saw it was Pei Qingjian, her expression immediately changed.
“Well, well,” she said sarcastically. “I thought you were planning to cut ties with the family. What brings you back now? Run out of money again? Back to ask your dad for more?”
Only then did Pei Qingjian belatedly realize something.
That’s right—ever since he had transmigrated into this body, He Liangyu hadn’t called him once to check on him.
Fine, maybe he didn’t call—but he hadn’t even transferred him money once!
What kind of father was that?
He really didn’t care about the original host at all.
Pei Qingjian snorted, unwilling to bother with her, and started walking toward his room.
Seeing him ignore her only made Zhao Xinfan more eager to provoke him.
“Your father isn’t home today,” she said. “Even if he were, he wouldn’t give you any money. If you want money, why don’t you beg me?”
Pei Qingjian: “……”
He turned and looked at her. “Do you really have that much free time?”
“How could I possibly be as free as you?” Zhao Xinfan smiled. “Didn’t you say you were going to be a big star? Why are you still here? Shouldn’t you be filming on set?”
Pei Qingjian was about to reply when Lin Xingchen suddenly spoke from behind him.
“Didn’t you say you had to meet the director later? We’re almost out of time.”
Pei Qingjian: ???
He turned around to look at Lin Xingchen.
Director? What director?
Zhao Xinfan also turned her head toward him.
The moment she saw Lin Xingchen’s face, she was instantly stunned by how handsome he was, to the point that the words in her mouth stalled for several seconds.
Lin Xingchen didn’t look at her at all. He focused entirely on Pei Qingjian.
“Even though the role has already been decided to go to you, and it wouldn’t matter if you didn’t attend, it’s still a gathering with the production team. It’s better if you show up.”
Ohhhh.
Pei Qingjian finally understood.
He was deliberately provoking Zhao Xinfan.
“You’re right,” Pei Qingjian nodded, then turned to Zhao Xinfan. “Sorry, Auntie. I’d love to catch up with you, but unfortunately I’m not as free as you are. I’ll go pack my luggage first.”
That’s right—since he was already here, he couldn’t just drive the car back and leave.
Pei Qingjian had already thought it through. The original host still had some luxury goods here. Instead of letting He Haochu take them, it would be better if he brought them with him.
He could sell them, use them for future public appearances, or even throw them into the water just to hear the splash.
Anything would be better than leaving them for He Haochu.
Zhao Xinfan didn’t believe for a second that a director would actually take a shine to him. She sneered, “Wow, Qingjian, you’re actually going to be in a movie? With a look like yours, you think a director would pick you? You didn’t sleep with the director, did you, just like they do on TV?”
Upon hearing this, Pei Qingjian pulled out his phone. “Auntie, I didn’t catch what you just said. Why don’t you repeat it?”
“But let me warn you about one thing first: I’m an actor, and my reputation directly affects my work and my future. If necessary, I can have my agent sue anyone who slanders me. If we end up in court and I happen to bring up old grievances, don’t blame me.”
Zhao Xinfan hadn’t expected him to say something like that. Usually, when she mocked Pei Qingjian, he would just fire back with harsh insults. By the end of the argument, her eyes would redden and a tear would fall, and He Liangyu would always step in to defend her and scold his son.
But now, he wasn’t scolding her at all; instead, he was talking to her about the law.
Zhao Xinfan laughed. “As if I’m afraid of you. What old grievances could you possibly bring up?”
Pei Qingjian smiled. “It’s nothing much. I’m just a bit puzzled as to why you moved in right after my mom passed away, and why He Haochu took my dad’s surname so soon after you moved in. Come to think of it, He Haochu is starting to look more and more like my dad. If you didn’t know better, you’d think they were biological father and son, wouldn’t you?”
Pei Qingjian clicked his tongue. “No wonder my dad likes my little brother. Looking at his face, I’d like him too if I were my dad. I just wonder what his dad looks like? Does he look like my dad? Otherwise, how could my little brother look so much like my dad?”
Zhao Xinfan: …
Zhao Xinfan fell silent.
She looked at Pei Qingjian and felt that he was a completely different person now.
This used to be the one topic Pei Qingjian avoided at all costs. He might have suspected He Haochu’s background, but he never brought it up—as if, by remaining silent and not probing, He Liangyu would remain his father and his father alone.
But now, he had spoken of it with such ease and composure.
In fact, he was even trying to use this against her.
Zhao Xinfan certainly didn’t think she had done anything wrong, but she also knew this wasn’t something to be discussed in public. She might not care what others thought of her, but she couldn’t let her son be subjected to others’ criticism.
Zhao Xinfan smiled. “Aren’t you in a hurry to meet the director? Go on, then.”
After saying that, she added reluctantly, “Otherwise, what if this project falls through, you run out of money, and end up coming home to cry again.”
Lin Xingchen: …
Lin Xingchen silently picked up his phone and opened his Alipay app.
Almost the moment Pei Qingjian replied to Zhao Xinfan, “Don’t worry, there’s no need for you to fret,” a clear electronic chime sounded from his phone.
“100,000 yuan received in Alipay.”
“200,000 yuan received in Alipay.”
“500,000 yuan received in Alipay.”
“660,000 yuan received in Alipay.”
Pei Qingjian: ???
Zhao Xinfan: !!!
Zhao Xinfan looked at him in shock. Pei Qingjian immediately put on a look of exasperation. “Ugh, I forgot to turn off the sound notifications again.”
Zhao Xinfan: ???
Zhao Xinfan asked in confusion, “Where did you get all this money? Who gave it to you? Pei Qingjian, you haven’t been doing any shady deals behind my back with your dad, have you?”
Pei Qingjian looked at her with disdain. “Then you really underestimate shady deals. Other people make way more money from them than I do.”
He explained, “I just took on a part-time job while acting, so I earned a little pocket money.”
“Pocket money?”
He called this pocket money.
Lin Xingchen spoke up at just the right moment, “We’re really running out of time, young master. Let’s discuss this when we get back.”
Zhao Xinfan: ???!!!
“What did you just call him?”
Lin Xingchen frowned and looked at Pei Qingjian. “My apologies, Young Master. I forgot again that I shouldn’t call you ‘Young Master’ when we’re out in public.”
He switched to a different form of address. “Mr. Pei, perhaps you should return to your room first, pack your bags, and then catch up with this lady?”
Pei… Mr. Pei?
Zhao Xinfan thought she was hearing things.
She looked at Lin Xingchen. “Are you an actor too?”
Have they teamed up to put on a show for her here?
But she had to admit, looking at Lin Xingchen, with a face like his, he did look like an actor.
Lin Xingchen smiled. “Of course not. I’m just here to serve Mr. Pei.”
“You? Working for him?” Zhao Xinfan laughed. “How about this: I’ll pay you fifteen thousand a month. Be my driver.”
Lin Xingchen looked slightly surprised and turned to Pei Qingjian. “Mr. Pei, you never mentioned your family was this poor before.”
“What did you say?” Zhao Xinfan snapped.
Poor? How dare he call her poor!
Upon hearing this, Lin Xingchen seemed to realize his remark was inappropriate. He apologized politely: “I’m sorry, ma’am. I spoke without thinking and didn’t realize you were here. It was my mistake.”
He tried to explain, “I was just a bit surprised. After all, Mr. Pei pays me a monthly salary of 150,000 yuan, so I assumed his family must be quite well-off. I didn’t expect…”
He paused for a moment, his tone slightly hesitant, before continuing, “It seems Mr. Pei really is a promising young man. Truly admirable.”
Zhao Xinfan: ???
Pei Qingjian: …Enough, enough. If I say any more, he might not be able to handle it!
Pei Qingjian turned his head away, feeling guilty.
Zhao Xinfan didn’t buy his nonsense and snorted derisively.
“Is this how you brag to everyone?” She looked at Pei Qingjian. “Fifteen thousand—can you afford it?”
“Of course I can,” Lin Xingchen interjected. “Mr. Pei paid me a year’s salary in a single bonus.”
Pei Qingjian: …
Pei Qingjian smiled. “Did you hear that?”
“You think I’d believe that?”
“It doesn’t matter,” Pei Qingjian said calmly. “I didn’t come here to talk to you about this. I just came to take my things.”
With that, he ignored Zhao Xinfan and hurried toward the stairs.
Lin Xingchen quickly followed behind her, acting like a personal bodyguard.
It wasn’t until they entered the room that Pei Qingjian whispered to Lin Xingchen, “You really will say anything, won’t you?”
“She was being so sarcastic; it was getting on my nerves.” Lin Xingchen said as he wandered around Pei Qingjian’s room. “So this is your room?”
Of course not; he didn’t have a room this big.
Pei Qingjian said nothing, found a suitcase, and began packing.
As he packed, he suddenly remembered something and transferred the 1.46 million yuan Lin Xingchen had given him back.
He Haochu pushed open the front door and saw his mother sitting on the sofa, looking angry.
Puzzled, he walked toward Zhao Xinfan. Just then, his aunt had finished washing the fruit and was walking over with a fruit platter. He Haochu reached out to take it and placed it in front of Zhao Xinfan.
Zhao Xinfan broke into a smile the moment she saw him return. “Why are you back?”
“I missed you, of course,” He Haochu said sweetly.
Zhao Xinfan smiled even more brightly.
Seeing her happy, He Haochu asked the question that had been on his mind, “Do we have guests? I saw a car parked outside.”
As soon as he said that, Zhao Xinfan’s mood soured again.
“It’s none other than your so-called older brother.”
He Haochu was taken aback. “Why would it be him?”
“It’s definitely him,” Zhao Xinfan said, her anger flaring up again. “We haven’t seen each other in half a month, and now he’s trying to act rich. Do you think I don’t know if he’s actually got any money? Hah!”
He Haochu looked at the scornful smile on her face, recalled the scene he’d witnessed that day, and finally thought of the car he’d just seen upon returning.
“Is he here alone?”
“There’s also one of his henchmen.” Zhao Xinfan found this hard to believe, “He actually has henchmen now.”
“So that car out front—it really is his?”
“I guess so.” Zhao Xinfan didn’t seem to care much. “If you like it, Mom will buy you one too.”
He Haochu: …
“But it costs twenty million.”
“Twenty million?!” Zhao Xinfan was stunned. “Are you kidding me?”
“Of course not. I look at cars every day. I want to upgrade to a better one—how could I not know what each car costs?”
Zhao Xinfan: …
Zhao Xinfan couldn’t wrap her head around it.
“Where did he get the money?” she asked, puzzled. “Your dad hasn’t given him any money lately!”
Even if he did, he wouldn’t give such a huge sum. He Liangyu’s own car isn’t even worth twenty million! How could he possibly buy Pei Qingjian a twenty-million-yuan car?
He Haochu snorted as he listened to her. Where did the money come from? Where else could it have come from?
It must have been those two bosses who gave it to him!
Maybe one of those two bosses even gave him the car!
To have charmed someone into handing over a 20-million-yuan car—what kind of spell did he cast on him?
He Haochu was baffled; he practically wished he could take his place!
After packing up the luxury items in the room, Pei Qingjian picked up his suitcase and prepared to go downstairs.
Lin Xingchen naturally took the suitcase from him and walked down the stairs with him.
He Haochu heard footsteps, turned around, and saw Pei Qingjian coming down the stairs with Lin Xingchen by his side.
He had been captivated by Lin Xingchen’s appearance the first time he met him at Pei Qingjian’s grandmother’s house and had developed a fondness for him; seeing him again now, he felt Lin Xingchen was as handsome as ever.
He stared at Lin Xingchen, watching him selflessly help Pei Qingjian carry the suitcase. Then, thinking of Pei Qingjian’s romantic escapades on the outside, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of heartache.
Did he know that Pei Qingjian had other men on the side?
Two, in fact!
He treated him so well, was so loyal to him, yet Pei Qingjian remained unsatisfied and couldn’t cut ties with others.
What would he think if he found out?
Would he feel that his loyalty had been misplaced, and be heartbroken?
He Haochu sighed at the thought.
Why bother? he wondered. Why must he compete for attention with those other two here with Pei Qingjian?
He’s so handsome; he clearly has better options. He could find a more devoted employer instead of staying here with Pei Qingjian, expending all this effort only to receive a third of the attention.
With these thoughts in mind, He Haochu stood up and walked over to Lin Xingchen.
“Bro, you’re back,” he said to Pei Qingjian.
Pei Qingjian gave a perfunctory “Mm-hmm” and turned to go get his car.
He Haochu took a step forward. “My mom wants you to come over. She has something to tell you.”
“But I don’t have anything I want to talk to her about.”
“It’s about Dad,” He Haochu said. “You should go. Otherwise, Dad won’t be happy.”
“Isn’t that just fine?” Pei Qingjian’s tone was flat. If his dad wasn’t happy, then he’d be happy.
He Haochu: …
Pei Qingjian turned and walked toward the underground garage. He Haochu had no choice but to follow him down.
He was anxious inside, wanting to get Pei Qingjian out of the way so he could talk to Lin Xingshen, but he couldn’t find a way to do it. He practically wanted to knock Pei Qingjian unconscious right then and there.
It wasn’t until Pei Qingjian reached the red convertible sports car that He Haochu snapped out of his daze.
“You came here today to take this car!” He strode over to block Pei Qingjian’s path.
Pei Qingjian nodded. “That’s right.”
He actually said yes! He Haochu thought he was being way too much. He already had a luxury car worth 20 million, yet he still wouldn’t let go of this ordinary car worth over 2 million!
“You already have a better car. What do you need this one for?”
Pei Qingjian: ???
“This is my car!”
Whether it’s good or not, it’s his car!
“But you already have other cars!”
“So this is my car too!”
He Haochu: …
Hearing him say that, He Haochu couldn’t help but think he was truly selfish.
Cars are like that, and so are people.
Even though there are clearly better cars out there, he refuses to let go of this one he’s already abandoned.
Even though there are clearly wealthier people around, he refuses to let go of the penniless person by his side.
He wants everything and wants to monopolize everything, but on what grounds?
He Haochu let out a cold laugh. “Bro, if you insist on driving this car away, don’t blame me for speaking my mind.”
Earlier, for Lin Xingchen’s sake, he hadn’t wanted to bring up the things he’d done wrong in front of Pei Qingjian. But now, if Pei Qingjian pushed him, he wouldn’t mind telling Lin Xingchen exactly what he’d done—right in front of Pei Qingjian.
“Haven’t you said enough already?” Pei Qingjian asked sincerely.
He felt he’d already said more than enough.
He Haochu nodded upon hearing this. “Fine, then let me ask you: is that car parked outside your house yours?”
“How could you possibly afford such an expensive car?!”
“Do you dare tell him right to his face where that car came from?”
He Haochu finished speaking and looked at Lin Xingchen.
Lin Xingchen: ???
Wait, why is he looking at him?
Where did it come from? His uncle gave it to him for his birthday last year!
Is there a problem with that?
Sure, it’s not as valuable as the villa his uncle gave him for his birthday the year before last, but it’s still a token of his uncle’s affection!
What the hell? How dare you disparage the gift his uncle gave him!
Lin Xingchen glared back fiercely!
Author’s Note:
He Haochu: This car wasn’t bought—it was a gift!!
President Lin: What’s the matter? You have a problem with that!
He Haochu: !!! You have no idea who gave it to me!
President Lin: How could I not know? I know exactly who it was!
He Haochu: ……