As May approached, Xinghai Group had a major project to discuss in Xiangjiang. A considerable number of staff were dispatched for the meeting, led by a member of the board—Pei Yusheng.
The design department also sent someone along for coordination. Since this project didn’t require much input from Xinghai’s designers, only Qi Ji was ultimately selected.
With graduation nearing, Qi Ji had been avoiding long-term projects to focus on his thesis defense. This short business trip thus fell to him, a simple assignment without major responsibilities.
The project discussions went extremely smoothly. What was supposed to be a five-day trip wrapped up in three. Once the contract was finalized, the team didn’t rush back; the remaining two days were left for leisure in Xiangjiang.
After a celebratory dinner, the remaining free time began. At this point, Director Pei left first, alone.
When colleagues asked, someone who knew the situation explained that Pei’s home was here. Though Pei Yusheng’s identity hadn’t been publicly revealed, his recent performance and achievements meant few questioned him.
He also quietly took the youngest team member with him. Since only one designer had been sent from the department—and Qi Ji, coming from Yuntu, wasn’t well-acquainted with the headquarters staff—no one noticed their departure much.
That morning, the two appeared at Xiangjiang’s most popular attractions.
The city wasn’t large but was famous for tourism, with distinctive local culture and unique tea treats. Without any rush, the two wandered the streets, sampling the most authentic local shops.
At a cookie shop, Qi Ji felt the taste familiar, prompting a memory from when he first joined the design department.
“I’ve had these cookies before,” he said. “Director Wu’s friend brought them to her. She said she couldn’t finish them, so she shared them in the office.”
Pei Yusheng listened, expression unreadable, and casually offered a piece of snowflake pastry to the boy: “Are the cookies good?”
“They’re delicious!” Qi Ji earnestly praised. “The buttery flavor is rich, and it melts in your mouth. I’ve never forgotten it.”
Pei Yusheng wiped the crumbs from the boy’s mouth, then licked his own finger calmly.
“Mm,” he murmured in Qi Ji’s slightly surprised gaze. “Sweet indeed.”
Though it was late spring, with ideal temperatures, Qi Ji felt a flush he couldn’t explain. He handed his snowflake pastry to Pei: “If you like it, we can eat together.”
Pei Yusheng’s lips curved slightly, and indeed, he shared the snack. He nibbled only a small bite near the boy’s hand: “Just a taste.”
Qi Ji didn’t mind and continued eating the rest. Pei’s gaze lingered on the bite he had taken before asking, “If you like these cookies, should we buy more to take back?”
“No need for too much,” Qi Ji shook his head. “The office treats are good too, and these are freshly made—no vacuum sealing, they won’t last long.”
He sighed a little, recalling, “That’s why we were so surprised when Director Wu brought so many desserts. They were handmade, expensive, and hard to get. We all wondered if it was from her new boyfriend. In the end, she shared them with us, and we felt a little embarrassed.”
Pei Yusheng listened silently, smiling without comment.
After exploring the city, they went to the port. Xiangjiang was surrounded by the sea, and the scenery was lovely. Both loved the ocean, so the experience was even more enjoyable.
Standing on a high bridge, looking at the sea, Qi Ji hadn’t yet spoken when Pei Yusheng remarked, “Decades ago, there were many private islands here, but they were all nationalized. Private ownership was forbidden.”
Qi Ji exhaled in relief. Honestly, he had been a little nervous that Pei might suddenly say, “You own this sea now,” especially knowing that a domestic island enthusiast had only about thirty islands, whereas he personally had fifty.
Though private ownership isn’t disclosed without consent, Qi Ji wasn’t yet used to this luxurious lifestyle where one could casually be told, “This beach is yours.”
Before he could fully relax, Pei Yusheng added: “But the beaches here can have property purchased. About twenty nautical miles southeast, there’s a stretch of beach under your name. You can visit anytime.”
Qi Ji: “…Let’s, let’s not for now,” he said, awkwardly shifting the topic. “We’re just wandering. Aunt Xu’s family is here. You must have spent some childhood here? Did you often come out to see the sea back then?”
Pei Yusheng smiled, noticing his unease. He didn’t press and answered gently: “The Xu family was indeed here, but I mostly lived in City B. I didn’t come here often; sometimes not even once a year.”
Qi Ji looked puzzled. “But don’t you like the seaside?”
Considering the birthday gift of islands, Pei Yusheng’s elders clearly knew of his love for the sea. So why did he rarely come to Xiangjiang?
“Because I had daily training with the barracks soldiers,” Pei Yusheng said calmly. “I couldn’t leave City B for long, or too often, or my father would think I was weak and lazy.”
He had been pressed into rigorous training from a young age, running around the city moat before dawn. While ordinary soldiers could take sick or personal leave, Pei Yusheng couldn’t skip a session even when feverish—failure meant corporal punishment from Pei Xiaolin.
Even the story of hiding Qi Ji in the rehabilitation center when his mother visited was true. His mother didn’t mind, but Pei Xiaolin would never allow a caregiver. He hated any sign of laziness or weakness.
Pei Yusheng’s tone was calm, almost flat. Yet Qi Ji felt shocked.
How could a father treat his son like that?
He couldn’t help asking: “And Aunt Xu…”
Pei Yusheng understood the boy’s concern: “They argued often, but my mother couldn’t do much at the time.”
His mother was young, unaware of her leverage over Pei Xiaolin. At that time, Xinghai hadn’t developed, and the Pei family’s influence was greater. Arguments never resolved anything; Pei Xiaolin’s soft heart remained only for Xu Yunchi. Pei Yusheng’s treatment didn’t change.
Knowing this wasn’t a pleasant memory, Qi Ji stayed silent, hugging Pei Yusheng gently.
“It’s in the past now,” he said softly.
Pei Yusheng wrapped his arms around the boy’s waist, resting his chin on his neck: “Mm.”
Qi Ji patted his back lightly, just as he would for Bai Bai’s fur when the kitten curled in his lap.
The gentle sea breeze brushed over their shoulders, surrounding them with calm.
Except for the wind, the sound of a ringing phone broke the quiet.
Qi Ji tried to pull back slightly but was held tighter. From his hidden position at Pei’s neck, he whispered, “Sir, the phone.”
Pei Yusheng’s muffled voice came from beside him: “Ignore it.”
The ringing continued. Qi Ji, after a moment, softly stroked Pei’s back: “You switched to a private phone before. If it’s coming through now, maybe it’s something important?”
Pei Yusheng stayed silent a moment longer, then finally raised his head, exhaled, and retrieved his phone.
The familiar number flashed on the screen.
He answered: “Hello, Mom?”
His brow furrowed slightly. “You came to Xiangjiang?”
Qi Ji, standing nearby, was surprised. Aunt Xu had been abroad for meetings; he hadn’t expected her to suddenly change plans.
The call ended quickly. Pei Yusheng turned to Qi Ji: “My mom is here. She asked if we’d like to visit her home.”
He brushed the stray hair from Qi Ji’s cheek: “Do you want to go?”
Initially, Pei hadn’t planned for Qi Ji to visit the Xu household, mindful of their different backgrounds. But with Pei’s mother present, Qi Ji could relax a little.
Qi Ji hesitated but finally nodded: “Sure.”
He remembered the New Year, when Pei Yusheng, due to illness, hadn’t come to Xiangjiang, missing their rare chance to reunite.
Still, as the visit approached, Qi Ji felt a natural tension.
He had never experienced anything like this before.
“Will I be disturbing everyone?” Qi Ji hesitated. “And… I didn’t bring a gift either…”
Pei Yusheng lightly tapped the furrow between his brows. “Just coming over is the best gift.”
Qi Ji felt a little embarrassed and rubbed the tip of his nose, relaxing his frown.
“I mean it… it feels awkward to show up empty-handed.”
“I’ll take care of the gift,” Pei Yusheng said calmly. “No need to worry. Let’s start heading that way; I’ll tell you about the people at home on the way.”
Xu Yunchi had arranged to return home around noon, and it was nearly that time.
The Xu family was immensely wealthy, and by Yunchi’s generation, their fortune had only grown. Though there’s a saying that wealth rarely lasts past three generations, the Xus had accumulated deeper and deeper. With Xinghai Group now part of the picture, their assets were practically incalculable.
Xu Yuncheng was the youngest of four siblings. Her second brother managed Xinghai’s finance and administration, while the eldest and third brothers oversaw the family’s domestic and international enterprises. Their busy schedules were self-evident.
This visit coincided with only one family member at home: Xu Yunchi’s third brother—Pei Yusheng’s third maternal uncle. Pei’s grandparents had passed away, and a few cousins of similar age to Pei Yusheng were present as well, addressing each other by name.
The main house also housed a cat as pampered as its owners.
Qi Ji recalled what Wen Chuming had said: “Is that the big cat with the bad temper?”
When he had rescued Bai Bai, Wen Chuming mentioned the cat belonged to Aunt Xu and had quite the attitude.
“Bad temper?”
Pei Yusheng frowned. Honestly, having little interest in pets before meeting the boy, he barely remembered the cat. After thinking a moment, he said, “It was rather spoiled, but very cute when it was a kitten.”
As a kitten, it loved to rub against people. When Pei’s mother was away, it would come to him, and though he wasn’t fond of cats, he remembered the feeling. Later, seeing Qi Ji unconsciously nuzzle him while under the influence of medication reminded him of a tiny kitten.
“I remember my mom sent me a childhood photo the other day, and it’s in that picture. Let me find it.”
Pei Yusheng searched briefly and produced the photo.
“Look.”
Qi Ji tilted his head to see: the young Pei Yusheng sat by a floor-to-ceiling window reading, a tiny, round kitten curled at his feet, its large black eyes staring into the camera. Its slightly longer pointed ears made it look especially lively.
“So cute!” Qi Ji exclaimed.
The kitten was too small to determine its breed, and worried about motion sickness, Pei Yusheng quickly put the phone away: “You’ll see it at home. No rush.”
Qi Ji’s impression of the cat shifted—to a regal yet adorable creature.
The car soon arrived at Qianshui Bay, nestled between mountains and sea, with rooms offering expansive ocean views. Yachts could dock in the bay below, and the surroundings were first-class.
The Xu estate spread across a bay, modest compared to the largest luxury villas in City S, but charming in its own right.
As the car passed the front garden, Qi Ji admired the traditional architecture, a testament to the Xu family’s longstanding legacy.
They stepped out, and the driver brought a dozen prepared gift boxes from the trunk, following them into the house.
Qi Ji, visiting for the first time, felt nervous. Pei Yusheng pressed the doorbell. A camera swiveled, scanning him before the door automatically opened.
“Come,” Pei Yusheng said, gesturing for Qi Ji.
Before they could step inside, a massive black shadow lunged at them.
“Meow!”
Qi Ji froze.
That was… a cat?
A massive cat, over a meter long, stood at the doorway. Its body was two to three times the size of an ordinary cat, tail erect like a large club, resembling more of a lion than a housecat.
Pei Yusheng frowned, positioning the boy behind him.
“Don’t worry. That’s the Maine Coon my mom keeps. It’s big but won’t hurt anyone. Don’t be afraid.”
Before he could finish, Qi Ji peeked around: “This is a Maine Coon? I’ve never seen one in person… I couldn’t tell from photos before.”
Excitement, not fear, colored the boy’s voice.
“I’ve always wanted to pet a Maine Coon—it has such a beautiful tail!”
Adult Maine Coons are large, especially their long, thick tails, which can be thicker than a human thigh.
Before Pei Yusheng could respond, the cat gracefully approached, ignoring him and weaving around Qi Ji, raising its gaze to meet his eyes.
The sheer size and wildness of the Maine Coon, even with its sleek features, made the boy momentarily tense. Qi Ji, still excited, quieted instinctively.
Pei Yusheng, sensing the tension, prepared to guide Qi Ji into the living room, but the cat nudged him forward with its massive frame.
“Hey,” Pei Yusheng frowned, addressing the cat. “Step back. Don’t scare our guest.”
The cat ignored him, focusing solely on Qi Ji, pressing him toward the living room step by step.
Within seconds, Qi Ji found himself several feet away from Pei Yusheng, seated on the sofa.
Pei exhaled in frustration—if it weren’t his mother’s cat, he’d have lifted it away already.
The cat leapt onto the sofa, curling its long tail around Qi Ji’s waist.
Qi Ji blinked in surprise but sensed no hostility, only wonder.
“Sir,” he said, eyes sparkling, “look at its tail—it’s beautiful.”
Pei Yusheng felt a twinge in his chest. Defeated by a cat’s tail.
Before he could process it, the Maine Coon, tail still wrapped around Qi Ji, stood partially upright, grabbed a snack from the tray beside the sofa, and placed it in Qi Ji’s lap.
“Want me to open it?” Qi Ji asked carefully.
He unwrapped the snack and offered it to the cat. Instead, the cat nudged the boy’s hand with its nose, pressing the snack toward Qi Ji’s mouth—it clearly wanted him to feed it.
Qi Ji blinked: “For me?”
The cat stared, then pressed its paw on Qi Ji’s shoulder, licking his jaw gently, like grooming a kitten.
Qi Ji couldn’t help laughing. “Ticklish…”
Though the cat’s touch was light, it tickled his sensitive skin, making him shiver slightly.
Before he could finish laughing, he suddenly felt lightened—Pei Yusheng, his face dark, had had enough. Grabbing the soft fur on the cat’s back, he lifted it firmly.
“Step aside,” he said, veins standing at his temple, voice stern. “This isn’t your cub.”