A person and a cat were facing off in the living room when a surprised female voice rang out from the corner.
“Xiao Qi, you’re back?”
The one walking out from the corridor was Xu Yunchi. Today she wore a long, water-blue dress, the hem shimmering like rippling water, exquisitely beautiful, and smiling as she looked over.
The two on the sofa looked up at her, but before they could greet her, the large cat in Pei Yusheng’s arms seized the moment to wriggle free and leaped back onto the sofa, sitting next to Qi Ji.
Seeing this, Xu Yunchi laughed: “Looks like the little one really likes Xiao Qi.”
Pei Yusheng’s temple twitched. “Little? It’s so heavy I can barely lift it.”
Qi Ji, sitting obediently beside the big cat, looked up and greeted her politely: “Aunt Xu.”
“Hey,” Xu Yunchi smiled and asked, “how are you finding it here?”
Qi Ji looked at her smile, a faint blush creeping onto his face. He pressed his lips together before replying, “It’s nice… very comfortable here.”
Pei Yusheng was about to say something when he noticed the audacious big cat shifting its massive body even closer to Qi Ji, leaving no space at all.
Coincidentally, Xu Yunchi said, “Just get used to it. Come, have a seat.”
Pei Yusheng: “…where am I supposed to sit?”
Originally, the long sofa had plenty of space for four or five people side by side, but the big cat had earlier intimidated Qi Ji into sitting at the very edge. Now, the cat was positioned on Qi Ji’s other side, shielding him completely. Pei Yusheng had no choice but to sit across from him, separated by the cat.
And the cat acted utterly fearless—there was Pei Yusheng’s mother present, so it couldn’t be moved or scolded. In the end, he had to take a seat on the other sofa next to Qi Ji.
As he sat down, Qi Ji was stroking the cat’s long tail draped across his waist. The tail even rested its tip in his hand, swaying contentedly whenever touched.
Once he was satisfied, Qi Ji looked up to find the man beside him wearing a slightly displeased expression.
“Sir?” Qi Ji asked, startled.
Pei Yusheng finally tore his gaze away from the pampered tail, his face grim. “I remember this cat.”
Though he hadn’t been home often in recent years, this cat often traveled with his mother between B City and Hong Kong, and he had seen it several times.
“It always tried to push me off my spot, and liked to steal things from my hands.”
He hadn’t cared much back then, but he hadn’t forgotten.
“I suspect it’s targeting me.”
Old grievances now resurfacing, Pei Yusheng began recounting them one by one.
“And last time, Mom baked a tray of egg tarts for me to bring into the living room. I was two steps behind, and before I even looked, it had licked them all.”
He accused flatly, “And it licked the custard centers on purpose—four egg tarts, one by one, finishing the sweetest, softest parts before running off. The rest untouched.”
…Apparently, this cat had quite the taste.
Qi Ji suppressed a laugh, reaching out to gently pat Pei Yusheng’s arm, soothing him: “The cat targeting you is actually because it likes you—it wants your attention.”
As they spoke, Xu Yunchi pulled out a nail clipper and called the big cat over: “Xiao Budian, come here. I’ll trim your claws.”
To be safe, she wanted to tidy the cat’s claws to prevent scratches.
In front of his mother, the cat behaved obediently and prepared to go when called. But because Xu Yunchi sat a little distance from Qi Ji, the cat had to release him as it walked over. First, it carried a few cushions to surround Qi Ji, completely hiding him, before heading to Xu Yunchi.
As soon as the tail loosened from around Qi Ji’s waist, Pei Yusheng, who had been holding back, scooped him up and brought him to the sofa beside himself.
Qi Ji hadn’t even reacted before the man smoothed the crease in his clothes caused by the tail. He was about to say it was fine, but Pei Yusheng held his hand.
“I don’t want to pay attention to it,” Pei Yusheng said, “I only want to be liked by you.”
Qi Ji’s cool fingers were held, gently squeezed. The warmth from the man’s palm seeped through, slightly burning.
It burned straight into his heart.
By the time they reached the main house, it was nearly noon. Only Xu Yunchi was home, but soon the others trickled in.
Pei Yusheng had two older female cousins and three older male cousins, though only his second elder sister and his three brothers were in the country this time. When they arrived, they greeted Pei Yusheng and Qi Ji politely. They all had typical waterside features, gentle manners, much like Pei Yusheng’s mother.
Qi Ji, after greeting them, breathed a small sigh of relief. Although there was nothing to really worry about, it was his first meeting with them, and he had been called here last minute, so he hadn’t prepared. Their gentle treatment helped him relax slightly.
Unexpectedly, as the three turned to go to the kitchen for refreshments, Qi Ji overheard their excited chatter in a local dialect mixed with English:
“This kid is so adorable!”
“SO CUTE! What a handsome boy~”
Although they tried to lower their voices, Qi Ji’s keen senses caught every word.
He had worked on projects here before and could understand some of the dialect. Even if he couldn’t, “CUTE” was clear enough.
Qi Ji felt a little flustered, instinctively glancing at the man beside him. He had clearly heard it too and agreed: “Yes, very cute.”
“Sir…” Qi Ji frowned.
Seeing the boy genuinely embarrassed, Pei Yusheng ruffled the back of his head with a smile: “It’s okay, don’t be nervous. Everyone likes you.”
Pei Yusheng had known this all along.
In university, girls had gone out of their way to place high-value orders for Qi Ji. During internships, colleagues had taken special care of him. Even the usually picky Lina had given him preferential treatment. Not to mention Zhang Wu, who risked everything to save him…
Going further back, there was He Xiu, who treated him like a younger brother.
Who wouldn’t like such a well-behaved young person? Everyone liked Qi Ji.
“Don’t worry,” Pei Yusheng patiently reassured him. “This is normal. No need to be afraid.”
Qi Ji’s tense nerves relaxed a little. He was still learning how to accept others’ kindness.
Lunch was set at a nearby top-floor seaview restaurant. After tidying up briefly, they left. The restaurant was famed for its authentic local tea treats. Despite high prices, it was fully booked every day.
Especially the best viewing spots on the top floor—without a Xu family gold card, reservations needed to be made one or two months in advance.
Once orders were placed and dishes started arriving, Xu Yunchi’s youngest brother, Xu Yunming, the last of the Xu family in the country, finally arrived.
The Xu family had long traditions and high standards. In Xu Yunchi’s generation, their naming convention focused on “success and achievement.” Her three brothers were named Xu Yungong, Xu Yuncheng, and Xu Yunming. Though the youngest, Xu Yunchi, was a girl, she still carried the “Yun” character. The “jiu” character sounded awkward for a girl’s name, so she was named Xu Yunchi instead.
Qi Ji had read extensively about the Xu family from books Lina had given him, and Pei Yusheng had supplemented more details. So he was somewhat familiar and respectfully greeted Uncle Xu upon meeting him.
Meeting them in person, Qi Ji could truly sense the Xu family’s unique aura.
Although each person had a distinct personality, they all shared a similar presence, with ageless appearances—instantly recognizable as Xu family members.
Compared to Chairman Xu Ershu he had met before, Uncle Xu seemed gentler. Xu Yunming wore silver-rimmed glasses, scholarly and refined, more like a university professor than a businessman.
Upon seeing Qi Ji, he immediately presented a gift.
“It’s our first meeting, so I don’t really know what you like,” he said gently, like a spring breeze.
But what he said made it hard to stay composed.
“I’ll give you a yacht,” he continued calmly. “You can sail it eight months a year. When it needs maintenance, it stays at Xu Family Bay with staff taking care of it. It has two intercontinental routes and one global route—whenever you have free time, you can go.”
Qi Ji’s polite smile nearly faltered.
Despite witnessing the extravagant lifestyles of Pei Yusheng’s family many times, this still pushed the limits.
A private yacht capable of global travel?
Such yachts typically carry over a thousand people. Qi Ji had once considered a short cruise for his brother after paying off his debts. Even a non-intercontinental short cruise cost seven or eight thousand yuan per person for four to five days. He had thought it too expensive and put the idea aside.
Now, he was simply gifted a private yacht.
Qi Ji froze completely.
Finally, the hand resting on his shoulder pulled him back to the present. The man gently patted his shoulder: “Go on. This is a gift from your uncle.”
Pei Yusheng’s tone was calm, as if Xu Yunming’s gift wasn’t a massive yacht but just a casual little red envelope.
Apart from Pei Yusheng, everyone else present reacted just as casually. People ate and chatted as usual, paying no special attention to the gift, which spared Qi Ji any extra nervousness. It was as though the gift was perfectly ordinary in everyone else’s eyes.
In the end, Qi Ji could only grit his teeth and thank them, taking the item from Xu Yunming: “Thank you… thank you very much.”
Uncle Xu handed over a metal ship’s wheel, exquisitely crafted. Embedded within it was a chip containing all necessary information. Like a car key, this wheel functioned as the yacht’s key.
Seeing Qi Ji put it away, Xu Yunming’s eyes curved slightly in a gentle smile. “You’re still young—go out and explore more.”
Qi Ji felt something swell in his chest.
Growing up, he had rarely experienced the care of elders, and now, Pei Yusheng’s family was making up for that long-standing void.
He nodded softly. “I will. Thank you, Uncle.”
The seaview restaurant served quickly. Though everything was freshly made, the gold-card customers had priority, and soon the large table was laden with an array of dishes.
Southern cuisine favored sweets and intricate flavors. They had ordered many desserts and plenty of fresh seafood—just looking at it was a feast for the eyes.
This was Qi Ji’s first time in Hong Kong. He wasn’t familiar with southern dishes, so everything seemed new and intriguing. But his gaze couldn’t keep up with Pei Yusheng’s hands; once the food started arriving, Qi Ji’s bowl never sat empty, with Pei Yusheng bringing him dish after dish.
Qi Ji felt embarrassed, especially with Xu Yunchi smiling at him. He hurried to serve himself.
Before Pei Yusheng could say anything, Xu Yunchi interjected: “It’s fine, let Yusheng do it. Let him play host and explain the dishes.”
She understood that her son worried his partner might be uneasy with new cuisine, so he had taken most of the work upon himself.
Though Qi Ji didn’t know this, once Xu Yunchi explained, he no longer refused.
The family ate and chatted harmoniously. Soon, Pei Yusheng’s phone rang. Glancing at the number, he excused himself and stepped out.
With his seat temporarily empty, the three cousins of similar age struck up a conversation with Qi Ji.
Qi Ji might have been nervous because it was his first visit, but the Xu family was equally curious about him. They never expected this cousin—who had shown no interest in celebrity models, thwarted all arranged blind dates, and always seemed single-minded—to quietly bring someone home and speak in such a serious tone.
Back then, Pei Yusheng had not called this person a boyfriend or lover. He had said:
“This is the one I want to spend the rest of my life with.”
So while the cousins were curious, they spoke with tact, and the conversation flowed harmoniously.
As they talked, Qi Ji suddenly remembered something.
During this visit, Pei Yusheng had only introduced three male cousins and two female cousins—there was no mention of the younger cousin he had been told about before.
When Qi Ji had stayed at Rose Villa, the guest room was fully furnished, and when he lacked formal attire, Pei Yusheng had lent him clothes, explaining that they belonged to a cousin of similar age, build, and taste.
Yet now, Qi Ji saw no trace of this cousin.
Among the Xu family present, all were older than Pei Yusheng, and none shared his build. Curious, Qi Ji asked about it. The three exchanged puzzled glances.
“Cousin? Who? There’s no one younger than Yusheng here.”
Recalling the fully prepared guest room at Rose Villa, and the cat plush identical to Pei Yusheng’s on the bed, Qi Ji added: “This cousin even lived with Pei Yusheng before.”
Their expressions grew even stranger. “Lived together? That’s impossible.”
Before Qi Ji could ask why they were so sure, Xu Yunchi, overhearing, explained: “Yusheng has always had trouble sleeping. Even the slightest noise disturbs him, so he never allowed anyone near at night. Except for the three years in the military, he’s lived alone for most of the time.”
Qi Ji asked, “So even at Rose Villa, no one stayed with him?”
“None,” Xu Yunchi replied naturally. “That property in S City was purchased by the Pei family, but since everyone was in B City, it was mostly unused until Yusheng moved there.”
Qi Ji was speechless.
Noticing his reaction, Xu Yunchi asked, “What’s wrong?”
The more Qi Ji thought, the more confused he became. Hesitant, he didn’t know how to start. Xu Yunchi, reading his expression, asked gently: “Did Yusheng give you some things, saying they belonged to a cousin staying there temporarily, nothing valuable?”
Qi Ji was surprised. “You know about that?”
Xu Yunchi smiled lightly. “I guessed.”
Qi Ji was momentarily at a loss.
Xu Yunchi winked, a soft smile on her delicate face. “Forgive him. Who hasn’t taken a little liberty when pursuing someone they like?”
Qi Ji finally realized. But he couldn’t accept the word “forgive,” waving his hands: “No, no, Aunt Xu, I’m not upset with him…”
Just then, Pei Yusheng returned from his call. Seeing them talking, he asked, “What’s going on?”
Xu Yunchi smiled: “Nothing, just chatting.”
Pei Yusheng looked at Qi Ji, his long warm fingers brushing the boy’s ear. “Hot? Why are your ears so red?”
Qi Ji covered the spot just touched, murmuring, “It’s… it’s fine.”
Xu Yunchi laughed, making the boy blush even more.
Pei Yusheng observed them thoughtfully. Soon, the restaurant began serving larger dishes, so he didn’t pursue the matter further.
After lunch, Xu Yunchi and her siblings had errands, leaving the afternoon to the young people. The five of them visited an amusement park, had afternoon tea, watched fireworks in the evening, and toured the Xu family yacht.
Hong Kong, surrounded by the sea, offered far more nighttime maritime attractions than S City, and with the Xu family’s nautical background, the yacht had impressive features. In just over an hour, they saw so much it felt overwhelming.
By the time they returned, it was past eleven. They would stay at the Xu family residence tonight, have a meal there tomorrow, then meet with the company team.
Coming off the yacht, Qi Ji began to grasp the scope of his newly acquired vessel. Though daily operations were handled by professionals, just knowing a yacht belonged to him in the vast ocean… he felt like he was dreaming.
Returning, Qi Ji remained dazed, which gave Pei Yusheng the chance to successfully mislead the watchful cat and carry him up to his second-floor room without disturbance.
After washing up, in Pei Yusheng’s room, Qi Ji sat on the bay window seat overlooking the sea.
Soon, Pei Yusheng, freshly showered as well, approached with a glass of strawberry juice. Handing it to the boy, he sat beside him, contemplative.
Qi Ji sipped the sweet, tangy juice and blinked: “What’s on your mind?”
Pei Yusheng stared at him until Qi Ji bashfully looked away, then asked: “Qi Qi, why do you blush whenever you see my mother smile? Are you embarrassed?”
Although Pei Yusheng’s proximity made the boy shy, he wanted to understand why other people also caused this reaction.
Qi Ji hadn’t expected the question, staring blankly for a moment. When Pei Yusheng took the empty glass, he stammered, “R-Really?”
“Yes,” Pei Yusheng affirmed.
Not just today—Pei Yusheng remembered the first time Qi Ji saw Xu Yunchi walking the red carpet at Yuntu; the boy’s cheeks had flushed then as well.
Caught off guard, Qi Ji moved from the window to the bed, flustered.
Pei Yusheng didn’t press for answers, simply asked: “Do you like her?”
He touched the boy’s cool cheek. “She likes you too.”
Knowing Qi Ji lacked elder attention, it was natural for him to be close to Xu Yunchi, who was gentle in nature. Pei Yusheng simply reassured him.
Qi Ji hesitated, then murmured: “It’s… because of Aunt Xu…”
His voice stumbled, eyes downcast. “…When she smiles, it’s like you.”
He turned his face away, hiding his expression.
Pei Yusheng stood there, stunned.
“Qi Qi?” he asked in disbelief. “So you blush because her smile is like mine?”
“Do you blush when I smile? Huh?”
Qi Ji blushed fiercely, burying himself in the blanket, refusing to answer.
But the man beside him wouldn’t relent, teasing further:
“I thought you blushed because you didn’t know how to interact with an older female relative.”
“Turns out it’s because of me.”
“Qi Qi, so you really like me.”
Hearing this last, Qi Ji, still muffled in the blanket, finally whispered:
“I’ve always liked you.”
His voice was soft, barely audible, but once spoken, the room fell silent.
After a long pause, Qi Ji finally peeked out of the blanket.
The entwined warmth carried a hint of lingering strawberry scent.
“Mmm…”
The cautious little cat finally lifted his head, peering out.
Someone waited patiently outside, waiting for him to step out—someone who would accompany him to witness dazzling wonders, and explore wide oceans and mountains together.