Chapter 6

“Pei, Pei Qing, something’s wrong, Mo Yin’s in trouble.”

Pei Qing, who was found, was heading downstairs, but he seemed to ignore the words, continuing his descent without stopping.

The student who found him was puzzled by his reaction and instinctively followed him downstairs. “His uncle is here, and it seems like he’s going to take him away!”

Pei Qing halted his steps, slowly turning his face. “Say that again.”

It seemed Pei Qing’s attitude toward him was already considered relatively good. Mo Yin watched quietly as Pei Qing grabbed Mo Honghai’s collar and dragged him out. Mo Honghai’s face turned red with embarrassment, still shouting and struggling. Pei Qing slammed him against the nearby wall, and Mo Honghai immediately quieted down.

The classroom fell unusually silent.

A few minutes later, Pei Qing returned, looking as if nothing had happened. Without a word, he pushed Mo Yin’s wheelchair past. However, instead of pushing, he just glanced at Mo Yin faintly. Mo Yin silently unlocked the wheelchair.

Pei Qing walked away swiftly, and the wheelchair rolled across the floor, emitting urgent sounds.

They descended in the elevator, and Pei Qing kept pushing the wheelchair until they reached a secluded spot before stopping. Mo Yin even rocked back and forth with the momentum.

Pei Qing released the wheelchair, then turned to lean against a rough tree trunk, his breath slightly labored.

“That was quite a thrill ride,” Mo Yin chuckled.

However, the shock Pei Qing just experienced was probably much greater.

***

“In fact, the Second Young Master’s bad temper has reasons behind it.”

Mo Yin helped the servant tidy up clothes. The servant, not very old, was the most talkative among those he had encountered. She often disclosed information about the Pei family to Mo Yin. After becoming acquainted with her, Mo Yin found her speech increasingly uninhibited.

“His mother was actually just a nurse, and she was even the nurse for our madam. It’s really tragic.”

“But there’s even more tragedy later on. The uncle who took him home insisted on being paid by Sir, otherwise, he threatened to take the Second Young Master away. It was basically selling the child indirectly, causing a huge scene. The Second Young Master already had a difficult background. He had just returned home and was completely disgraced. I heard that during the first year after being brought back, he hardly spoke. Everyone thought he was mute.”

“And then?”

“What then?”

“That uncle.”

The servant shrugged. “Sir gave him some money to send him away.” After hanging the clothes neatly in the wardrobe, she continued, “It was all about money. Did they really want the child? That uncle wasn’t a good person either. He hadn’t done anything decent. The Second Young Master suffered a lot with him. The one he hated the most was that bloodsucking uncle.”

“Is that so?” Mo Yin’s expression showed contemplation. Indeed, that was quite detestable.

***

Pei Qing gradually calmed his breath.

The eerily familiar scene almost instantly brought back his memories and the emotions he felt at the time.

It felt like unwanted garbage yet also like a desperately needed money tree.

A bitterly ironic contradiction.

His palm curled slightly, and Pei Qing turned around.

Mo Yin sat in the wheelchair with his back to him. His hair tousled gently in the breeze, and the back of his hand on the wheelchair’s armrest showed prominent veins due to exertion.

“Sorry for causing you trouble,” his voice was calm, desperately hiding the tremor within.

Pei Qing turned his face, saying coldly, “You are indeed troublesome.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Mo Yin lowered his head.

“So please, in the future, rely more on yourself for everything, and try not to trouble others.”

Mo Yin lifted his head, turning to look back at Pei Qing diagonally.

Pei Qing’s expression remained indifferent, but there seemed to be something warm in his eyes, as if some fervent emotion was breaking through his cold exterior and revealing itself to Mo Yin.

Mo Yin’s expression slowly changed as well. He nodded, taking Pei Qing’s blunt words seriously. “Thank you, I will.”

Pei Qing’s gaze gradually calmed down. He turned his head away, grasping the wheelchair. Mo Yin raised his hand and said, “I can do it myself.” Their hands coincidentally touched.

Their skin contact: Pei Qing’s hand was warm, while Mo Yin’s was cool.

Mo Yin looked at Pei Qing, who was also looking at him.

Mo Yin quickly withdrew his hand.

Pei Qing looked away, pushing the wheelchair. “You’re too slow.”

“Do we have classes this afternoon?”

“No, we don’t.”

“Then let’s go back and eat.”

The driver waited near the school, upon receiving instructions, he immediately drove the car to the west gate of the school where the two were waiting. The driver hurriedly got out of the car, “Young Master…”

Pei Qing, as usual, ignored him and simply reached down from the wheelchair with one hand, effortlessly lifting Mo Yin.

“Open the car door, what are you waiting for?”

“Oh, right away.”

Pei Qing remained in the passenger seat, head bowed, focused on his phone.

Mo Yin remained in the back seat, fastening his seatbelt, observing Pei Qing in the front seat. A faint smile played on his lips. When Pei Qing’s cold gaze met his through the rearview mirror, Mo Yin immediately dropped his smile and lowered his head. In that moment when Mo Yin didn’t notice, Pei Qing’s gaze softened ever so slightly.

Back at the Pei residence, the driver retrieved the wheelchair from the trunk while Pei Qing had already lifted Mo Yin out of the back seat.

Though they had only done it twice, Pei Qing handled it as if he were quite skilled. When he set Mo Yin down this time, it was gentler than in the morning, and the wheelchair only rocked slightly. Mo Yin’s arm slid off his shoulder, accompanied by a soft “Thank you.”

Pei Qing had no reaction, he returned his hand to his pocket, still wearing a cold expression.

“It seems you get along well,” a voice that had been absent for some time came from inside. Mo Yin and Pei Qing both turned their heads.

Pei Mingshu was back. He stood at the door, holding a coffee cup, with a faint smile on his face. “I asked Xiaoyin this morning, and he said you’ve been treating him well. I wasn’t quite sure, but it seems to be true. Then I’m relieved.”

Pei Qing glanced at Mo Yin.

Mo Yin’s face turned slightly red.

Pei Qing turned away without saying a word, walking past Pei Mingshu.

Pei Mingshu didn’t mind, walking up to Mo Yin. “How was your first day at school?”

“It was fine.” Mo Yin lowered his head.

Pei Mingshu seemed a bit surprised.

He had always been very concerned about Mo Yin, but Mo Yin always seemed to maintain a bit of guardedness towards him, his attitude always tepid, only occasionally revealing genuine emotions.

Pei Qing, on the other hand, didn’t interact with Mo Yin at all.

But it seemed that in just one morning, Mo Yin’s attitude towards Pei Qing had become slightly more affectionate.

At least in Pei Mingshu’s eyes, Mo Yin seemed to be less reserved with Pei Qing than with him.

“That’s good.”

Pei Mingshu nodded slightly, gesturing for the maid to push the wheelchair. However, Mo Yin suddenly said, “Can I talk to you? Alone.”

In the room, with the curtains half-drawn, the flower garden outside remained unchanged.

Pei Mingshu sat quietly, listening to Mo Yin recounting what had happened at school.

“I see.” He responded vaguely.

Mo Yin said, “I don’t know if my uncle will go to the media again and cause trouble…”

“You don’t need to worry about that,” Pei Mingshu interrupted him.

Mo Yin fell silent for a moment, then said, “Actually, my uncle isn’t a bad person.”

Pei Mingshu looked at Mo Yin.

Mo Yin’s expression was calm, with a hint of helplessness and sadness. “He’s just in too much debt. My cousin is also in debt and has been missing. My uncle has been searching for him elsewhere, so no matter what he does, I don’t blame him.”

Pei Mingshu’s heart stirred.

The incident involving Mo Honghai and Mo Yin, Ding Mohai had already told him everything, including Mo Honghai’s framing.

Perhaps for Mo Yin, this uncle who wasn’t usually close to him was now the only elder relative left, so no matter how bad he was, he was still good.

Pei Mingshu sighed softly, rubbed his fingers, and reached out to lightly tap the back of Mo Yin’s head. Mo Yin slightly turned his head to avoid it, showing some discomfort with the contact. Pei Mingshu smiled at him, “Xiao Yin, you’re too kind.”

Mo Yin looked melancholy.

“You don’t need to worry about this matter,” Pei Mingshu said in a gentle and reassuring tone, “I will handle it.”

“Thank you,” Mo Yin said softly.

Pei Mingshu smiled and said, “This is something we should take care of. You’ve had a tiring day at school. I’ve made some soup in the kitchen. Have some more later.”

“Okay.”

“You’re such a good boy.”

Pei Mingshu couldn’t resist the urge and ruffled Mo Yin’s hair again. Mo Yin probably didn’t object this time because Pei Mingshu promised to solve his uncle’s problem. He didn’t move again, just grabbed the wheelchair handle as if in response to the stimulation. Pei Mingshu chuckled inwardly, restraining the impulse to ruffle his hair a second time.

Pei Mingshu said he had already eaten and left the room, leaving Pei Qing and Mo Yin in the dining room.

Pei Qing’s expression wasn’t very pleasant. He said to Mo Yin, “You don’t need to speak up for me in front of him.”

Mo Yin blinked.

Pei Qing said coldly, “I don’t need to rely on anyone’s favor.”

Mo Yin held the chopsticks in his hand, and his lips moved a couple of times. After a while, he said slowly, “I didn’t mean to.”

“Anyway, just remember,” Pei Qing said, looking at him with clear eyes, “how I treat you, you don’t need to report to anyone.”

Under his gaze, Mo Yin nodded slowly. “I understand. I won’t say anything in the future.”

Pei Qing withdrew his gaze. After a while, he used a public chopstick to pick up a dish of vegetables for Mo Yin.

“Thank you.”

“Let’s eat without talking.”

“…”

Mo Honghai held his forehead as he went upstairs.

He had a bump on his head, swollen and painful. Pei Qing had hit him really hard. Damn, did having money make someone superior? Saying that if he dared to come again, he would break his legs.

Fine, break his legs then. He might as well bring himself into the Pei family!

Muttering to himself, Mo Honghai grumbled softly, feeling that this matter couldn’t be left alone like this. He couldn’t just let this beating go to waste. He needed to find a way to expose something, couldn’t just let go of such an opportunity to make money.

He inserted the key into the lock, opened the door, and walked in. Lowering his head, he walked to the sink on the left, turned on the tap, and washed his hands first. There were some blood stains on his hands, which made him angrier. He cursed under his breath, then grabbed a towel from the wall to cover his forehead. Turning around, he was startled.

In the narrow and dimly lit rental room, a figure appeared abruptly, completely incompatible with the place. The person wore a well-tailored overcoat, and even someone who couldn’t recognize the fabric could tell that it was of high quality.

Mo Honghai’s gaze shifted upward, and he saw a refined face that matched the luxurious outfit.

“You…”

“Hello, I’m Pei Mingshu.”

Pei Mingshu stood with his hands behind his back, polite and courteous.

Mo Honghai heard this surname, his legs softened for a moment, then he began to feel dazed.

Pei? Pei’s family?

What does that mean?

Why did someone from the Pei family suddenly appear in his rental room? Where did he get the key? No, what did he want with him? To give money? Or to make trouble?

Mo Honghai had always wanted to contact someone from the Pei family again, but now that he actually saw one, he felt a little nervous.

The scene where Ding Mohai brought a lawyer had left him with psychological shadows, and today, Pei Qing had left him with physical shadows. Under the double blow of shadows, Mo Honghai couldn’t speak for a while, nor did he know how to react. He just stared blankly at Pei Mingshu.

“It’s like this,” Pei Mingshu saw Mo Honghai not speaking and smiled, “I hope you won’t disturb our family’s life anymore.”

Mo Honghai continued to look at him blankly.

“I mean Mo Yin.”

“…”

Mo Honghai came back to his senses. He put down the towel covering his forehead, and after thinking about it for a moment, he finally understood.

Was Mo Yin deliberately using him?

Instigating him to cause trouble, so that the Pei family would be embarrassed, and then Mo Yin would come out to play the good guy, help the Pei family resolve the matter, and smoothly become a member of the Pei family, living a worry-free life forever.

So now, the Pei family treats Mo Yin as a good person and treats him as a bad person?

Mo Honghai looked at Pei Mingshu, his eyes emitting a fierce and angry light.

All these emotions were directed at Mo Yin.

“You are from the Pei family…?”

Pei Mingshu knew that Mo Honghai was asking about his identity, but he didn’t directly answer. Instead, he said, “Pei Mingshu.”

Mo Honghai gritted his teeth and decided to give up. He tossed the towel aside, intentionally spat on the ground in front of Pei Mingshu, and sneered, “I thought rich people earn their money by being smart, but it turns out they’re all idiots.”

Pei Mingshu watched him quietly, with a faint smile on his face, but for some reason, that smile seemed condescending to Mo Honghai, making him feel very uncomfortable.

Mo Honghai took out a cigarette from his pocket, but just as he was about to light it, Pei Mingshu said, “Please don’t smoke.”

Mo Honghai glanced at Pei Mingshu obliquely. Although Pei Mingshu’s tone was very gentle and he still had a smile on his face, for some reason, his hand trembled, and he involuntarily put down the lighter.

Mo Honghai felt embarrassed and flushed, feeling that he had lost face. He swallowed his saliva, gritted his teeth, and said, “Let me tell you, I’ve already said it. It was Mo Yin who asked me to cause trouble when Mr. Pei came to visit, saying that this way we could get more money. I really don’t know why you don’t believe me. He did it deliberately. He abandoned me and was afraid I would expose him! If you don’t believe me, I can confront him face to face. Money doesn’t matter. I just want to clarify things now!”

Mo Honghai’s impassioned speech almost convinced him, and he straightened his back a bit involuntarily.

Pei Mingshu’s expression remained unchanged throughout. After Mo Honghai finished speaking, he said, “You owe four hundred thousand, Mo Tianlong owes seven hundred thousand. I can help you settle both debts.”

Mo Honghai’s expression instantly changed. It was a kind of uncontrollable joy, and his eyes revealed a greedy gleam.

“Really?” Mo Honghai couldn’t wait and asked eagerly, “What are the conditions?”

Pei Mingshu smiled and said, “Please refrain from disturbing our family’s life.”

Mo Honghai blurted out, “Don’t you believe what I said?!”

Pei Mingshu raised his arm behind his back, and Mo Honghai subconsciously took a step back, thinking that Pei Mingshu was going to hit him. But to his surprise, Pei Mingshu just looked at his watch on his wrist. He was wearing black gloves, which made Mo Honghai a bit nervous. He was afraid that Pei Mingshu might suddenly attack him. For some reason, compared to the hot-tempered young master of the Pei family, he felt that the refined and courteous Pei Mingshu in front of him was even more terrifying.

“It’s getting late. I’ll take my leave now. Someone will contact you.”

Pei Mingshu took a step forward, and Mo Honghai looked at him dumbfoundedly. Pei Mingshu walked to the door and turned his head back. “By the way, I took two things from there. I hope you don’t mind.”

He nodded his chin, and Mo Honghai’s gaze followed. He found that the urn and the memorial tablet on the table against the wall were gone.

Mo Honghai didn’t say anything. He leaned against the window and watched Pei Mingshu’s figure appear downstairs. The driver got out of the car and opened the door. Mo Honghai suddenly realized that Pei Mingshu seemed to have completely ignored everything he said from beginning to end, as if they were not speaking the same language at all.

Mo Honghai cursed under his breath and lit a cigarette angrily. Fine, he would clear the debt first, and then he would slowly deal with them!

—

“This person is very greedy and likes to talk nonsense,” Pei Mingshu said calmly as he took off his gloves one by one in the car, “It’s best to settle everything at once.”

“Do you mean…?” The person in the front seat stopped talking immediately.

Pei Mingshu raised his hand to signal that the topic should end here.

The person in the front seat immediately shut up.

Pei Mingshu took off his gloves and picked up a black and white photo from the side.

Mo Yin looked somewhat like his mother in the photo. His eyes and nose were delicate and gentle, but because he was a boy, his facial features were slightly sharper, making him look a bit stubborn, yet pitiful at the same time.

Back at the Pei residence, Pei Mingshu handed the urn and the memorial tablet to Mo Yin. Mo Yin’s expression was indescribable. He immediately turned his face away, avoiding Pei Mingshu’s gaze, and hugged the items tightly.

Pei Mingshu stroked his hair, and Mo Yin didn’t move away.

“It’s okay now. No one will bother you again in the future.”

After a while, Mo Yin turned his face back, his eyes red, and looked at Pei Mingshu. “How did you solve it?”

Pei Mingshu said gently, “I gave him some money.”

Mo Yin’s eyes became even redder.

“It’s okay,” Pei Mingshu’s palm moved down from the top of his head, Mo Yin’s hair was soft and smooth, “As long as the problem is solved.”

“He’ll ask for money again.”

Mo Yin’s face showed a stubborn and helpless expression. “I’ll leave. It’s already fine. If I leave here, he won’t be able to do anything.”

Pei Mingshu put his hand on the back of his neck, squatting down gently. “No, you won’t. You have to trust me.”

Mo Yin seemed to be trying hard to control himself. There was a faint shimmer of tears in his eyes, but the tears refused to fall. He lowered his head to avoid Pei Mingshu’s gaze and suppressed his voice. “I want to go home.”

“When you have a holiday, I can take you back to see.”

“I’ll go back by myself.”

“Or, I can have the driver take you.”

“…”

Pei Mingshu waited quietly for a moment. He patted Mo Yin’s neck gently. “Okay, rest now. Don’t think too much. It’s all over.” When he stood up, he heard Mo Yin’s low and hoarse “Thank you.”

Pei Mingshu smiled.

“My uncle…” Mo Yin whispered, “Did he ask you to tell me something? After that day, he blocked me, and I couldn’t contact him…”

“No.”

Pei Mingshu paused for a moment, then changed his mind. “Yes.”

Mo Yin raised his face, with a hint of hope in his expression.

“He said to live here peacefully. He’s going to do business in the south.”

Mo Yin’s expression gradually dimmed, and he murmured, “Hmm, my uncle isn’t very good at business.”

“Oh really?”

“When is he leaving? I want to see him off.”

Pei Mingshu patted his head again, smiling, “He’s already gone.”

“…”

“Don’t dwell on it,” Pei Mingshu said gently, “The past is behind us. He has his life, and you have yours. You need to look forward.”

Mo Yin murmured again, lowering and then raising his head, his gaze sincere. “Thank you.”

Pei Mingshu’s fingers lightly brushed Mo Yin’s cheek, causing him to flinch slightly, then hesitantly lean back, before leaning his face back again. Pei Mingshu smiled warmly, his fingers caressing Mo Yin’s cheek. “No need to thank me.”

After that day, Mo Honghai indeed never appeared again.

Mo Yin tried to contact him but couldn’t reach him.

Later, he searched online and found some gossip suggesting that the uncle who had been particularly high-profile during the 829 incident had gotten into trouble, apparently for involvement in pyramid scheme fraud.

The hype surrounding 829 had long since died down, and no one paid attention to this news. When Mo Yin switched out of the page and back again, he found that even that piece of information was gone.

The two brothers really had completely different styles.

Pei Qing seemed eccentric but was actually not very deep, appearing cold on the surface but overflowing with sympathy and lacking attention. Once you broke through his defenses, he was easy to approach.

As for Pei Mingshu…

On WeChat, Mo Honghai’s vulgar insults ceased on the day Pei Mingshu said the issue was resolved.

The phone screen dimmed.

A pensive face appeared on the screen.

Mo Honghai had helped him infiltrate the enemy’s ranks, helped him break through Pei Qing’s defenses, and tested the depth of the two brothers for him. He had been used to his fullest and had become a discarded pawn.

Now, he needed something new.

Preferably two equally powerful pawns – ones that could attack and kill each other.