Chapter 20

“Why did you lie to me?”

“Didn’t you say that my dad was on official duty and died in an accident?”

“I don’t believe it, I don’t believe… Why did you lie to me?”

“Qing…”

With hands weakened by illness, he struggled to stroke his face. Tears filled his sunken eyes. “Because… Mom loves you…”

Enough.

Enough!

He had had enough of this selfishness disguised as love.

Pei Qing’s mind roared. He grabbed Mo Yin’s hand and slowly pulled those trembling hands away from his own. He stood up straight, looking down at Mo Yin in the darkness, and said coldly, “I don’t accept it.”

As he turned around, his hand was grabbed again. Mo Yin’s palm was ice-cold, gripping him with unusual force, fingertips deeply embedded in Pei Qing’s hand.

Pei Qing reached out, grabbed Mo Yin’s hand, and tried to pull it away, but Mo Yin grabbed his hand back.

Their hands kept pulling and tugging.

Mo Yin struggled to sit up from the bed, holding onto both of Pei Qing’s arms tightly. He whispered, “Don’t go, don’t leave…”

His voice trembled as much as his whole body.

Suppressing the choked sobs.

Unable to bear it any longer, Pei Qing turned around. He grabbed the back of Mo Yin’s neck, exerting force to lift him up from the bed, pressing their foreheads together. Through gritted teeth, he said, “You think I can’t win against him? You think you’re helping me?!”

In the darkness, Pei Qing could see Mo Yin’s eyes clearly, two lines of tears sliding down.

The tears were crystal clear.

His eyes were full of grievance and pain, enough to move even the most callous heart.

“What can I do?”

Mo Yin’s voice was hoarse.

“Your father handed over the case to him before the public trial. You don’t stand a chance. What can I do?!”

They had grown accustomed to the darkness, able to see each other’s expressions clearly, the same pain, but different despair.

Pei Qing’s expression froze completely. The raging flames in his mind were suddenly doused with ice-cold water.

Mo Yin wrinkled his nose slightly, evidently trying to hold back from crying further. He looked so pitiful, but every word he said was like pouring oil on fire.

“You work so late every day, so diligently and earnestly preparing. Seeing you work so hard, how could I bear to…”

“This isn’t fair, it’s so unfair!”

“Yes, I spied and eavesdropped. Otherwise, how would I know they had already planned it beforehand, and the public trial was just a sham? You don’t stand a chance. I don’t understand why they’re treating you like this. I don’t want to see you lose, I don’t want you to be sad…”

Mo Yin’s eyes sparkled strangely, with a hint of vulnerability and stubbornness, until he stared into the depths of Pei Qing’s black eyes.

“What can I do? What can I possibly do, Pei Qing, teach me, tell me how I can watch you lose without doing anything…”

The hand that had been holding his neck gradually loosened its grip. Mo Yin lost his support and leaned backward. Instinctively, he reached for Pei Qing’s collar, but at that moment, Pei Qing had already pulled him back into his arms.

Mo Yin’s cheek slammed hard against Pei Qing’s shoulder.

He could hear Pei Qing’s breath quicken and feel his chest heaving strongly. The arms holding him were as solid as rocks.

A smile appeared in his eyes. He wrapped his arms around Pei Qing’s neck, his voice choked with apology, “I’m sorry, Pei Qing, I was wrong, forgive me, don’t leave me, I only have you, Pei Qing, I only have you…”

His plea was forcefully silenced.

Pei Qing’s lips were dominant, powerful, and carrying a destructive force, transmitting emotions so intense that Mo Yin almost felt ecstatic in an instant.

For the first time, the naturally indifferent Mo Yin felt a sexual impulse.

Fueled by Pei Qing’s genuine despair, he became excited to the point where he could barely contain himself.

He kissed Pei Qing passionately, their tongues intertwining fiercely, feeling Pei Qing’s emotions. In that moment, he even wanted to strip him naked and see the contorted muscles of his body, to see if they were twisted with pain…

In the darkness, Pei Qing’s hand pressed against Mo Yin’s, fingers intertwined, firmly in control of every finger, firmly embedded.

Mo Yin’s expression softened to the extreme, as if he belonged entirely to him, willing to do anything he wanted.

Because he loved him.

Definite, complete favoritism.

Pei Qing stared at Mo Yin, his gaze complex and obscure, his eyes tingling, breathing heavily, and his chest heaving violently, evidently trying to calm his emotions.

Mo Yin said hoarsely, “Pei Qing, have you forgiven me?”

Pei Qing lowered his head, and Mo Yin raised his face. In the darkness, his eyes sparkled faintly, timidly, with uncertainty and fear of abandonment.

Pei Qing kissed his eyes and said, “I have no right to blame you.”

He kissed Mo Yin’s nose, following his gaze, and said, “Nor will I blame you.”

Mo Yin hugged him tightly.

Their embrace was moist and tight. Mo Yin said hoarsely, “I thought you were angry and didn’t want me anymore.”

“I will never not want you. Never.”

Having abandoned himself, how could he bear to inflict the same feeling on someone he loved?

The vast Pei Mansion.

But he only had him, and he only had him.

They were one, symbiotic, and mutually dependent.

Unable to let go, unable to separate.

Pei Qing hugged Mo Yin to wash his face.

When the light came on, Pei Qing noticed the redness and tear marks on Mo Yin’s face. His eyes were more swollen than during the day, his eyelids were thin, with a lingering watery gleam in his eyes. As soon as he met Pei Qing’s gaze, he looked away, as if he had been severely bullied.

In a sense, he had, with Pei Qing’s initial harsh questioning.

Pei Qing touched his face with his palm. “Were you scared?”

Mo Yin nodded.

“I’m sorry.”

Mo Yin’s eyes seemed to well up with tears again. “I don’t accept.”

Pei Qing’s hand paused, but Mo Yin obediently nestled into his chest.

“It hurt to hear you say that.”

His heart clenched again. Pei Qing said, “I’m sorry.” He never bowed down to anyone, but tonight, he apologized and softened his stance.

Mo Yin didn’t take advantage of the situation, but said, “I don’t blame you. Just don’t do this again in the future. We agreed to leave together. Don’t abandon me.”

Pei Qing sat on the bed, holding him. “I won’t.”

Mo Yin wrapped his waist, seeming even more affectionate and dependent than before.

“Pei Qing, were you sad after learning the truth?”

“…”

“I’m sorry,” Mo Yin whispered, “I didn’t want to tell you originally. Forget about it. After we finish this cooperation, we’ll leave here.”

Warmth surrounded them, but a chill settled in the depths of Pei Qing’s heart.

“My mother was a nurse.”

Pei Qing suddenly said.

Mo Yin was taken aback but quickly responded with an “okay.” “You’ve mentioned it.”

“She came here to take care of Mrs. Pei, who was seriously ill,” Pei Qing’s palm pressed down, expressionless. “She met Pei Jingyou.”

“They were lovers during their student days. Their old love was rekindled, and then I came along.”

“Later, Mrs. Pei passed away. She left her pregnant with me and secretly gave birth to me.”

“Until I was thirteen, I always thought my dad was a policeman who died on a secret mission. To prevent retaliation, she had to hide my father’s true identity from me.”

“This lie is actually absurd and ridiculous, but as a child, I believed it unquestionably.”

Pei Qing looked at Mo Yin. “Was I too foolish?”

Mo Yin had never heard Pei Qing speak so much at once. He looked at Pei Qing with soft eyes, full of warmth. “Pei Qing, hold me.”

Pei Qing hesitated for a moment before bending down, wrapping his arm around Mo Yin’s back. He leaned against Mo Yin’s shoulder, his forehead slightly warm.

Mo Yin’s hand covered the black hair at the back of his head and said softly, “You’re not foolish. You just wanted a good father…”

Even if this father had never seen him, was dead, or didn’t exist, it was better than being a married man.

Mo Yin tightened his arms, turned his head, and kissed Pei Qing’s cheek.

It was a pitiful yet vulgar story.

Yet it was so easily exploited.

Mo Yin’s face held a faint smile as he continued to speak softly.

“A person can’t choose their background, Pei Qing. Don’t blame yourself. You haven’t done anything wrong. Even if you did, it’s their fault, they’re the ones who wronged you.”

Pei Qing hugged him tightly.

Mo Yin stroked Pei Qing’s back, emitting a warm and pleasant heat. His tone was soft, his voice gentle, and his words whispered in Pei Qing’s ear like a warm breeze, a moist rain, sprinkling on Pei Qing’s cold heart, melting him yet keeping him firm.

Mo Yin’s tone suddenly became tense. “Did anyone discover anything about the collaboration case? Will you get into trouble at the company?”

Pei Qing let go of him and looked into his eyes, seeing the uneasiness in Mo Yin’s gaze.

“In fact, I regretted it a bit later,” Mo Yin’s eyes flickered with a faint fear, “He said some strange things to me in the garden today. I think he might know it was me. Will he tell Mr. Pei and have me kicked out now?”

Pei Qing’s face darkened slightly. “What did he say?”

Mo Yin pursed his lips and shook his head, looking somewhat embarrassed.

Pei Qing didn’t press further. He could probably imagine. He held Mo Yin’s hand. “Don’t worry, you did it for me. I’ll protect you.”

Mo Yin shook his head again. “It’s my fault. I did something wrong. I’m willing to apologize. If he wants to punish me, I’ll accept it. As long as it doesn’t affect you, I’ll accept anything.”

Pei Qing’s temples throbbed.

Just now in the study, every word Pei Mingshu said to him carried meaning. After calming down a bit, Pei Qing realized that Pei Mingshu probably thought he deliberately used Mo Yin to steal the plan.

Indeed, in the eyes of his righteous elder brother, this illegitimate child was undoubtedly despicable.

If he wanted to clear himself and reveal the truth, Mo Yin would be the one blamed.

But from another perspective, wasn’t Pei Mingshu pretending to conduct a public trial while knowing he would be responsible for the collaboration case hypocritical?!

There were many things he had no right to contest from the beginning.

But why did they still give him such illusory hopes, making him believe he had such possibilities?

So he worked day and night at the company, striving to perfect the plan, all for a possibility that didn’t even exist?

Like a blindfolded donkey running forward, except he didn’t even have a carrot in front of him.

Why didn’t they just tell him directly? Did they find it amusing to watch him struggle for something he could never reach, merely for entertainment?

If it weren’t for Mo Yin, would he have been kept in the dark and ultimately accepted his fate of failure?

He didn’t want anything, hadn’t fought for anything, so why did they still play with and manipulate him like this?

Pei Qing’s expression turned cold, and his heart felt as if it was being filled with a dark, icy liquid bit by bit. “It’s okay. As long as you don’t admit it, he can’t do anything to you.”

“But you…”

“I’ll be fine,” Pei Qing looked at Mo Yin with determination. “You don’t need to worry about anything. Remember, no matter who asks you, this has nothing to do with you. I’ll protect you.”

Under his strong gaze, Mo Yin nodded hesitantly.

He hugged Pei Qing and whispered, “Pei Qing, did I really harm you?”

Pei Qing held him, his tone indifferent. “You loved me, you didn’t harm me.”

Mo Yin remained silent in his arms for a long time before asking, “Will we still be able to leave smoothly later? Will Mr. Pei disagree? I also have selfish motives. I want you to win, maybe Mr. Pei will be happier then, and we can leave smoothly. I’m sorry…”

Pei Qing didn’t speak for a long time.

He had “won,” but Pei Jingyou wasn’t happy.

Perhaps he had been too naive before.

The curtains were tightly drawn, with only a bedside lamp on. Judging by the time, it should have passed midnight, a new day in reality, but outside it must still be pitch black. The darkness before dawn was always particularly heavy, perhaps testing whether people had the courage to cross that darkness and move towards a brighter future.

But sometimes, even if people had the courage, the direction was wrong, and they would only walk deeper into darkness, never seeing the light.

He had always wanted to leave here and be himself again.

But wasn’t that another kind of cowardly escape?

People couldn’t choose their backgrounds, but they could decide which way to go in the end.

Why is it that he’s the one without fault, yet he’s the one being looked down upon, being deceived, and yet all the consequences of the mistakes, why should he bear them?!

Moreover, he’s not alone now…

“Fairness” is something he’s never had since birth, something no one ever thought to give him.

But Mo Yin said he felt it was unfair, he couldn’t stand how they treated him like that.

This is the first time someone has fought for him.

If he continues to be indifferent, wouldn’t he be disappointing those who have sacrificed for him?

Pei Qing held Mo Yin’s hand and casually said, “Let’s talk about it when the time comes.”

He didn’t realize, his demeanor and tone of voice as he spoke were so unpredictable, his facade deep, even a bit cold.

Mo Yin looked up at Pei Qing, a faint smile playing at his lips.

Finally seeing the pawn he nurtured slowly moving in the direction he desired, he tilted his head gently and touched Pei Qing’s lips, obediently saying, “Okay, I’ll do as you say.”