Chapter 11

Another morning Pei Mingshu woke up late. He declined the breakfast offered by the servant and hurriedly walked out. Ding Mohai was already waiting at the door. “Young Master.”

Pei Mingshu didn’t respond, freezing in his tracks.

Ding Mohai followed Pei Mingshu’s gaze.

To the left of where he parked his car, Pei Qing was helping Mo Yin into the car.

Pei Qing was tall, and Mo Yin’s fair and slender arm draped naturally around his neck, giving off an unexpectedly harmonious vibe.

Ding Mohai commented, “Second Young Master is really good to Xiao Yin. He always drops him off at school before heading to the office.”

As he finished speaking, Pei Mingshu looked at him, and his gaze made Ding Mohai involuntarily shiver, causing the smile on his face to quickly fade.

Pei Mingshu glanced at Ding Mohai before turning his gaze back.

Pei Qing was folding the wheelchair and closing the trunk before getting into the car.

Ding Mohai accompanied Pei Mingshu as they both watched Pei Qing’s car drive away. Pei Mingshu stood there for a moment before saying to Ding Mohai, “Let’s go.”

Due to some free time in his schedule, Pei Mingshu’s June itinerary was particularly busy. He had completed a round of business trips, and upon returning to the company, he noticed that Pei Qing had been promoted. Pei Qing’s promotion was signed off by Pei Jingyou. After glancing through the documents, Pei Mingshu said, “Pei Qing has indeed done well. You can arrange for him to take on more tasks.”

Pei Jingyou chuckled. He was gradually passing on his business to his two sons, and hearing Pei Mingshu’s words, he said with a smile, “No wonder Liu and the others can’t stand me. Both of my sons are so outstanding. They must be jealous to death, those old guys.”

Pei Mingshu smiled gently, neither confirming nor denying it.

Back in his office, after dealing with some public affairs, Ding Mohai came down from Pei Jingyou’s office.

“Young Master, take a look at this.”

Pei Mingshu took the document, flipped through a few pages, and looked up, “What’s father’s intention?”

“Yes, and also your opinion.”

“I have no objections.”

Pei Mingshu casually placed the document back on the table. “Let Pei Qing handle it.”

Ding Mohai nodded, “Okay, I’ll leave it to the Second Young Master then.” He said, then exited. Pei Mingshu sat in his chair for a moment, then picked up his phone from the table. After staring at it for a few seconds, he dialed a number.

“Hello?”

Mo Yin’s voice was soft.

“Do you have class today?” Pei Mingshu asked gently. He had been busy with business trips and hadn’t been home for a month. He hadn’t talked to Mo Yin in a long time, so his tone was softer than usual.

“Classes are over.”

“Are you at home now?”

There was a moment of hesitation on the other end of the phone. “I’m at the company.”

Pei Mingshu raised an eyebrow in surprise, then quickly realized, “You’re here to see Pei Qing?”

“Yeah.”

There was about ten seconds of silence.

Mo Yin’s breathing was quiet, and Pei Mingshu remained silent. After realizing the strangeness of this silence, he said, “Well, have fun.”

The call ended.

Mo Yin looked up at Pei Qing, who was sitting beside him.

Pei Qing was still reading the documents, and Mo Yin’s gaze fell on them. After a while, he put down his phone and lowered his head again, continuing to read the document in his hand.

“Can you understand it?”

“There are some parts I don’t quite understand.”

Pei Qing moved his chair closer. “Where?”

Mo Yin pointed to a line of text.

At first, Pei Qing didn’t want to intern at the company. After being persuaded by Mo Yin, he came. Pei Qing had a personality of either not doing something at all or doing it to the best of his ability. He was busy at the company, but he still waited for Mo Yin to finish class and then went to pick him up. After the unpleasant incident on the attic last time, Pei Qing was waiting at the door to pick Mo Yin up for school the next day. Mo Yin ignored him, but Pei Qing didn’t apologize. He just picked Mo Yin up every day and they didn’t speak to each other.

“Don’t come to pick me up tomorrow.”

Finally, one day, Mo Yin spoke up.

Pei Qing didn’t respond.

“I’ll come to the company by myself to find you.”

Mo Yin said softly.

Pei Qing glanced at him, and Mo Yin’s expression was gentle and soft as if he had finally softened his anger. Pei Qing still didn’t apologize. He reached out and held Mo Yin’s hand, and Mo Yin’s hand trembled slightly but didn’t pull away.

And so, the two of them reconciled without explanations or apologies, as if nothing had ever happened.

After finishing his classes during the day, Mo Yin would come to the company to find Pei Qing. He would bring some professional books to read and occasionally ask if Pei Qing needed any help. After pondering for a moment, Pei Qing would let him assist with organizing the documents.

Pei Qing explained to Mo Yin in a low voice, leaning close to him. His scent and breath enveloped Mo Yin. After a while, Mo Yin would move away, saying he understood. Pei Qing glanced at his profile and then moved his chair back to its original position.

At noon, they ate lunch together in the employee cafeteria, with Pei Qing helping Mo Yin serve the food. Mo Yin couldn’t finish his meal, so he put down his chopsticks halfway through, and Pei Qing pulled his plate closer to finish the leftovers.

Around them, employees occasionally cast glances and whispered to each other, commenting that the Second Young Master didn’t really have airs.

Returning to the office, they ran into Ding Mo Hai.

“Dad has been looking for you everywhere, asking me to call you up for lunch,” Ding Mohai said.

“We’ve already eaten,” Pei Qing replied.

Ding Mohai had no choice but to turn and leave.

Mo Yin watched Ding Mohai leave as he pushed his wheelchair. Then he turned to Pei Qing and asked, “Whose secretary is Uncle Ding anyway?”

Pei Qing’s expression remained cold and indifferent. “It doesn’t matter whose he is. It’s none of my business.”

Mo Yin whispered, “But it does matter to you.”

Pei Qing didn’t say anything else. He turned back to his desk to work. Mo Yin turned his wheelchair to face him. “How about I become your secretary from now on?”

Pei Qing rested his hand on the desk and looked up, locking eyes with Mo Yin. Mo Yin’s expression was somewhat serious. “I can do a good job.”

“Not interested,” Pei Qing coldly refused as he picked up the documents on his desk.

Mo Yin fell silent for a moment before saying, “I’ll go then.”

He pushed his wheelchair toward the door, but it didn’t move far before it was stopped.

Mo Yin pushed forward with all his strength, but Pei Qing’s grip on the wheelchair was too strong. Mo Yin’s efforts were in vain, and he turned back to Pei Qing with a frustrated look.

Pei Qing held onto his wheelchair with one hand, his expression indifferent. He leaned closer, his breath spraying over Mo Yin’s face. “Need to use the bathroom?”

Mo Yin quickly said, “No.”

Lowering his head, his face immediately turned red.

“You’re not allowed to leave until the documents are organized.”

“I won’t come tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow is a holiday.”

“…Fine.”

Mo Yin stayed with Pei Qing until the end of the workday. In between, he went to the restroom. Pei Qing lifted him back into his wheelchair and locked the door as requested by Mo Yin. Sitting on his office chair, Pei Qing said, “What’s there to be embarrassed about? I’m not going to peek.”

Mo Yin blushed and said, “Can’t you just respect me?”

Pei Qing glanced at him.

Mo Yin shielded himself with his hands, and his thin, pale legs hung on both sides, looking somewhat underdeveloped.

Pei Qing frowned slightly and stood up, walking over. Placing his hands on Mo Yin’s thighs, Mo Yin gritted his teeth. “What are you doing…” Pei Qing measured his thigh with his palm and said, “Too thin.”

Mo Yin’s blush faded, and after a moment of silence, he said, “Hmm.”

“Muscle atrophy?”

“… Probably.”

Pei Qing’s hands were large, covering Mo Yin’s pale legs, making the contrast even more stark.

Mo Yin didn’t ask Pei Qing to leave anymore. He seemed particularly low-spirited, lowering his head and not saying a word. Pei Qing lifted him up to help him put on his pants, and with one hand supporting his waist, Pei Qing said, “You need to exercise.”

Mo Yin smiled bitterly, “How do I exercise?”

“Eat more meat,” Pei Qing said to himself.

“… And you also need massages,” Pei Qing helped him fasten his pants button. “Starting from today, you need to have one every day.”

Mo Yin’s arms were originally just loosely draped over Pei Qing’s shoulders. Suddenly, his arms moved, tightly hugging Pei Qing’s neck, and he leaned forward, almost falling onto Pei Qing’s chest.

Pei Qing’s hands paused.

Mo Yin’s weight, from top to bottom, was supported by him, like a weak vine clinging to a big tree.

Pei Qing withdrew his hand, and his arms slowly wrapped around Mo Yin’s waist.

Mo Yin’s waist was very thin, almost too small to grasp. With his arms around him, he looked especially pitiful.

“Pei Qing.”

Pei Qing heard Mo Yin’s low voice, “You’ve never actually disliked me, have you?”

*

When Pei Mingshu finished work, it was already late at night. In the underground parking lot, only his car remained in the three connected parking spaces.

Ding Mohai drove him home.

Pei Mingshu asked, “How’s Dad’s health lately?”

“Sir is doing well. He’s scheduled to play golf with the CEO of Heda tomorrow.”

“Really?”

“It seems like Heda has softened its stance. After you secured the thirteen cities in the south, they no longer have the same arrogance as before. Now they’re willing to sit down and negotiate for cooperation.”

“Good.”

“Sir seems to want to keep them waiting a bit longer.”

Pei Mingshu smiled but didn’t express his opinion.

The car fell silent. It was past eleven, and the streets were clear. Once they reached the halfway up the mountain road, it became even quieter. The trees on both sides, illuminated by buried lights on the ground, emitted a faint green glow. The shadows of the trees cast on the car window appeared in Pei Mingshu’s eyes like unfinished oil paintings.

Ding Mohai keenly felt that Pei Mingshu seemed to be preoccupied.

The words “preoccupied” and “Pei Mingshu” didn’t seem to fit together, which felt strange to Ding Mohai. He quickly dismissed the thought.

Pei Mingshu returned to the Pei residence and lingered in the hall for a while. A servant came to ask if he wanted supper. Pei Mingshu gestured vaguely and glanced in the direction of Mo Yin’s room.

“Is Mo Yin asleep?” Pei Mingshu asked.

The servant replied, “He probably hasn’t yet. The Second Young Master is still in his room.”

Pei Mingshu remained silent for a moment, furrowing his brow slightly. He glanced at the tightly closed door of Mo Yin’s room before slowly turning away.

Mo Yin lay on the bed, and Pei Qing lifted his lower leg, helping him move his joints. “You still can’t feel anything?”

Mo Yin shook his head lightly, his expression calm.

Pei Qing didn’t ask further. “My mother is a caregiver, specializing in taking care of immobile patients.”

Mo Yin quietly watched Pei Qing, waiting for him to continue the story.

But Pei Qing didn’t say anything more.

Pei Qing removed Mo Yin’s pants and helped him lie down. Mo Yin stared at the ceiling, feeling nothing. It wasn’t until Pei Qing’s fingers touched his buttocks that he hummed.

“Do you feel anything here?”

“Mm.”

Pei Qing’s fingers left his buttocks, and Mo Yin lost sensation again.

Pei Qing massaged him for a long time. Then he helped Mo Yin sit up, and Mo Yin saw his pale legs turn red where the scars crisscrossed, their colors becoming brighter.

“I’ll buy some essential oils tomorrow.”

Mo Yin touched his own leg, feeling the warmth spreading through his skin. He turned to Pei Qing and whispered, “Thank you.”

Pei Qing knew that for Mo Yin, the Pei residence was just a temporary place to stay. So he tried not to trouble anyone, not make demands and counted down the days until his departure, just like Mo Yin did.

Pei Qing glanced at the bathroom in Mo Yin’s room.

The facilities for people with disabilities were well-designed. He could imagine Mo Yin using his arms to transfer himself onto the stool, turning on the faucet, washing and wiping his hair with his head bowed, then gradually drying himself off, using his arm strength to get back onto the wheelchair, putting on his clothes first before returning to bed to put on his pants.

Pei Qing turned back to Mo Yin, who was sitting on the bed. “Do you want me to help you take a bath?”

Mo Yin’s eyes were slightly red, but Pei Qing’s expression remained as cold and indifferent as ever, lacking sympathy.

The bathroom was filled with mist, and water quickly poured down on Mo Yin’s face. Pei Qing wiped his face with his hand through the mist. Mo Yin looked at him through the mist, droplets of water still on his eyelashes. His throat rolled slightly, and then he turned his head. His handsome profile was flushed by the hot water.

Pei Qing heard Mo Yin’s breathing, which became faster, then gradually slowed down, then sped up irregularly again.

Mo Yin had many scars on his body, like a colorful and pale snake. His ribs rose and fell slowly with his breath, his body gradually turning pink in the steam.

Pei Qing used a large towel to lift him out of the shower and sat him on the stool, holding him as he helped him dry his hair. He carefully wiped the water from his ears with his fingers through the towel. Mo Yin’s ears had no scars; they were pale and smooth, the ear bones clearly visible under the increasingly red skin.

Mo Yin turned his face to look at Pei Qing.

His hair was wet and draped over his forehead, his eyes still seemed to contain traces of water vapor, giving them a damp appearance.

Pei Qing quietly looked at him.

Mo Yin’s eyelashes drooped.

Their breaths drew closer and closer, and Mo Yin didn’t evade.

Pei Qing’s lips accurately met Mo Yin’s lips.

Soft, slightly moist.

Mo Yin’s breath grew heavy, lifting his eyelashes, his gaze hesitating and probing through the slits as he looked at Pei Qing.

Pei Qing closed his eyes and kissed him forcefully.

Mo Yin stiffened, then slowly closed his eyes too, his hands encircling Pei Qing’s neck.

They didn’t say anything, just kissed deeper and deeper, each kiss louder in the quiet environment, releasing all the accumulated empathy, ambiguity, arguments, jealousy, cold wars, reconciliations, companionship, and mutual understanding…

When this passionate kiss gradually extinguished, the two faced each other, breathing messily, their noses touching, slowly suppressing those impulsive emotions back into their bodies.

Pei Qing embraced Mo Yin, saying, “I don’t need to consider, I don’t care.”