Chapter 14

Shortly after Pei Mingshu returned to the Pei residence, thunder rumbled in the sky, echoing through the mountains with deafening roars. Pei Mingshu turned to look at the approaching dark clouds, his brow furrowing slightly.

The servants were methodically checking the windows of each room. After confirming that both windows in Mo Yin’s room were securely locked, a servant turned around, startled by someone at the door.

“Young Master.”

Pei Mingshu glanced over. Mo Yin’s room was simple, with the most prominent feature being a large bed.

The servant looked at him with confusion, but Pei Mingshu nodded and turned away. The servant then exclaimed, “Young Master, your back…”

Pei Mingshu waved his hand backward, indicating it was nothing.

Back in his bedroom, Pei Mingshu removed his shirt. The black shirt had stains on the back, rendering it unwearable in the future. Pei Mingshu replaced it with a lighter-colored shirt.

Outside, the sky turned dark as the wind howled. With the doors and windows tightly shut, Pei Mingshu sat by the French window. The emerald-green leather chair was soft, and a floor lamp cast a gentle light. He quietly watched the swaying greenery outside, accompanied by the intense sounds of the storm.

After the death of Yue Xiyun, Pei Mingshu followed his mother’s wishes and went abroad to live and study in his maternal grandparents’ home. Despite their material wealth from early immigration, they still faced discrimination. Therefore, they were stricter in their children’s upbringing, determined not to let their next generation fall behind the privileged aristocrats in the area.

Pei Mingshu grew up under such a completely aristocratic upbringing. His demeanor, manners, and cultivation were all carefully cultivated. His own thoughts and emotions were always suppressed, hidden deep within his heart. Pei Mingshu had long been accustomed to this.

Raindrops began to fall without warning, pounding against the French window like bullets. Pei Mingshu took out a cigarette from the drawer.

The relaxation brought by nicotine was minimal. Pei Mingshu took a couple of puffs, feeling dull. He stubbed the cigarette in the nearby ashtray and hesitated for a moment before picking up his phone.

“Ding” sound

Mo Yin took out his phone.

“It’s dangerous in the rain. Wait until it stops before heading up the mountain.”

He typed back, with just one word: “Okay.”

“Who’s messaging you?”

Mo Yin turned around as Pei Qing emerged from the bathroom, drying his hands with a handkerchief, traces of incense ash on his hands.

“A classmate, asking me about course selection for the new term.”

Pei Qing sat down beside him. “I probably won’t go to school at the beginning of term. It’s too busy at the company. Take care of yourself at school.”

Mo Yin nodded. Pei Qing looked at him with a firm and reliable gaze. “If you need anything, call me. I’ll come.”

Outside, the rain poured heavily. The poorly insulated building made it seem like the rain was directly pouring onto their heads. Mo Yin leaned on Pei Qing’s shoulder, and Pei Qing wrapped his arm around him. With the lights on inside, amidst the howling storm, the feeling of cuddling each other felt wonderful, as if there were only the two of them between heaven and earth.

“Let’s wait until the rain stops before we leave,” Pei Qing whispered softly.

“Okay.”

Mo Yin smiled. “It’s a good thing you had foresight. If we got caught in this heavy rain halfway, it would’ve been troublesome.”

“It’s not my foresight, it’s the weather forecast.”

Mo Yin chuckled again.

Pei Qing held one of his hands.

After a while, Pei Qing lowered his face, and Mo Yin rested his cheek on his shoulder, calm and gentle. Pei Qing’s nose brushed against his cheek, and Mo Yin turned his face slightly.

In the exchange of kisses, Pei Qing held Mo Yin like he was holding a baby. Mo Yin felt fragile and delicate in his arms, in need of his protection and care. Pei Qing had never experienced such a feeling of being relied upon as the only support, but it felt good.

Mo Yin’s eyes flickered, his palm resting on the back of Pei Qing’s neck as he whispered softly, “Pei Qing, will you take care of me for the rest of my life?”

Pei Qing didn’t give a response, but instead held Mo Yin tighter in his arms. His arms, his embrace, were so broad and strong, capable of completely enveloping Mo Yin.

He wouldn’t easily make any promises, but in his heart, during those silent moments they spent together, he had already given his answer.

“The rain has stopped. Let’s go back.”

*

After another period of covert struggles, Youcheng and Heda unexpectedly reached a miraculous reconciliation. Who suffered more losses in the process, only they themselves knew. The unsettled accounts would have to wait, as both sides temporarily sat down to begin their collaboration.

Pei Jingyou’s mood was exceptionally pleasant. He praised his two sons’ excellent performance at the board meeting and expressed his intention to entrust the first cooperative project to one of them.

“Others can also submit proposals if they have ideas,” Pei Jingyou said cheerfully. “Fair competition, fair competition.”

Of course, the others wouldn’t be foolish enough to compete with the two young masters.

Pei Mingshu advanced faster in the company, with a higher position than Pei Qing initially. However, Pei Qing later caught up because he started from the middle level and gained some reputation among the lower-level employees. So, it was uncertain who would win the first cooperative project.

Pei Qing became completely immersed in work, neglecting his studies. With his status, he naturally had privileges, while Mo Yin still obediently went to school every day and had the driver take him home after class.

Pei Mingshu was also busy. He didn’t have much desire to compete with Pei Qing. Being older and receiving a better education, he had a broader perspective. In fact, before the board announced it, Pei Mingshu was already informed that he would handle this cooperative project. Pei Jingyou’s public announcement of the competition was just to motivate Pei Qing to strive harder.

Pei Mingshu knew Pei Jingyou’s fatherly affection for Pei Qing very well, but he didn’t care whether it would come to fruition or not; he just went along with it.

At first, Pei Qing didn’t want to get involved in company matters, but once he entered, he put in all his effort. Conversely, Pei Mingshu, starting with shouldering responsibility when he entered, gradually became indifferent.

The deep autumn forest remained lush and green. Pei Mingshu sat on the study balcony, flipping through documents and speaking in a moderate tone. Behind him stood seven or eight people, all listening attentively to his instructions.

Not far away, the gate of the Pei residence opened. Pei Mingshu’s gaze followed, seeing the black car that was specially used to pick up Mo Yin.

Pei Mingshu paused for a moment, then continued giving instructions.

Mo Yin was assisted by the driver to get out of the wheelchair. There were several unfamiliar cars parked in the garage, belonging to Pei Mingshu’s subordinates.

While Pei Qing spent all day at the company, Pei Mingshu worked from home, probably not wanting to make the atmosphere within the company too tense.

Mo Yin had only one class in the morning, so he came back just in time for lunch. After washing up in his room, when he came out, the servant said lunch was ready.

Only Mo Yin and Pei Mingshu were dining. The others were probably arranged to eat elsewhere.

Mo Yin ate quietly, neither speaking nor looking at Pei Mingshu. After finishing, he whispered, “I’m done,” and nodded slightly in the direction of Pei Mingshu before pushing his wheelchair toward the dining room door.

Pei Mingshu watched him leave, then put down his chopsticks, signaling to the servant to tidy up.

Mo Yin stayed in his room to read. Around two o’clock in the afternoon, several cars successively left the Pei residence. Mo Yin seemed lost in thought. After a while, he put down his book and pushed his wheelchair to the garden.

For the convenience of the master’s viewing, the garden was located near the balcony of every room. Mo Yin reached out to touch the flowers, gently sniffing them.

He guessed that Pei Mingshu was probably watching him from upstairs.

Pei Mingshu seemed gentle and amiable on the surface, but in reality, he was much more difficult to approach than Pei Qing. He had his defenses, and his inner self was extremely rigid. Asking him to reveal his true feelings like Pei Qing was too difficult.

However, fortunately, he had Pei Qing as a useful pawn to stimulate him.

Often, the more upright a person appeared, the harder it was to resist certain unconventional temptations. For someone with strong self-restraint, once that self-control was broken, it would collapse even faster than ordinary people, like a mountain torrent bursting through a dam, unstoppable, and ultimately causing devastating consequences…

Mo Yin picked a flower with his fingers, looking at it indifferently.

“Would you like to put a bouquet in your room?”

Mo Yin turned around to see Pei Mingshu. His expression was briefly panicked, but he quickly regained his composure. “No need, they’re better off in the garden.”

Pei Mingshu saw Mo Yin lingering among the flowers, with only his black hair and slightly bent figure visible from the limited height and angle of the floor above. Mo Yin kept pushing the wheelchair forward, causing his figure to appear intermittently in Pei Mingshu’s line of sight, which made Pei Mingshu feel somewhat disturbed. So, he decided to come downstairs.

He went downstairs but seemed to have nothing to say. However, when it came time to leave, Pei Mingshu found it difficult to move his feet.

Mo Yin let go of the flowers. “Why aren’t you going to the company?”

“I’m working from home.”

Mo Yin replied, “Oh,” and then added, “That’s easier.”

Working from home wasn’t actually easier, but Pei Mingshu didn’t correct Mo Yin. Instead, he asked, “Why aren’t you going to the company?”

“What would I do at the company?”

Pei Mingshu remained composed and said lightly, “You could help Pei Qing. I heard you’re a quick learner.”

Mo Yin forced a smile and said, “Actually, I don’t understand much. I’ve only learned a little bit and can’t help much. I can only organize some files and try not to cause trouble.”

“Don’t underestimate yourself,” Pei Mingshu said with another smile, this time more genuine. “You’ve always been a good student, haven’t you?”

Mo Yin smiled genuinely this time as well, his eyes slightly curved, radiating a lively glow on his fair face.

Pei Mingshu rarely saw such a radiant expression on Mo Yin’s face.

Even when he was with Pei Qing, Mo Yin always seemed silent and subdued, and Pei Mingshu couldn’t sense much joy from him.

After the laughter, the atmosphere between them seemed less tense than before. Pei Mingshu leaned to the side, his gaze seemingly lingering on Mo Yin, who unconsciously clenched the wheelchair again as if he wanted to escape. Pei Mingshu probably understood by now that Mo Yin wasn’t unwilling to be alone with him, but…

As Mo Yin hesitated, seeming like he was about to leave, Pei Mingshu asked, “Do you have something to do now?”

*

This was Mo Yin’s first time coming to the third floor.

The elevator opened to a narrow corridor, with Pei Mingshu by his side. The two were very close, and Pei Mingshu spoke softly, while Mo Yin answered cautiously. Their voices echoed in the space.

Pei Mingshu’s study was spacious, with huge bookshelves on both sides filled with books. The glass door on one side of the balcony was half-open, revealing a light brown wooden table and a chair leaning against it. A few leaves were scattered on the ground, swaying as the autumn wind blew.

Pei Mingshu closed the glass door.

The dark desk was cluttered with files piled up like mountains. Pei Mingshu said, “Sorry to trouble you.”

Mo Yin replied with a simple “Hmm.”

In fact, there wasn’t much for Pei Mingshu to do here either. He just felt that Mo Yin looked lonely sitting alone in the garden, so he called him to the study to “help with organizing the files.”

Lost in thought, Pei Mingshu suddenly felt pressure under his arm. He lifted his head, his gaze sharp. Mo Yin seemed startled by him, “You’re pressing down.”

Pei Mingshu lowered his eyes and realized that a folder was under his arm. He raised his hand and smiled gently at Mo Yin, “Sorry, I didn’t notice.”

Mo Yin pulled out the folder and opened it, glancing at it briefly before closing it again. He said to Pei Mingshu, “Sorry, I’m used to it…”

He seemed a bit flustered and embarrassed, his gaze wandering. Perhaps he remembered the person who used to let him casually browse through the files.

“It’s okay,” Pei Mingshu said, raising his eyebrows slightly. Then he smiled gently, this time more sincerely, “It’s not confidential. Feel free to look, and if you don’t understand anything, you can ask me.”

“Can I?” Mo Yin seemed hesitant.

Pei Mingshu encouraged him, “Go ahead and take a look.”

Mo Yin opened the file and glanced at a few lines before looking up at Pei Mingshu with a smile. “Actually, I don’t understand much either.”

Pei Mingshu also smiled, “Really? What don’t you understand?”

With his arm pressed against the desk, Pei Mingshu leaned over slightly, and Mo Yin’s wheelchair leaned against the edge of the desk. Holding the file, he leaned in as well. “It’s here. What does this clause mean?”

The two were very close, and Pei Mingshu caught a faint floral scent from Mo Yin, probably from the garden earlier. Mo Yin’s breath was light and cautious, and his fingers delicately traced the text. Pei Mingshu’s gaze followed Mo Yin’s movement, and he noticed Mo Yin’s fair and handsome profile, his eyelashes slightly curled… Mo Yin seemed to hold his breath. His shoulders shifted backward as if he wanted to create some distance between them. But Pei Mingshu suddenly asked, “What’s your relationship with Pei Qing?”