Wen Qi struggled to clarify, “I didn’t. Everyone can wear whatever they want. Pei Yanchu chose this himself—it has nothing to do with me.”

Pei Yanchu nodded earnestly. “Yes, yes, it was all my own choice.”

Xu Qianjun also nodded dazedly. “Y-yeah, he insisted on it himself.”

Wen Qi: …The more they explained, the stranger it sounded.

Pei Yanchu hummed a little tune and returned to the kitchen to continue cooking, leaving Wen Qi and Xu Qianjun staring awkwardly at each other.

Trying to break the tension, Xu Qianjun changed the subject. “Xiao Qi, why don’t you pick a lucky charm? I chose a bracelet for myself. See if you like anything here.”

Wen Qi agreed and accepted the paper bag. He didn’t believe in luck charms but didn’t want to reject Xu Qianjun’s good intentions. Planning to pick something randomly, he let his slender fingers sift through the items. His fingers brushed against a small box, and he absentmindedly pulled it out.

It was a square box with a transparent plastic cover, revealing a pair of coral bead earrings inside—bright crimson, as vivid as drops of blood.

“Xiao Qi, you like those?” Xu Qianjun asked in surprise. “I remember you don’t have pierced ears…”

He hesitated, worried. “If you get your ears pierced, won’t Aunt Wen disagree?”

Wen Qi had been about to put the box back, but hearing that, he paused. “Perfect. I’ll take these, then.”

Xu Qianjun blinked. “Did you have a fight with Aunt Wen?”

Wen Qi replied coolly, “Xingle Media’s financial chain is in trouble. Uncle Song turned to my mother for help, and she wants me to marry into the Shen family to help Xingle through this crisis. I’ve already agreed to meet the youngest son of the Shen family.”

Xu Qianjun stammered, “You’re not talking about Shen Xi, are you? That young master… there are a lot of rumors about him, and his reputation isn’t great…”

Wen Qi nodded. Speak of the devil—his phone screen lit up with a new message. He glanced at it, let out a soft laugh, and handed the phone to Xu Qianjun, speaking with a touch of self-mockery. “The meeting’s scheduled pretty quickly. I guess this is the last bit of value I have left, huh?”

Xu Qianjun read the message, his breath catching. He asked worriedly, “Are you really going to meet him?”

“Why not? Not only will I go, but I’ll be fully prepared.” Wen Qi’s long lashes lowered slightly as he twirled the blood-red coral earrings between his pale fingers, his voice drifting softly. “I heard Old Master Shen is very upright. I want to try… doing something I’ve never done before.”

Meanwhile, Pei Yanchu remained oblivious to the conversation outside the kitchen. He happily brought out three bowls of rice topped with soft-boiled eggs and eel drizzled with sauce, accompanied by tomato soup for each of them. The eel had been reheated in an air fryer, leaving the surface slightly charred with a tangy-sweet glaze. The white rice was sprinkled with black sesame seeds, while corn kernels and broccoli added pops of color, and a perfectly cooked soft-boiled egg nestled on the side.

Pei Yanchu sat across from the two and sighed dramatically. “It’s a shame I didn’t have seaweed flakes at home. It would’ve been perfect otherwise.” He even added a theatrical sigh, “Oh well, I guess it only scores a 99 out of 100.”

Xu Qianjun praised, “It looks amazing already!”

Pei Yanchu stared at Wen Qi, waiting for his reaction.

Wen Qi found it amusing. The eel in the fridge was pre-cooked, the sauce pre-mixed. All Pei Yanchu had done was heat the eel in the air fryer, steam some rice, and boil the vegetables in water—there was no technical skill involved. Yet here he was, fishing for praise?

Wen Qi was in a good mood, so he took a bite and nodded along. “Mm, I’ll give you 99 points.”

Pei Yanchu’s eyes lit up instantly, and the smile on his lips was impossible to hide, as if an invisible tail behind him was wagging wildly.

The three of them sat around the table. Wen Qi and Xu Qianjun hadn’t seen each other in a while, so they chatted while eating.

Xu Qianjun, a junior screenwriter at an entertainment company, started venting about his recent frustrations—how he had stayed up all night rewriting two scenes based on the lead actor’s requests, only for the actor to complain the next day that the lines were too long and demand yet another rewrite.

With a sour expression, Xu Qianjun grumbled, “Every day, I open my eyes just to slave away for peanuts. I’m seriously considering taking a break, like you, Xiao Qi.”

Wen Qi replied lazily, “I’ve pushed off work for over half a year now, haven’t submitted a single demo. Sure, I’ve been having fun, but my manager’s face looks pretty awful these days.”

“He dares give you attitude? Your contract was never fair to begin with! The company’s been taking advantage of you for years. Shouldn’t he feel guilty?” Xu Qianjun huffed. “How much longer do you have left on that contract anyway?”

“Don’t be mad. I’ve already used it as leverage,” Wen Qi replied. “I figure it won’t be long before the company calls me back to terminate it.”

Xu Qianjun caught on immediately, his face lighting up. “That’s great!”

Pei Yanchu, curious, asked, “What contract?”

Hearing that, Xu Qianjun got riled up again. “Xiao Qi signed a management contract with the Song family’s Xingle Media back in high school. They took advantage of his young age and ignorance, so the terms were completely unfair! They not only took his copyrights but also took the majority share of his earnings. And the breach of contract fee? Outrageous!”

Pei Yanchu frowned. “Didn’t anyone help him review the contract back then?”

Xu Qianjun instinctively glanced at Wen Qi. Of course, someone had helped. But it was precisely because he trusted that person that he didn’t even question it and signed the contract without hesitation.

Wen Qi smiled faintly. “Let’s drop it. Eat your food.”

The atmosphere around the table stiffened, but the topic shifted.

After the meal, Pei Yanchu naturally stood up to clear the dishes, even asking if they wanted any fruit.

When he returned to the kitchen, Xu Qianjun whispered, “Oh my God, Xiao Qi… the once-billionaire Pei Yanchu has been turned into a perfect househusband by you.”

Wen Qi sighed. “Watch your words—’househusband’ seriously?”

Xu Qianjun nodded gravely. “I can’t help it. His aura is too strong. Even if he’s here doing chores like a live-in son-in-law today, I still feel like tomorrow there’ll be a whole line of people outside, and the moment the door opens, they’ll bow and chant, ‘The three-year mark has passed, welcome back, Dragon King!'”

Wen Qi burst into laughter, nearly tearing up. “Shui Shui, how many short dramas have you been writing lately?”

He added, “If I remember right, Pei Yanchu is a year older than us. His zodiac sign is the dragon.”

Back in high school, when Wen Qi heard Pei Yanchu was a dragon, he had even felt a bit disappointed, thinking—
‘He’s not a dog?’

Xu Qianjun gasped dramatically, “The true Dragon King was beside us all along?!”

Ding-dong!

The doorbell rang. Wen Qi went to answer it, accepting a convenience store bag from a delivery worker before returning to the table. He pulled out the contents and asked, “Is this what you wanted?”

Xu Qianjun leaned closer and nodded. “Mhm, mhm.”

Hearing the noise, Pei Yanchu finished loading the dishes into the dishwasher and came out of the kitchen. Seeing how close the two were standing, he wordlessly stepped between them and asked, “What did you buy?”

Xu Qianjun replied, “A disposable ear-piercing gun and alcohol wipes. Xiao Qi wants to pierce his ears.”

Ear-piercing gun?

Pei Yanchu lowered his gaze.

On the table lay a white ear-piercing gun with a silver needle attached—sharp, fine, and glinting with a cold sheen.

“Why the sudden idea to pierce your ears?” Pei Yanchu’s brows furrowed as he looked at Wen Qi.

Wen Qi had picked up the other ear-piercing gun and was focused on reading the instructions. His features were strikingly beautiful, his pale skin almost luminescent, with a delicate, porcelain-like sheen. The perfect contours of his profile resembled a deity from Greek mythology. His slender neck was graceful and fair, exuding an air of elegance and detachment.

At that moment, his head was slightly lowered, soft chestnut hair falling gently over his forehead. His delicate ear, with a flawless pearl-like earlobe, was tinged with a soft, warm glow.

Pei Yanchu’s gaze lingered on his earlobe, his Adam’s apple moving slightly as he swallowed, unable to tear his eyes away.

Still studying the instructions, Wen Qi spoke casually, “Shui Shui gave me a pair of coral bead earrings. They’re pretty nice. He’s already got his ears pierced, so since he’s here, he can help me…”

As he spoke, he turned his head, only to realize that, at some point, Pei Yanchu had shifted closer between them. His broad figure leaned in, peering at the ear-piercing gun alongside him. From behind, it almost seemed like he was half-embracing Wen Qi, the posture dominant and impossible to ignore.

The distance… was too close.

Wen Qi’s expression turned slightly uncomfortable. “You’re blocking Shui Shui.”

Xu Qianjun, who had been completely obscured, blinked as he sensed the tension. Just as he was about to say something, his phone suddenly rang. Seeing who it was, he said, “Ah, my agent’s calling me. Xiao Qi, give me a minute.”

Xu Qianjun hurried off to the balcony to take the call, leaving the two of them alone.

Pei Yanchu glanced at the coral bead earrings on the table, then back at Wen Qi. “You like coral beads? I could find you some clip-ons instead.”

“No need.” Wen Qi lowered his dark, lash-fringed eyes and gently pinched his earlobe. “These earrings were specially blessed by a master Shui Shui consulted for good luck. I just figured I might as well get my ears pierced now.”

From the balcony, the faint sound of Xu Qianjun’s phone conversation echoed, making the silence between them even more pronounced.

Pei Yanchu’s gaze remained fixed on Wen Qi’s earlobe. After a moment of silence, he finally said, “…It’ll hurt.”

Wen Qi responded softly, “I know.”

Pei Yanchu didn’t say anything else.

Not hearing a reply, Wen Qi lifted his gaze and asked, “You think I shouldn’t pierce them either?”

“No.” Pei Yanchu’s voice paused slightly, his tone low. “I was just thinking… it will hurt.”

The response wasn’t all that different, leaving Wen Qi momentarily speechless. He had clearly already said he knew that.

Just then, from the balcony, Xu Qianjun finished his call and returned. The two of them instinctively looked away from each other in sync.

Xu Qianjun hurried over, apologetic. “Xiao Qi, my agent just called. I have a last-minute job and need to leave right away. Sorry, I won’t be able to help you pierce your ears today.”

“It’s fine. I can do it myself. Work comes first.” Wen Qi picked up the paper bag on the table. “I’ll walk you downstairs.”

Xu Qianjun nodded quickly, then reminded, “If your earlobe gets swollen, remember to apply some anti-inflammatory ointment.”

“Got it.”

As Wen Qi prepared to leave, he glanced toward Pei Yanchu.

Pei Yanchu, sensing the look, spoke up. “Yuanbao and I will guard the house.”

Hearing its name, the little dog popped out from under the table, wagging its tail and letting out a soft bark.

A smile flashed in Wen Qi’s eyes as he left with Xu Qianjun, escorting him downstairs. After seeing him off and watching the car drive away, Wen Qi returned to the apartment.

As soon as he opened the door, the little dog enthusiastically ran up, tail wagging. Wen Qi gave it a few affectionate pats before heading back to the table.

Pei Yanchu was now watching a tutorial video on how to use a disposable ear-piercing gun, his brows furrowed even tighter than before.

Wen Qi asked, “Figured it out?”

Pei Yanchu exited the video. “It’s not that complicated. Just line it up and press, but if you aim slightly off, the hole might end up slanted, which could cause problems later.”

Wen Qi nodded. “Alright, then you do it for me.”

Pei Yanchu froze. “Huh? Me?”

“I’d have to use a mirror to find the right angle if I do it myself. You’ve already learned how, so it’s easier if you do it,” Wen Qi said lazily. “You just said it wasn’t hard, right? Perfect.”

Pei Yanchu hesitated, looking uncertain.

Wen Qi raised an eyebrow. “You don’t want to?”

Pei Yanchu quickly shook his head. “I do.”

Wen Qi glanced at the little dog circling at his feet and said, “Yuanbao is here. Let’s go to the bathroom.”

Pei Yanchu, clearly distracted, replied, “Oh… okay.”

They took the items and went to the bathroom, closing the door and leaving the curious dog outside. Now, the confined space held only the two of them.

Wen Qi stood in front of the marble vanity, slightly turning his body as he tucked his hair back, fully exposing his right ear toward Pei Yanchu. “Go ahead.”

Pei Yanchu’s voice was tight with tension. “Then… let’s disinfect first.”

Wen Qi thought to himself: *Does Pei Yanchu have to announce every step?* But he didn’t comment on it and simply responded with a quiet “Mm.”

Pei Yanchu opened a medical alcohol wipe, moving closer, only to stop halfway, his voice stuttering slightly. “Xiao Qi, c-could you close your eyes?”

Wen Qi glanced at him.

The man before him was visibly tense, lips pressed into a firm line, looking even more nervous than the person actually getting pierced.

Wen Qi shifted his gaze back, obediently closing his eyes.

Darkness fell as his vision was shut off, heightening his other senses. The confined space amplified the presence of the other person—the sound of slightly quickened breathing, the warmth of his breath…

A gentle exhale brushed against Wen Qi’s hair at the side. Then, a cool sensation touched his earlobe, moving in slow, delicate circles, carefully wiping the area. The movements were so light, as if he were handling a rare piece of jade, careful not to break it.

For some reason, Wen Qi felt a tightness in his throat, an urge to pull away—but he resisted it, staying still. Only his previously relaxed fingers slowly curled inwards.

The alcohol wipe was removed, followed by the faint crinkling of packaging being opened. Then came Pei Yanchu’s uncertain voice. “W-where should I…?”

“Just the center,” Wen Qi replied, still with his eyes closed.

Time passed, yet the expected sting never came.

Wen Qi could practically feel Pei Yanchu’s lingering gaze on his earlobe.

“It’ll hurt,” Pei Yanchu repeated for the third time.

Wen Qi’s answer remained unchanged. “I know.”

Pei Yanchu stopped speaking and leaned down, holding his breath, as he carefully placed the disposable ear-piercing gun against Wen Qi’s earlobe.

After positioning it correctly, he pressed down quickly and firmly. With a soft click, the silver needle pierced through neatly, and a small silver bead was delicately affixed to the earlobe.

Wen Qi slowly opened his eyes. Pei Yanchu, frowning deeply, kept his gaze fixed on his earlobe, speaking faster than usual. “It seems a little red. Does it hurt?”

“Not really. It hurts for a moment when it’s done, but I don’t feel much after,” Wen Qi replied, instinctively reaching for his ear, only to have Pei Yanchu grab his fingertips.

Both froze, and Pei Yanchu quickly released his grip, awkwardly explaining, “You just had your ear pierced… don’t touch it yet.”

Wen Qi nodded. “Then let’s do the other side.”

Pei Yanchu picked up another disposable ear-piercing gun but didn’t move, his expression flashing with hesitation. “How about you give this one to me?” He said slowly, “Wasn’t the earring Shui Shui gave me supposed to bring good luck? Now that I’m bankrupt and have lost my memory, I also want to share in some of that good fortune…”

Wen Qi thought for a moment. In essence, whether it was one ear or two, it didn’t really matter.

He nodded. “Okay, then you do it. Do you want me to help?”

Pei Yanchu didn’t expect him to agree and froze for a second, unable to suppress the smile that spread across his face, looking a bit silly. “No, no, I’ll do it myself.”

As if worried Wen Qi would change his mind, Pei Yanchu quickly disinfected his left ear with an alcohol wipe, checked the position in the mirror, and then swiftly and decisively pierced it with the other disposable ear-piercing gun.

The movements were fluid and efficient. ‘This is pretty quick,‘ Wen Qi thought.

Both of their earlobes were now adorned with matching silver bead earrings. Pei Yanchu stared at them in the mirror, satisfied, and eagerly asked, “When are we changing to the coral bead earrings?”

Wen Qi replied, “Shui Shui said that after getting your ears pierced, you can’t switch earrings immediately. You have to wait for a while.”

He stared at himself in the mirror, feeling that the little silver beads were too plain, not striking enough. Lost in thought, he mumbled, “Luckily, we meet again in a week. It’ll be fine to change the earrings then.”

Pei Yanchu, surprised, asked, “What meeting? Who are you meeting?”

He thought Wen Qi was planning to wear the coral beads for good luck, but now it sounded like he was putting them on specifically for a meeting.

Wen Qi replied, “My arranged marriage partner.”

The smile on Pei Yanchu’s lips froze instantly. “Who??”