The air grew quiet for a moment. Pei Yanchu stared at him, his gaze deep and flashing with emotions that Wen Qi couldn’t quite decipher. The hand that had been casually resting on the table suddenly clenched into a fist, the back of his hand bulging with prominent veins. Was he angry now? Wen Qi found it interesting. The beautiful eyebrows held an unmasked arrogance and malice, like a delicate rose with thorns. His voice was cold, mocking: “Aren’t you begging me? You can’t even do this much?”

Before his words finished, the man in front of him lowered his head and bit into the piece of broccoli. Wen Qi’s eyes widened slightly, his mind going blank. He didn’t react fast enough, and before he knew it, Pei Yanchu had already pulled away, lifting his head.

The man in front of him had eyes that seemed to carry a natural affection for the person they were looking at. He stared at Wen Qi, chewing slowly, his Adam’s apple clearly visible as it moved up and down with each swallow.

“It’s delicious,” Pei Yanchu said in a low voice. “Thank you.”

Wen Qi was stunned, still holding the fork in mid-air, frozen. Was this person really shameless?

Pei Yanchu asked seriously, “Are you satisfied?”

Wen Qi’s expression became complicated. “…Are you really hungry?”

Pei Yanchu paused for a moment, then smiled lightly, nodding honestly. “Yes.”

Wen Qi’s gaze flashed with understanding. When they returned after completing the hospital procedures, it was already around four or five o’clock. The young master, who never touched a drop of water, had locked himself in the kitchen, banging around for a while. Now, he was waiting for Wen Qi’s evaluation without even having eaten a bite.

“You should eat something else first to fill up, and I’ll see if I can fix the chicken breast,” Wen Qi said. Pei Yanchu took the fork from his hand, then handed him his own. “Mine hasn’t been touched yet. Use it.”

Wen Qi was about to refuse, thinking Pei Yanchu could eat whatever he wanted, but Pei Yanchu stood up and went back to the kitchen, bringing out the failed pan-fried chicken breasts. When he returned, the chicken was cut into small pieces, golden and crispy, sprinkled with parsley and black pepper, looking much more presentable. Wen Qi took a bite and found that it was marinated in honey, giving it a sweet fragrance. The boiled potatoes were soft and delicate, with a light sprinkling of salt, and tasted good.

“I saw there were some small potatoes in the kitchen, so I boiled them too,” Pei Yanchu said, standing by nervously, his voice carrying a slight tension. “If it’s still not good… well, the boiled potatoes can’t go wrong. Just eat these.”

Wen Qi lowered his tone and replied casually, “It’s fine.”

Pei Yanchu’s lips curved upwards, a proud smile appearing. “See? I told you there was no problem. The earlier stuff was just some small mistakes.”

“You’re not hungry?” Wen Qi interrupted bluntly, “Shut up and eat.”

Pei Yanchu raised his hand, zipping his lips, then pulled out a chair to sit across from Wen Qi. He picked up his fork and dug in, visibly starving. The food on his plate disappeared at a noticeable speed. He ate the same as Wen Qi, except his portions were double the size.

Probably because the dinner time was extended, Wen Qi ate more than usual, finishing a plate of chicken breast and peeling a fragrant boiled potato. By the end, his eating slowed, and without realizing it, his gaze lingered on Pei Yanchu across from him.

He remembered back in high school, Pei Yanchu would invite a group of people to the cafeteria, where they ate separate small dishes full of heavy oil and spice. Today’s dinner probably didn’t suit Pei Yanchu’s taste.

Wen Qi wasn’t picky about food, so he said, “Give me your payment QR code. If you’re still not full, you can just order takeout.”

Pei Yanchu paused for a moment, put down his knife and fork, unlocked his phone, and pushed it over.

Wen Qi instinctively prepared to scan the QR code, but when he saw what it was, his movements faltered slightly. — Pei Yanchu didn’t open a payment QR code; instead, it was a friend request QR code.

“Wen Qi,” Pei Yanchu called. His tone was casual, as if he had just thought of it suddenly, without much concern, and mentioned it offhand.

“—How about adding each other as friends first?”

Wen Qi stared at him, not making a move for a moment.

“What are you looking at me like that for?” Pei Yanchu smiled. “We weren’t familiar before, but now we’re getting to know each other again. Can’t we add each other as friends?”

Wen Qi didn’t say anything, lowered his lashes, raised his wrist, aimed at the QR code, and scanned it.

A beep sounded.

Wen Qi clicked to accept the friend request. Pei Yanchu retrieved his phone with a satisfied smile, his voice light as he spoke. “Alright, no need to transfer money. Even though my bank cards are frozen, I still have a few hundred left.”

He added, “Unless you plan to pay for my meals and accommodation, and treat me so well… Are you pretending to hire me as a servant, but actually planning to keep me as your little lover? Just so you know, being a kept lover comes with a different price.”

Wen Qi, knowing full well that Pei Yanchu’s sharp tongue could never say anything sincere, still couldn’t resist asking, “What price?”

The once prestigious young master of the Pei family, now falling into depravity and offering himself for sale, how much would he ask for?

Pei Yanchu narrowed his eyes slightly, the corners of his lips curving. “If it were you, I’d pay you.”

Wen Qi’s expression remained unreadable as he replied, “Don’t worry, I wouldn’t accept even if you paid me.”

Pei Yanchu asked, “Do you have a boyfriend?”

“No…” Wen Qi instinctively answered, but then realized something was off. “Why are you asking if I have a boyfriend?” Why assume his sexual orientation was gay?

Pei Yanchu chuckled lightly. “You eat so little, and still have the energy… to serve someone else?” The implication was clear. He could only lie back in bed, comfortably being served by others.

Wen Qi’s chest heaved slightly, his expression calm as he said, “Come here.”

Pei Yanchu walked up to him.

Wen Qi ordered, “Squat down.”

Pei Yanchu’s expression twisted slightly. He thought squatting down would make him look like a little dog, so he changed to a half-kneel and looked up at Wen Qi, asking, “What’s wrong?”

He looked up at Wen Qi with an innocent and confused expression, as though he hadn’t realized how offensive his earlier words had been.

Slap!

The crisp sound of a slap echoed, and Pei Yanchu’s head was knocked sideways, a faint red quickly spreading across his cheek.

Wen Qi sneered, “I may not have much strength, but I still have enough to slap you.” He looked down from his elevated position, waiting for Pei Yanchu’s furious reaction. Whether the person in front of him had lost his memory or not, after being slapped, he should at least feel the pain, knowing he was being humiliated. If he hadn’t lost his memory and was fully conscious when slapped, it would be even better. He might react angrily, revealing the flaw in his amnesia act.

Pei Yanchu slowly turned his gaze back, and from his neck, cheek, to the tip of his ear, a bright red flush spread, and his lips moved.

He asked, “Does your hand hurt?”

Wen Qi: ?

Pei Yanchu reached up to touch his own face. When Wen Qi slapped him earlier, he had no mercy. The slapped side of his face seemed to have a distinct mark, leaving a strong impression. It felt warm and tingling, sending a pleasurable electric jolt up his spine, and a surge of heat spread through his body. — Wen Qi had touched his face.

The realization almost made Pei Yanchu feel light-headed, and his breathing became slightly rushed.

“Are you satisfied now?” Pei Yanchu asked, his tone gentle and carefree. “Should I let you slap me a few more times?”

“You!” Wen Qi stammered, “How come you…”

He had used this punishment to humiliate Pei Yanchu, yet Pei Yanchu didn’t seem to have any reaction. Wen Qi was in disbelief. “Don’t you feel pain?”

His palm was still burning from the slap. Why did Pei Yanchu seem unaffected?

Pei Yanchu sincerely replied, “Xiao Qi, your strength is too small. It didn’t hurt. How about you eat two more bowls of rice tomorrow and come slap me again?”

Wen Qi’s expression grew colder, gritting his teeth, and said, “Shut up, go… wash… the dishes.”

“Alright.”

Seeing that the punishment was over, Pei Yanchu reluctantly stood up and carried the plates from the table to the kitchen. There was a dishwasher in the kitchen, but it was the first time Pei Yanchu used it. After a while, he finally figured it out.

When he came out again, Wen Qi was sitting in the living room, his expression back to its usual calmness as he lazily played with Yuanbao.

The living room of the apartment was spacious, with shining wooden floors. Wen Qi tossed a small ball out, and the dog barked excitedly, shooting across the room like an arrow, grabbing the ball, and wagging its tail as it returned for a reward.

“Good Yuanbao.” Wen Qi praised, offering a small freeze-dried treat. The dog obediently licked his slender fingers.

Pei Yanchu’s footsteps paused, his gaze darkly fixed on the dog.

Sensing a threatening look, the dog tilted its head, looking at him with innocent black eyes. “Awooo?”

Wen Qi, noticing the noise, turned to see Pei Yanchu had come out and lazily called, “Pei Yanchu, come here.”

Pei Yanchu immediately walked over, half-kneeling in front of the sofa with a faint sense of expectation.

Wen Qi stopped him, his voice hoarse, “…Get up.”

Pei Yanchu stood up again.

Wen Qi spoke in a soft tone, “I sent you a document, take a look.”

Pei Yanchu took out his phone, opened the document Wen Qi had sent him, and regretfully found it full of serious content. The requirements were clear and well-organized: the frequency of cleaning in the apartment, the areas that needed attention, the frequency of changing bed sheets and pillowcases… The pages about the dog were even more detailed, down to the smallest things. The dog’s meals were listed for every day of the week, with specific amounts for breakfast and dinner.

Wen Qi said, “If there’s anything you don’t understand, feel free to ask me.”

Pei Yanchu replied, “I’m done reading, nothing’s unclear.”

Wen Qi doubted, “You finished that quickly?”

Pei Yanchu was even more surprised, “Your instructions are pretty clear. You laid everything out every day, isn’t it just following the steps?”

Wen Qi nodded, “Alright, then tell me, what’s Yuanbao eating tomorrow morning?”

Pei Yanchu replied, “One can of main food, steamed broccoli, purple cabbage, and bitter chrysanthemum, all chopped. For fruit, apple slices and berry freeze-dried, with yogurt and fish oil hidden in it. Sprinkle with turmeric powder and green-lipped mussel powder. For snacks, turkey necks for chewing.”

He said it all in one breath, then added with confusion, “That’s it. You even put the measurements in there. It’s a foolproof guide, what’s there to not understand?”

Wen Qi’s mood improved a little. After graduating from college, he had lived in this apartment and had hired several male caretakers over the past year. All of them had been fired. It wasn’t because they found the dog’s diet complicated or couldn’t understand it. On the contrary, they advised him that dogs were animals and didn’t need such refined care, just some random food was enough.

Wen Qi said, “I’m glad you can understand.”

Pei Yanchu asked, “If I do well as your servant, will you reward me?”

Wen Qi paused, stunned, “You still want a reward?”

“Of course,” Pei Yanchu said confidently, “You reward Yuanbao when he brings the ball back, so of course I deserve one too!”

Wen Qi glanced at the freeze-dried treat still in his hand, while the dog was wagging its tail and scratching at his pants, spinning around in circles in a hurry.

His expression became somewhat strange. Could it be that Pei Yanchu… was eyeing the freeze-dried treat in his hand? Competing with the dog for food? Wasn’t that too shameless?