Not long after, Qin Mingyuan returned to the living room, holding an extra coat in his hand. Casually, he draped it over the young man. “Wear this.”

The coat was large and clearly belonged to Qin Mingyuan himself. Yun Pei froze for a moment, then quietly slipped his arms into the sleeves. The chill from the air conditioner was blocked out, and he softly said, “Thank you.”

Zeng Lianyi, biting into a piece of cantaloupe, glanced back and forth between the two of them. She coughed and exaggeratedly said, “Oh my, how thoughtful of our dear! Mommy wishes someone would put a coat on me too~”

Her intent was to tease the two of them, but as soon as Qin Pei heard this, he immediately stood up. “I’ll go get you a coat.”

Zeng Lianyi looked at him speechlessly, letting him go without bothering to stop him. She waved her hand and asked the servant to raise the temperature a little and bring out a plate of room-temperature fruit.

After giving her orders, she smiled warmly at Yun Pei. “Xiao Pei, just treat this place like your own home. If you need anything, just speak up—no need to be so polite.”

Yun Pei was used to no one ever considering his needs at home, so being cared for like this felt unfamiliar but warm. “Okay, thank you, Auntie.”

Seeing how well-behaved he was, Zeng Lianyi reached out and pinched his cheek. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the item Uncle Wu had placed on a side table earlier and casually asked, “Is that the gift Xiao Pei brought for Mingyuan?”

Yun Pei followed the direction of her chin and nodded. “Yes, I wasn’t sure what to get, so I painted a picture myself.”

Given Qin Mingyuan’s status, no matter how expensive the gift, it likely wouldn’t mean much to him. So after some thought, Yun Pei decided that a heartfelt gift would be the most sincere.

“Well then, Mingyuan, go ahead and open it so we can see.” Zeng Lianyi was quite curious about what he might have drawn.

Upon hearing this, Qin Mingyuan glanced at Yun Pei. Seeing him nod, he stood up, walked over, and brought the large framed painting back to the couch, gently placing it on the coffee table.

As Qin Mingyuan unwrapped the gift right in front of him, Yun Pei felt a little embarrassed, though he didn’t show it.

Qin Mingyuan found the sealed edge at the back of the frame, peeled off the tape, and unwrapped the outer paper, tossing it aside.

The painting was revealed, and even Qin Pei, who had just returned, had his attention drawn to it, along with everyone else.

It depicted a majestic lion lying on a rocky outcrop. The sunlight bathed it, making its fluffy and well-groomed mane gleam golden, almost as if it were glowing.

The lion lay there calmly, resting, without the aggression it would show when hunting prey. But its powerful physique made it clear that it could easily kill with a single bite.

This ferocious beast appeared temporarily lazy, yet the delicate golden highlights in its mane gave it an aura of dignity. Proudly sitting at the top, it was the undisputed king of the plains, commanding the respect and submission of all the animals.

When Yun Pei painted this, he meticulously outlined every strand of fur. He even mixed a bit of gold powder into the paint used for the mane, aiming to create that shimmering effect under the light, making it appear even more dignified.

“It’s really a beautiful painting,” Zeng Lianyi praised. As a fashion designer with a good eye for aesthetics, she could tell that the painting had been crafted with great care. “Xiao Pei must have spent a lot of time and effort on it.”

“Not really,” Yun Pei shook his head, his gaze quietly shifting to Qin Mingyuan, trying to gauge whether he liked it or not.

Qin Mingyuan’s gaze moved from the painting to Yun Pei, his expression unreadable. “Why a lion?”

Hearing this, Yun Pei’s fingers, resting on his lap, curled slightly and retreated into the oversized sleeves. He spoke in a calm tone, “Because it reminds me of you.”

Powerful and dignified, dangerous yet irresistibly charming.

These thoughts remained unsaid.

It reminded him of himself? Qin Mingyuan’s gaze returned to the painting, a hint of amusement in his eyes. So, that’s how Yun Pei saw him.

“Xiao Pei’s impression isn’t wrong,” Zeng Lianyi chuckled, looking at the two of them. “Mingyuan just happens to be a Leo.”

This was something Yun Pei didn’t know, as he wasn’t much into astrology. But the coincidence did seem like a pleasant surprise.

He glanced at the man, who was still silently admiring the painting, his fingertips tightening slightly as he maintained a calm expression. Trying to sound casual, he asked, “Do you like it?”

Qin Mingyuan looked sideways at him, his gaze skimming over Yun Pei’s slightly trembling lashes and lightly pressed lips. A playful glint surfaced in his eyes as he looked at him without saying a word.

With no response, Yun Pei glanced at the painting, his fingers tightening further within his sleeves. Was…something wrong with it?

Zeng Lianyi noticed the mischievous glint in her son’s eyes and realized he was just teasing Yun Pei. Amused, she watched quietly, even feeding a piece of watermelon to her husband. The living room fell into silence, leaving Yun Pei as the only one feeling awkward.

He looked up and met Qin Mingyuan’s gaze. In that moment, it seemed like he understood something, and his previously tense fingers relaxed as his expression became calm again. “It seems you’re not satisfied. If that’s the case, why not give it back to me?”

He reached for the painting, but Qin Mingyuan moved it out of reach first, leaning it against the side of the couch.

The little mimosa in front of him had been behaving too well recently, and he almost forgot that it had thorns too. If he teased too much, he might get pricked. With a straight face, Qin Mingyuan said, “No, I really like it. Thank you.”

After interacting with Qin Mingyuan a few times, Yun Pei had realized that, despite the man’s cold and serious exterior, he had a mischievous streak and wasn’t as straightforward as he seemed.

Watching her son almost get caught in his own game, Zeng Lianyi leaned against her husband, quietly laughing to herself. When the two of them looked over, she quickly sat up straight and resumed her elder’s demeanor. “Since it’s his birthday today, Xiao Pei, don’t take it to heart.”

Yun Pei suddenly remembered that there were elders present and awkwardly shook his head. “I won’t, Auntie.”

“It’s still early before lunch. Dear, why don’t you take Xiao Pei to your room for a bit? You can take the painting with you and put it up.” Zeng Lianyi seized the opportunity to give them some time alone. Seeing the servant bring in another plate of fruit, she added, “Bring the fruit to the young master’s room as well.”

Qin Mingyuan was slightly speechless. Her suggestion made it feel like he was a high schooler bringing a classmate home for a visit, and he could already guess what she was scheming.

He glanced at Yun Pei, who seemed completely oblivious to her intentions, and didn’t refuse. Nodding, he picked up the painting and stood. He figured he might as well give him a tour.

Zeng Lianyi, pleased with her son’s cooperation, beamed at her “future daughter-in-law.” “Xiao Pei, go with him. He can show you around the house. If it weren’t so hot outside, you could even take a walk around.”

Honestly, Yun Pei preferred being alone with Qin Mingyuan rather than sitting in front of the elders, so he nodded eagerly.

The Qin family villa had five floors. It was originally built when the older generation lived there, so an elevator had been installed, making it convenient for Yun Pei to move around.

Qin Mingyuan’s room was on the third floor, which, along with the second floor, was reserved for the younger generation. The upper two floors housed the elders.

Each floor had a few guest rooms to accommodate friends or relatives. The first floor didn’t have any bedrooms, but instead featured a spacious living room, dining area, and recreation areas, specifically designed for the younger generation to enjoy. It was also convenient for hosting parties.

Qin Mingyuan led the way to the third floor, guiding Yun Pei to his room. “If you’re interested, you can check out the game room on the first floor later, or watch a movie in the screening room.”

When the entire Qin family lived here, the younger ones often played around. Now that most of them had moved out, those rooms had been left empty. However, the equipment was still maintained and replaced regularly, so there wouldn’t be any issues using them.

Yun Pei nodded. While he was curious, his interest wasn’t particularly strong. His usual activities were quiet—aside from painting, he mostly read. The only entertainment in his life was watching that mother-and-son duo’s antics.

As a child, he had been a mischievous and playful kid. Besides painting, he would often whine to his mother to buy him games and toys. Whenever he went to an amusement park, he’d play until he was exhausted.

But ever since that car accident, his interest in playing had diminished. At first, it was the fear and insecurity that came with his immobile legs. Later, it was the complete lack of love he felt in that household. To avoid further hurt, he gradually masked himself with indifference.

This indifference had become so ingrained that even he couldn’t tell if it was real or not. He only knew that by not caring, he wouldn’t get hurt, and those people couldn’t harm him.

Going from being hurt by them to making them frustrated was not a short process.

Sometimes, when he was alone, he would wonder if this could be considered a victory.

“Yun Pei?”

Lost in thought, Yun Pei snapped back to reality, realizing that he had unconsciously stopped in the hallway. He looked up to meet Qin Mingyuan’s questioning gaze and shook his head. “It’s nothing.”

Qin Mingyuan didn’t probe further and continued leading him down the hall to a room near the end.

Qin Mingyuan’s room in the villa was larger than the one in his apartment. It was more of a suite, with an adjoining study, a bathroom, and a walk-in closet, allowing him to work from home when needed.

The room seemed to retain its original design, unlike the cold and minimalist style of his apartment. The wallpaper was a warm beige, with ornate European-style molding along the edges. The curtains were a light blue, covering a glass door that led to a small balcony.

Half of the curtains were pulled back, revealing a wicker chair and a small table on the balcony, surrounded by several potted plants, all likely maintained by the servants.

Yun Pei found the room rather novel—it seemed at odds with the cold and distant image Qin Mingyuan projected.

“This room was designed to suit my grandmother’s tastes when the villa was built. Uncle Wu takes care of the upkeep, and I didn’t bother changing it because it seemed like too much trouble.”

Qin Mingyuan explained, seeing Yun Pei’s expression as he placed the painting on a low cabinet.

Of course, this was only his assumption, but he figured the original Qin Mingyuan probably felt the same way.

Yun Pei nodded and glanced around the room once more. “Your grandmother must have been a very romantic person.”

The villa had a lot of charming details. Every small decorative piece was delicate, and even the lampshades in the hallway were shaped like lily-of-the-valley flowers. He imagined that when they were lit, the light must be a warm, soft color.

“Maybe,” Qin Mingyuan said quietly. He had never met his grandmother, nor had the original Qin Mingyuan, so he had no way of knowing.

Seeing his expression, Yun Pei remembered that his grandmother had passed away and felt that he might have brought up a sad topic. Quickly, he shifted the conversation. “This place feels much more lived-in than your apartment.”

Qin Mingyuan didn’t comment. His own home had a similar style to his apartment—minimalist and cold. Since he spent more time at the company than at home, he never bothered to decorate it much. To him, it was just a place to sleep. He raised an eyebrow and said, “You’re one to talk.”

In Yun Pei’s apartment, aside from a few traces of the original design, there was a noticeable lack of furniture. The coziest spot was probably by the window where he painted, especially when the sunlight streamed in.

But other than that, the place was sparse and cold. Under the harsh white lighting, it felt even more desolate.

Yun Pei was caught off guard by his retort, momentarily at a loss for words. Ever since he had been confined to a wheelchair, many of the items in his room had been removed to make it easier for him to move around. His once vivid memories of his mother cuddling him on the bed and telling stories had faded, leaving the room devoid of warmth.

Without arguing back, Yun Pei wheeled himself over to the table, where the servant had placed a platter of fruit. There was no ice this time. He used a small fork to pick up a strawberry and took a bite.

Is he mad? Qin Mingyuan watched his back for a moment before walking over and sitting on the couch. “Do you like strawberries?”

Yun Pei bit into the strawberry and glanced up at him. After chewing and swallowing, he replied, “They’re alright.”

He wasn’t particularly picky about food, and the same went for fruit. But people inevitably have cravings, and of course, he enjoyed eating things that tasted good.

Qin Mingyuan glanced at his watch; it was just past ten o’clock. He asked again, “Are you afraid of the heat?”

Yun Pei was puzzled and shook his head. Because of his physical condition, he was only afraid of the cold; heat didn’t bother him much.