When Yun Pei sat on the sightseeing cart specially prepared by the Qin family, he still hadn’t fully processed what was happening. Somehow, they were now heading to the fruit and vegetable area to pick strawberries.

Qin Mingyuan sat leisurely beside him, his arm resting casually on the backrest next to Yun Pei. The wind from the moving cart lifted his hair, slightly alleviating the heat.

He glanced over at Yun Pei, who didn’t seem accustomed to the open design of the sightseeing cart. The young man clung tightly to the front backrest, his fingers gripping so hard they had turned white.

The sightseeing cart had no handrails or seatbelts, and since Yun Pei’s legs couldn’t provide any support, it was understandable that he would feel unsteady.

After a moment of thought, Qin Mingyuan unfolded his bent arm and placed his hand on Yun Pei’s shoulder, pulling him closer to act as a makeshift safety belt, ensuring he wouldn’t slip out during turns.

The warmth of Qin Mingyuan’s hand, through the thin fabric of Yun Pei’s short sleeves, made Yun Pei freeze momentarily. He turned his head to glance at the man’s expressionless face, then pursed his lips and loosened his grip on the backrest.

The strawberry field near the Qin family villa was housed in a specially built greenhouse. It was managed by dedicated staff and equipped with modern technology, making it relatively easy to maintain.

Even though Yun Pei had heard about the fruit and vegetable area, he couldn’t help but be amazed when he saw it for himself. The lives of the truly wealthy were indeed different.

The sightseeing cart couldn’t drive directly to the strawberry greenhouse, so they had to walk a short distance.

Qin Mingyuan lifted Yun Pei into the wheelchair, gripping the handles behind it. “The road’s a bit uneven. For safety, I’ll push you.”

Yun Pei had no objections. If someone was willing to push him, it saved him the trouble of maneuvering himself.

The person in charge of the fruit and vegetable area had already been informed and was waiting for them. Upon seeing them get off the cart, he quickly approached. He didn’t talk much, simply leading the way.

From the outside, the greenhouse didn’t seem large, but once inside, it was quite spacious. The strawberries were grown in a suspended system at adjustable heights, hanging in mid-air, their red fruits dangling like blooming spider plants—quite a sight to behold.

“So this is how strawberries are grown…” Yun Pei was intrigued. He had eaten plenty of strawberries before, but it was his first time seeing them in the process of growing.

The man leading them was in his forties, with tanned skin. Hearing Yun Pei’s comment, he smiled warmly. “Ordinary strawberries are planted in the ground, but with modern technology, we can grow them this way. It’s easier to manage.”

After explaining, he waved to one of the staff members managing the greenhouse, who brought over two small baskets, handing them to Qin Mingyuan and Yun Pei.

Yun Pei placed the basket on his lap and reached for a nearby strawberry, one of the same kind he had eaten earlier, almost as large as the palm of his hand.

“Our strawberries are grown very cleanly. Since they’re suspended and don’t touch the ground, you can eat them straight after picking, even without washing,” the manager explained as he saw Yun Pei examining the fruit.

Yun Pei wasn’t particularly fussy, so after hearing this, he popped the strawberry into his mouth and took a bite. It was sweet, with a hint of tartness in the aftertaste—delicious.

Qin Mingyuan glanced down at Yun Pei’s bright eyes, thinking that he really must enjoy strawberries. “Pick as many as you like. Whatever you pick, you can take home.”

“I’ll leave you two to pick at your own pace. Just call if you need anything,” the manager said tactfully before stepping aside.

Both of them were novices when it came to picking strawberries, but they quickly got the hang of it. After all, it wasn’t complicated—even young children could manage it.

The temperature inside the greenhouse was cooler than outside, but it was still a bit stuffy. Yun Pei’s face turned rosy, and fine beads of sweat appeared at his temples.

Compared to the pale look he had earlier, the flush made him look much healthier. Qin Mingyuan’s gaze lingered on his red cheeks, and for a moment, he had the urge to reach out and pinch them.

Qin Mingyuan, who was more sensitive to heat, had already started sweating on his neck and back. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, intending to wipe his own sweat, but paused and instead pressed it gently to Yun Pei’s face.

Yun Pei had just plucked a strawberry when he felt the fabric touch his cheek. Before he could even turn his head, it wiped away the sweat in two quick strokes. By the time the cloth left his skin, the damp feeling on his face had disappeared.

It took Yun Pei a couple of seconds to snap out of his daze. He looked up just as Qin Mingyuan started wiping his own face. Yun Pei stared blankly at him—the handkerchief had already wiped his face first…

Qin Mingyuan casually wiped his face and neck with the same handkerchief, then tucked it back into his pocket. When he looked up, he met Yun Pei’s dazed expression. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing…” Yun Pei quickly looked away. Qin Mingyuan seemed so nonchalant that if Yun Pei made a fuss, it would only feel awkward.

He glanced down at the half-filled basket of bright red strawberries, reminding himself that men tend to be more casual with each other, and there was nothing to overthink.

Just as he had convinced himself of this, he looked up, ready to say something, only to find something cool pressing against his lips. The sweet scent of strawberries filled his nose.

“This one looks very ripe. Try it,” Qin Mingyuan said with the same calm demeanor, as if feeding someone a strawberry was the most normal thing in the world.

Yun Pei hesitated for a moment, but could only pretend to be equally casual as he opened his mouth and took a small bite. It was indeed very sweet, but his chewing movements were a bit stiff as he blankly allowed Qin Mingyuan to feed him the entire strawberry, forgetting to take it into his own hand.

Qin Mingyuan, seemingly finding amusement in feeding him, continued offering him strawberries now and then, resulting in his own basket having fewer strawberries than Yun Pei’s.

“Qin Mingyuan…” Yun Pei finally couldn’t take it anymore and called out to him.

“Hm?” Qin Mingyuan had just plucked another strawberry. Hearing Yun Pei’s voice, he turned and offered it to him. “Do you want more?”

Yun Pei pursed his lips, his gaze carrying a touch of unexplainable grievance. “I can’t eat anymore…”

Qin Mingyuan paused, retracting his hand. “Alright.” He tossed the strawberry into his own basket and was about to turn around when he felt a tug on his sleeve. Confused, he turned back.

Yun Pei opened his mouth, then closed it again, as if he was mustering up some internal courage. After hesitating for a while, he finally said in a soft voice, “I… need to use the restroom…”

Hearing this, even Qin Mingyuan was momentarily stunned. He faintly realized he might be the cause of the situation, and for once, he felt a little guilty. “I’ll ask where the nearest restroom is.”

When the manager came over, he informed them that while there was a restroom in the fruit and vegetable area, unfortunately, it didn’t have a toilet, which would likely be inconvenient for Yun Pei.

And so, their strawberry-picking adventure ended because of this urgent need.

Back at the villa, Qin Mingyuan personally escorted the now sulking Yun Pei to the restroom, only to be shut out with a loud “bang” as the door closed in his face.

Having heard they had returned, Zeng Lianyi wandered over just in time to witness this. She raised an eyebrow. “Dear, what did you do to upset him?”

She was certain it was her son’s fault, as she had already figured out that while Qin Mingyuan was usually calm and reliable, he had a mischievous streak when it came to Yun Pei.

Qin Mingyuan didn’t answer directly, instead mentioning that they had picked plenty of strawberries and that the servants could pack them up and store them in the fridge. Then, he went to wash his face.

Zeng Lianyi was quite pleased with how things were going between them. A little bit of bickering meant they were comfortable with each other, which she saw as a good sign for their future relationship.

Though Yun Pei claimed he was angry, it was mostly the awkwardness from earlier that made him feel uncomfortable. After addressing his urgent need, his expression had softened by the time he came out.

Their return was well-timed, as lunch preparations in the kitchen were nearly complete.

When Qin Mingyuan came back after washing up, looking much refreshed, his hair was still slightly damp. He casually brushed it aside, noticing that the tense atmosphere between them had dissipated. When Yun Pei saw him, he only paused for a moment before returning to normal, no longer sulking.

This little mimosa didn’t even need to be coaxed—how much easier would it be to tease him again?

There were only four of them at the table, but the dishes prepared were plentiful, both spicy and non-spicy, with rich colors and aromas.

Zeng Lianyi served Yun Pei a bowl of fish soup that had been boiled until it turned milky white, urging him not to be shy. She then ladled a bowl for her son. “Let’s keep it small and simple for lunch. We’ll celebrate your birthday properly tonight.”

Qin Mingyuan accepted the bowl and thanked her. He wasn’t one to care much about birthdays; in fact, he hadn’t celebrated his in years, often spending the day working overtime at the company.

His typically reserved father, Qin Pei, raised his glass and leaned forward slightly. “Happy birthday.”

Everyone joined in, clinking glasses. “Happy birthday!”

Qin Mingyuan smiled a little. Having some excitement now and then wasn’t so bad after all.

The meal was pleasant, although Yun Pei, having been fed strawberries earlier, didn’t eat much. He only finished one bowl of the fish soup, despite how well it had been prepared.

Still, he was in a good mood. He had always thought that the wealthier someone was, the more emotionally distant they became, like his own father. He assumed that people at Qin Mingyuan’s level only cared about interests and power.

But now, he realized he had been too narrow-minded. People, whether rich or poor, could be cold-hearted. It wasn’t about wealth but personal character. Those who became lost in power were likely already weak-willed to begin with.

Seeing Yun Pei put down his chopsticks after eating only a little, Zeng Lianyi asked with concern, “Xiao Pei, why did you eat so little? Is the food not to your taste?”

She had specifically asked her son about Yun Pei’s preferences earlier and had instructed the kitchen to prepare light dishes.

“No, the food is delicious. It’s just that after being outside earlier, I feel a bit warm and lost my appetite.”

Of course, Yun Pei wasn’t about to admit that he was full from eating too many strawberries.

As the one responsible for this, Qin Mingyuan wisely remained silent.

“Oh, I see. That’s fine. If you get hungry later, just let the kitchen know, and they’ll make something for you,” Zeng Lianyi said with a smile, then turned to scold her son. “Look at you, dragging him out into the heat. He must have been uncomfortable.”

Qin Mingyuan, knowing he was mostly to blame, didn’t argue.

Recalling the earlier restroom incident, Yun Pei didn’t speak up in his defense either, enjoying watching him get scolded from the sidelines.

After lunch, the group relaxed in the living room for a while, chatting. Eventually, Zeng Lianyi had the servants prepare a guest room for Yun Pei to take a nap. The room was on the third floor, not far from Qin Mingyuan’s.

The guest rooms in the Qin household were all similarly furnished, each with a private bathroom. In fact, they were even better equipped than Yun Pei’s own room.

Zeng Lianyi, ever considerate, had instructed the servants to move the furniture to the walls to make it easier for Yun Pei to navigate in his wheelchair.

Yun Pei noticed these small details as soon as he entered the room. Sometimes, it was easy to tell when someone truly cared.

The contrast with the Yun family villa was stark. The uneven stone paths in the garden and the freezing cold air conditioning in the summer made it uncomfortable for him to move around. The furniture in his room had all been rearranged by himself.

His father, Yun Haowei, would never let him be mistreated for the sake of appearances, but he also never thought beyond the obvious. His only instruction to Yun Pei had been to stay home and behave, given his mobility issues.

Qin Mingyuan accompanied Yun Pei to the guest room, intending to check if everything was convenient for him. Seeing that Zeng Lianyi’s arrangements were well thought out, he didn’t say much.

“Rest well. If you need anything, feel free to come to my room or message me.”

Just as he was about to leave, he paused, remembering something. “If you plan to take a shower, take your phone with you.”

Yun Pei was momentarily stunned before realizing what he meant. Qin Mingyuan still remembered the time he had slipped in the bathroom. His heart warmed, but he couldn’t help feeling a little helpless. “I told you, that was just an accident. I don’t usually fall.”

Qin Mingyuan didn’t seem convinced by his explanation and added before leaving, “Just take the phone.”

Only after the door closed did Yun Pei lower his gaze, a light smile playing on his lips.