The rocky reefs on the sea, the surging waves crashing and hitting again and again, the waves never stop, day and night without rest.
Pei Lang initially thought the attention would fade in a few days, but the netizens’ curiosity was overwhelming, and the discussions kept going strong. Although his identity hadn’t been discovered yet, it was enough to cause trouble for the website.
[— This generation of netizens isn’t up to par. It’s been days and they still haven’t figured out who it is.]
[— Is it possible that he’s being overly protected by the website? In the past, it was possible to uncover singers, but now it seems like the website is using this as a marketing tactic. Well, even charity websites need to make money, right?]
[— Why hide such a treasure of a website? Sharing it with everyone is the right thing to do. With such an amazing voice, wouldn’t it be a shame not to contribute it to the entertainment industry?]
[— To the person above, watch what you say. Do you even realize what kind of website this is? Are you here to follow stars or listen to music? He hasn’t appeared even after so many days. Doesn’t that mean he doesn’t want to be noticed in the real world?]
[— Yes, yes, you’re so high and mighty. How do you know he doesn’t want to appear? Maybe it’s just not the right time yet. His singing is so good and his condition is so great. Would he really be content to develop on this website long term? Everyone sings for money and fame. I think he’s purposely dragging it out. Right now, the hype is high. If he appears after it dies down, he’ll get two waves of attention. With those two waves, he could easily break into the entertainment industry.]
[…]
The comment section on other websites started arguing again. Pei Lang contacted the person in charge, hoping they could help lower the trending topic, but the response he received was that it couldn’t be done. They said to let things happen naturally and having attention wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
After reading those arguments, Pei Lang had an idea and quickly registered a small account on Weibo.
The name “Sheep in Wolf’s Clothing” was already taken, so he had to pick another one. The name “Xiao Ye Lang” wasn’t initially recognized as him. He posted a simple video of himself playing the guitar and singing a song. Once his unique voice was recognized, a large group of people came to watch.
Finally, when the netizens believed Pei Lang was about to reveal himself due to the hype, he posted another video.
In the video, the person was dressed neatly in a shirt and black pants, with a slender but not frail frame, just as the netizens had imagined. His face was not shown, but when he reached for his guitar, his thin hands, wrinkled and sagging, suggested he was over fifty years old. His skin wasn’t just wrinkled; it was yellowed, with age spots clearly visible. The netizens’ idealized fantasies were shattered in an instant. Some angrily left the video, while others insisted on watching to the end.
The video continued with Pei Lang’s self-introduction: “Hi everyone, I’m Lang, a middle-aged uncle with a young-sounding voice. The uncle is getting on in years and has been pursuing his music hobby from his youth. I’m grateful for the recognition of my songs and voice, but I’m also a bit troubled. Singing is my hobby, so I hope everyone focuses on the songs and not my private life, as it could disturb my family. Lastly, I’ll continue to post songs on this website and hope my voice can help those who need it.”
The purpose of this video was to stop the speculation and curiosity from netizens.
As a middle-aged man, it was impossible for him to enter the entertainment industry, and no company would sign him. The only place he could thrive was this website. Even though he was popular now, it was just a temporary craze.
Because he was an uncle, many people’s fantasies were shattered. Those who remained were truly fans of his voice and music, filtering out many superficial followers. What the people on the website really needed was a healing voice, not a pretty face. The video resolved public opinion, stating that he would continue to post songs on the website, thereby making his position clear while subtly promoting himself.
The video received mixed reactions. Some praised him, while others criticized him.
[— Boohoo~~ why is he an uncle? I’ve been following all along just hoping to uncover his real identity.]
[— What’s wrong with being an uncle? Even if he’s an uncle, he’s a gentle one. His voice is amazing. I’m a fan now. Who says singers have to be young men? Don’t your idols grow old too?]
[— Exactly, stop making up fantasies and blaming my Xiao Ye Lang. I’m standing up for the uncle. Besides, the place where the uncle posts his songs is supposed to be for healing. What you’re doing is just adding trouble for both the uncle and the website.]
[— No, don’t you think the uncle is amazing? He has experience, stories, and a gentleness built up over the years. With all these qualities, what more do you need in terms of age or looks?]
[— Can I say that the people defending him now are the same ones who wanted to see his real identity earlier? They’re like big bad wolves, pretending to be good now.]
[…]
Pei Lang no longer cared about the netizens’ comments. He went downstairs to the kitchen. Aunt Lin happened to be there and her eyes lit up when she saw him. “What’s wrong? Are you hungry? What would you like me to make for you?”
“No, I’m not hungry. I just came to get some vinegar.” Pei Lang was helpless. It seemed like Aunt Lin treated him like a pet—every time he showed up in the kitchen, she would shower him with food. She seemed to enjoy it. Though he loved eating, sometimes Pei Lang really couldn’t finish the food. He couldn’t refuse Aunt Lin’s enthusiasm, so his stomach often ended up feeling too full.
“Vinegar? White vinegar?” Aunt Lin sounded a bit disappointed when she heard Pei Lang wasn’t hungry. Her eyes glanced at his hands, and she was startled. “Oh my, what happened? Your hands are covered in glue and your skin’s all wrinkled! What did you need glue for just now?”
She grabbed Pei Lang’s hand with a look of concern and rinsed it under warm water, but it didn’t seem to help much.
“I was doing some crafts, but I messed up,” Pei Lang explained, feeling a bit warm inside because Aunt Lin genuinely cared. “Thank you, Aunt Lin.”
The glue was meant to make his skin look wrinkled and the age spots were created with soy sauce. Time was tight, so it was the only solution Pei Lang could think of. Hearing this, Aunt Lin’s concern deepened. “Next time, make sure to wear gloves when you do that. Your hands are so delicate, and now they look so rough.” She kept talking while cleaning his hands with vinegar, which had some effect, though not much. The best solution was to rinse with warm water and keep at it little by little.
“Xiao Lang, you keep washing your hands. Mr. Yan is coming home for dinner today. The fridge is empty. I’ll go out to buy some groceries.”
“Okay, Aunt Lin, be careful on the road.”
Speaking of Yan Han, Pei Lang hadn’t seen him for three days since the day he left his room. He wasn’t sure what was going on with him.
Pei Lang had been staying in the villa, with a different schedule from Yan Han. Yan Han often worked late and came home late, while Pei Lang finished his meals by 6 or 7 PM, so it was rare for them to run into each other. Today, however, by coincidence, they bumped into each other.
After getting off work early, Yan Han returned home to find Aunt Lin busy in the kitchen with Pei Lang helping her, making him feel like the outsider.
He wheeled himself into the kitchen and stopped at the door, his tone sarcastic. “You two seem to get along pretty well.”
Pei Lang had already noticed Yan Han, but since his hands were busy, he didn’t take the initiative to greet him. It seemed that Yan Han was still upset about Pei Lang entering his room without permission. Pei Lang couldn’t help but feel like he was being petty and smiled as he responded, “Well, I’m not just freeloading here, you know. I have to do something, or it would be so ungrateful. Thanks for the food, Mr. Yan.”
“It’s fine, but you’ll have to pay it back in the future.”
…What a stingy person, so hard-headed. “Of course. Once I make money, I’ll repay you double.”
Pei Lang didn’t realize that what was bothering Yan Han was being princess-carried in front of his subordinates. He was probably also angry about it. At this moment, the little chibi on his shoulder seemed to be sulking as well, no longer lively and giving off no signs of what his thoughts might be.
Yan Han stared at Pei Lang for a while before lowering his gaze and looking away, no longer saying anything. Pei Lang, curious, noticed that Yan Han’s eyelids were dark and blue, though his eyes still looked sharp and bright, it was hard to hide the exhaustion in them, perhaps due to not having rested well.
Soon after, dinner was served. Aunt Lin brought out the food and utensils. Pei Lang’s mouth watered, staring eagerly at the meal. Aunt Lin signaled to him with her eyes, telling him to wait for later to get some food. Yan Han had gotten used to eating alone. Although Aunt Lin felt sorry for Pei Lang, she wasn’t bold enough to arrange for him to sit at the table with Yan Han. Aunt Lin’s special care for Pei Lang over these days wasn’t something she thought she could hide from Yan Han. He had already turned a blind eye to it, but if she pushed it too far in front of him, it would be like asking for trouble.
“When I make money, I’ll buy my own house and bring Aunt Lin with me. Whatever she wants to cook, I’ll make sure she does it.”
Pei Lang stared at the table full of delicious food, secretly making a vow. His usual smile was replaced by an unusually serious expression. Yan Han glanced at them. “You can go now.”
“Okay, sir.” Aunt Lin glanced at Pei Lang and quietly left. Pei Lang was confused but followed her, only to be stopped.
“I didn’t say you could leave.”
“Is there something you need, Mr. Yan?” Although his nose was filled with the delicious aroma of the food, Pei Lang’s gaze remained fixed on the table full of dishes.
Seeing how eagerly Pei Lang was staring at the food, Yan Han frowned. He couldn’t stand seeing him in that state, looking as if he hadn’t eaten enough. “Do you want to eat?”
“Yes.” Pei Lang immediately answered without thinking, then his rationality kicked in, and he grew cautious. “What do you want, Mr. Yan?”
His instinct told him that Yan Han had a condition. This man was a businessman who valued mutual benefit. He appeared unfeeling but there was a subtle warmth to him. A complex and contradictory person. Pei Lang didn’t dislike him; in fact, he felt grateful that Yan Han had taken him in.
“From now on, if you want to eat my food, you’ll have to sleep with me.” Yan Han spoke slowly as he ate as if even the most delicious food tasted bland to him.
Pei Lang had worked in the entertainment industry for years. He had developed more than just sharp observation skills and impressive acting abilities. He had learned to remain calm in any situation.
In this complicated world, he had learned to protect himself and to magnify the good qualities in others, believing that this was the only way to maintain inner peace. If he focused too much on the dirty side of things, he would lose his joy and become frustrated—he would be making things harder for himself.
So, when someone he disliked targeted him, he always used this method. It wasn’t about flattering them but about covering up the unpleasant aspects. This way, he wouldn’t snap and could avoid reacting coldly. He had mastered the art of facing challenges with calmness and a faint smile.
Once, a director had described him as gentle, exceptional, and strong. His eyes, seemingly tolerant of everything, actually drifted beyond the mundane world, as though nothing truly concerned him.
But today, when Pei Lang heard Yan Han’s words, his usual smile faltered. Shock surged in his eyes as he froze, unable to move for a moment. It took him a few minutes before he finally asked in disbelief, “Mr. Yan, what does this mean?”
Pei Lang really wanted to probe into Yan Han’s inner world, but the little chibi on his shoulder was too shy, hiding under the blanket with only half of his head showing. He truly couldn’t understand what was going on.
Yan Han responded coldly, “It means what it says.”
Uh… Pei Lang was speechless for a moment. When he hesitated, he noticed the tips of Yan Han’s ears turning red, which instantly relaxed him. Why am I so nervous? He’s more nervous than I am. “Alright, we’ll talk about the specifics of sleeping together after we eat. I’m starving.”
With that, Pei Lang grabbed a set of utensils from the kitchen and sat down to eat across from Yan Han.
Yan Han is so adorable 😍😍😍