Moonlit: Happy New Year, everyone!!!!~
Staring at the red hand mark on Pei Lang’s wrist, Yan Han knew he hadn’t held back earlier, but he hadn’t expected to leave such a deep mark. Now, Pei Lang was smiling at him as if nothing had happened. The aroma of food wafted through the air. Yan Han maneuvered his wheelchair over.
The family chef was five-star rated. Yan Han had never tried something as simple as a homestyle stir-fry, but it smelled pretty good. Since he had a business dinner earlier in the day, he had told the chef not to prepare any meals. Yan Han disliked having too many people around, so when there was nothing to do, he would let the staff go home or rest in the dormitories. That’s why Pei Lang didn’t see anyone else when he came downstairs.
“What’s this?” Yan Han asked, his face expressionless as he stared coldly at the plate of stir-fried tomatoes and eggs. On his shoulder, the little figure perched there craned its neck curiously, a giant “?” practically popping out of its head.
“Uh…” Yan Han had grown up with the best of everything. His meals were carefully curated by a personal chef, with every ingredient meticulously selected and often unrecognizable by the time it reached his plate. He had never eaten anything so simple and straightforward.
“This dish,” Pei Lang said with a sly smile, his eyes sparkling with mischief, “I learned from a famous chef during a visit. It’s called ‘Summer Sunset’. Want to try it?” He made up the name on the spot, taking advantage of Yan Han’s ignorance of something as basic as stir-fried tomatoes and eggs.
The golden yellow and vibrant red of the dish intertwined like a summer evening sky, garnished with a sprinkle of green onions. The high-end plate gave the dish an air of sophistication, almost convincing enough to resemble something crafted by a master chef. Yan Han was intrigued at first, but when Pei Lang handed him the chopsticks, he didn’t move. Instead, the tiny figure on his shoulder panicked, retreating to an imaginary corner with a wary expression.
Pei Lang: “…” Could he really think the dish was poisoned?
It wasn’t an unreasonable suspicion, given Pei Lang had just teased him earlier. The original owner of this body had also been infamous for drugging Yan Xiuyuan, so rumors about such matters were widespread.
Still, wasn’t Yan Han overthinking it? Come on, man, you’re in your thirties—act your age. This is your territory, after all.
“If you’re not going to eat, I’m not going to waste it on you,” Pei Lang said, feigning stinginess as he pulled the dish back toward himself. He sat down, ready to dig in, as if he were starving.
Left awkwardly aside, Yan Han eventually picked up a pair of chopsticks and took a bite. The taste wasn’t extraordinary, but to his surprise, it suited his palate. Keeping his icy expression, he tried to hide his appreciation. After pretending to savor it thoughtfully, he gave a bland comment: “It’s average.”
Pei Lang stole a glance at the little figure on Yan Han’s shoulder, which was jumping and cheering with delight over how delicious it was. Pei Lang nearly burst out laughing but stifled it, almost burying his face in the bowl. Yan Han’s cold exterior paired with his hidden reaction was just too adorable.
Unable to hold back anymore, Pei Lang finally broke into a grin and chuckled. “Well then, I’ll leave you to it, President Yan. I’m going to enjoy my meal now.”
Pei Lang began eating in big bites, clearly famished. While he didn’t bother with slow, deliberate chewing, his movements weren’t crude either. He focused entirely on his meal, leaving Yan Han ignored once again. Still tasting the lingering flavor in his mouth, Yan Han reluctantly went upstairs to attend to his work.
Over the past few days, Pei Lang had noticeably behaved himself—something the online crowd hadn’t anticipated. Without anyone stirring up trouble, there was no juicy gossip. Surprisingly, people began to find it boring. Some of the spectators, who usually thrived on chaos, even started to miss Pei Lang. Online discussions buzzed with opinions, most expressing sympathy for Pei Ziqing and calling for Pei Lang to post a video apology. Yet the person in question neither apologized nor stirred up new drama, as if he had vanished from the world.
The situation simmered online for several days. Eventually, when Pei Ziqing announced that the injury on his face wouldn’t leave a scar and even asked netizens not to make things difficult for his brother, the buzz intensified for one more day before gradually dying down.
—
Lanjin Entertainment Company, President’s Office.
“Boss, he messed up on his own. Why are you helping him?” Su Jia, Yan Han’s assistant, complained after completing a task.
He couldn’t stand Pei Lang. First, he had flirted with Yan Xiuyuan, and then with their boss. The most infuriating thing? Pei Lang had claimed that Su Jia wasn’t even worth flirting with. Not worth it? Ridiculous! With his looks, Su Jia was absolutely capable of debuting as the center in the entertainment industry.
Wait, no. Who even wanted Pei Lang’s attention?
Pei Lang had caused his own mess, yet the boss was helping him reduce the heat? He should be left to face the consequences himself.
Yan Han, without even looking up, continued signing the contracts in front of him. His pen scratched briskly across the paper as he said, “Think of it as returning a favor.”
Su Jia was stunned. “Boss? You owe him a favor?”
“He gave me something to eat.”
A debt significant enough for the boss to acknowledge must have been no small matter. As Su Jia’s imagination ran wild, wondering what critical moment Pei Lang had saved Yan Han, the man’s next words struck like lightning, turning Su Jia’s thoughts into ash.
With a voice that once carried ice but now brought the full force of a thunderstorm, Yan Han clarified. “What? You’ve had every delicacy in the world, and just for one bite of food…” Su Jia stopped mid-sentence, incredulous.
“Do you have a problem with that?” Yan Han finally closed the contract and looked up.
Su Jia instantly fell silent.
“It’s time for lunch.”
“Boss, where would you like to eat today?” The matter was brushed aside for now. Su Jia had complained too much about the boss’s unusual behavior, but if he kept going, he might as well consider the past six months of work wasted. All because of that Pei Lang.
“Which place has the most comprehensive menu?”
“Southern Well Pavilion. They have master chefs on-site and can make anything you want,” Su Jia quickly replied.
“We’ll go to Southern Well Pavilion.” Hearing the latter part of the statement, Yan Han decided without hesitation.
Su Jia found it odd. The boss had always eaten whatever the nutritionist provided without being picky or taking the initiative to name a place. Yet this time, he had specifically asked where to eat.
Su Jia immediately made a reservation upon leaving. Since they had dined there multiple times before, the restaurant quickly arranged a private room. Southern Well Pavilion was a favorite spot for wealthy heirs to dine. During peak dining hours, securing a private room without waiting was a testament to Yan Han’s status.
Half an hour later, they arrived at the private room. The restaurant manager personally came to greet and host them. Yan Han browsed the menu for a long time but didn’t order. Assuming he was unsure of what to eat, the manager recommended a few signature dishes, but Yan Han remained silent.
Even the head chef was called in. The three of them stood there nervously, their palms sweating. Yan Han wasn’t as outwardly approachable as he might appear to some. He was known for being ruthless and decisive. His cold and harsh personality had only worsened after his injury, making him even more aloof and unpredictable. With his high social status, no one dared to offend him.
The atmosphere was stifling. The silence in the private room is so oppressive that only the sound of flipping menu pages can be heard. Suddenly, the menu snapped shut with a sharp “clap”. Yan Han’s dissatisfaction was evident.
“One order of Summer Sunset.”
He had finally ordered. Everyone in the room breathed a collective sigh of relief. Before they could fully relax, however, the head chef froze mid-breath.
“Mr. Yan… this ‘Summer Sunset’…”
“What? You don’t have it?” Yan Han’s cold gaze swept over them. The head chef nearly dropped to his knees. There was a faint trace of displeasure in Yan Han’s voice. “You’re a master chef?”
“Y-Yes, but this Summer Sunset… I’ve never heard of it before…”
Yan Han’s expression didn’t change, but those familiar with him knew things had taken a bad turn.
“Other master chefs can make it, but you can’t?” He had been craving this dish for days and finally made time for a proper lunch, only to be told the dish wasn’t available.
“Apologies, Mr. Yan. It was our negligence. Please give us another chance. If you could tell us which master chef created the dish ‘Summer Sunset’, we will personally visit them to learn it thoroughly and replicate it perfectly. We promise this dish will be available in the future, so you won’t be disappointed again.” The head chef, visibly shaken, stood aside as the restaurant owner stepped in to apologize.
“You claim to be able to make anything, huh? Heh~ Yet you can’t even manage ‘Summer Sunset’. I think it’s time to change your reputation.”
The owner’s face turned deathly pale. He dared not say another word. The more he tried to explain, the worse it would get.
While Yan Han was indeed displeased, smashing their reputation over a single dish wasn’t worth the effort.
“Forget it. I’ve lost my appetite. Back to the office,” Yan Han declared, leaving the restaurant with Su Jia in tow, his mood thoroughly soured.
Just as they stepped out, Yan Han added, “One month’s bonus, gone.”
The words almost made Su Jia stumble. Because of his offhand remark that Southern Well Pavilion could make anything, the boss had wasted a trip, and the price was Su Jia’s entire month’s bonus. Su Jia was utterly stunned. He had never expected the boss to get so upset over something like this. Still, he had no complaints.
Meanwhile, the pale-faced head chef and restaurant owner, who nearly collapsed from the tension, could never have guessed that the dish Mr. Yan had specifically requested was nothing more than the simple stir-fried tomatoes with eggs.
Su Jia, too, had no idea that the loss of his bonus was indirectly caused by Pei Lang. If he ever found out, he would certainly hold a grudge.
—
At that moment, Pei Lang was sitting at home, flipping through documents sent by the private investigator—everything related to the original owner’s life.
The original owner’s father was a high school teacher who had fallen in love with his mother. They got married and had Pei Lang. For years, the couple seemed deeply in love. But when Pei Ziqing’s mother showed up with her five-year-old child, the illusion of harmony was shattered.
It turned out the father had been unfaithful and had a child out of wedlock. The revelation devastated the original owner’s mother. Though she fought, cried, and even tried to reconcile, she eventually fell into depression and, two years later, took her own life.
For the first eight years of his life, the original owner had known love and familial bliss. Then came years of emotional chaos as his parents argued and fought. These events scarred him deeply. After his mother’s suicide, he changed drastically, harboring immense hatred toward his father.
Not long after the mother’s death, Pei Ziqing’s mother officially moved in. The incident became the talk of the entire town. To escape the gossip, the father relocated the family to a new city. From then on, the original owner had a stepmother and a younger half-brother.
That painful past seemed buried in the town they had left behind, alongside his deceased mother. Yet the original owner alone knew just how irresponsible and spineless his father truly was.
The death of his mother was deeply tied to these people. He disliked Pei Ziqing and hated his father. As a result, he became rebellious, constantly competing with Pei Ziqing and frequently infuriating his father. Over time, he seemed to turn into an outsider within his own family. His wounded soul, lacking proper guidance and solace, grew twisted and filled with jealousy. He especially coveted anything that belonged to Pei Ziqing. Even though no one ever sided with him and he never succeeded in taking anything away, he kept trying.
Did he love Yan Xiuyuan? Probably not. It was simply because Yan Xiuyuan loved only Pei Ziqing—an exclusive favoritism that he couldn’t bear. He resorted to any means necessary to steal that affection. When he couldn’t, he sought to ruin it. That’s how the scandalous scenes involving Yan Xiuyuan came about.
But Yan Xiuyuan wasn’t someone he could afford to provoke. All it achieved was tarnishing his own reputation.
Though pitiable, Pei Ziqing was innocent too. Pei Lang felt a pang of sympathy for them both. After finishing the documents, he couldn’t help but mutter, “I hope you’ll have a better family in your next life. For now, I’ll continue writing the story of your life for you.”
None of this had been detailed in the original work. Seeing this now, the original owner’s madness had a traceable logic. Yet, under the pen of the author, he was portrayed as an unredeemable lunatic. Perhaps the author simply wanted to dedicate more space to the protagonists.
—
“Let’s go home and see what that scumbag father looks like.”
It was said that after death, the soul has seven days to revisit the places it had been during life. While the original owner disliked that house, it was still where he grew up. Even if his soul no longer lingered within the body, taking him home was the least Pei Lang could do for him.
The detective’s documents included a detailed address. The house was quite far away—a three-hour drive to a small town on the outskirts of the city. Unlike the towering skyscrapers of the city, the town exuded a comforting, everyday charm.
Pei Lang dressed casually for the trip: a white T-shirt, gray shorts, and sneakers. The outfit radiated youthful energy, making him look less like a 27-year-old and more like a college student.
Standing at the house’s front door, he rehearsed a few opening lines in his mind. Just as he was about to knock, the door opened on its own. A handsome young boy stood there, staring at him in surprise. After scrutinizing him for a moment, the boy hesitantly asked, “Brother?”
The moment Pei Lang heard the boy’s voice, he knew who he was. Smiling, he replied, “Ziqing.”
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