TPAE chapter 4.3

The sound of a car engine drifted from the road behind them. Yi Chengze glanced past Wei Xicheng, watching as a sleek black sedan drove by. In the backseat was someone he had seen a few times before—his next-door neighbor.

The two exchanged fleeting glances as the car passed. Wei Xicheng felt a strange tug in his chest and instinctively started to turn around. But before he could fully turn, a large hand suddenly clamped down on the back of his neck. His body stiffened, and his movement froze. Behind him, the sound of the car quickly faded away.

Sitting in the car, Si Yongyi couldn’t help but think about the two figures he had just seen standing together. Fragments of old memories stirred in his mind—when Yang Yuan left, there had been another man by his side. The scene outside reminded him of that moment, the people’s auras so similar. The painful memory flashed through his chest like a blade.

When Si Yongyi raised his gaze again, his attention lingered on the young boy furiously slapping at the man’s hand. He found himself thinking about him with greater curiosity and interest.

As Wei Xicheng turned his head, he caught sight of a fleeting blur of black disappearing around the corner.

“Why are you grabbing my neck?” he demanded, his eyes full of wary suspicion.

Yi Chengze smirked faintly. “You had some paint on you. I was helping you wipe it off.”

“No need, thanks.” Wei Xicheng brushed Yi Chengze’s hand off his shoulder. In doing so, he accidentally touched the man’s wrist—it felt cold to the touch.

His eyes swept over Yi Chengze’s outfit: long sleeves and pants, tightly covering every inch of his skin. In the middle of summer, bundled up like this and still so cold… probably some kind of health issue.

“I’m leaving now.” Wei Xicheng waved his hand, adjusting his hat that had been knocked askew during the encounter, and turned to walk away.

This time, Yi Chengze didn’t stop him. His gaze, however, lingered on the boy’s hat. The way it shifted slightly, as if something inside was moving, caught his attention. Remembering the boy’s true form, Yi Chengze froze. He subtly rubbed his hands against his pants.

The slippery sensation he had felt on the boy’s neck flashed in his mind. Yi Chengze stopped rubbing his hands, letting the thought slide. His eyes followed the boy’s light, quick steps as he walked away.

Wei Xicheng stashed his painting supplies in the branches of a large tree and transformed into a streak of white light, dashing toward the banquet hotel.

This banquet was being broadcast live to the public, drawing the attention of numerous business giants and socialites. Many entertainment stars had also been invited, boosting the event’s appeal and coverage.

Outside, the red carpet was flanked by photographers and reporters, their cameras poised and ready.

In the shadows nearby, a small white cat crouched, silently observing the glamorous figures coming and going.

Not long after, a waiter wearing a small black hat appeared in the hallway of the VIP lounge. The hat covered all his hair, revealing a smooth forehead and a pair of clear, bright eyes.

Based on Si Yongyi’s status, the likelihood of him appearing here was nearly 100%, and there was a high chance he would see Lin Yang as well. Wei Xicheng quietly used the system to connect to the hotel’s surveillance cameras, searching for Si Yongyi’s whereabouts.

As expected, Si Yongyi, his assistant, and Lin Yang were being led by a waiter, heading straight in his direction. Standing to the side, Wei Xicheng’s ears, hidden under the high hat, twitched slightly.

When Si Yongyi, Lin Yang, and their group stepped out of the elevator, for some reason, all their gazes fell on the waiter standing on standby in the hallway.

Lin Yang studied him carefully. The waiter’s formal attire fit perfectly, highlighting a slender yet well-proportioned figure. His long legs, encased in slim black trousers, were particularly eye-catching.

Everyone’s first thought was: There really are boys who look like they walked out of a comic book.

The uniform didn’t diminish the boy’s presence or beauty in the slightest. On the contrary, one could imagine him wearing the most exquisite formalwear and carrying it effortlessly.

Si Yongyi’s eyes briefly flashed with astonishment. He had only caught a glimpse of this boy earlier and hadn’t had time to investigate him, yet here he was, appearing right before him.

From a distance earlier that afternoon, Si Yongyi had already noticed the boy’s extraordinary looks and bearing. But now, up close, he was even more stunning than Si Yongyi had expected.

Previously, Si Yongyi thought Lin Yang was the best substitute he could find, but now he realized that even if Yang Yuan himself were standing here, he likely wouldn’t outshine this boy.

This had nothing to do with emotions,

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it was purely an objective judgment.

Si Yongyi’s gaze shifted to Lin Yang, and a hint of disappointment flickered in his eyes. Comparisons were the death of satisfaction. If this boy hadn’t appeared, he might have still believed Lin Yang was the most suitable person to ease his longing. But now, with a better option in front of him, Si Yongyi realized he wasn’t that unselective.

He signaled his assistant with a glance, and the assistant immediately understood.

“Could you fetch us some desserts? You, the waiter over there—come here for a moment.” The assistant easily dismissed the current guide and called Wei Xicheng over.

The boy standing in front of them looked nervous, failing to perform the expected formalities.

Si Yongyi squinted and glanced at the name tag on the boy’s chest. Sun Dali?

The only waiter without a radio.

Wei Xicheng licked his lips, his voice carrying a slight tremor, “P-Please, how can I assist you?”

“Take us to our room.” The assistant tossed a key card at him, clearly unimpressed with the waiter’s lack of professionalism.

“Of course, please follow me.” Wei Xicheng quickly glanced at the key card. A509.

As Si Yongyi followed the boy walking ahead, a low chuckle escaped his lips. He was a businessman to the core—when an opportunity presented itself, he saw no reason to refuse.

“You two head to the room next door,” Si Yongyi said to his assistant before entering the suite.

The assistant hesitated for a moment but, after glancing at Lin Yang and the waiter, quickly understood. Keeping his composure, he turned to Lin Yang. “Mr. Lin, please follow me.”

Lin Yang, still a university student with no knowledge of the rules in this circle, was easily led away, leaving behind the slightly unprofessional waiter and a predator in the form of a ruthless businessman.

Wei Xicheng watched the two leave, a cold sneer forming in his heart. Si Yongyi really is as much of a scumbag as I imagined.

Ding—the door opened.

The suite’s luxurious interior reflected the hotel’s high standards, further enhanced by the VIP treatment given to someone like Si Yongyi. Every detail was top-tier.

Without even asking Si Yongyi’s preference, Wei Xicheng took the liberty of adjusting the lights to a warm yellow hue. It was a tone he personally liked.

“Mr. Si, please enjoy your rest. I’ll just—”

Before he could turn to leave, a hand grabbed his arm. Wei Xicheng resisted the urge to throw the man over his shoulder, his composure only faltering slightly as Si Yongyi’s amused voice reached his ears.

“Do you know me?”

Wei Xicheng’s eyes darted around as he lowered his head to look at the ground. “Mr. Si, you’re young and accomplished, a business elite—I definitely recognize you.”

Si Yongyi chuckled as he observed the boy in front of him. The boy avoided his gaze, muttering vague remarks about him. Suddenly, as if recalling something important, the boy hastily added, “Mr. Si is also one of the VIPs that our manager instructed us to prioritize. We’ve been told to ensure you receive the highest quality service.”

Si Yongyi pulled the boy closer, shortening the distance between them. Leaning in, he asked, “Why don’t you tell me—what does the best service mean?”

Out of Si Yongyi’s sight, Wei Xicheng rolled his eyes, but his mouth spewed a string of clichés, “Making the guests feel at home… treating them as gods…” It was a chaotic, incoherent mess.

“That’s not what I want to hear.” Si Yongyi released his grip, priding himself on being a gentleman. “You’re not an employee here, are you? Speak up—who are you?”

Wei Xicheng’s eyes widened, feigning confusion, as if he didn’t understand how he had been found out. Yet his muscles tensed, and he took two cautious steps back, ready to flee at any moment.

“You don’t need to be nervous. I won’t expose you,” Si Yongyi said as he sat on the sofa, loosening his tie. “What are you here for?”

Wei Xicheng stood in place, biting his lip and remaining silent.

For a brief moment, Si Yongyi was transported back to a memory. Yang Yuan also had a habit of biting his lip whenever he was deep in thought—a habit Si Yongyi had tried countless times to break.

When he came to his senses, he found himself standing in front of the boy, gripping his chin. Wei Xicheng’s eyes glistened with unshed tears, gazing at him with an accusing look.

Si Yongyi frowned and let go, taking two steps back. “Tell me who you are.”

“I’m here for you,” Wei Xicheng replied, his tone soft and tinged with a trace of a sob.

Wei Xicheng rubbed his chin, drawing Si Yongyi’s attention. Sure enough, there were two red marks there.

Did I grip him that hard?

“For me? Who are you? What’s your goal? Speak clearly.”

Since the boy clearly had an agenda, Si Yongyi wasn’t worried he would run away. Their earlier “coincidental” meeting in the afternoon no longer seemed accidental. It was probably the boy’s first failed attempt at approaching him, leading him to sneak into this banquet through elaborate means.

Impressive. Still, Si Yongyi thought, if someone had a request, they had to be prepared to pay the corresponding price.

“My name is Mao Rong, and I…” Wei Xicheng hesitated, the words seemingly difficult to say. After stuttering for a long moment, he finally managed to complete his sentence:

“I… like you.”

What utter nonsense.

Now it was Si Yongyi’s turn to be stunned. He hadn’t expected such an answer. He lowered his head and let out a derisive laugh. He’d seen this kind of ploy countless times—how many of them weren’t after money?

The boy, however, seemed oblivious to his reaction. After the confession, his words flowed much more smoothly.

“I know! I know you definitely wouldn’t be interested in me, and I didn’t plan to do anything. I… I just couldn’t control myself anymore. I have no ulterior motives. I just wanted to see you once! I didn’t expect you to…”

Si Yongyi didn’t need to listen to the rest to understand. Judging by the boy’s behavior, it was hard to tell how much of his words were true and how much were false. But one thing was certain—the boy had another agenda.

His expression turned serious. “What you’ve done is wrong. How did you sneak in here?”

When he chose his next hotel, Si Yongyi resolved to prioritize their security measures.

“I… The kitchen on the fourth floor has a pretty big window that was open…”

Si Yongyi remained skeptical. He suspected that a staff member had secretly let the boy in. “And how did you get to the fourth floor?”

“I climbed up the building’s exterior decorations. I’ll climb back down later too, so I won’t cause you any trouble.” The boy seemed unaware of how dangerous his actions were, even sounding a little proud of himself.

Si Yongyi looked at the boy’s earnest face, his bright eyes brimming with sincerity. He wasn’t sure if this was an act. If it was, then the boy was frighteningly good at it. If it was genuine, it only proved that he was both naive and reckless.

Based on his years of experience reading people and the information he’d gathered so far, Si Yongyi concluded that the boy was likely telling the truth.

Inside the room, the two continued their conversation, completely unaware that someone outside was eavesdropping.

“Like him?”

Hovering invisibly outside the glass, Yi Chengze let out a cold laugh. It seems this junior in the demon world needs a lesson on how to conduct themselves properly.

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Author’s Note:

After reading this chapter, Yi Chengze: Heh. So much for saying you’d only confess to me.