TL: Hua
Chapter 96: A Bet – Pei-wenshu!
In late winter, the Imperial Guards’ martial arts exam began.
Bu Suying got the news and managed to get some time off to go. She couldn’t stay long, but she spoke a few words to Pei Jintang, who was waiting to take his exam. She tied a protective talisman she’d gotten to his waist and then hurried away.
Knowing that both Pei Jintang and Mei Xiu were participating, Pei Xiting found their exam numbers in Zong Suiyang’s records. That day, he got ready and took Yuan Fang with him to the martial arts academy. As he entered, he ran right into Bu Suying, who was leaving.
Pei Xiting went up to her. “Did you see my second brother?”
“I did,” Bu Suying said, patting his hand. She smiled. “He looks very handsome.”
Pei Xiting smiled back, knowing she was busy, so he didn’t say much more and told the palace servants who brought her to escort her back carefully.
They entered the academy. A martial arts match was happening on the main stage. Pei Xiting didn’t go looking for Pei Jintang and Mei Xiu. Instead, he found a quiet, deserted corner to sit in.
Yuan Fang sat beside him and took a small bag off his shoulder. He took out a small bottle of grape juice for Pei Xiting and then started chewing on his plain steamed bun, with a bag of watermelon seeds left over.
Pei Jintang and Mei Xiu were taking their exams one after the other, separated by seven groups of people. Pei Xiting looked at the numbers on the stage and estimated that it would be their turn soon.
A moment later, Young Marquis Mei made his grand entrance, still wearing his trademark flashy, butterfly-like outfit but a bit more practical than usual, with cuffed sleeves, a short robe, and his hair in a ponytail secured with a headband.
Among the participants were some of Young Marquis Mei’s close friends. Seeing him take the stage, they immediately jumped up to cheer for him. The young marquis calmly gestured for the crowd below to quiet down.
“Do you think this is your home?!” A high-ranking officer of the Imperial Guards, who was in charge of today’s exams, roared from a window on the second floor above the stage. “Sit down, all of you, or I’ll beat you with a stick!”
The crowd immediately fell silent. Young Marquis Mei was angry but didn’t dare to speak out for now. He secretly glared at the person above while scratching his head.
The person above didn’t notice, but Pei Xiting saw it clearly and burst out laughing.
Commander Shangguan Jie of the Left Imperial Guard was also on the second floor, but his mind was elsewhere today, and people had caught on to his distraction several times. He wasn’t in the mood to laugh at the young masters he usually hung out with, but as he turned, he spotted the crimson robe in the right corridor.
“Hey, Jinhe, you go—” Before he could finish, Shangguan Jie had already darted away like lightning. The commander of the Right Imperial Guard scratched his head and spread his hands to his colleagues. “He’s always been like this lately.”
Someone laughed. “Can’t you tell? He’s distracted and overly emotional. He’s lovesick.”
Everyone responded with a drawn-out “Ohh…”
Shangguan Jie shot them a severe glare. Everyone’s expression sobered up, and they immediately fell silent, not daring to gossip about their colleague anymore.
The match on the stage had already begun. Pei Xiting was listening to Yuan Fang’s live commentary when he turned and saw Shangguan Jie walking towards him with big strides.
He had just been admiring Mei Xiu’s “monkey steals a peach” move, a smile still on his face. This smile met Shangguan Jie’s eyes. Shangguan Jie stopped, knowing full well that the smile wasn’t for him.
“I saw you were here, so I came…” Shangguan Jie’s voice trailed off as his gaze fell upon Pei Xiting’s neck. There were two fresh red marks, so vivid they were glaringly obvious.
Pei Xiting’s gaze didn’t waver as he unhurriedly shelled a watermelon seed.
Just then, a gong sounded on the stage. Young Marquis Mei leaped three feet into the air, having won his match. He spread his arms wide and closed his eyes, savoring the applause and praise from the crowd.
Pei Xiting ate the seed and clapped along with everyone else.
The gong sound brought Shangguan Jie back to his senses. He slowly unclenched his fists and sat down next to Pei Xiting. After Pei Xiting put his hands down, he asked, “Did Lord You not come today?”
Pei Xiting was confused. “This is an Imperial Guard exam. Why would Lord You come?”
Shangguan Jie looked at Pei Xiting’s face. “Right. He’s been very busy lately. I guess he doesn’t have much time to spend with you.”
Pei Xiting: “?”
Why did Lord You have to spend time with him? Oh, he understood.
Shangguan Jie knew he was with someone, but in his mind, that person was You Zong.
Pei Xiting quickly recalled the tone and atmosphere of their conversation outside the East Palace last time and concluded that Lord You himself was also aware of this misunderstanding and hadn’t bothered to clarify.
What’s going on? Pei Xiting cracked another seed. “I don’t need Lord You to spend time with me.”
Shangguan Jie’s eyes lit up at his words. “Are you two having a disagreement?”
This excited, expectant tone, without a moment’s hesitation, meant he was trying to steal someone’s lover, right? Yuan Fang chewed on his steamed bun, quietly observing from the side.
“No,” Pei Xiting said. “We’re very happy. Young Marquis, you know how well Lord You takes care of me, right? I’m someone who remembers grudges, but I also remember kindness.”
Another blow. Shangguan Jie silently took it and said, “You Zong is the Left Commissioner of the Longhe Division. He’s always walking a dangerous line. Being with him might be glamorous, but you won’t have a peaceful life.”
Pei Xiting said, without a care, “So what?”
Seeing that he had finally admitted it, Shangguan Jie felt a dull thud in his chest. He stared intently into Pei Xiting’s eyes. “Consider me.”
Pei Xiting: “?”
Yuan Fang: “.”
“I know I hurt you before, but I regret it, and I’ll never treat you that way again,” Shangguan Jie said earnestly. “Xiting, can you forgive me?”
Yuan Fang: “.”
Pei Xiting said calmly, “There’s nothing to forgive between us. It’s just that I believe in destiny. Young Marquis, our first meeting was not pleasant.”
“Then what about Mei Xiu?” Shangguan Jie said, refusing to give up. “You two had a fight and then became friends afterward, didn’t you?”
“My first meeting with Young Marquis Mei was indeed unpleasant, but in our subsequent interactions, he has proven to be straightforward and loyal, with no malicious intentions. And we get along well,” Pei Xiting said, meeting Shangguan Jie’s gaze calmly. He paused for a moment. “Young Marquis, compared to Prince Zhao, you might be considered straightforward, but honestly, if our positions were reversed, would you be able to be friends with me without any reservations?”
“…Yes, I did have intentions and a plan for you. I wanted you,” Shangguan Jie said in a low voice. “I don’t deny it.”
Pei Xiting said, “I already have a sweetheart.”
“I, Know,” Shangguan Jie said, gritting his teeth and enunciating each word. Then he added, “I won’t immediately force my way into your heart. I just want a chance to get closer to you.”
Pei Xiting’s brow furrowed. “Are you saying you want me to cheat on my sweetheart with you?”
“Cheating is an ugly word. You and You Zong aren’t at the point of marriage. Why can’t you consider other options?” Shangguan Jie said seriously. “You Zong can disappear for long periods when he’s busy. He can’t take you with him when he’s doing dangerous work. You’re destined to be separated often. Can your relationship withstand that kind of test?”
Pei Xiting said with a straight face, “True love is not afraid of being tested.”
Yuan Fang silently took another bite of his steamed bun.
“Alright. You’re in the throes of love now, so of course you’re full of hope and certainty for the future…” Shangguan Jie took a deep breath, deciding to back down. “As long as you’re willing to give me a chance, I can be the one you keep in the shadows.”
Pei Xiting and Yuan Fang: “?”
Pei Xiting’s lips twitched. “Young man, don’t be so impulsive,” he advised.
“I’m not being impulsive! I’ve been thinking about this day and night. This is my answer after careful consideration,” Shangguan Jie said excitedly. “You Zong is a man of few words and is always busy with work. How much time can he spend with you? Can he have fun with you? As time goes on, you’ll find him boring, and you’ll get tired of this relationship—”
“No, I won’t,” Pei Xiting said. “Young Marquis, you’re being biased, or rather, you’re only seeing the surface.”
Shangguan Jie didn’t get angry at the interruption. “What do you mean?”
“Let’s take Lord You as an example. You’re just a colleague, so you only know him as ‘Lord You’ and ‘Commissioner You.’ But do you know ‘You Zong,’ or even ‘You Heying’?” Pei Xiting said, spreading his hands. “You don’t.”
To Shangguan Jie, this meant, “My Lord You is very interesting. You’re just an outsider. What do you know?!”
Shangguan Jie’s gaze was drawn back to Pei Xiting’s neck. The marks were so jarring. The thought of their passionate, intimate moments in bed made him feel a searing pain in his chest. He quickly looked away. “Even the most delicious meal is just a meal. You need to add more dishes to make it more flavorful!”
“…” Pei Xiting said. “Young Marquis, does Marquis Shangguan know that you’re out here offering to be someone’s secret lover?”
Shangguan Jie frowned. “Why should he know?”
“Of course Marquis Shangguan should know about things that affect the Shangguan family’s reputation,” Pei Xiting advised sincerely. “How important is a good name for a noble family? Young Marquis, you’re still young. You should go home and reflect on things.”
Shangguan Jie was about to say more, but Yuan Fang cut in. “Second Young Master is about to go on.”
Pei Xiting immediately sat up straight and looked straight ahead.
“…” Shangguan Jie took a deep breath, swallowing the words in his throat, but he didn’t move from his seat.
“Pei-wenshu.” A palace servant in plain clothes walked quickly up to Pei Xiting and bowed. “Wang-shi is outside.”
“This is a martial arts exam. Outsiders are not allowed in,” Pei Xiting said calmly, watching Pei Jintang on the stage. “Stop her. Don’t let her disturb the exams.”
The servant said, “We are holding her back, but she is very agitated and won’t leave.”
“Then throw her out,” Shangguan Jie said impatiently. “What kind of place is this? A place for her to cause a scene?”
According to the rules, it wasn’t an exaggeration to throw out someone who was causing a ruckus at the exam entrance. Pei Xiting glanced at him. “She’s still my second brother’s birth mother. Young Marquis, please be gentle.”
“She’s causing a scene without considering what would happen to Jintang if the Imperial Guard officers found out?” Shangguan Jie scoffed. “The Wang family is in decline, and she only has Jintang to rely on, but she still wants to control him. What an idiot.”
Pei Xiting said nonchalantly, “You don’t have to throw her out. Just have someone escort her back to her carriage and then back to the Pei manor. Let Lord Pei handle it.”
The servant bowed and left, walking quickly to the entrance, where he heard Wang-shi complaining about Pei Xiting, saying that Pei Jintang was disobedient because Pei Xiting had influenced him.
The servant frowned slightly, walked quickly to the entrance, and snapped, “What kind of madwoman is this, daring to cause a scene at the exam hall entrance!”
The guard who was stopping her immediately said, “Sir, this is Wang-shi from Guanglu Temple’s minister’s household. She’s here for her son.”
“She came all the way here to find her son? Does she think this is a playground?” The servant looked at Wang-shi with contempt. “Go back where you came from. If you bother a distinguished person, your entire Pei family will lose their heads!”
The guard immediately grabbed Wang-shi and forced her into her carriage. Wang-shi tried to get out, but the carriage window was slammed open.
The guard held the window open, and the servant stepped forward, whispering gently, “We’re letting you off the hook today for the sake of the friendship between Second Young Master Pei and Pei-wenshu. You better remember Pei-wenshu’s kindness. If you ever speak ill of him again, I(zán jiā) will cut out your tongue, send it to the Wang manor, and have it boiled in water for the entire Wang family to enjoy.”
Wang-shi looked into the servant’s eyes and felt a chill run down her spine.
This person was from the palace… No, from the East Palace. People from the East Palace were more feared than those from the palace. They were under the direct command of the true master of Daye.
Wang-shi collapsed on the carriage cushion. The servant scoffed and waved his hand. “Send her away quickly. She’s a pain to look at.”
Just then, Pei Xiting came out of the entrance, and the servant immediately went up to him. “Pei-wenshu, congratulations.”
“They still have to wait for the debriefing, so I won’t stay,” Pei Xiting said with a smile, playfully patting the servant’s hat tassel. “Both my second brother and the young marquis passed their exams. I’m happy. Come on, let’s go eat some roasted lamb leg.”
The servant smiled and said, “Yes,” before following Pei Xiting away.
Wang-shi peeked through the crack in the window and watched the three of them walk away, her heart filled with shock and disbelief.
The eunuchs from the East Palace were powerful. Even a low-ranking one would be someone noble families wouldn’t dare to offend. The eunuch who had addressed himself as “I(zán jiā)[mfn]The term “咱家” (zán jiā) is a first-person pronoun, meaning “I” or “we.” It’s primarily used in Chinese by eunuchs, especially those with some rank or authority, to refer to themselves. It carries a sense of officialdom and a slightly theatrical or self-important air.[/mfn],” wasn’t just an ordinary one. He must have held a high rank, yet he was so respectful to Pei Xiting, not like he was a clerk, but more like a… master.
Who exactly was Pei Xiting?
*
Pei Xiting was a loyal customer of Zhou Ji’s Lamb Legs.
The three of them bought three large roasted lamb legs, sat behind a curtain, and gnawed on them with gusto. Paired with a bowl of lamb soup, they felt warm all over.
Restaurants with good business were always excellent places for gossip to spread. Pei Xiting listened as people all around them chatted about the crown prince. He couldn’t help but chuckle, “It’s been so long, and he’s still topping the hot searches. The crown prince truly is the biggest celebrity in Daye.”
The palace servant perked up his ears, eavesdropping. When he heard that some people had privately set up a gambling ring, he nearly choked, covering his mouth and saying, “How can they do that!”
“You’re a bit behind the times, young man,” Pei Xiting whispered. “This gambling ring was set up ages ago. Ever since our crown prince came of age, they’ve opened the betting every year, but there’s never been a winner.”
Yuan Fang said, “Then if someone were to bet on your name now, wouldn’t that mean… what you called ‘getting rich overnight’?”
“Absolutely, but who would bet on me?” Pei Xiting said, then lowered his head to sip his lamb soup, closing his eyes and letting out a satisfied sigh.
Despite what he said, Pei Xiting was a little curious about this year’s betting pools. He wanted to know who people thought was the best match for the crown prince. So, after the three of them were full and warm, they went to the nearest gambling house.
To avoid a repeat of what happened last time, Pei Xiting put on a veil before entering and pulled his cloak hood up, revealing only his bright, clear eyes.
A floor manager came to greet them and, upon hearing they wanted to see the “Peach Blossom Game,” slyly led them upstairs to a private room on the second floor.
Clearly, the “Peach Blossom Game” was the code name for the betting ring, and this room on the second floor was the exclusive area for it.
Although the betting ring had a clandestine feel to it, the exclusive room was packed with people. The three of them barely squeezed through the doorway and were squashed into a corner like meat patties.
“Everyone’s here; close the door!” The manager ordered, and the door was locked from the outside.
“Ladies and gentlemen, without further ado, this year’s Peach Blossom Game result is still—no one! However!” The manager’s tone shifted, and the bamboo stick in his hand slapped against the red cloth covering a board behind him. “The competition in this game is still fierce. Now, I present—”
The two floor managers on either side ‘whooshed’ the red cloth aside, revealing a red-bannered list.
Pei Xiting and his companions were too far away to see, so they could only listen.
“Based on our calculations, the top eight with the most bets have been determined. Now, I will announce them one by one!” The manager cleared his throat. “In eighth place, Miss Shangguan from Changning Marquis’s Residence—bright eyes and white teeth, lively and clever!”
The supporters cheered, “Good!”
The opposition jeered, “Tch!”
Pei Xiting and the other two exchanged a glance and said, “Wow.”
“Quiet, quiet!” the manager said. “Seventh place, Miss Mei from Qingyuan Marquis’s Residence—graceful and poised, dignified and generous!”
“Good!” “Tch!” “Wow.”
“Sixth place, Miss Qu Zhen from the Qu family—a peach blossom in full bloom, with a lovely temperament!”
“Good!” “Tch!” “Wow.”
“Fifth place, Qu Zhao, Deputy Minister Qu, from the Qu family—handsome and elegant, with both beauty and wisdom!”
This name sparked a heated debate.
The opposition unanimously declared, “Deputy Minister Qu… isn’t he a man?!”
The supporters countered, “A man is a person, too. If they’re a person, anything is possible!”
The room was a clamor of voices. In their corner, Pei Xiting and his two companions exchanged a difficult six-eyed glance and, in unison, said, “Wow.”
“Alright, everyone, please be quiet. I’m not done yet!” The manager’s voice was hoarse. Once the crowd finally quieted down, he quickly continued, “Fourth place, Miss Qu Lan from the Qu family—charming and graceful, with a heart of orchids!”
“Good!” “Tch!” “Wow.”
“Next, the top three with the most bets.” The manager slapped his bamboo stick, pointing at a name on the red-bannered list. “Third place, Lord You from the Longhe Division—a companion since youth, carefully groomed; sharing joys and sorrows, his right-hand man; with loyalty and devotion, a favorite official of the highest rank!”
With Deputy Minister Qu as a precedent, everyone was much calmer about a man appearing on the list.
“Good!” “Tch!” “Wow.”
“Second place, Commander Yu, the Crown Prince’s personal guard captain—childhood friends, inseparable day and night, weathering storms together, his right-hand man, loyal and dedicated, with the advantage of proximity!”
“Good!” “Tch!” “Wow.”
“Now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for. I will grandly announce this year’s first place,” the manager said excitedly. “And the winner is—The East Palace’s clerk, Pei-wenshu!”
A strange silence fell over the room. Then, a single, thunderous “wow” exploded like a clap of thunder, and everyone turned to stare at the three human-shaped meat patties in the corner.
Pei Xiting and the others fell silent.
“Ahem!” The manager quickly seized the opportunity to speak. “This gambling ring is fair and just! There are no backroom deals!”
“But I’ve never seen Pei-wenshu’s name on the list before! I’ve been following this from start to finish for years, just waiting to strike it rich!”
The people in Commander Yu’s camp were the first to speak, followed by a chorus of “Yeah, yeah” and “Exactly.”
“The ‘most bets’ is easy to calculate. It’s all about one thing—money,” the manager said. “The amount of money can’t be wrong. We’re one of the best gambling houses in Yejing. Don’t you trust us?”
A representative from Lord You’s camp spoke up. “But for Pei-wenshu to surpass everyone overnight is too unbelievable! We didn’t hear a single thing about it before!”
“Yeah, yeah.” “Exactly.” “…”
“To be honest with you all, that’s because there was only one person who bet on Pei-wenshu!” the manager said. “But that one person—he’s incredibly wealthy and made his move with such a decisive and ruthless hand!”
Everyone was stunned. Pei Xiting himself was also stunned.
“How much money was it?” someone asked.
“Ten thousand taels—” The manager smiled faintly as hundreds of shocked eyes watched him. “Of gold!”
No one in the room made a sound. They were all dumbfounded.
Who is it?
Who on earth is it?!
If you have so much money and nowhere to spend it, why do you have to come and join our game! You’ve completely crushed our chance to ever make a comeback!!!
Although those who came to the gambling ring all held the hope of “getting rich overnight,” they didn’t dare to bet too much. After all, it was a gambling ring about the crown prince, and it could be shut down by the authorities at any time. If that happened, they wouldn’t just lose their money; they might not even get away with just a beating—it was like dancing on a blade’s edge, extremely dangerous!
“Of course, I won’t tell you who this person is, nor can I. The big shots are all very mysterious,” the manager said. “When this patron came to place his bet, he was very cooperative and told us his reason for being so optimistic about Pei-wenshu. Do you want to hear it?”
Why are you talking so much? Just tell us!
Pei Xiting also perked up his ears.
“It’s just one sentence,” the manager said, clearing his throat. “‘Pei-wenshu has won the heart of the lord.'”
This phrase could be interpreted in many ways, depending on the emotional context—the crown prince admires, fancies, is pleased with, or likes Pei-wenshu.
In the context of this gambling ring, “likes” was naturally interpreted as a romantic interest between two men.
Everyone pondered for a moment before they began to speak.
“Is it possible that this person is just rich and optimistic about Pei-wenshu, and so they’re using the crown prince’s name as an excuse? After all, no one can prove that he’s from the East Palace!”
That’s right, that’s right.
“Then could it be Pei-wenshu himself?”
Many people objected, saying that Pei-wenshu wasn’t that rich, but some argued that since Pei-wenshu was in the limelight, perhaps the crown prince had rewarded him, or someone was privately giving him money as a tribute.
Pei Xiting, in the corner, touched his small wallet and said nothing.
“But would Pei-wenshu do that? He’s smart to have been so well-regarded and promoted by the crown prince. Why would he ruin his own future? Betting on himself here would imply that he is intentionally trying to climb the ladder through the crown prince’s favor. If anyone finds out, the consequences are obvious.”
There’s a point there.
Of course, some people also proposed the possibility that Pei Xiting was a bit naive. After being noticed by the crown prince, he got carried away.
Pei Xiting: “.”
“Don’t forget, everyone, that it was Pei-wenshu who leaked this whole thing! If the crush isn’t Pei-wenshu, then the person who placed the bet definitely isn’t him either. But on the other hand, if both are Pei Xiting, then it also makes perfect sense.”
That’s right. That’s right.
“Think back to the features Pei-wenshu described that day on the street: a face like a flower, an extraordinary temperament, in the prime of life, skilled in a certain craft, bold and decisive—it all fits with Pei-wenshu! And, from beginning to end, Pei-wenshu never said the person was a woman!”
That’s right. That’s right.
“Then who is this person who placed this bet? Could it be that someone knew that the Crown Prince’s romantic partner was Pei-wenshu and wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to make a fortune?”
“Let’s be a little bolder. Perhaps this person is from the East Palace himself. Dissatisfied with their lord being paired with other people, they wanted to secure the first-place spot for the true object of his affection!”
Is that it? Pei Xiting looked at the palace attendant, who shook his head blankly, indicating he had no idea.
“Let’s be even bolder.” Someone took a deep breath. “Perhaps this person is the crown prince himself!”
Everyone gasped in horror.
“To casually take out ten thousand taels of gold and dare to place a bet, and even confidently say, ‘Pei-wenshu has won the heart of the lord,’ anyone from the East Palace who did this must have had the master’s tacit approval. Otherwise, wouldn’t they be slandering their master and looking for death?!”
The onlookers fell silent, and so did Pei Xiting.
It seems that might actually be the case.
At the same time, outside the door, Yu Shaoyun turned around with a look of satisfaction. He went downstairs, left the building, and walked to a carriage parked at the alley’s entrance. He knocked on the window, opened it, and said, “Your Highness, we won easily.”
“Good. Inform the gambling house to write the first-place name on the red banner with a golden pen and remove all the other irrelevant names. They’re an eyesore,” Zong Suiyang said.
“What should we do with the money we won?” Yu Shaoyun asked.
“They’re a gambling ring with enough free time to run a game on me, so they must not be short on money.” Zong Suiyang said coolly. “After the palace banquet, give it to the nearby orphanages and nursing homes.”
Yu Shaoyun said, “Understood. Shall we return?”
“Let’s wait for Xiting to come down,” said Zong Suiyang. “He’s still up there listening to the excitement.”
Yu Shaoyun waited with his arms crossed. Soon after, a plainclothes guard ran to the carriage window with a food box and said, “Your Highness, we’ve bought the minced fish wontons from Wang’s shop. It’s the end of the year, so they also gave us ten extra.”
“Pei Wenshu has come down,” Yu Shaoyun reported from the side. “Oh, and he’s run off again.”
Pei Xiting, wrapped up tight, ran to Wang’s shop not far away to buy the fish wontons, only to learn that someone had just bought all the remaining hundred-odd wontons.
Are they feeding a pig? Pei Xiting indignantly expressed his fury, but there was nothing he could do. He turned around and walked back.
“Pei-wenshu, His Highness!” The palace attendant whispered to him.
Pei Xiting looked up, saw the carriage stopped at the alley entrance, and immediately ran over, pulling his cloak tight.
Yu Shaoyun stepped aside. Pei Xiting went directly to the carriage window. Zong Suiyang leaned forward, lifted the brim of his hood, and said, “Little piggy Pei.”
Pei Xiting’s eyes widened. “I object to personal insults!”
“Didn’t you say you wanted to eat Wang’s minced fish wontons tonight when you left? I’ve bought them for you.” Zong Suiyang’s hand went into the hood, pinching Pei Xiting’s ear. “Just now, were you secretly cursing the person who bought the wontons for feeding a pig, hmm?”
“You’re truly a mind-reader,” Pei Xiting said with a sharp gaze.
“There was a time before, when the last bowl of duck-blossom soup noodles was snatched away from you, and you secretly grumbled about the person who bought both bowls. Did you think I didn’t hear you?” Zong Suiyang touched Pei Xiting’s face and smiled.
Pei Xiting grabbed Zong Suiyang’s hand, tilted his head, and rubbed his face against it with his eyes closed. “Let’s go back and cook the wontons!”
Please consider supporting me on Ko-fi if you like what I’m doing. Thank you for reading! (´▽`ʃ♡ƪ)
| ˵ ･ ⚇ ･ ˵ |
Little piggy Pei