TL: Hua
Extra 1: Flechazo (1): Modern If Line [no book transmigration, no memory version]
[Note: In this extra chapter, Pei Xiting is 19. His grandfather is still alive, and he didn’t choose to study abroad. The logic has been completely thrown out the window, so there is no logic. The setting is semi-fictional, and the “fictional” part is very empty, so please do not confuse it with reality.]
It was Feng Cheng’s 20th birthday. After a family dinner in the evening, he booked the entire “Drunkard’s Plan” bar to celebrate with friends.
“Drunkard’s Plan” was a bar owned by Second Brother Li’s current boyfriend, a handsome man with a buzz cut who also worked as a tattoo artist. Feng Cheng liked to go there because it was like a home turf for him, and the drinks were great. But his friend, Pei Xiting, was there for the owner’s face and physique.
The latecomer, a total sucker for good looks, still hadn’t arrived. Feng Cheng sat on the sofa, typing frantically: [Where are you? Brother Sheng is wearing a black turtleneck tonight; he looks amazing. (Picture)]
“Is that guy from last time coming tonight?”
The sofa next to him dipped as someone sat down. A rose-scented perfume filled the air. Feng Cheng was too busy hurrying Pei Xiting to look up. “Who?” he asks.
[If you don’t get here soon, Brother Sheng will be off work! (Screaming)(Screaming)]
“You know, the handsome guy we saw at the Capital Museum of Art last time, the one with the curly, shoulder-length hair.”
As soon as the girl finishes speaking, Feng Cheng exclaims, “He’s here!”
His phone screen flashed. “Little Pei Next Door” replies: [I’m here.]
Feng Cheng got up and saw Pei Xiting walking through the door, wearing a brown leather trench coat. The shirt underneath was an unknown brand, probably a gift from one of his fashion design friends to their favorite free model.
Seeing the girl next to him staring wide-eyed, Feng Cheng clicked his tongue. He said to the approaching Pei Xiting, “Making the birthday boy wait? That’s quite the entrance, Young Master Pei.”
Pei Xiting couldn’t be bothered with small talk. He tossed a gift box into Feng Cheng’s lap and said, “I’m going to say hi to Brother Sheng.”
“Take it easy. Second Brother Li is coming later!” Feng Cheng calls out to his friend’s retreating back.
Pei Xiting wasn’t worried about Second Brother Li. He swore he had no ill intentions toward Yu Wansheng; his focused gaze was only an artist’s appreciation for a subject.
Yu Wansheng was mixing drinks. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, revealing the strong, clean lines of his arms. His tanned skin looked especially alluring in the dim light. A shadow fell over the bar. He looks up, his brows slightly raised. “You’re back?”
“Yeah,” Pei Xiting said, taking a seat on a high stool. “Left the old man at his classmate’s place for a few days. I came back early.”
Yu Wansheng placed a glass on the bar, cleanly declining a young boy’s WeChat friend request. He turned to Pei Xiting. “What are you drinking tonight?”
The young boy walked away, red-faced and pouting. Pei Xiting looked away and rested his chin in his hand. “Anything.”
Yu Wansheng looked at Pei Xiting’s face and smiled slightly. As he turned to mix a drink, he felt Pei Xiting’s gaze travel from his waist up, a gaze that is both explicit and innocent, no different from how he’d examine a beautiful human mannequin.
A moment later, he placed a glass of iced red wine in front of Pei Xiting. “Fall,” he said.
Pei Xiting took a sip, waited a moment, and said, “Rose and violet notes, with a hint of orange in the aftertaste? It’s really good.”
“I just threw it together. Glad you like it.” Yu Wansheng reached out and changed the song on the playlist. He smiled at Pei Xiting. “This one’s for you.”
It’s “Cold Out.”
The music was sensual. Pei Xiting sipped his wine, chin in hand, studying the man’s face and quickly sketching out a color palette for the painting in his mind. Suddenly, a shadow fell over him as Yu Wansheng leaned in close. “Don’t stare at a man like that.”
“I swear,” Pei Xiting said, making a gesture with his hand, “I have no intention of cuckolding Second Brother Li.”
“Luckily, I don’t either.” Yu Wansheng’s eyes locked with Pei Xiting’s. “But that gaze has its own power. Not everyone can tell the difference or resist it.”
“Didn’t you say I was just a kid?” Pei Xiting cocked his head, a hint of challenge in his brow.
“Yeah, a troublesome kid.” Yu Wansheng quickly put a small basket of cherries in front of Pei Xiting. “Take them and go. Don’t cause me trouble.”
Pei Xiting pretended not to understand. He picked a cherry and ate it. “I’m not leaving. The air here is clean.”
Feng Cheng was a playboy like his grandfather. He was always surrounded by a swarm of young, beautiful girls and boys, a clash of competing perfumes. So while Pei Xiting’s eyes were happy, his nose was suffering.
Yu Wansheng narrowed his eyes, about to speak, when his peripheral vision caught sight of someone entering from the corner.
Pei Xiting keenly noticed that in this instant, though the man’s expression remained unchanged, his face softened at an incredible speed.
Is this the power of love?
Pei Xiting was in disbelief. He turned his head to look in that direction and unexpectedly locked eyes with a pair of deep, black eyes.
What eyes they were—as profound as the night sky, with a moon and stars at their center, and as still as the deep sea, with a hidden undercurrent. He watched the man walk toward him, his impressive physique accentuated by a long, black suit that would normally shorten a person’s height. It was perfectly tailored, with the hem hitting his calves as he moved with a powerful stride.
“Hey, you’re back?” Li Wuwei walked up to the bar. He glanced at Pei Xiting, who was staring intently at the person behind him. Li Wuwei chuckled. “Oh, let me introduce you. This is Zong Suiyang, the fifth son of your grandfather’s old friend, the Zong family. He just got back to the country. You can just call him Fifth Brother.”
Li Wuwei turned to introduce him, but Pei Xiting spoke first. “I’m Pei Xiting. The Xiting from the poem, ‘I often remember the pavilion at dusk.’ I’m 19. Fifth Brother, just call me by my name.”
Pei Xiting didn’t pay attention to such matters, so he had no memory of the fifth son of the Zong family.
But that’s fine. He extended his hand, his handsome brow relaxing and a clear smile gracing his face. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Pei Xiting had fair, warm skin, like smooth, white jade, glowing softly in the dim light. To make it easier on the plane, his long, shoulder-length hair was tied up in a small bun at the back of his head. He hadn’t taken it down yet, and the stray strands of hair occasionally fluttered in the breeze, leaving his entire face uncovered.
Protected and cherished by his grandfather, Pei Xiting’s eyes and brows were full of a captivating brilliance and arrogance, just like him. They were enough to attract anyone’s attention.
“Hello,” Zong Suiyang said, extending his hand and grasping Pei Xiting’s. His voice was flat. “I’m Zong Suiyang. Sui as in ‘to follow the wind’ and Yang as in ‘the vastness of the river.'”
Li Wuwei was a bit surprised by the words. He hadn’t seen Zong Suiyang in a while; the man was colder and more reserved than before, with an air of distant arrogance. He hadn’t spoken much on the way over, but now he glanced at their intertwined hands, turned to lean on the bar, and raised an eyebrow at Yu Wansheng.
Yu Wansheng returned the eyebrow raise and asked, “What do you want to drink?”
“The usual for me,” Li Wuwei said, looking at Zong Suiyang.
The latter looked at Pei Xiting and asked, “Do you have any recommendations, Xiting?”
His name sounded pleasant coming from him, even though his tone was so cold it was no different from calling someone Zhang San or Li Si. Pure shivers went down Pei Xiting’s spine. After a moment’s thought, he gestured to Yu Wansheng and whispered something to him, then told Zong Suiyang, “This one’s on me. I hope you like it. I’m going to go hang out with the birthday boy for a bit.” He waved and turned to walk toward Feng Cheng.
Zong Suiyang watched Pei Xiting’s retreating figure, then turned and took a seat on a high stool. “I’ve never seen him before,” he said.
“You just got back to the country. Xiting isn’t close with his brothers, and the Pei family never used to take him to any of the various banquets they attended abroad,” Li Wuwei said. “But the old man of the Pei family dotes on him the most. For that reason alone, even though he doesn’t work in the group, his brothers don’t dare to cross him too much.”
“No wonder,” Zong Suiyang said. “He doesn’t look like his brothers. He looks handsome and refreshing.”
Li Wuwei smiled. “By the way, how long are you staying now that you’re back?”
Zong Suiyang had only planned to return to see the old man and go through the motions, but his response paused for a moment. “We’ll see. It’s not for certain,” he said.
Li Wuwei raised an eyebrow but didn’t ask further.
“The drinks are ready,” Yu Wansheng said, placing a glass with distinct red and blue layers in front of Zong Suiyang.
Zong Suiyang thanked him and took a sip. It was a fiery punch, but with a sweet undertone. “What’s this one called?” he asked.
Yu Wansheng replied, “Flechazo.”
“Wow,” Li Wuwei laughed. “Kids these days are fearless.”
Flechazo. Zong Suiyang silently repeated the word and looked into the distance. The glass pane with a ripple pattern blocked Pei Xiting’s figure, vaguely reflecting a tall, slender silhouette.
Flechazo.
“You don’t even know him?” Feng Cheng said in shock. “The Crown Prince.”
“Stop talking to me with those feudal terms,” Pei Xiting said.
“Alright, Third Young Master Pei. The designated successor to the chairman of Wansheng Group—doesn’t that make him the Crown Prince? And he’s not like my brother. My brother was appointed, but he…” Feng Cheng balled up one hand into a fist and made the other into a claw, kneading and scratching them together, his face twisted in a menacing expression.
Pei Xiting understood—a victor of a family struggle. He took a sip of his drink and said, “That makes him even more charming.”
Feng Cheng: “?”
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Don’t even think about getting this guy to be your model. He devours people without spitting out the bones,” Feng Cheng said. “Stay away for safety.”
Stay away for safety. What would you get if you moved closer? Pei Xiting twirled his glass.
“Hello,” a girl said, offering a light handshake to Pei Xiting. “Do you remember me?”
“I do,” Pei Xiting replied. “We met three months ago at the capital’s art museum.”
The girl smiled. “You have an amazing memory. There were more than ten of us in the group then.”
“He also remembers the other ten-plus people,” Feng Cheng chimed in from the side.
The girl gave Feng Cheng a look of disdain and sat down next to Pei Xiting, starting a conversation. “I heard you’re at the Capital Academy of Fine Arts?”
“That’s right,” Pei Xiting said, looking at the man walking toward them with a polite smile. “I’m a junior.”
Zong Suiyang sat down on the sofa across from Pei Xiting, took the cigar that Second Li handed him, and held it between his fingers without lighting it.
“A friend of mine is also at the Academy of Fine Arts. I wonder if you know her. Her name is Chang Hui,” the girl said.
“I do,” Pei Xiting said.
“Well, maybe we can all hang out sometime soon,” the girl said.
“I’m afraid not,” Pei Xiting said. “Our relationship is a bit awkward.”
The girl raised an eyebrow. “Did you two date?”
“No,” Pei Xiting said, his gaze briefly landing on Zong Suiyang’s face before naturally moving away. He said in a flat tone, “We’re not close.”
He was clearly unwilling to explain the source of the “awkwardness” in front of others, possibly because it involved Chang Hui’s privacy. The girl didn’t press the matter. The conversation stalled, and she found Pei Xiting a little difficult to talk to.
Pei Xiting didn’t like chatting with unimportant people and rarely attended family banquets. But he never expected that there could be a treasure like this among those phony and boring masquerade parties.
Why didn’t my grandpa tell me about this before? Pei Xiting silently complained, believing the old man was guilty of hiding valuable information.
Since Zong Suiyang had taken a seat, Feng Cheng felt completely uneasy. The sofa had turned into an interrogation chair, and he didn’t even dare to hold his date’s hand. But Second Brother Li was busy talking to Yu Wansheng, Pei Xiting was busy admiring the human-sized air conditioner across from him, and no one else dared to come over. No one cared about the birthday boy’s feelings.
Feng Cheng felt wronged. He smiled, said a word to Zong Suiyang and the others, then got up and pulled his date to the dance floor.
The music was dynamic and restless, which Zong Suiyang found too noisy. He stood up from the sofa, pushed open a door in the corner, and walked down a long corridor. He found a small window ledge decorated with wooden frames holding bouquets, many of them with flowers arranged in wine bottles.
A small black glass table held a candle, an aromatherapy diffuser, and a glass vase with a purple water lily.
“This aromatherapy helps you relax. I always light one after I get off a plane,” Pei Xiting said, leaning against the wall frame and shaking a candle box in his hand. “Want to try it?”
Zong Suiyang pulled out a chair and sat down without a word.
So Pei Xiting walked over, tore off the protective film from the purple aromatherapy diffuser, and shook a matchbox.
Shhh. A spark ignited, illuminating a pair of radiant, lively eyes, like the purple water lily in the glass vase—a light scent but a profound color.
Zong Suiyang looked on and said, “Light the candle, too.”
Pei Xiting didn’t object. He lit the half-arm-high candle and gently pressed down the glass wind guard. He sat down naturally and asked, “Would you like a slice of grape cake?”
“I don’t like sweets,” Zong Suiyang said. “You can have whatever you want.”
Pei Xiting opened his phone and ordered a slice of grape cake from the bar. He then put the phone down and asked, “Do you like the drink?”
Zong Suiyang pondered the meaning behind the question, but Pei Xiting’s bright eyes made it impossible to determine if it was a double entendre. He decided not to answer for now and asked a question of his own. “I hear it’s a recipe you created?”
“That’s right,” Pei Xiting said. “Brother Sheng is very generous and doesn’t mind me wasting his supplies.”
“It’s very good,” Zong Suiyang said, sounding a little curious. “What was your inspiration?”
Pei Xiting savored the tone of his words, but it was too neutral to be sarcastic or challenging. He answered truthfully. “My imagination. I imagined that love at first sight is like fireworks—it must be intense, with a pounding heart. Of course, if it were now, I’d adjust my recipe.”
Zong Suiyang rotated the cigar. “How would you adjust it?”
“It needs a touch of bitterness,” Pei Xiting said, “because the feeling of impending separation is not a pleasant one.”
Zong Suiyang paused for a moment, then said, “I came at an inconvenient time. I heard that Old Mister Pei wasn’t at home earlier, otherwise I would have definitely paid him a visit.”
“That’s alright, I’ll pass on the message. And you’re welcome to visit my grandfather’s home next time,” Pei Xiting replied.
Zong Suiyang nodded. “Of course.”
A waiter brought over the cake, placed it in front of Pei Xiting, and left after saying, “Enjoy your meal.”
Pei Xiting used a fork to gently cut a small piece and ate it. His phone suddenly lit up with a message from Feng Cheng, inviting them to dance on the second floor.
He relayed the message to Zong Suiyang.
Zong Suiyang looked at him and said, “Aren’t you going?”
Pei Xiting shook his head. “They’ll start taking off their clothes while dancing. You’d better not go either. It’s an eyesore.”
“How do you know?” Zong Suiyang asked. “Maybe I enjoy that kind of excitement.”
Pei Xiting ate a grape, its sweetness making him squint his eyes. “You don’t seem like it. You look more like a traditionalist, even a little old-fashioned.”
Zong Suiyang smiled slightly. “Maybe you’re not a good judge of character.”
Pei Xiting raised an eyebrow. “Good enough is fine.”
Zong Suiyang looked at him without speaking. Pei Xiting chuckled, ate the last small piece of cake, and said, “I’m going home. It might rain tonight, and I don’t have a car. Can you give me a ride? It’s at the Xiqun Villa, not far away.”
Zong Suiyang stood up and said, “Let’s go.”
Pei Xiting thanked him, stood up, and followed.
The party outside was still incredibly lively. Pei Xiting walked behind Zong Suiyang, secretly using his fingers to estimate the other’s proportions and measurements, and let out a small click of his tongue. They didn’t go outside but took the elevator down to the underground garage.
Pei Xiting walked to a black Rolls-Royce Phantom. The driver’s window rolled down, and the driver said to Zong Suiyang, “Sir.”
“This is Old Wu,” Zong Suiyang said. “Get in.”
Pei Xiting got into the car, feeling a little regretful that they had both been drinking. In this situation, there would have been no need for a driver.
“Head to Xiqun Villas first,” Zong Suiyang instructed.
Old Wu acknowledged and drove away.
The wind ruffled Pei Xiting’s bangs. He said, “Do regular employees at the group call you President Zong? It feels like it would be a bit awkward for them.”
“I rarely encounter them, so the chances of it being awkward are very low,” Zong Suiyang said.
Pei Xiting laughed. “I saw a job posting from your group’s subsidiary, Jiameng Pictures, on my school’s internship recruitment website. They’re preparing for a movie called Grape Paradise and are hiring an art concept designer.”
Given Pei Xiting’s abilities and background, he wouldn’t need to use back channels with Zong Suiyang just for an internship. Zong Suiyang guessed he was just making small talk and also wanted to confirm if the production team was reliable. He said, “The Fruit of Longevity production team also has job postings.”
Fruit of Longevity was directed by a triple-award-winning director. Both the team and the investment were far superior, and the competition for positions was incredibly fierce. Pei Xiting said, “Do you think I’m good enough?”
“I’m not sure,” Zong Suiyang replied. “But I’ve looked at the relevant portfolios, and the current applicants aren’t good enough.”
“Oh.” Pei Xiting hadn’t expected him to be following the recruitment progress of his subsidiary company. He shrugged regretfully and then said, “But I’m more interested in Grape Paradise, a fantastical, bloody love story dreamed up and directed by a new director.”
Zong Suiyang said, “I thought you were more skilled at traditional Chinese painting.”
“I’m not bad at other things either,” Pei Xiting said.
Old Wu glanced at his boss’s expression in the rearview mirror. It was more relaxed than usual, which said a lot. He smiled and said, “Mr. Pei is a promising young painter, a regular at art galleries.”
“So, it’s a waste of your talent,” Zong Suiyang said.
“Passion is the best teacher,” Pei Xiting said. “And the best companion.”
Zong Suiyang didn’t say anything else. “Send me your portfolio when you get back. I’ll take a look.”
“I don’t have an email,” Pei Xiting said, telling a minor lie, and smiled. “Could I send it on WeChat?”
Old Wu glanced at the rearview mirror. This young man was full of courage. Zong Suiyang felt the same way. He looked at Pei Xiting’s open expression and thought maliciously, If I refuse, will those eyes still be so bright and beautiful?
Pei Xiting was unaware, took out his phone, and said, “Can I, Fifth Brother?”
Zong Suiyang didn’t speak. He took out his phone and added Pei Xiting on WeChat.
Pei Xiting’s profile picture was a half-body shot of himself. The background looked like Drunkard’s Plan bar, with warm, yellow lighting. His hair was much longer than it is now, curly, and silver-white. He wore light green colored contacts, looking like a vampire from a movie who had not yet revealed his true form.
“This was taken after a costume party,” Pei Xiting explained, noticing Zong Suiyang’s gaze. “I thought it looked good, so I used it as my profile picture.”
Zong Suiyang turned off his screen and looked at Pei Xiting’s small ponytail. “You cut off a lot of hair.”
“No,” Pei Xiting smiled. “The picture’s a wig.”
“It looks great,” Zong Suiyang said.
Pei Xiting thanked him with a laugh.
Old Wu drove very steadily, and they arrived smoothly at the entrance of the Xiqun Villas. Zong Suiyang said, “Do you need me to drop you off at your doorstep?”
Pei Xiting shook his head, thanked Zong Suiyang and Old Wu, and got out of the car. After watching Old Wu drive away, he turned and went inside.
In the car, Zong Suiyang looked at his phone screen. It was a message from his assistant, a summary of Pei Xiting’s academic career and some non-private information.
Except for kindergarten, his academic scores from elementary to high school were consistently at the top of his class. His college major scores were all A’s, and he had countless certificates and medals, including those for various cultural subjects, calligraphy, piano, modeling, floral arrangement, snow sculpting, and racing. Of course, awards from art-related competitions made up half of the list.
In short, he was a brilliant and hardworking student from a young age. Zong Suiyang scrolled to the last section, which read: [Personal romantic history: Suspected to have had a previous relationship with Chen Wu of Dongming.][Current relationship status: Single.]
“Who is Chen Wu of Dongming?” Zong Suiyang asked.
“He’s the younger brother of Chen Ye, the vice president of Dongming Group, and a sophomore in the computer science department at the Capital University of Industry,” Old Wu said casually, glancing at the rearview mirror. “Chen Ye and Chen Wu’s father was Old Mister Pei’s student. After the old man retired, he visited Xiqun Villas every year.”
Zong Suiyang said, “The two families have a history, and they’re of a similar age.”
Old Wu chuckled. “I’ve met Chen Wu. He’s a sunny and handsome young man, but he’s spoiled by his family, like a child who hasn’t grown up. He’s loyal and frank as a friend, but as a boyfriend, it depends on the other person’s temper.”
Pei Xiting was raised with his grandfather’s doting. He definitely had a bit of a temper when it mattered, so even if they had dated, it probably didn’t last long. Zong Suiyang looked out the window. The city lights were just coming on, and the green lawns looked like a curtain.
He suddenly remembered something. “It didn’t rain tonight.”
“It’s a clear day,” Old Wu said. “I checked the weather forecast. It’s not going to rain all week.”
Zong Suiyang lightly tapped his phone. Little liar.
Pei Xiting was a courageous, calculated, and ambitious liar.
That night, he sent his resume and portfolio to Zong Suiyang, who replied with a businesslike message and nothing more.
Pei Xiting wasn’t in a hurry. He opened Zong Suiyang’s Moments[mfn]It’s like an IG story but WeChat.[/mfn], where there was nothing. Just as he expected, he took off his clothes, got into the filled bathtub, and flipped through his phone.
His phone chimed. His grandfather had posted a photo of a chessboard.
Although Pei Xiting didn’t like playing chess, having been exposed to it for so long, he could understand a bit. Although Pei Xiting didn’t like playing chess, he’d been around for so long that he could understand it. He replied: [Unbeatable rapid-fire technique, Old Pei is one step ahead. (Cool)] Pei Xiting also used the rapid-fire technique.
The next day, he received an interview invitation from the Grape Paradise production team. The interview was scheduled for Friday at 3 PM at the Jiameng Building. It was quite far from the Wansheng headquarters, so Pei Xiting sighed regretfully and got ready to leave.
But he didn’t expect to see Zong Suiyang at Jiameng.
The other man was wearing a loose, casual suit today. He didn’t look like he was there to inspect the company; he looked like a runway model. At this moment, Pei Xiting wasn’t a designer or a fashion executive; he was a genuine audience member, but his gaze wasn’t on the clothes—he was purely appreciating the model himself.
The model noticed and turned to look at him. Pei Xiting retracted his gaze and walked over to greet him openly. “Fifth Brother, what a coincidence.”
Zong Suiyang “hmm-ed” in reply, glanced at the file bag in his hand, and said, “Good luck.”
“I’ll probably be done in an hour,” Pei Xiting said, looking at Zong Suiyang. “Will I still see you after?”
Assistant Xu, President Li from Jiameng, and the front desk assistant who had brought Pei Xiting upstairs all had a slight change in expression, but it was fleeting. They stood to the side without speaking.
Zong Suiyang looked back and said, “That depends on what you say next.”
“I’d like to invite you to dinner to celebrate my successful interview,” Pei Xiting said.
Zong Suiyang looked at Pei Xiting for a full eighteen seconds before saying, “Okay, I’ll wait for you. Go on.”
Pei Xiting smiled, waved the file bag at him, and turned to walk away.
President Li tentatively teased, “If a talent scout were here, they wouldn’t be able to stand still.”
Pei Xiting’s face would be just as stunning on the big screen. Zong Suiyang, however, said, “He has his own world to conquer.”
President Li understood and smiled without saying more. He accompanied Zong Suiyang on a tour of the company’s various departments. He was less anxious than he was at first because today’s impromptu inspection was apparently a front for President Zong’s private business.
When Zong Suiyang reached the lobby on the first floor, the elevator door opened, and Pei Xiting came out with his file bag, his steps light. Pei Xiting walked up to him and said, “Are you done with your work?”
Zong Suiyang replied, “Just finished.”
No one dared to mention the two remaining departments. President Li was the first to speak. “Since your friend has an appointment, I won’t see you off then?”
Zong Suiyang nodded. “Thank you for your hard work today.”
President Li shook his head with a smile, watching the three of them walk away.
The assistant next to him asked, “President Li, is the Crown Prince personally handling a little lover’s job?”
“That person is the beloved grandson of the old man from the Pei family in Xiqun. Can he be a little lover?” President Li said.
The assistant understood. “Then it’s the Crown Prince personally bringing his future Crown Princess to the workplace.”
“Who can say for sure?” President Li’s smile was affable. “Just don’t offend him.”
Pei Xiting had no idea that he had temporarily become Jiameng’s “building treasure.” He said, “I got the internship offer too.”
“Congratulations,” Zong Suiyang said without hesitation. “It’s only to be expected.”
Pei Xiting didn’t feel at all that Zong Suiyang had given him a back door. He raised an eyebrow and said, “So what are we eating? To show my sincerity, I’ll follow your preference.”
Zong Suiyang gave the most “annoying” answer. “I’m fine with anything.”
“Anything, huh?” Pei Xiting laughed. “Mala Tang (spicy hotpot), want to eat that?”
Zong Suiyang was stunned for a moment, then replied, “Sure.”
It was a small shop that Pei Xiting had stumbled upon by chance, located in a residential building three kilometers away from his school. The shop was made up of two storefronts, with about fifteen or sixteen tables. There were also blue awnings on both sides of the entrance, which could accommodate a few more tables.
Pei Xiting glanced at the awnings and turned to ask for Zong Suiyang’s opinion. The other man said it was fine, so he pulled out a chair and said, “Sit down. The food here is good.”
The owner brought over some lemonade. Seeing that it was Pei Xiting, he said, “The usual?”
“I brought a friend today. Can we get a menu? I’ll re-select,” Pei Xiting said.
The owner turned and grabbed a menu. “Just let me know when you’ve chosen.”
Pei Xiting nodded, put a pen on the table, and pushed the menu toward Zong Suiyang, letting him order first. He casually explained, “Usually with Mala Tang, you pick the ingredients yourself, but sometimes when business is too good, customers all crowd into the picking area, and it gets too busy. So they invented the menu as a backup.” Zong Suiyang looked very serious while choosing the ingredients. Pei Xiting imagined him working seriously and leaned his chin on his hand to admire him. Suddenly, Zong Suiyang looked at him and said, “They also have dry-pot[mfn]A Chinese cooking style similar to hot pot but without the broth. It’s a dish where ingredients are stir-fried in a spicy, flavorful sauce and served in a hot, dry pot.[/mfn].”
Pei Xiting didn’t avert his gaze. Instead, he blinked and said, “I want the mixed ribs.”
Zong Suiyang lowered his head to look at the menu. “Mixed ribs with diced chicken?”
Pei Xiting nodded. “That works.”
Zong Suiyang added a note to the menu and pushed it back to Pei Xiting.
Pei Xiting took the pen, scribbled a few more items, and called the owner over. Then he asked, “Want to get some milk tea?”
Zong Suiyang had never had it. “Milk and tea. Very healthy.”
“I want the unhealthy kind,” Pei Xiting said, opening a food delivery app.
Zong Suiyang said, “I heard your grandfather is very health-conscious.”
“That’s why I only drink one cup of milk tea a month in front of him, at most,” Pei Xiting said, opening a shop. “This place isn’t a chain, but the flavor is especially good. They also have a very fat cat.”
He ordered a cup of Rose Aftertaste with jelly, looked at Zong Suiyang’s expression, and, seeing that he wasn’t interested, didn’t press the issue, placing the order and paying.
While they waited for the food, Pei Xiting shared his interview experience with Zong Suiyang. Though Zong Suiyang was a man of few words, he listened carefully, and when he did speak, it was straight to the point and very practical.
“The director is a rare and interesting species, but to many people, he’ll also seem very abstract,” Pei Xiting said. “The movie’s reputation will probably be very polarized.”
Zong Suiyang said, “Are you very interested in him?”
Pei Xiting pondered the question. “Well, we have to work together for a while. If a colleague can’t communicate with me, it will cause extra trouble.”
While they were talking, the owner and a waiter brought the dry-pot and Mala Tang, followed by a porcelain pot of white rice and two small bowls.
Pei Xiting scooped a small bowl of rice and placed it in front of Zong Suiyang. Zong Suiyang thanked him and said, “It smells really good.”
“It tastes good too,” Pei Xiting said, rinsing his chopsticks for him. “You’ll understand with one bite.”
Zong Suiyang picked up a small rib. The meat was tender and flavorful. Then he grabbed a piece of bok choy from the Mala Tang. Under Pei Xiting’s watchful eye, he nodded slightly. “It’s good.”
“Then eat more. You can just run on the stair climber when you get back,” Pei Xiting said.
Zong Suiyang didn’t object.
While eating, Pei Xiting spoke little. At one point, the owner handed him a delivery order. Pei Xiting thanked him, put a straw in, and took a sip, making a sound of enjoyment.
Zong Suiyang thought he resembled a fluffy feline.
Suddenly, a “pitter-patter” sound came from the awning above. It grew louder and faster. Pei Xiting’s lie from a few days ago had become a reality. It was raining.
The rain poured down unexpectedly. The sky quickly turned overcast. The small light bulbs under the awning lit up with a warm glow. As Pei Xiting’s gaze swept across Zong Suiyang’s face, he saw it as a beautiful sculpture in the rain.
His chest thumped twice, the sound hidden by the rain. Only Pei Xiting knew its weight.
No, Zong Suiyang would know soon enough.
“Hey,” Pei Xiting asked, “are you single?”
Caught off guard, Zong Suiyang was stunned for a moment, then he smiled. His cold brows seemed to be instantly softened by the apricot blossoms of late spring, giving him a clean and elegant look. He said, “I am.”
Pei Xiting said, “Then consider me.”
“Isn’t that a bit too fast?” The rain was urgent, but Zong Suiyang’s voice was low and steady, with a hint of a smile if you listened closely.
“Who says you can only start a relationship after careful thought and consideration?” Pei Xiting didn’t understand the meaning behind the smile. He just said, “You see a person’s heart through their eyes and their character through their writing. I’ve seen your eyes and appreciated your handwriting. I think we’d be a great match, so I sincerely invite you to explore this with me.”
After they finished eating, Pei Xiting scanned the code and paid the bill.
Assistant Xu came over with an umbrella, but for some reason, he only had one. Zong Suiyang took it and turned to Pei Xiting. “Come on.”
Pei Xiting ducked under the umbrella and walked with Zong Suiyang toward the alley entrance. The residents who had been chatting outside had already gone back home. The street was deserted, and the surrounding aroma of food was almost washed away by the rain.
The car was parked by the street. Zong Suiyang walked Pei Xiting to the back door of the car. There was only half a step between them. Pei Xiting opened the car door, and Zong Suiyang’s umbrella tilted with the motion.
A shadow loomed over him. Pei Xiting looked up at the man who was almost half a head taller than himself and became aware of the size difference between them.
“Your expression is a little strange,” Zong Suiyang suddenly said. “What are you thinking about?”
Pei Xiting’s eyes darted away. “Nothing.” He turned and got into the car.
Zong Suiyang raised an eyebrow slightly, took two steps back to close the car door, and walked around to the other side to get in. Assistant Xu took the umbrella and, after getting in the car, placed it on the floor of the passenger seat.
“Back to Xiqun first?” Assistant Xu asked.
“Straight to Dongrong,” Zong Suiyang said, then turned his head to the astonished Pei Xiting. “The drive from here to your place is at least 40 minutes, and it’ll be slower with the rain. I have a guest room at my place, and I’ll call your grandfather later.”
Pei Xiting felt that this man was warning, threatening, and teasing him. He pursed his lips slightly and said, “I’m an adult. I don’t need to ask my parents for permission to stay at someone’s house, thank you.”
With that, he took a big gulp of his milk tea.
A faint smile appeared in Zong Suiyang’s eyes. “Let’s go back.”
No one spoke on the way. At one point, Zong Suiyang took a call about work. His tone was cold, and his thoughts were sharp. Pei Xiting listened from the side, feeling like his ears were getting a pleasant massage.
His phone chimed. Pei Xiting came back to his senses and saw a WeChat message from Pei Mingfu.
[I heard it’s raining heavily. Are you home?]
Pei Xiting replied: [No.] He thought for a moment and then typed: [Do you like Zong Suiyang?]
Pei Xiting’s grandfather replied: [The one from the Zong family?]
Pei Xiting: [That’s him.]
Pei Xiting’s grandfather: [I like him.]
Pei Xiting was curious: [How much?]
Pei Xiting’s grandfather: [To the extent that I wish he would inexplicably become my son.]
He and Zong Suiyang were only five years apart. Based on that age gap, it was indeed a very “inexplicable” desire. Pei Xiting smiled and replied: [That’s impossible.]
Pei Xiting’s grandfather: [(shrug) A great pity.]
Pei Xiting consoled him: [Don’t be sad. I’m trying to make him your grandson-in-law. (Please give me strength cat gif)]
Pei Xiting’s grandfather: [?]
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