Chapter 39

Chapter 39

Although it was already autumn, the weather in Hong Kong and Beicheng couldn't be more different.

As the plane began its descent, evening began to settle in, starting from the distant horizon and slowly spreading across the entire west.

Fei Xiuqi sat beside Lu Tingchao, scooped up Lu Doudou, who’d been reading a book, and held him in his arms, pointing out the window: "BB, look, Victoria Harbour."

The pair, one adult and one child, followed his gaze and looked outside together.

Night had already fallen over Hong Kong, with ships and boats crisscrossing Victoria Harbour, their lights shimmering on the sparkling water, moving freely.

From the airplane window, one could vaguely see not only domestic merchant ships but also many foreign sailors with fair hair and blue eyes standing on the decks, either busy unloading cargo or smoking foreign-brand cigarettes.

This was a city with a style completely different from Beicheng.

Lu Tingchao had sensed this during his last visit.

However, that time he had come in a rushed, disorganized state—he went straight to the hospital upon arrival, then holed up like a squirrel in its den, waiting until Lu Doudou was born, grew up, and then left in a rush.

Lu Tingchao had never seen Hong Kong’s nightscape like this before.

"This is a free trade port," Fei Xiuqi said effortlessly, holding Lu Doudou with one arm while using his other hand to adjust its position along the plane’s descending arc, explaining patiently to Lu Tingchao. "The port’s water depth and routes are excellent, so the daily shipping and trade volumes are enormous."

Fei Xiuqi smiled: "However, the Fei family accounts for the largest share of trade here every day."

Lu Tingchao turned and glanced at Fei Xiuqi.

Fei Xiuqi’s expression remained unchanged as he gently pinched Lu Doudou’s soft little cheek: "Doudou, you ought to tell your Daddy Chao Chao that if he agrees to marry me, all this could be yours in the future."

Lu Doudou’s round eyes seriously examined the nightscape framed by the airplane window. His expression was more earnest and focused than Lu Tingchao’s, as if he had suddenly adopted a studious attitude after hearing those words.

Then, his soft, milky voice spoke up.

Lu Doudou asked: "Chao Chao, can you make a lot of money here? More than Zhuang Ji and Daddy Mo?"

Lu Tingchao: "..."

"Of course," Fei Xiuqi turned Lu Doudou around to face him and began lecturing earnestly. "Doudou, even though Daddy Mo is powerful, it’s just him alone in his family. If you want to be as rich as Zhuang Ji, you must inherit the Fei family."

Lu Tingchao: "..."

Fei Xiuqi egged him on: "So, Doudou, you must persuade Chao Chao to marry me."

Lu Doudou’s big eyes, almost identical to Lu Tingchao’s, widened innocently as he pondered seriously, staring with an innocent expression at Fei Xiuqi.

Suddenly.

Lu Doudou said: "But Fei-gege, you have a daddy too."

Lu Doudou looked innocent, his tone sincere: "If Chao Chao were with your daddy, wouldn’t that be better for inheriting the family business?"

Fei Xiuqi: "..."

"Hahahaha—"

This time, it was finally Lu Tingchao’s turn to laugh.

He slapped his thigh, laughing heartily for a long time before nodding: "Good, good, Doudou, you make a very good point. Fei Xiuqi, what do you say?"

Fei Xiuqi gave Lu Tingchao a helpless look.

His gaze carried a mix of playful teasing and amusement as he shook his head and said to Lu Tingchao with a sigh: "You mischievous Chao Chao, you’re too greedy."

Fei Xiuqi waved to signal the private jet’s cabin crew to come in and clear all the trays, then said to Lu Tingchao with a smile: "BB, you’d better not consider Devin. After all, he’s already in his forties."

Fei Xiuqi: "Since I was little, countless people have tried to get into his bed—from the finance industry, the entertainment industry, men, women... but none ever succeeded."

Fei Xiuqi: "I remember when I was studying, he spent almost all his time at the company. Later, as the Fei family grew larger and eventually became the top player in Hong Kong, he started spending more time at home."

"But he never fooled around. Every day, he just gardens or goes fishing."

Fei Xiuqi said: "Very nurturing for the soul, right?"

Lu Tingchao yawned: "Maybe he also really loved your Mommy?"

Fei Xiuqi was taken aback, then smiled and shook his head: "No."

Lu Tingchao: "?"

Fei Xiuqi: "My Mommy was the one who loved him, but theirs was a marriage based on practical interests. Later, my mother became completely disillusioned with his love and chose to divorce and move abroad. She’s been settled overseas for many years now."

Lu Tingchao: "Oh..."

Lu Tingchao had never been raised well by his parents, let alone pondered questions of love like this.

After thinking for a moment, he offered his best attempt at comfort: "It’s okay, your dad is rich."

Lu Doudou, nestling in Fei Xiuqi’s arms, also nodded with a serious little face: "Yeah, you’re just like that character from the novels Chao Chao always reads... Fei Aotian!"

Fei Xiuqi: "..."

Lu Tingchao: "..."

Fei Xiuqi said speechlessly: "Chao Chao, what on earth have you been reading every day?"

Fortunately, Lu Tingchao had thick skin. After only a brief moment of embarrassment, he pursed his lips: "Well, just web novels!"

Fei Xiuqi: "What are they about?"

Lu Doudou said: "Chao Chao says it’s about an underdog in cultivation who one day has an accident and becomes stronger and stronger, eventually reaching the pinnacle of success."

Lu Doudou, clearly a true son of his father, very seriously defended Lu Tingchao: "Chao Chao says lots of people read it. It’s a really good novel."

Fei Xiuqi nodded understandingly: "Then should we buy the copyright? Does Chao Chao want to make it into a film?"

Lu Tingchao: "..."

Lu Tingchao recalled the plot of that book, thought about the protagonist being involved in certain explicit activities every day and the strange spiritual energy absorption, ahem, those scenes being put on screen... and felt a bit embarrassed.

That web novelist’s creativity was way too overpowered!

If he had to pin the blame on someone, it was Zhuang Ji and Jiang Rong’s fall from grace that caused all the talented fan creators to leave. Lu Tingchao was truly facing a serious fic drought, which was why he ventured into other literary worlds.

And then he discovered that the world of literature was just too amazing QAQ.

Chao Chao simply couldn't stop (T_T)

Lu Tingchao sheepishly averted his gaze: "N-no need!"

You have to understand, this person before him had absolutely no guile—every emotion was written plainly on his face, like a pure white sheet of paper, making one constantly want to mark him completely.

Fei Xiuqi slightly curved the corners of his mouth, reached out and pinched one of Lu Tingchao's fingers, playing with it in his palm while the other looked around distractedly: "Why that expression? It couldn’t be some kind of shameful novel, could it?"

Fei Xiuqi meaningfully let out an "oh": "So BB likes reading this kind of stuff."

Lu Tingchao couldn’t come up with a defense in such a short time: "...I didn’t..."

But Fei Xiuqi leaned close to his ear: "Then why don’t we just try it out for real? Practical experience leads to true knowledge, doesn’t it?"

His hot breath was almost burning, and in this particularly intimate moment, it felt as if it had taken over all the air around where they were sitting.

Lu Tingchao’s face flushed bright red in an instant.

Almost immediately, he suddenly recalled the strange scenes from those books he’d read, and now, combined with Fei Xiuqi’s words—it made him utterly restless.

At first, Lu Tingchao had read them out of curiosity.

Back when he first had Doudou, he had been absolutely terrified.

He was clearly a boy, raised as male since childhood... when he first went to the hospital feeling unwell and got that diagnosis, Lu Tingao was completely stunned.

At that time, he was still obscure, hardly anyone knew him, yet because of this, it felt like the entire hospital was about to crowd around and stare at him any second.

Terrified, Lu Tingchao fled in panic.

Later, he went to Hong Kong, and Polina told him that indeed, a very small percentage of people in the world experience this kind of situation, and she advised him not to be afraid, to be kind to himself, and to face it bravely.

And then later.

During the days when he was slowly coming to accept himself, one occasional day, Lu Tingchao opened a BL explicit doujinshi.

Lu Tingchao: "..."

He felt the world-shattering shock (T_T)

So there were this many techniques!

Blushing, Lu Tingchao looked left, right, up, and down, doing his utmost to avoid Fei Xiuqi’s gaze.

The next second.

Fei Xiuqi reached out and pinched his chin, smiling suggestively: "BB, you know what? If I didn’t know you had a long line of exes, I’d think you’ve never even been to bed with anyone."

Fei Xiuqi said: "You’re so cute."

Lu Tingchao: "..."

Lu Tingchao turned his face away: "You’re the cute one, your entire family is cute."

Fei Xiuqi: "Then can you become part of my family?"

Lu Tingchao: "No, don’t even think about it."

Fei Xiuqi: "But I'm really into you. Chao Chao, I like you."

The plane touched down, the tremendous friction from landing immediately followed by rapid deceleration—

The colorful lights of the airport shone through the window, not glaring but gentle, falling softly on Fei Xiuqi’s handsome profile.

This was different from the first time Lu Tingchao had seen him.

The night was already quite late. Fei Xiuqi held the drowsy, nodding-off Lu Doudou in his arms, exuding a unique blend of tenderness and determination.

"Whether we can have more children or not, it’s all fine."

Fei Xiuqi reached out to cover Lu Doudou’s eyes, then briefly, even a bit awkwardly, kissed Lu Tingchao on the lips. "I’ll be a good partner, a good father."

"Chao Chao."

Fei Xiuqi reached for Lu Tingchao’s hand. "If you’re still not sure, then while I’m away this month, don’t look for anyone else. Wait for me to come back, wait for me, okay?"

Lu Tingchao lifted his face to look at him.

Fei Xiuqi said: "I’ll prove to you that I’m not a chauvinist pig like Zhuang Ji, nor an old fossil like Mo Lingnan."

The plane landed and came to a stop.

Lu Tingchao heard announcements in English and Cantonese, both in accents he couldn’t understand.

It made him suddenly feel a bit lost and helpless.

"The men of our Fei family take responsibility for their families, to make you happy and content."

Fei Xiuqi kissed Lu Tingchao’s eyes again. "I’ll always be there for you, Chao Chao. Believe me, okay?"

*

Aside from their businesses on the mainland and in Hong Kong, the Fei family also had properties in California and Los Angeles. Fei Xiuqi was heading to Los Angeles this time.

Judging by Fei Xiuqi’s demeanor, this trip seemed rushed. As the cabin door opened, his assistants and secretarial team were already waiting outside the plane, ready to depart immediately on another prepared aircraft.

The sky was already dark.

Exiting the cabin meant walking down a flight of steps. Fei Xiuqi held the sleeping Lu Doudou with one arm and held Lu Tingchao’s hand with the other.

As they stepped off the last stair—

Lu Tingchao looked up and saw several black cars waiting nearby.

To be precise, five identical Rolls-Royces.

Lu Tingchao: "?"

"It’s Devin."

Fei Xiuqi glanced casually. "The cars in front and back are bodyguards. When he called and asked me to go to California, I told him you might be scared coming alone, and asked if he could pick you up on the way. He agreed."

Lu Tingchao: "Oh..."

Fei Xiuqi kissed the top of Lu Tingchao’s head: "Don’t be afraid. He’s just rumored to be hard to approach, but he’s actually very approachable. Besides, you’re his future daughter-in-law... sorry, baby, future son-in-law?"

Lu Tingchao glared at him fiercely: "Just shut up."

Fei Xiuqi squeezed Lu Tingchao’s hand again.

He had always been the playboy often featured in the entertainment section, with gossip that could circle Hong Kong several times over. It had been a long time since he’d done something so innocent.

But Fei Xiuqi actually found this quite nice.

He a bit unwillingly squeezed Lu Tingchao's fingertips: "Weijing Manor Estate is quite large. If you feel lonely or scared, you can stay with Devin there for a while. I'll take you around when I get back, okay?"

Lu Tingchao pulled his hand back expressionlessly: "I can manage."

Fei Xiuqi had to let go: "Alright, BB, whatever you say. I've already arranged Douzai's schooling. The butler at the manor will get in touch with you when you arrive. If you need anything, just tell the butler directly. If you're short on cash, call my private number. I—"

Lu Tingchao: "You're so annoying."

Then, as if realizing his tone might have been too harsh.

Lu Tingchao pursed his lips: "You just talk too much. Aren't you supposed to go work and make money?"

Under the airport lights, Lu Tingchao's skin looked like soft peach skin. He was beautiful and alluring, but his mouth was particularly infuriating.

Fei Xiuqi laughed in exasperation: "Alright, alright, Lu Tingchao, be reasonable, will you... Never mind, never mind, I'm not angry. I'll go make money to support my BB now, won't bother you anymore, okay?"

Lu Tingchao's temper flared quickly, but he backed down just as fast when his soft spot was poked.

He puffed his cheeks, reached out to take Lu Doudou from Fei Xiuqi's arms, and insincerely added: "Then take care, go and come back soon... Hmm."

Fei Xiuqi sighed and looked down at Lu Tingchao standing beside him.

He knew this person had been with Zhuang Ji, with Mo Lingnan, and he didn't even know where he ranked in Lu Tingchao's list.

But emotions are unreasonable things. Fei Xiuqi sometimes felt that male thinking evolved from beasts—possession and affection seemed interdependent and inexplicable.

The more he loved, the more his possessiveness surged, like a cave-dwelling animal desperate to guard its prey at all times.

This restless prey.

Fei Xiuqi couldn't pinpoint what made Lu Tingchao so hard to let go of. This person was greedy, finicky by nature, as if raised on gold, with a willful demeanor.

At the same time, he refused to take responsibility, having only learned to shirk everything onto others. Those beautiful eyes darted around, seeing only lies.

But at the same time.

He was always as purely bright as the first winter sunlight, a kind of sharp, dazzling beauty and sweetness that melted into the very air he breathed.

Always fresh, always unpredictable.

Fei Xiuqi reached out and pulled Lu Tingchao into his embrace, along with Lu Doudou, his broad arms enveloping both—

Then reluctantly let go when the Rolls-Royce parked in the middle of the road honked.

"Got to go, there's a time difference. I need to get to a meeting."

Fei Xiuqi reached out and smoothed Lu Tingchao's bangs, ruffled by the airport wind. "Remember to miss me, BB."

Lu Tingchao blinked and waved at him.

The long-waiting secretaries and assistants immediately swarmed in from the side. Though the distance was short, they instantly overwhelmed Fei Xiuqi.

Lu Tingchao only had time to see several tablets filled with dense documents before Fei Xiuqi was ushered onto the plane by the crowd.

It seemed to be a private jet, parked on the other side for a long time.

In Hong Kong, the Fei family's wealth seemed to overflow at every moment.

Lu Tingchao actually hadn't planned to go back with Devin either.

He had his own money, and having met Fei Xiuqi's father only once, following him seemed awkward.

...Maybe not awkward.

Anyway, the feeling was hard to describe. Lu Tingchao wasn't particularly willing to travel with Fei Yuncheng.

As the boarding ladder of another large plane was slowly moved away.

Lu Tingchao thought for a moment, looked around, and realized everyone nearby seemed to be Fei family staff, with no way to tell who was who.

So he had to take out his phone, planning to first check a map, then call a ride-hailing car... it would be best to find a place to stay first, and tomorrow go to whatever manor Fei Xiuqi had fully transferred to him according to the address.

If it was remote and far away, he might as well sell it for money.

That was Lu Tingchao's plan.

But before he could even take out his phone, two men in suits strode over to him simultaneously, bowing deeply at ninety degrees: "Good evening, Young Master Lu."

Lu Tingchao: "!!!"

Lu Tingchao jumped back in fright, almost waking Lu Doudou in his arms: "...What are you doing?!"

The man on the left politely bowed again.

His Mandarin was quite standard, without any hint of Hong Kong accent: "I am here on Devin's orders to invite Young Master Lu to the car. This way, please."

Lu Tingchao: "..."

Lu Tingchao followed the direction the man pointed. The window of the car parked in the center had been rolled down at some point, as if waiting for someone.

"I can go on my own."

Lu Tingchao sniffed.

Although Fei Xiuqi had left with his people, the crowd of dark-suited men still made him feel pressured. Clearly, Fei Yuncheng had even more people around him than Fei Xiuqi, giving off a vibe of powerful merchant nobility.

The man on the left remained expressionless. He took out his phone, spoke a few words to the other side, then said to Lu Tingchao: "Mr. Lu, Mr. Devin would like to speak with you."

Lu Tingchao: "..."

In Beijing, class distinctions aren't particularly pronounced.

But Hong Kong is different. Filipino maids are everywhere, and the more Westernized model had made Lu Tingchao uncomfortable during his last visit.

It still seemed the same now.

The man presented the phone to Lu Tingchao with both hands, motionless like a mud-sculpted statue.

After a long standoff, Lu Tingchao had no choice but to take it: "Hello, De... Dev..."

"Just call me Mr. Fei."

The male voice on the other end was calm, the kind of calm that comes with experience and scenery, different from the feigned indifference of young men and far from Fei Xiuqi.

He clearly didn't think Lu Tingchao's poor English would be a problem, generously saying: "If it feels odd, you can also call me Fei Yuncheng directly."

Lu Tingchao: "!"

The man on the left stood very close to Lu Tingchao and caught the last few words of the sentence, his expression instantly shifting.

Unfortunately, Lu Tingchao himself didn’t catch the meaning of the words at all. Holding Lu Doudou with one hand while answering the call was both awkward and difficult.

Without bothering with politeness, Lu Tingchao spoke his mind directly: "That won't be necessary, Uncle Fei. Fei Xiuqi has already told me. No need to trouble yourself by coming all this way; I can just take a taxi back. Please don’t worry about me. I’ll manage."

On the other end, Fei Yuncheng gave a low chuckle.

Even his laughter carried a sense of calmness: "I’m afraid that won’t be possible, Chao Chao."

Fei Yuncheng said gently, "This is the Fei family’s private airport, miles away from Hong Kong’s main airport. Moreover, this area is under 24-hour military-enforced restrictions—no ride-hailing services will come here."

Lu Tingchao: "…"

You rich people are really insane.

"If you don’t want to come back with me, that’s alright," Fei Yuncheng said. "It’s along the way—I’ll take you out of here, and once we reach the main road, you can take a taxi. That would be more convenient."

Fei Yuncheng’s tone remained polite and slightly apologetic: "Chao Chao, would that work for you?"

Lu Tingchao: "…"

What else could he do?

Was Lu Tingchao supposed to carry Doudou and walk out on foot?

Walking wasn't an option—not even a single step.

Lu Tingchao rubbed his face.

The man on the left had already gathered Lu Tingchao’s meaning from his expression. He took back the phone with both hands and gave a slight bow. "Then please follow me, Young Master Lu."

Lu Tingchao had no choice but to follow.

Walking behind the two men, Lu Tingchao finally found a moment to look around the tarmac—

Aside from the control tower, all the facilities of a professional airport were fully equipped.

Outside, at least six planes were parked on the apron, each emblazoned with the "Fei Capital" logo, exuding an aura of authority and prestige.

The runway was smooth and straight, and in the distance, professionals were mowing the lawn and adjusting runway markers.

All of this made it clear that this was indeed a private airport.

"Young Master Lu."

The man walking ahead on the left stopped.

Lu Tingchao, who had been looking around, immediately bumped into him—hard. "Ow—"

Perhaps unaccustomed to someone walking so carelessly, the man was startled by Lu Tingchao’s sudden collision and immediately knelt down to check where he had been hit, his attitude with an almost fearful deference, as if he feared Lu Tingchao might ascend to the heavens on the spot after bumping his nose.

"Young Master Lu, are you alright? I’m so sorry, I…"

Lu Tingchao: "…It’s fine, it’s fine."

Holding no grudge against the man, Lu Tingchao felt such an exaggerated reaction was unnecessary. He waved his hand and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Good thing I never had work done on my face—otherwise, how much would this one bump have cost me…"

The man: "…"

Fei Yuncheng: "…"

The car door was open.

The person seated in the back let out a soft chuckle—just one, but it was still heard by Lu Tingchao.

Already annoyed from bumping into someone in front of so many people, and now being laughed at—

Lu Tingchao immediately scowled fiercely, "What’s so funny? Laugh again and next time I’ll bump into you too."

"Go ahead," the man said.

Lu Tingchao: "???"

Holding Lu Doudou in his arms, Lu Tingchao leaned in from outside the car and finally confirmed that those words had indeed been spoken by Fei Yuncheng. He couldn’t help but ask, "…Have you been taken over by something weird?"

"Just thought you’re still as entertaining as always."

The interior light turned on, illuminating Fei Yuncheng’s face.

Even though it was already nighttime, he was still dressed impeccably.

In the early autumn chill of Hong Kong, the thin shirt Lu Tingchao had seen him in last time had been replaced by a gray overcoat. Not a single label was visible on his clothes, yet everything fit perfectly.

It was hard to say whether he aged well or if men truly were like a fine wine at forty.

Up close, Lu Tingchao noticed that the man’s face showed no wrinkles, especially now that he was wearing gold wire-framed glasses, which made him appear particularly reserved and gentle.

He didn’t seem like the top capitalist rumored to have emerged from black market origins in Hong Kong.

Instead, he resembled more of a charitable entrepreneur often featured in social news.

The two men who had been walking ahead of Lu Tingchao now stood on either side of the car door, bowing respectfully: "Mr. Devin."

The man on the left held the car door open for Lu Tingchao. "Young Master Lu, please get in."

Lu Tingchao: "…"

Is this how capitalists in Hong Kong are?

Would the door really close on its own if no one held it?

Lu Tingchao desperately wanted to complain, but he didn’t dare say it in front of Fei Yuncheng. He simply ducked his head quietly and got into the car with Lu Doudou in his arms.

The other seats in the car were occupied by bodyguards.

Only the seat next to Fei Yuncheng was vacant.

Fei Yuncheng glanced at Lu Doudou, who was fast asleep in Lu Tingchao’s arms. "Was a child seat prepared?"

A bodyguard in the back immediately responded, "Mr. Devin, it’s prepared. Should we bring the child over and put him in the seat?"

"No, no need!"

Lu Tingchao took a quick look and saw that the bodyguards in the back were all hulking and intimidating. He didn’t dare hand Lu Doudou over to them, afraid he wouldn’t be able to get him back. "...I’ll just keep holding him myself."

Fei Yuncheng withdrew his gaze and closed his eyes slightly as if resting.

In the ensuing silence, the car door closed without a sound.

The interior lights went out, and the bodyguards seemed to blend into the darkness without a sound.

Only the starlit roof above became increasingly dazzling.

The car slowly drove along the private lane under the corridor bridge and soon reached the first checkpoint. Several drivers got out to verify their credentials with card readers and iris scanners before proceeding past the checkpoint.

After driving for a while, they reached the second checkpoint.

Lu Tingchao was shocked and blurted out instinctively, "There's more?!"

This outburst seemed to break the tranquility inside the car.

In the vast silence, Lu Tingchao even thought he heard one of the bodyguards gasp in apprehension.

...Wait.

Is Fei Yuncheng really that scary?

Lu Tingchao's nature, which had been pampered into boldness but quick to shrink in fear, had never changed. In such a tense atmosphere, he immediately clammed up and muttered under his breath, "...Are we not supposed to talk here?"

"What’s wrong with talking?"

Fei Yuncheng responded to Lu Tingchao's words.

His closed eyes had opened at some point, and his glasses gleamed coldly in the deep night.

Fei Yuncheng said, "There are five checkpoints in all, though typically only three are operational. Just wait a bit longer, and we'll be out soon."

Lu Tingchao: "Oh..."

Lu Tingchao held back but couldn't resist asking, "Is Hong Kong very dangerous?"

"Young Master Lu, Hong Kong is not dangerous."

The man in the passenger seat, the same one who had guided Lu Tingchao earlier, turned around. "It's just that this is the Fei family's private airport, and we need to eliminate any potential external interference, which is why these measures are in place. Don’t worry, it’s perfectly safe around Mr. Devin."

Lu Tingchao: "But I can't always be by your boss's side. I have my own life too."

"Compared to the mainland, the crime rate here is a bit higher."

Fei Yuncheng made a subtle gesture Lu Tingchao couldn’t quite make out, and a screen lit up inside the car, displaying several latest news about robberies and murders.

The style of media news reporting here was also very different from that in Beijing. If mainland media still had some sense of decency, the headlines and content here tended to be as sensational and alarming as possible.

The bloody photos almost made Lu Tingchao turn pale, and he clutched Lu Doudou even tighter.

Fei Yuncheng switched the news channel to another page, where a male singer was singing on stage.

It was likely a local Hong Kong channel, in Cantonese.

Lu Tingchao couldn't understand Cantonese and could only barely make out the subtitles below. The lyrics seemed to be something like—"Why am I always worried? I painstakingly picked today to drive you home."

Fei Yuncheng suddenly said, "This is a good song."

Lu Tingchao responded, "I've heard the Mandarin version. It's about a breakup and seems quite famous."

Fei Yuncheng: "..."

Fei Yuncheng smiled. "The Cantonese version tells a different story."

Lu Tingchao: "Huh?"

Fei Yuncheng said, "The Cantonese version is about moving on from the past and embracing new love."

Lu Tingchao: "Oh..."

Lu Tingchao still didn't understand the lyrics, but after thinking for a moment, he decided to follow the example of the nervous bodyguards and praise Fei Yuncheng: "You’re something else. Even at your age, you can still appreciate these love songs. You have great taste."

Fei Yuncheng: "..."

The car grew even more silent.

Whether it was an illusion or not, Lu Tingchao even felt like the driver shot him a sidelong glance amidst his busyness.

It was a look of strangeness mixed with admiration.

Lu Tingchao was still rattled by the photos and videos Fei Yuncheng had shown him. Sitting in his seat, he looked at Lu Doudou and then at himself, who clearly wasn’t much of a tough guy. After hesitating for a while, he stammered nervously, "Um... Uncle Fei..."

Fei Yuncheng: "Hmm?"

Lu Tingchao tugged earnestly at Fei Yuncheng's sleeve. "Well, I forgot to ask Fei Xiuqi earlier... Is security tight at Weijing Manor? Is it safe?"

"Absolutely!"

The man in the passenger seat was clearly shocked by Lu Tingchao's question and immediately responded, but the next second, he ducked his head in the rearview mirror. "...Well, it's not exactly the safest."

The passenger seat added hastily, lying through his teeth: "Although it's better there, Young Master Lu, you're new here and alone, so you might run into... trouble. After all, you just arrived."

Fei Yuncheng cast his eyes down and remained silent.

Lu Tingchao grew even more anxious.

He looked left and right, and in the darkness of the car, he saw the brawny arms of the bodyguards in the back seat.

But Fei Yuncheng wasn’t like Fei Xiuqi, and also seemed different from Mo Lingnan and Zhuang Ji.

To some extent.

Lu Tingchao was always a little afraid of him.

After all, Lu Tingchao had hardly any experience dealing with men of this age group.

As a child, Lu Tingchao had his grandfather, which was a bond between grandfather and grandson.

Later, he had Zhuang Ji, a part of his youth.

Then he got married, and later still, there was Mo Lingnan...

But no one had ever taught Lu Tingchao how to interact with men of Fei Yuncheng's age.

It was an age that could almost be his father's.

Yet Lu Tingchao had never received parental guidance growing up. Aside from his grandfather, he had always been free-spirited and undisciplined.

Because Lu Tingchao was a little cowardly.

He didn't let go of Fei Yuncheng's hand, instead giving it another slight tug. Unlike his earlier unruliness, now he was just being compliant.

Lu Tingchao asked, "Uncle Fei, could you lend me a few of your bodyguards... just a few will do!"

Fei Yuncheng tilted his head. "Scared?"

Lu Tingchao answered honestly, "Yeah... a little."

Fei Yuncheng reached out and patted Lu Tingchao's hair like an older relative. "Are you sure a few bodyguards will be enough?"

Lu Tingchao wasn’t actually sure either!

His knowledge of Hong Kong was limited to the area between the airport and the hospital. The last time he came, he hadn’t even stepped out of the hospital garden—

Afraid of being seen by others.

Afraid of being seen as strange.

Later, he had to stay with Doudou.

Fei Yuncheng’s palm was warm, his fingers covered with calluses—whether from heavy labor in his youth or from handling guns, it was impossible to tell.

He gently tucked a stray strand of Lu Tingchao’s hair behind his ear, the callus brushing lightly against Lu Tingchao’s ear tip—

Causing Lu Tingchao to shiver ever so slightly.

Fei Yuncheng said, "That estate is the Fei family’s largest and most luxurious property. It’s divided into several zones, with its own vineyard, equestrian grounds, golf course, and private hot springs. The main residential area is the largest of all."

Fei Yuncheng withdrew his hand, looking at him with the patience and concern one would show a young child. "Chao Chao, didn’t you notice when you signed the transfer agreement? Weijing Estate is vast, with nearly five hundred staff members working there alone. Are you sure just a few bodyguards will be enough?"

Lu Tingchao...

Lu Tingchao was stunned.

When he signed the transfer documents, he’d only had his lawyer review the clauses that might be harmful to him. The lawyer said the other party hadn’t made any demands, so Lu Tingchao signed without hesitation.

But as for how big the estate actually was, Lu Tingchao hadn’t paid any attention.

As a child, Grandpa Lu had always stood in front of him, shielding him from all difficulties.

Later, Zhuang Ji also stood in front of him, handling all his problems.

So even now, Lu Tingchao hadn’t learned how to solve problems on his own.

He panicked instantly. "Then... then what should I do? Will I be robbed if I go there?"

Lu Tingchao looked up, his bright, beautiful eyes filled with panic and pure, innocent confusion. "They wouldn’t dare, right? It’s the Fei family’s property! It’s not like they’d dare to rob you... With so many people working there, surely no bad guys could get in..."

Fei Yuncheng’s finger pressed against Lu Tingchao’s lips, which were parting and closing as he spoke.

The faint callus brushed against the corner of Lu Tingchao’s mouth.

"It’s hard to guard against thieves from within."

Fei Yuncheng’s voice was calm and steady.

He looked at Lu Tingchao, his gold-wire glasses framing his eyes, which were as calm and deep as the ocean, swallowing all the emotions brewing within.

Fei Yuncheng said, "When I was there, they didn’t dare. But Chao Chao, you’re so young, with a child."

Fei Yuncheng pressed lightly again on Lu Tingchao’s lips, as if unintentionally, sliding over the line of his lips and leaving a faint trace. "The first thing you should learn after leaving the mainland for Hong Kong is to never trust human nature."

Lu Tingchao instinctively gasped.

But he forgot Fei Yuncheng’s finger was right at the edge of his lips.

As his lips parted, the finger slipped in, creating an extremely suggestive posture.

Lu Tingchao: "!!!"

Ahhh!!!

Normally, he could be shameless with people his own age, but this was Fei Yuncheng!! Fei Yuncheng!!!

How could he do something like this with an older man...

Embarrassed, Lu Tingchao immediately pulled away and turned his head. "S-sorry."

"It’s fine."

Fei Yuncheng’s expression was so calm it was as if nothing had happened.

He withdrew his finger, and one of the bodyguards in the back seat immediately handed him a clean handkerchief. "Mr. Devin."

Fei Yuncheng took the handkerchief unhurriedly but didn’t use it to wipe his own finger. Instead, he handed it to Lu Tingchao.

Lu Tingchao was puzzled. "?"

Fei Yuncheng said flatly, "The corner of your mouth."

Lu Tingchao...

Lu Tingchao instinctively reached up and touched the corner of his mouth, only to find a bit of drool there.

He quickly wiped it with the back of his hand and waved it off. "No need, no need, you take it. I’m fine."

Fei Yuncheng withdrew his gaze without another word.

A side lamp in the car flicked on due to the earlier movement, casting a dim light.

Fei Yuncheng’s movements could only be described as deliberate.

Right in front of Lu Tingchao, he used the plaid handkerchief to slowly wipe his fingers, starting from the base and moving toward the tips, bit by bit...

To the point where Lu Tingchao felt his scalp tingling.

It really wasn’t his fault for letting his imagination run wild.

It’s just.

Just...

Flustered, Lu Tingchao turned his head away and sighed deeply.

He could only conclude that Fei Yuncheng, being an older man, must have long been unconcerned with such worldly thoughts, which was why he could be so calm, so steady, so unhurried, and so pure.

What an impressive man.

It was Chao Chao who had a dirty mind. QAQ

Finally, Fei Yuncheng wiped his hands clean, and the assigned bodyguard retrieved the handkerchief.

Lu Tingchao was shocked once again: "But it's used, isn't it?"

"It contains the sir's DNA."

It was the man in the passenger seat who answered Lu Tingchao's question, "So it needs to be disposed of properly."

Lu Tingchao: "...Is it that strict?"

The passenger seat replied: "Yeah, some people go too far. There was once a woman from overseas studying in Hong Kong for her PhD who became obsessed with the sir. She tried many methods and eventually managed to get hold of the sir's DNA from somewhere, trying to use illegal scientific means to have a child with the sir..."

"A Zhi."

Fei Xiuqi said.

The passenger immediately shut up and turned back around.

In such a short time, Lu Tingchao had been more shaken up than in years. He took a moment to process it all and, unable to suppress his curiosity, sneaked a careful glance at Fei Yuncheng: "So..."

Lu Tingchao swallowed hard: "Did it work?"

Fei Yuncheng's heavy gaze turned toward him.

Lu Tingchao smartly pulled back: "Got it, it didn't work."

The atmosphere went stiff.

Probably throughout all these bodyguards' careers, they had never encountered a second person like Lu Tingchao—someone who prioritized curiosity over self-preservation—so the car remained unnaturally silent for the most part.

After some uncertain time of driving further.

Lu Tingchao suddenly slapped his thigh and released his seatbelt: "Wait!? Weren't you supposed to drop me off at the airport so I could take a taxi? Did we pass it?"

The car went quiet.

"Chao Chao, sometimes I really wonder who raised you."

Fei Yuncheng leaned over, pulled the seatbelt back, and buckled him in, "You're holding a child; you should be more careful."

Lu Tingchao didn't pay attention to Fei Yuncheng.

He was busy sticking his head out the window to look around: "No, you don't understand, the later it gets, the harder it is to get a cab. Ugh, I wonder if I'll even be able to get one at this hour..."

Lu Tingchao had his back to Fei Yuncheng.

So he couldn't see Fei Yuncheng's gaze on him.

After a moment.

Fei Yuncheng asked: "No more talk about bodyguards?"

"Huh?"

Lu Tingchao turned back.

Normally, no one would roll down the windows in Fei Yuncheng's car on their own.

But Lu Tingchao had rolled his window down halfway himself.

The autumn night breeze in Hong Kong still carried a faint warmth.

It swept in through the half-open window, lifting the hair at Lu Tingchao's temples into a soft curve the moment he turned around.

Beautiful, like a rose shimmering in darkness.

And so that faint warmth, within those few short inches, transformed into an almost unbearable, rising restlessness—like a burning sensation that spread across another person's every nerve.

Fei Yuncheng's throat moved.

In the darkness where Lu Tingchao couldn't see.

The man's voice grew even deeper, blending with its already low tone, without youthful wavering, still sounding measured and calm.

Fei Yuncheng said: "Weren't you asking about bodyguards? Chao Chao."

Lu Tingchao had completely forgotten.

He had only suddenly remembered that he had passed his stop, and now the car was already on the highway...

Lu Tingchao gave him a pleading look: "Are you taking me back to Weijing Manor?"

Fei Yuncheng said calmly: "Chao Chao, Weijing Manor isn't in this direction."

Lu Tingchao: "..."

Lu Tingchao hesitated: "Then..."

"A few bodyguards are still too few; I'm not comfortable with that."

Fei Yuncheng reached out again to smooth Lu Tingchao's hair.

This time, his fingertips deliberately grazed Lu Tingchao's ear, then paused there for a few seconds, as if he already expected it.

And once again, he felt the trembling at his fingertips.

Fei Yuncheng's gaze darkened slightly... This person was so sensitive that he wasn't even aware of his own trembling, like a small animal held in the palm of a hand, vulnerable to any handling.

As long as he knew how to coax and deceive him.

Fei Yuncheng said: "Here's an idea: you come stay with me for a few days. I'll have them set up the security system at Weijing Manor, and then I'll take you back. Sound good?"

Lu Tingchao hesitated.

He didn't really want to stay with Fei Yuncheng.

They were of different ages and had nothing in common.

Plus, he didn't like the Fei family at all.

Even though, from what he could tell so far... Fei Yuncheng was almost normal.

"I have an international finance conference to attend these next few days. I'll be at the conference and won't be home much."

Fei Yuncheng observed every change on Lu Tingchao's face in the dim light and added another incentive, "The place has the best security system in all Hong Kong. You and the child will be very safe there."

Fei Yuncheng: "If you'd like, I can also have Polina come stay with you."

Lu Tingchao froze for a moment: "Really?"

"Of course."

Fei Yuncheng's tone was gentle and calm, "My place is also very close to the best private kindergarten in Hong Kong. Doudou is so smart—if you want him to get an early start on that kind of education, it's an excellent choice."

Lu Tingchao was clearly tempted.

He lowered his head, his left index finger picking at his right index finger, struggling with his final decision.

Fei Yuncheng had always been best at this kind of game—waiting for prey to enter the trap.

He patiently offered the final incentive: "Don’t worry, I’ll send people to Weijing Manor tomorrow to start working. If there are any modifications needed, I’ll have the designer contact you."

Fei Yuncheng said, "As a gift for your visit to Hong Kong, I’ll cover all the expenses and have the entire manor redesigned in your favorite style. What do you think?"

Lu Tingchao bit his lip: "How long will that take?"

Fei Yuncheng: "With multiple design teams, it’ll be very fast."

Lu Tingchao had been raised by Zhuang Ji in the lap of luxury—when it came to food, clothing, and daily life, he could be extremely picky when given the choice.

In the end, the prey nodded cautiously, with a last trace of hesitation and struggle, entering the trap with lingering hesitation: "Then, Uncle Fei, please have them hurry. There are several places I want to change, and I’d like to move in quickly."

Fei Yuncheng nodded: "Okay."

*

If only he had taken a careful look at the location mentioned in the property agreement and then compared it with a map of Hong Kong—

Lu Tingchao would have realized that Weijing Manor and Fei Yuncheng’s current residence, Hong Kong One Bay, were actually very, very close to each other. Both were located in the same old-money elite district, occupying the best plots of land.

Unfortunately, Lu Tingchao had no idea.

By the time the five Rolls-Royces came to a stop again, their order had subtly shifted without anyone noticing.

Fei Yuncheng’s car, originally in the middle, had ended up in the second position by the time they parked. The man in the passenger seat swiftly got out and opened the door: "Mr. Devin, Young Master Lu, please."

It was a very large standalone estate.

All five cars parked directly at the entrance of the main residence.

Fei Yuncheng stepped out first and extended his hand to Lu Tingchao: "It’s not easy for you holding the child. Hold onto me."

The car’s ride height was higher than that of an ordinary sedan.

All the bodyguards from the five cars had gotten out, forming yet another large crowd.

Lu Tingchao was reluctant to take Fei Yuncheng’s hand in front of so many people, so he tried to step down on his own. He wobbled slightly but was steadied by the man’s strong arm and pulled into an embrace from behind.

"Don’t push yourself."

Fei Yuncheng held Lu Tingchao firmly by the waist from behind to steady him, then glanced casually and said, "Doudou is awake."

Lu Tingchao followed Fei Yuncheng’s gaze and looked down.

Lu Doudou seemed to have just woken up, his little hands struggling free from the blanket, forming tiny fists as he rubbed his eyes: "Chao Chao, are we here?"

"Mhmm."

Lu Tingchao gave Lu Doudou a big kiss, then lifted him out of his arms. "Let’s go inside, get cleaned up, and then it’s time for bed!"

Lu Doudou’s drowsy eyes widened a little. He leaned on Lu Tingchao’s shoulder, looking at the people around them, then at Fei Yuncheng beside them: "Chao Chao, who is this?"

Lu Tingchao had been holding Lu Doudou all day, and his arms were sore and aching.

He hoisted his son a little higher: "This is Uncle Fei."

"Oh..."

Lu Doudou asked obediently, "Is he Brother Fei’s daddy?"

Fei Yuncheng looked down and met Lu Doudou’s gaze, nodding slightly: "Yes. Little Doudou, you look very much like your daddy, especially your eyes."

Lu Doudou, still resting on Lu Tingchao’s shoulder, explained very seriously: "Because Doudou was born from Chao Chao, so Doudou looks like Chao Chao."

Lu Doudou had slept soundly and now seemed full of energy: "Uncle Fei, is this your home?"

Fei Yuncheng replied patiently: "Yes, do you like it, Doudou?"

Lu Doudou glanced around, then whispered to Lu Tingchao: "Chao Chao, it’s so big. Even bigger than Daddy Mo’s house. Will we get lost?"

Lu Tingchao thought about it seriously and whispered back to Lu Doudou: "Then we can use navigation."

Lu Doudou had only recently learned what navigation was and fully supported Lu Tingchao’s idea: "Mhmm!"

In just a short while, Lu Tingchao switched arms again to hold Lu Doudou.

Fei Yuncheng placed his free hand near Lu Tingchao’s side: "Do you want me to take him?"

Lu Tingchao glanced at Fei Yuncheng and shook his head: "No need. Since he’s awake, he should walk on his own for a bit. Right, Doudou?"

Lu Doudou, who wasn’t particularly fond of walking on his own: "...Okay, Chao Chao."

Lu Doudou, who had just arrived from Beicheng, hadn’t had time to change out of his travel clothes on the plane. Lu Tingchao had bundled him up tightly, making him look like a colorful candy ball.

Now, the candy ball took a few steps along the garden path, puckered his brow, turned back, and hugged Lu Tingchao’s leg: "Chao Chao, it’s hot."

"We’re almost there! Let’s take a bath and change then!"

Lu Tingchao took Lu Doudou’s hand and turned to look at Fei Yuncheng. "Uncle Fei, where will we be staying?"

The soft, hazy light enveloped the two figures, one tall and one small.

If only the little one were his too—what a perfect family of three it would be.

Fei Yuncheng narrowed his eyes slightly and walked over: "You’ll stay in the main residence. A Zhi and the house manager, Kim, will take you there in a moment. I’ll give you A Zhi’s contact. For anything related to the household, you can contact Kim anytime. If you need to go out, call A Zhi."

Fei Yuncheng paused: "You can also call me directly."

Lu Tingchao nodded and followed the house manager into the villa.

This was the most expensive private villa in Hong Kong in the past decade, complete with an infinity pool, a vast golf garden, and, most importantly, situated on a sun-facing hillside with a view of Hong Kong’s entire nightscape.

Whether in terms of feng shui or location, it was truly one of a kind.

Fei Yuncheng stood at the entrance of the villa like a great dragon guarding its lair.

He watched as Lu Tingchao led little Lu Doudou upstairs, then looked away and entered the main hall.

A Zhi had likely just finished coordinating with Kim and walked over from the inner garden: "Boss, the International Finance Conference called again to invite you to participate. Previously, you said you were considering it. This time, what do you think..."

"I'll join online."

Fei Yuncheng handed his trench coat to a servant who had followed him. Underneath the coat, he wasn't wearing a shirt and trousers, but a particularly simple-style Tang suit.

He entered the inner hall, sat down in front of the tea table, picked up the teapot, and poured hot water over the tea pet.

Mainland Chinese prefer tea pets shaped like flowers, birds, fish, or insects.

In Hong Kong, besides flowers, birds, fish, and insects, there are also some Western-style tea pets.

Fei Yuncheng's tea pet was an eagle with its head held high.

The scalding tea rinsed over it, the eagle's eyes turned red, every feather and bone vividly detailed, as if it were about to take flight the next second.

"Participate online?"

A Zhi was somewhat confused. "Mr. Devin, with all due respect, based on the agenda, this investment banking conference might relate to the traders' direction next quarter. Wouldn't in-person attendance be more ideal..."

Fei Yuncheng waved his hand. "It's just a boring flattery session. I'm finding an excuse to stay home."

A Zhi: "?"

A Zhi was about to say more when nimble, quick footsteps came from the staircase.

Though nimble, it wasn't the crisp sound of slippers slapping against the floor, but more like bare feet running down, giving a muffled yet well-behaved feel.

It felt quite similar to the person he'd encountered in the car earlier.

A Zhi instinctively turned to look and indeed saw that exceptionally beautiful person from the car floating down like a gust of wind, then darting over to Fei Yuncheng like a little cannonball.

"Mr. Fei, Mr. Fei!"

The voice trailed off with a rising tone as it passed by him. A Zhi's gaze instinctively followed, and he saw that person tugging at Fei Yuncheng's sleeve.

Lu Tingchao said, "I think I left my phone in the car. Can someone get it for me?"

A Zhi watched as Fei Yuncheng, whom few in all of Hong Kong ever got to see, showed a troubled expression, seeming to hesitate for a moment before speaking. "The car already left. It’s usually taken for washing right away. I'll have them look for it and bring it back to you once they find it, okay?"

A Zhi: "???"

Since when were the five cars parked outside scheduled for washing?

But Lu Tingchao believed it. "Ah..."

Fei Yuncheng also looked quite concerned. After a moment's thought, he said to A Zhi, "Here's what we'll do: go buy a new phone for Chao Chao to use first."

Fei Yuncheng turned to Lu Tingchao. "The latest iPhone, is that okay? What color do you like? You young people seem to prefer this brand."

Lu Tingchao was still a bit upset. "But it has photos of me and my grandpa on it..."

Fei Yuncheng reached out and ruffled Lu Tingchao's dark hair. "Don't worry, I'll have them look for it right away. If it really can't be found, I'll have the company's engineers retrieve the data for you, okay?"

Lu Tingchao perked up a little. "Can they really recover the data?"

"Of course."

Fei Yuncheng pinched Lu Tingchao's nose. "I promised you, so I'll make it happen. While waiting for the new phone, go take a shower and rest for a bit, hm?"

Lu Tingchao seemed to relax a little, hesitantly turned around, took a few steps, then came back. "You have to help me find it."

Fei Yuncheng's facial expression changed several times before he finally nodded gently. "Be good, go take a shower."

Only then did Lu Tingchao patter away barefoot.

A Zhi had been staring at him unconsciously for a long time, only turning back after he disappeared from view—just in time to meet Fei Yuncheng's gaze.

It was completely different from the way he had looked at Lu Tingchao moments earlier.

Cold, with a hint of menace.

"Mr. Devin, don't get the wrong idea. I just think that person is interesting."

A Zhi felt his hair stand on end and hurriedly waved his hands to explain. "I really don't like men. I'll go buy the phone right now, but he didn't say what color he wanted?"

Fei Yuncheng: "Buy all of them. Let him choose."

The person sitting by the tea couch picked up the teapot again, slowly and meticulously pouring another round over the tea pet on the table.

The bloodstained eagle spread its wings, holding a pearl in its beak, its expression cruel.

"You'd better not find him interesting."

Fei Yuncheng set down the purple clay teapot and spoke leisurely. "From what I know, finding him interesting is the beginning of an incurable obsession."

A Zhi: "..."

*

After giving Lu Doudou a bath and playing with him for a while,

it was well past midnight by the time the little one upstairs finally fell asleep.

But Lu Tingchao still couldn't sleep. He kept thinking about his phone and felt a little lost. After tossing and turning in bed for a while, he decided to go downstairs for a glass of water to calm down.

This villa was also very large. When Kim had given the tour earlier, Lu Tingchao had only caught bits and pieces, but he roughly knew that the first floor had water and food.

So he headed to the first floor.

The villa was designed in a typical Soviet architectural style, with each floor featuring a semi-open corridor.

One side of the corridor had floor-to-ceiling windows, while the other end connected to an indoor garden—every detail exuded luxury.

Lu Tingchao looked out through the corridor's floor-to-ceiling windows. The villa was situated on the mountainside, and from any angle, he could see the entire night view of Hong Kong and Victoria Harbour in the distance.

Dazzling lights, a different kind of glitz and glamour compared to Beijing.

Lu Tingchao couldn't help but pause for a moment. Just then, he heard another set of footsteps approaching slowly.

Then Fei Yuncheng's voice sounded. "Why aren't you asleep yet?"

Lu Tingchao turned his head.

The middle of the night always leaves people a bit disoriented. His confusion, mixed with his frustration, brought out a bit of his true nature.

He pouted, his bright red tongue peeking out. "I miss my phone."

Fei Yuncheng stopped beside Lu Tingchao.

Standing side by side, Fei Yuncheng's arm wrapped around Lu Tingchao's waist from behind and patted his shoulder. "Don't worry. We already tracked it down. The data should be recovered by tomorrow."

Lu Tingchao instantly brightened. "All of it can be restored?!"

Fei Yuncheng noticed his expression and said gently, "It should be possible. What is it? Besides your family, is there any other important information?"

"There is…"

Lu Tingchao pulled away from Fei Yuncheng's side and leaned on the windowsill like a child. "There are also the texts I sent to Zhuang Ji from high school. I saved them for ages. And I don’t remember Mo Lingnan’s number… I wanted to send him a message…"

Fei Yuncheng stood behind him, watching him.

He recalled the flood of messages he had just seen in the bedroom—

From Zhuang Ji.

From Mo Lingnan.

But that didn't matter anymore.

"It’s late, don't get cold."

Fei Yuncheng took off his pajama jacket and gently draped it over his shoulders. "How does it look?"

Lu Tingchao nodded obediently. "It looks good… Last time I was here, I was afraid to spend too much, worried about being audited and discovered…"

He sighed, sounding somewhat pitiful. "I didn't realize wealthy people in Hong Kong had such nice places."

"From now on, you could have all this too," Fei Yuncheng said, as if implying something.

Unfortunately, Lu Tingchao didn’t catch his meaning at all. "How could it be mine? It might belong to that Fei Xiuqi guy, or maybe Polina…"

"Oh, right." Lu Tingchao turned around against the glittering city lights, looking curious. "I call Polina 'sister,' but Fei Xiuqi is younger than me… Would calling you 'uncle' make you seem too old?"

Lu Tingchao didn’t like overthinking titles, but he also didn’t want to offend anyone. "What should I call you?"

"I don’t really mind," Fei Yuncheng replied.

He reached out and adjusted Lu Tingchao’s clothes again. The man’s oversized pajamas completely swallowed him up.

Fei Yuncheng continued, "Uncle, brother, sir…"

With a gentle look in his eyes, as if smiling, he added, "If you really want to be like Polina or A Qi, why not call me Daddy?"